Liverpool Banter Archive February 09 2017

09 Feb 2017 11:23:19
Hey again ed001, just another theory

Compared to their rivals, Liverpool seem to very disproportionately cop opponents trying to park the bus. Considering that Liverpool are not the only dangerous attacking unit in the league, it does make you wonder why Liverpool get singled out for this tactic the most.

It seems to me because these teams have identified Liverpool's defence as a particular weakness, and (rightly) believe that all they have to do is just sit back and wait for the opportunities to come. Conversely, they know it won't work as well against Chelsea because their defence is far stronger, so their only alternative to nabbing a goal is coming out to play.

09 Feb 2017 13:34:12
Mid-table teams are happy to get draws against top teams forget winning. Winning is a bonus for them.

Now for Chelsea conte is very very good tactically. He plays with flexible systeam where they've got wing backs wingers and a strong striker who doesn't need a lot of chances to score at the same time they play with two DM and three CB to protect/ cover their defence

Fergie all his years and success at united used wingers to open such defence w/ crosses after crosses. It looked boring tho but very effective and most of his time played old fashion 4-4-2.

09 Feb 2017 14:26:50
Looks like Klopp should see how top teams like Chelsea cope with teams who park the bus, instead of thinking that his way is best, and that there is no other way .

09 Feb 2017 18:22:36
Chelsea use their wingbacks to occupy your wingers who track back while their inside forwards (Hazard and Pedro/ Willian) occupy the spaces between your FB's and CB's as both Kante and especially Matic don't need to support the forward line as they are there to both recycle possession especially Kante, and cut out any kind of counter attacks from the opposition.

We try to do something similar to that with our FB's high up the pitch BUT where we falter is when we lose the ball, we only have Hendo back there with all the rest scampering back. That worked in the first half of the season BUT due to lack of confidence, poor attitude and poor form, we can't do that anymore hence, we concede in almost any counter attack situation.

09 Feb 2017 18:38:27
Manchester city have an awful defense worse than ours. But what they do have is pace to stretch opposition in abundance. They also have good striker upfront as well
Midfielders who are scoring at will. They play Yaya you're as a holding mid FYI.

09 Feb 2017 19:02:40
Top 6 teams have brilliant midfielders who could track bank and cover the space when full backs are very high. We simply don't have nor we hold the existing one's. Our entire army excluding Hendo and 2 CB's are always committed high up which makes life easy for opposition to run at.

Disagree on the confidence or attitude part. It worked well in the first half coz we scored goals for fun and opposition teams feared our strike force so much they just don't try and do anything silly. We dominated possession and hardly gave them a chance to counter. But when ever teams countered us they scored goals.

Nothing has changed except goals have dried up while possession and domination remains same as well Goals conceded. This teams was always going to concede goals by the way we play the only difference was we used to outscore every opposition. The team has no balance in defense and attack.

Play a specialist holding player alongside Henderson and you ll see the results immediately ( Counter attacks )

But this is not our immediate or biggest issue. The issue remains on scoring goals. We can't score goals!

09 Feb 2017 20:49:03
Disagree, Math. The balance between attack and defence is there already. We concede the least amount of shots in the PL, period so there's your proof. The reason we seem to concede is that our defenders lack grit in critical situations and are not strong in the challenge.

Look at Swansea's first and 3rd goals. Everyone was so static on the corner and on the third goal, no full blooded challenges were made hence the ball broke to Sigurdsson who scored cos he was alive to the play and we weren't despite us having enuff men back. And regarding the attitude, don't believe me. listen to Klopp after the Hull game as that is exactly what he said. It is reported that at half time, he tore them a new one as the play was so pedestrian and with Migs fronting them a goal ahead, it was only going to be more difficult. That is what has to change. Sometimes it's not who can play better. it's who is ready to fight and scrape for a win and we can't do that right now especially vs lesser teams.

I do agree that if we do get a DM, it will release Hendo to play further forward and will help cos he can pass, shoot and score goals.

10 Feb 2017 01:04:12
We have had our chances to win in games. We could have had5/ 6 against hull, last time I checked 5-2 wins . Couts missed 2 sitters for a start off . Then there's mane header hendos shot etc etc . Basically we are not taking our chances . That's nothing to do with stystem or formation . Granted we haven't been great on the eye, but we
Have had enough chances to win every game . It's kind of like golf . You can put yourself in good places, but if the putts don't sink you won't get a good result . It's a matter of a fine margin and taking chances when you get them .

