Despite the utter despair that I shared with most other Reds at the final whistle yesterday, I do feel that there are some positives that can be taken from certain aspects of our performance, which – if Hodgson learns from – could and should lead to us adopting a more appropriate, ambitious attitude in future games.
First and foremost it should be said that it was refreshing and encouraging to see Hodgson finally adopting a positive and aggressive approach away from home, especially against a strong side with a dangerous attack. He started with two strikers, both of whom provide excellent, pacey outlets when they work the channels, and 3 out of the 4 starting midfielders could be easily described as naturally forward-thinking players. The other, Lucas, had yet another superb game and did his job of ‘destroyer’ very adeptly whilst also continuing his recent trend of using the ball simply but effectively (successfully completing 45 of his 50 attempted passes). The fact that this approach paid dividends and the Reds completely dominated the first half supported my season-long belief that this Liverpool side – not only devoid of Mascherano but also regrettably lacking a well-drilled, dependable defence – are at their strongest when they are being positive. When the team plays the ball on the ground and – crucially – through the midfield, and are trying to keep the opposition pinned back by attacking them, I think they look a lot happier than when they are inviting pressure and looking for opportunities to counter-attack through long balls to Torres, as has been the (unsuccessful) game-plan throughout much of the season so far.
Of course, almost all fans (with the probable exception of Stoke and Blackburn) like to claim that their team is at their best when ‘trying to play football’, but I feel that it genuinely is the case with us. In any given line-up we have the natural creativity of Meireles/Gerrard/Maxi/Cole, as well as the good movement of Torres, Ngog, as well as the right-sided outlet of the undervalued Johnson, and we should play to these strengths. We also cannot defend at the moment. We’re letting in well over a goal per game on average this season, and quite clearly don’t have the defensive resoluteness to go for the ‘one-nil’ game plan that Mourinho’s Chelsea, for example, practiced so successfully. Both of our first-choice full backs are defensive liabilities, and, while I see Johnson as an ultimately positive addition to the squad, they represent a far cry from the Arbeloa-Aurelio days, when both players would go about their duties quietly but exceptionally well.
Continue Reading on Page 2 . . .
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at editor@live4liverpool.com
Lemmy and his band Motorhead at a French bar
//
This week it is former Liverpool WAG Claudine Keane.
llllllllllllllllllll
This game provide us with many positive. And little negative. Points. We shld hve won the game with mre than 2 goals, we missed 2 clear cut chances. Our legend cara ws awesome in defence. Little bit mistake’s bt roy did good job. Hope we tke the positives fr the nxt 6months
How many more excuses are Liverpool fans going to make for primadonna Torres. He was never and will never be world class. He has clearly lost pace and his first touch is as pathetic as it was when Liverpool signed him. He has no left foot and rarely scores any headers and is extremely useless and easy to mark. The mistake in not selling him and Gerrard last summer has now come back to haunt the club. Has anyone noticed in the last 2 games since Gerrard has been missing the team has actually started to play football. Gerrard and Torres and Carragher are all the light of other days. We should sell all three in January and that 3RD rate goalie Reina. Reina repeated the same mistake yesterday as he did against Wigan palming the ball out towards the edge of the six yard box. We should sign Andy Carroll in January and also Charles Nzogbia. We should also sell Skyrtel in January and promote Danny Wilson. We should leave Kelly at rightback and Mavinga at leftback. We should put Johnson on the rightwing and put Kuyt up front with Andy Carroll.
Kenny what i have read on yer about what you have written about today and in the past, you know nothing about football and your a complete MUPPET
glen johnson undervalued?! didn’t we pay £18 million for him? thanks for that one has cheered me up loads
Undervalued in terms of what our fans think of him, as opposed to his literal monetary value.
generally good performance against spurs, though the ref was poor and maxi and Torres need to reach down have a rummage and find a pair! What stood out though was Roy. We go 2-1 down with 3 mins to go and leans back puts his feet up and does nothing. Harry makes a change and we do sod all. Babel and jova apparently only there to keep seats warm. Roy has to go and he can take konchesky with him. He is one of the worst buys in a while lacking pace or ability, just like roy’s mind!! With cara out for a while Roy or a new manager will see that he is sadly past his best with soto, Wilson mavinga and agger when fit the better options. Liked Lucas and merelis next to each other. Would also have Glen on right wing and Kelly rb. And use Pacheco!
the best option is to get hodgson fired asap
As long as we’ll continue playing with thé inept konchesky. We’ll keep loosing as this guy is really really really poor. I cant help but feel distraught each Time i see this player on thé starting Line up. Buying a left back in january is absolutely necessary for us. More important than torres’s partner. I would definitely go for coentrao of benfica.
Positive – Hodgson sent out the team with much more attacking intent from the beginning of the game and we looked MUCH better for it.
Negative – Hodgson was content to have his team sink back and allow Tottenham to dominate the second half, and did nothing to try to take any attacking initiative back.
Positive – the league is still pretty tight so it’s still easy to climb places quickly.
Negative – the top 5 are stretching away from us, and the gap may be insurmountable by the time a manager with some real ambition (Riijkaard if the Board have any sense!!) is brought in.
Positive – Maxi & Kuyt must be close to losing their positions on the wings.
Negative – Those positions will just be rotated with other unsuitable candidates in Cole, Meireles & Aurelio, with neither Babel or Jovanovich even being viewed as options upfront OR out wide for league games.
Nonsense! The aurelio for ngog substitution was not a negative move. We still played 442 but with the more experienced kuyt alongside torres. Maxi moved to the right, kuyt went up top and aurelio took maxis position on the left – a position he has played throught his career. We attacked tithe last and whilst I’m not a fan of our performances so far this term, to say that substitution was negative shows naivety and a lack of understanding. You wrote this article inyour head the moment u saw aurelio warming up and didn’t bother from then on
The formation technically did remain the same, but the personnel in each position changed significantly. Instead of having two out-and-out centre forwards up top, we had one (Torres) and a ‘support striker’ (Kuyt) playing behind him, and instead of having two naturally offensive wingers (Kuyt and Maxi), we had one, with the other wide spot being occupied by a player who is a full-back by trade, and therefore whose instincts are far more defensive.
Moreover, i honestly think That we are not afootballing team but More like a hoofballing team with poor player such as carra konchesky and skrtel. When i think of the treatment of Agger wasted at left back i’m deluded.
If the owner CAN read this. Just take a look at those players:
In any way you want:
Coentrao(benfica)
Vargas(fiorentina)
M,vila
M’Vila(Rennes)
Lavezzi(napoli)
Javier Pastore(palermo)
Llorente (Bilbao)
It annoys me so much when fans suggest players outside our league personally I think the Liverpool scouting team knows more than any fan who probably gets their intelligence from championship manager or fifa MUPPETS!
Anyone that says “Roy has to go and he can take konchesky with him.” or similar should be placed in front of the Kop and have bricks thrown at them.
Really, have you every watched konchesky??? He is truly awful. He can’t defend, he can’t attack, he is clearly roys love child as he wouldnt get a game in any top 8 team in England. I almost thought hodgson was doing well yesterday until the second half and his complete lack of reaction when we went 2-1 down shows he is void of ideas or ambition. He still seems to be winging every game and hoping something special happens.
Positives
4-4-2
played well
attacked from the off
negatives
Ngog (just what does anyone see in him)
didn’t deserve that result
We scored a goal away from home, yes you heard right, we actually ‘scored’ a goal away.
Negatives, Woy still not sacked yet and our players are spineless letdown merchants and serial chokers.