Say whatever you want but Brendan Rodgers managerial tactics are in question. Given because of the season we just had, benefit of doubt was given on signings made. However, the tactics and strategy over the last 6 games since we lost Sturridge have been abysmal.
This 4-3-3 was used again and then playing those not in form in a Champions League game was strange - especially when we really could do with at least a point and not losing this game to have hope of progressing from the group. I know he's not managed in the Comp before Jeeeez why not play 4-5-1 - stifle that midfield - even play on the counter?
Why did he play Markovic and Enrique, even Coutinio? In this game why not play Lucas as we don't have any more options and even Suso?
Brendan is struggling, his post interview was cringe worthy and this blind faith in players purchased at 20M is awful. The 16M striker he bought is nowhere near the quality of the 16M striker Wenger bought.
Facts are Facts, Sturridge returns so lets see how he does playing the 2 up-front and the Diamond formation. Theres no Allen or Can still so that midfield still worries me.
Where are the options and tactics - the formation and personal against difficult opponents or games you can't afford to lose? Pathetic display last night and nowhere the near the the performances in Europe LFC are accustomed to.
Brendan's Lost the Plot ....
posted on 2/10/14
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721) posted 54 seconds ago
Strange that he got nominated for player of the season and we went on a magnificent run, nearly winning the league when BR pulled off this master stroke then
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Yes, he was brilliant attacking wise, but that's not what the team really needs from that role. No point in playing a player in a defensive position just for his attacking qualities. He provided very minimal cover for the defense and it was probably part of the reason why you guys conceded so many, which was obviously glazed over by your forward play.
I'm not the only person with this view either.
posted on 2/10/14
Playmaker is not a defensive position.
The clue is in the word.
He isn't there to make play backwards.
posted on 2/10/14
Typically the player at the base of the diamond formation is there to protect the defense, not act as a playmaker. Although Gerrard does the latter, he also leaves your defense hugely suceptible
posted on 2/10/14
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 2/10/14
http://www.whoscored.com/Articles/d1hzwheffeusc_17fbah1q/Show/Player-Focus-Gerrard-Offering-Liverpool-Defence-Too-Little-Protection
"It’s startling that he has made only 0.5 interceptions per game this season, which isn’t even in the top 50 for central midfielders in the league. It’s even more startling that he makes only 1.8 tackles per game – the joint-35th best for a player in his position. A pass accuracy of 87.4%, with an average of two key passes per game, is good and he has scored two goals, one of which was a penalty. But those are figures for a more advanced midfielder.
Gerrard may be running as well as ever, he may be playing wonderful passes, but he simply isn’t winning the ball back enough for a holding midfielder. That means either he has to adjust his game, or Brendan Rodgers needs to stop asking him to perform a role for which he doesn’t seem equipped"
Sums up my thoughts on Gerrard in that position pretty well
posted on 2/10/14
That's because he isn't a holding midfielder, something you seem incapable of grasping.
He is a playmaker.
In a diamond it is the two runners either side of the playmaker who do the destructive work of winning the ball back, and we are missing Allen badly in this regard (as well as Can).
Henderson is having to do the work of two players at the moment because other than the woefully out of form Lucas we have no other options.
posted on 2/10/14
comment by Isle of Manc - Year of the Januzaj (U18323)
posted 2 hours, 26 minutes ago
http://www.whoscored.com/Articles/d1hzwheffeusc_17fbah1q/Show/Player-Focus-Gerrard-Offering-Liverpool-Defence-Too-Little-Protection
"It’s startling that he has made only 0.5 interceptions per game this season, which isn’t even in the top 50 for central midfielders in the league. It’s even more startling that he makes only 1.8 tackles per game – the joint-35th best for a player in his position. A pass accuracy of 87.4%, with an average of two key passes per game, is good and he has scored two goals, one of which was a penalty. But those are figures for a more advanced midfielder.
Gerrard may be running as well as ever, he may be playing wonderful passes, but he simply isn’t winning the ball back enough for a holding midfielder. That means either he has to adjust his game, or Brendan Rodgers needs to stop asking him to perform a role for which he doesn’t seem equipped"
Sums up my thoughts on Gerrard in that position pretty well
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That's this season. I thought I already clarified I was talking about last and also that he started poorly and got better. Squirming!
posted on 2/10/14
It's also strange that you keep alluding to a defensive midfielder when we don't in fact play with one. Possibly our issue at the moment as I would like us to tighten up for a while until we get confidence back. Therefore I would play Lucas as a defensive midfielder for a while.
posted on 2/10/14
Cleary I am grasping that righteous, just read one of my last comments:
"Typically the player at the base of the diamond formation is there to protect the defense, not act as a playmaker. Although Gerrard does the latter, he also leaves your defense hugely suceptible"
Gerrard does the latter...meaning he's a playmaker. I'm saying what you guys would benefit from is someone in the Matic, De Jong, or Mascherano mold playing in that base of the diamond instead. Providing constant protection for that defense of yours.
posted on 2/10/14
Then you are asking us to play a completely different way.
We play a playmaker because Brendan believes that is the best way to get a quick transition from winning the ball to getting it to our attacking players, with Gerrard clearly being a better, more direct, passer, than any centre half or conventional defensive midfield player.
Gerrard will not be a conventional defensive midfield player and isn't being asked to be one. Only people who expect him to be one will question why he is doing the work of one. These people are idiots.
There is an argument that with Suarez gone we should change style, and thus Gerrard as playmaker is redundant and we would need a more conventional defensive mid to play alongside him or Henderson with them as the box to box, but that argument is futile until we have had a good look at Sturridge and Balo up from together to see how much damage they can do compared to Sturridge and Suarez.
In the 61 mins they have played together they helped us win 3-0 at Spurs.