Reina: We must take more risks

[Craig_H]

Pepe Reina believes Liverpool must take greater risks if they are to end their quest for the Barclays Premier League crown.
The Reds finished as runners-up last season after drawing 11 of their 38 matches and the Spaniard feels they may have to accept defeat on a more regular basis if it means they can turn some of those draws into victories.

"People say we have lost as many games this season as we did in the whole of last season. But last season our biggest problem was drawing games," he told LFC Magazine.

"Those draws meant that we could have drawn the two games, went the season unbeaten in the league, but still not won it. I would rather have lost six of those 11 games and won the other five. Then we'd have finished level on points with United and maybe have won it on goal difference.

"People can point to defeats, but I feel it's draws that make it more difficult. One thing that became clear to everyone at the club before this season started was that we must take more risks if we want to win the league. Even if it means losing a few more games, particularly at home.

"In the short-term that may disappoint a few people but in the long term, it's better to cut out the draws.

"In a league where there is three points for a win, for teams trying to win the title, it's definitely draws that make it more difficult."

When he says this became clear to everyone at Anfield, i really hope that's true. 2 defeats already isnt ideal but if end up winning 15 or 16 home games, that'll make up for it nicely.

[Shaggy]

Yep, I've been saying the same. Obviously losing games is **** but I'm far from despondent (not yet anyway) as we can afford to lose 5 or 6 games so long as we cut out our penchant for draws.

[Marky]

We should play Pepe outfield

[hamshanks]

Selling Alonso is a risk, replacing him with Lucas is a bigger one and then there's not having a decent back-up striker - how many more risks does he want forchristsakes?

[Cleo]

Yep, I've been saying the same. Obviously losing games is **** but I'm far from despondent (not yet anyway) as we can afford to lose 5 or 6 games so long as we cut out our penchant for draws.

And that's exactly why it's gonna be interesting to see what Aquilani will bring the team - when he's had half a year to get going after his injury and another season to cope with the demands of the English PL...
Am really looking forward to seeing him in action

[Craig_H]

Selling Alonso is a risk, replacing him with Lucas is a bigger one and then there's not having a decent back-up striker - how many more risks does he want forchristsakes?

[Molby]

wise words from pepe........have to say, i never thought of it like that - but while i wish we had a more expessive attitude in attack, the mistakes, and goals, conceded from set plays need to be addressed.......and quickly.

[tsb]

Having short arses at the back for every corner isn't risky enough?

[Bender]

rather than telling us ...how about he tells the manager

[tsb]

rather than telling us ...how about he tells the manager

Rafa said before the season started that we would go after teams more this year.

[Bender]

did he? well i must have missed that story

[BrianF80]

did he? well i must have missed that story

Come on. He's replaced a holding midfielder with an attacking one and a defensive RB with about the most attacking RB out there who everyone claims can't defend. Hardly smacks of caution does it.

[Craig_H]

It's more about mentality than personnel.

[frank the tank]

to be honest, i agree that we need to take more risks in our approach to games - a look at last seasons table makes that point obvious. However, I reckon that there should be more and more risks taken with the team line-up as well. When rafa settled on a 4-2-3-1 formation, it was widely agreed that because we had alonso and mascherano and gerrard, this was the best formation to accomodate them all....we were playing to our strenghts and playing in a system that allowed rafa to play our best players.

I don't think that Lucas as one of the "2" does this. This isn't a Lucas-bashing post as I actually think that he has great potential and people forget that he is so young. However, it is clear to me that he is under serious pressure and needs to be managed carefully so that his confidence isnt totally damaged beyond repair. With this in mind, particularly at home, and particularly until Aquilani is fit to start games, I would like to see Rafa play a risk-taking team of:

-----------------------REINA-----------------------

JOHNSON-------CARRAGHER------AGGER-------INSUA


--------------------MASCHERANO-------------------

BENAYOUN-----------GERRARD----------------RIERA

--------------KUYT--------TORRES------------------


This team will really pin back the opposition. Also, if agger is fit, then he can be more of the ball-player from the back and also gerrard would need to drop slightly back as well to retrieve the ball from mascher / agger and make things happen. Also, with this line-up, i reckon that it allows rafa flexibility and "possibilities" to change during the game with gerrard dropping deeper and benny covering the gerrard-role with kuyt going back to the right-hand-side.

[red g]

to be honest, i agree that we need to take more risks in our approach to games - a look at last seasons table makes that point obvious. However, I reckon that there should be more and more risks taken with the team line-up as well. When rafa settled on a 4-2-3-1 formation, it was widely agreed that because we had alonso and mascherano and gerrard, this was the best formation to accomodate them all....we were playing to our strenghts and playing in a system that allowed rafa to play our best players.

I don't think that Lucas as one of the "2" does this. This isn't a Lucas-bashing post as I actually think that he has great potential and people forget that he is so young. However, it is clear to me that he is under serious pressure and needs to be managed carefully so that his confidence isnt totally damaged beyond repair. With this in mind, particularly at home, and particularly until Aquilani is fit to start games, I would like to see Rafa play a risk-taking team of:

-----------------------REINA-----------------------

JOHNSON-------CARRAGHER------AGGER-------INSUA


--------------------MASCHERANO-------------------

BENAYOUN-----------GERRARD----------------RIERA

--------------KUYT--------TORRES------------------


This team will really pin back the opposition. Also, if agger is fit, then he can be more of the ball-player from the back and also gerrard would need to drop slightly back as well to retrieve the ball from mascher / agger and make things happen. Also, with this line-up, i reckon that it allows rafa flexibility and "possibilities" to change during the game with gerrard dropping deeper and benny covering the gerrard-role with kuyt going back to the right-hand-side.

I like that team a lot, but as you mentioned switching i owuld actually start Kuyt/Benayoun Switched. Just think the interaction between Beni, Torres and Gerrard could be breathtaking at times.