Brendan Rodgers

[Slinky Skills]

See BR in the press conference.

"Steven is a top, top, top, top, top, top player"

[Assassin]

I agree, although tempting to bring Coutinho back in I think I'd keep the same starting 11 and formation for the Arsenal game.

They have some decent attacking players which will need our defenders + Lucas and Henderson getting at them but if our attacking players are on song they'll cause them all sorts of issues.

Agree, I see Coutinho coming off the bench at some time during the game

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Wilshere, Ramsey and Rosicky still isn't a bad midfield, Wilshere has played that deep role before.

[Bender]

Suarez or Sturridge vs. Mertesacker you hope would bring success for us, he's got the turning circle of the QE2

That's being very very Disrespectful to the QE2

[Shaggy]

Not really worthy of a thread of its own so thought I'd stick this here...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1828760-inside-liverpool-fc-with-br-uk-chris-davies-lfc-head-of-opposition-analysis

Inside Liverpool FC with B/R UK: Chris Davies, LFC Head of Opposition Analysis

Bleacher Report UK has teamed up with Liverpool FC and Warrior to take you inside one of the world's most storied and successful football clubs. Each day this week we'll be bringing you exclusive insight from a member of Liverpool's staff, culminating with manager Brendan Rodgers on Friday.

Tuesday's interview subject is Liverpool's head of opposition analysis Chris Davies. View his club profile here.

Bleacher Report: Can you give us an overview of your responsibilities at Liverpool and your typical working hours?

Chris Davies: My responsibility is to provide the coaching staff and players with every single detail they require about our forthcoming opponents. This involves their critically analysing their offensive and defensive tactics. My job is to relate the project back to our philosophy and strengths, and essentially suggest how we can defeat this team.

B/R: What technology do you utilise to analyse opponents?

CD: We use Amisco which has great video editing software, so we can clip up certain elements. Amisco also provide comprehensive quantitative data on our opponents, which can help to confirm our qualitative work.

B/R: How much influence does your research have on the starting XI Brendan Rodgers selects?

CD: Brendan has a clear idea of his team. He has great knowledge of our opponents and studies a lot of games himself. Brendan is predominantly more worried about us and how we perform, but he also respects an opponent's strengths.

B/R: Do you have much interaction with players? For example, might you break down the strengths of an opposition midfielder to Steven Gerrard before a game?

CD: Yes, the presentation and report I produce goes to all the players collectively. Individually, I will often have informal discussions with certain players in the lead up to games about details which may help them.

B/R: How have attitudes to opposition analysis changed over the last decade? Are there particular coaches who have led the revolution in this area?

CD: Opposition analysis has always been there. Managers from earlier eras will have meticulously studied opponents—either at live games or by video tape—but I think with the advances in technology we can now relay that information back to the players in a much more media-friendly format. New products and software are constantly emerging which will make the process of analysis a lot more comprehensive.

I wouldn't say any particular coaches have trail-blazed in this area. I'd actually say Brendan (Rodgers) has been a big advocate. This is my fourth season in the role under him, and in about the 160 fixtures we've had during that time, he has never once missed our coaching meeting to review the opponent. Every week, for one hour, we are there. He has a clear idea of what he wants to know about the opponent, so it makes his opposition analysis department function a lot better than most.

B/R: What are the most important factors when it comes to breaking down Liverpool's next opponent?

CD: The important factors are essentially the strengths and weaknesses of the team. Offensively, their style of play, key threats, transition tactics, physical profiles and how they score their goals. Defensively, their style of play, transition tactics, individual weaknesses, spacial vulnerabilities, collective weaknesses and how they concede goals.

B/R: Which of Liverpool's opponents have most impressed you during your time in job, and why?

CD: The standout teams are obviously the powerful top clubs like Manchester City, who are incredible of their day due to the sheer quality of their players. But teams like Swansea and Southampton are impressive because they have a clear method and play as a team.

B/R: Finally, how did come into this profession, and what advice might you give to somebody who wants to follow a similar path?

CD: I came into analysis as part of my coaching journey. I was a young professional player at Reading, where Brendan was actually my youth team coach. But for one reason or another, my career didn't really progress as I would have hoped past the age of 20. So with the advice of Brendan and some other people I decided to go back into education to study sports science and do my coaching licences.

