Liverpool’s recent embarrassment of a performance against Braga in the Europa League highlighted a couple of issues that have been around in the side for years. I picked on Jamie Carragher a couple of weeks back, focusing on his inability to pass the ball with any more imagination than a Sunday League player. Thursday, for me, not only amplified this problem due to the presence of Andy Carroll but showed that JC is not alone. Liverpool are suffering at the moment not from a lack of depth in the squad, but a lack of positive philosophy.
The key to any creative team is who the people at the back are and we have some outstanding footballers at Liverpool, but they don’t play enough. Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio are technically superb and when they play the team looks completely different. We need players who can step in to the team and continue the style of play that we should be employing.
When they don’t play, which is far too often, we suffer from a lack of imagination that not only makes us simple to defend against, but simple to attack. It’s easy to run in to the gaps when you’re playing against a team from the Subbuteo Premiership.
When Skrtel, Krygiakos or Carragher have the ball, there’s only two things that each find themselves doing. Give it to Lucas 10 yards away, or hoof it long. Hitting it long almost always guarantees a surrender of possession and it’s something I feel Kenny Dalglish should address in the summer with some tough decisions. I have no problem with the pace of Lucas’ play, which is slow and safe, but the sloppiness of those around puts far too much pressure on a player who’s job is to break up opposition attacks and give the ball to better players. Unfortunately, we don’t have many players who can use the ball better than Lucas and this is a damning indictment of the team as a whole.
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This is very true, I am not a football guru but plays little these guys are professionals they should have some creativity and quick thinking pass.
On the mark 100%! We need players who have the confidence to play the ball. The majority of players in the current squad do not have the confidence to hold the ball and release it at the right time. One touch football is great but if the opposition can predict the next move, it is no good. Yes EPL is fast and furious but then anyone who wants to play in that league should have players that can deal with the physicality and speed while having the confidence to hold the ball and dstribute it effectively (Essien, Malouda, Lampard, etc. do it everyday)! Thank you for highlighting what is at the core of LFC’s current problem.
Just hope K.D. is still there at the end of the season when he would be able to bring in the right type of player, We certainly need one more quality central defender, we are ok at right back (Kelly) and I think Johnson is a better left back than right and would settle for him there given that we also need to strengthen up front still another striker plus a left winger, as for creativity I am just hoping Juv won’t afford Aquilini.
The five players whose loss and subsequent inadequate replacement is being moaned in this article, were ALL brought in by Rafa, and somehow people still are out with daggers to prove that he was a bad manager.
Agree 100% with the article though, the lack of imagination sometimes in our play is so excruciatingly visible that it pains to see us playing this way at times. The Braga game was pure torture for a LFC fan.
the only defender who knows what to do with the ball is agger he can bring the ball up and he can pass the ball i see skytel and carra every week they cant pass the ball and when they do they just give it away and they so nervous with the ball in theer feet agger is our best defender
Totally agreed with you,carra,skertel,kuyt,cole and carrol are decent player and i dont think even with their passion can help liverpool,there’s no creative in these player,sometimes i really wonder how on earth these players playing for so long and still they only know how to kick a ball high and long but never used their head to ogarnise a passing game.I almost pull my hair out when i watch these so call professional keep on hitting high and long to carrol against Braga,it break my heart seeing these kind of player in what shank dream of pass and move game have end up differently.SAD
very good article,i agree 100&1%