Here is an idea I would like to discuss that I feel could be good against teams who 'park the bus', sit back and play rough, as well as teams who do not threaten much in the midfield area. We have had a lot of trouble breaking down these teams and have ended up with a lot of goalles draws, all because they have big defenses but nothing to threaten us with in midfield or up front. We have had problems unlocking them, and when we do, we do not have players in the 6 yard box. Against teams like this Manchester City line up with Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry in midfield, dictating play, with Silva, Nasri, Teves and Aguero playing ahead of them. They know they do not need to play there big midfield in these games so they add extra to the attack. We could be much better off with this kind of idea to. Suarez played well the other day, but was often position around the edge of the box or wide. But he really could have done with some one ahead of him. Every one says Borini should play through the middle. Here is the 4,2,4 diamond. ------------------------------Reina----------------------------- -----Wisdom-----Skrtel------------Agger------Johnson--- -------------------Gerrard-------------Allen------------------- -----------------------------Suarez----------------------------- --------------Suso-------------------------Sterling------------ ------------------------------Borini------------------------------ Suarez with freedom to roam. Borini I dont want moving around much. I chose Gerrard and Allen because they controlled the midfield very well against United after Shelvey was sent off. But Lucas could easily replace Gerrard, and Sahin could replace either of them. Full backs are judged on current fitness and are irrelevant to the over all point of the front 4 here. Though Suso and Sterling will have some tracking back duties at times to assist them. Suso could move to midfield and make a 4,3,3 if we need extra in there. What do you think?
------------------------------Reina----------------------------- -----Wisdom-----Skrtel------------Agger------Johnson--- -------------------Gerrard-------------Allen------------------- -----------------------------Shelvey----------------------------- --------------Suarez-------------------------Sterling------------ ------------------------------Borini------------------------------ My choice above. Loads of choices though with Suso, Lucas and Sahin able to play.
Actually, I think with the right personnel Rodgers would be even more adventurous. He has talked on a number of occasions about his ideal system when teams sit back being a forward thinking back 4 with that expert holding midfielder/distributor (Lucas) which would then allow a interchangable front FIVE who can pull and push the defence and logic would suggest enable numbers to get into the box. say this: Reina Wisdom Agger Coates (x) Lucas Allen Sahin Suarez (x) Sterling Thats my perfect one (players reaching their potential by next time we play stoke at home lol) and as you can see I dont think we have a striker at that level yet. or a left back depending on how long lasting Enrique's niggles are. My in the mean time 11 for teams like that is (assuming injuries as they are): Reina Wisdom Skrtel Agger Johnson Allen Shelvey(Suso) Sahin Suarez Gerrard Sterling (Assaidi) I think the main issue at the moment is a greedy Suarez (not necessarily an attack just that he believes its all on him to do) A Gerrard not comfortable with the suffocating short increasing pressure style of a BR advanced front five; he is still attempting to play his role of years gone by; and a Sterling/Assaidi too young to know when to pull the trigger which in turn cycles back to Suarez going for the further run or difficult shot. He believes in himself and its not that he doesnt believe in the others its that he can see they dont yet believe in themselves. If all 5 are confortable with each other and the method of patient chess like passing then I think we convert those chances more often because we make the right passing option for an easier chance rather than rely on yet another moment of Suarez brilliance or a Gerrard long shot/pass. Until we get that striker (still not convinced its Borini) I'd stick Gerrard up there just to get him out of the start or middle of the move and the fact that we know he can pull the trigger and I've seen that Suarez is more liable to pass to Gerrard (now that maxi is gone).
I think along similar lines to how Rafa did with these sides in that less is more. Rafa got criticised for not introducing more attackers when we needed a goal, but ultmately all this does is force the opposition to drop deeper and pull more players back. IMO, you need to entice the opposition out to create the space. Having four up top would mean the opposition having six players back (four defenders and two midfielders) which would obviously reduce the space available too. Players like Suso and Suarez could benefit from this but others such as Gerrard, Sterling, Assaidi, downing, Shelvey, etc would definitely suffer.
