Brendan Rodgers

[el matador]

The problem then is that if you cant win the vast majority of the second balls with your fullbacks high up the pitch you are always open to the counter. Theres just too much space in the wide areas and one ball played into the channels means your entire defensive shape is compromised as players are dragged out of position.

Thats whats happening to us. One thing I dont understand about rodgers is that his first choice midfield duo are lucas and allen both very good at the defensive side of the game. Why then if lucas is out does he start with one dm allen and two attacking cm in gerrard and shelvey. Surely youre asking for trouble because of the three only one allen will compete for second balls. The other two just dont.

Why not just play henderson and allen who are both better at the defensive side of the game and add kore strength in the middle of the pitch. that way the formation is closer to what he actually wants.

[dom9]

You seem to be talking about having a plan B, off the back of the B team getting walloped by somebody else's A team.

[danperkins]

Roger's ideas are sound, he just doesn't have the players to make the system work yet.

[BigChief]

Rodgers can't go half hearted with his plan to turn us into a dynamic team. If, as suggested above, he begins holding back our fullbacks for fear of the counter then we'll become a Houllier team.

Isn't it around this time we were playing awesome plan A stuff with Daglish last season, but due to missing clear cut goals we panicked and reverted to predictable stuff? I certainly hope this doesn't happen with Rodgers. His vision is clear and perfect - he just needs players to implement it now. If he lets the quality of players we have currently dictate his vision then we're forever lost.

[dww]

The problem then is that if you cant win the vast majority of the second balls with your fullbacks high up the pitch you are always open to the counter. Theres just too much space in the wide areas and one ball played into the channels means your entire defensive shape is compromised as players are dragged out of position.

Thats whats happening to us. One thing I dont understand about rodgers is that his first choice midfield duo are lucas and allen both very good at the defensive side of the game. Why then if lucas is out does he start with one dm allen and two attacking cm in gerrard and shelvey. Surely youre asking for trouble because of the three only one allen will compete for second balls. The other two just dont.

Why not just play henderson and allen who are both better at the defensive side of the game and add kore strength in the middle of the pitch. that way the formation is closer to what he actually wants.

I'n not sure that your analysis of his ideal formation is correct. He has talked on a 1-2 and a 2-1 triangle, perhaps with the former as his more usually preferred option with Allen in an advanced position. The assumption that any old 'more defensive' midfielder would help get closer to this seems questionable.

Like last season the problem of players filling in in defensive midfield positions has been shown to be sub-optimal. If you add more players doing sub-optimal jobs perhaps you end up further away from your target and are better off teaching two players how to play in the roles they will end up in than only one?

I agree about the problem of attacking fullbacks and a weak central midfield though. It has been a real problem. For me we should have prioritised a DM purchase, if Rodgers doesn't rate Henderson then he should have been shipped out to get one in.

[Vermilion]

Is'nt arguing against the style of play BR is trying to implement here after losing to Swansea, a bit like arguing against BR because a BR team and system beat you ?

[danperkins]

Is'nt arguing against the style of play BR is trying to implement here after losing to Swansea, a bit like arguing against BR because a BR team and system beat you ?

[dww]

Not sure that is the point though. A BR 'style' team hides a multitude of things. Just like there are many teams that play different types of possession orientated or short passing games. The question for most is not whether those broader principles are correct but about Rodgers implementation of them and the evolution of the particular set of players we have to play that way.

[danperkins]

Well one things for sure our particular set of players haven't quite grasped how to play the way he wants. This style has been forced on these players, it's difficult to see exactly how Rogers wants us to play like.... when we lack the personnel to implement his system properly.

One thing is glaring we give away an incredible amount of space in midfield. I'm sure this will be addressed when Lucas & Allen are in the same starting 11, but until then it is a massive problem. We have been carved open in several games through the middle & our backline isn't getting the protection it needs.

[Tee]

Well one things for sure our particular set of players haven't quite grasped how to play the way he wants. This style has been forced on these players, it's difficult to see exactly how Rogers wants us to play like.... when we lack the personnel to implement his system properly.

One thing is glaring we give away an incredible amount of space in midfield. I'm sure this will be addressed when Lucas & Allen are in the same starting 11, but until then it is a massive problem. We have been carved open in several games through the middle & our backline isn't getting the protection it needs.

This is the key failing of the team this season IMO. As good as Joe Allen has been he needs to have someone else in there with him, or the back 4 need to press higher (which leaves its own issues).

[dww]

Well one things for sure our particular set of players haven't quite grasped how to play the way he wants. This style has been forced on these players, it's difficult to see exactly how Rogers wants us to play like.... when we lack the personnel to implement his system properly.

One thing is glaring we give away an incredible amount of space in midfield. I'm sure this will be addressed when Lucas & Allen are in the same starting 11, but until then it is a massive problem. We have been carved open in several games through the middle & our backline isn't getting the protection it needs.

I'm not sure that these problems weren't also there in his Swansea team. Which is the thing that concerns me about our current 'project'.

[red g]

I'm not sure that these problems weren't also there in his Swansea team. Which is the thing that concerns me about our current 'project'.

Yes but we only saw his Swansea Project work with Swansea Players who bar a couple of exceptions are not as good as the Liverpool Team and were punching way above there weight in the Premier league. He may have had the same concerns as you, But didn't have the resources to fix

Would the things that concern you about the Swansea team still be a concern with better players ie The Liverpool team when he has brought in the players he wants.

[dww]

Yes but we only saw his Swansea Project work with Swansea Players who bar a couple of exceptions are not as good as the Liverpool Team and were punching way above there weight in the Premier league. He may have had the same concerns as you, But didn't have the resources to fix

Would the things that concern you about the Swansea team still be a concern with better players ie The Liverpool team when he has brought in the players he wants.

They finished in a pretty similar situation/position to Norwich. So were they really punching that much above their weight?

[danperkins]

I'm not sure that these problems weren't also there in his Swansea team. Which is the thing that concerns me about our current 'project'.

a fair point. Well we as a club have committed to Rogers and with that comes his system. Suppose we have to hope that with a better quality of player we produce better results at LFC. IMO, Rogers is so rigid on his philosophy and system that until he can bring in the players he wants that he feel suit his set up, we are going to still a very disjointed Liverpool side.

[baitman]

has brendan fielded this team so he can go cap in hand to the owners and get a few more quid...

rodgers always talks about players being intelligent, always thinking.

henderson looks lost, like a thick kid in a chemistry exam.

unless the team think and move as a unit then this system will never work.
brendan is trying to sell this "system" to the owners and he has convinced them. we know they know **** all about football, so he may just be selling the emperor some new clothes. baffle them with a confident delivery and a shiny, well presented document.

is he bluffing...