Team set up and tactics for next season

[David Hodgson]

What we gonna see ?

 

Can't see BR starting the season with 3 at the back. The questions for me are :

 

 

- lone striker or a partnership

 

- robust 3 man midfield or just a 2 with four attacking players ahead of them.

 

- How does he see the pecking order for the defensive midfielder ? Is Lucas first choice there or is it a role being readied for Can or Milner even ?

 

- How have we got to a situation whereby Moreno - by default - is the first name on the team sheet ?

 

 

 

I feel this may be the main team BR has in his head. :

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------Mignolet

 

 

------------Clynne-------------------Skkrtel-------------------------Sahko-------------------Moreno

 

 

------------------------------------------------------Can

 

 

-----------------------------------Milner-------------------------Henderson

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------Coutinho

 

 

 

----------------------------------Firmino--------------------Benteke

 

 

 

A more attacking version would be to drop Can out, put Milner in the holding role, drop Coutinho back into midfield, and play another forward - Ibe/Markovic/Lallana/Origi/Ings

Edited July 12, 2015 by David Hodgson

[Case]

I hate putting lads in our team who don't play for us, so that's out for a start. And this is what I think we'll see not necessarily what I'd like to see....

 

I think he'll start the season, given our away fixtures, pretty cautiously. His love of flipping - The so called 1-2 or 2-1 which he used to describe his midfield 3 will, I think move right up top to the forward positions. In the far off olden days, the formation with 1 up used to be loosely called the Christmas Tree, so ...

 

Mig

Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno

Henderson, Lucas, Milner

Coutinho, Sterling

Firmino

 

The front three can obviously swap pretty fluidly and become a 1-2 for our easier run of early home matches. They can also all press (as can the m/f three), which Rodgers teams are all best doing, and why I've left Lallana out.

[Conrad]

Can is not ready for a midfield role. He needs to step up considerably to be starting games this year, unless we are going with a back 3, which I really don't think we will be. It got found out pretty quickly last season, and the lack of goals, and even clear cut chances dwindled playing that system.

 

If Lucas doesn't start then the midfield balance is wrong. we lack a younger alternative to Lucas.

 

I would be looking to find a system that got all 3 of Lallana, Coutinho and Firmino feeding a striker, even if that meant leaving one of Henderson or Milner out

[Ombudsam]

What we gonna see ?

 

Can't see BR starting the season with 3 at the back. The questions for me are :

 

 

- lone striker or a partnership

 

- robust 3 man midfield or just a 2 with four attacking players ahead of them.

 

- How does he see the pecking order for the defensive midfielder ? Is Lucas first choice there or is it a role being readied for Can or Milner even ?

 

- How have we got to a situation whereby Moreno - by default - is the first name on the team sheet ?

 

 

 

I feel this may be the main team BR has in his head. :

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------Mignolet

 

 

------------Clynne-------------------Skkrtel-------------------------Sahko-------------------Moreno

 

 

------------------------------------------------------Can

 

 

-----------------------------------Milner-------------------------Henderson

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------Coutinho

 

 

 

----------------------------------Firmino--------------------Benteke

 

 

 

A more attacking version would be to drop Can out, put Milner in the holding role, drop Coutinho back into midfield, and play another forward - Ibe/Markovic/Lallana/Origi/Ings

Well yeah to everything you said assuming Sturridge isn't fit.

 

I've said before (because I know you've all been following) that Brendan teams look best with one too many attackers so find a way to get Coutinho into midfield.

 

The Milner as holder may be an issue. It seems like he's come to play and Henderson is skipper so he will. I can see them working as a flat two but then you have to alter what's ahead which results in Sturridge out wide when fit or benching whichever new striker we buy unless it's a Sanchez type who'll go wide.

Can is not ready for a midfield role. He needs to step up considerably to be starting games this year, unless we are going with a back 3, which I really don't think we will be. It got found out pretty quickly last season, and the lack of goals, and even clear cut chances dwindled playing that system.

 

If Lucas doesn't start then the midfield balance is wrong. we lack a younger alternative to Lucas.

 

I would be looking to find a system that got all 3 of Lallana, Coutinho and Firmino feeding a striker, even if that meant leaving one of Henderson or Milner out

You give Lallana to much of a shout. He's your blind spot

[Conrad]

He was poor last season but still managed to deliver more than any of our other signings. If he doesn't step up this year then try something else.

