09 Mar 2017 00:50:37
Was thinking today about how everyone goes on about our centre defenders and how we leak so many goals, maybe if they had more protection we wouldn't be leaking so many? Nearly all the best defences in the world have a defensive midfielder protecting them for example Chelsea - Matic, Juventus - Khedira, etc. Hope we sign a defensive midfielder this summer people say we leak goals to much and that is true for ever since mascherano left we have never had a decent defensive midfielder. Lucas had one great season but then fell apart giving away needless fouls just outside the box and couldn't get in the team, stevie in our title run never really made that many tackles just dictated the play from the back. I think Klopp should use his Dortmund formation the 4-2-3-1 next season. I think getting someone alongside Henderson to make tackles and protect the centre backs would be a great Addition and prevent us getting smashed on every counter attack against us. Can't think of many options but Danilo Peirera or William Carvalho would be great for example. What do you think eds? Do you think Stewart could step up even? Or Williams I heard you rate him highly in that position?

{Ed001's Note - they won't make it if they are not getting chances.}


1.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 09:30:45
CyKlopps, a spot-on post in my opinion, the DM discussion comes along regularly on these pages but I think you'll find many feel we don't need one or that Henderson already is one. That's why we are heading for another 50 goals conceded this season, yet again.

{Ed001's Note - it is not because we do not play with a DM that we concede so many and putting one in the team would not fix the problem. So shortsighted to suggest that is the problem.}


2.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 09:49:03
Ed a defensive midfielder that could protect the two centre backs when the full backs are the other side of the pitch would be a huge benefit.

{Ed001's Note - that depends on how we play. If you are playing with fullbacks then there is no need for a defensive midfielder to protect them as there would be enough players back. Even then, the defensive midfielder usually ends up slotting in between the centre backs to allow them to cover behind wing backs, which would still leave us with the issue that our centre half pairing do not like being dragged out wide. It would also not protect us from a keeper that gives no confidence.}


3.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 09:51:09
I am not saying by the way replace henderson just simply play one alongside him in 4-2-3-1 and I am sure they would compliment each other very well.

{Ed001's Note - how would they? Just playing a DM there would mean they would be tripping over each other. It is not about just shoehorning the latest FM fantasy formation on the team. DMs are just a cover for a lack of quality, intelligent players who can defend.}


4.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 10:22:39
I don't play fm ed I just watch a lot of other teams as well, I respect your opinion but I don't agree with it, many teams play that way and it works very well for example Dembele and Wanyama who compliment each other very well even though Wanyama is useless spurs are great defensively if we got a good defensive midfielder we would be more protected and leak less goals. Nearly every title winning team every season has one, Leicester had kante last season and chelsea had him this season playing alongside matic and i haven't seen them trip over each other once.

{Ed001's Note - have you watched Spurs play a lot? If so you would notice that their centre halves are comfortable at fullback, so do not mind being dragged out wide, while the defensive mids fill in the gap between them. We do not have centre halves comfortable out there, so bringing in a DM would not help, as he would just be another body in the middle. We do need more fight in central midfield, but not a DM, which Kante is not anyway, and nor is Dembele. The reason Chelsea struggled early in the season was because they played Kante as a DM and he was ineffective. He never played there last season for Leicester either, why does this crap keep coming up? Do people just not watch football? He played a central midfield role, a proper, old fashioned central midfielder who just used his athleticism to get around the pitch and get back when needed. That is why the Leicester coaching staff used to say their central midfield was Drinkwater in the centre and Kante either side of him. He is not, was not and will never be a DM unless you want half a player. Dembele is a playmaker, not a DM.}


5.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 11:06:42
In my opinion there's no one quick fix to this as there's a number of issues, our keepers don't coordinate the defence or instil any confidence, this needs to be addressed. Our centre half pairings don't provide adequate cover to our keepers who already struggle with confidence and they don't Instil confidence, this needs to be addressed. Our full backs don't provide adequate cover, this needs to be addressed. Our midfield at times doesn't provide cover for any of the defence at times, this needs to be addressed.

I'm of the opinion that a player of the same mound as Kante would address one of these issues. A competent centre half to play alongside Matip will also help, full backs who are good at defending will also help and either a new keeper or a coach who is capable of improving our keepers is another step.

If we spent our entire window addressing these issues and nothing else I'd be a very very happy person. The likes of Goetze and whoever else we're linked with up front can surely be put on the back burner for a year - I'm working on the assumption Coutinho stays btw.

There's plenty of goals in the team as it is, it's our consistent leaking of goals over a number of years that needs to be put to bloody bed once and for all.


