In all 4 of our premiership games and the league cup game this season, the 2nd half performance pales in comparison to the first. In all 5 games, we dominate play, possession and create chances in the first half and have been unlucky to not thrash any team yet just in the first half. Yet in the 2nd half of all these games, we have seemed to step off the peddle and end up holding on to the slim advantage. Is this tactical: score early and soak up the pressure. Potentially hit the opposition on the counter attack as they push for an equalizer (haven't seen this happen yet). Or is it BR new approach - all out attack 1st half, nick a goal or 2, then all out defend 2nd half. Or is there other issues at hand? I have noticed in all the games that we find difficulty on the ball, finding time and finding a pass in the 2nd half. We seem to lose movement and the players cannot make space for themselves. The fact that the opposition has a lot more possession in the 2nd half suggests this could be a fitness thing. Perhaps the players are tiring quicker, Sturridge for example has looked shagged at the end of all 5 games so far.
For me the problem lies in the tactical changes. For us Gerrard appears to be told to drop even deeper. This makes the gap between him and Coutinho even bigger. To exacerbate that Sturridge pushes up even higher onto their back 4 making us appear even more stretched. For the opposition, the tend to double man Coutinho in the 2nd half.
I think Rodgers is trying to squeeze the game, so naturally we will sit back slightly. My concern is that we over-compensate and invite far too much pressure than necessary. Not only this, we have a high pressing style so we will tire and bear in mind Sturridge and Moses haven't played a lot of football this season (and preseason) so they are a bit leggy. Same applies to Skrtel and Sakho to some extent. I have mentioned this in other articles but the problem is the central midfield. They invite far too much pressure and there is a serious lack of energy. They are the ones who should be dictating the tempo and controlling the game but they can't. Their lack of energy means that others have to work harder to press the opposition. Gerrard and Lucas are individually great assets. But they are not a midfield partnership.
two things 1. I agree initially there is a trend emerging here where we are not able to pass and move and i think sides are looking at us and closing the midfield down. 2. I do agree with dave on the tactical changes. last night we did the wrong thing. our right side was at issue as was frankly gerrard and lucas. we went 4-4-2 and it solved nothing. We should have gone 4-5-1 and pulled henderson inside to make a tight midfield 3 to stop the gaps and enable passing and put someone wide right in front of wisdom/toure. we had what 15 yards space for every swansea player on the left all night??? When i say 4-5-1 i don't mean defend like made I think the gaps that dave mentions are a result of very deep back line too. we need to push up a bit and bascially pss it to each other. we are losing the passing game and we are dropped further and further off... need to "win the midfield" now those two things said.... There is one thing in this game that was unique to it. our midfield was totally flat form the kick off, there was little or no energy form either gerrard or lucas in evidence for me and we never looked right from. i felt we lost it there and were lucky shelvey serve dup two on a plate to us.
Let's remember 1 thing. The shape of our midfield is going to change after this weekends match. Matters not if you like it or not but Suarez will be back and the formation will have to change to accommodate him. Therefore what shape and personnel that we are discussing now has to be viewed as an interim formation.
Problem is, I see Henderson being dropped to accommodate Suarez and at the moment, he is the only one with high-tempo energy we have in midfield. I personally would like to see Lucas partnered with Henderson deeper in midfield as I think they would compliment each other nicely. I have doubts as to Gerrard's ability to play further up the field these days though.
I like the idea of 3 at the back. Migs Toure Sakho* Agger* Gerrard Lucas Enricky Coutinho Suarez Sturridge Moses *Skrtel could replace
Kelly is making the bench so I'm assuming he is getting back up to speed?? He needs to come in whilst Johnson's out - Wisdom doesn't look as confident as he did last season.
The 2nd half performances are down to a combination of fitness and getting a balance right I think it is a tactic that BR wants where we tighten up and soak up pressure once we are ahead. At the moment we are getting it wrong to some degree where we drop too deep as we did last night but with time and fitness I think we will get better at this as the season goes on. (we're doing ok now)
In my team for yesterday I had Aspas starting and Moses coming on for him in the second half. Moses scored in the first half so I'm not complaining about that, but I still think overall the balance would have been better the way I suggested; Aspas has been doing a job in the first games so let's try to keep some continuity, and then Moses coming off the bench gives the team a bigger boost than Aspas.
good point. though i expect aspas to drop out and then its really a question of where he puts coutinho and moses.
Not keen on your right wing, here was my 3 at the back for yesterday; -------------------- Mignolet -------------------- ----------- Toure --- Agger --- Sakho ---------- Henderson --- Gerrard --- Lucas --- Enrique -- ------------- Coutinho --- Aspas (Moses 70') -- -------------------- Sturridge -------------------- Suarez coming back in would be something like -------------------- Mignolet -------------------- ----------- Toure --- Agger --- Sakho ---------- Henderson --- Gerrard --- Lucas --- Enrique -- -------------------- Coutinho --------------------- ------------ Suarez -------- Sturridge ----------- Moses on the bench, or replacing someone; we need someone good enough to start not starting so they can be brought on later and have a good impact.
Having in mind that the first game Suarez is eligible to play in is in the "Capital Cup" at Old Trafford. Rodgers is likely to play a strong team, Agger and Toure likely to play, so also Gerrard and depends on the fitness of Coutinho, Sturridge likely to be there too. Remembering we have a difficult trip to Sunderland the following Saturday. Team with or without Suarez your guess as good as mine.
You've faded badly in the 2nd half of all 3 games I've seen you play this season. I doubt it's a fitness issue, as I'm sure your backroom staff are on a par with the rest of the league in monitoring that. To me it's patently obvious, you're running out of steam after over exerting in the first half & you're therefore not pacing yourselves adequately - game management if you will. You were dynamite at times in the first half yesterday & looked dead on your feet with 20 mins left.
Maybe you're right here but it doesn't explain the Notts County game. Same as in the league, we played well in the first half and poor in the second, however we then played well in extra time
Come extra time they were even more shot than you, as they'd done themselves clawing a 2 goal deficit back in the 2nd half
