England to play like Liverpool? Not anytime soon

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BCR

BCR

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Jan 26, 2011
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http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/liverpool/id/2897?cc=5901

One of the things Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has always been most passionate and outspoken about is the ability of British players to play football with the same kind of swagger and technique as the continentals. While many coaches, especially at youth level, shy away from such crazy notions and encourage young British players to "play to their strengths" (which usually involves lots of running around, tackling and playing balls into channels), Rodgers has been steadfast in his beliefs to the contrary, and this season he has proved that English players can dazzle with the best of them.



Rodgers has long believed that British players have the technique to play the same kind of attractive, technical football that has been the hallmark of the best continental sides over the years, and he's put those beliefs into practice wherever he has been, most notably at Liverpool where his vibrant young side are playing football that is as pleasing to the eye as anything Europe has to offer. Significantly, he has done it with a core of English players. Six of them, to be exact: Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Jon Flanagan, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge. There's also the Welshman Joe Allen, of course, a midfield player very much in the "continental" mould.

This has prompted plenty of media debate recently as to whether England boss Roy Hodgson should utilise that to his and the nation's advantage at this summer's World Cup in Brazil. After all, every major international tournament ends the same way for England: plenty of huff and puff, lots of "bulldog spirit," but an inevitable exit as soon as they come up against any half-decent opponent who can keep the ball for more than 10 seconds at a time. Then follows the national inquest that invariably draws the conclusion that England's players lack the technique of other nations and they should therefore stop trying to "beat them at their own game" and "play to their strengths."

It is this kind of attitude that Rodgers has been railing against ever since he first started out on his "coaching journey" 20 years ago, and what he's done at Liverpool this season may have opened the eyes of a lot of England supporters as to what English players can do. Build an England team around this core of Liverpool players and they'll automatically play like Liverpool, right? I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

Well, Hodgson for a start. Liverpool fans have seen at first hand the kind of football played by Hodgson, and it's as far removed from the Rodgers way as it's possible to be. In fact, it's bordering on being a different sport entirely. "Hodgeball" and "Rodgeball" may sound alike, but that’s where any similarities end -- unfortunately for followers of the English national side.

Even if the English FA were to hand British passports to Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho, Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel and co, and FIFA gave them special dispensation to represent England in the World Cup, you would still not see England "playing like Liverpool," because Hodgson has his own way of doing things, and it's nothing like how Rodgers does it.

All football teams play in the image of their coaches, and most coaches have their own unique way of setting up a team. Look at Manchester United, for example: runaway champions last season, also-rans this season. The difference? They changed their manager, and the style of football has been completely unrecognisable from a year ago, despite the squad being made up of more or less the same group of players.

The point is that, yes, there are English players who are every bit as technically gifted as their overseas counterparts, but it takes a certain type of manager to allow them to show it. Managers such as Arsene Wenger, Roberto Martinez, Mauricio Pochettino and, of course, Brendan Rodgers.

For example, many coaches would see Henderson as just an athlete, someone who will run up and down the pitch all day and not be asked to do much else. Under Rodgers, however, Henderson is fast becoming the complete midfield player. In addition to all that running, he's creating goals with back-heels, delivering 50-yard half-volleyed passes right on the money, and he's playing with great tactical awareness. The only thing missing from his game right now is more goals, and given his rapid development under Rodgers there is nothing to suggest he won't improve in that area over the next few years too.

Then there's Sterling, the flying teenage winger Rodgers inherited when he took over at Anfield in the summer of 2012. Almost two years on, Sterling is still a teenager but you can't pigeonhole him as a "flying winger" anymore as there's so much more to him than that now. Rodgers has spoken of how he is "developing footballers" and not wanting to define players by position. Sterling is the most shining example of that.

The 19-year-old has played in a front three, a front two, he's played wide, he's played central at the point of a diamond and he's even played right back. And he's been brilliant in every single position. How many other coaches would have put so much trust in a "flying teenage winger" to play in such a variety of demanding roles in high-pressure games? Sterling is not just a winger; he's a footballer of the highest calibre.

And what of Flanagan, the young scouse full-back Rodgers brought in from the wilderness and who is now holding down a regular spot in a title-chasing team? The composure and confidence shown each week by Flanagan is testament to what young English players can do when given the encouragement and belief to do it. Flanagan is in many ways your "typical English player." He loves a tackle, he plays with passion and he wouldn't generally be viewed as being the most "technically gifted" of full-backs.

