In stark contrast to this season though; this tactic has been completely non-existent. A high pressing game has been substituted for a stand off approach which has had the consequence of increasing the team’s defensive frailties. Why has the pressing game suddenly gone missing? The fault lies with both Roy Hodgson and the player’s he has brought in to play in the team.
Hodgson’s tactical emphasis throughout his career has been a defensive mind set focused on team shape. Keeping such a shape necessitates sticking to a rigid system; pressing high up the pitch would therefore destroy this shape as players continually move out of position to intercept the opposition leaving gaps for opponents to exploit behind them. One of the most frustrating things about the Merseyside Derby on Sunday was the seeming lack of desire on Liverpool’s part to get stuck in, tackle, and win every second ball. It looked as if all the passion of the Derby had been sucked out of the players by the organisation that Roy was trying to implement.
In fact in some ways, this style is more European and continental than even Rafa Benitez. For all his faults, Rafa recognised the peculiarities of English football and never tried totally to rid the team of the fast and furious style. In fact he utilised it for devastating effect in many European matches. At Fulham, Roy had a team of players he could coach and mould into his style; a continental philosophy which helped him to get the team to the Europa League final last season. At the moment at Liverpool, his tactics just don’t look to fit the players he has at the club. Players such as Steven Gerrard, Lucas Leiva and Dirk Kuyt are players who like to get stuck in and press, and are finding it hard to get used to Roy’s style of play.
So could Roy find players more fitting his style? The arrival of Christian Poulsen as a replacement for Javier Mascherano is a case in point in how Roy may have tried to change things. Without being too harsh, one could argue that the latter represents Rafa’s defensive style while the former could sum up Roy’s defensive philosophy. Masch was geared to high tempo and high pressing game using his pace and tackling skills while Poulsen is used to the slower pace of European leagues where keeping shape and not getting caught out of position is the priority to a tight back line. If we are to get out of our current predicament, Roy needs to change tact quickly and implement the high pressing game both the players are used to, and what the Premier League demands.
Follow us on twitter @live4Liverpool
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at editor@live4liverpool.com
STELLA ARTOIS WORLD DRAUGHT MASTERS
just fire Hodgson and be done with it
Spot on. Roy’s tactics are allowing the opposition take the initiative from the opening whistle , and wait for them to come to our 18 yard box. We then hoof the ball to Fernando , who is waiting all alone , looking for a lucky break. If this going to be our style of football for this season , we’ll be lucky to reach 20 points this season.
Look, Roy’s a really nice guy, and a good manager. It’s not that he’s not good enough to manage at this level, just not suited to managing our team. However the end results the same, NESV need to get rid. Rijkard or Hiddink please boys, the former’s about to become a free agent.
This guys a real…well his quote for the Europa cup game”
“I’ll leave some players out that’s for sure. Some of the more important senior players won’t travel because their participation on Sunday is going to be so important to us.
Well Woy, I think your players need as much playing time as they can get…Torres needs to be playing to get a couple of goals for his confidence…merelis, gerard, cole etc need to form an understanding. Sigh!!! the sooner you go the better
Essential ingredient? yes, its called a game plan!!! You know, tactics, instructions etc.
Plus, instill some belief in the players.
Dear Lord, the guy is not up to the job. Can you Not see it? the media forced him to our club. The sun, the mirror etc etc., because he is a gentleman.
I want a nasty son of a b### who wants results and success. Not in impotent old man
Bring back tht zonal marking technique. Bring agger bck.
roy is using the same tactics as benitez ..playing only with one striker and then try to blame it on torres as he is not scoring goals .how can a lone striker with three defenders marking him closely score??? and also trying to play carrager even if he aint good enough to play 15 mins
NICK
YOU ARE WRONG RAFA’S AND ROY’S TACTICS ARE A WORLD APART.
I SUGGEST YOU DO SOME RESEARCH.
We need a high profile ‘A-List’ manager, let’s face it Roy’s a C+ at best.We need someone who can bring in top talent.Somebody who will realise that in terms of striking options we still have pretty much all the players we had when finishing second.So playing with 2 (bad) defensive midfielders is retarded.If you can’t keep a clean sheet because your defence is awful Attack Attack Attack.At least that way you give suffering fans something to watch and you intimidate teams into setting up defensively.(yes Woy I was pointing at you.)Draws aren’t good enough now Woy get the lads scoring.F**K defence.Buy TOP CLASS proven goal scorers, 2 of them, give Pacheco a good run of games and get Aqua back ASAP before you get sacked there’s a good chap.
Sack WOY.. And forget Rijkaard as well he isn’t that good. Give PELLEGRINI the job siMples!!!
Good article, actually good observation too!!! get poulsen shipped out and set back the good English style!!! WOY it’s a do or die if u ain’t changing then u should get shipped out too actually really quickly!!! Creativity in midfield also is a problem Aqua was getting use to it he actually started really well and woy send him away i think he should be brought back on mersey he’d be quality better than the other lads trying to do the job!!! Guys like pacheco and babbel should be given more time to play they got skills and are young instead of spending money on people who would take time to adapt use what we have right here!!! Quality addition would be most welcome though, for the likes of Fernando Lorente…
Roys obviously is not a smart enough manager to employ new tactics or may i say some of Rafas.
If i were to be managing a club where the team was built by the former manager i would consider employing many of his ideas.
These players were recruited to play a certain way and Roy just does not get it.
author,u think roy is capable of doing what u are saying.its too much for him.wher the hell did my team get such a loser?just fire him now
AKASH
YOU ARE A COMPLETE IDIOT WHO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL.