Positive Team Selection & Balance

[Leo No.8]

Although we weren't brilliant in the first half yesterday, I was extremely happy with the second half and we seemed to find some fluidity that has been missing for some time. I was happy with the team Rafa picked to start the game for the first time in ages, and I think there were plenty of positives to take from the game.

 

I think crucially the balance of the side was much better and we were less rigid in the final third. I noticed Gerrard, Aquilani and Kuyt in particular swapping positions on a regular basis making them more difficult to pick up and I think Stevie benefitted from the freedom the most turning in his best performance for some time.

 

If you look at ths team he picked to start we had 5 attack minded players in the side in Aquilani, Gerrard, Riera, Kuyt and N'Gog. That gave us a much better balance, as did having Riera on the left and one of Kuyt and at times Gerrard on the right providing width and not allowing Bolton to bottle us up down the middle. We had a lot of joy in wide areas for once.

 

At times this season we've fielded as few as one or two attacking players, this was much better and several key players benefitted individually.

 

I think Mascherano benefitted from not having Lucas sitting on top of him, he was absolutely superb both defensively and with his passing and driving forward. Also I think if you look at the first goal Rafa's reward for picking a more attacking midfield without Lucas was Aquilani being in an attacking position to head back for Kuyt to score the first goal.

 

Aquilani didn't actually play very well at all, but I still think it was right to pick him and shows that particularly against teams like Bolton we need to put out an attacking lineup even if we leave a few gaps as we did when they got forward on the break a few times, and our greater quality should tell over the course of the 90 minutes. I think the first half was more down to lack of confidence.

 

Lucas did quite well when he came on. but generally we didn't miss him sitting alongside Mascherano at all and his non selection was hopefully proven to be a good idea for home games. I hope Rafa takes from this game that positive team selection at Anfield is an absolute must, because when the confidence came later in the game we were really good.

Edited January 31, 2010 by Leo No.8

[Mike]

3 lines and space eh? tryin to mix it up intcha.

 

[Frosty Jack]

 

Aquilani didn't actually play very well at all

 

yet he did against spurs. he shouldn't be playing back there.

[Leo No.8]

3 lines and space eh? tryin to mix it up intcha.

 

 

Threw a little one liner in there just for you as well mate...

[Jarg Armani]

Just been talking about Aquilani. He's not playing brilliantly but we play better when he's there.

 

I still don't rate him as a buy (watching wesley sneijder is a bit of a sickener), but both masch and lucas have now had excellent games next to him, and we have played well with him in there, although he hasn't added a great deal yet.

 

Bit like Riera in a way, he might not be doing much but the team looks more balanced with him there.

[pipnasty]

Just been talking about Aquilani. He's not playing brilliantly but we play better when he's there.

 

 

 

I think that shape is vitally important for Rafa - sometimes more important than the player. If the shape of the team is wrong, we look poor. And vice versa.

[BG]

 

Bit like Riera in a way, he might not be doing much but the team looks more balanced with him there.

 

 

Definitely agree with that.

[goose island]

first thing i thought when i opened this thread was the balance of the side looks so much better with Riera. hope his injuries are behind him and he can put in a run of games now.

[Bo Benn]

A few thoughts:

 

-Selection and mentality seems to differ too much in home vs. away games. By the end of last season we were practically out of title chances but we had a mathematical chance to win the title and it seemed everyone from management to all players decided to just go for it. We played totally ruthless in many games, both home and away and won many game before half time. Now our home form has picked up, but we still show too much respect to the likes of Wolves and Stoke.

 

-With Gerrard and Aquilani at centre midfield I perceive we shift our average position of possession 5-10 yards further upfield. By this we create a few more chances, get one or two players more in the box for crosses from the wings but also make it harder for our opponents set up attacks on their own.

 

-Lucas was played by his strengths when he came on vs Bolton. He can hold up the ball and distribute it cautiously, his defensive positioning is also pretty good and I have no doubts that him and Masch can shut games down when called for. However, when we are supposed to dominate games we don't push the oppo's back line enough with Lucas on the pitch. Strangely whenever Lucas does decide to attack the box he often does pretty well, he has the ability to play clever passes charge forward for crosses etc. Why he does not do it more often I don't know. Is it orders from Rafa? Especially when we have Mascherano on the pitch as a 'safety' against counter attacks.

 

-On Riera: his overall play during the last few games when he came back from injury has been a bit so-so. However his crossing is often really deadly. If it were up to me I'd have him to take care of all corners and FKs. Feels like 1 out of 5 Gerrard corners or crossing free-kicks are somewhat dangerous. Much, much better when Riera steps up.

 

-Yes, Leo should have his paragraphing sorted.

[Hassony]

 

-Lucas was played by his strengths when he came on vs Bolton. He can hold up the ball and distribute it cautiously, his defensive positioning is also pretty good and I have no doubts that him and Masch can shut games down when called for. However, when we are supposed to dominate games we don't push the oppo's back line enough with Lucas on the pitch. Strangely whenever Lucas does decide to attack the box he often does pretty well, he has the ability to play clever passes charge forward for crosses etc. Why he does not do it more often I don't know. Is it orders from Rafa? Especially when we have Mascherano on the pitch as a 'safety' against counter attacks.

 

 

I think it is orders from Rafa, for some reason Mascherano plays more advanced than lucas, it was the same with Alonso

 

I remember Sissoko playing in a more advanced role than Alonso as well

[Bo Benn]

Strange though, ask anybody to define Mascherano preferred position and they'll say defensive midfielder. My impression of Lucas before we signed him was not that he was particularly defensive but rather the opposite.

