Brendan's tactics

[Molby]

virtually everyone thinks we should be prioritising a DM

 

some people (myself included) think that an attacking, scoring, ball carrier is equally important, and a back up striker come to think of it

 

yet BR appears completely disinterested in a DM even though many times, the oppo has been able to drive a bus through our midfield

 

do you think he doesn't see anyone out there that he thinks we could get, that could make that much difference, or that such a player doesn't fit in to his plan?

 

his plan seems to involve Allen, Hendo, Gerrard in a defensive role and Lucas when fit

3 from those 4

 

I am unconvinced by those 3 btw, as in I wouldn't be resting on my laurels and thinking we're ok as we are in that dept

[fred milne]

virtually everyone thinks we should be prioritising a DM

 

some people (myself included) think that an attacking, scoring, ball carrier is equally important, and a back up striker come to think of it

 

yet BR appears completely disinterested in a DM even though many times, the oppo has been able to drive a bus through our midfield

 

do you think he doesn't see anyone out there that he thinks we could get, that could make that much difference, or that such a player doesn't fit in to his plan?

 

his plan seems to involve Allen, Hendo, Gerrard in a defensive role and Lucas when fit

3 from those 4

 

I am unconvinced by those 3 btw, as in I wouldn't be resting on my laurels and thinking we're ok as we are in that dept

Depends what kind of player you are talking about. A DM means different things to different people.

[Nebraska Red]

What he's looking for is a Song, Busquets or Mascherano. At the moment, I don't see a suitable option out there.

 

We have to make do with what we have until someone is out there.

[Flasher]

Reads like a transfer thread to me.

 

Fine with me btw.

 

I think he wants to use Hendo as the central engine room. Not using him wide means he's looking wide for a new player.

 

That said, I still think his initial intention was Suarez central, Coutinho as the 10 and Sturridge as a wide forward, leaving space for one more wide player.

 

Sturridge turned out to be bloody good up top though.

[honourablegeorge]

On Tuesday night's evidence, he seems to see Gerrard/Lucan/Henderson deep, Coutinho (and maybe Alberto) in front, and Allen probably fitting into either group (Henderson too, I guess - esp for more defensive away fixtures). Konoplanka would suggest Coutinho is destined for a more central role too.

 

Reads like a transfer thread to me.

 

Fine with me btw.

 

I think he wants to use Hendo as the central engine room. Not using him wide means he's looking wide for a new player.

 

That said, I still think his initial intention was Suarez central, Coutinho as the 10 and Sturridge as a wide forward, leaving space for one more wide player.

 

Sturridge turned out to be bloody good up top though.

 

 

Two of Gerrard/Henderson/Mucas, with Kono, Coutinho and Suarez as a 3 behind Sturridge. ANd lots of swapping around and flexibility, Suarez in particular. And Sterling in the mix (he doesn't deserve to be excluded, to be fair to him, although his finishing could be better)

[fred milne]

What he's looking for is a Song, Busquets or Mascherano. At the moment, I don't see a suitable option out there.

 

We have to make do with what we have until someone is out there.

I'm pretty sure he wouldn't play a Mascherano in front of the defence.

[Hassony]

What he's looking for is a Song, Busquets or Mascherano. At the moment, I don't see a suitable option out there.

 

 

you don't there is anyone that we get that will offer us what these three can offer us? rubbish

 

 

I just don't he sees it as a priority at the moment

[cymrococh]

What he's looking for is a Song, Busquets or Mascherano. At the moment, I don't see a suitable option out there.

Is he? Why is he never linked to one then?

[Falconhoof]

Maybe he wants to get to a stage where we are so good at scoring goals that we win enough games to get in the champions league, then he will be able to afford a deeper squad and look for more tactical defensive midfielders.

Maybe building an impressive attacking lineup was a more natural evolution for the squad he inherited.

[Spion kop]

Midfield two deep and compressed tightly with the back four to prevent attacking space to the opposition seems to be the idea rather than a nominated DM.

[Hassony]

Is he? Why is he never linked to one then?

 

Because NR has scouted the whole of europe and south america and hasn't found one that fits in Rodger's plans

[Ronnie#5]

What he's looking for is a Song, Busquets or Mascherano. At the moment, I don't see a suitable option out there.

Schneiderlin

[The_Adder]

I think it is pretty obvious what Brendan is trying to do in signing a winger instead of a defensive midfielder, in doing so it lets us have Coutinho as an attacking midfielder, shaping us up like:

 

DM: Gerrard, Lucas

 

CM: Henderson, Allen

 

AMC: Coutinho, Alberto

 

Winger: Konoplyanka, Sterling

 

Strikers: Suarez & Sturridge

 

Actually looks like we have a bit of depth and have two players for each position, minus our strikers - with whoever we get in, whether it is Borini back from loan or someone else knowing 100% they are going to be a back up to Sturridge and Suarez.

 

That means we can line up in much the same way as the game against Everton:

 

DM - CM

 

Sturridge/Suarez - AMC - Winger

 

Sturridge/Suarez

 

With the front two swapping positions when needed when we are defending.

 

I'd say our first choice front six would look like:

 

Gerrard - Henderson

 

Sturridge/Suarez - Coutinho - Konoplyanka

 

Sturridge/Suarez

 

With one of Konoplyanka on the left or Sterling right depending which one of those is selected.

 

I think Brendan has seen the shambles against Villa and put Coutinho in to make three in midfield, has a winger to hold his position wide (currently Sterling) and told Suarez and Sturridge to change positions for the other side.

 

Very, very clever as it allows us to play our SAS and retain control in the middle, which is the magic formula for us.

