The defence

[Epic Swindle]

I don't remember it being this bad since pre Houllier, indivudually and collectively. World class goalkeeper but his confidence will soon suffer playing behind such a ragged unit. Whoever comes in will need to build another solid foundation, preferably around Martin Kelly, who has the height, strength and pace required for a modern CB.

[carrafan]

Whoever comes in will need to build another solid foundation, preferably around Martin Kelly, who has the height, strength and pace required for a modern CB.

 

[alias75]

The way Hodgson sets the team up invites pressure and individually our players aren't good enough to cope. If you keep sitting deep inviting balls into your area sooner or later some things gonna bounce the wrong way and fall to the opposition.

 

At the moment we get the worst of both worlds, usually a team is open defensively when they try and play an attacking brand of football but we're getting the double whammy of negative football and also lots of goals conceded because we sit back and invite balls into our box which our defenders can't cope with.

[fred milne]

I don't remember it being this bad since pre Houllier, indivudually and collectively. World class goalkeeper but his confidence will soon suffer playing behind such a ragged unit. Whoever comes in will need to build another solid foundation, preferably around Martin Kelly, who has the height, strength and pace required for a modern CB.

I'm not sure whether Kelly will end up as a CB for us but I do think he should have kept his place in the side after his display against Chelsea.

[lfc003]

This defence is a hell of alot better than the vast majority in the league, I'd include Arsenal and Tottenham in that aswell. To improve you get the team playing 15 yards higher up the field pressuring the opposition on the ball and monopolizing possession of the ball, Atleast then if a mistake is made we make it on the halfway line away from danger unlike just outside our penalty area where the opposition can have a good chance to score.

Edited December 30, 2010 by lfc003

[Ombudsam]

Defence ain't up to much at the mo. Johnson's good going forward but isn't doing that. The rest are just flat out avg

 

I'm not sure whether Kelly will end up as a CB for us but I do think he should have kept his place in the side after his display against Chelsea.

 

What do you think he's missing. Hard to tell at his age surely?

[alias75]

This defence is a hell of alot better than the vast majority in the league, I'd include Arsenal and Tottenham in that aswell. To improve you get the team playing 15 yards higher up the field and pressuring the opposition on the ball, Atleast then if a mistake is made we make it on the halfway line away from danger unlike just outside our penalty area where the opposition can have a good chance to score.

 

The difference is Arsenal and Tottenham make the trade off between playing an attacking brand of football which leaves them open defensively. We're playing a negative brand of football but inviting pressure which has meant we've conceded lots of goals.

 

Its very obvious that Roys methods are just out of date and not fit for the players he has here or the way the game is going. We need a younger more forward thinking coach. Ian Hollaway started off as a traditional 4-4-2 coach he realised quickly he needed to learn more and went all over Europe watching teams like Barcelona and even Swansea under Martinez, i heard him talk about his footballing philosophy the other day and it was all about keeping plenty of width and taking the game to the opposition so you don't have to concentrate too much on defence, Roy hasn't changed in over 20 years. We've not just been beaten by Blackpool and Wolves this season but we've been outplayed in both games.

[fred milne]

What do you think he's missing. Hard to tell at his age surely?

I've not seen him play at CB so its quite hard to tell from his displays at RB/LB whether he will make it there or not.

[RP]

Looking at our defence last night, it struck me that the Greek is the only one worthy of being anywhere near Anfield in a red shirt - and he's not that good..

 

Konchesky is some East London clogger, should never have got off Hackney Marshes, Skrtel is plain sh** and Johnson is fast becoming a joke.

 

What the f*** happened??

[Ombudsam]

I've not seen him play at CB so its quite hard to tell from his displays at RB/LB whether he will make it there or not.

 

Yeah that's pretty obvious tbf. The fact he hasn't played there means that you can't tell how good he is there.

 

Looking at our defence last night, it struck me that the Greek is the only one worthy of being anywhere near Anfield in a red shirt - and he's not that good..

