Rafa's 4-5-1

[Roboklopp]

I just dunno about that to be honest. Seemed like it was shoehorned in cos we borrowwed the Monstermash. Why change it for Barry then?

[zimbo]

After the Portsmouth game, I heard Avram Grant say that he knew how Liverpool were going to play. This is one of our major problems - the current set-up has become way too predictable. Cut off the supply to Gerrard and Torres (which, given the complete absence of creativity from midfield, is quite a straightforward task for any team prepared to work hard and close down quickly) and we have nothing.

The inevitable outcome is Gerrard drifting further back to try to get into the game, Torres having to work the entire opposition defence with no support and a complete dearth of ideas, penetration and attacking threat. On the rare occasions we get the ball into a decent early crossing position, the absence of options in the penalty area is startling, amounting to, at best, a lone Torres up against at least 3 defenders. It's no wonder we appear so toothless.

If we're going to salvage anything, I think the time's come to try something new, in personnel if not in formation. I understand that people may think the best way out of a crisis is to stick with the tried and trusted and to assume that this will see us right in the long-term. But for me we have the appearance and demeanour of a team gone stale. We need an injection of freshness and speed of thought, to invigorate the fans as much as the players.

Me, I'd pair Gerrard and Aquilani (if, as reported, he's likely to be fit), with Benayoun left and Babel right (Christ, it's come to something when you have to advocate Babel as a solution to our problems!). I'd like to see Pacheco given a chance behind Torres, not particularly because I've been massively impressed with him thus far, but as a means to shake things up and to send out a message to the underperformers that their places aren't set in stone. And to wrong-foot teams who think they know exactly what to expect when they turn up to play Liverpool.

And most of all, attack the *******s. From the off. Tear into them. Give them no time to settle. Play our football in the opposition half, not the pedestrian, side-to-side, coma-inducing bilge we've served up on way too many occasions this season. There's no problem with reverting to caution once you've established a 2 or 3 goal lead, but for too long caution has been our default setting.

Nothing generates confidence like winning. To start winning, we're going to have to adopt a mindset that isn't paralysed by fear of losing. For manager and players alike, it's time to show the character for which we've long been associated. Depressingly, I'm not massively confident that either are able to deliver.

[Guest]

After the Portsmouth game, I heard Avram Grant say that he knew how Liverpool were going to play. This is one of our major problems - the current set-up has become way too predictable. Cut off the supply to Gerrard and Torres (which, given the complete absence of creativity from midfield, is quite a straightforward task for any team prepared to work hard and close down quickly) and we have nothing.

The inevitable outcome is Gerrard drifting further back to try to get into the game, Torres having to work the entire opposition defence with no support and a complete dearth of ideas, penetration and attacking threat. On the rare occasions we get the ball into a decent early crossing position, the absence of options in the penalty area is startling, amounting to, at best, a lone Torres up against at least 3 defenders. It's no wonder we appear so toothless.

If we're going to salvage anything, I think the time's come to try something new, in personnel if not in formation. I understand that people may think the best way out of a crisis is to stick with the tried and trusted and to assume that this will see us right in the long-term. But for me we have the appearance and demeanour of a team gone stale. We need an injection of freshness and speed of thought, to invigorate the fans as much as the players.

Me, I'd pair Gerrard and Aquilani (if, as reported, he's likely to be fit), with Benayoun left and Babel right (Christ, it's come to something when you have to advocate Babel as a solution to our problems!). I'd like to see Pacheco given a chance behind Torres, not particularly because I've been massively impressed with him thus far, but as a means to shake things up and to send out a message to the underperformers that their places aren't set in stone. And to wrong-foot teams who think they know exactly what to expect when they turn up to play Liverpool.

And most of all, attack the *******s. From the off. Tear into them. Give them no time to settle. Play our football in the opposition half, not the pedestrian, side-to-side, coma-inducing bilge we've served up on way too many occasions this season. There's no problem with reverting to caution once you've established a 2 or 3 goal lead, but for too long caution has been our default setting.

Nothing generates confidence like winning. To start winning, we're going to have to adopt a mindset that isn't paralysed by fear of losing. For manager and players alike, it's time to show the character for which we've long been associated. Depressingly, I'm not massively confident that either are able to deliver.

