Good Signings but where is the Defensive Plan?

One of the problems, as I see it, is that there aren't any great centre backs left. John Terry is probably the last real centre back in the whole premiership.

I don't think bringing in any foreign based CBs is going to work, bcos our problem is verbal. No one in the defence talks anymore. Carra was the last organiser we had. Who can forget that high pitch screech when he was screaming at someone to get back into position. This lack of leadership is Skrtls biggest failing. Lovren was suppose to be the 'man' but frankly is terrible. Neither Kolo or Sakho are organisers either, and I simply cant see Ilori or Gomez coming in to the defence and start organising.
There's only one solution; and that's for the new coaches to teach Skrtl how to speak 'defence' to the rest of the team, and i'm not sure that it's even possible.
We can only hope that with Gerrard gone, Milner, Henderson and Lucas/Allen can use their football brains to cover for the lack of organisation on the pitch. From what I've seen I think this is going to be the best attribute that Milner, in replacing Gerrard, can bring to our club. Cos lets be honest Gerrard never in the whole of his brilliant carrier had a clue about positional play and organisation.

However if it doesn't come off, then 'f it' we go back to plan A and simply outscore our opponents.

 

We will use the same defensive plan as always. Score more than the other team.

 

The reason why I don't think Can will get picked is because I think Rodgers will go with 4-2-3-1, with Henderson and Milner being nailed on for the CM's roles.

It also allows Rodgers to shoe horn Lallana into the attacking trio behind Benteke. And with Sakho not travelling to Helsinki, I presume Skrtel and Lovren will be the starting CB's.

I would be very optimistic going into the season if Rodgers plays his best team - unfortunately I don't have faith in him doing so.

 

Clean shhet today.

Lovern was amazing me... I was literally astounded that he played.. sorry I mean how he played.

 

Looked awful to begin with - made the simple things looks so difficult. But Helsinki backed off and he wasn't tested.

Unfortunately, Rodgers has come out and said he does not know who will be partnering Skrtel next week. Lovren now looks favourite.

Which would be ridiculous but a typical Rodgers decision.

 

I don't think Milner & Henderson is going to be a very good partnership. None of them dictate the tempo of a game and they aren't particularly good at defending. They are both "runners" who don't really have the intelligence or ability to be 'top' central midfielders. Plus Milner isn't really a centre mid in my eyes, he's a wide midfielder at best.

I'd rather see Allen, Lucas or Can in ahead of Milner at centre mid. Sadly won't happen though because Rodgers is really stubborn. It took until November for him to stop playing Balotelli up front on his own despite it never looking like working and he never gave him a chance WITH Sturridge.

 

So because Rodgers doesn't announce his team a week in advance he's somehow ridiculous

 

This is it, everyone talking about milner replacing gerrard but milner is not a CM,CAM,DM or even a winger, he is a wide midfielder and is in that role because of his combination of passing ability, defensive ability and athleticism. In some ways he is a classic jack of all trades but master of none, yet that said and done IMO the combination he has makes him an excellent addition to any team that needs a player in that position. The big issue for me is, do we?

 

Milner is a very dangerous player anywhere in the opponents left quarter of the pitch, he needs intelligent players around him though to get the best out of his attacking game. Defensively he will be a big improvement on any midfielder you have had recently.

 

I agree, but assume from what you are saying that to get the best from him he needs to play wide right?

if so then surely he needs to be part of a 4/5 midfield. I think you could even extend that to him be the right hand side of a 3 in a 5-3-1 formation, will rogers play that with the players we though?

PS 5-3-1 is obviously with some knid of wingbacks in the 5.

 

Not wide right, more of an old "inside right", he is a willing worker and will help protect the defence but his main work as an attacking threat comes between the centre and right edge of goal.

EDIT.....5-3-1 would be good.

 

Rodgers will need 3 months to see this at which point his fan boys will claim his genius in developing yet another system to save lfc..... they never see he is only rectifying the damage done though.

After trying it in preseason and changing it second half only a moron would play this v stoke

 

t was a fourth win in five pre-season fixtures for Rodgers' charges as they build up towards the campaign opener at Stoke City next weekend.

"I was pleased," the manager told Liverpoolfc.com post-match. "We were better in the second half than the first. We tried to look at something in the first half.

"But our fluency was really good in the second half and obviously we scored a couple of really good goals. I'm pleased - another good workout for us in the last of our pre-season games abroad.

"In terms of everything that the players have been through - all the travel around the world - they are in good condition.

"We still have another week's good work to do, but we'll really focus in on that and come Stoke, we'll be ready."


.............

Rodgers quote for Jimmy.

I am still hopeful this failed experiment will not be seen again.

 

Ahh didn't see that quote - that's encouraging ...

Going back to Milner - I do like him and think he's a good player. But to get the best out of him and Hendo, they need specialists behind them and in front of them. They are supporting players - we have quality attackers in front of them but they have no protection behind nor do they provide the protection.

Quality midfields who move the ball better will bypass their press, which is arguably their number 1 strength. Once bypassed, opposition will be free to run through on goal (if there is no DM).

Another concern is based on yesterday, Henderson was asked to drop deeper and allow Milner to attack. This is shackling Henderson and will hamper his development IMO.

 

No, the fact he doesn't know who to choose from between Lovren or Sakho just goes to show how clueless he is.

Now, he could be saying that to give Lovren a confidence boost but I would not be surprised if he was actually being serious.

 

no it won't imo.. henderson is a limited enough player who will play better back there peltig about tackling and getting it facing the way he needs to. up the field he is average imo... pass it to him in the box and i don't fancy him to score. play it to feet and his trun is not good either

have him deeper imo