Do we go back to the 433/4231?

[Mors]

I know it's going to upset 1 of our prima donna strikers, and about 2 of our CB's, but this 3 at the back is pretty shit. It most of the time is a flat back 5, as there's only Johnson out of our full backs that's capable of pushing up and doing anything. So playing with 5 at the back is inviting pressure.
I think he's playing 3 to accomodate the too many CB's he has and the two strikers that both want to play out and out striker.
If it was I'd go something like this with the current players he likes picking:

......................Migs
Johnson Toure Sakho Cissokho
...........Gerrard Hendo
...................Coutinho
Moses.........................Suarez
................Sturridge


But I guess in the real world there's arguments for not playing 5 or 6 of those players.

 

[Red Mullet]

It's not the formation since it pretty much changes as he game progresses, from 5-3-2 to 3-5-2 to 4-2-3-1, there's been various combinations played. It's the poor form or, generally, poor players in midfield that's inviting the pressure.

And I really don't think we have prima donna strikers.

 

[Shadey]

What ever we do 5 at the back has to be history, but I'm sure the two up front can still work.

 

[Whirly]

I don't see how going back to 4 at the back solves anything for the midfield. You could swap Hendo for Lucas in the formation we play right now, and slot Coutinho in behind Sturridge and Suarez, and be roughly the same, maybe lacking some width in the final third at worst.

I wouldn't mind seeing Moses get a chance in a wingbacks role, especially on the left. Feels like we need more of an attacker than a defender in that role, as Cissokho gets loads of spaces out there, but doesn't have the ability to do anything in the final third. Having a real attacking threat playing so deep on that side would also force the opposition to be more conservative attacking along that wing.

 

[SummerOnions]

Cissokho can't defend or attack so he's a complete non-entity. It's trying to find a formation that makes the midfield look good. I don't think one exists when we play top teams who play fluidly. If we were in the CL we'd lose every game vs a good team

 

[SummerOnions]

When Johnson and Enrique are back it will make our play a lot better.


Against the good teams I wouldn't always play Gerrard because he lacks the pace to make those runs and Lucas is clearly as much of a fixture. Two static midfielders just can't work against a good team. We need better

 

[Whirly]

Cissokho can't defend or attack so he's a complete non-entity. It's trying to find a formation that makes the midfield look good. I don't think one exists when we play top teams who play fluidly. If we were in the CL we'd lose every game vs a good team

So we'd be Arsenal?

 

[Red Mullet]

I don't see how going back to 4 at the back solves anything for the midfield. You could swap Hendo for Lucas in the formation we play right now, and slot Coutinho in behind Sturridge and Suarez, and be roughly the same, maybe lacking some width in the final third at worst.

I wouldn't mind seeing Moses get a chance in a wingbacks role, especially on the left. Feels like we need more of an attacker than a defender in that role, as Cissokho gets loads of spaces out there, but doesn't have the ability to do anything in the final third. Having a real attacking threat playing so deep on that side would also force the opposition to be more conservative attacking along that wing.

Exactly this.

Our formation should changed based on what players we have (plus their fitness and form) and whether we're attacking or defending. We're pretty solid at the back and our front 2 are class, our problem is the link up play or the transition between defense and attack. We don't have anybody to fulfill that role, a playmaker or someone that can put his foot on the ball and dictate the tempo - a Gary Mcallister if you will. Gerrard is not it (at the moment). We have some form of DM in Lucas. He's not great (like Makelele or Mascherano) but every now and again he can perform and to be fair there's no one else. We have our water carrier in Henderson, someone that will run for you, cover the ground, hassle others. He's not great, he certainly can't tackle (he does that funny 2 foot shovel in front of the player but actually tackle - no). Then we have Coutinho. When on form, he can join up the play but he's just back from injury and he's more part of the attack then the midfield. You won't find him tracking back and putting a tackle - and I wouldn't expect him to.

What's left is Gerrard. He's changing his role and although he's a class player, with some mileage left but he's not performing.

So you have an average Lucas, not so great Henderson, an under performing skipper and Coutinho who's most effective in attack leaving you a gap between defense and attack. Makes the team either stretched or disjointed.

 

[Mystic]

We can never get the ball out of defense when under pressure, and that's because we have no out lets as we have no wingers. Id be tempted to play 4-2-2-2, with Coutinho left and Moses right behind Suarez and Sturridge with Johnson/Henderson - Skrtel - Agger/Sakho - Sakho/Enrique in defense, and Cissokho banned from the stadium.

 

[Gary25]

No matter what formation we go for our team is a bit of a clusterfuck.

 

[SummerOnions]

2 fit 1st choice fullbacks will make a world of difference, and having Coutinho back fully fit too

 

[The Nomad]

I'm not sure a team has ever won the league with a dodgy 3-5-2 formation. Wing backs? Reminds me the ill fated Roy Evans last season in charge.

4-3-3 could work, But I'd be more inclined to play 4-3-1-2 formation

-----Gerrard---Lucas---Hendo-----
------------------Coutinho----------
-------Sturridge-----Suarez----

 

[Hansern]

We can never get the ball out of defense when under pressure, and that's because we have no out lets as we have no wingers. Id be tempted to play 4-2-2-2, with Coutinho left and Moses right behind Suarez and Sturridge with Johnson/Henderson - Skrtel - Agger/Sakho - Sakho/Enrique in defense, and Cissokho banned from the stadium.

