Tactics not going to plan

[Chrysalis]

I think the issue is this.

 

In a couple of games we started to struggle to score and clean the game out, goals late against Brighton, Winner against Everton final minute VAR (only after formation change).

 

So he decided to change it as maybe we were been found out, and it worked against villa.

 

But I think we should have changed back vs norwich and he didnt.

 

We should have done the counter 442 vs Man City but we didnt.

 

The issue with Rodgers is I think he doesnt know how to setup vs the likes of Liverpool and Man City, and we just get completely run ragged as a result.

 

Our players are young and clearly affected by confidence a lot.  Something older players have a resistance to.  In his post match interview he mentioned he was disappointed we didnt close down, which makes me wonder if that was instructed and they didnt follow, or he realised he gave the wrong instructions.  Losing to these teams isnt the end of the world but its the manner we lost, if Man City didnt take their foot off the pedal it would have been 5+ goals.

[Shane]

I think in hindsight Praet should have started against Man City. The lack of press from Tielemans/Maddison is what caused so many issues. They allowed Gundogan & Silva to take 5 touches of the ball and pick out a pass to Sterling/De Bruyne/Mahrez.
 

Praet would have atleast pressed them and been in the right positions defensively to support the backline. It’s not the end of the world if one of Tielemans/Maddison is benched & Praet is arguably a better option for these big games. 
 

 

Edited 23 December 2019 by Shane

[Foxaholic ME]

13 hours ago, DerbyshireFox said:

You think Man City’s players aren’t a level above us! Our players are fantastic, but De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling, David & Bernardo are the finished article, our boys are rough diamonds. Even at our best yesterday, and set up differently, we would have struggled with them in that form yesterday. The thing that’s frustrating people is that we weren’t at our best yesterday. Play that game a few weeks back and it’s more competitive. We had Gray and Albrighton to bring on to try and make a difference. They had Aguero, Foden and Rodri. That’s the difference. We have done amazingly do split Liverpool and Man City at Christmas, but let’s not get carried away. These two sides do what we’ve been doing for two months every week for the past 18 months/two years. We want to be at that level, or close, we have to learn how to do it. We may do that, we may get close, we may suffer at times, but I’m bloody loving watching it!

We were 7-1 at the bookies that said it all I wonder the last time a team was 7-1 to win at Xmas  against a team 4 points below them in the same league

[koop.]

On 22/12/2019 at 10:22, lcfcbally said:

2nd in the league and League cup semi final at Christmas what more did you expect?🙈

 

Everything going to plan in my eyes.

Absolutely 

Lose to Man City and some on here would have you think we were in a relegation scrap 

 

The mind boggles 

[Bazly]

Quote

We will find out on Boxing day if the BR instilled panic freeze against the 'big' teams continues. It could turn into a horror show.

To be fair it wasn't a total horror show yesterday, just one team on their game and the other far from it which combined made one team look like World beaters which they do happen to be. The constant was the lack of press, the vast yardage of greenery afforded to Liverpool players which made their task so simple. Ndidi was waving players forward to press and compress with midfield but he too often cut a lone figure. There was a short spell in the second half where we actually did mix it with them in their faces and that resulted in them giving up possession easily. It lasted all too briefly. It seems the team is just too tired to carry out that level of activity for more than a few minutes. The winter break will be a welcome rest bite from a team that has lost its mojo.

 

The abiding hope for an enjoyable remainder of the season is that the main play makers have been over committed to training and playing in lots of International games and a little rest will do them wonders. 

 

Chilwell seems to have his mind elsewhere. A lot like Maguire did last season with his bitsy performances after the lure of big club times had been seductively dangled and taken hook line and sinker by the player.I do hope the BR gets James up to speed in the cups and a few league games to be ready to step into the LB slot next season.

[st albans fox]

6 minutes ago, Bazly said:

To be fair it wasn't a total horror show yesterday, just one team on their game and the other far from it which combined made one team look like World beaters which they do happen to be. The constant was the lack of press, the vast yardage of greenery afforded to Liverpool players which made their task so simple. Ndidi was waving players forward to press and compress with midfield but he too often cut a lone figure. There was a short spell in the second half where we actually did mix it with them in their faces and that resulted in them giving up possession easily. It lasted all too briefly. It seems the team is just too tired to carry out that level of activity for more than a few minutes. The winter break will be a welcome rest bite from a team that has lost its mojo.

 

The abiding hope for an enjoyable remainder of the season is that the main play makers have been over committed to training and playing in lots of International games and a little rest will do them wonders. 

 

Chilwell seems to have his mind elsewhere. A lot like Maguire did last season with his bitsy performances after the lure of big club times had been seductively dangled and taken hook line and sinker by the player.I do hope the BR gets James up to speed in the cups and a few league games to be ready to step into the LB slot next season.

That respite is mid feb ....we can’t last till then ! 

[Bob Hazels shorts]

Not advocating the long ball but Liverpool applied the direct style on occasions.

 

Did find myself though muttering 'stop fuching about with the ball and get it out'

[Eskay]

On 23/12/2019 at 15:38, koop. said:

Absolutely 

Lose to Man City and some on here would have you think we were in a relegation scrap 

 

The mind boggles 

Exactly. The fans groaning in the stadium each time someone like Barnes gets it is a joke. We are second for a few more hours at least. We are 10 clear of 5th and have a young and upcoming squad that needs the fans to be behind them. 

[koop.]

On 27/12/2019 at 12:38, Eskay said:

Exactly. The fans groaning in the stadium each time someone like Barnes gets it is a joke. We are second for a few more hours at least. We are 10 clear of 5th and have a young and upcoming squad that needs the fans to be behind them. 

Any fan who groans at this squad, especially given what they're achieving is either a total spoon or started supporting us in 2016

[Chrysalis]

Didnt know where to put it, but I will put it in this thread.

 

On the subject of pressing, given a few fans seem to think our lack of pressing in these games isnt an issue.

 

I just watched the Watford highlights, and basically Deeney decided to "run around as a headless chicken" as some would call it, pressing  players, the 3rd player hit it against Deeney who got in his way. and then Watford scored from it.

 

Clear example of pressing working.

Edited 29 December 2019 by Chrysalis

[Guest Cujek]

On 23/12/2019 at 15:38, koop. said:

Absolutely 

Lose to Man City and some on here would have you think we were in a relegation scrap 

 

The mind boggles 

Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one and forums are a toilet to shit into from those arseholes. 

 

But, people will discuss what they like on here and no one likes losing, despite what position we may actually be in. 

 

Whether we lose to man City or to someone we perceive that we shouldn't lose to, it hurts the same. 

 

Yes we are 2nd, yes we are in cup semi final, but that don't mean poor performances don't make people upset. 

 

I don't mind losing as long as they put effort in, from the manager downwards, I personally think we bottled it against both Liverpool and man City.

 

 

 

Edited 29 December 2019 by Cujek