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Balotelli

Discussion in 'Liverpool' started by Hash., Oct 22, 2014.

  1. Sir_Red

    Sir_Red Well-Known Member

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    Defending starts in attack, Balotelli is part of the problem. Never presses, never tracks back, never runs. Suarez dogged players in their own half whereas we've now become a sieve. He doesn't score, he doesn't defend, he doesn't assist, he doesn't pass. Our change in play was noticeable as soon as he left the pitch, he clogs up our attacks.
     
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  2. Jimmy Squarefoot

    Jimmy Squarefoot Well-Known Member

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    I agree to some extent, but a lot of the errors are caused by individual mistakes at the back, in particular, at set pieces. Harsh to criticise Mario for that.
     
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  3. Sir_Red

    Sir_Red Well-Known Member

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    Yes but the more we allow teams to actually pump balls into the box and get into our last third, the more likely they are to score. And that's because our attack keep losing the ball and fail to track back as well as defensive lapses elsewhere (like in the midfield).
     
    #43
  4. Of course the system matters when talking about defence. Does a keeper get clean sheets if the defence is poor? No! So why expect a defence to be solid and reliable when they're left so exposed?

    Obviously, I'm not talking about set-pieces here. But then, why would someone mention the system if we were discussing set-pieces?
     
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  5. I agree 1000%
     
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  6. Jimmy Squarefoot

    Jimmy Squarefoot Well-Known Member

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    So is the system at fault if a defender is incorrectly positioned?

    Is the system at fault if they fail track a runner?

    These individual errors are the cause of most of our errors.

    Don't get me wrong - I think they are exposed a lot but again that's because we have an incompetent DM in front of them, who cannot protect them. Is that because the system is letting them down or is it because of the personnel chosen?

    You're making it sound the like the system is leaving them exposed - it's not. Having a DM who is not actually a DM is leaving them exposed.
     
    #46

  7. TheJudeanPeoplesFront

    TheJudeanPeoplesFront Well-Known Member

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    We've learned Balotelli only works in a system where the other ten players are the best in the league and he can mooch around in his own little world, occasionally tap a few in and do something weird off-pitch to keep up an enigma legend... His ability is certainly a myth.

    He certainly doesn't work in a Barca-lite tactic. None of you have apparently noticed, but perhaps you were at the game, the camera panned to Brendan Rodgers after the third and Ballotelli had lost possession, and the fury there was only equivalent to a Football Manager break-down, he was clearly going to sub him at HT regardless of his disrespectful shirt swap... No chance he starts any time soon. Only a good thing really.
     
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  8. Jimmy Squarefoot

    Jimmy Squarefoot Well-Known Member

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    Not if the replacement's are Borini and Lambert lol!

    Wonder if Sterling will be given a go as the false 9.
     
    #48
  9. The system we play doesn't include a DM. It has Gerrard playing as a "quarter back", he's not a destroyer and Rodgers will never play a out-and-out DM either. So yes, it is the system!

    No matter what system is played, there will always be individual errors. Its about minimising not only the errors but the effect these errors have too. If the defence is protected it is less likely to make said errors since they won't be under as much pressure.

    As for tracking runners, I've discussed this with you many times before. I don't believe Rodgers wants midfielders tracking those runners, he wants them to pass the player on. This puts yet more pressure on the defenders who have to react but somehow stay united.

    Maybe saying system is whats throwing you. Is the word tactics more appropriate?
     
    #49
  10. Carragher would sort him out <whistle>
     
    #50
  11. Jimmy Squarefoot

    Jimmy Squarefoot Well-Known Member

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    Agreed that if we protect the defence better, then less balls will go into the box therefore less chance of making an error. But at the end of the day, I expect the defence to be able to defend basic/simple balls into the box

    The number of times Lovren misjudges the flight of the ball, or Skrtel and Johnson losing their man in the box or the fact that Migs is so rooted to his line - these are individual errors. You are saying we need to improve the system to reduce the exposure - but that still means the incompetence of these defenders still remains. You just then end up masking the problem.
     
