My worry is that the midfield are escaping criticism because of the calamities at the back.
Henderson, Can and to a lesser extent, Wijnaldum aren't doing enough to protect the defence. That's the first line of defence and opposition teams seem to bypass our lads with ease.
Had Liverpool signed a Matic type player then not only would we have claimed possession more in the middle but I'm certain the defence wouldn't have looked half as bad.
I dont give with the midfield theory at all. Most of the goals we have conceded this year were down to defensive errors (ie Lovren miskick, TAA switching off)
Not a theory pal. We've been quite wasteful in midfield too. Look at hendersons header at the Etihad which gave possession to City which led to the opening goal. Prior to that, City looked very ordinary.
Can did the same yesterday. Gave it away and left us exposed.
Yeah i agree problems in midfield too. I still think better defenders wud solve a lot of issues though.
comment by Metro.⚽️ (U6770)
posted 58 minutes ago
My worry is that the midfield are escaping criticism because of the calamities at the back.
Henderson, Can and to a lesser extent, Wijnaldum aren't doing enough to protect the defence. That's the first line of defence and opposition teams seem to bypass our lads with ease.
Had Liverpool signed a Matic type player then not only would we have claimed possession more in the middle but I'm certain the defence wouldn't have looked half as bad.
-----------------------
This +1
The middle 3rd of our team seems to have some mystical ability to escape criticism.
comment by Metro.⚽️ (U6770)
posted 6 hours, 56 minutes ago
My worry is that the midfield are escaping criticism because of the calamities at the back.
Henderson, Can and to a lesser extent, Wijnaldum aren't doing enough to protect the defence. That's the first line of defence and opposition teams seem to bypass our lads with ease.
Had Liverpool signed a Matic type player then not only would we have claimed possession more in the middle but I'm certain the defence wouldn't have looked half as bad.
------------------
Totally agree. 100% right
Didn't Can do a good job at CB for Rodgers?
Is our midfield so very different to any other? Every team will give the ball away in the middle of the pitch from time to time. I haven't checked but I'd doubt our ball retention stats are significantly worse (if at all) than other good sides.
The difference is we're being punished for them. When other midfielders lose the ball they have firstly either defence and then their goalkeeper to bail them out. We don't seem to have that.
Now you could argue that the defence would benefit from having a Matic type players there so when the rest of the team lose the ball they have a DM, the defence and then the GK to get through, but Klopp doesn't play that way. Criticising the players for not playing the role that our manager doesn't employ seems a little daft.
comment by Can Solo (U6997)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
Is our midfield so very different to any other? Every team will give the ball away in the middle of the pitch from time to time. I haven't checked but I'd doubt our ball retention stats are significantly worse (if at all) than other good sides.
The difference is we're being punished for them. When other midfielders lose the ball they have firstly either defence and then their goalkeeper to bail them out. We don't seem to have that.
Now you could argue that the defence would benefit from having a Matic type players there so when the rest of the team lose the ball they have a DM, the defence and then the GK to get through, but Klopp doesn't play that way. Criticising the players for not playing the role that our manager doesn't employ seems a little daft.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Retention can't be that bad, Liverpool usually boss possession. Maybe the areas it is lost is what's costly
I agree the midfield make errors. Give the ball away, can't protect the defence etc which will undoubtedly leave them exposed at some point. Liverpool do need a holding midfielder, especially for home games to support that defence. Its a plausible theory.
All the other top 4 teams play with at least 1 holding midfielder. Chelsea have Bakayoko/Kante, United have Matic, City have Fernandinho and Spurs have Wanyama/Dier in that role. Arsenal have Coquelin as well, but they have the same issue. But Liverpool don't have anyone. The only one they had (who was still poor) was Lucas and they sold him.
You look at Madrid with Zidane. They have a midfield that couldn't operate, left them exposed and they dropped points. He introduced Casemiro who is the glue in that midfield, he gives them much better balance and is now arguably the world's best defensive midfielder at this point. Zidane hasn't been afraid to give players like Isco, Asensio and Casemiro a chance in the last year or two and it has been rewarded. They are 3 very important players to Madrid nowadays. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little bit of quality to strike balance which is key in any team in my opinion. If Klopp can bring this midfielder in, Liverpool will look stronger defensively.
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posted on 27/9/17
My worry is that the midfield are escaping criticism because of the calamities at the back.
