Exactly. If playing for a clean sheet goes wrong, you're basically forced into changing your tactics which good managers will exploit. If you play to attack, your destiny is in your own hands more often than not. Score 3 and it doesn't matter if you concede one. Rafa was defensive, no way around that. We did score loads but Rafa even managed to look displeased about that. He wanted strict tactical solidity. How many times did we frustrate ourselves when in a great counterattacking position, only to pass it back to the defenders, pass it around the back, allow them a way back to press, and slow down tempo? It held us back so many times during his career here. Think of all the draws we played to when we needed a win. It frustrated me to no end. He'd make a point of taking attackers off when they were on braces and replacing them with N'gog or similar. Rodgers does need to fix some of the things the defenders aren't doing right but mostly their weakness is down to the poor cover they have received at points during the season (not counting Skrtel's OG's). When we lost to Hull Moses was playing in the 10 role, refused to track back, gave the ball away cheaply leading to their counters, etc. I understand it wasn't his natural position but it's due to that that they were exposed and let in all those goals. It can be fixed but with the attacking play that Rodgers advocates we're in a much healthier position to build on our squad.
Or not.... He chose sturridge and coutinho and gave others their chance. I think he's only evolved from a very.... Oh conventional contemporary system of false 9 and reverse wingers that was the fashion with his aspirational model clubs and really just found out what works in practice so I really think he'll just focus on style and players not on system. Frankly two forwards working this way is a shock to all and sundry but the secret is not two strikers but two players who can really play flexibly Just my thought anyway, if he buys a crap load of midfielders he could just end up back with the contemporary false 9 and be nowhere near the top for all we know, I for one perfer players scaring cbs by getting behind than guys running square or towards midfield. Watching last season you could see the lack of presence in the box while this year the evidence in goals and pens is palpable The question really is how it works in europe
Good point and that season shows why 1-0 wins building from a good defence are more successful than going all out attack and simply trying to outscore the opposition. United's league season was built on something like a dozen 1-0 wins and 20+ clean sheets. It was an absolute solid performance and showed stability and consistency. As a result (bcos the demands on our formidable strike force was less) we also managed to reach another CL final and I don't think we could have done that (or any teams can do that) simply by approaching every competition with a "you score, we'll score more" attitude.
i am more of a fan of we will outscore the opo as we have a weaker defence than having a solid defence and trying to get the one goal needed to win games, but then you could counter that argument with if you have a solid defence less emphasis on the strikers as to perform every game as you know your defence is solid and you can get at least get a point out of games which is a good result away from home. either way you need at least one part of the team to be solid, whether its defence or attack. Real was successful at one time with a ****e defence, they had the attitude of we will score more than you, think it was the nineties (but dont quote me on that lol)
I'm willing to bet you lot that if we had to we could set up to defend.... Our defense is not weak but it is exposed wider and strikers who pull wide can hurt us. The diamond vacates the wings so say snodgrass stays wide and pushes on Flanagan. If Allen isn't alert and bothered we can see overlaps and a lot of issues Going 433 basically allows a 451 defense using wide men If we were to set up with 433 / 451 I'm willing to bet we could hold a clean sheet, we are not that bad at the back
3 points more important than clean sheet. Norwich were desperate for a draw or win yesterday. First half they were hoping for 0:0 draw.
Sorry fellas but this is why [a strong defence but not scoring as many] > [lots of goals but a weak defence]. I'll add that scoring goals has been a premium for you this season but form can dip and the games you've won this season with the extraordinary number of goals, you could be losing next. In that case, it's easier to sort out the defence than have to continue to outscore the oppo. That's what needs to be addressed in the summer.
