What about Defence?

Is it just me or do we not seem to be addressing the fact that we shipped 9 goals in our last two games against mediocre teams?

ok, I know we have bought Clyne but I see him as an asset going forward, not necessarily his defensive duties.

We might put a few more in the net this year, but I think there are some very big questions at the back to be discussed, and as of yet I haven't seen the answer....

When you consider how many goals we concede from our attacks breaking down, having a proper attacking right back with an end product might help enormously.
I honestly don't think the personnel are the biggest problem, We have (for the most part) decent defenders, it's the change in tactics that will hopefully sort out our defence, or at least lessen the damage they cause buy increasing our goal tally.

Brendan and defence aren't the best of friends.

Just accept it and hope we get back to banging them in at the other end.

Brendan and defence aren't the best of friends.

Just accept it and hope we get back to banging them in at the other end.

Even with Suarez that didn't prove enough, think there's much more effort needed than accepting it.

Personally I'm hoping an Ilori / Sakho partnership might end up being our pair by the end of the year (through Ilori forcing his way into the team) and we manage to pick up a LB in the transfer market.

Even with Suarez that didn't prove enough, think there's much more effort needed than accepting it.

Personally I'm hoping an Ilori / Sakho partnership might end up being our pair by the end of the year (through Ilori forcing his way into the team) and we manage to pick up a LB in the transfer market.

I'm not being 100% serious Luke as you probably guessed mate.

I think scoring more will be a massive help though and like you I've been thinking a bit about Ilori this week as from what I've seen he has all the attributes to be a top CB.

I'm not being 100% serious Luke as you probably guessed mate.

I think scoring more will be a massive help though and like you I've been thinking a bit about Ilori this week as from what I've seen he has all the attributes to be a top CB.

Yeah I did mate, but with our defence only showing proper improvement for a short spell (when Lucas was in and we switched to 3 at the back) I hope the new coaches and Brendan get to work on them because that is one area that can improve massively and will probably be the first indicator of the influence the changes in the coaching staff have made.

I think the Defence will be much improved without Stevie playing in the centre of the park.

I still think that there will be a gap opened up between defence and the deepest lying midfielder as Mig doesn't come off his line enough and Skrtel likes to drop off too much however we should have much more energy to press and compress the play.

Overall, I would still like to see our play weighted towards attack but I think we can reasonably aim to concede 15 goals less just by changing personnel.

I think you might be on to something with Illori lads. I think he may well be our best (although unproven) all round defender.
Really hopes he gets his chance, I would even have him above Lovren in the pecking order for his speed and ariel ability.

I think the Defence will be much improved without Stevie playing in the centre of the park.

I still think that there will be a gap opened up between defence and the deepest lying midfielder as Mig doesn't come off his line enough and Skrtel likes to drop off too much however we should have much more energy to press and compress the play.

Overall, I would still like to see our play weighted towards attack but I think we can reasonably aim to concede 15 goals less just by changing personnel.

I agree Hollywood.

I still think we'll leak goals at times but with Hendo and Milner and Phil I expect a more compact midfield.

I agree Hollywood.

I still think we'll leak goals at times but with Hendo and Milner and Phil I expect a more compact midfield.

What I'm waiting to see is who we actually get rid of.

At the moment it's a struggle to see how we are going to fit in our best players - unless we are planning to rotate heavily - which isn't characteristic of Rodger's tactics so far.

If we are rotating more I think that will greatly help also as we can push up our intensity of pressing.

Specialist DM will sort out a lot of our problems, it's as simple as that. Look at how much a difference Lucas made when he played, even when he was injured and Allen came in, he did a reasonable defensive job.

That is true however the manager doesn't seem to believe in using a specialist DM - he wants the team to defend as a unit; that's why we haven't been linked to one.

It's looking like Can will be used as the most defensive of the midfielders but I think that is as close as we are going to get. 

That is true however the manager doesn't seem to believe in using a specialist DM - he wants the team to defend as a unit; that's why we haven't been linked to one.

That's what I don't understand, we can still defend as a unit and attack fluidly with a DM.

That's what I don't understand, we can still defend as a unit and attack fluidly with a DM.

We can although there is definitely a drop-off in our attacking play with a specialist DM.

What we really need to do is impose our pacey, pressing games on teams so they are scared to push up against us.

If they drop off, the need for a DM is even less marked.

At the moment though I agree the very least we need to do is hold onto Lucas.

Brendan and defence aren't the best of friends.

Just accept it and hope we get back to banging them in at the other end.