Edited January 30, 2014 by The_Adder

[Earl Hafler]

virtually everyone thinks we should be prioritising a DM

 

some people (myself included) think that an attacking, scoring, ball carrier is equally important, and a back up striker come to think of it

 

yet BR appears completely disinterested in a DM even though many times, the oppo has been able to drive a bus through our midfield

 

do you think he doesn't see anyone out there that he thinks we could get, that could make that much difference, or that such a player doesn't fit in to his plan?

 

his plan seems to involve Allen, Hendo, Gerrard in a defensive role and Lucas when fit

3 from those 4

 

I am unconvinced by those 3 btw, as in I wouldn't be resting on my laurels and thinking we're ok as we are in that dept

 

I've had more faith than most in Allen and Henderson in the middle, i think. And Gerrard as a DM wouldn't concern me so much if the fullbacks were more disciplined ( as they were the other night ) and Henderson was allowed to play centre mid ( as he was the other night ) with Coutinho playing that pressing, harrying role that Henderson has been allotted most times he's played. .However, we've been playing with Gerrard in that position like Everton did with Barry the other night - both fullbacks bombing on and leaving ourselves open. We haven't the defence or balance in midfield to play that way against every team.

 

The next step there is for Sakho to have a sustained run in the side and have him orchestrating the defence through games

 

Strange that Rodgers has signed only Allen who could be considered as a classic centre mid and whilst it's admirable in a way that he's looking to select as many in form attacking players as he can - something Ferguson consistently did to ensure goals and thus victories - I'd like to see Allen return for games against Arsenal and the like and bench Sterling or Coutinho : before the Everton match i think many would have rested Coutinho but now he's returned to form he has to start. He's struggling to sustain his performances much beyond 65-70 minutes anyway so Sterling will still get a run out.

 

You don't need to start a holding or defensive midfielder every game in this league but the defence needs to be compatible with the midfield you do select.

[honourablegeorge]

Schneiderlin

 

 

Arsenal have been quoted £15m for him, it says here. Hmm.

[Ronnie#5]

Arsenal have been quoted £15m for him, it says here. Hmm.

At that he's a steal. No chance Southampton sell him this late in the window though. He'll go the WC, be top class, and leave this summer for £25m.

[Benzo-13]

At that he's a steal. No chance Southampton sell him this late in the window though. He'll go the WC, be top class, and leave this summer for £25m.

He's French, never capped by them as a full international.

[Earl Hafler]

Depends what kind of player you are talking about. A DM means different things to different people.

 

Different types of DM, too, though. We had three different types in Xabi, Masch and Lucas in one squad.

[Ronnie#5]

He's French, never capped by them as a full international.

yeah I know that, hence why I think he's undervalued. Deschamps is off his head of he leaves him at home in the summer though, no? The again who gives a shyte. . I just don't want any of our lot heading over there to get Hodgy'd.

[The Hitman]

Maybe he wants to get to a stage where we are so good at scoring goals that we win enough games to get in the champions league, then he will be able to afford a deeper squad and look for more tactical defensive midfielders.

This I think.

The Ferguson/Wenger approach of the last few years-both have operated without a top-class centre mid.

Except hopefully we'll fix it once we have the attraction of CL footie and more money.

[Benzo-13]

yeah I know that, hence why I think he's undervalued. Deschamps is off his head of he leaves him at home in the summer though, no? The again who gives a shyte. . I just don't want any of our lot heading over there to get Hodgy'd.

The French well covered there though and yeah it'd be good for a player to experience a World Cup but that owl g******* will probably send them back in bits.

[FakeNewsBear]

DM is a very subjective term IMO

Lucas is a Ball Winner (simple passing breaking up play),

Henderson is Box to Box (good engine),

Allen (could do Box to Box)is archatypel Centre Midfield

And Gerrard is a Playmaker

 

I think getting the dynamic of the 2 in midfield is more important than the player the partnership of the Centre Backs is as just important though they must compliment or you get Carra/Skrtel going for the same ball situation one attack one cover for me, that's how I was taught a DM is great but every formation has 2 defenders and 2 midfielders (some times more) but that depends on opposition

Our full backs play so high that they must cover double distance than any other (doing wide mid and full backs job) freeing an all out attack with Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge all attacking like a pack of goal hungry wolves and I love it. Only through the Hard Work of the Wing Backs are we doing the stuff.

 

In other words am fine without signing a DM as long as we add quality in general

Edited January 30, 2014 by Bad News Bear

[Eskimo]

IMO we have enough bodies in midfield to see out the season, more a question of picking the right combo and as Adder points out signing a wide player and moving Pippo inside gives us more options short-term.

 

Come the summer I'd like to see BR bring in a more dynamic CM - a Gerrard in his prime type. I also think we need to asses Lucas (are the injuries taking their toll) and Allen (can we find better).

[Toni]

In reply to thread title: FLEXIBLE!

[Rory Fitzgerald]

In reply to thread title: FLEXIBLE!

 

Was about to post that, he's gone with lots of formations with different variants.

 

He needs to plan midfield this Summer and not for ideological reasons but out of necessity;

- Gerrard will be 34 in May, seeing him as a 38 game, 90min player is not realistic or optimal.

- Lucas is becoming more of a concern - it was legs earlier in the season now its availability as well.

- Allen is someone that has yet to perform on a consistent basis though partly explained by his injuries and again that's a factor.

 

On a DM, its a set of qualities I think he will be looking for such as mobility, technically sound, good reader of the game and an ability and willingness to take a pass in a tight space.

 

Someone that trashes around midfield putting in tackles and being physically intimidating with OK ability on the ball (ala Mo Sissoko) may be lower on his list than someone that can read the game and play the game in a way that keeps it simple (Ala Hamann).