Liverpool Banter Archive September 09 2015

09 Sep 2015 17:41:50
Any chance of a pre United pod cast ed&benny?

{Ed001's Note - possibly, if there is time.}

09 Sep 2015 20:21:28
Cracking, thank you :)

09 Sep 2015 14:50:04
Eds I was wondering in international breaks what is it managers tend to get up to and you're preference to what managers should be doing
*I realise this may change from each situation.

take training as normal and invite reserves and u18's to train as 1st teamers to monitor their progress ?

look at future targets and see how they play and train on international duty

go to coaching conferences to expand on their knowledge

review games and talk about strategies/tactics for future games before the next break?

I imagine if you take a chance to train as normal you limit your time for other activites like scouting,but you may become aware of a prospect in your ranks.

So yeah,what tends to be the norm in these breaks,and what would you prefer your own manager to do(whomever replies to this)

{Ed002's Note - (a) The training will continue as normal with the palyers available - they won't disrupt the academy training schedule. (b) Scouting continues as normal - that is not the responsibility of the manager in most cases.}

09 Sep 2015 11:44:05
Another great podcast guys, nice work!

ED001, I was just wondering if by playing two up top, and trying not to lose out in midfield we tuck any wide players we play inside to better protect the middle of the pitch, we leave Clyne exposed against Depay? If Depay wreaks havoc from his favoured LW position, then it’s likely a midfielder will go over to help Clyne… this will give a strong United central midfield pairing more space than before which could also cause us damage. We know BR loves to control the middle of the park as best he can, and this is one of the main reasons I don’t think BR will play two up top.
For what it’s worth, I’d quite like us to set up with 2 forwards. BR needs to change the system to create some attacking impetus, and frankly if we can’t score against this United defence (even without Couts and Sturridge), then I fear top 4 really is out of our reach this season.
So Ed, do you think BR should adapt his tactics to be more attack-minded against United even though it will expose our defence? Moving forward in the season, a balance of course is ideal, but we haven't shown much improvement in defence and again our attack is so impotent.

I look forward to your response!

{Ed001's Note - have you not watched Depay play? He always looks to cut inside, so tucking people in will help deal with that mate. Sorry that sounds harsh, it wasn't meant as a dig at the beginning. I was just pointing out that if you watch him a lot you will see he doesn't look to get down the sides at all. He will be constantly cutting in to where the midfield should be packed and waiting for him.}

09 Sep 2015 12:59:40
I did not listen to the Podcast yet so no comments what Ed01 has said about the UTD game in perticular.

I don't think BR is good enough to win this match with his tactics or any kind of system. Like always, someone has to produce a magic of brilliance and Who is the only question BR would be asking himself and his coaching staff.

What happens if LVG brings in Young and Fellaini?. Young is an out and out winger who would get to byline and whip in balls. I have a strong feeling Fellaini might start playing off Rooney and Young replacing Mata midway through.

09 Sep 2015 13:13:03
Haha a fine point ED001! Don't apologise. That was me not thinking it through.

Hopefully we will play with 2 forwards and come away with 3 points then!

{Ed001's Note - fingers crossed. I don't think I could cope with another disaster against them.}

09 Sep 2015 14:27:57
What would be your starting XI ed001 ?
Sorry, haven't listened to the podcast yet.

{Ed001's Note - I don't remember doing anything on the team to be honest, I can't remember that. Mind we did have to keep redoing it so it gets confused.

Harry you clearly haven't watched Young play, he usually checks back on to his right peg to cross, if Clyne is any good then he should be able to deal with that. It will be a good test of whether he actually is a decent defender or not.

I would go with Clyne, Gomez, Sakho and Moreno as the back four.

Midfield Hendo (hopefully) if not fit Can, Lucas. Firmino on the left with freedom to roam, Ibe on the right with the instruction to just get the ball whipped into the box.

Up front Benteke and Ings.

