Shut the back door

[Pesam]

TAA's passing is erratic to say the least, there are times he can pass like Alonso and other times, like against Sheff Utd, his poor long passes continually miss their target and put us under pressure. Added to this is the fact he's not a good defender and doesn't seem to be improving. Despite this he remains a very important part of our team and still has a huge future.......the question still remains....in what position.

We can keep him at right back and accept his defensive frailties in return for what he gives us in attack....a bit like Real Madrid/Brazil did (and do) with Roberto Carlos (and Marcelo) or we can give him a chance as an Alonso-style defensive midfielder.

I would love to see Hoever at right back in the League Cup against Arsenal and TAA tried out in CM.

Klopp has always said the TAA might end up in midfield and it's coming near time to try this conversion.

This type of formation....................

..............................................Allison......................................
Milner..................Matip....................VVD.....................Robertson
................................TAA.............Fabinho.....................
.....................................Wijnaldum.............................
Salah........................Firmino.........................Mané

.........would be ideal in tough away matches as TAA and Fabinho sitting in front of the defence would offer great protection and hopefully TAA's passing would release the front 3 regularly. Wijnaldum (or Henderson, Keita, Lallana) would have much more license to get forward.

United used to play with 2 holding CM'ers in tough games, one of their more attacking players would drop out and Nicky Butt would come in to great affect.

I would actually see the Fabinho/TAA partnership a bit like the Viera/Petit one though, in that in most games (i.e. not the most difficult games) they would actually be able to take it in turns to help out in the opposition half as both players are very comfortable in possession.

The problem immediately arises, who plays right back? I have put Milner in there as he would never let us down and actually he might suit the role but if Klopp thinks Hoever is ready (he'll be 18 in January) maybe he can be introduced in some games.

 

[Silver Sean]

TAA has defensive frailties???
What a load of utter bollocks.

 

[FreshRed]

I think we need to be better in possession, we don't use the ball well enough and give it away cheaply with countless over hit passes.

I think teams are doing a better job of filing the inside passing lanes for TAA and further up the field, making the passes higher risk and the counters more dangerous.

And, even when the space is there, TAA has often made poor passes giving the ball away too easily, but that could be a mental thing when he is consistently under more pressure.

 

[Halmeister]

TAA has defensive frailties???
What a load of utter bollocks.

He does, though

 

[Frogfish]

I don’t think we press anywhere near the level City so this season or for the majority of last season. Not that it’s affecting us much but there is zero chance the way we got hit on the break on the weekend was planned or acceptable.

I saw some stats recently that indicated we were not in the Top 5 in the PL (7th or 8th at that time), for pressing. We press in spurts, which I think is what Klopp intimated too.