Games against Tottenham, Oldham, Stoke and Villa are clear examples of a problem that we have from set piece play. Players like Vertonghen, Smith, Giourd and Benteke have jumped on this weakness we have, and have been major problems for us this season. Nearly one in three (30.4%) of the Reds’ opposition shots have come from set-plays, which shows how teams use set pieces to create chances against us.
At times when watching us defend set plays, it seems to me that were too nice. If you compare us to the likes of Stoke or West Brom when defending a corner, it is clear that there is a big difference. The likes of Johnson and Enrique in particular don't get close to their men, and are too respectful in not holding/pulling/pushing the attacking player around. I know this is illegal, but a bit of comanding presence in the box would make a huge difference, and everyone does it anyway.
One positive we can take from this is that teams main and sometimes only threat against us is from set pieces. It means were doing something right in open play, and it's much easier to improve defending from set plays than from open play. If Brendan can improve our set piece play and also defending from counter attack play, then we can be major contenders for top four. Signing a quality ball winning centre half, and a long legged destroyer in midfield can help with this.
Thoughts?
Set Piece Problems
posted on 14/3/13
I agree with the CB and Ball winning midfielder...
on Sunday I thought out of all the players on show for Spurs it would be Dembele (wins the ball and can carry it to create an attack) and Vertonghen would make the biggest difference to us IMHO...
posted on 14/3/13
Agreed we need to win the ball higher up the pitch, when the ball is headed out it can be quite random where it ends up unless you have a player like Hyppiä on the field.
posted on 14/3/13
Im undecided on Reina in all honesty. I mean, we all know what he brings to the table but we need to regain that form...and quick. Not show it in flashes, like he has done recently.
CB - With Carra going and the possible sale of Skrtel & Coates (or loan)...either one of Kelly and/or Wisdom will need to be used as CBs.
I'll go with Kelly, purely because we could use his pace in and around the box and it'll make up for Agger's lack of pace.
Then we'll just need to buy one quality CB and hopefully he'll hit the ground running.
posted on 14/3/13
For me what we lack (and maybe this is against Rodgers style) but is a midfielder who will carry the ball forward and move our attack from 10-15 yards inside our own half to 10-15 yards inside the oppositions half...
I think this would radically change how we play against teams that are set up to defend.
when watching Barcelona they play the passing game with defenders just inside the opposition half, our defenders are 10 yards in front of our box.
posted on 14/3/13
I think it's worth pointing out that Coates got judged against Oldham after getting bullied by Matt Smith, but he did the same against Everton! On of the best teams at competing physically. In the FA Cup you will get away with that but no at Premiership level as Carroll has found to his cost. Given a run of games I still think Coates could do well for us, he also is technically pretty good on the ball.
posted on 14/3/13
"For me what we lack (and maybe this is against Rodgers style) but is a midfielder who will carry the ball forward and move our attack from 10-15 yards inside our own half to 10-15 yards inside the oppositions half..."
This is where Gerrard comes in and why i never want to see him in any other role other than deep-lying playmaker. He can ping the ball across the pitch and hit his man....this will eliminate the need for one player to carry the ball although we do have that type of player now in Suarez & Coutinho..even Henderson.
Also worth noting that we'll probably never be able to keep the ball like Barca..well not any time soon. Also the higher tempo game in England, you can never really play most of the game in opposition's half like Barca do in Spain
posted on 14/3/13
Leiva - I accept all that and agree
However at times I think the midfielder who is played alongside Gerrard (be it Lucas, Allen or Henderson) do not have the same level of ability to do this as other players (such as Dembele, Yaya T) etc and think this will add that extra dimension to our game.
defending against Gerrard and a player in this mould would be that the opposition would not know whether to press the ball or not. Press high and stop the powerful runner but Gerrard could do you with a 'ping' , dont press high and the powerful runner will advance the 10-15 yards.... I would like to see this as an extra dimension to our play.
posted on 14/3/13
We need a big strong player in the middle for the squad.
Also I'm long since decided on Reina. Ever since he said he wanted to leave, he's been crap. Sell.
Send Jones with him to carry his bags.
posted on 14/3/13
Lucas distribution is very good but its not his role to carry the ball forward.
Also worth noting that Yaya only does this once Mancini does his usual tactical change of giving Yaya the freedom to attack.
Dembele is a special player in the sense that he is probably the best in the world at side stepping players.
I honestly think Countinho could provide this and is the most suited to it in our team. I honestly prefer him in the centre than Suarez as his passing is alot more effective than Suarez and i'll argue the fact that he uses the better options as well.
My team will be:
----------------------Reina---------------------
------------Skrtel------------Agger------------
Johnson--------------------------------Enrique
------------Lucas-----------Gerrard------------
Downing----------Coutinho------------Suarez
--------------------Sturridge--------------------
With Suarez playing more as a support striker so he has license to drift in
posted on 14/3/13
Lucas distribution is very good but its not his role to carry the ball forward.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I know im not saying it is and this isnt my having a go at anyone however I wolud like a player in this mould in addition to what we have so that we have the option of this. You mention Mancini giving Yaya T licence to do this..if that is true then I would like to have that option for us...