09 Sep 2015 15:21:57
Not a bad line up Ed01, But unffortunately not happening. in my eyes.
Skrtel would come in place of Gomez who would keep the place at LB pushing Moreno to the bench ( that will weaken our Left side comapred to Moreno would trouble both Darmian and Mata with his pace )
Ibe won't be starting and BR would yet again pick Lallana ( Same cut inside and cramp for room)

I would slightly tweak that Line up.

Play the same back 4 as you suggested.

Can alongside Lucas in the middle.

Henderson to play the Gerrard role behind Benteke

Firmino and Ibe on other side of Henderson.

Tactics. Lucas to break up the play and Can to spread the ball and pick the players. Instructions to Moreno / Clyne to push high up to recieve the first time ball from Can / Lucas.
Stretch UTD and create the space in the middle.

Henderson would provide a much more threat than Ings.

If Henderson isn't fit, I would play Milner out wide comibing with Clyne and Firmino behind Benteke, Lucas and Can in the middle.

09 Sep 2015 17:30:07
If we play a narrow diamond, we stop there midfielders playing hopefully, which is where their strength lies. Shaw may be dangerous without a direct opponent but say henderson is right of the diamond he can close him down and whoever is top of the diamond cover the middle. I think firmino may be better at the tip with ings up top personally

09 Sep 2015 20:06:08
In my opinion it will be.

Mignolet.
Clyde.
Skrtle.
Sahko.
Gomez.

Henderson.
Milner.
Moreno.
Firmino.
Can
Benteke.

I think he will try and have Moreno doubling up on left due to Gomez's inexperience. Plus Moreno's pace can be utilised to counter at pace when required. I do hope Sahko gets a start.

09 Sep 2015 20:13:09
Spot on Ed and Fencey. i proposed a 442 diamond as well which will help defend against depay who comes inside a lot like Sanchez does. Hopefully, BR will be courageous enuff to do it because they are there for the taking.

09 Sep 2015 08:23:41
What's with the Milner bashing on here now what has he done wrong since he came. Is a huge upgrade on the inept Allen and as far as I am concerned has been the most consistent performer in the team whether he us similar or not all he can do is the job he is given. Him on the left of a 3 and hendo on the right it will turn out you will see. We need hendo back Caan is trying to hard at the mo and is giving the ball away too much he should be playing a holding role that is his strength not attacking looks cumbersome as best he us a beast at def mid.

09 Sep 2015 08:35:09
No one is bashing Milner. He is a good player and ideal for a team who doesn't have Henderson and Can with them.
Allen and Milner are completely different players. Allen is the moulds of Xavi who loves to keep the ball and dictatte the tempo of the game ( unfortunately he couldn't ) Milner on the other hand is a B2B midfilder.

If you want to replace Allen, you should buy a player like Modric.

There are various CM in football, We needed one Zidane type or Xavi type.

09 Sep 2015 08:56:09
For one can is not a b2b midfielder he is a def mid and Milner has played winger for most of his life, Allen couldn't dictate a Sunday league game. Get real we are never going to find the perfect Xavi or zidane there are only a handful of those players in the world and we are not rich enough or big enough anymore. All we can do is win games and to be honest Chelsea have played with similar players all over there team and they seem to do ok. It's more to do with tactical noise which Brenda does not have enough of to use them properly. As someone once said I dream of a team of carraghers and old Fowler up front.

09 Sep 2015 09:14:14
Ivrman

I disagree there mate. Can is a midfielder who posses offensive attributes than his defensive attributes mainly positioning. Milner came to liverpool to play centrally and that's something we heard from his mouth and our manager.

Kovacic is one player very similar to the mould of Xavi and that's a real reality. ( just watch him and his style ) We were close to agree a deal and ran out of the money with pumping 33 mill for Benteke.

Chelsea played perfect system last season with Fabrigas as the CM and Matic as the DM. ( Fabregas is a completely differnt player to Milner/Can)

We played the perfect system with right players against West ham. Lucas-Milner-Can in the middle and was a complete failure.

BR is guilty of many things at the club but not always as you are trying to make out.

He wanted Kovacic and to me it makes perfect sense as We are crying out for creativity in the middle to an extent we are praising Shelvey these days.

