[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39257.msg1068406#msg1068406 date=1268398105]
[quote author=Delinquent link=topic=39257.msg1068397#msg1068397 date=1268397759]
What would you suggest Ryan? Carry on doing what we're doing?
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I'd pick the team that started last night mate.
How many times do you think Rafa's gonna select Gerrard as a central midfielder again?
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So carry on doing what we're doing then.
I'm of the opinion that poor performances do not deserve to be rewarded. You know I'm a fan of Kuyt (Christ, it seemed like me and you against the world a couple of years ago) but he's been atrocious of late and needs a rest. Maxi on the other hand, has shown promise in his last two appearances so should get a go on the right for me. Of course, it means that Glen Johnson will have to pick his forays forward carefully, but he's been doing that anyway for the most part. And like I said, it's Portsmouth at home FFS.
What's more, two defensive midfielders at home to the bottom side in the league is completely unnecessary and sends out all the wrong messages from the outset. It's like I said before: we need to put out a side that demoralizes the opposition, not one that gives them genuine hope. Teams come to Anfield with a genuine belief that they can win these days, never mind being happy with a point.
As for formations, well, they mean relatively little these days anyway. 4-5-1 really only refers to the position of players when they're not in possession. As soon as they have the ball it quickly becomes a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 or any variation thereof. What's more, the teams you've been comparing us to pass the ball well. They move it quickly and decisively. Their players have license to go forward. They have imagination. They all play for each other. We can't expect to emulate them because we play a much more cautious brand of football.
If we had defensive solidarity to fall back on, I might see some merit in continuing in the same vein (I would still disagree with it, but I could at least rationalize it). However, we have failed in our attempts to remain solid defensively, and with it sacrificed any of the attacking impetus we built last season. So essentially, we have sacrificed attack for defence, and yet can't seem to defend properly either. Perhaps if we spend more time attacking, we wouldn't need to defend as much? It's radical, I know, but it could work.
So to summarize: In the absence of a complete change of philosophy (which is ultimately what's needed), I would suggest that in the short-term, to solve the complete lack of invention and attacking threat, more attacking players might be worth a try.
