The second half

[Mors]

So why are we shit in the second half of every game this season then?

What's different? What are we doing different from the first half? Is it just a complete coincidence of the teams we're playing in that run? Are the players knackered? Is it the players? Are they bottlers?

We do seem to be playing deeper in all these games, I've no idea why, and inviting the pressure on. I'd always expect an opponent to come at you for the last 10mins of the game regardless, if you're winning/drawing and they're in reach of a draw/win. But not from the off in the 2nd half.

Is this correctable quickly or are we likely to see more of the same against Southampton?

We didn't seem to have this problem last season? Maybe it's just a complete fluke of the combination of teams we've been playing. Luckily we've played teams that couldn't score in a brothel or are shit when their main player is marked out of it. I don't fancy our chances of holding up against a Arse/Spurs/City side, if we play attack vs defence for 45mins.

 

[Jack D Rips]

I watched the U21s the other night and they adopted a novel approach to solving this problem. They played high up the pitch and kept passing the ball to each other. It worked a treat and they went from 2 1 down at HT to winning the game 5 2. This despite being down to 10 men for the last half hour.

 

[Squiggles]

Most of the problem is our midfield is unbalanced and struggles to assert itself in games when they're being tested. They seem to withdraw in on themselves after long spells without possession and decide to sit deeper and deeper. The other major issue is we haven't got the experience or the nous to slow the game down or pick the right pass when teams are all over us.

It's why we needed a Khedira, or someone similar, over the summer.

 

[Mors]

Most of the problem is our midfield is unbalanced and struggles to assert itself in games when they're being tested. They seem to withdraw in on themselves after long spells without possession and decide to sit deeper and deeper. The other major issue is we haven't got the experience or the nous to slow the game down or pick the right pass when teams are all over us.

It's why we needed a Khedira, or someone similar, over the summer.

You'd like to think that between Lucas and Gerrard, they can get hold of the ball, calm things down, hold the ball up, let players move up, and play higher up. But they can't, and then Gerrard looks for a hollywood ball to spray it out to instead of building.

 

[keniget]

We don't have enough players that can receive the ball in a tight spot and hold onto it.

For all the talk of Barca's passing quality their ability to receive the ball and get away from their man/men with a touch or two is the main reason the whole thing works.

Can't wait for Suarez to come back.

 

[dmishra]

Both the posts above.

Our central midfield is very ordinary. That doesn't look to be changing any time soon.

The second point should get resolved once we have an attacking quartet of Moses, Coutinho, Suarez and Sturridge - all fuckers who can trap a ball and keep it if required.

It's also why your full-backs should be able to play. For all the criticism of Glenjo, he contributes a remarkable lot to building attacks simply by being competent with the ball at his feet.

 

[dmishra]

I'll just add that my biggest criticism of Lucas isn't actually his defensive ability.

He's a holding midfielder, and they don't necessarily have to do swashbuckling defensive work like marking tackles, dispossessing the opposition and making opposition players out of the game. The most obvious and important role of the holding midfielder is to hold that line between defence and attack and make sure the ball is circulated calmly and intelligently from there.

Over the years, Lucas has developed the ability to do it when things are going well. But the moment we're under the cosh, he becomes totally anonymous, dropping deeper and passing feebly. The likes of Hamann and Alonso used to thrive in these pressure situations demanding the ball and keeping it safe with intelligent passing.

Even the likes of Parker, Carrick and Barry do it better. It's why it's mostly a joke when people insist week after week that he's a top DM. He's not, and Gerrard's a very poor partner for the reasons Mors gave above.

I wonder if Joe Allen can play that holding role on a regular basis?

 

[iseered]

 

[red_maradona]

bizarre thread tbh, taken out of context you would think we were languishing in the bottom half of the table. We're top of the league and the best player in the premier league is about to return.