Not wanting to get at one player but we seemed to stop doing that as much when Suso came on for Markovic. The latter was playing safe far too much IMO, and when he did attack he chose the wrong option; why doesn't he shoot? (cue his next shot hitting the corner flag to explain why ) And to sound like a broken record, Balotelli being in the side lessens our movement making forward options limited too.
It's the whole team matey, not just one or two. When we are being outnumbered and it is preventing us passing we need to get closer together to work the ball through and the team is not doing that. City do just that, noticed it against Chelsea. Balotelli is doing what he is instructed to do by Rodgers and if we could hold the ball in the hole, then Balotelli would be doing the right thing, but we can't keep any possession outside the 18 yard box of opponents at all Sterling in the hole would be useful but we have been needing him to even get the ball that far
As I keep saying, I'm not moaning about Balotelli. He is doing what is expected of him. My point is, with him in the side we won't press from the front in the same way because that is not Mario's game. I think we have players that want to pass forward. Hendo, Lallana, Gerrard, Sterling, Coutinho, etc all want to go forward first and safe as a last resort. However, passes are a bit like crosses; it takes two to make a pass/cross. When crossing, there needs to be someone else in the box willing to attack the ball. With passing, you need movement in front of you to be able to make a forward pass. What I'm saying is, it's not the players not being able or willing to pass forwards and quicker, its the lack of movement in front of them. It's no good having one player moving as that is easy to defend, it needs to be two or three so that the opposition are moved around, this is what makes the space to attack.
Wrong player hold on v West Ham as an example of how out movement and play forces him to do what he is not meant to be doing. He is not off form, he's playing in a team that is not using his strengths I reckon the stats of others will show the same thing but I haven't checked
That's pretty much the same thing as I said, just viewed from the other side. Probably the right way of looking at it too since he is our player now so we need to use him
i think the style issue has to sit squarely on rodgers shoulders...... i cannot fathom if he simply lucked into suarez and sturridge working so well as both men understand where the goals are how getting behind even if the sapce is small is better then running away from goal. i don't get it cos this year nobody is getting behind sides consistently. maybe once a game max. nobody is running in behind for passes and we are just dross as a result. add that to the continued crap from the back line at set piece and general play and you do have to start to wonder................... did we just get really lucky last year?
**** it i can't find the passing stats, the graphic thing for the west ham or Villa games. can someone drag that up?
i dont think its pressing...... i think its where you put pressure on teams when WE have the ball. we might have these players but the movement is towards them not in behind cbs.... we are giving teams an easy ride... real easy
We started slow but churned out results. Suarez was banned for the first 6 games though. We started flowing more when Suarez returned but then Sturride got injured. This is when Sterling returned to the team and started to improve. Once Sturridge returned we were cruising.
2 years ago. Rodger's first season. Horrible through October and then start picking up and looking good. Last Year. First few months were a real torrid affair. We were winning games- but from lucky 1-0 victories where we didn't look too spectacular and miraculous Mignolet saves kept us alive. This year. First few months have been horrible... we're not getting the lucky wins this year. I'm noticing a pattern. We started both of the previous seasons under Rodgers looking bad. We picked it up in the previous two seasons- hoping we shall again. The difference between this year and last- last year we looked bad but won. This year we look bad and we are dropping points.
Intensity starts with pressing without the ball. For that, Joe Allen, an-in-form Coutinho, a spitfire flank-romping Sterling... 2 of the 3 are necessary imo. Gerrard nowadays is too conscious of his presses forward lest he leaves ample room at the back. I think Lucas would be less self-conscious in his natural role.
