Keep playing 3 centre halves?
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I don't like it. And I get the feeling that he's trying to accommodate having too many CB's that he doesn't want to upset leaving on the bench, and he also has two strikers that he doesn't want to upset, neither one wants to play as a 'wing forward' or whatever the role is, they both want to play up top.
It's 5 at the back for me, and I don't think it's needed. I'd prefer 4. I know the 'wing backs' push on, but we've really got 5 defenders out there.
I'm guessing that when Coutinho is back he'll go back to his old favourite formation, well I hope he does. But then he upsets two of the CB's (fuck them, it's a squad) and he upsets one of the strikers by pushing him slightly out of their favourite position. I'd push Suarez out.
It's 5 at the back for me, and I don't think it's needed. I'd prefer 4. I know the 'wing backs' push on, but we've really got 5 defenders out there.
I'm guessing that when Coutinho is back he'll go back to his old favourite formation, well I hope he does. But then he upsets two of the CB's (fuck them, it's a squad) and he upsets one of the strikers by pushing him slightly out of their favourite position. I'd push Suarez out.
I dont think its the CB issue tbh. I think its a combination of injuries and trying to get the best out of Sturridge -Suarez.
I hope he goes back to 4 at the back now that Coutinho and Johnson are back.
We looked better on saturday when Alberto came on for Sakho.
The big question is who do we drop out of our CBs.
I hope he goes back to 4 at the back now that Coutinho and Johnson are back.
We looked better on saturday when Alberto came on for Sakho.
The big question is who do we drop out of our CBs.
I'd play Sakho and Skrtel.
I'd also try to set up a Ancelotti style diamond formation.
--------------------------Mignolet
Johnson------Skrtel--------Sakho-------Enrique
---------------------------Lucas
----------------Gerrard----------Allen
--------------------------Coutinho
-----------------Sturridge--------Suarez
Come January, if we can sign someone like a Witsel, I'd move Allen into Lucas' position. That'd be a midfield with loads of power and guile.
It'd also take away Gerrard from deep-lying playmaking duties, which he's pretty shit at.
It's a bit narrow, but Johnson and Enrique get forward plenty, and Coutinho, Sturridge and Suarez all move wide aplenty as well.
I'd also try to set up a Ancelotti style diamond formation.
--------------------------Mignolet
Johnson------Skrtel--------Sakho-------Enrique
---------------------------Lucas
----------------Gerrard----------Allen
--------------------------Coutinho
-----------------Sturridge--------Suarez
Come January, if we can sign someone like a Witsel, I'd move Allen into Lucas' position. That'd be a midfield with loads of power and guile.
It'd also take away Gerrard from deep-lying playmaking duties, which he's pretty shit at.
It's a bit narrow, but Johnson and Enrique get forward plenty, and Coutinho, Sturridge and Suarez all move wide aplenty as well.
T
the_khl
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I'd play Toure and Agger. There you go.
You don't say!
T
the_khl
Guest
Well we started out with clean sheets playing those two (and one combo of Skrtel and Agger) so it's really not that far fetched an idea one would think.
Skrtel and Sakho are as a combo for me pretty far down the list, as they have both tendencies in their game that disturbs the tranquility at the back. A certain amount of rashness to their game if you like.
If only picking two, which I do hope, these are our best options imo. Toure + Sakho, Toure + Agger, Skrtel + Agger.
Yep it'd be a 4-4-2 diamond for me as well. That way we're still getting the best out of the SAS.
----------------------------------mignolet----------------------------
johnson----------toure----------------sakho------------enrique
-------------------------------------lucas-----------------------------
------------------------gerrard--------------hendo------------------
--------------------------------------coutinho-------------------------
----------------------suarez-------------------studge----------------
Out of all the CB's sakho seems the most dominant in the air and toure has been our best CB IMO. I can't see agger getting selected seeing as how he can't even get into the team when we play 3 CB's, then how will he when we play 2?
----------------------------------mignolet----------------------------
johnson----------toure----------------sakho------------enrique
-------------------------------------lucas-----------------------------
------------------------gerrard--------------hendo------------------
--------------------------------------coutinho-------------------------
----------------------suarez-------------------studge----------------
Out of all the CB's sakho seems the most dominant in the air and toure has been our best CB IMO. I can't see agger getting selected seeing as how he can't even get into the team when we play 3 CB's, then how will he when we play 2?
Toure + another at the minute for me, I wouldn't be surprised to see 3 at the back stay or at least be a regular option, because we've got like 5 centre backs.
With everyone fit though I think we'll probably see:
---------------------Mignolet----------------------
Johnson------Toure-----Sakho----Cissokho
---------------Gerrard----Lucas----------------
--------------------Coutinho---------------------
--------Suarez---Sturridge----Moses-------
With everyone fit though I think we'll probably see:
---------------------Mignolet----------------------
Johnson------Toure-----Sakho----Cissokho
---------------Gerrard----Lucas----------------
--------------------Coutinho---------------------
--------Suarez---Sturridge----Moses-------
Maybe there are more flaws in this thinking than I realise but surely against opposition at Anfield who are likely to field only one striker we should only need 2 centre halves. Then we have an extra body in midfield and are more able to play the possession stuff we want and take the game to them. Three central defenders seems very negative to me, almost like it encourages the other team to come on to us and face our central defensive strength instead of using the midfield to protect the defence, also when attacking / in possession what exactly does a third centre back contribute?
The only problem I see is that 3 centre backs allows more cover for the fullbacks and also frees them a little more to get forward but having Lucas and whoever in midfielder should protect and help the back four as much as a third centre back.
I think theres a time and a place for 3 centre halves but not at home against sides we can beat.
