Brendan Rodgers

[calvoboy]

I still don't understand why we completely abandoned the diamond. As far as I can see we've got an ideal squad for it now - Lucas/Can sitting deep, Henderson and Milner full of energy ahead, Coutinho at the apex, with two of Benteke/Ings/Sturridge/Origi up front.

It nearly won us the league, yet we totally abandoned it because one player left. And it wasn't all about Suarez either, as the system worked well enough during his suspensions and occasional injury. Henderson was arguably more critical for it, as we needed his energy and pressing in midfield for it to work, but we've got Milner in there too now.

[Rowan]

I still don't understand why we completely abandoned the diamond. As far as I can see we've got an ideal squad for it now - Lucas/Can sitting deep, Henderson and Milner full of energy ahead, Coutinho at the apex, with two of Benteke/Ings/Sturridge/Origi up front.

It nearly won us the league, yet we totally abandoned it because one player left. And it wasn't all about Suarez either, as the system worked well enough during his suspensions and occasional injury. Henderson was arguably more critical for it, as we needed his energy and pressing in midfield for it to work, but we've got Milner in there too now.

I suppose it was because we didn't have the personnel required to head it up. Suarez and Sturridge were out last year which would have left a Ballotelli/ Lambert/ Borini tip. ****e

[Irishnev]

I still don't understand why we completely abandoned the diamond. As far as I can see we've got an ideal squad for it now - Lucas/Can sitting deep, Henderson and Milner full of energy ahead, Coutinho at the apex, with two of Benteke/Ings/Sturridge/Origi up front.

It nearly won us the league, yet we totally abandoned it because one player left. And it wasn't all about Suarez either, as the system worked well enough during his suspensions and occasional injury. Henderson was arguably more critical for it, as we needed his energy and pressing in midfield for it to work, but we've got Milner in there too now.

I've been banging that drum for a while. The only reason I can come up with is that Rodgers came up with that formation to suit the players he had at his disposal but he always wanted to back to his preferred formation (4-3-3/4-2-3-1).

When Suarez left he had the money to buy those that fitted the formation he wanted but when that didn't work he went to 3 at the back. Started this year again with the Swansea formation and he got the target man he wanted (Benteke filling the Graham role).

The first sign of it not working he changed to 3 at the back again. It's like he wants to use the formation but he either hasn't got the players to suit it or is not confident enough in it to stick with it!

[Lecter]

I've been banging that drum for a while. The only reason I can come up with is that Rodgers came up with that formation to suit the players he had at his disposal but he always wanted to back to his preferred formation (4-3-3/4-2-3-1).

When Suarez left he had the money to buy those that fitted the formation he wanted but when that didn't work he went to 3 at the back. Started this year again with the Swansea formation and he got the target man he wanted (Benteke filling the Graham role).

The first sign of it not working he changed to 3 at the back again. It's like he wants to use the formation but he either hasn't got the players to suit it or is not confident enough in it to stick with it!

Its fairly obvious that Rodgers preferred formation is 4-3-3- / 4-2-3-1 hybrid

Equally its fairly obvious that this system is severely flawed

4 years in and he still hasnt managed to get it going

I predicted in the summer he would go for his favoured system and that it wouldnt work and he would switch to some other idea

Havent seen anything yet to suggest I will be wrong

[The_weatherman]

Its fairly obvious that Rodgers preferred formation is 4-3-3- / 4-2-3-1 hybrid

Equally its fairly obvious that this system is severely flawed

4 years in and he still hasnt managed to get it going

I predicted in the summer he would go for his favoured system and that it wouldnt work and he would switch to some other idea

Havent seen anything yet to suggest I will be wrong

IMO in order to be successful with his Swansea model, you need rapid and direct wide forwards, like Sterling could be, like Montero for the actual Swansea etc. we don't have enough quick and pacy players.

[el matador]

Its fairly obvious that Rodgers preferred formation is 4-3-3- / 4-2-3-1 hybrid

Equally its fairly obvious that this system is severely flawed

4 years in and he still hasnt managed to get it going

I predicted in the summer he would go for his favoured system and that it wouldnt work and he would switch to some other idea

Havent seen anything yet to suggest I will be wrong

I don't think he's that far off to be honest. Most of the ingredients are there and we need only make a couple of small tweaks would make this team more balanced.

[Saveloy]

IMO in order to be successful with his Swansea model, you need rapid and direct wide forwards, like Sterling could be, like Montero for the actual Swansea etc. we don't have enough quick and pacy players.

You can't tell him how to be successful with his own model!

I do agree about the lack of pace though.

Ive had a pace bee in my direct running bonnet for a good while now.

[redmike65]

4-4-2 diamond should be nailed on. The full backs are ideal for width, the number 10 can be one of 3 players (Firmino and Lallana being the other two) depending on circumstances and Sturridge plus one other is obvious. Perm the 3 in the middle from about 8 players!

[tanner]

4-4-2 diamond should be nailed on. The full backs are ideal for width, the number 10 can be one of 3 players (Firmino and Lallana being the other two) depending on circumstances and Sturridge plus one other is obvious. Perm the 3 in the middle from about 8 players!

[The_weatherman]

You can't tell him how to be successful with his own model!

I do agree about the lack of pace though.

Ive had a pace bee in my direct running bonnet for a good while now.

OK Let me rephrase that, I've seen us being most successful with his team when they were a) pacey, b) direct, c) both.

Hope your bonnet get's better

[danperkins]

I still don't understand why we completely abandoned the diamond. As far as I can see we've got an ideal squad for it now - Lucas/Can sitting deep, Henderson and Milner full of energy ahead, Coutinho at the apex, with two of Benteke/Ings/Sturridge/Origi up front.

It nearly won us the league, yet we totally abandoned it because one player left. And it wasn't all about Suarez either, as the system worked well enough during his suspensions and occasional injury. Henderson was arguably more critical for it, as we needed his energy and pressing in midfield for it to work, but we've got Milner in there too now.

with the players we have IMO the diamond is the way to go & two upfront is a must. With the players that Rodgers has bought 4-3-3 isn't a great option IMO. We have too many players that like to play centrally.

[Mattshark]

I don't think he's that far off to be honest. Most of the ingredients are there and we need only make a couple of small tweaks would make this team more balanced.

But the players aren't good enough for across the team though.

[SK]

We only have one game plan under Rodgers, no matter what the formation or personnel is. We only play well when teams are willing to have the ball and play from the back, so we can then press them and force mistakes. Every other game plan from them seems catch Brendan off guard.

Our squad atm is actually pretty good if we had someone in charge that knew what to do with them.

I have been vocal about little to no progress regarding last season for the whole pre-season and the first two matches, but the arse game gave me a little bit of hope. Sadly it was the exception to the rule. Rodgers is not the man to take the club forward, and when the owners can find someone competent to replace him, they should do it wihout hesitation.

[Irishnev]

Equally its fairly obvious that this system is severely flawed

4 years in and he still hasnt managed to get it going

The thing is that the system itself isn't flawed, rather Rodgers' interpretation of it hasn't worked for us. Many teams have successfully used the 4-2-3-1 but we don't have all the players to make it work:

Good CBs (although this would be true for any formation)
A dedicated mobile DM (Lucas is not mobile enough)
Pacy wingers (sold and loaned the ones we had)

[danperkins]

We are not going to get balance until he picks a formation, sticks to it & stops playing players in positions that they aren't comfortable in. It's the midfield that is all over the place. I'd love to know why he bought the players he did, as it seems they don't really fit into either 4-3-3 or 4-5-1. We simply don't have enough wide players. Too many players that are too similar & centrally IMO and lacking in pace and guile.