Liverpool Defence

[Rich]

Skrtel is the common factor in the central defensive issues, there is surely an argument to try Lovren and Sakho as a pair.

That seems sensible but you would have to assume that Lovren switches to the right hand side of the defence, as his right foot is better than Sakho's. But perhaps he's never played there?!

[kingfunk]

Liverpool Defence

I think our midfield AND defence needs to be unified with a Mascherano jack russel type player.

[DannyMan2006]

First game v So'ton.

Lovren moves across and Skrtel doesn't follow. Huge gaps in the middle.

Second game v City

Lovren doesn't move across and there's huge gaps between him & Moreno.

Common Factor

Back 4 is not staying compact and the opposition are getting into the gaps.

Underlying Factor

Our key player in front of the back four is Gerrard, who doesn't read the game so well & mop up in front. He and other team mates do not track the runners. Because he and other members of the team do not track runners, our defensive 4 have other players to contend with and think about.

Massive Worrying Factor

Every time a team will push numbers forwards our defence and midfield will have massive holes. At the start v So'ton & City the opposition were fairly unambitious when attacking. They didn't commit players for fear of our counter attack. As it dawned on them that we aren't exactly as free flowing as last year, they committed extra men forwards. This is when we effectively fall to pieces.

Because our midfield don't track the runners or block the gaps, our back 4 will have to move towards the threat. As a member of the back 4 moves to block the threat, at this point the whole back line should "stay as one" and move together. But they haven't been doing this and as such, gaps appear for another opposition player to drift in and exploit.

Basically, every time we take the lead and the opposition become more ambitious and commit players forward, they will create plenty of chances. We then effectively have to hope our attack can out score the opposition. Worked last year with Sturridge & Suarez. This year, we lack the goal threat. It won't work.

Basic Coaching.

Gerrard will never become Makalele. And he will continue to start. And we can't expect players like Coutinho, Markovic & Balo or Studge to track runners if they play wide. So what can we do? After all, most top sides have individual players who are in the team more for their attacking threat. They will track their man to a certain point, but many a Time they'll switch off.

So what can be done. Well, all that needs to happen is for the back 4 to stay as a unit. If one moves, they all have to move. This relies on communication. The most basic form of coaching for this is where the back 4 stand in a line and are attached by rope to each other, meaning they can only ever be so far apart. It's ridiculous but that's why coaches use it, so they learn to stay as one.

As uptime goes on, Lovren may know that if a winger gets through, Moreno will go wide towards him, at this point Lovren and the rest mush shuffle across, or they can pull Gerrard or another into the space Moreno leaves and stay compact that way. Getting a grip of midfield players requires a true leader and we have to hope Lovren becomes that.

[marcus50bucks]

First game v So'ton.

Lovren moves across and Skrtel doesn't follow. Huge gaps in the middle.

Second game v City

Lovren doesn't move across and there's huge gaps between him & Moreno.

Common Factor

Back 4 is not staying compact and the opposition are getting into the gaps.

Underlying Factor

Our key player in front of the back four is Gerrard, who doesn't read the game so well & mop up in front. He and other team mates do not track the runners. Because he and other members of the team do not track runners, our defensive 4 have other players to contend with and think about.

Massive Worrying Factor

Every time a team will push numbers forwards our defence and midfield will have massive holes. At the start v So'ton & City the opposition were fairly unambitious when attacking. They didn't commit players for fear of our counter attack. As it dawned on them that we aren't exactly as free flowing as last year, they committed extra men forwards. This is when we effectively fall to pieces.

Because our midfield don't track the runners or block the gaps, our back 4 will have to move towards the threat. As a member of the back 4 moves to block the threat, at this point the whole back line should "stay as one" and move together. But they haven't been doing this and as such, gaps appear for another opposition player to drift in and exploit.

Basically, every time we take the lead and the opposition become more ambitious and commit players forward, they will create plenty of chances. We then effectively have to hope our attack can out score the opposition. Worked last year with Sturridge & Suarez. This year, we lack the goal threat. It won't work.

Basic Coaching.

Gerrard will never become Makalele. And he will continue to start. And we can't expect players like Coutinho, Markovic & Balo or Studge to track runners if they play wide. So what can we do? After all, most top sides have individual players who are in the team more for their attacking threat. They will track their man to a certain point, but many a Time they'll switch off.

