OK, so far we're not very good. What are the reasons and how do we fix it?

To answer the topic question - we are sh*t at the back and sh*t going forward, it's that simple.

I'll start with Mignolet. I've said it from day one but he isn't good enough. A great shot stopper but he's awful at everything else. He can't organise a defence, he can't command his box, he can't catch, he doesn't come off his line AND THEN WHEN HE DOES he causes absolute chaos. Mignolet isn't good enough to be first choice keeper here.

Manquillo. Might be on my own here and I know its early days so it's a bit unfair to write him off but from what I've seen so far I don't rate him either. He's all over the place for me. Can't defend and doesn't contribute going forward. When he does go forward he reminds me of Kelly, just passes it sideways or back to his CB. The sooner Johnson is back the better and that's saying something.

Skrtel has looked all over the place.

Lovren seems to be doing 3 peoples jobs.

Moreno looks a class act but we don't involve him enough. The way the sh*te use Baines for example we should be doing the exact same with him.

Gerrard is an awful DM but a great playmaker. He has been man marked the last couple of games and he therefore hasn't been able to put his stamp on the game so it's as if we've been playing with ten men with a big gap in midfield. As soon as Gerrard was man marked Brendan should have brought him off and lined up a different way.

Sterling and Coutinho are trying too much. Havent seen enough of markovic.

Henderson is a steady eddy. Lallana doesn't look match fit. Lucas isn't the same player and were missing Joe Allens work rate.

Balotelli is pretty lazy. Doesn't work hard enough. Borini is crap. Lambert should be given more game time. We badly miss Sturridge and don't look a threat going forward without him.

We can't defend and we don't look like scoring either - it's a nightmare at the moment.

I think 4-2-3-1 could be the answer with Henderson playing along side Gerrard. Playing them both deeper should help firm up our defence and allow for more control in possession. I'd also like to see us slow the overall pace of the game and build attacks instead of relying solely on pace as at the moment it seems uncoordinated all over the pitch. We can still counter attack but we have to time it better.

Unfortunately I think we need to replace Mignolet. He's a good shot stopper but his inability to command his area is a serious flaw that needs addressing.

Get Jamie Carragher off of F***ing sky and working at Melwood with our so called defenders. BRs tactical genius is restricted to going one way.

I thought that yesterday then I thought; why would that even work? Just because he can waffle a lot on Sky and was a decent defender it doesn't mean it'd translate into a great defensive coach.

I thought that yesterday then I thought; why would that even work? Just because he can waffle a lot on Sky and was a decent defender it doesn't mean it'd translate into a great defensive coach.

Exactly Newcastle did the same some ten years ago with Mark Lawrenson, see how good it done them. I think the Sky job is a perfect way for Carra to keep his hand in football without being totally involved, think he wanted that little break first.

We should be playing 4 4 2, sod all this diamond crap leaving the midfield and flanks exposed.
Cover on the wings and bodies staying  in the centre, wing backs can use the wingers to overlap or  to pass to.
I may be mistaken obviously, but the tactics have gone to sh*t and it isn't working, too experimental and over thinking the simplest game in the world.
So 3 2 4 1 1 and all that business is just over complicating matters even more, when the new players in the team just need to get to play in a solid formation.

I like formations that move in a unit and people keep their positions or when they move someone else slots into the space they left.
The best team to do that I've seen has always been Germany.

Exactly Newcastle did the same some ten years ago with Mark Lawrenson, see how good it done them. I think the Sky job is a perfect way for Carra to keep his hand in football without being totally involved, think he wanted that little break first.

Well he loves his football so it's an ideal job (talking about footy on tv).
He may move into coaching who knows, but most ex players don't. Stress levels and all that maybe.

Well he loves his football so it's an ideal job (talking about footy on tv).
He may move into coaching who knows, but most ex players don't. Stress levels and all that maybe.

He also said he was never offered a coaching role, that Brendan knew he was retiring long before the public did and there was a never a conversation

He also said he was never offered a coaching role, that Brendan knew he was retiring long before the public did and there was a never a conversation

Oh well just goes to show, how we can assume he'd instantly be offered some coaching role here, maybe Brendan thought he may try to undermine his role; as in- be too vocal at half time and not know when to hand duties to the manager (another assumption by me)
BR seems to like ex players coming to Melwood and helping out but maybe their role doesn't carry much responsibility overall.

I think 4-2-3-1 could be the answer with Henderson playing along side Gerrard.

Sorry  mate but every time these two have played as a two in midfield it's been a train wreck.

I still believe that the best system which suits our style is the classic 4-4-2 with Mings-Manquillo-Skrtel-Lovren-Moreno-Hendo-Can-Sterling-Lallana/Markovic-Mario-Dan the Man

With the mention that Can could be used also as a right back , and Stevie in the middle in his place ...

Sorry  mate but every time these two have played as a two in midfield it's been a train wreck.

I thought we did well last season when we played a 4-2-3-1, with those 2 as the 2.

