A Case for the Defence

[spud_gun]

9 draws so far this season.

Most in the premier league. We may not be getting beat by ****house clubs like Bolton, Portsmouth this season but we are drawing against them.

[andyinswinton]

The problem lies going forward. Take Torres and Gerrard out of the side and we don't have a single credible goal threat.

We haven't been as sound at the back as in recent seasons but it wouldn't make any difference if we could create chances, score them and dominate the opposition.

[Morph]

The problem lies going forward. Take Torres and Gerrard out of the side and we don't have a single credible goal threat.

We haven't been as sound at the back as in recent seasons but it wouldn't make any difference if we could create chances, score them and dominate the opposition.

njo it wouldn't but again thats not the point of the thread, i'm trying to explain why we seem to have gone backwards

[AFII]

The problem lies going forward. Take Torres and Gerrard out of the side and we don't have a single credible goal threat.

We haven't been as sound at the back as in recent seasons but it wouldn't make any difference if we could create chances, score them and dominate the opposition.

You start the attacks from the back. If you take to long time with the first two, three passes then you will find it very difficult to score a goal. Arsenal is experts when it comes down to quick counter attacks. They don't score that much when they keep the ball a long time.

[Shaggy]

9 draws so far this season.

Most in the premier league. We may not be getting beat by ****house clubs like Bolton, Portsmouth this season but we are drawing against them.

Draws are ****. We'd have been better off winning 4 and losing 5 of those games.

[Lee]

Draws are ****. We'd have been better off winning 4 and losing 5 of those games.

That's awfully depressing. But yet so true

We'd be better off now if we'd have won four other games and lost another five in the league. That's sick

[Cisseshairdresser]

I think our two biggest problems at the mo are a complete lack of confidence and absolutely ZERO, and I'll say that again for dramatic effect, ZERO, movement off the ball, nothing, nada, nowt, non, zilch!!!

[Kronenburg1892]

but my point is I don't think it's one of the problems, I think it's the problem ( well as far as explaining our slump since the start of the season)

I think you're dead on with that theory. It would be interesting to gather up the facts on games drawn when the opposition has scored first.

The whole emphasis of the game changes with the first goal. If it's them, and they consider themselves playing against a superior team (us), they usually play from their box either for the draw or to protect their lead.

If we get the first goal, then we tend to thump teams several nil as space opens up around their box as they try and play for a result.

Still think we need player makers to take on and beat their defence, especially from the wings. But Morph I think is correct. We have been top of the table at one point this season.

[JohnDoe]

I agree, our defence has been holding us back and without Agger we struggle to bring the ball forward. Riise is a joke with the ball and Finnan has considerably regressed in the attacking aspects of the game. Carragher is an all out stopper, unfortunately he stops attacks for both sides, and while Hyypia is actually quite a neat passer from the back, his presence alone causes us to sit back 10-15 yards deeper, which means a bigger effort is needed to reach the opposition's box.

[StevieG08]

Morph i agree that we've missed Agger immensely since he's been out. Sami has come in and done a great job but our forward play has been affected. However it doesn't tell the full story of our woes IMHO. I really feel that Rafa must settle for a set formation, whether it's 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 or whatever. As a big club such as we are, we spend far too much time trying to counter the other team rather than impose ourselves on them. The Manc/Arse and Chavs all have a pretty settled formation (i'm NOT talking about rotation here), we however chop and change depending on the opposition. Instead we should now be a position to say "**** you, we are LFC, see if you've got what it takes to live with us!", blow away the mediocre teams in the league 9 out of 10 times.

[Johnny]

Honourable mention for Hobbs who gave Sami a rest when he needed it and did a decent job.

[mark1975]

I think the problem may well be the reverse, as with any team, when you're unable to capitalise in attacking areas, uncertainty creeps into the teams play and this can lead to errors.

If the opposition goes ahead, you just know we'll draw at best, I'm never confident we'll score enough, and while that remains the case, we'll struggle to completely control games by deflating the oppositions confidence with goals, so they will always be in with a shout against us.

[stevie_gerrard_8]

Without Agger a lot of hoofing and I mean a lot. That means that we must first win the ball back and then try and create something against a packed defense. You almost never see a quick counter attack from us.

With Agger we don't hoof anywhere near as much and that means that we can attack against a less organized defense and that means more space to work with.

It also pushes the defence a further 10 yards back because of the lack of pace. This then cause the midfield and strikers to drop back. If not, then there is too large a gap between midfield and the forwards, evident in the first half against Boro.

[redblood]

Nope, its one of our problems. We can't finish chances, can't create chances, dominate crap teams.

Can't finish chances I'll accept but create and dominate we do in abundance and have done all season say for maybe 2-3 games.

[willa1975]

I think the defense has a lot to do with it. We took a battering from Boro yesterday...horrible, isn't it? They should have had 3 or 4 goals, we were that bad.

We've got a lot of problems at the back. Our lack of depth has hurt us, Sami's doing the best he can, but his age limits him when he is needed to have such a prolonged run in the side. Carragher's a solid player but, as we all know, he has his limitations. Add in Aurelio's, Agger's and, to a lesser degree, Arbeloa's injury problems, and Riise's descent into complete uselessness, and it's not a pretty picture.

I think having a fit Agger and Arbeloa in the side will help us. Arbeloa had a stinker yesterday, but has been one of our better players this season, and I believe that, overall, our overall play is improved with him at LB instead of Riise. Getting Agger back in the side should help as well from the standpoint of having a CB who does more than hoof the ball forward. It certainly doesn't help when our ability to attack depends on players like Benayoun winning balls in the air...

As far as counterattacking football is concerned, I think that aspect of our game would improve tremendously if Babel played more consistently. Having him and Torres going forward with Gerrard backing them up would make a great combination.

Well, it's all something to think about for next year...