Pattern of play

[BG]

Everyone talks about rotation but I find Rafa's citing of the statistics that Ferguson and Jose rotated made as many changes as he did in the previous two seasons quite compelling.

 

What worries me a bit is I don;t see much evidence of us developing a pattern of play. Arsenal's is clear for all to see, as is United's and Chelsea's was clear (if different) in each of the last two seasons.

 

IMO we have no set pattern - it seems to depend entirely on the opposition and the players Rafa picks. This demonstrably (usually) works well in Europe but doesn't seem to work so well in the PL - we seem to change how we play on a week by week basis. For me the biggest contrast today (whatver the result) was between a team who knew how they wanted to play and a team who didn't and kept changing the the way they played evertytime a sub came on.

 

More than anything else some sign that Rafa is developing a team which knows how it wants to play (as Valencia did) would allay any slight fears I have about Rafa.

[Swipe]

We're playing muck this season.

Edited October 28, 2007 by Swipe

[BG]

  Swipe said:

We're playing muck this season.

 

Agreed but often our players don't look like they know what they're trying to do...

[Swipe]

  BG said:

Agreed but often our players don't look like they know what they're trying to do...

 

True. But how can they when there's no consistency in, not just the players picked, but also the formation.

 

Really concerned about us

[Smith]

  Swipe said:

We're playing muck this season.

 

And therein is the pattern.

 

Seriously though, this is a major difference to us and Arsenal, Chelsea and Man. Utd. Doesn't matter who they throw in, they still manage to play their style. Didn't Utd. play O'Shea and Fletcher in centre mid when they thrashed Dynamo Kiev away?

[Guest Ant]

Our Style of play adapts and changes to the oppostion, not the other way around.

 

Which for 'potentional' champions is aload of s***

[Guest Sabre]

  Ant said:

Our Style of play adapts and changes to the oppostion, not the other way around.

 

Which for 'potentional' champions is aload of s***

 

Quite

[bobbyboulders]

  BG said:

Everyone talks about rotation but I find Rafa's citing of the statistics that Ferguson and Jose rotated made as many changes as he did in the previous two seasons quite compelling.

 

What worries me a bit is I don;t see much evidence of us developing a pattern of play. Arsenal's is clear for all to see, as is United's and Chelsea's was clear (if different) in each of the last two seasons.

 

IMO we have no set pattern - it seems to depend entirely on the opposition and the players Rafa picks. This demonstrably (usually) works well in Europe but doesn't seem to work so well in the PL - we seem to change how we play on a week by week basis. For me the biggest contrast today (whatver the result) was between a team who knew how they wanted to play and a team who didn't and kept changing the the way they played evertytime a sub came on.

 

More than anything else some sign that Rafa is developing a team which knows how it wants to play (as Valencia did) would allay any slight fears I have about Rafa.

 

Spot on. We always do the ugly stuff really well, pressing and harrying, but unless we're playing really well we seem to have no solid attacking pattern of play. In terms of going forward you could never say we are more than the sum of parts. If that makes sense. I was a bit puzzled about why we're already so dependent on Torres, but it's probably because if your not doing it as a collective unit, then you really need the individual to shine, and his quality (Gerrard frequently too) makes up for our one-dimensional attacking play.

[Toni]

Pattern of play is One thing most of us agree that must be adressed immediately.

 

In my humble opinion our play willi improve immensely if our full-backs will decide to attack much more in a game and help our play to be spread all over the park. Look at evra brown clichy sagna they are continously helping the team with every attack.

 

Both JAR and Finnan are too static.

Edited October 28, 2007 by Toni

[Smith]

  Toni said:

Pattern of play is One thing most of us agree that must be adressed immediately.

 

In my humble opinion our play willi improve immensely if our full-backs will decide to attack much more in a game and help our play to be spread all over the park. Look at evra brown clichy sagna they are continously helping the team with every attack.

 

Both JAR and Finnan are too static.

 

...the lack of pattern of play is the new 'zonal marking' or 'rotation'. Or 'Riise'.

[usualsuspect]

Interesting points.

 

The question then is do we look at the likes of Parry who pick the manager? Even at Valencia Rafa ran a ruthless mean machine which it seems he is rying to create here. Valencia were not the most attractive to watch but got result efficiently and it almost seems he wants to replicate that.

Sadly we dont seem to have the capacity to reach those heights.

[Swipe]

  usualsuspect said:

Interesting points.

 

The question then is do we look at the likes of Parry who pick the manager? Even at Valencia Rafa ran a ruthless mean machine which it seems he is rying to create here. Valencia were not the most attractive to watch but got result efficiently and it almost seems he wants to replicate that.

Sadly we dont seem to have the capacity to reach those heights.

 

Know what your saying but I think Valancia's "efficient" style has become a bit overstated.

 

They were brilliant when they beat us in Europe. Completely destroyed us. Never seen us take such a spanking at Anfield before or since.

 

Did he chop and change the team as much in valencia as he does here? not so sure

Edited October 28, 2007 by Swipe

[John am Rhein]

  Swipe said:

We're playing muck this season.

 

That's out pattern of play!

[John am Rhein]

  Ant said:

Our Style of play adapts and changes to the oppostion, not the other way around.

 

Which for 'potentional' champions is aload of s***

 

That's the difference between being 'potentional' champions and champions.

[Crazy Horse]

What concerns me is that I don't see any evidence of a plan taking shape. First couple of games this season we looked like we were becoming the crushing machine that Rafa was brought here to create. Then it all went to pot, and we seem to have gone backwards at an alarming rate. It's not about rotation, not even really about injuries. What is Rafa's vision? How does he want his Liverpool team to play? There ought to be patterns, similarities in how our team goes out to play, irrespective of personnel. But we're a random football generator these days. And that's what bothers me most of all.

[bobbyboulders]

  Crazy Horse said:

... we're a random football generator...

[Swipe]

There's certainly no evidence we'll find a way out of this self-inflicted rut

[John am Rhein]

  Swipe said:

There's certainly no evidence we'll find a way out of this self-inflicted rut

 

You go and hide. We'll call you when it's over.