Remember many years ago when Gary Neville was boasted to be the best defender in the league, I watched one United game, because it was the world club cup. All he kept doing was passing back to the keeper and had no vision to pass the ball into the midfield, he thought it was the safe option until one of the opposing strikers intercepted it and kicked it in the net. Was very hilarious, but long before that I said back passes aren't defending. As a defensive player the job is to retrieve the ball at the back and get rid. Playing it back or sideways is not getting rid, it's adding to the danger. Look to the infamous Gerrard slip, there was no reason to play it to Gerrard. Sure he was a great player, but these freak incidents happen and the law of averages states it is more likely to happen if passing it in your own half. The best way to defend is to pass up around up front and if a good chance to score comes, take it. The defence should be seen as a last option not a place to get passing statistics.
Defenders (and include a dm in this then) should just get the ball and get rid?
That's what you're saying?
What as far away from their goal as possible? Just take a touch and get rid?
That's just not modern football though Rib. You listen to any modern day manager they want to retain possession and if you just hoof it to get rid then at best you're having your forwards battling in the air and then for second balls.. at best you're talking losing possession far more often than you would want and it's just coming back at you
Say Hendo or Trent get the ball and punt it away from goal for Bobby to chase scraps then the opposition get the ball cone straight down our end and put us under pressure again and score..
What the defender did his job by getting it away in the first place?
Klopp is massive on ball retention.. so Hendo playing balls to keep the possession is exactly what the manager wants.. not just get it away from our goal asap
That's like Wimbledon of the 80s stuff that
To an extent. I think Klopp would say pass it back or sideways if no forward pass is available. Henderson just doesn't see all available passes quite often. It was not the biggest problem, defence and keeper were.. but now that has been solved Henderson should feel a bit worried with the transfer window coming and the next place to strengthen looks to be the midfield. Can will likely go, which could give Henderson a chance to stay as a starter, but with Ox and Kieta.. it will only take one more midfield signing of real quality and Henderson won't be starting anymore. If the rumours are true and we go for Jorginho, it means Klopp is already aware of Hendersons limitations since Jorginho is an upgrade and Henderson, Henderson would become Jorginho's backup. Just because we tolerated Henderson doesn't mean it is optimal, it means we didhave bigger fish to fry.
It's confirmation bias to think he doesn't have penetrating passes in his game because he does
As for upgrading.. yeah possibly, I think Klopp would do if he thought that was for the best
But I think you underestimate what Klopp thinks of Henderson.. just go and listen to interviews on him.. He's completely bewildered that he's not rated so much higher.. it really confuses him
You can't put on that reaction
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