Henderson, Can and to a lesser extent, Wijnaldum aren't doing enough to protect the defence. That's the first line of defence and opposition teams seem to bypass our lads with ease.
Had Liverpool signed a Matic type player then not only would we have claimed possession more in the middle but I'm certain the defence wouldn't have looked half as bad.
posted on 27/9/17
I dont give with the midfield theory at all. Most of the goals we have conceded this year were down to defensive errors (ie Lovren miskick, TAA switching off)
posted on 27/9/17
Not a theory pal. We've been quite wasteful in midfield too. Look at hendersons header at the Etihad which gave possession to City which led to the opening goal. Prior to that, City looked very ordinary.
posted on 27/9/17
Can did the same yesterday. Gave it away and left us exposed.
posted on 27/9/17
Yeah i agree problems in midfield too. I still think better defenders wud solve a lot of issues though.
posted on 27/9/17
comment by Metro.⚽️ (U6770)
posted 58 minutes ago
My worry is that the midfield are escaping criticism because of the calamities at the back.
Henderson, Can and to a lesser extent, Wijnaldum aren't doing enough to protect the defence. That's the first line of defence and opposition teams seem to bypass our lads with ease.
Had Liverpool signed a Matic type player then not only would we have claimed possession more in the middle but I'm certain the defence wouldn't have looked half as bad.
-----------------------
This +1
The middle 3rd of our team seems to have some mystical ability to escape criticism.
posted on 28/9/17
comment by Metro.⚽️ (U6770)
posted 6 hours, 56 minutes ago
My worry is that the midfield are escaping criticism because of the calamities at the back.
Henderson, Can and to a lesser extent, Wijnaldum aren't doing enough to protect the defence. That's the first line of defence and opposition teams seem to bypass our lads with ease.
Had Liverpool signed a Matic type player then not only would we have claimed possession more in the middle but I'm certain the defence wouldn't have looked half as bad.
------------------
Totally agree. 100% right
posted on 28/9/17
Didn't Can do a good job at CB for Rodgers?
posted on 28/9/17
Is our midfield so very different to any other? Every team will give the ball away in the middle of the pitch from time to time. I haven't checked but I'd doubt our ball retention stats are significantly worse (if at all) than other good sides.
The difference is we're being punished for them. When other midfielders lose the ball they have firstly either defence and then their goalkeeper to bail them out. We don't seem to have that.
Now you could argue that the defence would benefit from having a Matic type players there so when the rest of the team lose the ball they have a DM, the defence and then the GK to get through, but Klopp doesn't play that way. Criticising the players for not playing the role that our manager doesn't employ seems a little daft.
posted on 28/9/17
comment by Can Solo (U6997)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
Is our midfield so very different to any other? Every team will give the ball away in the middle of the pitch from time to time. I haven't checked but I'd doubt our ball retention stats are significantly worse (if at all) than other good sides.
The difference is we're being punished for them. When other midfielders lose the ball they have firstly either defence and then their goalkeeper to bail them out. We don't seem to have that.
Now you could argue that the defence would benefit from having a Matic type players there so when the rest of the team lose the ball they have a DM, the defence and then the GK to get through, but Klopp doesn't play that way. Criticising the players for not playing the role that our manager doesn't employ seems a little daft.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Retention can't be that bad, Liverpool usually boss possession. Maybe the areas it is lost is what's costly
posted on 28/9/17
I agree the midfield make errors. Give the ball away, can't protect the defence etc which will undoubtedly leave them exposed at some point. Liverpool do need a holding midfielder, especially for home games to support that defence. Its a plausible theory.
All the other top 4 teams play with at least 1 holding midfielder. Chelsea have Bakayoko/Kante, United have Matic, City have Fernandinho and Spurs have Wanyama/Dier in that role. Arsenal have Coquelin as well, but they have the same issue. But Liverpool don't have anyone. The only one they had (who was still poor) was Lucas and they sold him.
You look at Madrid with Zidane. They have a midfield that couldn't operate, left them exposed and they dropped points. He introduced Casemiro who is the glue in that midfield, he gives them much better balance and is now arguably the world's best defensive midfielder at this point. Zidane hasn't been afraid to give players like Isco, Asensio and Casemiro a chance in the last year or two and it has been rewarded. They are 3 very important players to Madrid nowadays. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little bit of quality to strike balance which is key in any team in my opinion. If Klopp can bring this midfielder in, Liverpool will look stronger defensively.
Page 1 of 1