After studying for three years, I then spent three years coaching in USA, New Zealand and Australia. When Brendan became manager at Swansea, I joined his staff to perform this [analytical] role. I would advise young people interested in this work to study for coaching badges alongside a performance analysis course.

This interview was presented by Bleacher Report UK in partnership with Liverpool FC and Warrior.

[magicalbarnes]

Does anyone know a website, where i can check all teams league form for the calender year 2013?

[Vermilion]

Interesting. Good to know they are so meticulous in their approach.

Seems we have a foot in both football worlds, harking back to the past when calling on the spirit and the epic history of the club and what it means to wear the shirt, but with a very modern approach to preparing for and playing the game itself.

[dizzycat]

Like the way that the players start licking his ass in the press as soon as they get dropped. It was Moses's turn today.

[Vermilion]

Like the way that the players start licking his ass in the press as soon as they get dropped. It was Moses's turn today.

Had'nt seen this.

Liverpool: Moses Salutes 'Brilliant' Rodgers

Victor Moses is enjoying life under Brendan Rodgers and is glad to finally be playing for the Northern Irishman...

On-loan Chelsea winger Victor Moses has proved a more than usual addition to the Liverpool squad during his short time at Anfield so far.

Since signing last month, the Nigerian international has started six of the subsequent seven fixtures and also contributed a goal on debut against Swansea City.

His impact has come as no surprise to Brendan Rodgers who knew exactly what he was getting after following the player's career closely for the past six years.

The pair first crossed paths in 2007 when the Kop boss was working as a coach at Chelsea and made an unsuccessful attempt to lure the then up-and-coming Crystal Palace starlet to Stamford Bridge.

"I spoke to him when I was 16 and he wanted me to come to Chelsea, so I trained with the club for a bit and he was impressed," explained Moses in the latest issue KICK OFF Magazine.

"I went back home after the training period, had a little think about it and thought I'd get a bigger chance to play and develop at Palace. So I rang him up and said I was sorry, but that I decided not to join them, and that I wanted to build my career from Palace."

After a period learning his trade with the Eagles, Moses moved to Premier League outfit Wigan Athletic for £2.5million in January 2010.

Life in the top flight seemingly came easily to the 22-year-old and after two seasons impressing at the DW Stadium he finally joined Chelsea in 2012 for the small matter of £9million.

Despite featuring over 40 times for the Blues last season, the arrival of a new manager and Moses' frustration at mainly being utilised as a substitute, facilitated his recent deadline day switch to Merseyside.

The opportunity to finally play under Rodgers day-in, day-out has also proved a big draw for the Europa League winner.

"It's great actually that I eventually move to Liverpool and he's the manager here and I get the chance to work under him," continued Moses.

"...He's just brilliant and I'm glad he's been doing so well, because he's the kind of manager I enjoy playing for.

"He's very encouraging, but also very helpful when it comes to improving your game, so it's nice to get this opportunity after all these years."

Whatever the long-term future holds for Moses he is determined to make his spell with the Reds a successful one.

"It's a massive club with great history and so I just want to add to that," concluded Liverpool's No.12.

"We'd like to push for trophies this season, so I'm just going to help the team with that aim.

"We've got a really great squad here, with quality players and I'm honoured to be part of it."

Vital Verdict
I'm a big fan of Moses and feel there is a lot more to come from him. He's done ok so far but the current 3-5-2 formation has seen him play in a more central role than he is traditionally accustomed to. Powerful, direct and possessing both good skill and technique, he can be a real handful for defenders to deal with. It's still early days but Moses has given us an extra option and I wouldn't be adverse to making the move permanent if the opportunity presents itself down the line.

Read more: http://www.liverpool.vitalfootball.c...#ixzz2jI7ypHnW

[RichC]

Arsenal v Liverpool: Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge partnership is thanks to Brendan Rodgers' imagination



Jamie Carragher was always my touchstone at Liverpool after I left, and in conversations Carra left me in no doubt about how good Luis Suárez is.

Within two or three months of him being at Anfield, the word was that Suárez was seriously good. I’m talking Real Madrid or Barcelona type of good.

He is certainly one of the top five strikers in world football. Carra knows his stuff and was correct in his first assessment. Now, Suárez has joined forces to devastating effect with Daniel Sturridge, as Arsenal could discover this weekend. Suárez has such a unique way of beating players. Most go round. He tries to go straight through, bouncing balls off legs or using nutmegs.

