With the calls of Gerrard being dropped plentiful, the only player we have atm to replace him is Lucas, but do we need a like for like? Lallana and Hendo are both box to box midfielders, having a midfield three of: ---------Lallana-Hendo ------------Coutinho Will cause any team problems. We aren't getting any better at defence so why dont we just attack?
I have been thinking when Allen is fit we can try Henderson at the base of the diamond. He is already playing there when he is being forced to cover for Gerrard. Lallana and Allen on the side while Sterling at the tip. This would allow us to push up and play a high line and prevent Balotelli from coming too deep.
Henderson's passing range has improved so much that he could easily play in the spot instead of Gerrard, but I would rather Allen or even Lucas play there so that Henderson's other (many) talents can be utilised. Allen with Henderson and Lallana infront would work, but be a little lightweight.
Against teams playing deep, Allen would work but he would be bullied to death by bigger attacking players especially aerial battles.
The DM is a necessary position usually filled by 1 midfielder. It requires a special set of character and characteristics honed over long months of experience. A DM must be obsessed and obsessive, haunting, maniacal, protecting the back four like the mother goose. In addition he must be cynical, never naive or taking half measures. But along with the heart and mind for the above, he should have the legs for it. Gerrard falls short mostly on the legs department, but also on the mind required to do the work. One doesn't become a DM overnight. Lucas should be reinstated if he can be made to give a **** again. But that's a moot point if Gerrard wants to hold the DM spot whilst refusing to compete for his old CM position. If I were FSG, I'd have BR face these facts and give him little choice unfortunately.
I'd say yes if we are going to play a diamond. I agree Henderson could do the role well, though I think he is better in a position where he could move around. A system like this could work: --------Henderson--------- ---------------Allen-------- Lallana------------Sterling ----Balotelli-Sturridge----- Basically 442. It will certainly be a hard working midfield and every one will do their bit defensively.
Personally, I don't think Gerrard's done anything wrong, certainly no more so than last season. Brod needs to manage him and the team better, thats all. Like a few other players, Stevie is suffering due to a lack of passing options on the pitch.
Its not just passing options. Opposition teams know that if they stop Gerrard passing then players like Sterling wont get the delivery they need, so they get very physical and tight to him. This is where I start wondering whether two holding players would work better right now. Its harder to mark two Gerrard's than 1.
We definitely need a CDM to replace Gerrard or even to have as another option in the squad. Lucas is just a body - I'm not counting him in our list of midfielders. Gerrard, Can and Allen can all play at the base of the diamond - I think it would be a waste of Can's box to box ability if he was stuck there but I really would like to see Allen play there. He has the ability to drop deep and pick the ball, and keep possession. But his spatial awareness is brilliant. He may be lightweight but he gets stuck in - I remember the match against Man City where he and Hendo bullied Toure. And it's not all about being physical - if he occupies the right space, then he won't need to be physical. That's the true art of any defensive player - the ability not to have to make a tackle. A midfield three of Can, Allen and Hendo is far more robust than any midfield that has Gerrard in. All 3 players can intererchange, and if required, a 1-2 midfield can quickly change into a 2-1 midfield. It's far more dynamic and mobile.
Joe Allen plays that role for Wales and recently had a solid man of the match game in that role. Though it was very different to a PL game.
Exactly. Some fans think that making last ditch crunching tackles is the sign of a good defensive player. If that's the case, Scott Parker would be playing for Barca or Real Madrid. It's the same reason why Skrtel is praised by a few people - because he LOOKS good, and it's visible. For defenders and DM - their best attributes are the ones that people don't see i.e. positioning and intelligence.
Teams have tried to stop Gerrard player for over a decade, he knows how to handle it. Plus Hendo is just as capable of finding a killer pass too so if Gerrard is entertaining one of their players it just creates more space for others. The difference between last season and this is energy, desire and movement. That is it.
Another difference is Suarez was double marked. Balotelli is easy to mark and Sturridge out so the midfield get double marked.
Again, I don't agree. Suarez never stayed still long enough to be double marked, can't recall him even being man-marked tbh. Maybe you meant when he had the ball the opposition doubled up on him? Studge is similar to Suarez in his movement. Both like to drift wide and/or drop deep. Balotelli is piss easy to mark.
Suarez would roam out wide, central, pretty much everywhere. But whenever he got the ball, players would try and surround him - he would draw them out and create space for others to exploit. He would either get past them or just get a freekick - he was the master of getting those FK's and pens.
The joys of a false 9 style forward. Its shame there are not more in the world. I'v wondered if Lallana could do it.
Yes but they also have to have the ability to make that last ditch tackle in case a mistake happens. Its like saying a defender doesn't need to know how to tackle if he knows everything else and executes it perfectly every time leading to no mistakes. Its impossible. Ultimately the CDM's primary goal is to defend and not to attack. That's why there are 5 players in front of him on the pitch. He is vital in starting an attack and passing it to the right player in space, but ultimately the day you sacrifice defense for attack is the day you slip and give up a title. Personally its Lucas in DM for me with Henderson and Can ahead when all are fit. Coutinho or Lallana in the 10. role with Sturridge, Balotelli, or Sterling/Markovic coming in to a free attacking role.
I'd say the DM's role is as much about turning defense in to attack as defending. Brendan Rodgers uses the word pivot because they turn the play around.
