Thats our MAIN problem We take too long to get the ball from one of the pitch to the other, so the defence can re adjust Too many players want TOOO many touches, it should be maximum 2 touches from each player, the more any player takes, the easier it is for the defence to adjust.Sterling is terrible for this, but there are others.For example I dont mind Suarez doin a trick if people are picked up, but if theres a man in space with a a free shot on goal if Luis passes it FIRST TIME, then pass it 1st f**kin time I am a bit worried we dont seem to be improving with aspect of the game, BR should be driving the players mental with this The amount of times I find myself saying during a game," Pass it 1st time" " Cross it 1st time""Pass it Early" "Shoot 1st time" AND THEY DONT, and cos we dont we dont score or even create the chance is mindblowing and is the MAIN reason we arnt a top side at the mo FIRST TIME TAKES THE DEFENCE OUT OF THE GAME, why dont our players realise this BR
I have noticed this and thought it would improve with Allen further forward but so far it hasn't. Being patient is fine but the ball needs to be moved more quickly.
what does my head in is you can see a forward pass and certain players you just know will just pass back????, and then we have to start all over again. like you say pointless by then as the opposition have adjusted and back in position.
There is a lack of intelligence/experience in the front 3. Sterling can get into great positions but his output isn't that great. And if Downing, Shelvey is on the wing, they don't have the ability to beat their man so they'll just pass back. I've mentioned before that our attack is a lot more threatening when Enrique is on the wing as he is not afraid to run and drive into the box. His first thought isn't to pass back, it's to drive forward and get the ball into the box. That's why I welcome the signings of Ince and Sturridge as these two players will get into the box.
100% agree DDDDDD. The only players who ever try to move it quickly are Enrique and Gerrard and Gerrards accuracy has been way off so far this season. I can't criticise Sterling too much as he so often gets the ball when he's static and he's never going to be at his best when that happens. I have the same concerns with Sturridge. Get the ball into them quickly and in front of them not when they've got backs to goal. We need to add a lot more game intelligence to this squad to make the formation work well and we need to start getting the first goal in games. When we go a goal down in games this formation leaves us so open to the counter.
Yeah fair point. It'll always be a puzzle why Cole hasn't done more. Lack of fitness or desire maybe? He may not be as good as many pundits touted him to be but its still weird just how ineffective he's been at Anfield.
I think there is an underlying reason behind your underlying reason, 6D, (which is spot on BTW). The fact that players take so long on the ball, don't see the spaces and the opportunities and ultiamtely lack skill and vision is because, ultimately, we have quite a lot of average players in the team. We really do have some seriously average players that wouldn't look out of place in Stoke *cough* Adam *Cough*
its up to the manager to employ a system that suits the players we have. If we are not getting the ball forward quick enough it is the managers fault. We are completely lacking direct football. Simple football that got Villa 2 of their goals whilst we passed the ball all over the place for 0 joy. We have 0 presence in the area, something Carroll would have added although with our crossing and general delivery plus failures to make even the simplest cutbacks.. Carroll would have fk all to feed off. When we get in to an oppositions penalty area NOT ONE makes moves to get into a bit of space to score they all just stand there and expect to be found. Do the forwards not know where the wingers are going to put the ball or vise versa? anyways the ball gets ballooned over everyone's head anyways. The longer we retain possession in a game without scoring the more likely it is we'll concede a goal through lack of defensive concentration which results in 0 3 Villa. We need a few more players to think for themselves, to say this aint working we'll try something else. We're too rigid in how we move the ball, too predictable and ponderous. As said, poor vision and technique. Simple mistakes have multiplied and players before reliable are now unreliable. I get the feeling we ARE Swansea now. play well and get beat, win 1 lose 1 win 1 lose 1 win 0 lose 6 win 2 lose 4.. a few 0 0 1-1 ect. We leak too many goals, have no direct approach, an unwillingness to overlap at times and then when we do defenders get caught miles out of position. Saying all that. We win the passing
As much as a lot of us think Gerard is past it, he generally always looks forward and tries a risky pass instead of playing it safe. Lucas is still getting back to fitness, but he drops deep and takes the ball from defenders and moves it on. My big concern is Allen still, can't dribble, doesn't offer defence splitting balls, can't tackle, no speed, just get the ball and return it again or pass miles back. Downing had no goals and assists last year, will we be as critical to Allen with the same stats?
The basis of the 'holding' problem for many of our players is the difference in strategy between Rodgers and Kenny. Kenny always wanted to play progressive 2 touch football. Whilst Rodgers wants us to pass he also wants to retain possession of the ball. Therefore under Rodgers these same players fall into the trap of doing neither. Yes the can see the passes but are not willing to risk the ire of the manager by giving the ball away. Hence they wait, of ten too long, to play the 'safe' (often backwards) pass.
The problem with Gerrard is the opposite to the team in general. The team play it safe too much; passing sideways and backwards, taking too long, etc. Gerrard looks for the killer ball EVERY time. The one thing these two situations have in common in predictability. There has to be an intermediate, something that is not too risky but is also unpredictable
True. Again I think there's a balance here we're nowhere near getting right. Gerrard sees the others fannying about with it so takes all the reponsibility on to move it forward quickly. The others see Gerrards quick forward passes going astray so they think "**** I can't be doing that so I'll just play it safe".BR now needs to get that balance right. I'm still convinced if he can get Gerrard playing well within this system then it'll be a massive benefit to us. The likes of Sterling and Sturridge if we do get him will benefit from a faster approach.The other problem we have is Suarez. This isn't a criticism of him just an observation. The reason defenders hate him is because he is so unpredictable. However this means he's also bloody hard to find with a pass from midfield. Gerrard's spent his whole career playing with forwards like Owen and Torres, classic strikers if you like, who will make the traditional, trademark runs game in game out (slightly different in style obviously). A good midfielder knows exactly where these players will be without even lifting his head. Suarez is different in that he plays "off the cuff". Everything he does seems a lot more spur of the moment and that must be really hard for any midfielder to adapt to.
Good shout on Suarez, shame we never got to see how the trio of Gerrard, Suarez and Torres would have worked. Gerrard has gone on record as saying that Suarez is the best forward he's played with but he's hardly going to say anything different whilst they are teammates and he did claim Joe cole was as good as Messi too
Another reason why Saurez and the team may benefit if we have a proper striker and play Suarez out wide.
I disagree. I think if we played Suarez out wide then it would effect the balance of the side. IMO, the best position for Suarez is behind a front man, either in a 4411 or in the hole in a 4231 Edit: if its the 4231 then the two become extremely important
Agree with the OP, this is exactly why we can have so much possession and get spanked. Allen and Sterling need to look at the ball to control it and miss out on quick passes as a result. It vexes me.
