I had to laugh myself. We were abysmal and Liverpool hardly troubled us at their very best. I mean they had a lot of shots but not many I would say they should have scored. Thats our media though
I agree that we were negatively affected by injuries etc, but to be fair, I think Rodgers' tactics worked very well.
The way Lallana and Sterling kept dropping off into space and spinning into the channels made it very difficult for our defence to know whether to go with them or keep defensive shape, and ultimately, Flamini got dragged back almost as a 3rd CB at times to try and help them cope. This meant that Chamberlain and Cazorla were outnumbered in the centre of the park, making it difficult for them to come across and double up on the wide players.
As a result, the two Liverpool wing-backs had acres of space and usually isolated our full-backs well.
That being said, I thought Rodgers' selection of Henderson at RWB was strange. Whilst he is very athletic, I feel the amount of space afforded to the wing-backs would have been best exploited by a naturally more direct wideman, who could capitalise on the space and try to drive past his opposite number (like Markovic and Sterling did). When Sterling got switched to LWB, I really feel Markovic should have been kept on and moved to the right.
Directness down either flank would have made it very difficult for our defence, but as it was, Henderson didn't get past Gibbs once to my knowledge.
I also think they will generally have problems with a lack of aerial presence - there's really no-one to attack the high-ball with Sterling as a 'false 9'.
Other than that, I thought the system worked well, and when Sturridge comes back, I can see them really picking up form.
What you said about our midfield is spot on. That is what I criticise most this season. We have a midfield problem. We are completely unbalanced here and our injuries crisis in that area doesnt help us either.
We need players back badly.
Look at the players who were missing from our midfield. Arteta, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil. The first three were missed so much yesterday and i am just suprised that no one has seemed to mention that.
---------------
So BR based his tactics on the players that were on the pitch for Arsenal. Why would he concern himself about the players that weren't playing? We had 4 midfielders against your 3 over and over again which is why you couldn't retain the ball and which is why you had the least amount of possession in a game since OPTA started doing possession stats. BR's tactics also worked well when we beat you 5-1 last season when you did have Ozil, Arteta, Kocielny and Wilshere playing.
What let us down yesterday was bad finishing. It could have been 5-2.
You had the lowest possession and most shots conceded in any game for you since 2003 and you don't think that was ANYTHING to do with the opposition? It was only because you had a few players missing and NO OTHER reason?
Jog on clown.
We should have put our wingers on their wingbacks, allowing gibbs or chambers to cover the space inside. There's nothing their lineup could do with little space to play with. Hindsights a wonderful thing I guess but I'd like to have seen the game pan out if Welbs and the Ox sat deeper on the wings with Alexis geared towards breaking past Giroud in the middle.
Neville was not impressed with out bold approach and neither was I or anyone tbh
Liverpool played really well. Better than I expected. Their intensity, energy and sharpness was miles above us right from the start. Ox shouldn't even have played and apart from the fact I don't rate him at CM, he didn't train throughout the week and was miles off the pace. But there was no one else. Even the Rosickys and Diabys () weren't available. I can cut the midfield a bit of slack for yesterday. It was horrid to watch. Before that match, we were top of the PL for average possession. But we looked like a bunch of cloggers.
We need some midfielders back urgently.
comment by righteous1 (U7048)
posted 5 minutes ago
You had the lowest possession and most shots conceded in any game for you since 2003 and you don't think that was ANYTHING to do with the opposition? It was only because you had a few players missing and NO OTHER reason?
Jog on clown.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Liverpool were alright, but Arsenal were simply appalling. What I saw yesterday was a team that was reflecting the mentality of their manager. They were scared shiitless.
Arsenal's performance yesterday was completely on them. A competent team would have wiped the floor with Arsenal yesterday.
TBH i watched mainly the second half and the main comments from those watching was how naive BR was in not exploiting the MF and posession more.
Not sure why there is this love in as if BR is a tactician.
It wasn't just a midfield problem either. Alexis had a nightmare game, and he needs a rest. In Wenger's own words, he's operating in the red zone. Welbeck is looking terrible. And Mertesacker and Chambers have been utter liabilities. The midfield are easy scape goats.
comment by Falmaria (U19849)
posted 29 seconds ago
TBH i watched mainly the second half and the main comments from those watching was how naive BR was in not exploiting the MF and posession more.
Not sure why there is this love in as if BR is a tactician.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We had 64% of the possession. How much more did you want us to have?