 

Konchesky is some East London clogger, should never have got off Hackney Marshes, Skrtel is plain sh** and Johnson is fast becoming a joke.

 

What the f*** happened??

 

Johnson was genuinely outstanding when he joined

[Epic Swindle]

What the f*** happened??

 

Exactly. From one of the most solid consistant units in the leaque to a broken shell in the space of a year.

[fred milne]

Exactly. From one of the most solid consistant units in the leaque to a broken shell in the space of a year.

I'd say the defence has been on a downward curve since around 2007 but I agree the wheels have truly fallen off in the last 12 months or so.

[Epic Swindle]

Johnson was genuinely outstanding when he joined

 

Maybe a bit of new club syndrome. He's been very ordinary since. Last night was actually one of his better defensive performances, but there's always potential for a concentration lapse. Given our options and lack of pace out wide I'd give him a run in right mid, though I know it won't happen.

[Ombudsam]

Maybe a bit of new club syndrome. He's been very ordinary since. Last night was actually one of his better defensive performances, but there's always potential for a concentration lapse. Given our options and lack of pace out wide I'd give him a run in right mid, though I know it won't happen.

 

I thought that.

 

What about that time he just hoofed it out. That was weird. It's like he had a panic attack and forgot what a football was and that he's good at the game

Edited December 30, 2010 by sammya

[RP]

I thought he was crap yesterday - hoofing it, giving the ball away etc.

[Metro]

Should've thought the answer is pretty obvious really. The side has never been the same since Alonso was allowed to leave. Mascherano going simply was the cherry on the top of the cake.

[RP]

Should've thought the answer is pretty obvious really. The side has never been the same since Alonso was allowed to leave. Mascherano going simply was the cherry on the top of the cake.

 

 

Some things never change.

[Flanders]

I blame all of that zonal marking, they'll take years to learn how to play again.

[Metro]

Some things never change.

 

 

They did when Alonso and Mascherano went. But we know you think otherwise, don't we?

[RP]

They did when Alonso and Mascherano went. But we know you think otherwise, don't we?

 

 

Actually you don't know anything.

[yellow jumper]

johnson's one of our top three or four players. barely out of his own half yesterday. noticeable how when he got to the halfway line it was invariably, stop, and look for the pass into the front men. very few overlapping runs or ball carrying. created a good chance on the one occasion he did venture forward. martin kelly's been ok. looked very solid on occasions, looked like djimi traore on others.

[Epic Swindle]

I thought that.

 

What about that time he just hoofed it out. That was weird. It's like he had a panic attack and forgot what a football was and that he's good at the game

 

Weird that was and a good example of the panic and lack of composure throughout the team. He seemed incapable of running into space when the game was crying out to be stretched and would turn back and look for an easy pass. I'm sure he'd be fine in a team that attacks at will and dominates possession but I wouldn't have him in the trenches with me.

[fred milne]

johnson's one of our top three or four players. barely out of his own half yesterday. noticeable how when he got to the halfway line it was invariably, stop, and look for the pass into the front men. very few overlapping runs or ball carrying. created a good chance on the one occasion he did venture forward. martin kelly's been ok. looked very solid on occasions, looked like djimi traore on others.

Johnson has a casual/sloppy side to his game both in his defending and his use of the ball that has been there since his West Ham days. Perhaps in time his concentration will improve as Ferdinand's did but its conceivable that what we see now is what we are only going to get.

[Ombudsam]

Weird that was and a good example of the panic and lack of composure throughout the team. He seemed incapable of running into space when the game was crying out to be stretched and would turn back and look for an easy pass. I'm sure he'd be fine in a team that attacks at will and dominates possession but I wouldn't have him in the trenches with me.

 

Yeah, he'd fire his rifle in random directions judging by that action

[Benzo-13]

The midfield not pressing anymore puts the whole defensive aspect of the team under pressure.