Players and Systems...

Ive seen a fair bit of chat in the past couple of months about can any player play in any system? Well to an extent yes but there are obviously players who feel more comfortable in certain roles and systems. Now that doesnt just scream out as to an Andy Carroll for example who in my opinion cant play in this system that Brendan Rodgers wants to play, which is why i think he wanted rid as soon as, plus he was after reducing wages and hopefully some additional funds but essentially he cant play in this system. But it also goes for someone like say Suso for example, who is simply more effective centrally high up in midfield, roaming than out wide.. He can adapt to a role and therfore play in the system but isnt as effective..

Look at how Brendan wants us to play

The first one shows when we have the ball, the full backs create extra width, the cbs split to give Reina options of a pass, as does Lucas and Allen, but he also has a longer ball on for Stevie or one of the full backs/wingers.. Its all about options.. But every player needs to be comfortable in possession, there cant be anyone in the side who doesnt feel utterly comfortable with recieving the ball in tight area's.. The wide players all have to be great athlete's are able to get forward and back very quickly to provide attacking threat and then defensive cover to guard against the counter attack.. Ive noticed as well that when we attack that the "wingers" are more "Forwards" than wingers, they are told to come inside, so that the full backs go round the outside, and if the right full back is forward the wide left comes onto the back stick to create an extra body in there should it miss Luis or Stevie who take up the central areas..
Luis must buzz around everywhere, never stop running, be quick enough to get in the box and also the first line of defence to try to stop the quick counter..

So taking that, Andy doesnt have the agility to be the No.9, he just could cover the pitch, we wouldnt have the "complete 9" with him, he wouldnt on what we have witnessed be able to close down quickly enough or be agile enough to keep up with the wide players when they break quickly.. Thats fairly obvious to me now having watched 6 months under the manager. To make Andy fit, it would mean a change in formation and approach, where you need to play through him and get bodies round him.. Not the way the manager wants to play so he cant fit in to this formation?
Could a Cole play wide in this system? Even in his hey-day? Im not sure he could, i dont think he has the speed to get back and forward quickly enough..

In this formation if one player doesnt suit then it wont work..




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When we dont have the ball we become compact immediately (Or thats how BR wants) The full backs need to drop back, as do the wide forwards, track their runners or pressure the full back if they have the ball, Luis has to rat the top third, Steveie goes where the play dictates, the cbs go narrow, Lucas patrols in front of them and Joe Allen gets closer to him..
Trying to stop all eventualities, ie the short ball, build up through midfield or wide or a long punt onto the cbs..

The point being again yiu need the right players to make the system work, 90% of players can adapt but there are the 10% who cant, Carroll being a prime example.
Also it goes to show the "type" of player the manager will go for in transfer windows.. I just dont see Bent for example as Brendan will want more mobile players rather than someone who will just sit in and around the 6 yard box.




So the question becomes do we stick with a system and take time to adapt or adapt a system around the players you have?

A little bit of both really, you cansee subtle cahnges in tactics over the 4 months of the season, we dont go short everytime now, we will go long when we feel its the right ball.. But Brendan wont change from his principles as a whole and rightly so, so therefore he needs to bring in his type of player, thats why i belive you can write in or out transfer rumours straight away, he wont waste the money he has on players he will need to adapt round, ie Bent, rather he will buy players who can adapt to him..

Thats his clear plan.

All being well we have right now

Reina
Jones

As two good keeper options

Johnson
Enrique
Kelly
Wisdom
Robinson

As players who are good enough to play the way he wants his full backs to play

Skrtel
Agger
Carra

As centre backs he trusts, though Carra is nearing the end... Im not sure he trusts Coates yet.. So we need a cb or 2

Lucas

As the only holding Midfielder good enough to do that role which is almost the most important in this system
So we need another

Gerrard
Allen
Suso
Shelvey
Henderson
Sahin (Unlikely to stay)

As players who can do the other two roles in front of Lucas.. depending on if he see's Henderson with a future we may need another going forward

Suarez
Sterling
Borini (The more i see the way Brendan wanting his front 3 to work the more i see why he signed Borini)
Assaidi

As the forward 3 options, so going forward we need at least 2 more

Deadwood like Downing and Cole will be moved on.


Those players above are players that can play this system, and ironically are the ones most adaptable to change to others.
I actually think most players are adaptable, but when you have a clear plan and way of playing some wont suit in my opinion..

Do people see it differently? Do you think all players can play in any system?

Good post to explore the topic.

1. Concentration - Dirk Kuyt ..no pace; played out of position (whatever that means). Berated by some. His concentration to do his job enabled the team to be better. I have no doubt he was a favourite under Rafa because of this. As were Aurelio, Alonso, Masch. Some players have great individual qualities and a let off the leash more because of this. Personally though I think if a player knows their role in the team and every player follows their instruction properly in terms of team responsibility. They will have to run less, they will have more chances, less last ditch efforts etc. How many players really have this quality.

2. Skill, technique, football instincts ... - Most of our players could not play in the current Barca team and keep it at the standard it is. They don't have the type of game that enables them to keep the ball so easily in tight spaces and pass and move so effectively. THis is probably due to their history more than innate ability. Whereas madrid they could fit into more easily. Drop and defend and pace and precision on the attack. Less to remember and less reliant on not coughing the ball up. Madrid players can cough the ball up because they are less exposed. HOwever to win at the level they do they need great individual physical qualities; pace; power (and skill). THey can counter and get back with amazing zest. THey only have a couple of real brains imo.

So I think that although all players can adapt they will do it to different degrees depending on both  them and the system. I think BR is going for something more Barca and less Madrid. However in England power and pace is important given that the refs are different and Stoke don't play chess. What I really believe is that BR needs to pick the kind of players he wants for our system. Personally I prefer players who are clever  and concentrate than thoroughbreds. THey all need to have enough technique to do the job.