20 Jan 2017 17:33:07
We often talk about how players do and don't work in certain systems which begs the question, should the system be designed to suit the players or should the players that most suit the system be picked? For Liverpool 13/ 14 is a great example of the former, Rodgers set up to get the best out of Suarez. Klopp, however, picks the system first and then gets the players to adapt to it.

At City the rumour is that Aguero can leave as Guardiola doesn't think he fits but Aguero is debatably the best striker in Premier League history, surely the manger should adapt to get such a good player into his team?

Thoughts?

1.) 20 Jan 2017
20 Jan 2017 18:34:14
Aguero isn't even "arguably" the best striker in premier league history .

{Ed025's Note - compared to suarez hes a no mark mate..

2.) 20 Jan 2017
20 Jan 2017 19:07:10
To your original point however I am a massive advicate for bringing in players that will suit your system. Purely because the system is essentially your identiry yea? So then establishing an identity to me is one of the first steps in develooing the club and then you need the right players to deliver that.

I think you need flexibility too in terms of tactics etc - defending when you need to, long ball when you HAVE TO and so forth. But that our primary system is etablished!

3.) 20 Jan 2017
20 Jan 2017 19:00:43
I truly do not believe BR set anything up intentionally to suit anyone. He stumbled across lightening in a bottle midway thru that title run and then the next season he REEEEALLY showed his ineptitude and inability to develop an identity with the players he had once suarez left.

4.) 20 Jan 2017
20 Jan 2017 21:03:40
I think you play the system to suit the majority of your best players, not just one, and I think the current system suits us well, relying on hard working players like Hendo, Llalana, Firmino etc.

13/ 14 was a decent example perhaps, however the diamond also was also perfect for Sturridge, Sterling, Coutinho and Hendo so don't think it was just about suiting Suarez.

5.) 20 Jan 2017
20 Jan 2017 20:52:46
I agree with Faith. The system is essential because that is the bedrock of a group and a path to success on the pitch. Then we can add the players with the qualities necessary to fit the scheme. Of course, there are small exceptions and tweaks can be made to accommodate very talented players who may not naturally fit the required system.

As for BR's system, it was never his "system". It was Marcelo Bielsa (a god of the high press system) who recommended it to BR during a coaching seminar, as Ed01 mentioned profusely at the time and it worked cos we had the players who could thrive in it. We know it wasn't his system cos the season after, he reverted back to his failed slow, sideways passing stuff that got us nowhere, to the point of him being sacked.

6.) 20 Jan 2017
20 Jan 2017 23:19:55
Putney, I am generally a fan of players fitting systems, but within those systems you need a core/ spine of 4 playersand the rest can come and go based on injuries, player sales purchases, or rotations.

Historically most teams IMO were built around a stable core of players who could play a system, or who were good players. Schmeichel, Bruce, keane, cantona
van der sar, ferdy, scholes, rooney.
cech terry, makelele Lampard Drogba
Hart, Kompany, yaya, ageuro.
the other playersaround that spine tend to come and go, without affecting the team, but when you miss one or 2from that spine, the team is drastically affected, none more evident for me than cities failures without kompany and aguero, or cheleas collapse when lampard picked up hisinjuries in 2010/ 11

I would be hesistant personally to build a team around one or 2 players, as you're solely relying on them eprforming week in and outand no doubt, it would give thm a significant ego, as well as being man marked out the game at times. It has been pointed out, Argentina fail when Messi is simply tracked (tagged) by a marker out the game, teams focussed on stopping mcmanaman back in the day and fowler. If you stopped their quality, you stopped lfc.

It has to be said though, systems can be found out, ed002 points to this regarding klopps early success and then ''demise'' after the workaround for his system was discovered. Same with Leicester this year. I think any system should have a plan b and c.

Overall i'd say i'd build a team of player to fit a system rather than build a system or team around 1 player.

7.) 21 Jan 2017
21 Jan 2017 03:11:28
I agree with about Rodgers.

Rodgers first master stroke was to isolate and flog Big Andy Carroll because he did not suit his style of play.
His last master stroke was to spend millions signing the big target man Bendeke to add a direct dimension to the group.
Enough said but I still feel sorry for Kenny to have that mule Rodgers belittling his squad.

8.) 21 Jan 2017
21 Jan 2017 03:43:08
You play systems and get the players to adapt or bring in players who already fit it. No individual is greater then the team - how many times have we heard Klopp talk about the importance of the collective? It is a team game and the system is what dictates the fluidity of the team - that has to be the priority. I would have thought that any top-class player, like Aquero, could fit into pretty much any system though. Personally I just think Guardiola is doing a bit of a rubbish job.

9.) 21 Jan 2017
20 Jan 2017 22:47:08
Glad I generated some discussion. Quick one for rollanfield, Aguero has the best strike rate of any premier league player. If we had that debate he would be included in it.

10.) 21 Jan 2017
21 Jan 2017 10:29:17
Ed25, you're being far too nice to us these days, has Mr Klopp made you see the error of your ways? Are you going to do a Carra and switch allegiances? You're tempted aren't you? ;-)

{Ed025's Note - im afraid not super, blues are born mate not manufactured, being a scouser a lot of my friends (and 2 sons) are reds so its hard not to be nice to you, and i must admit i do like klopp because hes a bit of a wierdo and is always upbeat just like me, i do wish the reds well but will be massively disappointed if you win the league, i just wont be able to stand the crowing that would bring...so heres to yet another 27 years of underachievement.. :)