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Will New Style Also Bring Substance?

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WITH just a day to go before the big kick off and with the exit door at Anfield covered with perhaps more hand print marks than expected, Brendan Rodgers new dawn has seen the sun set on the careers of a few household names as the new boss clears the decks to impose his vision on the club.

But is it too much too soon or does he possess the masterplan for a brighter new day?

With the news that the club are willing to entertain “big offers” for Dan Agger and that everybody has a price tag is revealing as to the state of our finances, we need to sell before we buy. The Northern Irishman has been slow and deliberate in his search for recruits befitting of the club while ruthless in his discarding of others. Critics will cast a cynical eye on his early work as he aims to swiftly encompass his tactical beliefs on the side. Should a work in progress be a gradual procession, or by putting his own framework in place immediately give him the edge in an era where patience is at a premium and results are the only currency worth banking on?

There were times last year where we played some scintillating stuff, but our retention of the ball was woeful at times. This will not be acceptable under Rodgers; a big issue has been made of his methods to win football matches – style has been emphasised as the key factor – but what we really want are players who can get us results, that is the hard reality of managing a club with our size and reputation. If he can marry the two without selling out his ideals we are in for a season to remember.

“Of course I’ll bring in a certain philosophy which I’m attached to but the principles of our game are based around the players. For me the best thing about the game other than scoring goals is having the football, and that’ll be the idea and the fundamentals we’ll work on – but they are playing ultimately to win. We’re in the business of winning and hopefully we can entertain along the way.”

Our first performance of the season at Anfield went some way to win over the critics albeit over limited opposition, the attacking verve was there for all to see. This is what we want to see, his rhetoric backed up with results. Joe Allen’s signing changes the face of the side slightly, with the boss keen to bring in further names [now Assaidi too] possibly on loan we have yet to see the physical nature of his set up although we are well versed on the vision.
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What Rodgers touches upon is playing “the Liverpool Way”, something which we have come accustomed to over the golden years and sporadically in the recent past, but does a re-awakening to a modern tinkered version of this bring success? Or should the idea be more about a solid base of ‘win at all costs’ with a sprinkle of ‘tiki-taka’ to take us into the new season?

There has to be room for the ugly stuff; when things get physical a plan B is key. This could also be seen when Barcelona doggedly maintained their approach as Pep Guardiola and his graduates of La Masia believed it would see off a counter attacking (if that) Chelsea side in last year’s Champions League semi-final. This was a rare occasion when the world’s best fell on their own sword refusing to revert to route one or similar crude tactics which served Didier Drogba and co. so well.

I am excited to see if we can dramatically improve our ball retention as last year saw us stage too many shows of ‘hot potato’. But will style bring substance or will we be pretty to watch but soft at the core?

Quote Courtesy of sport.co.uk
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I've been following the Reds ever since I set eyes on the majestic sight that is the Kop in full voice with flags aloft, albeit from the television with my dad as a 5 year old in my hometown of Dublin! He would tell me about the Irish contingent, the likes of Heighway, Whelan, Beglin and Houghton, he is a Leeds fan due to his hero Johnny Giles but I had to go against the grain on this one, his 3 year old grandson will not be afforded the same opportunity!
I completed a Higher National Diploma in Print Journalism back in Dublin where I briefly worked for the Irish Independent on a placement, covering Rugby, obituaries (including the great John Charles) and some sub editing. I then made the short journey to Liverpool, where I currently reside to undertake International Journalism at John Moores University. Some will say that over the years I have picked up a Jan Molbyesque native twang but I'm not so sure!
I was also lucky enough to have worked for the socialist publication "Morning Star" covering the Reds at Anfield which allowed me gain access to the press box and press conferences, I covered about 10 games and loved every minute of it!
I am excited to be joining the team at live4liverpool.com. From what I have seen so far the standard of articles have been first class, I hope to contribute to this by publishing pieces which create opinion and debate.

5 comments

  • Bill says:

    I hate Hyperlinks in the text no matter what I do I end up moving the mouse over them. not coming back here, and I have no use for bleeding Fedex, it’s bad enough getting fake emails from them.

  • Red$4eva says:

    Barcelona and Spain use this system to excellant effect thats obvious enough, just look at the recent haul of trophies. For LFC to emulate such traits it doesn’t stop at pass and move of old, many sides in the prem league can ping the ball around.
    The key is winning it back quick when you lose it. Operating zonally- nearest players gang up and apply pressure on opponent players to get them to make a mistake or tacckle the ball back out right. So doesn’t matter who loses the ball the olness is on every player to get it back. Secondly the goal scoring threat should come from many or all areas of the field. LFC are addressing this with BRs new signings. That is where Spearing, Shelvey, Downing and Hendersen are weak. On the plus Johnson, Agger, Skyrtel can score and the new look front line Sterling, Borini, Suarez, Gerrard, Allen, Assaidi all have good attacking stats. Thirdly since tiki taka is about lovin the ball or keeping the ball with a desire of not giving it away- so hoofing it out of defence will have to be replaced by patient build up from the back and stoicism in defence.
    The present system is at an embryonic stage and all the mentioned ingredients will take time to become evident in LFCs game. The prem league is our top priority and its a long journey to May, hopefully the squad can be formed as early as poss. That is in this transfer window and not January.

    • axis says:

      Great article followed by great comment by red$4va. I’m just hoping by May next year we’re sitting comfortable above 4th. Fingers cross

  • Derek Byrne says:

    Thanks for the kind words axis and some good points there from reds$4eva. We are in the primary stages of this new era and you are right, we should have enough players who can put it in the net, sadly it wasnt to be on Saturday but we brush ourselves down and go again next Sunday in a packed Anfield against the champions

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