Saying he had to replace the defensive players is suggesting one of two things; we didn't need to replace any attacking players or that we have an abundance of attacking talent after buying them through choice! Or, in other words, you can't have it both ways. He's bought a keeper. He's bought defenders. He's bought attackers. Hell, he's even bought midfielders. To say he's focused on one area based on the fact that he's been more active and successful in one section of the pitch is a little silly IMO.
I didn't say he was focused on attack, his philosophy is clearly to play great football and score goals.
I think generally speaking he's targeting areas cos he signed 3 cbs this last summer... thats not just building from the front. he also bought allen and laberto in midfield I am afraid that the question is does he think he's got enough until he shifts someone rather than him simply buying up top first then filling in behind. In the end if he wants top 4 the leaking of goals must stop. its not f'n hard. i think you need to look at 2009 for rafa's goal record.. he made mistakes in buying the likes of morientes and bellamy and crouch really but he got PLENTY of goals. to say rafa lacked goals is wrong. he put a tactical straight jacket over lads We are 4th, great... lets not revise history to big up rodgers. I frankly will wait and see what we do and it will be based on what we can do and whats available. We've plenty of f'n defenders and what i see as a midfield lacking in numbers but aslo an attack with warm bodies but onyl a few trusted. There's a huge amount of work to do to approach rafa's prime. we should all know that... rafa started the rot under G&H thats obvious too but lets not assume rodgers is already better than rafa or something.
04/05 52,41,11 5th 05/06 57,25,33 3rd 06/07 57,27,30 3rd 07/08 67,28,39 4th 08/09 77,27,50 2nd 09/10 61,35,26 7th 10/11 59,44,15 6th 11/12 47,40,7 8th 12/13 71,43,28 7th He got loads of goals in 2 seasons Mito one of which we came second. But the more interesting stat looking at top 4 in years above suggest something else. A goal difference greater than +30 and you're guaranteed to be in the top 4. some have got it with +25 but all above +30 were in top 4. So yes, reducing even a few of those errors and keeping up our scoring should see us safe lol.
Lets look not just at who has signed but how those signings have fit in . Shape, systems and tactics. Coutinho, Sturridge and Borini are all players who fit Rodgers mobile, interchanging attack very neatly. Konoplyanka and Salah do to. He has signed players who fit around Suarez. Compare those players to who we already had before Rodgers arrived. Downing, Carroll, Cole, Shelvey and Henderson playing RW. None of these players fit Rodgers style at all in attack. Obviously we had Suarez to and still do. If Rodgers wanted to build his team he needed to change all of those (apart from Suarez). But in midfield we had a pass master in Gerrard and a solid DM in Lucas. Allen came in and changed nothing and Henderson changed roles and has done very well. In defense Johnson, when in form, is ideal to our system. Enrique struggled at first but has had a mini revolution under Rodgers. Agger is great on the ball and fits perfectly. Rodgers wanted a RCB first to play with Agger but could not find the right fit and signed Sakho instead. We also had a good defensive record and an awful goal record before Rodgers arived.
Stats actually say our defence wasn't that great (top 4 stat wise) 3 years before he arrived and first year of his tenure (which is understandable). Coupled with low scoring in those 3 years. He immediately upped our scoring and we'll now see if he can lower our conceded figure.
Rodgers also preaches defending with the ball and resting on the ball. He will favour us dominating possession over having muscle men. Which is why Gerrard could stay as DM next season and new full backs could be preferred.
Also why we need a settled back 4 and a mobile midfield. Half our conceeding errors come from them attempting to do this but one of the back 4 losing possession, normally out of position bringing it out, and our midfield all waiting for the ball at the opposition 18 yard line. It's a valid practice if your team can do it and doesn't panic and turn backwards under pressure.
which is an ok policy if the ther 3 can pass it. in the end we need to improve in many areas so it is a challenge.
Sorry. I normally do my Grammar Police thing in jest, but using yank spellings really does do my cake in. It's 'defence'
the settings are american... my computer here in work does it on word etc. i have lost count of the times i've set it to the real english and it turns itself back...