 

I'm disappointed we didn't buy Kovacic.

[Ombudsam]

He was poor last season but still managed to deliver more than any of our other signings. If he doesn't step up this year then try something else.

 

I'm disappointed we didn't buy Kovacic.

I don't think that he was pretty poor last season. He's just not one that you bother trying to find a spot for

[Cunny]

I think we need to play 2 out and out forwards.

We don't have enough goals in the attacking midfielders to get by with one forward.

[fred milne]

Reckon it's going to be 4-3-3 in the main. Don't see Milner as a sitting midfielder.

[yellow jumper]

433 always appears to be the intention when they start out, but soon gets abandoned. it's arguably the hardest formation to balance, without absolute quality all over the pitch.

Edited July 12, 2015 by yellow jumper

[RBM]

The fitness of sturridge will have large bearing

[fred milne]

The fitness of sturridge will have large bearing

Reckon the pendulum has swung the other way - from expecting him to be fit 100% of the time last summer, the expectation is around 0% now.

 

Surely, he can't have ad bad a year again injury wise.

[McBain]

I think we need to play 2 out and out forwards.

We don't have enough goals in the attacking midfielders to get by with one forward.

Absolutely. Which is why I favour the diamond early on. Firmino as a slightly withdrawn second striker

 

Coutinho plus 3 others in midfield

[mally]

I'd like to see:

4 2 3 1

 

Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno

Can, Henderson

Firmino, Milner, Coutinho

Sturridge

 

I also wouldn't be averse to seeing Lucas as one of the two. We simply can't concede as many goals next season if we want top four.

Edited July 12, 2015 by mally

[Ombudsam]

Reckon it's going to be 4-3-3 in the main. Don't see Milner as a sitting midfielder.

 

How do you see it working then. I don't want to see Coutinho left side of a top three. Doesn't seem to work for hi,

 

I'd like to see:

4 2 3 1

 

Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno

Can, Henderson

Firmino, Milner, Coutinho

Sturridge

 

I also wouldn't be averse to seeing Lucas as one of the two. We simply can't concede as many goals next season if we want top four.

We need to score a load more

[Earl Hafler]

Absolutely. Which is why I favour the diamond early on. Firmino as a slightly withdrawn second striker

Coutinho plus 3 others in midfield

To start I think it will be a variation of a diamond and a three, with Firmino and another off Benteke, Milner and Hendo behind Coutinho. Some games it'll be Coutinho more advanced then Firmino off Benteke.

 

Loads of options in attack and I think might see a genuine 4-2-3-1 in a league cup or Europa match, with Ibe and Markovic wide, Lallana ( for example ) or maybe even Ojo behind Origi. Lucas and Can sitting with Can making those rampaging excursions into attack.

 

Squad utilisation needs to improve.

[yellow jumper]

hard to separate the obvious supremacy of sturridge/suarez from any formation that worked for us in 13/14. but one of the other reasons the diamond functioned well in my opinion was we had a player at the tip who was able to contribute both as a forward and a pressing midfielder. if all we read about firmino is right, i think it looks a good option again. also probably, given that, the best formation for getting our full backs forward. which was also a feature of that 13/14 run.

 

the flip side would be i think benteke maybe better suited to a 3.

[Earl Hafler]

We have a few players capable of playing at the tip of a diamond but the midfielders and forwards in the squad might fare better in 2-1 midfields and attacks.

 

There's always the chance Ings, Markovic or another really impresses and forces their way into starting league games ( at least for a month or so ) and that might force Coutinho deeper into midfield.

 

Sterling out, Benteke in and the front six looks very promising indeed, assuming we rotate for the early season cup matches and keep players in form.

[Red Yoda]

Far too many variables at the minute to have a constructive chat about this surely.

[David Hodgson]

Reckon it's going to be 4-3-3 in the main. Don't see Milner as a sitting midfielder.

If Milner isn't a sitting midfielder, and we assume he and Henderson always start, then the 3rd (and most defensive) midfielder is who ? Lucas ? Who wasn't get a regular game in the last third of the season. Allen ? God help us. Or Can ? Good, but raw to be nailing down the DM role.

