Norwich (H): Build Up

[Exiled_red]

You seem to suggest that fullbacks being pushed back is an inevitability. You have to impose your plan on the opposition - then it becomes an attacking formation - Rafa used a 3-4-3 at times for exactly that reason.

It is easy to go playing badly in a formation results in x,y,z. Very few things are inherent in a formation (arguably space covering is more natural in a back 4 than three but when you dominate a team you tend to defend with fewer players anyway). We have seen our flanks exposed in a 4-3-3 with defensive and attacking cohesion both lacking.

I think that alot of it comes down to game intelligence and reading of the game, Rafa's side seemed to have alot of intelligent players (the likes of Hyypia, Carragher, Alonso and Mascherano in the spine of the team) who could read the game well and would tell others what to do. Rafa was also a very tactically aware manager who would obsess over tiny details. I don't think that Rodgers thinks about things in the same level of detail and I don't think the current players have the same game intelligence or ability to read the game. - The Man Utd freekick is a recent example of that I don't think the players from Rafa's era would have been caught out by that. Similarly in the West Ham game while down to 10 men I noticed numerous times after we went to 3 CB's the 3 of them stayed deep and Lucas still had to come deep to pick the ball up from them when we played out from the back. Now a couple of goals and a man down, IMO someone in the back line should have been bringing the ball out and pushing Lucas further up the field when we had the ball, but it wasn't happening

[marcus50bucks]

If he's fit, he's fit. And we've seen in the past with Danny that he doesn't take five games to get into his stride.

I suspect Rodgers is getting desperate and has picked the rumoured team as he knows his job is on the line.

[Exiled_red]

I suspect Rodgers is getting desperate and has picked the rumoured team as he knows his job is on the line.

This is my concern too, I really don't want us to rush him back if he isn't fit, we can't afford to lose him to injury again.

[el matador]

The guys on Sunday supplement again said that someone at the club said they would be looking at it again in November but that there are no immediate plans for Rodgers.

It backs up what honegstein said on twitter.

[Daniel 7]

What did Hoenigstein say on TwitteR?

[Rowan]

He said the club would be looking at it again in November but this manager would be safe till then... obz

[Roboklopp]

Did they give any indication that their source was different than him? I suppose even if they did, it doesn't mean it isn't.

[danperkins]

I think the Arsenal game showed what the formation/tactics could do. The Henderson injury and Can's comparatively poor start to the season are influential too.

More or less every season since Rodgers has been here he has started with a more defensive setup than the one he seems to want to evolve to use for the majority of the season. Given the class gap between Ings and Sturridge you can see why he wouldn't have favoured deviated from that. Especially as defending was one thing we would all agree we needed to fix.

Everyone has been so concerned about the defence. We certainly aren't going to awards for it but my main issue this and last season has been the midfield setup. Last season playing Gerrard so regularly killed our midfield & left our defence totally exposed. Also effected progresson too, as Henderson was stifled playing so deep. This season the midfield balance is all over the place. Nobody seems to really know their positions or how to play them. Lucas has come in out of the cold and looks rusty, Can has been awful (What's his position), Henderson injured & Milner (Came here to play central) IMO has been disappointingly poor.

I've said this a few times now, IMO the midfield is the main problem. Fix that and actually find a balance and the defence and attack will improve. I agree that there is a huge class gap between Ings and Sturridge but Benteke has been hugely isolated this season (because of the midfield). "If" Rodgers plan all along was to play two up top, surely in putting someone who has good movement and works hard... up beside a totally isolated figure in Benteke makes perfect sense?

I dunno mate, I just think we've lacked any sort of real, functional plan for quite some time now. Any formation or tactics to me, seem more like guesswork than an actual functioning formula. Getting all our players back from injury would be a miracle at this stage but that happens to every side at some point in the season & as a manager Rodgers should be able to account for this and the "When Sturridge comes back excuse" can't be his go to every time we have a bad run.

IMO we have a good squad (some will disagree). I think the players are much better than they are showing. I just think the problem is finding the right way to play them or maybe we just bought the wrong type of players, alot of very similar players in that squad. If Rodgers is going to stay he needs to find that way asap. For a long time now it seems that he hasn't got a clue what way to sets us up, or to play the players he (or whomever) bought. Then we end up saying things like "Well why did he did this player when we are not set up to play him right or to his strengths?".

This constant chopping & changing seems like a desperate attempt more than a manager finding a solution. Anyways, that post got a bit long winded.. sorry about that. It would be nice it that team posted was the one fielding vs Norwich... and in a 4-4-2. Maybe starting Sturridge from the start is a bit too soon but is is damn good to see him back in contention, as he is outstanding when fit.

A win today will make things seem a whole lot better, whether it would paper over some cracks is another story.

[Bender]

[Chris]

[Norbs]

I am going to keep it quiet now.

I am going to spam his Twitter next week asking for he team news though.

Like **** he has his own source.

Bump

[RedReet]

Hope Moreno has a good game. Think he'll benefit from having Benteke in the side.

[Assassin]

I am going to keep it quiet now.

I am going to spam his Twitter next week asking for he team news though.

Like **** he has his own source.

There's always Brendan's Bird

[danperkins]

Is the game on TV? Southampton & United on at same time

[Bender]

Is the game on TV? Southampton & United on at same time

No Dan