09 Feb 2017 10:10:35
Hey ed001 :)

You agree with what McAteer recently said? He reckons the Liverpool team is way too nice. "a nice bunch of boys you could take home to your mum". He said they lack of the 'horribleness' of teams like Chelsea with Costa, Luiz, and Cahill (to an extent) .

He's totally right IMO, I can't pinpoint one player in the team that will be on your case if your standards have dropped. That kind of leadership lifts the team and Liverpool severely lack it. It doesn't mean Henderson isn't a good captain, he's just one of two types of leaders that Liverpool need.

{Ed001's Note - yep, I agree totally, and he should know as he was part of a similar team when he was playing for us!}

09 Feb 2017 10:20:03
Though I agree. I think Hen do is getting there in terms of leadership. He's still getting used to the role, he'll be a beast soon.

{Ed002's Note - He is in transition then.}

09 Feb 2017 10:26:04
Weren't they called The Spice Boys or something like that Ed, lol.

09 Feb 2017 10:46:48
Yeah, but he also praised players like Barnes and Ruddock for having that sense of authority to scold team mates when necessary. Do you remember Barnes as that kind of player?

09 Feb 2017 11:36:58
I think the main problem we have here is that for most players to rip somebody else a new one, they have to be so confident of their own ability and feel their position in the side is untouchable.

Gerrard, Carragher, Suarez, Reina etc. They were all players who would do this, but that was because they were so good at the time they were undroppable so they built this confidence. Imagine Lovren berating Wijnaldum for a mistake, then himself getting dropped for Klavan the next game. We need a settled side with a spine of players who are either believe they are brilliant or are 100% trusted by Klopp. You will not fix this issue overnight. Until we have a settled spine to this team, we will have a soft under belly.

Our fans are too busy slaughtering Gini, Lovren, Klavan or Matip every other week for any of them to develop that confidence. Hendo has that natural confidence any way. He was sticking it to Gerrard at 22 years old. Most players need to feel comfortable and secure to actually question one another though. We as a club (fans, managers etc) do not let players develop that confidence in their own ability. And the Liverpool FC recruitment team historically do not do a good enough job in identifying natural leaders.

09 Feb 2017 12:01:03
Until Liverpool has steely, gritty characters, all this talk about how we need more creativity in centre midfield, more width, a more clinical striker, and etc, just seems very superficial and addressing what is IMO the club's most underlying problem. Get in the craftiest midfielders and most clinical strikers all you want, it won't make much difference if they lack the mentality we need.

09 Feb 2017 12:45:03
In the previous post I meant to say "it is NOT addressing the club's most underlying problem"

09 Feb 2017 15:09:27
As horrible as roy keane was. You need a mean ffer in the team like that. One for his team mstes and two to intimitate the opposition. Oh and occasically put in a crucnher of a tackle.

Carragher comes to mind. Think nanis still having flashbacks.

First 30 seconds of a derby someone would of felt that jamie power. Haha.

09 Feb 2017 18:38:38
If you're just a nice guy then football or competitive sports in general, is NOT for you. It is a sport where only the strong-willed (regardless of talent or skill) survive. Not saying you should be a thug on the pitch BUT that fine line of creativity and outright nastiness is essential. We don't seem to have any players who when one screws up, the "coach on the pitch" will give him the business and tell him that it had better be the last time he screw up like that.

I remember Mertesacker ripping Ozil in front of the cameras after he refused to clap the Arsenal fans after they got beat at City in 13/ 14. That attitude is what is needed. Klopp is a lovely guy BUT make no mistake, he doesn't tolerate BS from anyone. Ask Sahko and Benteke. he needs to instill that in some of his players cos had we had that attitude, Bournmouth, Swansea and Wolves would NEVER have happened.

09 Feb 2017 20:18:20
So sad Sakho messed up. Sure, he made a few mistakes around the pitch, but plays with fire and desire, nasty at times. Steely if you like. Would have loved to see what he could do with some guidance from JK. Could have been part of a spine along with Hendo.

10 Feb 2017 13:46:09
True shame that, Andy.