The game at the weekend was for me our best performance of the season and I think it was down to a couple of reasons.
1. The manager finally got the right blend in his midfield three
2. Attacking options.
We have discussed the midfield at length in here and have posted different players in different positions in the three but Saturday was the most complete the three have looked as a unit all season.
I'm not sure about anyone else but I have accepted that Gerrard's position, and possibly his best, in Brendan's midfield will be one of the deeper roles, slightly ahead of Lucas. Easily his best performance for us of the season and possibly last season as well. Very impressive display with the right blend of short passing, discipline, long passes and some attacking threat as well. It's one reason why I don't think Brendan has the slightest interest in signing Alonso. Under Brendan Gerrard is no longer an attacking player but he is making himself the most important player in the side once again.
Lucas also had his best game since coming back and looked to have more of his energy back and along with Gerrard gave little away in the middle of the pitch. We all know that a fully fit, and in form Lucas, is crucial to how Brendan wants to play and also give Gerrard the licence to get forward more than he has done all season as he has that extra protection behind him that Allen never truly offered.
The third man selected in midfield though was the key as by playing Henderson instead of Allen it gave us a more energy in midfield, more pressing of the opposition and also more of a link to the front three. Allen never really offered this in the position but because Jordan moves around the pitch so well it did mean the midfield was much closer to the front three than we have seen for most of the season.
Lucas
Gerrard
Henderson
Now I'm not sure if Henderson is going to be the best option going forward but those three do give a great platform to move on through the next number of games. A proper attacking mid or No.10 would give us even more in a creative sense but for now this is our best three in midfield.
The extra attacking threat Sturridge gave us was there for all to see and while I've seen a few on here post that they thought it was 4 4 2 I don't think it was although when we attacked formation wasn't important anyway as players were interchanging and moving around at will which is what should happen as it give the opposition more to think about.
To me it lined up like this
Downing Sturridge Suarez
Downing was the only one to keep his postion which wasn't a bad thing in my opinion as with Wisdom playing RB he doesn't offer the same attacking threat as Glen so by Stewart staying wide most of the time it helped the RB and gave us options on the right.
Suarez never stayed in one position and also with Glen attacking down the left and playing almost as a winger it meant he didn't have to which is why Luis always looked close to Sturridge and why during the game it might have looked like a 4 4 2.
Strurridge and Suarez interchanged all through the game and when Luis did leave the left side Henderson moved over there a lot which is also something Allen wouldn't have gave us in his position.
After watching the game I can see three positions where the manager can, and possible wants, to improve the team.
Left back, the right of the front three and the attacking midfield or number 10 position.
Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger _____
Lucas
Gerrard
______
______ Sturridge Suarez
If we have Glen in his natural position it allows us to play someone ahead of him who can also interchange with the other two and will give the manager the free flowing fluid three I think he is after. Johnson will give the width and against all but the very best sides doesn't have to worry too much about defending especially if Lucas is on top of his game. It can be a left or right sided player as Luis can start on either side because we know he will move into whatever position he feels is most dangerous. Add a LB similar in style to Glen and again they provide the width and attacking threat which allows the front three more freedom to move around and get inside to give more options.
Finally the AM and although Henderson was great there if we had a more creative player there who still provided the energy Jordan gives it will add much more to the attacking side of our game and also a more natural forward player will interchange with Suarez when he drops deep and take his place further forward.
I will add that the impressive display from the team was against a side we have scored 10 past this season but for me at least I finally got a real idea of what the manager is aiming for and also more importantly he rectified mistakes from the previous games and has appeared to got the right players playing in the right positions.
I hope it wasn't a one off and we build on this now for the remainder of the season.