Watch him play, though; his first touch is usually exemplary, his passing is crisp and confident, and while he may not be especially flashy, he epitomises everything that Rodgers has said about young British players having the technique to play, providing you give them the platform and the confidence to show it.

Unlike his five English team-mates, Flanagan will not be going to the World Cup this summer, but even if he was, the chances are that he -- along with the others -- wouldn't perform to the same level he has done with Liverpool. It just isn't that simple.

I'm sorry, England fans, but if you want to see England playing like Liverpool in this summer's World Cup, you'll need more than just half a dozen of their players; you'll need Rodgers, too. And that's not happening any time soon.
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England should look at Liverpool and Southampton and the styles of play and put out a team that those players are comfortable in. The styles of play are similar and the players know each other knock together a 4-3-3 and you would have first team that have an understanding.

This is just an example and you can easily mess around with it........

------------Hart
Johnson Cahill Terry Shaw
Lallana Gerrard Henderson
Sturridge Rodriguez Sterling

So an understanding of each other from the start even down to the center backs.

A team comfortable with each other the formation and style of play, the basis of any good team.
 
Playing possession based football is the logical path England should take. Not only is it often successful but it is easier to play after a long tiring domestic season.
 
There is a major flaw in England playing like Liverpool in that, the main guy is Uruguayan.
 
luvgonzo said:
England should look at Liverpool and Southampton and the styles of play and put out a team that those players are comfortable in. The styles of play are similar and the players know each other knock together a 4-3-3 and you would have first team that have an understanding.

This is just an example and you can easily mess around with it........

------------Hart
Johnson Cahill Terry Shaw
Lallana Gerrard Henderson
Sturridge Rodriguez Sterling

So an understanding of each other from the start even down to the center backs.

A team comfortable with each other the formation and style of play, the basis of any good team.
Click to expand...

I'd certainly be interesting if something like this was adopted. Unfortunately don't think Roy is the man to do it. I'd also put Rooney upfront as on his day he is as close to world class that we have (albeit rarely shown in an England shirt) and to be fair, he's had a good season.
 
chelsea - over 100 years of history said:
I'd certainly be interesting if something like this was adopted. Unfortunately don't think Roy is the man to do it. I'd also put Rooney upfront as on his day he is as close to world class that we have (albeit rarely shown in an England shirt) and to be fair, he's had a good season.
Click to expand...

Problem with putting Rooney in is that he's a prime example of a player that plays for himself and wants to dictate the play other than doing what he's told or what is best for the team. Tbf you can argue lots of points with that team when it comes the players but the point is to have a group who play in a similar way therefore understand the system and style of play other than a group of individuals who all play in different ways for their clubs.

Gerrard is a good example of the stupid choices made by Roy, he's not up to playing the attacking midfield role and has been brilliant since Rodgers dropped him deep and allowed him to dictate play from deep. Will Hodgson change his role for England I don't think he will.
 
The frustrating thing is we all know Roy is going to put Sturridge on the wing and isn't going to give him a chance upfront. And he won't score, and then the pundits will be puzzled at the fact he isn't replicating his Liverpool form in an England shirt.
 
Yeah let's not have Rooney in the team because he's an Evertonian who now plays for Man Utd <doh>

You may not like Rooney, but as Chelsea over 100 years has pointed out, the guy is world class on his day. If you want to play your little 433 system, then drop Sturridge and play Rooney upfront. If not play a 442 and play them both, with Rooney dropping deeper.

Sturridge can play on the wing though, and with Rodriguez injured you could stick Sturridge out wide. But dropping Rooney is a ridiculous idea :biggrin:
 
King Shergar said:
Yeah let's not have Rooney in the team because he's an Evertonian who now plays for Man Utd <doh>

You may not like Rooney, but as Chelsea over 100 years has pointed out, the guy is world class on his day. If you want to play your little 433 system, then drop Sturridge and play Rooney upfront. If not play a 442 and play them both, with Rooney dropping deeper.

Sturridge can play on the wing though, and with Rodriguez injured you could stick Sturridge out wide. But dropping Rooney is a ridiculous idea :biggrin:
Click to expand...

When was that day this season? Going on form alone you have to play Sturridge in the centre.
 
Foredeckdave said:
When was that day this season? Going on form alone you have to play Sturridge in the centre.
Click to expand...

Look how many goals Liverpool have scored this season, where as Rooney has been playing in a struggling side who've been creating a lot less chances. Rooney is twice the player of Sturridge, Sturridge is nothing more than a pace abuser, where as Rooney's a proper footballer :biggrin:
 
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