I am going to be blunt here. The shape we played yesterday: I did not like it! Borini was often very wide on the left and playing as deep as the half way line. Allen, as many have said, is not a defensive or holding midfielder. I like attacking full backs. I like the center backs parting and the DM sitting in between. But this doesnt work when the DM is Joe Allen. He just doesnt have the muscle. I have no complaints against Allen playing yesterday, but the full backs should have held back more or Lucas should have been included. That is not Allen's position. A flat midfielder doesnt work with pass and move football. For our style to work every one must spread out. I dont know if they were told to play so flat or just did it any way. Henderson, Suarez, Sturridge, Skrtel, Wisdom, Robinson (apart from the glory shot), no complaints. Coates and Jones were nervy but settled into it. I dont think we showed enough respect to Oldham in CM and got punished. We needed more muscle in that midfield. I hope this is not the shape we will keep for the remainder of the season. Now I will finish with a question. (which I might as well poll) See poll above and discuss.
Whether it was the system or the players I thought the front 3 were completely hopeless. I don't see what Borini's ever going to bring to the team, sturridge was coming way too deep to get the ball and Suarez could have been swapped with my 6 year old daughter and she'd have passed the ball better. I've said 100 times that I don't see the system suiting games like yesterdays and obviously I haven't changed my mind on that showing.
Just my 2p worth... Against the "up and at'em" teams, 3-5-2 or 3-5-1-1, 3 at the back should able to handle the ariel bombardment, with the likes of Lucas and A N Other Destroyer in front of them! Against the teams that like to play themselves and let you play, 4-2-3-1. Its not rocket sience, shouldn't need a Powerpoint presentation from Prof. Brian Cox to work it out! We have the team/personal for 4-2-3-1 formation, add a midfield destroyer for the 3-5-1 formation and all's well with the world again!
It wasnt really a front three. Sterling was RW, Borini LW, Sturridge ST and Suarez in a free role. It was a front 4. Suarez and Sturridge didnt fine, but the delivery to them wasnt happening. I agree with you on this. I did suggest a 352 in the line up ideas thread.
Rodgers tried to go gung ho yesterday and loaded the team with attackers, which left the team unbalanced i.e. only Allen and Henderson in midfield.
Borini looks like a complete can of piss to me and should not be anywhere near the team. Not trying to blame him for yesterday as most of the team were garbage but Borini imo brings nothing to the team.
I have to say, on a personal note, I am glad Suso wasn't caught up in that yesterday. I think he has that real potential and that type of game might have been really denting to him. You can't play a make-shift back four and not have a strong midfield to help shield or cover for them.
I think it could have worked if Gerrard and Lucas had started. Sterling stayed wide to much. I like it when he comes narrow.
Exactly, our 4-2-3-1 works when the front 3 are narrow and interchange, with the width supplied by the Fullbacks, but I couldn't make head or tail of the formation yesterday, its wasn't the above and it wasn't 3-5-1, it looked like a 4-2-4 or a 4-2-2-2 at best, yes the players weren't great and IMHO deserved the public bollocking, but Rodgers should have taken some public blame to for how the team was setup... "The players didn't do themselves any favours.. but to be honest, I think the formation which Itried to implement today wasn't best suited for the game"
Our wingers are unable to put in decent crosses. Sterling's decision making and final delivery in the final third is terribly but it will improve with time. Downing often got into great positions to attack the fullback but then just slowed down, wait, bide his time, make a cup of tea, wait for another 15 bodies to get into the box before crossing the ball into the first man and then cleard. He had plenty of chances to whip in early balls but delayed it almost every time. Hopefully we can get Coutinho and Ince in the next few days who will hopefully provide more creativity from the wide areas.
The only person she speaks to these days is her agent who's got her a deal to be Joe Allens replacement You heard it here first.
It was a weak team when are managers going to learn not to field a weak team in the FA Cup? Gerrard and Agger should have started.
I'd say Carragher not Agger. His voice was really needed. He has played in many games like that and knows the heart ake (knows the Traore, as the term should be said). I agree Lucas or Gerrard should have started. Maybe Shelvey to, he hasnt been involved for ages.
Borini, Sterling and Suarez were poor but I think people are being harsh on Sturridge. Yes he was dropping too deep but he was looking for the ball which, considering the other three forwards and the midfield were not helping him at all!!! He does need to pass more though but as I said before Danny joined, he has too much velcro on his boots
