Why are we playing a wing back system without wing backs?

[AFII]

Anyone?

We are playing a wing back system without wing backs, why? Our wide players cuts inside a lot and that means that our fullbacks should attack down the wings much more than they do now.

Very strange.

I think Agger is the missing man. When he don't play we can't attack with our fullbacks as much as we want to because Hyypia is to slow to cover behind his fullback, but I'm not sure that the above is the whole truth.

It was only in the last ten minutes of the second half yesterday that Finnan attacked more and we created some good chances using the space on the right created by our wide player cutting inside.

We played good in the first half and created some good chances in the middle but not from any good play down the wings.

[Rich]

I don't understand what you're getting at; but it's not a conincidence that we're struggling without Agger; and this isn't having a go at Hyypia but Agger bringing the ball out of defence really is key to how we play.

[homer1]

I don't understand what you're getting at; but it's not a conincidence that we're struggling without Agger; and this isn't having a go at Hyypia but Agger bringing the ball out of defence really is key to how we play.

Absolutely agree, at present we are hoofing too many aimless long balls from the back, when Agger plays he comes out with the ball and more often than not plays the ball along the deck. Alonso has been missed in this regard too, granted he wasn't in top form before his injury but he is always available to take the ball from the defence, again encouraging us to play proper football instead of long balls which generally prove fruitless

[Pacman]

I don't understand what you're getting at; but it's not a conincidence that we're struggling without Agger; and this isn't having a go at Hyypia but Agger bringing the ball out of defence really is key to how we play.

I agree

[The_weatherman]

I don't understand what you're getting at; but it's not a conincidence that we're struggling without Agger; and this isn't having a go at Hyypia but Agger bringing the ball out of defence really is key to how we play.

Spot on, as I have noticed in two interviews recently after Agger's injury, that the teams tried to press our fullbacks high so we couldn't play the ball from the back forward. If Agger is in the team we can have more options and specially if Xabi is in the team. As it is, teams only have to put pressure on our fullbacks to stop Liverpool from playing.

[KopSecret]

ah sure dont be picking on poor sami, the whole team is playing poorly these days - not just one or two players .... the lads will come good again (i hope)

[Rich]

The main benefit as I see it with having Agger (discounting his defensive duties) is when bringing the ball out of defence he occupies one or more of the oppositions midfielders - they have to come and close him down - this naturally (and obviously) creates more space for the other Liverpool players.

[Pacman]

The main benefit as I see it with having Agger (discounting his defensive duties) is when bringing the ball out of defence he occupies one or more of the oppositions midfielders - they have to come and close him down - this naturally (and obviously) creates more space for the other Liverpool players.

You're on a role today

[Rich]

You're on a role today

[niallers1]

These long balls drive me crazy, fair enough if a long pass is on but an aimless hoof ala john terry to drogba simply doesn't work. Not 1 of our midfielders is available to give the ball to when we have it at the back at least alonso would go lookin for it. Gerrard either is incapable or doesn't wanna do it and i'm afraid momo and masher are not good enough at it also. Valbuena was brilliant at it on wed against us, anytime a marseille player needed an outlet he was there, simple give and go football a joy to watch. I only hope alonso is back agaist the arse.

[Joe Le Toff]

Ive never heard of a 4-4-2 formation being described as a wing back system in god knows how many years of being involved in the game.

[Red_Polo]

Ive never heard of a 4-4-2 formation being described as a wing back system in god knows how many years of being involved in the game.

I think he could've described it better but I know what he means and I tend to agree. If you've got your wide players cutting inside then you want your fullbacks overlapping really. We make it tough for our wide players by not giving them the option of offloading to the fullback in a good position, which also crucially means we're not giving the opposition that extra man to deal with. It's clearly not the crux of our problems, but it is something we could improve on IMO.