The essence of the ‘beautiful game’ has always been most evident in its simplicity, whether it was the Dutch playing ‘total football’, the Brazilians with their ‘samba’, or, more pertinently, Liverpool with their ‘pass and move’. Whichever way you consider it, the success lay in the straightforward concept of keeping the ball, moving into space, and letting the opposition chase you. It really was, and remains, that uncomplicated.
Kenny Dalglish was the master of it, and so were his teams. As a player, Dalglish perpetually made runs off the ball not only to create space for himself but for others, and I remember watching spellbound as his teams did similar. It was a thing of beauty to watch a team move up the field so seamlessly by passing and then moving into space to receive either the next ball or the one after.
Roy Evans’ class of 1996 did it but unfortunately could not defend, and towards the end of the season, Rafa Benitez’s 2008/9 team did it to blistering effect, the latter of which is most perplexing given the sterile nature of football that many of the same players are currently playing.
In all honesty, Everton outplayed Liverpool in every single facet of the game during Sunday’s Merseyside Derby. What was most evident, however, was how they constantly hustled the man in possession, much as you would expect in a big Derby. What was also apparent was the movement of Cahill and Arteta behind Yakubu, and it is probably no coincidence that they were the goalscorers. They outworked and out-moved the Reds, who simply looked lethargic, lacklustre and disinterested.
From a technical perspective, as simple as it sounds, just the merest element of ‘pass and move’ would have made such a difference. It is much more difficult to harangue and pressure a moving target, and even if you do, you risk losing the team’s defensive shape. However, Liverpool were so static, that the Evertonians had a free reign to launch into every challenge knowing full well that there was cover.
Time and time again this season, we have simply been treated to one square ball after another, normally to a man under pressure. It is crying out for men to simply make runs off the ball to help their colleagues. Wide men cannot overlap if they are standing still, and strikers cannot create space for others unless they are moving into channels and creating space for midfielders to move into. So simple to many, yet seemingly alien to Liverpool at this point in time.
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STELLA ARTOIS WORLD DRAUGHT MASTERS
simply good point… afraid to have a ball that due to passing to each other without movement…
our first team right now if we want to see any ‘pass and move’ and attacking football should be:
Reina
Johnson-Kyrgiakos-Agger-Aurelio
Gerrard-Cole-Meireles
Babel-Torres-Jovanovich
Subs: Jones/Kelly/Poulsen/Shelvey/Pacheco/Ngog
The team tonight should be:
Jones
Kelly-Kyrgiakos-Wilson-Aurelio
Shelvey-Poulsen-Spearing
Babel-Ngog-Jovanovich
(I would’ve liked to play Pacheco behind the striker, but Hodgson has left us with no quality in central midfield, so the 4231 is not a viable option tonight)
very good point…need someone like mata and javi martinez in the midfield who can keep the ball control possesion..gerrard is kind of very explosive midfielder and hes qiute average in terms of controlling midfield…mata turan maritenez and keibling of byern levrkson…both mata and turan contracts end by 2012 so will be a good deal
Totally agree with the article.
2008/09 was the best season we had for playing as a team. Outclassing ManScum and Chelski.
What happened in 2009/10 ???? Relatively the same team – minus Alonso ….. AND Paco
Whats happening now 2010/11 ?????
Players see to have no confidence, look lethargic and not interested.
I still believe Paco was the man behind rafa that kept everything together ….. all due respect to Sammy (look what happened to him when he took over Bolton)
The takeover is complete, so no excuses from anyone about how its affecting the players. We need a winner in charge .. King Kenny, Hiddink. Someone that is going to instill that pass and move philosophy back into the squad.
If anyone from LFC is reading these threads please take note.
All great points, Rohan, and I agree 100%. Too many sideways passes, and no one with enough confidence to make a run and push forward. Really looking forward to seeing Shelvey, who starts vs Napoli tonight.
We’re playing like Fulham! …and that is NOT The Liverpool Way…
Not Frank Rijkaard, but, King Kenny… We need to go back to OUR roots and blood players playing OUR football…
and the time to do it is NOW… and it just isn’t in the heart of hearts of the man that is Roy Hodgson to do…
Woy is Liverpool’s George Lazenby… he’ll never be refered to as “Hodgers” in a conversation in the pub, while you’re having a laugh… well, he might, if you’re having a laugh…
The transformation or rather “debtlessness” of this new era should begin with The King at the helm…
We are on the cusp of the return to greatness… surely we must be sensible.
Thanks for the comments guys. All of you make valid points.
Vinod, in particular, I understand your thoughts on Stevie Gerrard. Stevie does so much so well, but he is not one who will necessarily control the game and its pace from the middle of the park as maybe a Pirlo. Not many would have the balls to say it though!
Let’s hope the youngsters can do something in the 2nd Half tonight, and of course that something gets done prior to Sunday which will get this team playing like it can.
last night we almost ended up with the team that I suggested, and looked a far more cohesive unit for it when we had the ball (still a long way from where we need to be, but at least it was a small step in the right direction).
However, I don’t understand why we continue to play with a four man midfield, with a lone man operating behind the striker, instead of pushing the wide men further up field and having the free man (Shelvey last night) drop back a bit to solidify the team through the middle.
It is so difficult to put any pressure on the ball the way that we play; as it is easy for the opposition defence to pass the ball around the one or two forwards, and roll the ball into their midfielder’s feet