I would say that Liverpool's tactics for the game were far superior to Arsenal's.
I really don't know what Arsene was trying to do, with the players he had available.
That said Arsenal were a few minutes from a win.
Quite how no body picks up the one player from a Liverpool set piece that you must pick up, beggars belief.
Liverpool fans looking like Arsenal fans with the emphasis that they're putting onto the amount of possession they had.
comment by Sheriff John Brown - bring back David Dein (U7482)
posted 2 minutes ago
It wasn't just a midfield problem either. Alexis had a nightmare game, and he needs a rest. In Wenger's own words, he's operating in the red zone. Welbeck is looking terrible. And Mertesacker and Chambers have been utter liabilities. The midfield are easy scape goats.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Really? I think it was especially in the first half. If you cant pass from midfield to your strikers what do you expect them to do getting no balls.
comment by FatJanMolby *I'm a boogie monster* (U4297)
posted 59 seconds ago
comment by Falmaria (U19849)
posted 29 seconds ago
TBH i watched mainly the second half and the main comments from those watching was how naive BR was in not exploiting the MF and posession more.
Not sure why there is this love in as if BR is a tactician.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We had 64% of the possession. How much more did you want us to have?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I didnt say you could have more or should have had more, the point was you didnt exploit it.
It took a corner and a skrtl header to get you on level terms. And it was presented as of you guys won.
With that much possession and the ease with which you were slicing through arsenal Borini should have been on earlier for example. Sure he got sent off but itbwas desperate times by then. Something which the players need credit for but not BR imo.
I couldn't believe just how poor our passing was yesterday. Simple five yard passes were going astray and out of play. We even passed the ball better against Dortmund who were much more intense. For a possession based team, we are extremely poor when up against any type of pressure.
it was a mistake from arsene to set sanchez and wellbeck on our wider centre backs rather than the wing backs, different personnel in the same formation wouldnt have helped
comment by Falmaria (U19849)
posted 10 seconds ago
comment by FatJanMolby *I'm a boogie monster* (U4297)
posted 59 seconds ago
comment by Falmaria (U19849)
posted 29 seconds ago
TBH i watched mainly the second half and the main comments from those watching was how naive BR was in not exploiting the MF and posession more.
Not sure why there is this love in as if BR is a tactician.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We had 64% of the possession. How much more did you want us to have?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I didnt say you could have more or should have had more, the point was you didnt exploit it.
It took a corner and a skrtl header to get you on level terms. And it was presented as of you guys won.
With that much possession and the ease with which you were slicing through arsenal Borini should have been on earlier for example. Sure he got sent off but itbwas desperate times by then. Something which the players need credit for but not BR imo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As I said earlier, it was poor finishing from us. If we were more clinical we would have put 5 past you again. We started the game without a striker. Had we had a fit Sturridge on the pitch it could have been very bad for you.
Nobody is treating it like a win. But it was an important point for us in terms of confidence and morale. To play well and come away with nothing would have been very disheartening. To get a point makes it a decent result.
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 3 minutes ago
I would say that Liverpool's tactics for the game were far superior to Arsenal's.
I really don't know what Arsene was trying to do, with the players he had available.
That said Arsenal were a few minutes from a win.
Quite how no body picks up the one player from a Liverpool set piece that you must pick up, beggars belief.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Vc agree with your last point, called it before he scored
However i dont think it was good tactics as in planned by BR. More and accident
Lfc players deserve credit for upping their game to get level, manager was useless imo
At the end of the day Arsenal got a point which they probably would have taken at the start of the game. It was a poor performance though and had we not been so wasteful they would have lost.
Good point yesterday, Neo.
Title race back on?
comment by FatJanMolby *I'm a boogie monster* (U4297)
posted 34 seconds ago
comment by Falmaria (U19849)
posted 10 seconds ago
comment by FatJanMolby *I'm a boogie monster* (U4297)
posted 59 seconds ago
comment by Falmaria (U19849)
posted 29 seconds ago
TBH i watched mainly the second half and the main comments from those watching was how naive BR was in not exploiting the MF and posession more.
Not sure why there is this love in as if BR is a tactician.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We had 64% of the possession. How much more did you want us to have?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I didnt say you could have more or should have had more, the point was you didnt exploit it.
It took a corner and a skrtl header to get you on level terms. And it was presented as of you guys won.
