05 Oct 2020 09:11:39
Don't really post, but thought I'd throw my 2 pence in.

Last night was a freak result. I don't buy the rhetoric about the high line being the main problem that Carragher and everyone seem to be pedalling. For me the high line isn't in isolation. For us to use a high line, you need and agressive midfield and forward line press, something that we didn't have at all. For me, all of our midfield went missing, they didn't win many tackles, didn't track runners and were sloppy on the ball. On top of that, our front 3 didn't press as they usually do, Mane proving to be just as big of a miss off the ball as on it.

However, as the lack of press allowed Villa to pick passes for fun and midfield runners to go un tracked, there was another way we could have tried to protect the high line. It took until the 76th minute for Adrian to work out that he could help his back 4 out by pushing his starting position higher up the pitch and actually coming out of his box to sweep up.

Now there were some shocking 1v1 defensive errors, particularly on Gomez and Trent's part where they let their man come in side on to their stronger foot to shoot, but I personally don't buy the rhetoric of scrapping the high line, for me it wasn't the main or sole fault. I do believe Hendo being out made a difference, but that was a team pretty much full of experienced Prem players who should be able to lift themselves and not sulk after conceding like some seemed to do.

We've been absolutely spoilt rotten this last few seasons with trophies and consistently winning. It was a horrific performance but we take it on the chin and move on. No major upheaval needed at all.

Oh and fair play Villa. They were excellent in compounding our misery.

YNWA.

{Ed025's Note - you need to post more smp..

1.) 05 Oct 2020
05 Oct 2020 09:29:17
Spot on, OP. posted the exact same thing even tho I think we need to tweak the high line esp. if we need to accommodate Adrian in goal for the time being cos he is not a GK that can perform in such a system cos he is poor with his feet and rash in his decision-making.

2.) 05 Oct 2020
05 Oct 2020 09:30:07
Completely Agree smplfc, especially on the point about Adrian.

The same rhetoric was banded about the high line at the start of last season. Yes we didn't lose but at the time we had the same issue with Adrian. He simply refused to leave his 6-yard box irrespective of the rest of the team being in the opposition half. It just left way too much space for the opposition to run into.

Hopefully he will finally learn from this experience or the coaching staff can correct it.

3.) 05 Oct 2020
05 Oct 2020 10:18:25
RedTD, That is my point, exactly. Adrian is not tailored to play in our system so we have to tweak it a bit to accommodate him cos like it or not, Adrian is who we have right now.

4.) 05 Oct 2020
05 Oct 2020 10:21:41
I think that has been the best summary of the game I have read and I couldn’t agree more.

👍🏿.

5.) 05 Oct 2020
05 Oct 2020 10:32:18
Thanks TAA.

As I said, take it on the chin and move on.