    #51
  12. Bar Johnson, they are not incompetent defenders. They just need to be coached to work together and they need help from elsewhere too. The best CBs in the world will look poor if you leave them exposed to attackers. (remember we play with attacking FBs so its usually just the two CBs that remain back, plus Gerrard)
     
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  13. TheJudeanPeoplesFront

    TheJudeanPeoplesFront Well-Known Member

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    Borini and Lambert couldn't be worse, or as ineffective, but I think Sterling as a false 9 is the way forward without Sturridge. We'll never know if Madrid's walking pace second half was the major reason, but things improved when Lallana came on.

    I take it Lambert was bought as somebody to chuck on in the 80th minute if Liverpool are losing and Brendan wants something different? And I have no idea what's going on with Borini... Brendan is obviously a massive fan, having worked with him for the third time now (Chelsea, Swansea, Liverpool), yet he doesn't get a game over Balotelli?!

    As a neutral, I wanted things to work out because watching Liverpool was massively entertaining last year, but recent performances have been absolutely abysmal.

    <laugh><laugh> I'm going to block you if you keep banging on about him... You'll like that, because blocking was essentially all that fat sod was useful for!!!!!!!!!! <nahnah>
     
    #53
  14. theStath

    theStath Active Member

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    Jamie Redknapp, also part of Sky&#8217;s coverage, questioned why Liverpool had signed Balotelli in the first place. &#8220;I don&#8217;t blame Mario Balotelli &#8211; I blame Brendan Rodgers for bringing him here. How he thought he could turn around a player that Mourinho, Mancini, Prandelli have all washed their hands of &#8230;

    &#8220;There&#8217;s a reason when you go to the supermarket and things are half price. Why on earth they went for him, I&#8217;ll never know. They should have just left him alone. The fact he [Rodgers] went and got him, it just doesn&#8217;t make any sense to me.&#8221;


    True words apart from the supermarket half price. Mario is more like something just left in the trolley
     
    #54
  15. TheJudeanPeoplesFront

    TheJudeanPeoplesFront Well-Known Member

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    Still think you lot would be a million times better if you took Tiote off our hands <ok>

    Gerrard was bypassed so easily it looks like it's genuinely painful for him to move more than an inch in either direction... His passing was better than most last night, usually is, but maybe it's time Brendan stopped shoving him in the team regardless because he was the best captain 9 years ago. If it were me, I'd have him on the bench and use him as a 70th minute, attacking substitution. Short bursts of the old Stevie G over crappy 90 minute versions of the elderly one <ok>
     
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  16. Jimmy Squarefoot

    Jimmy Squarefoot Well-Known Member

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    I think we're on a completely different wavelength mate and going in circles.

    Being exposed and overrun is one thing - but making simple mistakes is another, which is what I'm getting at. Coaching can go someway to eliminating to mistakes but we're talking about coaching an experienced 29 year old and a 24 year old who we spent £20m on because he's prem proven.

    No matter what system you play, you're still gonna concede goals if your defenders cannot read the game, cover his partner, track his marker, position correctly, judge the ball correctly.
     
    #56
  17. There aren't many on here that will support Brod's decision to play Gerrard for ninety minutes every game. The lads 34yrs old, he needs to be managed.
     
    #57
  18. I understand you are getting at the simple mistakes but those things creep in when confidence is shot. If we sorted out the structure, that confidence would return and the silly errors would lessen. It won't happen over night but the players we've bought are more than capable of holding their own IMO.
     
    #58
  19. TheJudeanPeoplesFront

    TheJudeanPeoplesFront Well-Known Member

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    What a snobby bastard Redknapp is... Some of the things I've picked up half-price is the stuff of legend. The other week I got a One Direction cake...

    Gran: "Why did you get me a One Direction cake?"
    Me: "Don't you remember asking me over and over and over again for a One Direction cake...?"
    Gran: "No... Did I?"
    Me: "Oh dear Gran, looks like the One Direction your heading requires 24 hour palliative care and sessions staring at a blank TV in a nursing home..."

    Everyone's a winner. Saving money on a birthday cake - £5, A hard-up doctor getting money for "successfully" diagnosing dementia - £55, getting one over my Gran who had the audacity to be a Man Utd fan her entire life... Priceless.
     
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  20. Jimmy Squarefoot

    Jimmy Squarefoot Well-Known Member

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    Fair point mate - it's a combination of things, I agree. But I really do not like Skrtel and Lovren. Lovren can be coached I reckon and there were signs of him and Sakho working together.
     
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