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The fluid front line

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Rosco

Worse than Brendan
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When Klopp was responding to questions about Sturridge during the week he talked about flexible football and starting positions just being a starting position and no more than that.

I take that to mean we have a relatively solid base of a back four and midfield one or two who maintain a regular position but our wide players, AM's and strikers are expected to work together in a fluid system where they can pop up anywhere.

Now, i think that's a smart way of approaching the game and in theory at least it makes it harder for the opposition to prepare for us.

But for a system like that to work it requires smart players, who are selfless enough to do the unglamourous decoy runs etc on occasion and not simply hang around the box looking for a chance.

I think it can work, but it might take time before everyone is on the same page
 
It's like when we had Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling and Coutinho as our forward players. You couldn't have a game plan against them because each of them would pop up all over the place. The opposition couldn't have a certain defender sitting on a set player because they'd be dragged out of position.
 
It's going to take time to impose his system to player's. The fact that he is not looking to strengthen seems to indicate he is happy with the personnel he has. I don't think we will be consistent till after Xmas
 
When Klopp was responding to questions about Sturridge during the week he talked about flexible football and starting positions just being a starting position and no more than that.

I take that to mean we have a relatively solid base of a back four and midfield one or two who maintain a regular position but our wide players, AM's and strikers are expected to work together in a fluid system where they can pop up anywhere.

Now, i think that's a smart way of approaching the game and in theory at least it makes it harder for the opposition to prepare for us.

But for a system like that to work it requires smart players, who are selfless enough to do the unglamourous decoy runs etc on occasion and not simply hang around the box looking for a chance.

I think it can work, but it might take time before everyone is on the same page
To me it seems that is exactly what we have been seeing so far. It certainly applies to Firmino, Coutinho, Sturridge and Lallana and Mane comes into the centre often too.

Origi maybe isn't quite as mobile and we haven't seen anything of Wijnaldum in his preferred position to say yet.

We absolutely tore Spurs to shreds with our movement and really should have put that match to bed early on.
 
I'm all for a fluid front line, and movement and shit...it's clearly worked a treat in certain games and big ones...although it hasn't worked in others as well which can't be forgotten.

Whether one is for or against it, I'd still look for a way of dropping Coutinho deeper and getting Sturridge in the team.
 
The players aren't good enough now. Not one world class player. It's going to take time

Luis was easily the third best place in the world whilst playing for us so things look eas.
 
He's definitely on the right track with his thinking. Essentially this is how a 4-3-3 should work. A solid base of the back for and 3 across the middle, with 2 of the 3 having the licence to break forward - and then a front 3 that is entirely flexible across the front line. When Coutinho and Mane click properly it could be amazing.

People are giving Lallana and Wijnaldum stick in midfield, but these two need a bit of time to find their feet in these roles. People forget that for a 25 minute spell at Arsenal we looked unplayable, and we dominated Spurs for pretty much 90 minutes at White Hart Lane.

Give this team and system time and it could work really well. Klopp is an entirely different manager to Rodgers in this regard. At the first sign of trouble, Rodgers reverted back to his comfortable 3-5-2. Klopp will stick to his principles on this and keep crafting it until its 100%

Obviously the lack of a natural holding midfielder is a concern though.
 
The problem we have is that we're fluid in a good way and a bad way. As said, we cam look unplayable at times and at others panic stricken and all over the place. You can't expect to consistently win games like that and looking back on our recent history - we don't.

The fluidity needs to be backed up by a solid foundation in midfield and at the back. In recent years it feels like our midfield has become a bit of an afterthought - something that's just thrown together depending on who's available and the hope is that we make up for any deficiencies by simply attempting to out run the opposition. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Either way, it's not a long-term proposition.

Do we have the players to set up in a way that gives us that solid foundation? Is Klopp even that way inclined?

I'm not so sure to both questions. I guess we'll probably know more once Can is back and fully fit again and the likes of Grujic and Wijnaldum are better acclimatised.
 
Do we have the players to set up in a way that gives us that solid foundation? Is Klopp even that way inclined?

I'm not so sure to both questions. I guess we'll probably know more once Can is back and fully fit again and the likes of Grujic and Wijnaldum are better acclimatised.

Judging by what I saw at Dortmund, very much so. He doesn't rotate all that much when every player is in his place and he doesn't like uncertainty. Here at LFC his defensive "foundation" definitely includes Emre Can and Matip – so let's see at least a game or two in which they both start before trying to assess our foundation (or lack thereof).

I generally hate the August games in the EPL – the teams are all half-baked at best, the squads are not complete with the transfer season still going and these games give almost no indication as to how the rest of the season will play out; the only thing that matters in truth are the points and we've been unlucky here.
 
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To me it seems that is exactly what we have been seeing so far. It certainly applies to Firmino, Coutinho, Sturridge and Lallana and Mane comes into the centre often too.

Origi maybe isn't quite as mobile and we haven't seen anything of Wijnaldum in his preferred position to say yet.

We absolutely tore Spurs to shreds with our movement and really should have put that match to bed early on.

Yes, but sadly that 'fluid' front line didn't have any good finishers in it. Scoring goals is the main objective with any kind of front line, fluid or otherwise.

Origi and Firmino don't score enough goals. Which is why we need to play Sturridge regularly and also buy a new striker, because Mane was the only genuine goal threat against Spurs and Coutinho is inconsistent with his shooting. Firmino isn't good enough to play as the main striker and neither is Origi; if Klopp doesn't think Sturridge is up to it, then he needs to spend big on a player who is.

Otherwise we're fucked.
 
Judging by what I saw at Dortmund, very much so. He doesn't rotate all that much when every player is in his place and he doesn't like uncertainty. Here at LFC his defensive "foundation" definitely includes Emre Can and Matip – so let's see at least a game or two in which they both start before trying to assess our foundation (or lack thereof).

I generally hate the August games in the EPL – the teams are all half-baked at best, the squads are not complete with the transfer season still going and these games give almost no indication as to how the rest of the season will play out; the only thing that matters in truth are the points and we've been unlucky here.

Yeah, no indication at all, really, with City, Chelsea and United winning three out of three. Nobody predicted that.
 
Judging by what I saw at Dortmund, very much so. He doesn't rotate all that much when every player is in his place and he doesn't like uncertainty. Here at LFC his defensive "foundation" definitely includes Emre Can and Matip – so let's see at least a game or two in which they both start before trying to assess our foundation (or lack thereof).

I generally hate the August games in the EPL – the teams are all half-baked at best, the squads are not complete with the transfer season still going and these games give almost no indication as to how the rest of the season will play out; the only thing that matters in truth are the points and we've been unlucky here.

We can judge our foundation (or lack thereof) based on last season, what we know of our summer purchases and games thus far. Then we can judge it again in few weeks / months. And again after that. It's not a one-off assessment.
 
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