Villa Post Match

[destinydude]

Yeah, that is not really true of Lucas though. He was accused of that for ages, even when he averaged 2 fouls a game across the season.

As for Henderson, he is not doing anything, that is the problem, he offers little going forward and offers nothing defensive and he really doesn't offer him self as an outlet, he is wasteful when he does push forward (look at his shots today, that is not intelligent use of the ball).

Actually, it is though. Everton game in the Cup, Against Wigan in the League we were winning 1-0 and in the 82' minute or after that he got 'stuck in' and conceded a penalty. Had we won that match, we would have been brimming with more confidence that season. We lost the League by 4 points.

He has eventually come good because he is a good player, just like Henderson is now.

[Muddled]

I'd like to add the fact that I think Shelvey is better than Hendo and was about £15m cheaper.

He has a lot more self belief which is something that Henderson massively lacks imo.

Can't say I agree Gibbo; Shelvey would be great in the hole, arriving late in the box and linking attacks - However, he's one-paced and both defensively and positionally, he is naive.

Henderson is a better footballer, both in the head and with the ball; he see's the play quicker and has great awareness of what is around him. However, he lacks the self-belief to take ownership of a game and is too timid.

I think they'll both be fighting out for the same positon in the future though.

In my opinion of course.

[kingfunk]

Oh My God How - ****ing Bad Is This Liverpool Team?
Beyond rubbish, i really hope kenny does not get another season. It's not too late to come out of this with some grace, he should do the right thing at the end of the season and resign.
I want a long term manager, ie 10-15 years, and that is not going to be the king. Good effort king Kenny but please do the right thing or it's going to be same old same old next season.

[destinydude]

Ah, so what explains the huge holes across the front of our defence today?

His defensive positioning is utterly woeful.

His tackling tends to lead to silly fouls.

1. He is not an out and out DM. So, you can't expect him to be ****ing Mackelele.

2. It's the team's job to press in packs and whenever he wasn't an out and out DM, his defensive positioning has been more than good. Infact it has been a lot better.

3. His tackling leads to silly fouls like Lucas' used to do. He is still learning the trade of it. Tackling is not the be all and do all of football.

[destinydude]

so true. as the team is currently set up the strikers are too isolated. there are no attacking midfielders who will run with the ball, or make positive forward passes.
i think we need to vary the set up. 3, 1, 4, 2.
we could easily play coates in a advanced defence/DM role to help snuff out the oppositions forward play and stop our defence dropping back too deep. three at the back, depending on who is fit, agger, skertel, kelly/flano.
we could play suarez in a more withdrawn attacking midfield role that gerrard would normally occupy. this would allow better control and possession of the ball and allow kuyt and carrol to get some service from midfield. suarez has creativity and dribbling that will help unlock defences. with other players in front of him he will also have passing options. as the most advanced player he doesnt have that option.
gerrard and shelvey could then dominate central midfield.
sterling on the right, as he can play with both feet. downing on the left, as he only can play with his left foot.
a couple of the kids on the bench, including a young striker as back up/sub for the last 15 mins to stretch the opposition.

note, no places for carra or spearing unless filling in for injuries] or adam, hendo.

What the hell are you on, brother?

[cream]

Another disgraceful result, is this what we have become?

[Gibbo]

Can't say I agree Gibbo; Shelvey would be great in the hole, arriving late in the box and linking attacks - However, he's one-paced and both defensively and positionally, he is naive.

Henderson is a better footballer, both in the head and with the ball; he see's the play quicker and has great awareness of what is around him. However, he lacks the self-belief to take ownership of a game and is too timid.

I think they'll both be fighting out for the same positon in the future though.

In my opinion of course.

Nah, I do hear you Muddled. I know Shelvey has his faults, and it's a shame that he lacks pace because he would be a very exciting footballer if he didn't.

I don't think Henderson has the mentality to play Centre midfield, nor do I think Shelvey has the ability. But I think Shelvey is better at the 'in the hole role' Due to his confidence in his own ability and he does seem to have a scoring touch.

Henderson needs to gain some bottle, I think if he just had that little bit of self belief it would improve his game massively. The thing that worries me Kenny is meant to be one of the best man-managers there is. And if he can't instill confidence in Hendo I'm not sure many will.