6.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 11:28:43
Ed I don't disagree I know we do need another centre back that can be comfortable in wider positions, it is obvious already we are definitely going to be getting a centre half this summer but would a player who can break up the play, make interceptions, and protect the back not be a good addition as well? Fair enough you can call Kante a centre midfield but in my eyes he does everything a defensive midfielder does, breaks up play makes many interceptions and passes it on to more attacking players to to do the damage. I wasnt calling dembele a defensive midfielder at all I was comparing him to henderson as both are playmakers just dembele has a defensive midfielder in Wanyama beside him in the formation I think henderson could thrive in that formation and I think would work better especially against the lesser teams we find so hard to beat. I think you are missing my point.

{Ed001's Note - different system being played by Spurs, it is like comparing apples and oranges. We do not play the way they do, so we can't put out the same type of players they do. I wouldn't want to play the way Spurs do, it is effective in the main, but it is far too defensive and overly reliant on Kane.}


7.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 12:35:14
Khadiera is not a defensive midfielder. If we target a CM this summer it has to be Naby Keita. This lad is like a Kante, A multi tasker and sheer quality.


8.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 13:17:54
Did United ever play with one under Fergie?


9.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 13:19:46
Dembele is much more than just a playmaker. He is in between a good DM and an excellent CM. Could do both the job given what is important. I have seen him playing behind an actual CM and ahead an actual DM. He is blessed. One of a kind

I love when the boss speaks about midfielders, One of my fav subject in the game. Kante is a mystery for people and football pundits who goes by the names rather than the poaitons. He could act as anything.

It is no secret that Klopp loves his full back to press high. Out latest crush ( Pierera ) is no defender. This means we will always need an extra body in the middle but Klopp doesn't want a mere stopper. He wants someone who could do more than just stopping a god damn football.

That is Why we need to offload Can for someoneline Keita or Kessie.


10.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 14:30:04
Ed you said you would love us sign Gary Medel before is he not a defensive midfielder?

{Ed001's Note - nope. Just because he plays as a defender at times does not make him a defensive midfielder when he is in midfield. He is much more than that, more of a deep lying playmaker who also breaks up play. He is not as limited as a defensive midfielder.}


11.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 15:07:40
I don't know how you want to label a player but we need someone who can prevent opposition midfielders from running at our central defenders unchallenged. We need someone who can intercept through balls which our centre backs fail to do.
Whatever letters of the alphabet you want to label them, we need someone to perform these roles. The current players are incapable, unwilling or not expected to.


12.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 20:41:24
Sideing with ed001 on this one. The pure DM is a thing of the past. The player occupying space in front of the CBs needs to protect them, but also play some ball, and pose somekind of threat making forward runs. He needs to be able to move past a pressing opponent to give himself some more time on the ball. I'd say we should go all out for Keita in the summer, he'll be exactly what we need. Can see him and Hendo taking turns, or playing alongside eachother or Hendo being pushed forward. Would give us much needed flexibility.
Stewart I don't rate. Don't see him making the grade. No trickery, slow on the ball, dodgy passing at times.


13.) 09 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 21:00:02
Paredes for me, he wins the ball and starts an attack. He reminds me a bit of Molby with his passing range and his ability to create time and space for himself.
Much better than Carvalho on the ball IMO.


14.) 10 Mar 2017
09 Mar 2017 23:06:03
It seems many just want us to play the way other teams play without looking at the minor details regarding their formations, schemes and players vs our own. Klopp will NEVER play like Spurs or Chelsea so stop with the nonsensical comparisons.

Klopp's system does not use a DM, period. This is because the no. 6 in Klopp's system is required to be the quarterback that starts the play and be a safety (NFL defensive position) when we don't have the ball. At BVB, Klopp had Sahin at the no. 6 position and they bossed the league with while having the best defence, to the point that Sahin was voted player of the year in the Bundesliga. Sahin is not a DM and will never be one. He is a DLP.

We don't need a true DM in Klopp's system cos defensively, it is the team that attacks and defends together and we can see that it works perfectly judging by the Spurs and City games where we kept clean sheets. The goals we concede are due to individual errors and breakdown in communication as well as momentary bottle jobs by individuals. Can we do with a Kante-type CM? Absolutely as that is the CM we should be looking at to protect the CB's. Not a DM as that simply won't work with Klopp as Ed has exposed.


15.) 10 Mar 2017
10 Mar 2017 12:10:41
Just like Paredes Noah.


16.) 10 Mar 2017
10 Mar 2017 15:27:15
Klopp played Bender at BVB who is a DM Noah.