With that much possession and the ease with which you were slicing through arsenal Borini should have been on earlier for example. Sure he got sent off but itbwas desperate times by then. Something which the players need credit for but not BR imo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As I said earlier, it was poor finishing from us. If we were more clinical we would have put 5 past you again. We started the game without a striker. Had we had a fit Sturridge on the pitch it could have been very bad for you.
Nobody is treating it like a win. But it was an important point for us in terms of confidence and morale. To play well and come away with nothing would have been very disheartening. To get a point makes it a decent result.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Im not an arsenal fan mate. Ifs buts and maybes aside my point was more about BR getting undeserved praise. He looked clueless and imo has done all season.
A mourinho or a SAF in that situation would have made certain changes earlier
The skrtl header was a laxadaisical arsenal defence not some brilliant tactics.
comment by Neo Liverpool (U9135)
posted 3 minutes ago
At the end of the day Arsenal got a point which they probably would have taken at the start of the game. It was a poor performance though and had we not been so wasteful they would have lost.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
By the end arsenal should be the more disappointed as they lost 2 points and there performance was absolute chit
That big tall defender has ot them games by being a wuss and ducking out of the way of the ball. PM
Im not an arsenal fan mate. Ifs buts and maybes aside my point was more about BR getting undeserved praise. He looked clueless and imo has done all season.
A mourinho or a SAF in that situation would have made certain changes earlier
The skrtl header was a laxadaisical arsenal defence not some brilliant tactics.
-----------------------
Not everything has to be tactical brilliance. Skrtel's goal did come from poor defending, when they had one more man on the pitch. Skrtel should never have been left alone like that.
However if you look at the way we played in the game, the way we dominated Arsenal's midfield, and the way we didn't allow them to retain possession, then the credit has to go to BR for that as he set the team up to play like that. It wasn't a masterclass or tactically brilliant; no one has claimed it was, but give the manager some credit.
Falmaria stop lad you're making a show of yourself here
Sign in if you want to comment
Tactics? No. Have a look at arsenals mid
Page 1 of 5
posted on 22/12/14
I had to laugh myself. We were abysmal and Liverpool hardly troubled us at their very best. I mean they had a lot of shots but not many I would say they should have scored. Thats our media though
posted on 22/12/14
I agree that we were negatively affected by injuries etc, but to be fair, I think Rodgers' tactics worked very well.
The way Lallana and Sterling kept dropping off into space and spinning into the channels made it very difficult for our defence to know whether to go with them or keep defensive shape, and ultimately, Flamini got dragged back almost as a 3rd CB at times to try and help them cope. This meant that Chamberlain and Cazorla were outnumbered in the centre of the park, making it difficult for them to come across and double up on the wide players.
As a result, the two Liverpool wing-backs had acres of space and usually isolated our full-backs well.
That being said, I thought Rodgers' selection of Henderson at RWB was strange. Whilst he is very athletic, I feel the amount of space afforded to the wing-backs would have been best exploited by a naturally more direct wideman, who could capitalise on the space and try to drive past his opposite number (like Markovic and Sterling did). When Sterling got switched to LWB, I really feel Markovic should have been kept on and moved to the right.
Directness down either flank would have made it very difficult for our defence, but as it was, Henderson didn't get past Gibbs once to my knowledge.
I also think they will generally have problems with a lack of aerial presence - there's really no-one to attack the high-ball with Sterling as a 'false 9'.
Other than that, I thought the system worked well, and when Sturridge comes back, I can see them really picking up form.
posted on 22/12/14
What you said about our midfield is spot on. That is what I criticise most this season. We have a midfield problem. We are completely unbalanced here and our injuries crisis in that area doesnt help us either.
We need players back badly.
posted on 22/12/14
Look at the players who were missing from our midfield. Arteta, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil. The first three were missed so much yesterday and i am just suprised that no one has seemed to mention that.
---------------
So BR based his tactics on the players that were on the pitch for Arsenal. Why would he concern himself about the players that weren't playing? We had 4 midfielders against your 3 over and over again which is why you couldn't retain the ball and which is why you had the least amount of possession in a game since OPTA started doing possession stats. BR's tactics also worked well when we beat you 5-1 last season when you did have Ozil, Arteta, Kocielny and Wilshere playing.
What let us down yesterday was bad finishing. It could have been 5-2.
posted on 22/12/14
You had the lowest possession and most shots conceded in any game for you since 2003 and you don't think that was ANYTHING to do with the opposition? It was only because you had a few players missing and NO OTHER reason?