I'd play it now anyway, especially with our current injuries, cos it gets our best players on the park ( eg Lallana + Coutinho for Lucas + Borini).
Plus it gives us an extra body in midfield, which we could do with.
Plus it'd be easier for Stevie and Hendo to alternate roles in game, to throw off the man-marker on Stevie.

I still believe that the best system which suits our style is the classic 4-4-2 with Mings-Manquillo-Skrtel-Lovren-Moreno-Hendo-Can-Sterling-Lallana/Markovic-Mario-Dan the Man

With the mention that Can could be used also as a right back , and Stevie in the middle in his place ...

Mignolet

Manquillo  Skrtel  Lovren  Moreno

Henderson  Can  Sterling  Lallana

Balotelli  Sturridge

I'm glad you're not picking the side anytime is all I can say.

Boss at scoring pens though.

Mignolet

Manquillo  Skrtel  Lovren  Moreno

Henderson  Can  Sterling  Lallana

Balotelli  Sturridge

I'm glad you're not picking the side anytime is all I can say.

Why ?
 
Hendo and Can in the midfield, Sterling RW and Lallana LW ... it-s a 4-2-2-2

Why ?
 
Hendo and Can in the midfield, Sterling RW and Lallana LW ... it-s a 4-2-2-2

Got it now mate.

Read it the way you wrote it and looked like you had Raheem as CM.

Henderson  Can  Sterling  Lallana

Balotelli  Sturridge

I'm also starting to think these need to be the front 6.
I don't like Lallana wide tho.

But atleast we have mobility in deep midfield.
We have reasonable brains in Lallana. Playmaking and runs from Raheem.
Can and Hendo might also allow the fullbacks to push a little, without us being slaughtered on the break.
Hendo or the right back can push right.
Can, Sterling and the left back can push left.
Sterling and Sturridge can drift wide or push down the middle.

Sadly, it'd all look a little cobbled still. But perhaps the least cobbled 1st 11, atleast til Markovic settles in.

PS I wonder if Rodgers has considered a back 3:-

                   Mignolet
           Skrtel Lovren Sakho
Manquillo etc                      Moreno
       2 of Henderson/Can/Gerrard/Lallana
                   Sterling
              Sturridge Balotelli

I still believe that the best system which suits our style is the classic 4-4-2

Don't know why, I imagine you saying this in the voice of Roy Hodgson.

Four-Four-Facking-Two!!

go through all the top teams including ours and they all have one thing in common a very strong spine from the goalkeeper to the Centre forward.
Even recently Chelsea had Cech,Terry,Drogba and city now have Hart,  Kompany and Aguero. You can go back 50 years to Lawrence, Yeats and Hunt we do not at present have settled spine running through the team. we really need to get a lot tighter and stop letting in goals or we will achieve nothing this season. We have spent enough on CB's including letting a very good one for peanuts. its time for the players to man up and show some aggression and commitment.

With a 442, the q is whether your 2 is Balo+Sturr.
Or does Sterling go in the 2?

And then what the midfield 4 is. It isnt an easy one to pick.

With a 442, the q is whether your 2 is Balo+Sturr.
Or does Sterling go in the 2?

And then what the midfield 4 is. It isnt an easy one to pick.

Has to be Balotelli and Sturridge.
They'll destroy teams when they get going.

Sterling plays at the top of the diamond, like last season.

4-4-2 (Diamond)

Sorry  mate but every time these two have played as a two in midfield it's been a train wreck.

I agree with this. They have never clicked as a pair. Henderson for me is not a sitting midfielder, his passing and defensive ability (positional and tackling) doesn't allow it. With Gerrard, he needs a quick defensive midfielder to sit along side him and Henderson isn't that fit.

I still think we're better off with the diamond or 3 midfielders, and with the right players in that midfield, I can see us dominate possession.

Has to be Balotelli and Sturridge.
They'll destroy teams when they get going.

Sterling plays at the top of the diamond, like last season.

4-4-2 (Diamond)

Thats the 3 I'd *want* to see work. The question marks are Balotelli, and how many games Raheem could/*should* play.

Possibly the harder part is what the other 3 should be.
Lallana, Henderson, Can is a/*the best* possibility to me, currently.

Gerrard could be used sparingly (like those odious Mancs did with their veterans).
Markovic could be used instead of Lallana against the easy teams at home.

Thats the 3 I'd *want* to see work. The question marks are Balotelli, and how many games Raheem could/*should* play.

Possibly the harder part is what the other 3 should be.
Lallana, Henderson, Can is a/*the best* possibility to me, currently.

Gerrard could be used sparingly (like those odious Mancs did with their veterans).
Markovic could be used instead of Lallana against the easy teams at home.

Given the injuries we have no choice but to go for

                 Gerrard/Lucas

   Henderson
                               Lallana


With everyone back to fitness I'd like to see a alternating Henderson/Can with either Lallana or Allen given the free role.
Before anyone complains, this is to see how a post Gerrard midfield works.

The alternative is:

                            Lucas
   
      Henderson/Can               
                                       Lallana/Allen