If you look at the main Premier League partnerships you can make a case for there being three big ones. Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo is one we have yet to see regularly but they would be my preferred choice at Man City. Then there is Rooney and Van Persie at United, and the SAS at Liverpool. Those are the three combinations that can light up the Premier League.

At this moment, the best – or the one I would take – is Suárez and Sturridge. Brendan Rodgers has pulled off an interesting trick in combining the two.

Last season he was playing them less as a double act. Suárez or Sturridge would play out wide to preserve the shape the manager wanted. But Rodgers is the first to break from the norm. He knew his golden ticket was to get those two key players in the team in match-winning positions, then fit the team around them.

So Liverpool were the first to switch to three at the back. Teams nowadays are averse to playing four across midfield in a straight line. So if you want to play two up front you either weaken the midfield, which few are inclined to do, or weaken your back four by switching to a three.

That was the course chosen by Rodgers, solely to get the game-changing players into their ideal positions – and the ones they want to play in.

When I was at Liverpool we generally had a forward making runs off a main striker. Emile Heskey was the most obvious example. But the current two both possess a great touch and are equally adept at coming short to receive the ball, while also being able to spin and dart behind a back four, in the centre-forward role. That is a nightmare for any defence.

We have all seen Suárez spinning to exploit chances. Sturridge has even more pace when he starts level with a defender. With the likes of Steven Gerrard breaking forward this becomes a potentially devastating combination. Suárez and Sturridge combine so well.

The last pair I can remember linking as well as these two were Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke at Man Utd. They were always looking for one another and flicking balls round the corner.

Talk to any Liverpool fan in the street and they are so excited about this partnership. Rightly so. They are fabulous players to watch.

The disturbance with Suárez over the summer was because he wants to be in a Champions League side and Liverpool were below that status. By that logic he would have to embrace other top names in the team and be grateful for their presence. He wants to win, and Sturridge will help him achieve that aim, so Suárez is bound to feel better about himself and the club.

Despite their worldwide reputation, Liverpool would not have been on Suárez’s agenda when he was working his way up the ranks. Spain’s La Liga will have struck him as the place to be. Nobody can pretend he came to Anfield with the Liver Bird tattooed on his chest.

He would feel no natural loyalty to Liverpool. His urge is to win and show his talents on the greatest stage. So he must be happier knowing he has such a good strike partner and is playing in a side that is performing well.

The disciplinary issues with Patrice Evra and the biting of Branislav Ivanovic are shadows across his Anfield career. History says that clubs are more inclined to bend the rules for match-winning players, which is precisely what Liverpool did. The club, the badge and the heritage are strong.

I feel the club handled the biting incident better than the Evra affair. They spoke unambiguously. There was still the question of whether it would be considered one strike too many but this time they put up a united front and were clear in their disapproval.

If one of the lesser players had found himself in so much trouble over the past few years, they would not have been able to count on the same level of support from the club. There is no hiding from that. In any industry the most valuable employees are the ones firms are most loathe to let go. In this case the gains were clear. Suárez wins games, helps you into the Champions League, brings you success. The maths are very simple.

Sturridge, meanwhile, is a player transformed. When Liverpool bought him it struck me that he had not broken through either at Manchester City or Chelsea. Bolton, on loan, was a more productive spell for him. I thought he was decent but not necessarily a trophy-winning player for a club of Liverpool’s stature. I was mistaken to be slightly underwhelmed. I wanted them to buy one of the £20m-£30m strikers around Europe. But blimey, has he proved everyone wrong.

There is no risk of Sturridge being a flash in the pan. He is here to stay. He looks quick, sharp, lively, with a good touch. He scores scrapbook goals. These are dynamite qualities for a striker, especially if they are cute, and know where the ball is going to drop, and can finish. Sturridge has good feet as well. He can beat players. He has an awful lot going for him.

I would call it one of the best Liverpool buys in a long, long time, and it reflects well on Rodgers, who also spotted Philippe Coutinho. Straight away you give the manager credit for those acquisitions.

For too long in this country we have stuck rigidly to formations and squeezed players into them. At Liverpool, the good players are determining the shape of the team. Sturridge-Suárez has not become an either/or. You need a bit of imagination to piece such talents together. And Brendan Rodgers has it.

[RedReet]

Who wrote that?

[greenbloodred]

Who wrote that?

[greenbloodred]

Who wrote that?

Who wrote that?

Michael Owen.

[RedReet]

[RichC]

It was indeed, quite a good article