Dalglish's Style Of Play and Formation?

[Exiled_red]

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.

Absolutely

[RedReet]

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.

In his first year he did show that he has ability. This year he has shown that he does have the desire. There must still be some hope that we can use the two and develop him into a decent player.

[Mattshark]

Oh dear god.

That doesn't even come close to describing what an ridiculous statement that is

Barnes - world class
N'zogbia - midtable class

[Paul12]

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

Which Roy didn't. As I said on another thread, I am prepared to admit I was a bit of a Hodgosn fan having watched Fulham alot over the last couple of years but I was stunned at his inability to work with the players he had at Liverpool. A good manager works with what he has, improving them a bit and adding a bit of his own magic whilst developing the team play and squad in a direction that will mean better performances and greater consistency. Apart perhaps from Lucas (who I have been a fan of for a couple of years now) amd maybe Maxi Roy improved the performances of no-one, and changed the team's play in away that resulted in a deterioration in performance.

Personally I think Rafa (of 2008/2009, not 2009/10) was getting about as much out of this group of players as it is possible to get. So that should be the starting point for formation and style. Then you need to think about the implications of the changes since then (loss of Xabi and Mascherano; the loss of a bit of form a few first team players and a lot of squad players; and the addition of Johnson (for Arbeloa) and Meireles, Cole, and Maxi). I think that means we are currently not capable of providing the defence with the level of protection we used to provide them with unless either (a) the midfield plays deeper than 2008/2009 (which means further away from our greatest asset, Nando), or (b) we play a bit further up the pitch, accept that we will let in goals, and try to score more than we let in. Should be a bit of a roller coaster!!

[Daniel 7]

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.

No, the point I was making was that comparing N'Zogbia to Riera was a fairer comparison than N'Zogbia to Barnes.

Saying we would have won the league with N'Zogbia is a bit of a stretch, I wasn't saying that. I don't think he would have offered sufficiently more than Riera to have made up the 4 points.

[DannyMan2006]

I question Babels desire tbh.

[Mattshark]

No, the point I was making was that comparing N'Zogbia to Riera was a fairer comparison than N'Zogbia to Barnes.

Saying we would have won the league with N'Zogbia is a bit of a stretch, I wasn't saying that. I don't think he would have offered sufficiently more than Riera to have made up the 4 points.

I think he would have actually offered less, he is a far less consistent player.

[Daniel 7]

I think he would have actually offered less, he is a far less consistent player.

And could possibly be just as much of a handful. He acted like a proper dick at Newcastle.

[el matador]

Johnston played on the right prior to Ray coming in

he had rush up front by himself, beardsley linking midfield to attack and barnes causing all sorts of havoc on the left.

Although rush and barnes got most of the credits the barnes - beardsley combination was just as important. Barnes could play the ball into the centre knowing that he would be played in by beardsley.

Just having barnes was like having an extra player, defences had to double up on him all the time thus leaving more space for beardsley and rush.

Houghton also played his part - really the modern day kuyt with a better touch, and arguably more pace.

We have fernando for rush, we have gerrard for beardsley. All we need is a barnes.

[Lecter]

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

Paisleys are the best sides I have ever seen and hes the best manager imo

But the style of play was nowhere near as attacking as Kenny's

Paisleys first thoughts was stop the opposition playing, quieten their fans and then play but we were nowhere near an all out attacking team the fact that they scored 3 or 4 so many times was testament to the amount of possession and control and how good a team we were it does not necessarily mean we are an all out attacking side. I went to every game that season home and away and we were not as attacking as you suggest but we were an absolute machine and just crushed sides

Benitez's team the other year scored shed loads of goals the other season (scoring 77 conceeding 27 in 38 games) but they werent an all out attacking team either. Paisleys team in 78-79 scored 85 goals and conceeded 16 in 42 games. I think Rafas sides might have scored 3 or more goals away from home on 7 or 8 occasions also that season but again he wasnt attackminded

Dalglish only played 3 at the back towards the back end of his tenure when he had long term injuries to Lawrenson & Hansen and Gillespie was also injury prone

So he put Ablett and Nicol at the back and played Molby as sweeper

[Daniel 7]

he had rush up front by himself, beardsley linking midfield to attack and barnes causing all sorts of havoc on the left.

Although rush and barnes got most of the credits the barnes - beardsley combination was just as important. Barnes could play the ball into the centre knowing that he would be played in by beardsley.

Just having barnes was like having an extra player, defences had to double up on him all the time thus leaving more space for beardsley and rush.

Houghton also played his part - really the modern day kuyt with a better touch, and arguably more pace.

We have fernando for rush, we have gerrard for beardsley. All we need is a barnes.

Can you remember Houghton's first goal for Liverpool? Can't remember who it was against, but he took on three players and slotted it in. Brilliant stuff.

[Lecter]

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.

You will see the basics of how he sets up tomorrow imo

Blackpool will be the first chance to see his real ideas but I've no worries the approach and general outlook is what I am looking forward to seeing

I'd guess we will see team moved up the pitch and a more pressing game introduced (frankly I'd be pleased with just that)

[Craig_H]

You will see the basics of how he sets up tomorrow imo

Blackpool will be the first chance to see his real ideas but I've no worries the approach and general outlook is what I am looking forward to seeing

I'd guess we will see team moved up the pitch and a more pressing game introduced (frankly I'd be pleased swith just that)

Yeah, agreed. On the rare occaions under Bodger that we played slightly higher and pressed, we looked much better.

[Daniel 7]

You will see the basics of how he sets up tomorrow imo

Blackpool will be the first chance to see his real ideas but I've no worries the approach and general outlook is what I am looking forward to seeing

I'd guess we will see team moved up the pitch and a more pressing game introduced (frankly I'd be pleased swith just that)

And hopefully Agger to carry the ball forward Hansen style, no hoofball and Aurelio at LB.

[el matador]

You will see the basics of how he sets up tomorrow imo

Blackpool will be the first chance to see his real ideas but I've no worries the approach and general outlook is what I am looking forward to seeing

I'd guess we will see team moved up the pitch and a more pressing game introduced (frankly I'd be pleased swith just that)

i think kenny will be positive in every game we play. Unlike Roy he wont expect wolves to come to anfield and win and we will play games to win. We will be higher up the pitch.

Have we actually tried to play offside this season ? I genuinely cant remember our defensive line pushing up to catch someone out.

I also agree that tomorrow we'll see his basic formation although the personnel could change in the transfer window.

He's been sat there for the last 18 months or so watching every match. If anyone knows whats wrong with liverpool its him.

He will know which positions need strengthening and which players we should be looking at.