The sight of wenger makes many a footballing man sick to his stomach, sitting there ogling boys in his trench coat and fingering his massive...... Wallet
Strongest considered line-up for 2013-14: Migs Johnson - Skrtel - Agger - Flanno Gerrard Hendo - - - - - Coutinho Sterling Suarez - Sturridge Strongest considered line-up for 2014-15: Migs Johnson - Skrtel - Lovren - Moreno Gerrard Hendo - - - - - Lallana Sterling Balotelli - Sturridge I've put Johnson in both because that's who Brod will choose when everyone is fit. My preference would be Flanno but it would be Mankiller based on the opening to the season. I see four changes to last season there although you could argue three if you replace Coutinho / Lallana with Allen. To me, that is not a massive amount of change. What stands out to me is two things: 1) With Johnson being out injured (a blessing some would say) it means three of the back four are summer signings and offers no stability through experience of playing together. This will take at least another month to get right as it can only be done through time together on the pitch. Of course, we could put more familiar faces in such as Enrique but does he really deserve to play ahead of Moreno? 2) Movement up top; or in other words Suarez vs Balotelli... Now, first things first, Mario as impressed me since he arrived. He's not been as lazy as I expected plus his control and hold up play as been much better than I thought too. However, not being as lazy as I thought doesn't not mean he isn't lazy, he is! Secondly, I do not expect him or anyone else to come into the team and replace Suarez. There are only two (I'd argue three) in world football that could do that in Messi and C.Ronaldo (and Neymar ) My opinion is, his almost static approach to game leaves him in the central area of the pitch. This deprives our more mobile and creative players such as Sterling, Coutinho and maybe Sturridge (not really seen the partnership too much yet) of much needed space. It prevents us from playing the free-flowing interchanging football that was so great last season. Suarez wasn't the one that enabled us to play that way, we did it when he was missing too. Hell, we did it against Spurs a few games ago and Balotelli was playing! Basically, what I'm saying is our approach needs to change to suit the players (mainly Mario) we now have. We are going to get frustrated whilst the defence get used to each other same as we are going to get frustrated at not being as pretty on the eye as we were not too long ago too. We just need to sit it out and have patience.
Yeah but Gerrard last year had belief and stood facing the opposition and could move. Gerrard this year can't get turned and is not even at that level. Also coutinho only played a few games there and there are those who shall remain nameless who will swear joe Allen played most there when we won and coutinho and sterling swapped about
Disagree - Gerrard was the same last season as well. Difference is, our attack was world class last season and they got us into the lead on most occasions so it relieved the pressure on him. You can play either Allen or Coutinho in that position alongside Hendo depending on the game - at home, where space is likely to be available, then I would play Coutinho for his added creativity. In the tricky away games where teams will look outmuscle us etc, then I would go for Allen.
well...... look he wasn't mobile but he was able to get on it facing the opposition and play a pass. he cannot now do that. why is the question: I don't feel its just world class attack but what i would say is suarez and sturridge forced sides to play deeper and that in turn means their midfield had to sit back a bit too.... why? purely and simply they try to run in behind. with badontelly running away form goal sides can sit up 10 yards, compress things and make it easier to press up high. I don't just think its getting the lead for us but just the approach. when we force a side to sit deep its ok, when they press high = nightmare.
Gerrard is not the same Gerrard of last year. Were seeing a out of confidence Gerrard in this team and that's a real shame.
Only a select few here acknowledged the fact that Agger was the best defender we had, and that Sakho and Skrtel were problematic. Most were treating Agger as this crocked 36 year old who deserved little but a quiet nostalgic wave goodbye. The midfield problem is easier to solve than our defence one (just swap Lucas and Gerrard and wait on Allen and Can). Our defence will always be an issue whilst there's Sakho or Skrtel in it.
