[quote author=Juanito link=topic=37728.msg1008747#msg1008747 date=1260236559]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=37728.msg1008693#msg1008693 date=1260232505]
Nice post.
However I must disagree on Yossi, He scored a hat trick from behind Torres this year and also started there against Utd at home where he created the breakthrough goal. He does like to drift in but this causes to become very narrow and predictable when he does.
I'd much prefer from day one if we had played Gerrard and Masher/Lucas depending on masher's fitness with Yossi in the hole behind Torres/Kuyt again depending on fitness.
Then he could have had Aurelio, Babel Reira outwide. That team would have been alot more stable and controlled alot more games.
Yes we have conceded more and not having a settled defence has been a major factor but I think our midfield getting overrun by any team with attacking midfielders with pace has shown where our true weakness has been.
Zonal marking as per has not helped either.
Rafa has been unlucky with injuries but I think his stubborness with certain players and formations have had just a big a part to play in our current situation.
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Firstly about Benayouns position against the likes of Burnley and United, i remember him alternating with Kuyt a great deal throughout both games and like i said earlier with Gerrard in there aswell those 3 give us good fluidity and versatility in behind Torres. Problem is though once again injuries have disrupted all that, even at the weekend both Gerrard and Yossi seemed to be still struggling for full fitness.
It's the same for zonal marking and our problems defending set pieces - defenders have been in and out of the side too often to get any real understanding or continuity going on. Thankfully with Agger back we haven't conceded in the last 3 and things seem to be settling down again.
Our biggest problem for me so far this season is the lack of height in the side, especially in central midfield. I think the manager has alluded to it himself but particularly in midfield we've lacked a real presence at times in both open and set play. Aquilani will hopefully help to fill a void in more ways than one.
The manager has been backed in to a corner with what he's been able to do tactically, some of it is his own doing but injuries have been untimely too. I think also had the team received the proper backing financially during the summer we may have coped better with injuries and had more options and variety to our play.
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The team lacking in height is down to the manager.
Rafa was made fully aware of how much money he had to spend on new contracts players signing on fees etc according to my source so I don't buy that one.
Zonal marking by definition shouldn't matter if players chop and change. Everyone gets drilled in training on their positions and should be able to step in when needed. In general play yes our defence has suffered from not having the same guys week in week out however most of our goals have come from set pieces.
Again down to the manager.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
I agree when everyone is fit things go more smoothly, but look at Utd, they have chopped and changed all year, lost 2 serious goal threats, their best player, have a defensive crisis and are still playing the same familar attractive flowing brand of football everyone has come to know from UTD.
With Liverpool,
we lose Torres/Gerrard or switch the defence around and suddenly its understandable that our play looks disjointed and nothing like last season. And I mean nothing like it. The Blackburn game was simply atricious.
You raise some very valid points but there must come a stage where we say enough excuses.
