Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson hopes that defender Daniel Agger will be soon ready for first team action. Speaking to Liverpoolfc.tv, Hodgson said:
“Agger is making good progress but he is not training with the team yet and is under the control of the sports science team. He is running in straight lines and his work-rate and effort has been first class so it is now a case of when do we take the chance and say let’s stick him in again.”
Considering a couple of abject away defensive displays against Spurs and Newcastle in recent times, his return can’t come soon enough in my opinion. There haven’t been many seasons in recent memory where Liverpool have conceded 22 goals with a goal difference of -1 still within the first half of the season. We would actually only ever get near that number by April or May both under Houllier and Benitez, but under Hodgson, a man ostensibly known for organisation and keeping it tight at the back, we have gone to pieces at the back making uncharacteristic defensive errors at crucial times.
The problems seem to be more or less isolated away from home though where we have conceded 16 in 9 games as opposed to just 6 in 8 games at home. There are a few reasons for this discrepancy based on both Roy’s own tactics as well as the performances of the players themselves. Negative tactics, especially in the early part of the season, led teams to come onto us, putting too much pressure on the defence to cope with the barrage of attacks the tactics encouraged. Of course, it could be said that earlier in the season, the players were still getting used to what Roy required of them tactically but the Reds have continued to concede even as we approach the halfway point of the season. Certainly however Liverpool have been more positive in away performances in the last month or so with Roy opting to pick two strikers rather than one, and this leads me to my other reasons, regarding players.
Continue Reading on Page 2 . . .
Liverpool will keep conceding goals because Johnson leaves a huge space behind him when he attacks. Konchesky should be replaced by Mavinga-he is taller and faster. Skyrtel, Agger and Carragher will always be rumbled by any aerial ball into the penalty area. Liverpool need another centreback like Gary Cahill alongside Soto. Play Kelly at rightback. Play with wingers and your fullbacks do not get exposed as much as they do when you play with the likes of Maxi and Kuyt who cut infield the whole time.
Hi David, would have to agree with most of what you said, i believe Agger is our best CH and i think we should look to bring Kelly in at RB as i think he is better defensivly than Johnson who i’d play on the right wing, think they’d link up well down the right flank.
I do agree that we should stick with the Lucas/Meireles partnership also as i think they compliment each other really well and have been two of the better and most consistant performers this season.
In playing Kelly at RB we help tighten things up at the back and by playing Johnson on the wing it would help stretch teams at the back leaving more space for Gerrard and Torres to cause havoc!
I would like to see Aurelio replace Konchesky as he’s a far better LB and just hope he stays fit plus he gives the team more options from set pieces with that awesome left peg!!
The left wing i’d probably play Kuyt just for his work rate and he does contribute with the goals and good with the head!
@turks
i couldnt agree more sir.
Reina
kelly soto agger aurelio
johnson meireles lucas kuyt
gerrard
torres
Our defence at Newcastle was worse than poor. Hodgson has to do something to reshuffle our defensive line and we’ve got to be more solid at the back. I agree with David in saying that both Skrtel and Soto are more than competent in the air but they lack pace and guile on the floor to deal with every attacking threat. Agger’s return will boost our defence and I expect him to play alongside either Skrtel or Soto.
Johnson should be pushed up to right wing and Kelly should come in at right back but it’s unlikely that Hodgson would even consider that. I also hope that Roy realises that Konchesky is not up to the task and Aurelio is a much better left back and even Mavinga, who’s stronger and faster. Surely, Agger’s return will improve our defence and I hope Roy considers his tactics, both defensive and offensive, in order for the team to be stronger at the back and create more scoring opportunities in attack.
He’s not going to stumble on that partnership anytime soon, seeing as Agger is injured – hopefully in the interim, Kelly or Wilson will be allowed to step in and show that they are better prospects for the club than Skrtel is.
For tonight though, hopefully Hodgson will stumble across the solution that Babel and Torres should be playing together more regularly (hopefully with Jovanovich also) so that the oppostion have more than one pacey attacker to worry about