From the club site. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/rodgers-barca-and-tiki-taka Really in depth look at the Tiki Taka style and idea behind it, well worth a read.
Reall interesting read - made me think about who we currently have and who might fit into the positions highlighted, and also who wouldn't. Given the highlighted roles of each player, I think out best formation might be: ?? Striker - Zone 7 - Don't think Carroll fits this. The only player we currently have to hold up / link is perhaps Kuyt, so this might be a new purchase. Zone 6 - Suarez on one side - but who would fit on the other side - as Downing is hardly creative enough... Perhaps Cole / Bellamy if his knee holds out as a fill in or Sterling with time, but this is another position that needs filling. Zone 5 - Clearly Gerrard fits here, but given the need for pssing skill / finding space - I wonder if Aqualani might be useful in this role, although I'd hardly call him a box to box midfielder. I think Zones 1-4 are fairly self explanatory - Reina, Agger, I'd put Coates rather than Skrtel as I feel he is more creative / comfortable on the ball and seemed more composed towards the end of this season; then Johnson and Enrique and Lucas. I'd love to know others thoughts... But potentially we would only need 2 first team top level signings and then some young uns for the other 1-2 to bring along... Interestingly though, I feel the likes of Carroll, Downing, Spearing and Shelvey might struggle to fit in...
From the article.... please log in to view this image See us at the very bottom? Hence the expression on the Kop, "another wasted corner" There was even a fanzine with that name at one time. It is one of the identifiable factors while we've been ****, we have never made anything from corners. Always over thought them, or just plain and simple taken **** corners and gave the ball away. I'd like to see the % stats of how many of our corners go to opposition players, I bet it is one of the highest in the league. I have never gotten excited when we get awarded a corner. You see the likes of Stoke bristle with anticipation when they get a throw in in line with the 18 yard box, because they feel they may get something from it. Wouldn't it be great if Liverpool could enjoy that same anticipation from corners that West Ham must do?
I think we have the best in the game for zone 1 in Pepe. Zone 2 suits Agger and Skrtle nicely. Zone 3 potentially Lucas. Zone 5 as playmaker and accurate passer could of been Gerrard 3-4 years ago. He now doesn't have those high levels of stamina needed. Aqualani might. Zone 4 we have Glen Johnson who fits nicely to this on the right, but not Jose who is fairly poor at getting forward. Zone 6 I actually believe this is Gerrard's real position, one of two siting behind the striker - like how he was behind Torres. I also think Suarez is the other man behind the striker linking. Bellamy fits this perfectly which gives us a great option. Zone 7 is a striker who can hold up the ball then swivel an go forward. I don't think we have one and will need to purchase. Carroll does not fit this role. Interestingly there are no real wingers, instead full backs which suits us as we have none! I see this fitting quite a few of our players. Big one it doesn't is Carroll. Excellent thread, and its great to see Rodgers philosophy. Really interested to see how he implements it!
Good points - Zone 7 clearly needs filling, and I take your point with Gerrard - so Zone six looks quite well catered for now; do you think Henderson or Shelvey are technically good enough to sit beside say Aqualani in Zone 5?
Maybe Shelvey yes. He has impressed. Not convinced he should start in that position now. But he could do. I'd like him to get games so we can see what level he is really at. Henderson I don't think fits in that system, and i'm not convinved Henderson will ever be good enough. That might be wrong though. 18 mill still drives me crazy! Downing doesn't fit either. Basically we need to bin most of our purchases from last year!
Zone 5 is the problem then isn't it - Owning Zone 5 is one major key to Barca's success; the article itself says: Both zones 3 and 5 will be expected to boast 90 per cent pass completion rates in order for the system to work successfully.
the style of football is tailored for who you have in mind to fill the slots in the squad. It has to evolve, you cannot roll it out to a team as it were, this system will take time to hone and even more time to mass enough players to fit the system, swansea play a hybrid of it kind of, with a physical aspect that if barca had as an option may have helped them in some games they lost this season. the club will need to play this style for a long time for it to attract the right players too. a hybrid of it is needed, the barca system is good but you need intelligent players definitely but for the prem there needs to be a carroll type, he'd have been useful if barca could have brought him on in the cl semi at thr nou for sure when the bus is parked by a good team you need someone who can battle CBs in the air
I note on another thread BR says we might bid for Gylfi Sigurdsson; is he someone who could do job in Zone 5, or is he played further forward for Swansea - I only saw him play once when he was Anfield and can't remember. I take peoples points about Andy Carroll - good to have options, and I think we'll have enough games next season overall with 3 cups to see if he can adapt to a Tika Taka hybrid system.
totally agree but I think he can do it because he is smart, doesn't seem it but on the pitch big Andy is clever and has a good touch and a quick mind, all of the above are why I think he can do it, he can play in a passing team. If he came on at the Nou for the last 25 minutes against Chelsea I think Barca would have gone though, look at the FA cup, he causes problems for teams willing to sit back on the edge of their box, he becomes a bridgehead for attacking moves right in hte middle of their 2 banks of four, just what Barca needed