I'm not confident either after seeing the debacle at Portsmouth. I think that Rafa has to try something different now, as nothing seems to be working anymore. Kuyt is off form and I'd like to see him replaced for a start. And bring back Stevie G in central midfield alongside Lucas, as Mascher is banned for 4 games. I can't see Rafa pairing Aquilani and Stevie in central midfield together.

We're on a run which stinks of relegation form. 4 wins in 17 games is appalling and I haven't even counted how many losses we had during that time.

[dww]

I just dunno about that to be honest. Seemed like it was shoehorned in cos we borrowwed the Monstermash. Why change it for Barry then?

I have a feeling that Rafa wanted two formations a 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 and that Barry would have been capable of either of the positions in the 2 of a 4-2-3-1 but would give a different balance. I'm not at all convinced that we would have changed to a 4-4-2 as default and Rafa's talk of Keane as being able to play on the left supports the idea he had a number of plans if he could have had all his first choice targets the summer before last. The season before last we did need to be more dynamic and often the quality of Alonso's last season over shadows that. Also if Alonso had left and Barry came in as seemed the original plan then I see no real difference in the squad balance that would not have seen 4-2-3-1 as a main formation seem less of a valid option. I just think at the time Barry <-> Alonso as a swap made more sense as Alonso's form was less good.

Also 4-2-3-1 is more or less the system Rafa used at Valencia and he tried it time and again in different forms before we brought Mascherano in (usually with Alonso and Gerrard in the CM positions).

[zimbo]

I'm not confident either after seeing the debacle at Portsmouth. I think that Rafa has to try something different now, as nothing seems to be working anymore. Kuyt is off form and I'd like to see him replaced for a start. And bring back Stevie G in central midfield alongside Lucas, as Mascher is banned for 4 games. I can't see Rafa pairing Aquilani and Stevie in central midfield together.
We're on a run which stinks of relegation form. 4 wins in 17 games is appalling and I haven't even counted how many losses we had during that time.

Unfortunately, neither can I.

Bloody hell. We rely on you for deranged and largely irrational optimism. Things must be worse than I thought.

[Guest]

Unfortunately, neither can I.

Bloody hell. We rely on you for deranged and largely irrational optimism. Things must be worse than I thought.

haha

I was in a pub in Fuengirola watching the Portsmouth match and I was surrounded by two scousers. It's incredible how they took this defeat, as if they expected it. No fire in our players' bellies and I think some fans can't be arsed anymore.

I am feeling a bit the same thing, and when it gets to this with me, you can be sure we're all be ****ed.

[Roboklopp]

I have a feeling that Rafa wanted two formations a 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 and that Barry would have been capable of either of the positions in the 2 of a 4-2-3-1 but would give a different balance. I'm not at all convinced that we would have changed to a 4-4-2 as default and Rafa's talk of Keane as being able to play on the left supports the idea he had a number of plans if he could have had all his first choice targets the summer before last. The season before last we did need to be more dynamic and often the quality of Alonso's last season over shadows that. Also if Alonso had left and Barry came in as seemed the original plan then I see no real difference in the squad balance that would not have seen 4-2-3-1 as a main formation seem less of a valid option. I just think at the time Barry <-> Alonso as a swap made more sense as Alonso's form was less good.

Also 4-2-3-1 is more or less the system Rafa used at Valencia and he tried it time and again in different forms before we brought Mascherano in (usually with Alonso and Gerrard in the CM positions).

Fair enough- I'm willing to accept that as it makes sense. It did always seem odd that such a perfectionist would just "happen" on something that clicked so well. It's ironic that we are often crying out about the club having a way to play- and one that has seen us playing some of our best footy over the last decade- but deriding that way when it fails.

[Roboklopp]

haha

I was in a pub in Fuengirola watching the Portsmouth match and I was surrounded by two scousers. It's incredible how they took this defeat, as if they expected it. No fire in our players' bellies and I think some fans can't be arsed anymore.

I am feeling a bit the same thing, and when it gets to this with me, you can be sure we're all be ****ed.

bloomin eck.