Our style of play

[Mattshark]

It's refreshing to read an article that hasn't been clunged in stats, but based primarily on observation.
It's a rarity to find given that people have now developed an unhealthy obssession with stats just because our owners are wet for them.

I enjoyed it anyway.

It is not really unhealthy it is just that observation is highly subjective to the individual and unreliable.

[mattydalton]

It is not really unhealthy it is just that observation is highly subjective to the individual and unreliable.

One could also argue that poor analysis and usage of statistics is also highly subjective to the individual and unreliable.

[Fivex]

Alreet Matt

[mattydalton]

Alreet Steve!

[baitman]

Glad you enjoyed it

good article, Matt.

[Muddled]

I am sure many have observed many of the points I have made. We all watch the same matches after all...

Perhaps I was being a tad grumpy - apologies.

I don't think we need to play 2 defensive midfielders, but at times our midfielders need to be aware of the space around them.

I'd agree with that; I think the midfield are pressing individually as apposed to pressing zonally (is that even a word?) and it's making it rather disjointed. It was to expected as a team learns a new style, but it is worrying that a rather resolute defensive line last season looks all at sea this time around.

Perhaps Rodgers highlighted our lack of potency upfront and has addressed our approach play as a priority under the belief that he had a solid foundation to build on.

[mattydalton]

A rather resolute back line that only kept 2 clean sheets in its last 19 outings last season?

[little dave hedgehog]

weird old thing. kept a terrific back line during kenny's initial stay with the same players.

[barnes10]

last season really left us in disarray. don't know what kenny & steve were thinking tbh

[Muddled]

A rather resolute back line that only kept 2 clean sheets in its last 19 outings last season?

Well, sure ... if you want to use statistics. But why stop there, we could say we kept seven in our first 19. Or you could say we conceded roughly 1.05 a game last season and we are leaking 1.71 this season.

Or you could use observation - as you so rightly point out earlier in the thread - and say we looked a lot more stable last season compared to how we look now. I find our defensive situation rather alarming.

[mattydalton]

Well, sure ... if you want to use statistics. But why stop there, we could say we kept seven in our first 19. Or you could say we conceded roughly 1.05 a game last season and we are leaking 1.71 this season.

Jekyll and Hyde season, story of my life supporting Liverpool to be honest...

Or you could use observation - as you so rightly point out earlier in the thread - and say we looked a lot more stable last season compared to how we look now. I find our defensive situation rather alarming.

Touché! But, yeah, it is alarming. I don't think it is something that we should really be too worried about until we get to the half season mark. If we are still shipping two to three goals a game and getting only one clean sheet in ten then we have real issues. A new system and set up is always going to have teething problems.

[baitman]

maybe last season the same defensive unit [mostly] was not tasked to add the extra attacking element to their game.
playing as wing backs/attacking full backs they do get forward to support the play, especially glen johnson, who excels at this. the trade off is we are often caught with full backs out of position, and are susceptible to fast counter attacks.
central defenders move over to cover the attack, allowing more space in the central area for the opposition players to arrive late and collect a pass relatively unchallenged. the defenders are forced to make split second choices. cover their own space, or cover for the guy who is out of position and go towards the ball...
damned if you do, damned if you dont...

maybe the wing back option is only viable with two DM's...

we want the extra bodies going forward, but not at the cost of compromising our once solid defence.

[dww]

A rather resolute back line that only kept 2 clean sheets in its last 19 outings last season?

weird old thing. kept a terrific back line during kenny's initial stay with the same players.

Think that the loss of Lucas was a big problem - a similar one which has existed this season. For me in a lot of systems the triangle of CBs + DM is the most important part of a strong defence.

[mattydalton]

I don't think we need 2 defensive midfielders, just players in the system who understand the extra tactical and defensive responsibility they have with such attacking full backs and ideas. For example, if Lucas had not picked up another injury, I firmly believe that a Lucas-Allen combo would be sufficient. Allen is not a defensive midfielder, but he understands the system as well as his responsibilities within it.

Given time, lots more players will get up to speed with it. The main reason I think the youth have looked so much more at ease (apart from the obvious fact that youngsters learn quicker) is because they had so much extra time in pre-season to work with the ideas. Effectively, the internationals are 6 to 8 weeks behind them in tactical work so we may well see that understanding coming in the next weeks.

[yamiedo]

We need a good backup for Lucas and to sell Henderson. He probably isn't ever going to b e good enough and we need another player who is similar to Lucas. Don't see how we can guarantee his injury problems won't continue,.