Aquilani - Liverpool are stronger now

[Kenneth]

sweet

Indeed Smashing

[dww]

I can see what he means - in the past we have had a system that relied too much on one player to take the ball from defense and create attacks. Looking to move to a system where more people offer options from deep and try and provide that link seems sensible. The transition has been painful (although this has been compounded by poor defending) but that doesn't mean that in the end we will not emerge stronger.

I kind of feel that this direction of evolution will make it harder to accommodate a pure defensive midfielder like Mascherano long term and that we may well see us rely more on Lucas or a player more of his type. Mascherano could however, with slight alterations to his game (looking for mid range passes rather than trying to run with the ball mostly), evolve to fit well in the system.

The other problem is the fact it does ask more from a creative point of view of the attacking midfield players. Rodriguez looks like he would be a useful addition from this point of view and it could lead to Kuyt either changing role or being used less.

[rudedog]

I can see what he means - in the past we have had a system that relied too much on one player to take the ball from defense and create attacks. Looking to move to a system where more people offer options from deep and try and provide that link seems sensible. The transition has been painful (although this has been compounded by poor defending) but that doesn't mean that in the end we will not emerge stronger.

I kind of feel that this direction of evolution will make it harder to accommodate a pure defensive midfielder like Mascherano long term and that we may well see us rely more on Lucas or a player more of his type. Mascherano could however, with slight alterations to his game (looking for mid range passes rather than trying to run with the ball mostly), evolve to fit well in the system.

The other problem is the fact it does ask more from a creative point of view of the attacking midfield players. Rodriguez looks like he would be a useful addition from this point of view and it could lead to Kuyt either changing role or being used less.

Mascherano could evolve into more than just a defensive midfielder by, as you say, concentrating on shorter, quick passes as he successfully played this way for Argentina when they were still decent - for this to work for us, we'd need the players round him to stay relatively close and create alot more space for themselves than they are currently doing - too often our players can be seen waiting to recieve the ball rather than running into an unmarked space where the ball could be placed.

[saj]

I can see what he means - in the past we have had a system that relied too much on one player to take the ball from defense and create attacks. Looking to move to a system where more people offer options from deep and try and provide that link seems sensible. The transition has been painful (although this has been compounded by poor defending) but that doesn't mean that in the end we will not emerge stronger.

I kind of feel that this direction of evolution will make it harder to accommodate a pure defensive midfielder like Mascherano long term and that we may well see us rely more on Lucas or a player more of his type. Mascherano could however, with slight alterations to his game (looking for mid range passes rather than trying to run with the ball mostly), evolve to fit well in the system.

The other problem is the fact it does ask more from a creative point of view of the attacking midfield players. Rodriguez looks like he would be a useful addition from this point of view and it could lead to Kuyt either changing role or being used less.

That sounds amazing

[dww]

Mascherano could evolve into more than just a defensive midfielder by concentrating on smaller passes as he successfully played this way for Argentina when they were still decent - for this to work for us, we'd need the players round him to stay relatively close and create alot more space for themselves than they are currently doing - too often our players can be seen waiting to recieve the ball rather than running into an unmarked space where the ball could be placed.

He is already good at short passing with us. The problem is that if the range heads a bit more to medium range he looks to either run the ball into too tight areas or for long range low odds balls too much. I agree though that we are too static at the minute and he would benefit from more movement. In this regard the injury to Gerrard has been a particular problem.

The thing is you need players who start the movement - looking to give and go and Mascherano never does that. In general you need a catalyst to kick start others playing or to have a set of players who all naturally play the same style (the Arsenal, Barcelon approach). At the minute Mascher fits neither category quite right but as you say his play with Argentina would indicate his current way of playing is not all he is capable of.

[rudedog]

He is already good at short passing with us. The problem is that if the range heads a bit more to medium range he looks to either run the ball into too tight areas or for long range low odds balls too much. I agree though that we are too static at the minute and he would benefit from more movement. In this regard the injury to Gerrard has been a particular problem.

The thing is you need players who start the movement - looking to give and go and Mascherano never does that. In general you need a catalyst to kick start others playing or to have a set of players who all naturally play the same style (the Arsenal, Barcelon approach). At the minute Mascher fits neither category quite right but as you say his play with Argentina would indicate his current way of playing is not all he is capable of.

The thing thats hard to pin down though, are these current deficiances merely symptomatic of a team strugling with form and confidence or is there a more serious underlying problem that needs to be addressed?

[dww]

The thing thats hard to pin down though, are these current deficiances merely symptomatic of a team strugling with form and confidence or is there a more serious underlying problem that needs to be addressed?

I think that the problem is that we have too many potential points of failure at the minute and not enough leaders. Currently we have one ball playing centre back and one one genuine wide player and no dominant headers of the ball. While we have seen in the past that we can do well without these it requires confidence in how we play and for the whole team to play as one which requires it to be settled.

I hope that the likes of Agger and Lucas can grow into the leaders that will help make this process easier but it will take time. At the minute I think it is a underlying problem of this and a lack of depth. I don't think we will have the money to buy our way out of these problems anytime soon so we must rely on having a well structured development program. I think we are starting to see some evidence of this.

[kev776]

**** this passing lark, give it to Carra and get it hoofed like a missile at head height for Torres/Ngog to chase down, stick to what we know well boys.