For me, especially at home games when the onus is on us to attack we should forget about Poulsen and go with Gerrard, Meireles in the middle and Cole just in front of them in the attacking Midfielder role. Then in the left wing forward position we should have Jovanovic or sign someone who can do that role, (preferably someone left footed, we seem to have a tendency to sign players who are right footed and play them on the left), in the right wing forward position we have Dirk Kuyt or Ryan Babel (as the other option) and then the mighty Fernando Torres up front. This formation also means having players that can play as wing forwards they’ll also be able to slot into a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 formation.
When you play the game as narrow as we do, you run out of ideas pretty quickly, when teams pack 10 men behind the ball to frustrate you, you can’t always manage to play that killer pass through the middle, and that’s why wingers become so important so that they can stretch the play. The season we finished 2nd, we had Riera and Kuyt who were constantly running the channels. We all know that not only is Fernando Torres great with the ball at his feet, he is also fantastic in the air and if we can get wingers who can not only beat a man but also deliver a cross it gives us plenty more options. When you play with no width as we do, it encourages the opposition to push on their wingers as they know that they don’t really have to help out their full backs that much because the only real wide threat we have is our own full backs. You also have the problem of, if you play with no wingers, your full backs will then be exposed and isolated.
Arsenal are a great example of how to play a 4-3-3 formation, they have 3 in the middle with Song/Diaby, Fabregas and Nasri. Then the 3 forwards are Walcott (stays wide) Arshavin (stays wide) and Chamakh or Van Persie. But they also have the players who can play a number of roles, Rosicky, Nasri and Van Persie can all also play as wing forwards. Arsenal score goals for fun sometimes, especially at home and I think it’s something we should aspire to. With this formation they have width and most importantly creativity and goals, they always seem to be able to get out of sticky situations by constantly stretching the play.
If this takeover does go through I think that at least 2 wingers should be 1st thing on the menu for Hodgson during the January transfer window, because if we continue to play so narrow we could end up having more nightmare results at home.
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Agree, and then lets look at the mid field and how we are not dominating there as we have in the past. We don’t press high enough up the pitch and when we are pressed we lose the ball too often or have to play hoof ball. No creativity to the front men… oh yea and what has happened to our stout defending this year. Oh yea they weren’t so stout last year either. Who wants to see Carra and Skrtel banging heads with each other in one more match? Where does it stop? Now, against Everton I hope! YNWA
I’ve just read everything on here and forgot what the post was!….. oh, yeah….tactics, looks like Roy has told them to do what they like, players out of position, players not good enough, fack me, am i dissapointed.
A great footballer, not necessary make a good coach or a football pundit. It amazes me that fans here are more analytical then these Ex-Liverpool football greats pundits. These ‘retarded’ football pundits just do not dissect the tactics utilised by managers. Thank goodness liverpool fans are mostly more knowledgable than these clowns. This is a great piece of analysis. You guys should read Paul Tomkins write up to know what I meant. YNWA.
I have read the above and undestand the defencive issues. BUT maybe this is the Liverpool problem, to win a simple game of football you need to put the bluddy ball in the opositions net. So you have to have a side that spends more time creating and scoring than defending.
we need a new coach who will employ the 4-3-3 formation,after buying good wingers like arda and selling junk like kuyt.fire roy who is as arogant as rafa.anythinh else,u are killing the team simply becoz u say roy is english and must be given time.lets get kenny,or even klinsman.
tee – I’m right with you Tee. Tbh, I’m tired of all the defensive football – after about 12 years of it already I’ve had more than enough, and it still hasn’t delivered us what we want anyway so it’s time
for a change.
I want a manager that is committed to attractive, attacking football again; win, lose or draw! Even if we can’t guarantee positive results every week, at least we can demand positive performances more often than not!
Get David Carney from Blackpool, he plays LB or LMF. He’s only 26 and value under 5 mill pound(a bargain), he’s a regular in Australian international squad i reckon he will be a hit. If Roy is looking for width and or a cover at LB then he should get Carney.