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LFC have to address increasingly apparent soft centre (back)

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LFC defender Agger strugglesI HAVE written in recent weeks about how our team has a real fragile mentality and a massively protruding glass jaw that juts out. Unfortunately for us, opponents have started to find it with unnerving accuracy, sending us crashing to the canvas on every occasion.

However, we have recently developed a new Achilles heel. Earlier in the season our problem was not taking our chances. Then we had losing the midfield battle.

Now this newest problem – dealing with strong target men.

Romelu Lukaku can be added to the list of strikers who have caused us nightmares in the centre of our defence this season. We have suddenly developed a massive affliction to this type of player. As freak a result as the Aston Villa game was, Martin Skrtel was totally outplayed by Christian Benteke. He was also absolutely embarrassed in the Oldham game by Matt Smith.

The strikers I have mentioned have one thing in common – they are all strong men who hold the ball up well. Skrtel can’t be blamed for the Lukaku goal obviously because he wasn’t on the pitch, but fingers do need to be pointed at Daniel Agger who is, for me, in a serious poor run of form that should lead to him being dropped from the team.

Even Coates, in the few games he has played, has looked entirely uncomfortable with target men. He was a bag of nerves against Mansfield as the ball got pumped into box and this is a man who has played in the Copa America.

The whole team struggled in the Stoke game at the Britannia, when Pulis’ Neanderthals got stuck into us and we simply couldn’t cope. But what has changed? Why has Skrtel started to struggle against big men? Why has Agger started to look more vulnerable in similar situations?
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The truth is simple – I don’t know. Skrtel in particular I find baffling because he has always been strong, used his upper body well and given as good as he has got. But Christian Benteke has got into his head from December and to be honest with you, stayed there. We have a serious problem with this issue and it’s something we need to address.

I’m not saying sell all our centre-halves, but we need to find a resolution. Because we can’t let the likes of Lukaku and Benteke dominate our central defence as they have done, otherwise our glass jaw will receive more knockout punches.

We need to toughen up, mentally and physically, and become a lot more streetwise as we look to try and achieve as best we can in this faltering season.
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I'm a fully trained journalist who shunned a career in the profession due to my disillusionment with the tabloid press, instead hoping to become a professional author. I've written for The Liverpool Way for 7 years and am a regular on the forum using the name Agt Provocateur.

A passionate member of supporter group Kop Faithful, I've been a season ticket holder of 8 years and a regular match goer since 1995.

When not criticising diminishing refereeing standards in football, I can be found at Langtree Park, the home of St Helens Rugby League Club being highly critical of non existent standards of refereeing in Rugby League. I'm is also a massive Lancashire and England cricket fan.

8 comments

  • steyg says:

    We need a new goalkeeper and a complete new defence, end of, get rid of the spineless cowards they are a disgrace.

    • Dany says:

      It is appalling how many teams barely got any chances on goal against Liverpool but will consistently convert those. Though some goals can be attributed to bad luck,most of them occur due to lack of concentration and organization at the back.

      Brendan should envisage training sessions geared towards defending properly.

  • Begby says:

    Rodgers is developing a team of small lightweight weaklings , they simply wont be able to handle prem league . Rodgers also is not good at organising the defence . New manager please

    • Erin says:

      Nope. Never his fault. We must look deeper. New goalkeeper, 2 new defenders etc. For crying outloud. Our “great run’ . 2 points from 3 games and a defeat to Oldham .
      Great stuff Brendan . You should be in PR .

  • redrum says:

    Our defenders were TOP class last season . They are all excellent players and under Kenny were one of the best defences in the whole country .

    … so whats changed ? …. Rodgers is the problem and his silly formation and tactics . The defence is constantly left vulnerable by a weak midfield and wingers who dont or cant defend

    amateur tactics by a amateur manager

  • seano says:

    Worse team since Souness was in charge.Spineless,no pace and poor tactics.Tikka Takka can only be played if you have players good enough to play it.We don’t.Due to our lack of pace and technical ability we are struggling to play this type of football. Having a sole striker is worthless if he doesn’t get support.our system requires Johnson and Enrique to operate like wingbacks-they nt good enough.Our wide players downing and sterling are average and struggle to get past defenders and if they do manage to cross a ball they have Suares to aim at boxed in by 4 defenders bigger than him.Rogers plays this system because he compensates for a physically weak midfield.Gerard sits to deep leaving Lucas exposed as Hendo for all his huff and puff doesn’t tackle or make a forward pass.Our defense sits so deep to compensate for a lack of pace and no trust in a keeper who is probably gone already.By sitting deep the defense makes the area the midfield has to cover bigger.This results in no one able to get near to Suares to support him and offers the opposition huge gaps to exploit. The tactics combined with an immobile team lacking skill,pace and creativity is why we 9th.Currently as it stands we haven’t beaten any of the 8 teams above us. 4th Mr Rogers ? I think not,not with the poorly assembled squad you have.Borini,Allen,Downing,Hendo,Sterling etc would nt make any of the teams above us starting 11.

  • red says:

    Sack BR now and 75% LFC problems will be solved INSTANTLY !!!

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