Newcastle v Liverpool Build Up: 1st Nov 12.45pm

[DannyMan2006]

I understand why people want two up top. But how teams perform is just as much about players as it is managers, formations & tactics.

Extreme example: you wouldn't play a crossing game with a 5'5" speed merchant, whilst you wouldn't play quick counters with big, stocky & slow players.

Last season we moved away from Rodgers preferred 433 formation because he had two strikers who formed a world class partnership. We've had that for one game this season. And even then, Balotelli was and never will be in the class of Suarez.

If we're gonna play a diamond formation and leave ourselves exposed, then we better had score a bucket load of goals. We haven't been doing that and so IMO the best way to go is tighten up and play a different formation. When we get Sturridge back I'd be more than happy to revisit the diamond.

We can't rely on having to score three goals to win a game when we've struggled to get 1-2 goals a game.

[SB]

i really get what you are saying but i think because Newcastle will play with an attacking mentality at home is one of the main reasons that we should play the diamond (the other being that it seems to be our best formation). Because Newcastle will play an attacking line-up, we should set up to really hurt them on the counter attack - just as we did away to Spurs earlier in the season. If we can have Sterling, Coutinho, Borini, Henderson and Balotelli all breaking at pace, then we should see some joy.

I think the tactics you detail are spot on for away to Man City, Arsenal or Chelsea - where we would be very happy with a point - but not against Newcastle. We need to force the game - especially in the first half.

otherwise the ball will be coming straight back at us if we have a lone striker with no outlet or no high work rate.

[captainfog]

They're judging him on his games for us so far this season. Without prejudice.

I thought he was one our worst player against Swansea. But even if he'd had an OK game it still doesn't warrant him starting in the league. He has OK games from time to time, but the overall picture screams not good enough.

[SB]

I thought he was one our worst player against Swansea. But even if he'd had an OK game it still doesn't warrant him starting in the league. He has OK games from time to time, but the overall picture screams not good enough.

The last sentence could be used to sum Stevie up at present too.

[Spaghetti Legs]

As long as we start 2 up front I'll be happy. Preferably Balotelli and Borini. Rodgers insistence on sticking with 1-up when its clearly not working is the only thing thats baffled me this season.

Away from home I'd expect us to go with Henderson and Allen to make up for Gerrards lack of mobility. Particularly as we look to have put more emphasis on being defensive solid over the past two games, I'd imagine keeping things organised and compact in midfield will be the plan.

If that's the only thing that's baffled you this season you must be an extremely tolerant person.

[Spaghetti Legs]

Can't understand people picking Lucas.

It might have something to do with him being our best and most experienced DM by a country mile.

[Venton]

It might have something to do with him being our best and most experienced DM by a country mile.

Once upon a time...

[The_weatherman]

I understand why people want two up top. But how teams perform is just as much about players as it is managers, formations & tactics.

Extreme example: you wouldn't play a crossing game with a 5'5" speed merchant, whilst you wouldn't play quick counters with big, stocky & slow players.

Last season we moved away from Rodgers preferred 433 formation because he had two strikers who formed a world class partnership. We've had that for one game this season. And even then, Balotelli was and never will be in the class of Suarez.

If we're gonna play a diamond formation and leave ourselves exposed, then we better had score a bucket load of goals. We haven't been doing that and so IMO the best way to go is tighten up and play a different formation. When we get Sturridge back I'd be more than happy to revisit the diamond.

We can't rely on having to score three goals to win a game when we've struggled to get 1-2 goals a game.

Fair points, Borini played mainly on the left in a 4-3-3 at Roma I think so we could go that way with Sterling on the right.

[Fierce]

It might have something to do with him being our best and most experienced DM by a country mile.

I thought he was one our worst player against Swansea. But even if he'd had an OK game it still doesn't warrant him starting in the league. He has OK games from time to time, but the overall picture screams not good enough.

He's a lovely fella, but he hasn't been the twinkle in Rafa's winkle for a long time, and doesn't ever look like recapturing that form under Brendan

[dww]

I understand why people want two up top. But how teams perform is just as much about players as it is managers, formations & tactics.

Extreme example: you wouldn't play a crossing game with a 5'5" speed merchant, whilst you wouldn't play quick counters with big, stocky & slow players.

Last season we moved away from Rodgers preferred 433 formation because he had two strikers who formed a world class partnership. We've had that for one game this season. And even then, Balotelli was and never will be in the class of Suarez.

If we're gonna play a diamond formation and leave ourselves exposed, then we better had score a bucket load of goals. We haven't been doing that and so IMO the best way to go is tighten up and play a different formation. When we get Sturridge back I'd be more than happy to revisit the diamond.

We can't rely on having to score three goals to win a game when we've struggled to get 1-2 goals a game.

I think there is an element of people getting hung up on what a managers supposed preferred formation is. We saw last season that Rodgers altered his formation to suit the players and to maintain elements of his style (we still looked largely to bass the ball to feet but were counter attacking rather than possession hogging).

Not sure that a diamond based formation necessarily is more open (in fact usually it is used to shore up the central area). Our problem has been playing a diamond with Gerrard (or another non-natural DM) at the base and having exceptionally forward minded fullbacks.

One constant of all good sides is that they have the feeling they can score goals. So far this season that has not been something we have had. I think finding a way to consistently make chances that suit our forwards should be the main aim of whatever tactic we adopt.

I think there is a case that Borini seems willing to work hard enough to adopt a 4-4-2 type formation in attack and fall back into a 4-5-1 variant in defence (which is often the way with 4-3-3 type formations any way). If he can contribute himself and get the most out of Ballotelli then that is what we should do.

Or we could employ my least favourite formation - the magic rectangle.

[The Birdman]

My team would be -
Mignolet
Manquillo Toure Lovren Moreno
Gerrard
Henderson Can
Sterling
Balotelli Borini.

I think Rodgers will pick
Mingolet
Manquillo Skrtel Lovren Moreno
Gerrard Henderson Allen
Sterling Balotelli Coutinho.

[fah-q]

My team would be -
Mignolet
Manquillo Toure Lovren Moreno
Gerrard
Henderson Can
Sterling
Balotelli Borini.

That leaves loads of gaps on our left.

[Liverpel]

That leaves loads of gaps on our left.

But think of the damage we'd do to Newcastle's left.

[cream]

Everyone will be going round in circles.

[Paddy]

Really worried about this game. This could be a very bad week to come.