Jog on clown.
posted on 22/12/14
We should have put our wingers on their wingbacks, allowing gibbs or chambers to cover the space inside. There's nothing their lineup could do with little space to play with. Hindsights a wonderful thing I guess but I'd like to have seen the game pan out if Welbs and the Ox sat deeper on the wings with Alexis geared towards breaking past Giroud in the middle.
Neville was not impressed with out bold approach and neither was I or anyone tbh
posted on 22/12/14
Liverpool played really well. Better than I expected. Their intensity, energy and sharpness was miles above us right from the start. Ox shouldn't even have played and apart from the fact I don't rate him at CM, he didn't train throughout the week and was miles off the pace. But there was no one else. Even the Rosickys and Diabys () weren't available. I can cut the midfield a bit of slack for yesterday. It was horrid to watch. Before that match, we were top of the PL for average possession. But we looked like a bunch of cloggers.
We need some midfielders back urgently.
posted on 22/12/14
comment by righteous1 (U7048)
posted 5 minutes ago
You had the lowest possession and most shots conceded in any game for you since 2003 and you don't think that was ANYTHING to do with the opposition? It was only because you had a few players missing and NO OTHER reason?
Jog on clown.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Liverpool were alright, but Arsenal were simply appalling. What I saw yesterday was a team that was reflecting the mentality of their manager. They were scared shiitless.
Arsenal's performance yesterday was completely on them. A competent team would have wiped the floor with Arsenal yesterday.
posted on 22/12/14
TBH i watched mainly the second half and the main comments from those watching was how naive BR was in not exploiting the MF and posession more.
Not sure why there is this love in as if BR is a tactician.
posted on 22/12/14
It wasn't just a midfield problem either. Alexis had a nightmare game, and he needs a rest. In Wenger's own words, he's operating in the red zone. Welbeck is looking terrible. And Mertesacker and Chambers have been utter liabilities. The midfield are easy scape goats.
posted on 22/12/14
comment by Falmaria (U19849)
posted 29 seconds ago
TBH i watched mainly the second half and the main comments from those watching was how naive BR was in not exploiting the MF and posession more.
Not sure why there is this love in as if BR is a tactician.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We had 64% of the possession. How much more did you want us to have?
posted on 22/12/14
I would say that Liverpool's tactics for the game were far superior to Arsenal's.
I really don't know what Arsene was trying to do, with the players he had available.
That said Arsenal were a few minutes from a win.
Quite how no body picks up the one player from a Liverpool set piece that you must pick up, beggars belief.
posted on 22/12/14
Liverpool fans looking like Arsenal fans with the emphasis that they're putting onto the amount of possession they had.
posted on 22/12/14
comment by Sheriff John Brown - bring back David Dein (U7482)
posted 2 minutes ago
It wasn't just a midfield problem either. Alexis had a nightmare game, and he needs a rest. In Wenger's own words, he's operating in the red zone. Welbeck is looking terrible. And Mertesacker and Chambers have been utter liabilities. The midfield are easy scape goats.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Really? I think it was especially in the first half. If you cant pass from midfield to your strikers what do you expect them to do getting no balls.
posted on 22/12/14
comment by FatJanMolby *I'm a boogie monster* (U4297)
posted 59 seconds ago
comment by Falmaria (U19849)
posted 29 seconds ago
TBH i watched mainly the second half and the main comments from those watching was how naive BR was in not exploiting the MF and posession more.
Not sure why there is this love in as if BR is a tactician.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We had 64% of the possession. How much more did you want us to have?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I didnt say you could have more or should have had more, the point was you didnt exploit it.
It took a corner and a skrtl header to get you on level terms. And it was presented as of you guys won.
With that much possession and the ease with which you were slicing through arsenal Borini should have been on earlier for example. Sure he got sent off but itbwas desperate times by then. Something which the players need credit for but not BR imo.
posted on 22/12/14
I couldn't believe just how poor our passing was yesterday. Simple five yard passes were going astray and out of play. We even passed the ball better against Dortmund who were much more intense. For a possession based team, we are extremely poor when up against any type of pressure.
posted on 22/12/14
it was a mistake from arsene to set sanchez and wellbeck on our wider centre backs rather than the wing backs, different personnel in the same formation wouldnt have helped
posted on 22/12/14
comment by Falmaria (U19849)
posted 10 seconds ago
comment by FatJanMolby *I'm a boogie monster* (U4297)
posted 59 seconds ago
comment by Falmaria (U19849)
posted 29 seconds ago
TBH i watched mainly the second half and the main comments from those watching was how naive BR was in not exploiting the MF and posession more.
