Brendan Rodgers

[splinterdream]

Is it the players are better suited to 4-1-4-1 or was it just the right system for that perticular game do you think? 

[kingston_fox]

Can't fault him today - dropped his tactical fantasy to play our best formation. We scored goals within minutes of the subs coming on... can't ask for much more. 

[adejo92]

On 21/09/2019 at 15:53, l444ry said:

Yes mate. Was in the ground with the City fans. You?  

Exactly the same. 

 

Did you see the superior Man Utd score today? 

[StriderHiryu]

20 hours ago, splinterdream said:

Is it the players are better suited to 4-1-4-1 or was it just the right system for that perticular game do you think? 

I think everyone agrees we look better playing the 4141 formation, but it should be noted we got both goals when changing systems again to a 442 Diamond. That was the real stroke of genius from Rodgers in this match.

 

Barnes and Vardy played up top, Maddison in behind to find the space (which led to his goal), supported by Tielemans and Praet, with width provided by the full backs. This system meant we could commit more players against Spurs who coincidentally also played a diamond.

 

 

(Apologies for the quality of the image, if I can find a better still that explains my point I will post it).

 

Another change he made was that in the first half we were trying to press Harry Winks as he was seen as the engine of their midfield, but it gave Erik Lamela way too much space who caused us big problems. In the second half we pressed Lamela more and though Winks got more of the ball he didn't do as much for Spurs.

During the last ten minutes Spurs got control of the game back because our midfield was tiring, specifically Tielemans. That's why Hamza Choudhury was brought on who has not only shored it up, but playing as one of the midfielders to either side of the diamond he was able to support the attack and provide an assist for Maddison. He was also used this way in some preseason games, showing us that Hamza is not just a defensive midfielder, but has more to offer than that, even if he is not as technically blessed as Maddison, Tielemans and probably Praet who had some nice moments.

 

From a purely tactical point of view, this switch won us the game. Under Puel, we always kept two defensive midfielders for stability but rarely had a "Plan B" to beat teams at home. A lot of fans on here always wanted us to get a second striker / target man so we could play a more physical style. But Rodgers went for this system instead and it's notable that he signed two players that could play in a Diamond in Perez (even though he was withdrawn) and Praet who quite literally played as the right or left sided midfielder in a diamond formation at Sampdoria. When we went to this system, we were able to commit more players forward, but importantly players who can drift behind the lines. Praet broke free a couple of times, as did Tielemans, and Maddison found space for his goal.

This is the first time I remember us this season specifically playing this way and I was very impressed by it! I think we will definitely see it again. It might still be a bit too early to start this way, but when we played it against Spurs, it was very clear that the players understood their roles. Barnes for example went up top but didn't look out of place at all, and Chilwell and Ricardo I thought had a field day when playing this way and bombing forwards. The disadvantage of the system is that you are more susceptible to a counter attack, and Son almost scored from one such breakaway attempt.

It's should also be noted that Spurs themselves played a diamond in this game and sometimes mirroring the opposition is a good way to setup, as it assuming both teams are familiar with the style of play, it can boil the game down to winning individual duels. But that said, I think in this game it improved us. If we are going to use the system again, I think it depends on how good Praet is. If he's on the same level of Tielemans and Maddison it has the potential to cause havoc, especially against teams that come to park the bus.

 

 

 

 

[UpTheLeagueFox]

10+ minutes of Brendan Rodgers with talkSPORT ahead of the Spurs game

 

Talks about ambitions with Leicester, James Maddison (his best position/playing for England), tactical stuff about playing out from the back and how to set up against teams.