Christian Benteke

[Daniel 7]

That seems low. You might want to check your workings

Damn, missed a zero

[Buzzo]

This is not a slight on Milner (well not a massive one ) I think he is a great addition, I just wonder how he is going to handle the increased exposure. When Lovren slices one into his own net after 15 mins, Milner is going to be the experienced player the rest look to to pick us up and drive us on. That's the bit Gerrard was good at even last season.

[Lecter]

But Brendan isn't going to start with DM's is he? He only started like that last season to dig himself out of a hole because he thought he was going to be sacked. He went for caution.

Can't see it happening this season, unless it all starts going wrong again.

Hmmmmm

I think people get too caught up with Brendan and his all out attack

Hes played a holding player / deeper player more than you are suggesting

Its often been the quality of that deep lying playing that has been the problem and again that is the problem I see with that midfield

For me you cant play Brendans tactics without a DM because he asks his fullbacks to bomb on

That essentially means if you dont have a DM then you have your 2 centrebacks having to cover right across the width of the pitch

If Brendan goes with a midfield of Milner, Henderson & Coutinho on a consistant basis then imo he wont be in a job long

[redmike65]

Milner is no more a controller (or a destroyer) at the base of midfield than Can or Allen, that's Lucas job and Lucas alone as things stand.

While it would frustrate plenty (and Ibe) a 4-4-2- diamond would be the defences best protection for me with Lucas starting every game.

[Lecter]

Milner is no more a controller (or a destroyer) at the base of midfield than Can or Allen, that's Lucas job and Lucas alone as things stand.

While it would frustrate plenty (and Ibe) a 4-4-2- diamond would be the defences best protection for me with Lucas starting every game.

[Buzzo]

Milner is no more a controller (or a destroyer) at the base of midfield than Can or Allen, that's Lucas job and Lucas alone as things stand.

The success of our season hangs upon the calcifying and increasingly brittle bones and weak ligaments that support Lucas Leivas knees.

[Daniel 7]

Hmmmmm

I think people get too caught up with Brendan and his all out attack

Hes played a holding player / deeper player more than you are suggesting

Its often been the quality of that deep lying playing that has been the problem and again that is the problem I see with that midfield

For me you cant play Brendans tactics without a DM because he asks his fullbacks to bomb on

That essentially means if you dont have a DM then you have your 2 centrebacks having to cover right across the width of the pitch

If Brendan goes with a midfield of Milner, Henderson & Coutinho on a consistant basis then imo he wont be in a job long

I think you're getting crossed wires between defensive midfielder and deep lying midfielder - they're different concepts completely. Lucas is a tackler, someone who makes interventions and either breaks up play or makes interventions, then mostly lays it off or will make a forward pass to feet (hence his high pass completion rates).

Gerrard was used at the base of the diamond completely differently, more as an offensive playmaker, playing ambitious balls long and short and acting metronomically to dictate the pace of the game. He was the furthest back of all the midfielders but was used there for passing range rather than tackling ability. Reckon Henderson will be picking up some of that, and he'll offer more mobility in that system than Gerrard ever did.

[Buzzo]

Hmmmmm

I think people get too caught up with Brendan and his all out attack

Hes played a holding player / deeper player more than you are suggesting

Its often been the quality of that deep lying playing that has been the problem and again that is the problem I see with that midfield

For me you cant play Brendans tactics without a DM because he asks his fullbacks to bomb on

That essentially means if you dont have a DM then you have your 2 centrebacks having to cover right across the width of the pitch

If Brendan goes with a midfield of Milner, Henderson & Coutinho on a consistant basis then imo he wont be in a job long

I agree with this, and I reckon that fundamentally these tactics brought about the end of Glen Johnsons career and form with us, where we never had a regular LB to pinpoint blame on, we had an increasingly overworked Johnson on the right who was constantly being left exposed by the tactics. Even the Brazil teams with Cafu and Carlos who this system was based on, and then further utilised by Barca always had an enforcer in midfield to allow the fullbacks to break forward. If you don't have a midfielder to sniff out this trouble the entire defence gets pulled out of shape.