Not sure why there is this love in as if BR is a tactician.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We had 64% of the possession. How much more did you want us to have?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I didnt say you could have more or should have had more, the point was you didnt exploit it.
It took a corner and a skrtl header to get you on level terms. And it was presented as of you guys won.
With that much possession and the ease with which you were slicing through arsenal Borini should have been on earlier for example. Sure he got sent off but itbwas desperate times by then. Something which the players need credit for but not BR imo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As I said earlier, it was poor finishing from us. If we were more clinical we would have put 5 past you again. We started the game without a striker. Had we had a fit Sturridge on the pitch it could have been very bad for you.
Nobody is treating it like a win. But it was an important point for us in terms of confidence and morale. To play well and come away with nothing would have been very disheartening. To get a point makes it a decent result.
posted on 22/12/14
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 3 minutes ago
I would say that Liverpool's tactics for the game were far superior to Arsenal's.
I really don't know what Arsene was trying to do, with the players he had available.
That said Arsenal were a few minutes from a win.
Quite how no body picks up the one player from a Liverpool set piece that you must pick up, beggars belief.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Vc agree with your last point, called it before he scored
However i dont think it was good tactics as in planned by BR. More and accident
Lfc players deserve credit for upping their game to get level, manager was useless imo
posted on 22/12/14
At the end of the day Arsenal got a point which they probably would have taken at the start of the game. It was a poor performance though and had we not been so wasteful they would have lost.
posted on 22/12/14
Good point yesterday, Neo.
Title race back on?
posted on 22/12/14
comment by FatJanMolby *I'm a boogie monster* (U4297)
posted 34 seconds ago
comment by Falmaria (U19849)
posted 10 seconds ago
comment by FatJanMolby *I'm a boogie monster* (U4297)
posted 59 seconds ago
comment by Falmaria (U19849)
posted 29 seconds ago
TBH i watched mainly the second half and the main comments from those watching was how naive BR was in not exploiting the MF and posession more.
Not sure why there is this love in as if BR is a tactician.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We had 64% of the possession. How much more did you want us to have?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I didnt say you could have more or should have had more, the point was you didnt exploit it.
It took a corner and a skrtl header to get you on level terms. And it was presented as of you guys won.
With that much possession and the ease with which you were slicing through arsenal Borini should have been on earlier for example. Sure he got sent off but itbwas desperate times by then. Something which the players need credit for but not BR imo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As I said earlier, it was poor finishing from us. If we were more clinical we would have put 5 past you again. We started the game without a striker. Had we had a fit Sturridge on the pitch it could have been very bad for you.
Nobody is treating it like a win. But it was an important point for us in terms of confidence and morale. To play well and come away with nothing would have been very disheartening. To get a point makes it a decent result.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Im not an arsenal fan mate. Ifs buts and maybes aside my point was more about BR getting undeserved praise. He looked clueless and imo has done all season.
A mourinho or a SAF in that situation would have made certain changes earlier
The skrtl header was a laxadaisical arsenal defence not some brilliant tactics.
posted on 22/12/14
comment by Neo Liverpool (U9135)
posted 3 minutes ago
At the end of the day Arsenal got a point which they probably would have taken at the start of the game. It was a poor performance though and had we not been so wasteful they would have lost.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
By the end arsenal should be the more disappointed as they lost 2 points and there performance was absolute chit
That big tall defender has ot them games by being a wuss and ducking out of the way of the ball. PM
posted on 22/12/14
Im not an arsenal fan mate. Ifs buts and maybes aside my point was more about BR getting undeserved praise. He looked clueless and imo has done all season.
A mourinho or a SAF in that situation would have made certain changes earlier
The skrtl header was a laxadaisical arsenal defence not some brilliant tactics.
-----------------------
Not everything has to be tactical brilliance. Skrtel's goal did come from poor defending, when they had one more man on the pitch. Skrtel should never have been left alone like that.
However if you look at the way we played in the game, the way we dominated Arsenal's midfield, and the way we didn't allow them to retain possession, then the credit has to go to BR for that as he set the team up to play like that. It wasn't a masterclass or tactically brilliant; no one has claimed it was, but give the manager some credit.
posted on 22/12/14
Falmaria stop lad you're making a show of yourself here
Page 1 of 5