There were games when Mane didn't play well and was pretty useless in our games. Last night he could have just been as useless as the rest. he's great at running behind the defence which Soton wouldn't have allowed him to do.. Although I'd agree that he is the better option up top.
Earlier this season everyone was praising the ovement and fluid interchange of our forward players but that has just disappeared. there was a noticeable bit last night when TAA passed to Henderson who looked up for a pass & could see 5 men all of whom were marked & making no attempt to find space so passed back to TAA who promptly passed it back to him. By now both TAA & Henderson were being pressed so Henderson tried a hopeful ball to the edge of Southampton box which was easily cut out. Now everyone blamed Henderson but just as much at fault were the rest of the team who didn't provide the movement required to get free so a pass was on for the player in posession.
With Mane in there he usually tracks back and helps the full back as did Coutinho on the left there was none of that tracking back from our forwards last night which leaves us open to the counter, why have we changed that ethos? No ****ing clue.
You obviously don't know too many reds ...... we've all been on about letting him go and apart from when he first came and looked like a prospect, he's yet to even start fulfilling any potential he has.
I really think that we've given Origi and Studge enough opportunities in this formation, Klopp is trying to add quality into positions that simply don't suit the player. I mentioned it yesterday that we should have added like for like so Ojo should have been given a shot Wilson maybe as well, both have pace and would be a like for like replacement for Mane, not of the same quality but at least the same type of player.
I agree. If there's one criticism I have of Klopp it's his substitutions which are either too late or not the right player. He's keeping faith when he needs to act a bit quicker to change the direction of the game. Moreno EL Final springs instantly to mind and I've not seen him change his stance yet.
That's the telling statement and the indictment of our current system. No disrespect to Plymouth but if they can comtain us then why did some here get surprised when the likes of Sundeland and swansea take points off us even though hey are strugglers? teams swatted by the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs? I also find it incredible that we have not prepared for the absence of Mane. Do we have anyone who come remotely close to his game? his pace and penetration? At th end of the day it is all about the quality of the players. Yes, systems are important. but to win the top trophies like the premiership or the CL you need the top quality players. Barcelona, Real and Bayern are there on the basis of having the top players. We have secured Coutinho for now (but will he stay if Real or Barcelona come calling?). Firmino and Mane are top players but who else would any of top 6 sides fight to get if they were available? The window is still open. Unless we buy it looks like yet another season in transition.
I agree. I think that the loss of Mané is being overplayed. He has pace, but that's only useful if there's space to employ it. I can't see that his pace is going to make a blind bit of difference in a game like last night where we're camped out 30 yards from their goal. I don't have an obvious solution, but we have to have more than just going through the same routines all the time. Of course, if the keeper hadn't made a mess of making a mess of our one decent shot, and if Sturridge hadn't worn his clown boots, then it all might have been different and now we'd be looking forward to a cup final - but it's happening too often for us to use the "on another day.." excuse. We need more invention and variation. We need a real Plan B, not just variations on Plan A.
When we did have a break against them his pace would have been useful, when camped in their half it's his ability to go past a man that would have helped. The other problem is that we're replacing him with a player that changes the whole set up of the front 3 instead of a like for like player. I'm not so sure we need to buy now, I want the right player at the right price and if that means we wait then fine. The players we have performed earlier in the season we just need to get back to that.
Klopp needs a press-breaker. We're playing against an 8 man back line every game now and he's yet to employ a tactic to break it. What is it they say about continuing to do the same thing and expecting different results ....
need to get wide and be happy to run wide to pull players out of position. theres not enough running for the team going on Sturridge was "praised" afte rplymouth game for running thankless paths but the reality is he's just offering for balls in the centre of over the top he could never get. We NEED people to pull wide so some defenders have to follow to create space. no more than 10 yards covered the 3 southampton CMs last night at times. They had it piss easy to block us. need a selfless runner IMO.
But that situation isn't happening all that often and isn't the real problem. The problem is not being able to break down a disciplined, strong defence that is prepared to let us come at them. This is where we fail consistently and it's this that needs to be addressed. It's not enough for Mané to beat a man if there are three more lined up behind him. Don't get me wrong, I think he improves us a lot, I just think that blaming his loss for our current poor run is over-simplifying the situation. And I hope that's true, because if we're totally reliant on one man to win games then we're never going to get very far.
One thing about Mane is he will make the runs and keep the width and when he's on the ball he's got some uncanny dribbling skills and can drive him past defenders. I think you guys miss him more than you think. Plus having him also means you wouldn't need to play sturridge who either cant be arsed or his body has broken down. Studge just doesn't look as strong as he used to and i have hardly seen him use that blistering pace and acceleration. Firmino could have started as the false 9 which is his best position.
he ran in behind but he made space for allana and thats why lallana looked good. thus far klopp's seriously unable to replace him thats for sure out of what we have. he put his shift in defending and all.
We need more creative attacking midfielders who can unlock the tight defences by seeing the gaps and the opportunities. Willing non stop runners are fine but we need that invention AND players down the wings who can go past players and make the telling pass.
Easy to scapegoat players or missing players. The fact is, these players beat the best...they could easily beat the rest. Different formation? Different approach off the ball? Could we try 3 at the back? Use Clyne and Milner as attacking wingbacks? Migs Lovren Matip Klavan Clyne Henderson Milner Lala Gini Mane Firm Couts
I think you can be as creative a syou like but you need to get wide. coutinho stuck bang centre and too deep for me. He needs to be put wide left and let the others play round that. I'm pretty sure lallana and wijnaldum can pass "well enough" as can full backs starved of a ball down the line if there's enough width to make spaces.
nah... deffo not that team IMO with those donkey CBS. IMO if you want to go 3 at back you need a bit of passing ability in it. IMO if you have mane back you don't need to change formation. you need one game a week andthe 433 with players doing what they were doing before they lost it. If you want 343 then you are saying to 3 guys just stay up there and attack really. oh and playing 12 players will help i guess
i have no idea why the tactic is to let coutinho come deep as he then doesnt really move the ball around but likes to dribble up field and compress the play. To be honest, coutinhos a special player who can dribble both sides, play a killer pass the thing that sets him apart for me is that he's got great control, vision and awareness of where the space is and can receive the ball higher up the pitch. Making him come back for the ball is dumb
