06 Dec 2025 01:37:55
Very hypothetical I know.
But what would Enrique do with this squad and who would he replace.
I know I’m dreaming but I’d love him at LFC.
06 Dec 2025 09:04:17
The firstly thing would be to make them fitter.
Then replace Konate
Then buy a top number 6
And finally use tactics that work.
Oh I nearly forgot, stop macca marking the biggest player in a corner because that’s just ridiculous!
06 Dec 2025 09:11:39
@longthing: that you get taught that in junior footy, big on big and always leave a man or two on half way line when you defend a corner.
06 Dec 2025 09:43:35
How i've tried to make sense of it (but don't agree with) is that we keep the big lads for the second ball. So someone like macca picks up the deep runner if he doesn't win it VVD and Konate are in place to deal with it coming back in. See the Dan burn goal, you wouldn't want VVD that far out.
06 Dec 2025 10:24:47
That’s what they do Ernest. It’s the latest fad in the coaching manual, City do it as well. The small one is the disruptor, with the big guys behind to make the real challenge if needed.
06 Dec 2025 11:17:55
Spot on Hugo.
It's the new "style" of modern day defending.
The funny thing of this new "fad", is basically what leads to all holding, pushing, grabbing etc from corner kicks.
The officials don't really help the situation either.
I reckon, that if you take a good look, 90% of corners should result. in some sort of foul.
06 Dec 2025 12:22:52
Enrique has been fortunate that he and Luis Campos have been on the same page. Mendes, Pacho, Neves, Kvara, Doue etc were not pulled out of thin air.
But what really stands out is what Enrique has done with Vitinha and Dembele. I would never have imagined that those two could produce the physical output they do - Dembele's pressing last season was outstanding and should be an example to those who think Isak, Gakpo and Ekitike cannot be made to press.
06 Dec 2025 13:36:26
The one that makes you wonder about the sanity of modern coaching is the play out from the back into midfield and then back to defence patterns of play.
Sometimes the degree of skill needed to work it out from the back is amazing, from defenders and keeper. But then it goes into midfield and they quite often end up passing it back to a defender who ends up lumping it anyway.
We’ve ended up with some very technically skilled defenders and goalkeepers, who are less able to actually defend or save shots or crosses than their predecessors would have been. It’s madness at times.
Of course the latest fad, long throws. We’re one of the few teams who aren’t doing it, although Jo has a decent throw on him so maybe we’ll join that bandwagon next.
I predict the next tactical new wave will be right footed right wingers, and left footed left wingers. With two up front.
06 Dec 2025 13:45:00
If a player is incapable of closing down his opponent in tandem with his team mates then you have to ask what are you doing on a football pitch in the first place?
06 Dec 2025 14:15:20
Hugo, I am not sure whether we'll see traditional wingers anytime soon as the current coaches are petrified of transitions while the attack phase is in a wide and vulnerable shape.
Much of what we see in the PL right now is the result of the fear of transition, fitness/ injury concerns and the technical improvement of defenders on the ball to resist press. The Klopp style counterpress is being used sparingly, and in Slot's case, not at all.
And naturally with fear, focus shifts to small margins gained from set pieces and cynical fouls/ time wasting.
I really don't like the way its going.
Transition is what makes the Premier League a good watch.
06 Dec 2025 14:33:43
Very true that. As you say you wonder where it ends up, safety first keep the ball philosophy stifles the play. That’s Arsenals achilles heel despite them having good attacking options, and it’s become ours.
Maybe that’s why the league as a whole has become so inconsistent and compressed this year, too much fear of losing from the so called top teams which gives the lesser teams more chance.
06 Dec 2025 16:53:10
Longthing, Macca marking Dan Burn at the time seemed poor now it totally makes sense. Slot is the master of making poor decisions but standing by them and trying them over and over until they finally don't work.
I find the man totally baffling and I have no idea what his goals are. Since hearing on here that he's jogging off to Holland during the week I'm wondering if he wants the sack and the payoff. Yep absurd I know but I'd like someone to put him under pressure in a presser and try to get inside that brain of his.
06 Dec 2025 17:16:47
FPF totally agree.