Brendan Rodgers

[el matador]

he plays the 433, rafa played the 4231. both systems are similar in their approach to football. one up top, one off him, two wide midfield players, full backs high up the pitch with high tempo passing and pressing.

superficially the key difference is that rafa had two sitters to protect his back four but even then rafa didnt always keep two back. when we were attacking he had one back (mascherano) and alonso who was just off the play.

which is pretty much what rodgers does. Its basically rafa's tactics just repackaged as something else.

[Slinky Skills]

Which is why I'll have forgotten all about your post within about five minutes.

And you need a reality check. He's had three league games in charge, and you're already making negative comments. This season is clearly a season of transition, and quite possibly the season or two after that as well. If you're happy to give him time, why don't you also give the 'Talk is cheap' style jibes a rest?

[Needles]

After listening to that interview, if BR can get is to play the way he wants and be successful I think he could be a modern day Shankly.

I love Rafa but I think we finally have the right man as manager.

[barnes10]

he plays the 433, rafa played the 4231. both systems are similar in their approach to football. one up top, one off him, two wide midfield players, full backs high up the pitch with high tempo passing and pressing.

superficially the key difference is that rafa had two sitters to protect his back four but even then rafa didnt always keep two back. when we were attacking he had one back (mascherano) and alonso who was just off the play.

which is pretty much what rodgers does. Its basically rafa's tactics just repackaged as something else.

and looking prettier. Fine by me

[Eric Swindler]

he plays the 433, rafa played the 4231. both systems are similar in their approach to football. one up top, one off him, two wide midfield players, full backs high up the pitch with high tempo passing and pressing.

superficially the key difference is that rafa had two sitters to protect his back four but even then rafa didnt always keep two back. when we were attacking he had one back (mascherano) and alonso who was just off the play.

which is pretty much what rodgers does. Its basically rafa's tactics just repackaged as something else.

They are similar in ways, but Rodgers is far less risk-averse than Rafa.

[Shaggy]

I've often thought 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 were practically identical formations.

[Bender]

I've often thought 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 were practically identical formations.

they are they both add up to 10

[dww]

They are similar in ways, but Rodgers is far less risk-averse than Rafa.

Not completely convinced. Never thought of Rodgers teams as particularly attacking and a quick (totally uncomprehensive) check of results suggest that his teams don't score more than Rafa's either.

I've often thought 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 were practically identical formations.

I think both 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 are pretty catch all formations. 4-2-3-1 seems to usually denote a particular variant of them which puts two midfielders in the deeper controlling positions in midfield.

[el matador]

I've often thought 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 were practically identical formations.

attacking wise there's practically no difference because the attacking shape is the same. one midfielder drops in deep to keep the defensive triangle with two centre backs in tact and the other follows the play always available for the pass in behind or picking up the scraps from 50-50's or knock downs.

defensively, rodgers expects both of the two advanced central players to get back in gerrard and say allen (with lucas in behind) whereas rafa expected one in alonso and then kuyt on the right hand side to track back into central areas to make up the numbers.

This allowed gerrard a bit more freedom to create. but there's very little difference in the set ups. the first time i saw us under rodgers i thought it was very similar to rafa's system. I honestly think you'd be very hard pushed to see many differences other than the inverted wingers philosophy (which even rafa had with babel at one point).

[James P]

I think both 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 are pretty catch all formations. 4-2-3-1 seems to usually denote a particular variant of them which puts two midfielders in the deeper controlling positions in midfield.

From the way that BR was describing how he sees Lucas and Allen's roles evolving, it sounded like we were playing 4-1-2-3, with Lucas as the 1.

You'll note from my avatar that I approve of this system, as it's referred to as 'the reverse dusty bin'.

[yamiedo]

I'd assume it as Lucas playing an anchor role in the DM. Allen is more of a box-to box player and Gerrard is playing even slightly more higher up than him but still chips in with defensive responsibilities

[cream]

The biggest reason Rafa went 4-2-3-1 was to accommodate Gerrard. Steve needs to be a bit more disciplined for 4-3-3 to work, I can see Rodgers adopting the former formation until Lucas gets back.

[JohnDoe]

Lucas
Gerrard Allen
Borini Suarez Sterling

This will be our starting front 6 by the end of the season.

[Frenchie]

and Sahin?

[kingfunk]

Glass houses and all that.........Bitchayyyy.

@pauldalglish: I thought it was v brave of the manager to face the fans after the start we've had but he is brilliant at his own PR so he came across well.

@pauldalglish: I think a lot of what he said was interesting if you've never coached but fairly generic if you have. If would of been very impressed if...

@pauldalglish: ..he quantified how he's gonna do it. It's all very well saying I'm gonna do this, or I want to do that, but if you don't say how, its talk.