For any manager, your CM is your vision, Your two eyes which you see the whole game. Paul Scholes is the best of best example.

09 Sep 2015 09:33:29
Since when is can a beast of a dm??? He has only played in that position a handful of times he hasn't the disipline to play that role. I would play him instead of milner any day i'm not milner bashing as ye he is a hard working pro but we just didn't need to sign him as he is not needed and i believe hendo and can would work a lot better together. Milners signing to me is just holding can back he is ready to be starting games now if he's good enough to start for germany he has to be ready to start for us.

09 Sep 2015 10:27:23
Does anyone else think we go completely over the top labelling players?

Players do certain things well and certain things not so well. Managers then choose where those attributes can be utilised most effectively for the benefit of the team. For the German team Can is most useful as a right back right now. For us he may be most useful as a DM. Another team may use his elsewhere. Doesn't necessarily mean he's being played out of position, just that's where they can add most benefit.

09 Sep 2015 10:57:55
Muscat

Eeeeh. What exactly are you trying to say mate. His biggest weakness is his discipline and Positioning. How could he play a DM? He would need to learn the art and it would take time.

In my long long memmory only one player ever made it to both the position you are refering and its Philipp Lahm but unfortunately he was a quite poor in the middle.

A RB could go and become an offensive RB and then a RW ( Bale for example )
But full back to a midfielder? Impossible.

09 Sep 2015 12:03:01
Harry, you're talking nonsense about FB turning to midfielders.

Lahm did it perfectly well!

Dare I say that Phil Neville also did the transition and was an influential midfielder during Everton's better (recent) years!

09 Sep 2015 12:46:26
Good luck mate. Play him there. I have no complaints.

09 Sep 2015 13:04:48
EG, I'm not talking about individuals, I think it's stupid how we shoehorn players in general.

A player isn't a DM, a CM (I hate the term B2B) an AM or anything else. They're someone with skills that can be utilised anywhere on the pitch. The question isn't where is their best position but where can they best be used for the benefit of the team?

If you want a player to do nothing other than break up play and shield the defence then Lucas is our best choice as a deep midfielder. If you want a player to launch passes from deep then it's Hendo. If you want a player to carry the ball forward from deep then Can's best. A player shouldn't be defined by a particular role but what he can contribute to a team from any given position.

To bring it back to the original post Milner is a player who does everything to a decent level. His best position may be wide but he certainly contributes in the middle and Rodger's thinks that no one else in the squad can perform the role that he's defined as well as Milner can and that's why he plays him there.

09 Sep 2015 13:45:53
EG is right in pretty much very post in this thread. We needed a playmaker in CM, and we didn't get one.

09 Sep 2015 14:14:25
Muscat

I could understand your point in general and to an extent its correct. But we do bash our manager when he plays a player in a position outside what we feel he is. ( Like Can played RB and we ripped BR for playing and someone above now would play him there )

We have good midfeilders but not the right midfielders.

We easily bash Allen who couldn't do a job at liverpool but then compare him to Milner who is completely different from the player Allen and the role he used to do at Swansea.

We should have got Kovacic by hook or crook who is the most typical Zidane/Xavi type player we needed. someone who sit alongside Lucas and dictate the game, Picks the player with fine passing and carry the ball extensievly well.

Untill Liverpool FC doesn't find next Alonso, We would continue to struggle.

09 Sep 2015 17:34:43
Eg the trams for window is closed and youve been making the same point since we were first linked to Kovacic, give it a rest mate.

09 Sep 2015 19:08:59
Took me a while to figure out 'trams for window'!

09 Sep 2015 20:14:46
Milner was never needed, end of.

10 Sep 2015 00:11:51
Do you not think we needed a bit more experience after losing Stevie? Without him you look at the squad and wonder where that level headed calmness might come from. With his experience he can really help the new and younger players come through. I agree that if you just look at ability then perhaps we didn't need him but sometimes it's about more than that.

09 Sep 2015 22:18:31
Haha trams for widow stupid autocorrect

10 Sep 2015 11:51:58
The fact is, Milner is the best right midfielder I the squad. He is not the best central midfielder.