 

The knock on of MIlner being all but guaranteed a centre mid slot and Henderson being made captain is that it's unlikely that Coutinho is seen as being anywhere other than in the front 3.

 

So, if Milner isn't a DM, and I'm inclined to agree that he hasn't been bought for that role, then BR's first choice 11, by a process of elimination has to be :

 

 

-----------------------------MIgnolet

 

Clynne------------Skrtel--------------Sahko--------Moreno

 

 

-------------------------------Lucas/Can

 

 

--------------Milner------------------------------Henderson

 

 

-----------------------------Coutinho

 

 

---------------Firmino-----------------new striker/Sturridge

[Earl Hafler]

You'll see Coutinho in a midfield three plenty, I reckon. Too many options further forward.

 

Also fewer players comfortable on that left side.

Hendo------Milner

------Coutinho

Ibe--------Firmino

-------Benteke

 

V Stoke.

Edited July 12, 2015 by Earl Hafler

[Chewie]

Squad composition is interesting. On one of the Wraps it was highlighted how Ged had built a real strong squad in our treble season and that we've prob not had as strong since (better first teams but not a squad of 20 )

 

Are we getting there ?

 

Mig + Bogdan ..meh

clyne, Moreno, flanu, wisdom

skrtl, Sakho, lovren, toure, illori

 

Henderson, Milner, Lucas, Can, Allen

Coutinho, lallana, markovich, Ibe

firminio, Sturridge, ings. Origi, ???

 

That's 21+ outfield that looks competent but probably lacking in strength and magic (think hyppia, henchoz. Babbel, Gary Mac, young Gerrard, Owen...)

 

Needs a couple of real quality players in there to give it something extra

[fred milne]

If Milner isn't a sitting midfielder, and we assume he and Henderson always start, then the 3rd (and most defensive) midfielder is who ? Lucas ? Who wasn't get a regular game in the last third of the season. Allen ? God help us. Or Can ? Good, but raw to be nailing down the DM role.

 

The knock on of MIlner being all but guaranteed a centre mid slot and Henderson being made captain is that it's unlikely that Coutinho is seen as being anywhere other than in the front 3.

 

So, if Milner isn't a DM, and I'm inclined to agree that he hasn't been bought for that role, then BR's first choice 11, by a process of elimination has to be :

 

 

-----------------------------MIgnolet

 

Clynne------------Skrtel--------------Sahko--------Moreno

 

 

-------------------------------Lucas/Can

 

 

--------------Milner------------------------------Henderson

 

 

-----------------------------Coutinho

 

 

---------------Firmino-----------------new striker/Sturridge

Reckon we will bring someone in to play in front of the defence.

[David Hodgson]

You'll see Coutinho in a midfield three plenty, I reckon. Too many options further forward.

 

Also fewer players comfortable on that left side.

Hendo------Milner

------Coutinho

Ibe--------Firmino

-------Benteke

 

V Stoke.

That's more of a 4 2 3 1. I'm not convinced he'll play that way, although I'd accept that there's often little between a 433 or a 4231 or even a diamond 442 (at times).

 

BR seems to have always played with one midfielder deeper than all the rest (aside from in the 343 systems). In a four at the back system he'll not play with two holding as you're effectively showing. He'll want much more offensive pressing aggression. It'll always be a 1-2 triangle in midfield.

 

To that end, you can't really have a midfield 3 of Henderson, Coutinho and Milner, because none are likely to be used as a DM.

[Ombudsam]

Reckon we will bring someone in to play in front of the defence.

We've got loads of midfielders. I can't see us investing in another unless we shift a couple. Also he doesn't seem to buy holding midfielders.

[Earl Hafler]

That's more of a 4 2 3 1. I'm not convinced he'll play that way, although I'd accept that there's often little between a 433 or a 4231 or even a diamond 442 (at times).

 

BR seems to have always played with one midfielder deeper than all the rest (aside from in the 343 systems). In a four at the back system he'll not play with two holding as you're effectively showing. He'll want much more offensive pressing aggression. It'll always be a 1-2 triangle in midfield.

 

To that end, you can't really have a midfield 3 of Henderson, Coutinho and Milner, because none are likely to be used as a DM.

Not a 4-2-3-1 when you consider how deep Coutinho comes for the ball in relation to Firmino and you're wrong about the triangle.