[ric.williams]

What the hell are you on, brother?

got to be a hallucinogenic

[destinydude]

Another disgraceful result, is this what we have become?

Unfortunately, yes, for the time being.

[Mostar]

We bought mid table players.

We appear to be coached like a mid table team - so many obvious flaws like the ones you pointed out.

It is no surprise we are ending up in this position.

In fact it would not be too outlandish to suggest that our relatively "good" form in the first half of the season can be construed as a mid table team hitting a purple patch.

Our big time buys, with exception of Luis, have been disastrous.

Completely wrong players and as the time goes it is becoming more and more obvious that we will need to replace all those players that we bought to improve our last year squad

This is just bad and I, for one, cannot wait for this year to end.

We are not formidable team and we turned Anfield, our fortress into a ****ing soup kitchen...

We just keep giving and giving and giving...

[Mattshark]

Actually, it is though. Everton game in the Cup, Against Wigan in the League we were winning 1-0 and in the 82' minute or after that he got 'stuck in' and conceded a penalty. Had we won that match, we would have been brimming with more confidence that season. We lost the League by 4 points.

He has eventually come good because he is a good player, just like Henderson is now.

Are you serious? Two fouls and you attribute them to us failing to win the league. Sorry but that is just silly. All you have done is cite two fouls, nothing else.

Meaningless comparison.

[marcus50bucks]

I don't think it's tactical awareness, but more our shape.

Tactically, we had a game plan - positionally, we were all at sea; Shelvey went walk about and it's no coincidence we started attacking better when Gerrard dropped back in the middle. We were heavily left-sided, mainly due to Kuyt going central and Flanagan holding his position and Suarez dropped.

Tactically, we sat deep(ish) ensuring the pace of Agbonlahor didn't hurt us and we kept a very solid line that didn't rush out to meet the ball. What we didn't do, was track the Villa midfielders (linked to Shelvey) and Henderson's lack of bite meant we were over-run.

Again, our play in the final third leaves a lot to be desired. How do you solve a problem like Suarez?

I'm sorry mate but my definition of tactical awareness is knowing your role and having positional awareness on a football pitch. You said yourself that Shelvey went walkabouts and I agree but he wasn't the only one. I think collectively as a team we didn't make good decisions in both an attacking and defensive sense. I honestly think the players are confused as we lack cohesion. I'm seeing nothing from Dalglish that convinces me he can put this right.

[baitman]

If we played 3 at the back with no wing backs we would get destroyed.

thats an opinion... but we are getting destroyed every ****ing week.

im trying to suggest a plausible alternative formation, using the players that we have at our disposal.

if you look at how that would line up you would have wingers that could support the attack as we go forward, and also fall back our side of the half way line to fill in when the other team were in possession. the very idea that wingers might play up the field when we are not in possession should be reserved for teams like barca.

we need to set up so we are more capable of scoring. we will win **** all with most of our players in our half, and the attackers being too isolated up the other end, and surrounded by four defenders and a defensive midfielder.

[Muddled]

Nah, I do hear you Muddled. I know Shelvey has his faults, and it's a shame that he lacks pace because he would be a very exciting footballer if he didn't.

I don't think Henderson has the mentality to play Centre midfield, nor do I think Shelvey has the ability. But I think Shelvey is better at the 'in the hole role' Due to his confidence in his own ability and he does seem to have a scoring touch.

Henderson needs to gain some bottle, I think if he just had that little bit of self belief it would improve his game massively. The thing that worries me Kenny is meant to be one of the best man-managers there is. And if he can't instill confidence in Hendo I'm not sure many will.

All valid points. Especially Henderson needing some bottle.

If we could merge Henderson's footballing brain and ability to spot and play a pass with Shelvey's self-belief and timing, mixed with Gerrard's scoring prowess all played alongside a Mascherano to do the dirty side of the job, we'd have a pretty decent midfield!

[destinydude]

Are you serious? Two fouls and you attribute them to us failing to win the league. Sorry but that is just silly. All you have done is cite two fouls, nothing else.

Meaningless comparison.

Did I do actually say that? One of the fouls I mentioned was in a cup game not even the league. I was just saying, from the top of my head, that fouls like these, even if they are low in number, tend to stick in your mind for long and that is what gave him the reputation.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with Henderson. At least not as much as you are making it out to be.

Does he not have the bottle? Maybe. He has a head though and be grateful for it.