I agree. Gerrard was getting a fair bit of criticism last year, but it doesn't mean the critics were right. This year they are - he looks completely out of sorts. I can only assume that losing out on the title last year (and the manner in which it was forfeited) added to a poor WC campaign has destroyed his drive and enthusiasm for the game.
Skrtel is the fixture in our defence yet no matter which partner we choose for him, we still concede and make mistakes.
And yet when he is removed, we also still concede and make mistakes. Perhaps the problem lies with another position that adds instability to our defense.
But we don't concede as much. But I agree - the centre backs are not helped by the fact they have zero protection in front of them, and zero confidence in the keeper.
sorry but anyone saying agger was our best defender needs to take a look at the facts; 1. consistent poor marking at set piece... as in directly assignable goals off his man... unlike skertl who gets in his mans shirt virtually. 2. consistent niggling to serious injuies. 3. distinct lack of pace and ability to get about last season. to call him our best defender neglects point 3 badly in my view. sorry but he was a shadow of the player he was a couple years prior. the operative word is WAS its the same as gerrard. we are seeing lads point this way and that but nobody is able to deny or explain the lack of just getting turned and holding his own
Agger and Skrtel were a great pairing plus the passion Agger brought to the role was great to see when not too many around him were doing the same. Injuries took their toll but like Reina he was forced out too soon. I think the defence will come good but only if BR allows a cohesive unit to develop i.e. the same 4 players playing together consistently. We need another keeper as well and I suspect the defence would function much better if there was a trusted keeper behind them.
I would agree that Agger was poor individually by his usual standards - but, he was a leader. He may not have been screaming and shouting but he was constantly organising Skrtel and Flannagan at left back.
We have changed and tried multiple CB pairings, we have new full backs in this year and they have been tried, all to no avail. The 2 permanent fixtures throughout last season and so far this season have been Mig and Gerrard. During the period Gerrard was out over xmas, our scores were: 5-0 win against spurs 3-1 win against Cardiff 2-1 loss against City (very unfairly) 2-1 loss against Chavs 2-0 win against Hull As soon as he came back into the team we conceded 3 against Stoke.
I completely agree with you re. Gerrard and have thought the same for the past 2-3 years. I do have a lot of sympathy for the centre backs because they are not helped by the DM in front of them and the keeper behind them. HOWEVER - the centre backs do make a lot of serious errors. The problem is that these errors are costly but aren't particularly visible which is why players like Skrtel get away with it. For example - the first goal against west Ham. Everyone notices that Henderson loses his man, so he will get the blame. However, what people don't see is that Skrtel was marking Winston Reid, decides to leave Reid to Lovren. That decision was made too late and Lovren didn't have a chance to adjust himself correctly. Skrtel is left by himself doing nothing. This is just one example! There is at least 1 serious defensive error made each game and this is not down to the system - it's just incompetent defending. Sakho gets a lot of blame because he LOOKS awkward which is ridiculous. Again - it's all about visibility. There are some really fundamental defensive errors which are committed every game by Skrtel - i.e. positioning, awareness, communication.
The issue with Gerrard I believe is down to he lacks the spatial awareness of a good midfielder. Makelele was never a fast player but he knew where to be and how to affect the ball. The issue with our defence is Gerrard is offering very little protection so the amount of times the back four is being exposed will lead to errors (law of averages). You only have to watch how Matic ensures the least possible exposure to Chelsea's back four that when the ball finally gets to them they are not in panic mode. Another thing is our tactics requires that the fullbacks push up while splitting the Center backs. Therefore the individual playing the quarterback role should at all times count as a third CB when we are on the attack. Ever since Gerrard's slip against Chelsea, he has been very reluctant to take that position. The result is that team is easily by passed and only two players are left defending against 3. If you watch the Ludogorets equalizer and Westham's 2nd and 3rd goal, it is very apparent if Gerrard was in the right place, those goals are avoided. The reality is we cannot keep having passengers in the team and if any other player had a game like Stevie has since the start of the season, he'd be on the bench.