Brendan thinks defence is the thing that goes around degarden.

We can although there is definitely a drop-off in our attacking play with a specialist DM.

And this is where a DLPM would be ideal.

What we really need to do is impose our pacey, pressing games on teams so they are scared to push up against us.

The way I see it, with a DM, we're still able to push up and press them with intent.

   DM/DLPM
Hendo  Milner
   Coutinho
 Ings   Firmino

Would be crazy to press them with 6 and leave huge gaps in the middle imo :p

Just hope Rodgers looks into it rather than all out attack

Yep - generally I agree with you.

In truth I think the manager is trying a bit too hard to have a mobile, interchanging middle three but who knows - perhaps he will pull it off.

I think Arsenal's form improved when they played Coquelin instead of Arteta there. The other top teams seem to have a DM who is able to control / play a bit.

I think Arsenal's form improved when they played Coquelin instead of Arteta there. The other top teams seem to have a DM who is able to control / play a bit.

Yeah, I agree. I know Arsenal fans have been crying out for a specialist DM in the middle for a while, makes a huge difference!

In truth I think the manager is trying a bit too hard to have a mobile, interchanging middle three but who knows - perhaps he will pull it off.

Did we ever play an inter changing midfield 3 last 3 seasons under Rodgers? I don't think we have? It was either Gerrard as our DLPM or Lucas/Allen sitting? I don't recall ever seeing that.

Liverpool's best defender was Ian Rush. You defend from the front and as a team.

As soon as your team is without the ball, you become the first defender. Sammy Lee has been asked who was the best defender Liverpool ever had, 'Hansen, Lawrenson who else?' No, he says, 'Ian Rush'. A lot of strikers have a shot at goal and then they switch off. The good ones get back into position and think now you have to go past me, I am going to be a defender. You have to learn to chase back. That's what I teach people at my school, once they start scoring goals and think it’s easy, I take them to the next level. Let’s see now if you can defend. They go, 'I don’t have to defend.' You have to realise that you’ve got to defend if you’re a striker. You’ve got to make it easier for your midfielders and they try to make it easier for the defenders and they make it easy for the goalkeeper.

http://www.lfchistory.net/Articles/Article/62

Yeah, I agree. I know Arsenal fans have been crying out for a specialist DM in the middle for a while, makes a huge difference!

Did we ever play an inter changing midfield 3 last 3 seasons under Rodgers? I don't think we have? It was either Gerrard as our DLPM or Lucas/Allen sitting? I don't recall ever seeing that.

You are correct mate - I mean that he has never wanted a specialist DM there; Lucas got a game because he was already at the club.

Would be interesting to see which options were availabel on the market.

I know it's not a popular opinion but I'd happily send Skrtel packing. Instead we offered him a new contract. Non communicator who lives off the dominance and hard work of others. Overrated.

The largest problem last year was that 2 out of the back 4, could defend (how well the CBs fair is up for discussion). This forced us back into a 3, which actually meant 6 defensive minded players on the pitch as the wing backs and central "sitting" midfielder in the 3-5-2 are constantly covering the holes in the flanks/middle of the pitch.
We had Can, Toure, Henderson, Sterling, Markovic, Ibe at right back.... On the other side we have Moreno (who must have cost us at least 10 goals last season, either getting beaten too easily or switching off at set plays), or Johnson.

Clyne is a huge boost, and hopefully means we can revert to a back 4 (back 3 is suicidal in my op, as teams quickly click on they need to press high or leave 2 up top and play direct balls).  Competition for Moreno is another priority, or maybe Gomez was brought in for this purpose?

Completely agree with the DM comments here, look how Rafa set us up in 2004/05/06. Even nowadays where sides are reverting to 1 up top to flood the midfield, a DM makes a huge difference. Hate to say it but look at Chelsea. The back 4 and Matic (most underrated player in the league in my op), basically won them the league, and allowed the other 5 players on the pitch to just focus on scoring goals.

Is it just me or do we not seem to be addressing the fact that we shipped 9 goals in our last two games against mediocre teams?

ok, I know we have bought Clyne but I see him as an asset going forward, not necessarily his defensive duties.

We might put a few more in the net this year, but I think there are some very big questions at the back to be discussed, and as of yet I haven't seen the answer....

History shows that you can qualify or win a league by conceding anywhere between 25 and 50 goals. Take away those last two games where we downed tools and conceded 9 and we arent that bad. Actually better than the season before I think.

Goals and a little tweek and our position changes dramatically.

#positivity