Pressing starts from the front.
With our striking options of Lambert & Balotelli setting the tone in terms of pressing (and then movement off the ball when the ball was one) the system failed to function.
Pressing effectively also needs the back 4 to play a high line and a good defensive player in front of them. Again, when they tried to push up we were getting ripped apart because of the wholes appearing in front of them.
Gerrard also became hindrance as he lacked the energy to close down.
Rodgers then made a concious decision to change things after an abysmal start. Balotelli was dropped and Sterling began playing as a striker. The defensive system was changed to a back 3 and Skrtel played in a deeper role.
Hopefully, the players who we bring in will be more suited to playing a high tempo game. Milner is a good start in this regard.
Certainly the lack of pressing from the front became a major issue.
This could have been addressed though by playing Henderson in a more advanced role for example. He could have been the first press with two strikers pulling wide to cover full backs.
For some reason I don't think we really tried to play the pressing game this season.
Maybe because of all the new players and a lot more games, meaning Rodgers didn't trust he would have enough time on the training ground to make it work properly.
We tried to dominate the ball more with possession football rather than winning it quick and going straight on the attack.
We really returned to what we had been from Kenny's reign and the first few months of Rodgers reign. A bit of a mish mash, relying on long range goals because we weren't really creating many gilt edged chances as teams could defend comfortably in numbers, and we were always susceptible at the other end.
Whether we can return to the direct way of playing or whether we continue in this vein will determine how long Rodgers lasts probably.
Rodgers seemed to abandon pressing and focused on possession style.
He's done this a few times since becoming manager. In his heart of hearts his ideal style is keep the ball and be patient. It's a flaw of his. Eventually he always seems to find a system that works better but he takes too long persisting with his ideal which doesn't suit the players he has.
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
Suarez was the difference between just being a top 4 side and being a title challenger.
Sturridge was the difference between being a Europa side v a top 4 side.
comment by The Kaiser's Trainers (U5676)
posted 8 minutes ago
Suarez was the difference between just being a top 4 side and being a title challenger.
Sturridge was the difference between being a Europa side v a top 4 side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And Rodgers the difference between winning the title and finishing second
comment by Pâî§Lë¥'š _P䆆ê®ÑëÐ_ÐrÊåm§ (U1541)
posted 2 hours, 1 minute ago
Pressing starts from the front.
With our striking options of Lambert & Balotelli setting the tone in terms of pressing (and then movement off the ball when the ball was one) the system failed to function.
Pressing effectively also needs the back 4 to play a high line and a good defensive player in front of them. Again, when they tried to push up we were getting ripped apart because of the wholes appearing in front of them.
Gerrard also became hindrance as he lacked the energy to close down.
Rodgers then made a concious decision to change things after an abysmal start. Balotelli was dropped and Sterling began playing as a striker. The defensive system was changed to a back 3 and Skrtel played in a deeper role.
Hopefully, the players who we bring in will be more suited to playing a high tempo game. Milner is a good start in this regard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This
Our main problem was the striking situation.
The midfield didn't know what to do, as the strikers didn't press and did little with the ball when they got it and that goes Sterling too
Suarez, Sterling & Sturridge.
Henderson was in a more advanced role and he also pressed high.
This was why I stated that Balotelliu was a joke signing before he even played a game.
There is also a reason why I call Lambert 'Sticky Ricky' as his boots seem to be stuck to the ground.
Milner presses high but I have a feeling he will be a deep lying midfielder this season.
We need a striker who can bite defenders ankles and we lost the best biter in world football to Barca.
Benteke is not a biter. Tevez is but we could never attract him with Rodgers in charge.
comment by T Bone Steak Roysters (U3947)
posted 6 minutes ago
Suarez, Sterling & Sturridge.
Henderson was in a more advanced role and he also pressed high.
This was why I stated that Balotelliu was a joke signing before he even played a game.
There is also a reason why I call Lambert 'Sticky Ricky' as his boots seem to be stuck to the ground.
Milner presses high but I have a feeling he will be a deep lying midfielder this season.
We need a striker who can bite defenders ankles and we lost the best biter in world football to Barca.
Benteke is not a biter. Tevez is but we could never attract him with Rodgers in charge.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I strongly agree with everything apart from the Rodgers thing.. Almost laughable
Tevez would be the readymade replacement for Suarez, however why would he leave the Champions League finalists to go anywhere else?
In addition to that he has never made it a secret that he never really enjoyed the British lifestyle
Cout is our best 'presser' left
I confess that on many occasions last season I was left bored rigid with the style of play, or to put it another way, non-play. Passing back and forth, back and forth, no advance forward, all at walking pace, or at times full stop - to let the opposition get in their best position? - it was the complete opposite to what we loved the previous season.
With such a retrograde step, this can only be Brendan's last season. If he doesn't make good then it's time for him to walk. I see that Mile Marsh has been given the bullet, I don't know if he is the one copping the blame for everything.
