The need for proper wide players...

[alias75]

I know its something we've been talking about for years but it seems even more relevant at the moment, Roy played with "proper" wingers at Fulham so ive been surprised he didn't try to sign any.

 

At the moment we're playing Meireles everywhere except his proper position, and yesterday Shelvey was asked to do the same. Kuyt coming back obviously helps the situation a bit but even hes been converted to a wide player. Despite small improvements over the last few games our attacking play is still very poor, is it because we don't have good enough quality or is it because of the way Roys setting the team up? I do think having a proper wide player especially on the left would help with the balance of the team, allow Meireles to play where hes best and give us another attacking threat we don't have out there at the moment.

Edited November 5, 2010 by alias75

[sean]

Don't mind being narrow up top solong as we have fullbacks that are capable of getting forward and doing their bit. One side is capable, the other not so much. Of anything.

[alias75]

Don't mind being narrow up top solong as we have fullbacks that are capable of getting forward and doing their bit. One side is capable, the other not so much. Of anything.

 

Thats a fair point but at the moment it also means Meireles is being asked to play somewhere hes clearly not comfortable (or as effective) so getting someone thats used to playing there has a 2 fold effect, it should improve us in that position and it allows Meireles to play where he should be playing. The left hand side is the one im more concerned with because we do have Kuyt and Maxi that can play right side and as you say Johnson can get forward well but on the left Jovanovic hasn't really shown enough in terms of end product and Konchesky just isn't good enough or athletic enough to get up and down the pitch and give us that width.

 

Someone like Ashley Young who can play wide left and could be available in January could be a decent signing?

Edited November 5, 2010 by alias75

[Elm0]

Don't mind being narrow up top solong as we have fullbacks that are capable of getting forward and doing their bit. One side is capable, the other not so much. Of anything.

 

This.

 

Although what Id like to see is a left sided winger come in, like Riera. I feel this gave good balance to the team overall.

[Clay Davis]

Ashley Young would be a great signing. Him and Turan/Hazard and our team would be so much better.

[Alonso]

Ashley Young would be a great signing. Him and Turan/Hazard and our team would be so much better.

Turan and Affelay for me.

[Billy Talbot]

Turan and Hazard for me

 

We need a better left back as well. No point in buying someone to play left wing and having them play with PFK.

 

PFK will be ok for backup though still don't and probably never will see £5m+ 2 good kids in PFK over Insua in this role.

 

Hodgson's waste of £10m and the £6m it cost to replace Benitez with him surely has to go down as THE worst business this club has ever, ever done.

[John am Rhein]

moneyball dictates that 'wide' players are crap

[Flasher]

Always preferred Rollerball myself

[sangria]

I know its something we've been talking about for years but it seems even more relevant at the moment, Roy played with "proper" wingers at Fulham so ive been surprised he didn't try to sign any.

 

According to hesbighesred, who researched Hodgson's style of play before he arrived, Hodgson used wrong sided wingers at Fulham. The distinguishing player types Hodgson used that Liverpool lacks are a big striker who links play, and big CBs who clear every cross. The tactics he used at Fulham were pretty much those he's used so far, compact, yield the wings and every player in their position. The problem is if the CBs aren't dominant in the air, the tactic of standing off opposition wingers and allowing them to cross willy nilly isn't going to work. Also, if the striker tends to run at opposition CBs rather than holding them off until support arrived, the idea of keeping everyone in their allotted position rather than mixing the lines means the striker won't get enough support.

[Snoeker]

I'd like to see a bit more of Ecclestone as a wide player

[alias75]

According to hesbighesred, who researched Hodgson's style of play before he arrived, Hodgson used wrong sided wingers at Fulham. The distinguishing player types Hodgson used that Liverpool lacks are a big striker who links play, and big CBs who clear every cross. The tactics he used at Fulham were pretty much those he's used so far, compact, yield the wings and every player in their position. The problem is if the CBs aren't dominant in the air, the tactic of standing off opposition wingers and allowing them to cross willy nilly isn't going to work. Also, if the striker tends to run at opposition CBs rather than holding them off until support arrived, the idea of keeping everyone in their allotted position rather than mixing the lines means the striker won't get enough support.

 

Yeah he did use wingers on their "wrong" sides at Fulham but they were still proper wingers. Duff on the right is a traditional wide player even if hes cutting in more often. At the moment we're using central midfielders in those wide positions far too much for my liking. On the right side maybe we can get away with it because Johnson does get forward well but we're lacking someone on the left.

 

Its also affected the effectiveness of Meireles because hes often being asked to play out of position, hopefully that'll change once Kuyts fit.

[goodrobotusses]

Hodgson did use wingers on their "wrong" side so they would naturally tuck inside (Duff right, Dempsey/Davies/Gera left). Also, Ashley Young is completely overrated. His game is based around one thing - stop, turn onto right foot, cross it. Perfect for a Martin O'Neill side.

[Swipe]

Get Turan in.

[AnfieldCop]

Juan Mata !!!!

[schmuckdonald]

I'd like to see a bit more of Ecclestone as a wide player

 

Why? He's never shown a solitary moment of providing anything in first team football.

 

Also, since when did Hodgson play out and out wingers at Fulham? Dempsey isn't one and Damien Duff played on the right cutting inside.