Its more because Flanagan and Cissokho doesnt know how to play football in the oppositions half.
GlenJo will improve that, as will probably Enrique (a bit)

 

[gkmacca]

I think three at the back only works if you've got three defenders who know each other well and talk to each other incessantly. The three we've got don't even speak a common language. It might work at some stage down the road, and it would certainly be a plan B that people demand, but at the moment I think it only adds to our incoherence.

 

[Markeh]

I don't see the point of playing 3 centre halves when most sides we play are going to line up with 1 striker. When we're on the attack and the opposition leaves their striker up the field we have two centre backs beside him, one to challenge and one to back up should the ball be played to the striker, whats the point of the 3rd centre half then? one pushes up and joins in with the attack, who the fuck wants a centre half trying to play football, why not just another midfielder?

Against a team that doesn't attack as well as Arsenal this 5-3-2 might work out fine, we have the ability to soak some pressure up and use the two up front to score but against Arsenal we had 3 centre halves only a single give and go away from being bypassed. I would've thought it's best to put the extra man in midfield and try to give the defence some protection, they seemed to be able to run at our defence so easily. We can place the blame on particular players for having a shit game but that's not the whole story, it's my opinion that setup was always destined to fail against Arsenal.

Rodgers is scared to change anything with Suarez and Sturridge and I still think he's trying to accommodate centre halves

 

[rurikbird]

I am waiting for Rodgers to start incorporating Allen into the midfield. It's clearly our weakest area (except for fullbacks, when our first-choice RB and LB are not available), so at some point he will need to start changing things.

 

[Fabio]

I am waiting for Rodgers to start incorporating Allen into the midfield. It's clearly our weakest area (except for fullbacks, when our first-choice RB and LB are not available), so at some point he will need to start changing things.

Yup

Hopefully Allen plays against Fulham

 

[Glen C]

We've never had a good midfield under Rogers. It's shocking that he still has failed to sort that out. Gerrard doesn't have the legs anymore and the rest of the midfield is average at best. We have the worst midfield out of the top 6 teams.

 

[Hansern]

I'd like to see a midfield of Allen - Gerrard - Henderson

 

[mark1975]

As I said earlier, Fulham is the ideal game for us to bring in some fresh faces and try to regain a bit of balance to the side. 4 at the back, hopefully with Johnson & Enrique back in the side, and I'd be tempted to give Allen a go in midfield along with Coutinho either on the left or behind the front two.

We could do worse aswell than promoting a couple of young lads to the bench. Our subs this season have been piss poor with regard to changing games.

 

[mark1975]

Personally I'd go with:

---------------Mignolet----------------
Johnson-MS/KT--Sakho-Enrique
-------------Hendo--Allen------------
----------------Gerrard---------------
---Suarez--Sturridge-Coutinho--

Let Coutinho float in behind in that role, like Gerrard used to do on the right. Hopefully Coutinho and Allen will help us maintain possession better than we have of late.

 

[Rafiagra]

We need to go 4-3-3 with Suarez, Coutinho and Sturridge up front or failing that a 4231 with Suarez, Sturridge, Coutinho and Gerrard as the front 4.

Keep a back 4 as wingbacks is too much fucking about.

 

[Whirly]

We've never had a good midfield under Rogers. It's shocking that he still has failed to sort that out. Gerrard doesn't have the legs anymore and the rest of the midfield is average at best. We have the worst midfield out of the top 6 teams.

Well, last year we didn't have much of a backline or a midfield, so I'm happy that atleast we have some defensive depth now.

We're probably only one quality body short of a successful midfield though.

 

[Rafiagra]

To think we paid £15m for Allen. Fuckinghell.

To be fair to him, he was brilliant in his first few games and our real standout player, but he just disappeared. I think it's either him or Gerrard though in the team.

 

[Glen C]

Well, last year we didn't have much of a backline or a midfield, so I'm happy that atleast we have some defensive depth now.

We're probably only one quality body short of a successful midfield though.

No way at least two players, but really three so we can rest gerrard at times. Lucas, Allen and hendo are good squad players to have in reserve, but they shouldn't be playing regularly. They are too limited in ability.

 

[Whirly]

No way at least two players, but really three so we can rest gerrard at times. Lucas, Allen and hendo are good squad players to have in reserve, but they shouldn't be playing regularly. They are too limited in ability.

Three players? Can you give me some examples?

That seems like an awfully tall order

 

[localny]

Joint second in the league we are in a great position, despite yesterday's stumble. We can all agree midfield needs somewhat for a lift. Are we simply seeing what happens when Stevie becomes a mere mortal?

I'd go back to the four at the back, with Suarez as second striker coming through, so a 4-4-1-1. Whatever happens, Phillipe et Josephe have to be brought in to freshen things up. I like Henderson's honesty and work ethic, but we need someone who can finish all these chances he's missing - at least one a game. I'd also give Gerrard a week off, or some time on the bench.

 

[Glen C]

Three players? Can you give me some examples?

That seems like an awfully tall order

I've no idea who those players are, but I know we need better than hendo, Lucas and Allen. None of them know how to impose themselves in midfield in big games. We're still over reliant on a gerrard who is on the decline.

 

[Modo]

I'd like to say that @the_khl was right about that line up. Maybe it would gone better if Johnson and Enrique played but still, what he said would happen before the game, happened.

Should we go back to 4-3-3 ? yes.

Apologies, if what I just wrote rubbed someone the wrong way. (just in case)

 

[the_khl]

I'd like to say that @the_khl was right about that line up. Maybe it would gone better if Johnson and Enrique played but still, what he said would happen before the game, happened.

Should we go back to 4-3-3 ? yes.

Apologies, if what I just wrote rubbed someone the wrong way. (just in case)

This may be controversial but I think you are spot on mate!!