[Lecter]

I think you're getting crossed wires between defensive midfielder and deep lying midfielder - they're different concepts completely. Lucas is a tackler, someone who makes interventions and either breaks up play or makes interventions, then mostly lays it off or will make a forward pass to feet (hence his high pass completion rates).

Gerrard was used at the base of the diamond completely differently, more as an offensive playmaker, playing ambitious balls long and short and acting metronomically to dictate the pace of the game. He was the furthest back of all the midfielders but was used there for passing range rather than tackling ability. Reckon Henderson will be picking up some of that, and he'll offer more mobility in that system than Gerrard ever did.

I'm not getting mixed up with either

I've watched Henderson play that role they tried him in that position for England both at U21 and at full international

IMO hes not suited to that and neither is Milner

No matter what it relies on you winning possession and breaking up the play

I dont think either of them is suited to doing that in a deeper position

[Lecter]

I agree with this, and I reckon that fundamentally these tactics brought about the end of Glen Johnsons career and form with us, where we never had a regular LB to pinpoint blame on, we had an increasingly overworked Johnson on the right who was constantly being left exposed by the tactics. Even the Brazil teams with Cafu and Carlos who this system was based on, and then further utilised by Barca always had an enforcer in midfield to allow the fullbacks to break forward. If you don't have a midfielder to sniff out this trouble the entire defence gets pulled out of shape.

[Daniel 7]

I'm trying to be positive. Stop ruining it for me.

I'm trying to forget that Lovren needs two defensive mids in front of him to make him look less disastrous and I'm trying to forget the near 60 goals that were conceded the season before last.

I'm just hoping that the conceded doesn't matter that much because Benteke will get 30 goals, Sturridge will get 25 from 20 starts and Ingsy will chip in with 15. Firmino will get 20, Origi will get 10. Coutinho will get 10 as well.

There's 110 goals already

[Lecter]

I'm trying to be positive. Stop ruining it for me.

I'm trying to forget that Lovren needs two defensive mids in front of him to make him look less disastrous and I'm trying to forget the near 60 goals that were conceded the season before last.

I'm just hoping that the conceded doesn't matter that much because Benteke will get 30 goals, Sturridge will get 25 from 20 starts and Ingsy will chip in with 15. Firmino will get 20, Origi will get 10. Coutinho will get 10 as well.

There's 110 goals already

I think if Brendan picks the right tactics and right players we could have a decent season

The thing is like you yourself have suggested imo hes unlikely to do that so its going to be a game of Russian Roulette

[Fosterbloke]

I think if Brendan picks the right tactics and right players we could have a decent season

The thing is like you yourself have suggested imo hes unlikely to do that so its going to be a game of Russian Roulette

Hey Lec, can you post a team lineup and formation you'd like to see and which you think will see us compete?

[redmike65]

I'm not getting mixed up with either

I've watched Henderson play that role they tried him in that position for England both at U21 and at full international

IMO hes not suited to that and neither is Milner

No matter what it relies on you winning possession and breaking up the play

I don't think either of them is suited to doing that in a deeper position

Given what we have seen of Milner in pre-season it would be the waste of a important creator and indeed scorer in have him patrolling the zone ahead of the CBs.

We seem to have wandered off topic....but what the hell

-----------Mignolet
-Clyne---Skrtel--Sakho--Left Back
-----------Lucas
-------Milner--Hendo
----------Coutinho
-----Sturridge-Benteke

-----------Mignolet
-Clyne---Skrtel--Sakho--Left Back
-----------Lucas
-------Milner---Coutinho
----------Firmino
-----Sturridge-Benteke

-----------Mignolet
-Clyne---Skrtel--Sakho--Left Back
-----------Lucas
-------Milner---Coutinho
----Ibe----Firmino
----------Benteke

[Buzzo]

I think if Brendan picks the right tactics and right players we could have a decent season

The thing is like you yourself have suggested imo hes unlikely to do that so its going to be a game of Russian Roulette

The squad is strong in most areas, and hopefully the guys he has brought in to the back room staff have the ability to stand up to Brendan and can see the areas of defensive weakness that Brendan has never embed able to identify (and I suspect never will) if they can't we're ****ed.