Change in philosophy required

[Ginu]

There's been a problem with my account for about a month. I think I just sorted it out. I've had a lot of time to think about our recent form. This is what I've come up with.

 

We need to change our entire approach to this team. See, when Rafa arrived, the entire first season was spent teaching the team how to play defense. Keeping clean sheets. Zonal marking. Anything and everything to make sure we minimized the goals against. Since then we've achieved that and we've done wonders in the Champions League. But not once since Rafa arrived does it seem like we've spent the same amount of time learning offense. We just don't seem like we know what to do in the final third and it seems like our team is built for defense only. While we may keep our clean sheet, but it results in us not scoring enough goals to get the 3 points.

 

Consequently, we don't have the players who are comfortable on the ball moving forward. This includes essentially our entire defensive line and affects our entire transition from defense to midfield. That's why we don't play exciting football like Arsenal and Man United. That's why we resort to hoofing the ball up from the defense or passing back to Reina whenever we have a chance. So 9 times out of 10, our first pass is poor.

 

Looking at our team, there are so many players we need to replace and we need to change our entire philosophy. And our defensive line isn't getting any younger. While Riise has to go, Finnan, Carra and Hyypia all need first-11 competition for the present and future, players that can use both feet, can all make a pass and are football smart. Yes, Stevie Finnan is very reliable at the back, yes Carra plays with the heart of a lion and yes Sami is great in the air, but can we honestly say they're capable of playing the way the back line of Arsenal and Man United do? I honestly can't say that. Do we ever see Carra playing in the opponent's box on a corner as well as Ferdinand does and challenging the goalkeeper? While Agger does this, do we ever see Carra joining the counter-attack like Toure? While Finnan makes a great tackle and can send in a good cross, but does he have the pace of and can beat a defender like Sagna can? Is Riise even as capable as Evra or Clichy? While Riise has become good defensively (again, that has been our focus under Rafa), when he enteres the opposing half, can he do anything but put in a chip cross or fierce shot and only with left foot?

 

We just don't have the players throughout the team that can be both attacking and defending players. Arbeloa gives us hope that the manager is looking at the right players because he looks more than capable of doing this. But until we get in 3 excellent defenders that can "rival" our rival's players in those positions IN BOTH attacking and defending capabilities, we won't win the title. You may be able to do with one in the team, say Finnan or Carra, but not both or all.

 

Getting Torres, Benayoun, Arbeloa, Mascherano and Babel is a start. All are the "next-generation" type of players that we have lacked in recent years. Even Agger is a great showing of this. But we lack the "fluidity" that our rivals have continually shown in the last 5 years. It only comes with the right players. And while Kuyt and Voronin work hard, if Kuyt runs around like he does but we lack that fluidity, his contribution gets negated because our play doesn't result in him getting the ball in the box. Notice how he rarely takes shots?

 

These are the thoughts that I've been building up for the past 3-4 weeks. Hopefully it works to give us fans some perspective about why we have failed to score goals and already have 4 or 5 draws this season.

 

Liverpool Football Club should never be satisfied with just remaining unbeaten. If we continually draw, after a couple, they might as well be considered losses.

 

A big change in our philosophy is necessary. We need to consider ourself an attacking team, not a defensive one. We need to get replacements for our back line and a top quality winger and we'll see results.

 

YNWA

[SkippyjonJones]

you've posted this about 7 times now. I've deleted 6. stop posting this subject!!!

[Ginu]

Sorry I was editing it. I guess it re-posted the entire topic.

[San Diego Red]

you've posted this about 7 times now. I've deleted 6. stop posting this subject!!!

1 for each time we'll win the league in the next decade.

[Ginu]

1 for each time we'll win the league in the next decade.

 

[Owen1978]

Think we can just about get way with Carra in our defence, but my long term replacement would be Kompany, as you said about Riise and Finnan - i agree, riise we all know about, finnan has always been a consistant performer, doesnt put any bad performances in but not neither any ground breaking ones either which you need once in a while. He hasn't get the energy and pace, and skill and touch of say Alves who would be ideal in that position.

 

A good example would be too look at manyoos 2nd goal against the ar$e, they way Evra bombed forward and supported the striker, also Balleti's goal on the weekend was also a good example of energy and pace. Too many times against BB i was frustrated watching finnan pass it side ways and then stay in his position.

[kick316]

Think we can just about get way with Carra in our defence, but my long term replacement would be Kompany, as you said about Riise and Finnan - i agree, riise we all know about, finnan has always been a consistant performer, doesnt put any bad performances in but not neither any ground breaking ones either which you need once in a while. He hasn't get the energy and pace, and skill and touch of say Alves who would be ideal in that position.

 

A good example would be too look at manyoos 2nd goal against the ar$e, they way Evra bombed forward and supported the striker, also Balleti's goal on the weekend was also a good example of energy and pace. Too many times against BB i was frustrated watching finnan pass it side ways and then stay in his position.

