We had TWO MEN running beyond their line specifically to exploit their high defence in Coutinho and especially Mané. And then Lallana pushing forward and Wijnaldum on occassion.
It is literally the same tactics that destroyed Chelsea, City and the like last season. Were you in here moaning then? Like f**k you were.
We carved them open on at least a half dozen occasions. 3 times a ball was overhit for Mané in the first half when he was in 30 yards of space. Remember their keeper flying out? Was that just me that saw it? Had Lallana or Hendo picked him out he'd have a hat trick.
I mean, come on, mate. You don't need my word, just watch the game again.
Coutinho isn't a player or runner of the last shoulder type and I'm struggling to recall where he broke through their back line with his pace into acres of space.
Mane did it, yes. So what? Firmino didn't and he's the issue here in this discussion. Had we have had two genuine runners in behind their back line (similar to when we had a trio of Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling down there when we whacked them for 5) instead of just Mane (and on the odd occasion Lallana who has the pace of an 80 yr old) we would have had more opportunity to exploit and punish them.
The proof is in the pudding, we've been there before and annihilated their high defensive line with with a trio of attacks who run goal bound and are clinical.
We came away from there with a point on Saturday because we NEVER exploited their back line as much as we have done in the past. You can bemoan the passes not finding the only runner you actually mentioned and it wasn't Firmino funnily enough, but had we have had an added one in Sturridge instead of Firmino; his starting position and movement would have been on the edge of their back line, unlike Firmino who's 10 yards deeper off their defensive line running around a lot earning himself superlatives.
We only had the one target and runner, of course the passes have to be inch perfect with those odds. Add another one in their who's plyed his trade on those sorts of balls and runs and the odds of increasing that are two fold - which means we carry more threat in attack.
Chelsea and Man. C are two different teams who required us to set-up differently, so of course I wasn't moaning to f**k when we got two good results against them last season. However, THIS season, I am moaning to f**k because we've used a defensive number 9, who has failed to register a goal in the league. And who was absolutely sh*t against Burnley as he simply doesn't have the attacking nous to lead and partake the attacking threat of a forward line like Sturridge does. And I bemoan the fact he was used again in a game, where pace and attacking instinct to play off the last shoulder against a well publicised high line in Spurs was deployed over a player who eats that sh*t up for breakfast.
I, unlike you, clearly like my "strikers, attackers" call them what you will, to score you goals - you obviously don't, so long as they cover 20KM in a game, it's all gravy for you.
The Stepford gengenpress kids have suddenly become well versed in this "philosophy", fact is, as has clearly and evidently already shown, this DOES NOT WORK for every team you come up against. And Burnley and Spurs more specifically ONLY highlight this.
