24 Jul 2015 15:29:58
two things we look awful against a poor Malaysian side and two even though we have signings at home none of them are going to alter how we defend, which for the record is still woeful
Yeah yeah its pre-season but its still the same old too many touches and usually backwards nonsense
24 Jul 2015 15:44:21
Lovren has been the malaysians best defender, clearing 3 or 4 balls.
24 Jul 2015 15:52:16
Been saying it all along. We need passers in midfield. Players who know how to play quick short passes and link up. As for defending, Lovren has a lot of improving to do, and Moreno isn't strong defensively. There's no doubt that our defence is much better with Sakho and Gomez in it.
Red Rum
24 Jul 2015 15:58:21
I'm just extremely frustrated at the Sakho situation given I think he is far and away the best centre back in the team, I tend to ignore pre season games, The only thing I really took of note was Origis wastefulness, needs to work out it other parts of his game look really good.
24 Jul 2015 16:00:00
It was terrible!! If you want an illustration of how much of a dipstick the manager is, he brought on Chirivella in the 89th minute. I guess that's what Brendan and Ron Keague would say is giving the academy players an opportunity.
24 Jul 2015 16:03:51
Well at least we all now see the problems still facing us as we need to sharpen up in the defence, Lovren was extremely poor with Skrtel. I think Origi has good movement but needs a coach to help him work on his finishing. let's hope we get things ironed out before we start the season.
24 Jul 2015 16:10:38
We need good midfielders who step up and stop the attacking threat coming to us. We have none. our tempo was slow and we need plyers from the middle to make that spark.
24 Jul 2015 16:10:40
I agree the defending was awful. I honestly believe we missed Gomez, I've watched all the pre-season games and we look better with him in the side than without him.
Just wish it was Skrtel leaving and not Sakho, just feel we will offer so much going forward this season but will be found wanting at the back if he persists with Skrtel.
Plus I've been having my own game of where's Wally all pre-season, but this is called where's O'Driscoll and I finally saw him sitting behind BR, so I win.
24 Jul 2015 16:19:17
What do you mean Brendan AND Ron Keague?
24 Jul 2015 16:49:01
Lovern is getting a lot of abuse for his performance and rightly so but for the goal I think the blame should be placed primarily at Skrtels feet. The player who scored was Skrtels man who ran off him and leaving Lovern with 2 players to worry about. I don't think Lovern did enough still as the player went past him too easily and as he should have been shifting his feet quicker and anticipating where the player would go.
But why is Skrtel caught so high in the first place?? Even if Skrtel just remained a couple of yards behind the eventual goalscorer he can press if it goes into feet and still gives himself more space if the ball goes over the top as it did. Lucas is just in front too so if it goes in the goalscorers feet there is pressure from both him also. Skrtel always tries to win the first ball played into the forward and ignores the shape of the back 4 and space he in turn creates for other players to run into, e.g. Gayles goal for Place end of 13/14 season.
If we go into the season with both players as our starting CB's I fear the worst, unless the forwards are absolutely on fire as I cannot see us keeping many clean sheets. Sakho and Ilori would be better suited to how we play. I don't mean to be negative but after two seasons of watching Skrtel cost us with poor defending its hard not to be.
24 Jul 2015 16:53:33
If Rodgers persist with Lovren then we may suffer not only in defence but also to build attacks.Lovren is afraid to make a pass through the center & to tackle the ball.We did play decently,Henderson was trying few deft passes,so its good that he is doing it in a preaseason game.Also Lallana was good but he is unneccessarily taking an extra touch.And we have passers in midfield only we need to tone down extra touch and be quick with passes,which I think we will improve with players getting more game time.
24 Jul 2015 17:11:18
well you are Brendan's biggest cheerleader and the only self professed Liverpool fan that seems to like the guy. Plus you always say how much of an opportunity he gives to young players at Liverpool. The Man City youngsters have got more of an opportunity on their tour than the Liverpool academy players have on ours!
24 Jul 2015 17:30:48
Essex, I take exception at that last comment!
24 Jul 2015 17:52:45
Lfc tommc
You are wrong mate, don't blame everything on skrtel. Often he has been criticized for dropping deep, nothing happened today.
Diagonal ball and the striker took it on chest bullied Lovren and back in the net. simple
24 Jul 2015 18:27:50
Euro Glory, Skrtel definitely isn't to blame for everything. I believe the system is the main issue when it comes to the teams performances at the back. The CB's get exposed more than anyone with Rodgers insisting on both full backs pushing up with no midfield cover (when Lucas isn't there).
Alot of CB's would struggle in this system but Skrtel lacks the two things you need more than most to be effective 1) Reading of the game and 2) Pace. Like you said he has been criticized for dropping too deep but if he isn't doing that he is getting dragged out of position leaving space for players to exploit. He just doesn't read situations well, like today pushing up with the right back already up he is clearly leaving space for that ball to be played, if he holds the shape the ball isn't even played and maybe its into the strikers feet where he is isolated and liverpool players in numbers.
You are right that Skrtel isn't the only problem, he was at his best with Carragher constantly talking to him and others around him. But he doesn't have that now and we have to work with the best combination we have and unless one of the other CB's suddenly turns into a leader then there is no combo I would include Skrtel in when deciding on a CB partnership.
24 Jul 2015 20:05:41
Lfc tommc
Could you elaborate the system mate? I have been hearing this word from quite some months. Which and what kind of system?
Playing from the back? High line? Flat back 4?
Which system is comfortable for Lovren that we should be playing?
24 Jul 2015 23:59:29
Euro Glory
The system Rodgers clearly prefers is possession based when we're in attack and high pressure when we are defending. In order to press the ball effectively the back line should play a relatively high line otherwise it is too easy to break the pressure applied from the forwards and midfield. I also think you need CB's with pace who read the game well as mistakes can easily lead to a goal i.e. stepping forward if ball is being played long allows space in behind for a player to run into.
For me, the main problem with the system is how Rodgers sets up his players. I think you mentioned previously that the one area we need is a DM, I could be mistaking you for another poster, but I think this area is key. Rodgers asks both full backs to play so high up the field it leaves a lot of space for the CB's to cover, which isn't that bad if the midfield offer sufficient cover. Lucas does this job but I am not sure he has the legs to do it at the highest level anymore.
Personally I would like to see either one of the other center mids to drop beside the DM when we lose the ball and forget about pressing or just have one full back push on at a time leaving 3 plus DM. This is just my opinion and maybe if that happened it still would be ineffective but when Lovren looked good he had 2 DM's in front of him giving the protection he needed and cover if he was dragged into a wide position.
24 Jul 2015 21:03:36
the system where lovern stays on the subs bench is the system that suits him best ,Rogers must have had the Guinness glasses on when he bought lovern to replace sako, must have had a few cans on a Friday night and been on eBay half pissed when he bought him,woke up Saturday morning going what the cola bottle did I buy last night