23 Nov 2015 14:58:13
After the last game, I wouldn't change a thing! A lot of people are clamoring for Benteke and/or Sturridge to come in, instead of Firmino, but I simply don't see the need. Firmino's impact on the game, as well as that of Lallana and Coutinho, in harrasing and closing down the opposing back four's efforts to move the ball forward, has been mostly underesimated. Every time a ManC player from the back four tried a second touch on the ball, one of those three was within a few feet and forcing them into a mistake or a long, inaccurate, hurried pass. This gegenpressing in the first 15 minutes, set the tone for the entire game and ManC never fully recovered. People are too obssessed with labels, ie. "striker" when the role a player plays is far more important. Is Firmino a striker? No. Was he influential in all 4 goals that were scored? Obviously, Yes. So why do we care if we have a striker playing or not, if the set up of those three (Firmino, Coutinho, Lallana) allows us to completely counter and upset the opposition's plans, and get a generaly unexpected victory out of it? Do we really care who is doing the goal scoring as long as we score and win? Would Sturridge or Benteke do the same amount of pressing Firmino was so effective in doing? Benteke is simply not agile enough and too slow for it. Sturridge simply doesn't like to do it, based on what I have seen the previous seasons. Of course, every team has to be addressed tactically and differently, every week. But for me, Firmino should be starting every week and Benteke and Sturridge shold be brought in whenever the tactical need requires it. Not to overdo it, but I think this last game was like "the shot that was heard throughout the league" in the same manner that we beat Arsenal at home 2 seasons ago. Within 20-30 minutes the game was pretty much over, and that game set the tone for the rest of the season. I would replace Milner with Henderson, and place the 11 that started against ManC as the base for the rest of the season, while changing individual players according to form, injuries and suspensions. I was one of those who wrote that we would not climb beyond 5th or 6th this season. But the way those three in front played the game showed me how not only how they could score goals, but also how our defensive deficiencies in both midfield and the back four were lessened.
23 Nov 2015 15:19:47
Literally agree with every word. Hendo in for Milner, Sakho in for Lovren. Job done.
23 Nov 2015 15:53:09
I agree that they played very well in a counter-attacking capacity, but I don't know if that would have been the team I'd select if I was looking to break down a team. But you need all sorts of options to win a title. The core of the squad in place is extremely solid, you've just got to have a few interchangeable parts, and we definitely do. Fantastic performance from Firmino, Coutinho is on PotY form right now and Can played his best game in a red shirt. There is a lot to be proud of about Saturday's performance, but we can't get ahead of ourselves. Sure feels good though!
23 Nov 2015 17:34:27
Ra is right. Why should Benteke or Studge especially, just walk into the team? What has he done to earn that right? We are winning and scoring goals so until the opponents and or tactics dictate otherwise, he and or Benteke should just sit tight and encourage the team.
23 Nov 2015 17:38:31
Against most other teams they won't have a problem with kicking it long, sitting back, crouding out the space. As well as it works against teams that press, it won't work as well against teams that play to hit us on the break, we will need a striker to score more. Firmino stays in in my eyes though, just games where we expect to be on top, benteke or Sturridge up front.
23 Nov 2015 18:26:56
Agree and disagree. You have to be willing to adapt to what is in front of you - there's no point in a team set to rush and counterattack an opposition who is perfectly happy to sit there for the draw or try and nick a win. I'm happy with whatever and whoever Klopp selects for the job at hand - winning a game will not always be the same tactic.
23 Nov 2015 21:22:37
I would say our issues will come at home where playing counter attack will be more difficult.
24 Nov 2015 03:40:10
Agree 100% Agger, it's our ability to break down a packed defence with the opposition placing 10 players behind the ball that will define our season. That's why we need other options when Coutinho/Firmino are struggling to create space for a break through the middle.
Benteke will be invaluable in situations where we have to play with more width to stretch the defence (eg a 4-3-3 with Firmino/Benteke/Ibe upfront), and someone to feed off the resulting crosses.
Alternatively we could play 2 upfront with Benteke/Sturridge who would complement each others styles nicely.
23 Nov 2015 23:30:00
Great post. Very much agree.
I'm also curious about this point, I've seen a few times argued on here, about how people would not have gone with the same XI, if we were playing a team that would fall back and concede possession-- the assumption is that Firmino/Coutinho/Lallana wouldn't be able to break down a defense that has dropped deep. Instead, you go with Benteke or Sturridge.
I actually think this has it backwards. It is precisely the darting runs, creative movement, flick ons, through balls, and technical link-up play we saw between Firmino/Coutinho/Lallana, and to a lesser extent Can, that is necessary to break down defenses, including those that drop deep and concede possession.
The problem we had under Rodgers was that we would pass the ball around the box pointlessly, with nobody making such creative runs or darting through with pace, and eventually we would hoof a bad long ball or cross into the box, which would be cleared easily.
I could see Benteke's strength in the air being a nice option to call on in different circumstances, as a way of keeping teams guessing and mixing things up, but otherwise, this would be my Starting XI, with Hendo in for Milner, Sakho for Lovren.
24 Nov 2015 12:27:31
I disagree with adapting. Focus on being so good at your own game that the opposition have to adapt. Do you think Barcelona ever adapt based on opposition? Do they heck. Same players, same tactics, same formation. They're just so good at it its near impossible to stop.
Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana have a near telepathic chemistry. Why change that?
24 Nov 2015 13:07:41
ra1969, i can't disa gree with you, also it was the same team that beat chelsea so klopp knows what he needs for certain games, against the top teams he plays the top 3 because they have the agility and speed to close down the defenders when we are pressing high up the field, as you say benteke is not agile enough or he is not quick enough also, again he will use this team when we play the top teams away from home, klopp knows what he is doing and he is getting the best out of our players so long may it continue, its great the way he has got his tactics across so quickly and the players seem to be taking them on board just as quick, i have just watched natch of the day which i recireded and i think countino has put some muscle on in his legs, so the players have not just got better but they have put muscle on making the stonger in the challange nad it will be harder for them to get knocked of the ball,
again i will say it, i feel we will go on a winning run of games now that we have started winning games, and because of this we will have a chance of not just finishing in the top 4 but we could win the prem and another cup, so a double or maybe a treble could be on the cards, but for this to happen we have to first go on a winning streak then we will need luck, because our last game showed we have the pglayers and tactics and manager to win the prem so with a bit/lot of luck we could win the prem /europa or even the treble, it would be worth a £1 or £2 bet on it, just out of interest, our next game will show us how we are going to play for the rest of the season if we win it and perform the same a we did against man city then the other top teams better get out of our way, i'm now looking forward to our games something i lost when BR was our manager also what strikes me is the way klopp is smiling all the time, its infectious because after a game when he goes to our players they end up smiling giving them a fell good factor where as BR's smile was creepy lol ;)
24 Nov 2015 13:40:39
EMS - yes, Barcelona do adapt. Every single game. Every top team adapts; I'm not taking about big sweeping changes but they do change game on game. That's why you do things like opposition analysis - why would you bother if you weren't planning on adapting to it?