JimmyTheRed
comment by 1manontherun (U4291)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by T Bone Steak Roysters (U3947)
posted 6 minutes ago
Suarez, Sterling & Sturridge.
Henderson was in a more advanced role and he also pressed high.
This was why I stated that Balotelliu was a joke signing before he even played a game.
There is also a reason why I call Lambert 'Sticky Ricky' as his boots seem to be stuck to the ground.
Milner presses high but I have a feeling he will be a deep lying midfielder this season.
We need a striker who can bite defenders ankles and we lost the best biter in world football to Barca.
Benteke is not a biter. Tevez is but we could never attract him with Rodgers in charge.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I strongly agree with everything apart from the Rodgers thing.. Almost laughable
Tevez would be the readymade replacement for Suarez, however why would he leave the Champions League finalists to go anywhere else?
In addition to that he has never made it a secret that he never really enjoyed the British lifestyle
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't mean Tevez as a replacement but a player of his quality will not come to a team with a manager that has not been heard of outside of Wales when we are not in the Champions league.
LVG was able to attract big names with no European football. Rodgers can attract young players which fits the FSG mould.
I'm hoping Rodgers takes a long look at when he was popular and when he wasn't JImmy and then decides that a more direct to goal, higher tempo style is the way to save his job.
LvG wasn't able to attract players, if anything he has a bad reputation about being a freak and his sides not performing.
United and United's financial rep attracted those players. Moyes didn't attract Mata FFS.
I think Cavani would be a great shout to lead the line. Every time I've watched him he's had a great work rate, closes down and would be a great foil for Sturridge - if he ever comes back.
But thats just a dream. Theres no chance that he'd leave PSG for us at this moment in time.
What I don't understand is WHY Brendan has been allowed to play such dross football when we played so effectively before. Ok, the personnel has changed but the ethos, belief and desire we had before seems to have weeped away. These are the attributes the Manager has to inject into the team. Even if we don't have the bite we used to have (!), the players can still nip at opposition heels and force errors. That's more mentality than ability. If Brendan doesn't get that mentality right, where we (the fans) can see our team actually trying, then he must go. Pedestrian football just isn't the Liverpool way.
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What happened to our pressing game...?
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posted on 5/6/15
Pressing starts from the front.
With our striking options of Lambert & Balotelli setting the tone in terms of pressing (and then movement off the ball when the ball was one) the system failed to function.
Pressing effectively also needs the back 4 to play a high line and a good defensive player in front of them. Again, when they tried to push up we were getting ripped apart because of the wholes appearing in front of them.
Gerrard also became hindrance as he lacked the energy to close down.
Rodgers then made a concious decision to change things after an abysmal start. Balotelli was dropped and Sterling began playing as a striker. The defensive system was changed to a back 3 and Skrtel played in a deeper role.
Hopefully, the players who we bring in will be more suited to playing a high tempo game. Milner is a good start in this regard.
posted on 5/6/15
the ball was won*
posted on 5/6/15
Certainly the lack of pressing from the front became a major issue.
This could have been addressed though by playing Henderson in a more advanced role for example. He could have been the first press with two strikers pulling wide to cover full backs.
For some reason I don't think we really tried to play the pressing game this season.
Maybe because of all the new players and a lot more games, meaning Rodgers didn't trust he would have enough time on the training ground to make it work properly.
We tried to dominate the ball more with possession football rather than winning it quick and going straight on the attack.
We really returned to what we had been from Kenny's reign and the first few months of Rodgers reign. A bit of a mish mash, relying on long range goals because we weren't really creating many gilt edged chances as teams could defend comfortably in numbers, and we were always susceptible at the other end.
Whether we can return to the direct way of playing or whether we continue in this vein will determine how long Rodgers lasts probably.
posted on 5/6/15
Luis Suarez
posted on 5/6/15
Rodgers seemed to abandon pressing and focused on possession style.
He's done this a few times since becoming manager. In his heart of hearts his ideal style is keep the ball and be patient. It's a flaw of his. Eventually he always seems to find a system that works better but he takes too long persisting with his ideal which doesn't suit the players he has.
posted on 5/6/15
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 5/6/15
Suarez was the difference between just being a top 4 side and being a title challenger.
Sturridge was the difference between being a Europa side v a top 4 side.
posted on 5/6/15
comment by The Kaiser's Trainers (U5676)
posted 8 minutes ago
Suarez was the difference between just being a top 4 side and being a title challenger.
Sturridge was the difference between being a Europa side v a top 4 side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And Rodgers the difference between winning the title and finishing second
posted on 5/6/15
comment by Pâî§Lë¥'š _P䆆ê®ÑëÐ_ÐrÊåm§ (U1541)
posted 2 hours, 1 minute ago
Pressing starts from the front.
With our striking options of Lambert & Balotelli setting the tone in terms of pressing (and then movement off the ball when the ball was one) the system failed to function.