 

Clichy is another example of a fullback with the pace and skill to bomb forward and add so much to the team's attacking play.

[Ginu]

Anyone else? Hopefully we can get to the bottom of what's causing our poor form. Some are suggesting we should consider Mourinho, others that we need to replace a bunch of players, and others suggesting we're aren't able to play attacking football.

 

I'm concerned because since Rafa has been here, he has been considered a defensive-minded manager.

Edited November 5, 2007 by Ginu

[Magic8Ball]

Anyone else? Hopefully we can get to the bottom of what's causing our poor form. Some are suggesting we should consider Mourinho, others that we need to replace a bunch of players, and others suggesting we're aren't able to play attacking football.

its not poor form, its a return to the median

 

We've been over achieving with the quality of attacking players we have, this is just the stats righting themselves.

[Ginu]

its not poor form, its a return to the median

 

We've been over achieving with the quality of attacking players we have, this is just the stats righting themselves.

 

Our performance against Arsenal showed the huge gulf that exists between the two teams. And for blackburn to hold an 80-20% possession advantage against us for quite a long period during the match, there certainly is something that needs to be discovered.

 

We've put in far too many below par performances this season for it to be just a dip in form.

 

lol i'm not bitter but there's certainly something wrong this season.

[Bootle Buck]

We need to completely reconstruct our defence over the next year to incorporate more speed and the ability for defenders to take the ball out of defence with confidence. Our back four the other day looked so slow, nervous and happy to hoof it clear. They also showed little desire to get forward and take men on. Apart from Riise they have all been stalwarts in our back line but they are all getting older and slower. Riise is just plain s****. The @rse dismantled a defence that had the likes of Campbell, Lauren, Cole for a younger faster model and haven't looked back. I really like Finnan, Carra and Sami and think they have been great servants. However, we must keep on progressing and a younger group of replacement needs to be found sooner rather than later. Agger is the perfect example.

Edited November 5, 2007 by Bootle Buck

[IgPig]

There's been a problem with my account for about a month. I think I just sorted it out.

 

Damn shame.

[Cooger]

At the beginning of the season we were praising Benitez as we were looking more attacking and threatening as a team. Against Villa we had lots of chances and shouldn't have let it get to a last minute free kick at the end. Chelsea at home we played an attacking team and went out with the intent to win the game. We didn't worry about the Chelsea line up, we didn't pack the midfield, we played 4-4-2 with our best ball players and attacked them. Obviously the same occured against Derby.

 

Now since then injuries have made us stutter. No doubt Gerrard who was brilliant in those first two games has only just beginning to look like he's over that injury. Nearly the whole spine of our team are out injured at the moment, certainly the ones who are best with the football at their feet and start are moves - Agger, Alonso and Torres. When you add to the mix our best right midfielder in Pennant (who started the season well), our best left back and arguably defender this season in Arbeloa, things have not been ideal.

 

At the moment we're playing with Hyypia and that means the team play far deeper to cope with his lack of pace. The two central midfielders have to also play deeper to cope with his lack of movement. This invites the opposition onto us and hardly helps us control games or attack as a team up the field.

 

Our team is full of players who aren't best at passing the football - Hyypia, Carargher, Riise, Sissoko and Kuyt in particular aren't comfortable in possession and we are struggling to keep the ball.

 

Obviously people look at Cliche (who is fantastic) and other attacking full back and want some at Anfield. However I like full back who defend first and attack second. That is how we've kept such a good defensive record and Finnan for example contributes in attack with his tidy play, not losing possession and gets valuable assists as well, probably as many as Cliche does I'd expect.

 

The time to judge whether we need a new 'brand' of football is when we get Torres, Alonso, Agger, Pennant, Arbeloa back, the returning Kewell and a on form Gerrard. The team will play higher up the field, keep the ball better, have more creation, width and cutting edge upfront. If we still have problems then yes maybe we do need a re-think. However I think Kuyt, Sissoko, Riise etc are limited players and aren't the future under Benitez. They are hard workers and have ensured that we have been able to compete up til now. However now Benitez has more resources I can see more complete players being brought in the future, rather than ones who lack some important basics such as passing, which I feel Kuyt, Sissoko and Riise lack.

[D.Boon]

The @rse dismantled a defence that had the likes of Campbell, Lauren, Cole for a younger faster model and haven't looked back.

 

Lauren gave them many years good service as did Campbell and where replaced when past their best. Cole owuld still be there if he wasnt such a greedy c***.

 

The other player you left out was Toure, who does he play for now?

[Bootle Buck]

Lauren gave them many years good service as did Campbell and where replaced when past their best. Cole owuld still be there if he wasnt such a greedy c***.

 

I wouldn't say Campbell and Lauren where exactly past their best. Cole, I agree is a greedy c***, but he allowed to leave because his replacement was every bit as good, if not better.