The only problem I see is that 3 centre backs allows more cover for the fullbacks and also frees them a little more to get forward but having Lucas and whoever in midfielder should protect and help the back four as much as a third centre back.
I think theres a time and a place for 3 centre halves but not at home against sides we can beat.
Agree with this, I think Skrtel's dropped off a little in the past few matches. It makes sense for us to play him a bit though to increase his value some before we sell him in January.
Hopefully his resurgence lands us 10-12M to invest into the midfield
A 3-5-2 works well when your wingbacks are quality. We've got a half-fit Glenjo and that's it. In any 3-5-2 your wingbacks are going to be seeing an awful lot of the ball and they've got to be very good with it.
We can't be having Cissokho or Enrique as one of our main passing outlets, they're just not good enough.
I'd stick with this 3-5-2 for a bit to see if having Glenjo back helps things, but long-term we either need to buy some real top-drawer wingbacks, or return to 4 at the back.
Oh, and whatever happens formation-wise, Skrtel & Toure stay in the team. Both have been absolutely superb.
We can't be having Cissokho or Enrique as one of our main passing outlets, they're just not good enough.
I'd stick with this 3-5-2 for a bit to see if having Glenjo back helps things, but long-term we either need to buy some real top-drawer wingbacks, or return to 4 at the back.
Oh, and whatever happens formation-wise, Skrtel & Toure stay in the team. Both have been absolutely superb.
Sahko rightly or wrongly will play as we spent all that money on him.
His partner should be Skrtel first then Toure if we have 3.
His partner should be Skrtel first then Toure if we have 3.
You got that precisely the wrong way round my friend. You have to justify why Sakho is better than Skrtel.
Here's a hint: you can't.
The big argument for Sakho is that he's better in the air than any of the other lads, I kind of agree that him and Skrtel are probably too similar, in that they're not going to continuously try to read the game, but they will press players, hold players up and then put a foot in if needs be. There's nothing wrong with that, in most defensive partnerships you have one half of that. Someone to mop up and do the dirty work, it might seem less elegant but as far defensive play goes, it doesn't take a genius to see how crucial it is.
As for the "we had clean sheets with Agger", well yeah, for three games, we should probably look at the course of other seasons too, we've conceded goals regularly over the last few years with any combination of what we've got, including Super Dan, so three games that were won narrowly at the start of the season shouldn't really be a benchmark or sign of anything (have a look at the different combinations that played against Notts County, we were a joke). The only thing I'd take from those games is that while we were playing 442 we weren't any more vulnerable, so the so-called added assurance of a third centre back hasn't really shored things up for us, it's just taken a bit of pressure off the midfield.
The key, crucial flaw in our defensive system at the moment isn't really a lack of personnel, it's a defunct midfield that's offers little protection or dominance and a relatively poor outlet. We knew that ages ago.
As for the "we had clean sheets with Agger", well yeah, for three games, we should probably look at the course of other seasons too, we've conceded goals regularly over the last few years with any combination of what we've got, including Super Dan, so three games that were won narrowly at the start of the season shouldn't really be a benchmark or sign of anything (have a look at the different combinations that played against Notts County, we were a joke). The only thing I'd take from those games is that while we were playing 442 we weren't any more vulnerable, so the so-called added assurance of a third centre back hasn't really shored things up for us, it's just taken a bit of pressure off the midfield.
The key, crucial flaw in our defensive system at the moment isn't really a lack of personnel, it's a defunct midfield that's offers little protection or dominance and a relatively poor outlet. We knew that ages ago.
T
the_khl
Guest
The 3 clean sheet argument is a bit populist I give you that, however I believe we looked more composed in the back at the start of the Season than during our last three or four games.
That has obviously not only to do with Agger's absence as there are other factors as well, but seeing as Agger, out of all the central defenders in the Premiership, has been involved in most clean sheets during the past 18 months (17) it is perhaps not that odd a suggestion, that he has actually got a positive influence on the defense and perhaps on the team as a whole too?
That has obviously not only to do with Agger's absence as there are other factors as well, but seeing as Agger, out of all the central defenders in the Premiership, has been involved in most clean sheets during the past 18 months (17) it is perhaps not that odd a suggestion, that he has actually got a positive influence on the defense and perhaps on the team as a whole too?
T
the_khl
Guest
As a unit or as individuals?
I am truly baffled by this comment, in what way have they been absolutely superb in our last games seeing as we have conceded 7 goals in the last 5 games?
It is not necessarily all bad and I do think they have played mostly good, as a unit however we haven't looked strong in the back at all. Against Newcastle we gave away easy chances and a goal even playing against 10 man. By no means convincing defensive work as a team.
With them being "Absolutely superb" I can't wait to hear your verdict on our defensive players in our first 3 games where we conceded 0 and actually won games.
Well it's all relative really, I mean, you sought to praise Sakho there, but he went to sleep for "the goal against 10 men", but of course, the underlying insinuation here is that it's all Skrtel's fault, let's cut to the chase.
T
the_khl
Guest
I think Skrtel has played well so far. Sakho started out like Bambi on ice but has improved over the last two games. Still think it would be better for his overall progress if we stabilized the boat a little and gave him some time to adjust - from the bench. Toure and Skrtel could well be picked for the next game, personally reckon Agger will be back in the side though.
Did you see the Agger stat above? Thoughts?
There were similar stats about Skrtel a few years back, he played a big part in our runners up season, which you seemed to play down into "he's had about 1 good season since he's been here".
T
the_khl
Guest
Soooo... what do you make of it again?
Are you some kind of politician Mark, you seemingly avoid to answer the question here... 😉
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