Pressing effectively also needs the back 4 to play a high line and a good defensive player in front of them. Again, when they tried to push up we were getting ripped apart because of the wholes appearing in front of them.
Gerrard also became hindrance as he lacked the energy to close down.
Rodgers then made a concious decision to change things after an abysmal start. Balotelli was dropped and Sterling began playing as a striker. The defensive system was changed to a back 3 and Skrtel played in a deeper role.
Hopefully, the players who we bring in will be more suited to playing a high tempo game. Milner is a good start in this regard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This
Our main problem was the striking situation.
The midfield didn't know what to do, as the strikers didn't press and did little with the ball when they got it and that goes Sterling too
posted on 5/6/15
Suarez, Sterling & Sturridge.
Henderson was in a more advanced role and he also pressed high.
This was why I stated that Balotelliu was a joke signing before he even played a game.
There is also a reason why I call Lambert 'Sticky Ricky' as his boots seem to be stuck to the ground.
Milner presses high but I have a feeling he will be a deep lying midfielder this season.
We need a striker who can bite defenders ankles and we lost the best biter in world football to Barca.
Benteke is not a biter. Tevez is but we could never attract him with Rodgers in charge.
posted on 5/6/15
comment by T Bone Steak Roysters (U3947)
posted 6 minutes ago
Suarez, Sterling & Sturridge.
Henderson was in a more advanced role and he also pressed high.
This was why I stated that Balotelliu was a joke signing before he even played a game.
There is also a reason why I call Lambert 'Sticky Ricky' as his boots seem to be stuck to the ground.
Milner presses high but I have a feeling he will be a deep lying midfielder this season.
We need a striker who can bite defenders ankles and we lost the best biter in world football to Barca.
Benteke is not a biter. Tevez is but we could never attract him with Rodgers in charge.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I strongly agree with everything apart from the Rodgers thing.. Almost laughable
Tevez would be the readymade replacement for Suarez, however why would he leave the Champions League finalists to go anywhere else?
In addition to that he has never made it a secret that he never really enjoyed the British lifestyle
posted on 5/6/15
Cout is our best 'presser' left
posted on 5/6/15
I confess that on many occasions last season I was left bored rigid with the style of play, or to put it another way, non-play. Passing back and forth, back and forth, no advance forward, all at walking pace, or at times full stop - to let the opposition get in their best position? - it was the complete opposite to what we loved the previous season.
With such a retrograde step, this can only be Brendan's last season. If he doesn't make good then it's time for him to walk. I see that Mile Marsh has been given the bullet, I don't know if he is the one copping the blame for everything.
JimmyTheRed
posted on 5/6/15
comment by 1manontherun (U4291)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by T Bone Steak Roysters (U3947)
posted 6 minutes ago
Suarez, Sterling & Sturridge.
Henderson was in a more advanced role and he also pressed high.
This was why I stated that Balotelliu was a joke signing before he even played a game.
There is also a reason why I call Lambert 'Sticky Ricky' as his boots seem to be stuck to the ground.
Milner presses high but I have a feeling he will be a deep lying midfielder this season.
We need a striker who can bite defenders ankles and we lost the best biter in world football to Barca.
Benteke is not a biter. Tevez is but we could never attract him with Rodgers in charge.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I strongly agree with everything apart from the Rodgers thing.. Almost laughable
Tevez would be the readymade replacement for Suarez, however why would he leave the Champions League finalists to go anywhere else?
In addition to that he has never made it a secret that he never really enjoyed the British lifestyle
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't mean Tevez as a replacement but a player of his quality will not come to a team with a manager that has not been heard of outside of Wales when we are not in the Champions league.
LVG was able to attract big names with no European football. Rodgers can attract young players which fits the FSG mould.
posted on 5/6/15
I'm hoping Rodgers takes a long look at when he was popular and when he wasn't JImmy and then decides that a more direct to goal, higher tempo style is the way to save his job.
posted on 5/6/15
LvG wasn't able to attract players, if anything he has a bad reputation about being a freak and his sides not performing.
United and United's financial rep attracted those players. Moyes didn't attract Mata FFS.
posted on 5/6/15
I think Cavani would be a great shout to lead the line. Every time I've watched him he's had a great work rate, closes down and would be a great foil for Sturridge - if he ever comes back.
But thats just a dream. Theres no chance that he'd leave PSG for us at this moment in time.
posted on 5/6/15
I'd like Cavani
posted on 5/6/15
What I don't understand is WHY Brendan has been allowed to play such dross football when we played so effectively before. Ok, the personnel has changed but the ethos, belief and desire we had before seems to have weeped away. These are the attributes the Manager has to inject into the team. Even if we don't have the bite we used to have (!), the players can still nip at opposition heels and force errors. That's more mentality than ability. If Brendan doesn't get that mentality right, where we (the fans) can see our team actually trying, then he must go. Pedestrian football just isn't the Liverpool way.
Page 1 of 1