[Hassony]

Strange though, ask anybody to define Mascherano preferred position and they'll say defensive midfielder. My impression of Lucas before we signed him was not that he was particularly defensive but rather the opposite.

 

 

It's very strange, but It's nothing new

 

I guess that the main difference is that Alonso was a better distibutor of the ball than Lucas, which is why it has been noted more this season. I don't think there is much difference in their defensive qualities

[smithdown]

-On Riera: his overall play during the last few games when he came back from injury has been a bit so-so. However his crossing is often really deadly. If it were up to me I'd have him to take care of all corners and FKs. Feels like 1 out of 5 Gerrard corners or crossing free-kicks are somewhat dangerous. Much, much better when Riera steps up.

 

 

 

Y'wha???

 

Did you see that one that he chipped onto the Bolton lad's back? It was as if he went to Gerrard "watch this I'll hit his number".

[fred milne]

I guess that the main difference is that Alonso was a better distibutor of the ball than Lucas, which is why it has been noted more this season. I don't think there is much difference in their defensive qualities

Alonso was stronger in the tackle and in the air - not entirely surprising given the difference in physique. I also think he was better at reading the game and making interceptions, although that side of Lucas' game is improving.

Edited February 1, 2010 by fred milne

[Hassony]

Alonso was stronger in the tackle and in the air - not entirely surprising given the difference in physique. I also think he was better at reading the game and making interceptions, although that side of Lucas' game is improving.

 

yeah. not arguing with that, alonso was a better all round player, that's why he cost Real a world record fee for a holding midfielder

 

I do think that all of these differences would have been looked over if Lucas's passing was as good as Xabi (to be fair, not many are)

[Stevie H]

Alonso was stronger in the tackle and in the air - not entirely surprising given the difference in physique. I also think he was better at reading the game and making interceptions, although that side of Lucas' game is improving.

alonso was different gravy to lucas in all areas of the game, apart perhaps from pace.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

My thoughts a while back

 

 

Aquilani and Benayoun would link up a treat.

 

If we could get Benayoun on the right, Riera on the left and Aquilad behind Torres with Gerrard and Masch in midfield - that is something I'd love to see.

 

Gerrard would still get forward and get involved but he would also have to take on the responsibility of getting back to Masch when things broke down because Aquilad cant/wont.

 

Benayoun and Riera are clever players that are comfortable on the ball, you can ping it into their feet in tight spots and be confident that they will retain possession.

 

It would make for some lovely football to watch.

 

 

 

 

I think you could substitute Maxi for Benayoun at this stage. There is nothing in Maxi and Riera that will scare the living daylights out of full backs, but from our point of view, I think they are technically very sound players - they can accept the ball to feet in tight situations and still get a pass away and drift into space. Though Benayoun/Maxi dont tend to hug the line ala Riera, they are (seems in Maxi's case) clever players that would allow us to work possession of the ball much better and smoother - it was something I liked in the Villa game with Aqua, Yossi, Gerrard and Torres all starting together.

[Bo Benn]

Y'wha???

 

Did you see that one that he chipped onto the Bolton lad's back? It was as if he went to Gerrard "watch this I'll hit his number".

 

An obvious plea for temporary insanity, and really does not have anything to do with Riera's abaility to whip in a good cross.

 

Strangely, we did attempt to play the man outside the box for very many corners against Bolton.

[Frosty Jack]

Strange though, ask anybody to define Mascherano preferred position and they'll say defensive midfielder. My impression of Lucas before we signed him was not that he was particularly defensive but rather the opposite.

 

he wasn't at gremio but he was seen as having the attributes

[Coyler]

Strangely, we did attempt to play the man outside the box for very many corners against Bolton.

They obviously had a funny feeling about Insúa. He must have popped his cherry the night before or something.

[Bo Benn]

They obviously had a funny feeling about Insúa. He must have popped his cherry the night before or something.

 

You're saying he came close to scoring scored both on and off the pitch this weekend, but Davies took the doubtful credit?

[Conrad]

An obvious plea for temporary insanity, and really does not have anything to do with Riera's abaility to whip in a good cross.

 

Strangely, we did attempt to play the man outside the box for very many corners against Bolton.

 

Gerrard whips in a fantastic free kick and with more pace on the ball than Riera.

 

Agree that Gerrard shouldn't be on corners like

[goose island]

we fail to beat the first man far too often from corners. i can confidently claim to be a more consistent corner taker than any player in our squad based on this season's evidence!

[Earl Hafler]

Strange though, ask anybody to define Mascherano preferred position and they'll say defensive midfielder. My impression of Lucas before we signed him was not that he was particularly defensive but rather the opposite.

 

 

He was signed because he could attack and play the holding role. I think Rafa over egged his attacking abilities because his shooting is poor and he can't head a ball with conviction

 

The best point in Leo's post is that had Lucas started instead of Aquilani, the Brazilian doesn't make the run to the far post.

 

I thought it was a superb header back across goal.

[Mike]

He was signed because he could attack and play the holding role. I think Rafa over egged his attacking abilities because his shooting is poor and he can't head a ball with conviction

 

The best point in Leo's post is that had Lucas started instead of Aquilani, the Brazilian doesn't make the run to the far post.

 

I thought it was a superb header back across goal.

 

he rose like the proverbial salmon.