Dalglish's Style Of Play and Formation?

[Exiled_red]

i think that just restoring a working formation and pressing game will make a difference.

we do need to remember that, doing that where we finished last season so no miracles.

hopefully there will be more of a positive atmosphere that will also help things. I would like to see some players come in, however with a temp manager and Jan not being the best time to buy unless your blackburn and paying with drumsticks, i am not overly hopeful.

our best football under bodge was when we pressed up the pitch so hopefully thats a given.

Agger and Aurellio, hopefully but no evidence they will be fit to play all the games.

still some problems but with THE KING and then Commolli and the academy working on the future hopefully we will be stabalised.

[Lecter]

We only really ever had Barnes as a real winger. Ray Houghton and Vension often played on the right. I think Dirk and Cole would do what Houghton did.

How do you find an equivalent to Barnes? N'Zogbia wouldn't be a bad start.

Johnston played on the right prior to Ray coming in

[Paul12]

Yes, I agree. Setting up the team so that Torres is not so isolated will get more out of him. Pressing further up the pitch will also help. But my feeling is that that will result in only small improvements in performance. The reality is that we need more creativity (someone who can carry the ball 30 yards at speed, beat a couple of players along the way, and then not LOSE the ball would make a huge difference to the team) and there are real problems at the back (Aurelio and Agger have fitness problems; Soto, Konchesky and seemingly Skrtel are not good enough; Carra is injured and not as good as he was; and Glenn is both fantastic and a nightmare). Money has to be spent NOW on at least those areas now if we are to close the gap on the European places.

And in the summer some big money will need to be spent to replace probably more than 25% of the first team squad.

So a pat on the back for the owners for this morning's work, but the real test is the next few weeks and months.

[Redspin]

I'm hoping people who were old enough to remember Dalglish's time as manager here will provide an insight into his style of football. My knowledge is limited as I was too young to remember.

He actually brought in some barmy ideas at the end. He became obsessed with 5 at the back in away games, using Molby as a sweeper in the manner used by ultra-defensive Italian teams in the 60s and 70s. I saw some nightmare away performances using that system.

Like Bodgson's barmy 4-4-2 sitting deep, that Dalglish formation, in pulling Molby out of midfield, immediately surrendered midfield to the opposition and put us under pressure.

I remember one game at Plough Lane against Wimbledon where he used a back 5 and we were battered for the whole first half, with our midfield completely over-run. At least he had the sense to put Molby back in midfield in the second half and I'm pretty sure we won - or didn't lose anyway (it was a long time ago). Hodgson would have blundered on regardless.

That's my only concern about Dalglish. Hopefully he'll put the extra man in midfield, as is the modern way, not at the back

[Redspin]

Dalglish's sides were the most attacking Liverpool sides of those great 70's & 80's sides

Paisley built an absolute crushing machine that just rolled over teams but Kennys were very offensive teams (barring his double team)

I would guess that his tactics will be similar to the double season because he doesnt have the players to play his expansive game he played from 87 onwards

I again disagree with you. as the records show - as did my own eyes - that we used to batter teams away under Paisley, like in 78-79 scoring 3 goals away from home no fewer than 8 times (4 goals away from home 3 times). Show me a team that can do that away from home and I'll show you an offensive team. We were great to watch.

All winning teams are crushing machines and if we'd won most of our games narrowly and went for away draws I'd agree with your damned-with-faint-praise view of Paisley's teams, but in that season we had a record goal difference of +69. If that's not the record of an offensive team then I've never seen one.

Also Paisley never played 3 centre-backs away from home in a back 5, as Dalglish liked to during his time, which is not particularly offensive

[DeeTheDog]

It will be interesting to see which formation/players he will use. The main change I expect to see is pressing beginning with the forwards. Also I expect the full backs to push further up. He inherited one of the best ball playing centre backs in Hansen and correct me if I'm wrong Hysen was highly feted at the time as one of the best ball playing centre-halves in Europe when signed, so maybe Agger will get more game time. I also expect the ball to be played through midfield rather than bypassing it.

He has spoken in the recent past about the almost telepathic understanding between Torres and Gerrard, so I expect that to return and mimic Beardsley/Rush or indeed his own partnership with Rush.

Maybe he could bring Barnes back to give Babel tips on playing on the wing...

[Craig_H]

How do you find an equivalent to Barnes? N'Zogbia wouldn't be a bad start.

Oh dear god.

[ronanm]

I would laugh my balls off if we won tomorrow at OT. The King raping Fergiescum in his own back yard.

[Daniel 7]

Oh dear god.

My point exactly, but there's few that you could mention in the same breath as Barnes at his peak.

Bit fairer to compare Riera and N'Zogbia in a system, and I think that comparison stands pretty well. N'Zogbia would probably offer more than Riera did.

[Craig_H]

My point exactly, but there's few that you could mention in the same breath as Barnes at his peak.

Bit fairer to compare Riera and N'Zogbia in a system, and I think that comparison stands pretty well. N'Zogbia would probably offer more than Riera did.

Today's equivalent to Barnes, even though they dont always play as out and out wingers (but naturally, that's their position) are Messi and Ronaldo.

That's how good Barnes was.

N'Zogbia indeed

That's like saying today's equivalent to Souness, is Joey ****ing Barton.

[dww]

Beyond vague observations on his teams style often being 'attacking', I think it's very difficult to say really given he may (hopefully has) altered his beliefs since he had his last managerial position. It'll be interesting to see how he sets us out tomorrow.

You also have to hope he will take into account the types of players available to him.

[Craig_H]

Tomorrow's game wont be a fair reflection of how Kenny sets us up to play, he's not even back in the Uk yet apparently, so wont have had any real preparation.

Give him 4-6 weeks at least, i would say.

Plus some new signings wouldnt go amiss.

[RedReet]

My point exactly, but there's few that you could mention in the same breath as Barnes at his peak.

Bit fairer to compare Riera and N'Zogbia in a system, and I think that comparison stands pretty well. N'Zogbia would probably offer more than Riera did.

By that you are more or less suggesting that if we had N'Zogbia two years ago instead of Riera then we probably would have won the league.

Personally I think Riera’s ability to control the ball (especially from cross-field balls from Xabi) and keep possession it tight situations was very much undervalued and was a key part in helping us to control games as opposed to the more direct (although more exciting) approach of Babel or Benni.

[Craig_H]

In fact, as daft as it may sound, the closest equivalent to Barnes that we have already at LFC is Babel. Raw talent and athleticism - Barnes had a brain mind, but maybe Kenny can bring something out of Ryan.

[RedReet]

Tomorrow's game wont be a fair reflection of how Kenny sets us up to play, he's not even back in the Uk yet apparently, so wont have had any real preparation.

Give him 4-6 weeks at least, i would say.

Plus some new signings wouldnt go amiss.

Exactly, judge him after 10 games. Errrrr, 19 games. Errrrrr, 38 games. Errrrr, judge him on his previous achievements instead.