Dejan Lovren

[Mike]

Had me screaming at the tele late on when they had that header that went over - didn't even jump for it ffs

[DannyMan2006]

Had me screaming at the tele late on when they had that header that went over - didn't even jump for it ffs

He did, but Mandoron put his arm on him and kept him down by fouling him. Did enough to put him off tbf. You can risk fouls like that as a striker, more risky as a defender as you could give a penalty away.

[DannyMan2006]

We could have quite easily conceded at the end of the game. It was panic stations at the back again when simple balls were lumped into the box. No ****er can head the ball.

I see it as progress we were actually marking them.

[Buzzo]

We signed the wrong Southampton Centre Back. They (STHMPTN) look immense at the back.

[alonso14]

We signed the wrong Southampton Centre Back. They (STHMPTN) look immense at the back.

What you mean is that we should have signed wanyama and schneiderlin instead. Those two would make any defender look good. They made lovren good.

[DannyMan2006]

What you mean is that we should have signed wanyama and schneiderlin instead. Those two would make any defender look good. They made lovren good.

I think in the So'ton backline, if you're out of position, get caught out or make a mistake, others get you off the hook. In most of the games under Rodgers defenders have had to be virtually perfect. I think that's changed since we've had Lucas & Henderson in front.

The system they play is solid and the two in front of the back 4 are very good.

[The_weatherman]

Having Wanyama and Schneiderlin protect the defenders means that the defenders are having to perform fewer defensive actions. These four have played most at Southampton so I take them for example.

Name - Defensive actions p. 90 mins. - Ranking
Bertrand - 4.45 - 189
Alderweireld - 8.80 - 64
Fonte - 9.00 - 58
Clyne - 5.06 - 167

Compare to our back four
Moreno - 4.09 - 201
Skrtel - 13.39 - 13
Lovren - 12.36 - 22
Johnson - 5.64 - 147

Our centre halves are up there mostly with players from Hull, Leicester, QPR, Burnley, Everton, Villa etc.

So in fact less seems to be more in this regard. Our two centre halves perform 25.75 actions to 17.8 to Southampton's. Granted this is based on four at the back and the personel I thought was preferred at the start of the season. With Lucas in we are now seeing them receiving a bit more protection, I would like to see numbers so I could compare defensive actions in the last 10 games to the first 10 games.

[dww]

We signed the wrong Southampton Centre Back. They (STHMPTN) look immense at the back.

I think it is more to do with Koemans coaching improving an already settled backline. Other than Clyne I think all their defenders are pretty average on their own but combine to make a really strong unit.

I honestly think at least in terms of the back 3/4 we should stop looking for solutions in trying to buy improvement and try organization and some sort of detectable tactical planning.

[The_weatherman]

I think it is more to do with Koemans coaching improving an already settled backline. Other than Clyne I think all their defenders are pretty average on their own but combine to make a really strong unit.

I honestly think at least in terms of the back 3/4 we should stop looking for solutions in trying to buy improvement and try organization and some sort of detectable tactical planning.

On paper our CB's are at least equal to theirs IMO, but their setup is very good and the midfield plays a huge part in the record. Just like Didi did for us and then Mascherano.

[Helios Creed]

Get Sami in as defensive coach. Ah, we don't need one.

[G]

I think it is more to do with Koemans coaching improving an already settled backline. Other than Clyne I think all their defenders are pretty average on their own but combine to make a really strong unit.

I honestly think at least in terms of the back 3/4 we should stop looking for solutions in trying to buy improvement and try organization and some sort of detectable tactical planning.

You would think this is the most reasonable course of action to take but the manager has carried on insisting the problem is not the system rather its the players making mistakes. If he can't/won't recognise the system is part of the problem he can't/won't fix it.

However I think bringing Lucas back in and switching to a back 3 is at least some sort of tacit admission from him that there are systemic problems and maybe he's finally trying to address them.

[danperkins]

When I see the beautiful bolded red text of the EST Lovren thread, the best part of my day is the few seconds from when I click the Dejan Lovren link, to when the page opens... where I get a deep sensation of hope & longing in my body that he departed our club.

Alas, dissapointment and betrayal falls upon me as I surrender to the truth.... that Dejan Lovren is in fact still a Liverpool player.

[McDermotX]

Gonna love this place next season, when he walks out with the captain's armband on him.

[danperkins]

wouldn't be surprised mate

[shanks69]

i bet carlsberg love that picture