So what can be done. Well, all that needs to happen is for the back 4 to stay as a unit. If one moves, they all have to move. This relies on communication. The most basic form of coaching for this is where the back 4 stand in a line and are attached by rope to each other, meaning they can only ever be so far apart. It's ridiculous but that's why coaches use it, so they learn to stay as one.

As uptime goes on, Lovren may know that if a winger gets through, Moreno will go wide towards him, at this point Lovren and the rest mush shuffle across, or they can pull Gerrard or another into the space Moreno leaves and stay compact that way. Getting a grip of midfield players requires a true leader and we have to hope Lovren becomes that.

[ric.williams]

considering our width comes mostly from the full backs we leave our defense exposed by our unbalanced midfield.

man city play with two holding midfielders should we not do similar?

[BobTheCharmer]

considering our width comes mostly from the full backs we leave our defense exposed by our unbalanced midfield.

man city play with two holding midfielders should we not do similar?

Since our attacking players are head and shoulders better than the others in the team, I say we carry on as last year. Score shed loads of goals and be prepared to leak them at the other end. It got us within 2 points of the title. Changing formation and strategy could see are become tighter yet we may finish outside the top four. Lets just carry on being Newcastle 'esq and enjoy the ride.

[baitman]

Since our attacking players are head and shoulders better than the others in the team,
I say we carry on as last year. Score shed loads of goals and be prepared to leak them at the other end. It got us within 2 points of the title. Changing formation and strategy could see are become tighter yet we may finish outside the top four. Lets just carry on being Newcastle 'esq and enjoy the ride.

without the goals and graft of suarez we wont score anything like last year.
we need to tighten up massively at the back to make up for our less potent attacking.

[pondus]

Nah, we'll be alright

[frank the tank]

Since our attacking players are head and shoulders better than the others in the team, I say we carry on as last year. Score shed loads of goals and be prepared to leak them at the other end. It got us within 2 points of the title. Changing formation and strategy could see are become tighter yet we may finish outside the top four. Lets just carry on being Newcastle 'esq and enjoy the ride.

Because that worked out well!!!

[BobTheCharmer]

Because that worked out well!!!

Enjoyable though.

[CAD]

Since our attacking players are head and shoulders better than the others in the team, I say we carry on as last year. Score shed loads of goals and be prepared to leak them at the other end. It got us within 2 points of the title. Changing formation and strategy could see are become tighter yet we may finish outside the top four. Lets just carry on being Newcastle 'esq and enjoy the ride.

I couldn't agree less for 31+12+7 reasons. We are nowhere near last year offensively without Suarez. No player will ever produce those stats again in PL. He didnt even convert the penalties! We have to adjust our approach without him - no matter what.

The continued talk about the Back 4 is nonsensical without taking the engine room into account.

You are (sadly) right that we will be forced to use Gerrard in that position but if we could get Song to carry the center with him we might get halfway there and secure a top 4 position this season.

[Muddled]

Jeez, I come in here to congratulate you for entering a thread that's not about Gerrard and you've only gone and brought him up in a thread about Liverpool's defence.

[danperkins]

To be fair though Gerrard is as much a defensive problem as anyone else. Not his fault... just the position he's been asked to pay.

I agree that someone like a Masch/Makelele type player would do wonders for our defence.

[Muddled]

How Gerrard can be apportioned blame for defensive errors, I'm not quite sure. It's not as if we're being carved apart through the middle of the pitch. Sure, I think there is room for improvement, but our goals conceded column is not because we're fielding Gerrard.

[BobTheCharmer]

I agree that someone like a Masch/Makelele type player would do wonders for our defence.

I don't think we need one of those type players. I like our style of play. Yes Gerrard misses the odd runner yet you could bring in a Makelele type who offers **** all else to the team and they could still not track a runner and you concede. What we have is a relatively new defence and in front of that we are choosing to play a ball playing deep creative player in Gerrard. It worked pretty well from January onwards so I see no reason in giving up on it so early. Gerrard is the first name on the team sheet and its not changing anytime soon. Ideally what we could do with is a Veira or Keane type, someone that not only mops up at the back but offers plenty going forwards. There aren't many in world football these days.