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Stop Using Square Pegs In Round Holes!

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OVER the past few seasons, a common question that has been asked amongst Reds all over the world has been ‘Why are we playing our players out of position’? This is a conundrum that has been left unsolved since Gerard Houllier became fond of playing Emile Heskey at right-back all those years ago. And right now, we find ourselves asking ‘why is Jordan Henderson playing on the right?’ and ‘Why is Agger being shunted out to left back’? Is this a tactical issue?

And more importantly, is it impeding the development of one of the brightest talents in the country?

Personally, I think it is a tactical issue. But, I also think Kenny is trying to ease Henderson into the team. When Henderson was playing for Sunderland, the pressure wasn’t as intense as the pressure he is feeling now. Anfield is a tough place to play, especially when the team is not playing well. As the season has gone on, the league form shown by the team has gotten progressively worse which has made the pressure on the midfielders to score goals increase.

Someone like Henderson would be better if he was playing second fiddle to a much superior and senior midfielder. Someone like Raul Meireles springs to mind. At the time it seemed like a good move. A player that didn’t want to be here, so we sold him. We have missed his creativity and guile. Henderson doesn’t seem to have the confidence to emulate what Raul gave us in the latter part of last season.

Another player in recent weeks who has been played as a square peg in a round hole has been Daniel Agger. Agger, who has made his name as a marauding centre-half, has been shunted out to left-back to accommodate the ageing Jamie Carragher in the side. This has also had something to do with the sudden loss in form of Josè Enrique. While the Danish international has been okay in his new position, it has really upset the balance and calmness that was present in the back four in the run up to the League Cup final.

Unfortunately, in that game, Agger suffered two broken ribs in the showpiece event which led to Carra coming back into the side. And whilst in previous years this would have been a good thing, it meant that Martin Skrtel had to be moved out of his comfort zone to the left centre-back position. When this was used earlier on in the season after Agger suffered the same fate in the 4-0 defeat at Spurs, it proved to be costly as goals seemed to be going in left, right and centre. And when Sebastien Coates came into the side and slotted in perfectly in the left centre-back position, he looked much more composed.
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My final example of playing square pegs in round holes is the use of Stewart Downing on the right-wing, especially when Andy Carroll is in the side. When winger arrived from the midlands for £20m, everyone thought that he was going to be an integral part of our left side. He was meant to forge an immediate partnership with Enrique on the left-wing and provide a lot of bullets for Andy Carroll up front.

In my opinion, he hasn’t been given enough time to settle on the left and he has been moved over to the right too much to accommodate Craig Bellamy. It should be either one or the other in the team and he and Enrique haven’t been given time to get into a groove on that side of the pitch. Obviously, his poor run of form at the start of the new year will have contributed that, but nonetheless, I think he have missed a trick and it hasn’t allowed Downing to create more crosses with his natural foot.

Over the remaining games and well into next season, I think we should try and play more players in their natural positions to see if they flourish. It seems a bit of an overdrawn cliché. But, when other things haven’t worked, it seems to be the basic turning point. When played in his natural position, Jordan Henderson has shown glimpses of why Dalglish and Comolli thought he’d be a good buy. In short, no more square pegs in round holes please Kenny!

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20 year old Liverpool fan from Dublin. My first game was a 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in December 1996 and since then I've been addicted. I'm a regular contributor to The Liverpool Way Forum and have been posting there for a number of years. I'm a keen Twitter user and I also enjoy watching cricket.

8 comments

  • Blindside says:

    The easy answer to that is because by playing our lads out of position it gives the opposition chances to make us look pathetic and utterly aimless. If we were to play them in the positions they are supposed to excel in a goal or two might appear and that would never do – would it?

  • Al says:

    kenny has no clue what he is doing -as Alan Hansen once remarked ” he shoudl be shot”, utter incompetence of the queen kenny

  • Simon Ward says:

    I think the main reason Downing Henderson etc have been used on the right is simple – we dont have a round peg for that round hole. Kuyt is a striker. Johnson a full back. No one else springs to mind except who you mentioned.

    All managers do it. Examples: Rooney on the left. Van der Vaart on the right. Balotelli on the left. Anelka/Sturridge wide for Chelsea. On Sunday, Distin left back when Phil Neville centre mid. Thats 5 different, experienced Managers in the prem.

    Some players become comfortable in new positions, when given time in them, and it gets taken for granted. Such as Phil Neville. You mention Bellamy playing left side – hes a striker. Carra started centre mid. Kuyt has become right midfield when bought as a striker. Under Paisley, Ronnie Whelan started left midfield. Terry Mac right side.

    Henderson isnt a right sided player IMO, but we have to use someone there. Until we sign one, or even two, You should expect to see a square peg every week.

  • Bekim says:

    Some players you’ve mentioned r just not good enough. Play them whatever position. They r not good PERIOD. If S Downing can’t play in both flanks then he’s very limited and KD shouldn’t wasted 20million on him. Henderson another 20million wasted. Play him where ever he ain’t LFC player. Adam the same. Loan him back to Blackpool. Sentiment commes in when Carrager is concerned. He’s finished and should never start ahead of Coates. As for Caroll. KD should have done more to try and keep El Niño at Liverpool. If next season our midfield is still Henderson, Spearing , Downing and Adam than expect the same results and there will no PROGRESS as far as league is concerned.

    • Chan says:

      Well said Bekim. Rafa once played Stevie on the right. He did well. Kuyt is another famous example by Rafa. Back in those days i think Rafa did out of need rather than choice. He did not have 113 mill in a little more than a season. In other words he knew what he was doing and maximise his resources.

      Also for Rafa, whats is important is the club, not sentiments for any individual. While Carra had been a great servant, sacrificing our well being just to accomodate this aging defender is one of the biggest crime KD had committed against LFC.

      With all those money (85 mill to be exact), KD paid for a set of midfielders who can only play in one position while others would get an established versatile player. Just look at Manure,MC, Chelsea, Newcastle (especially them).

      To put things in perspective as long as KD is in charge we would continue to regress. Oh CC is not the definition of greatness.

  • NJRedsFan says:

    Johnson should have been at right mid, he’s much better in the attack than on the defense, besides mids have to defend also. Kelly and Flannagan should have played right back. Kuyt is prolfic as a striker for his country and combines well with Suarez yet he sits the bench. Maxi works very well with Enrique and Bellamy on the right yet he also sits on the bench. Injuries caused many of our headaches but the writer is correct in the assessment of our season.

  • U can talk of square pegs in round holes all you want,but ask yourself is rooney a left winger,or messi a central striker,or gerrard a central mid?These r success stories of square pegs in round…e real lfc problem is KD s lack of tactical nous..

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