Would a defensive midfielder help us stop conceeding so many goals?

[RafaShanks]

Was chatting to some fellow reds today and we were discussing ways in which to help us stop leaking goals.

 

Mignolet and Moreno have been the biggest culprits last season, but have hardly featured for us this seasons and we're still shipping goals for fun.

 

Yes having a solid keeper between the sticks is a big thing for us, but will it solve our defensive issues?

 

Our past 2 managers have not really believed in having a defensive minded midfielder (Kante or a Mascherano for example) to just sit in the middle of the pitch break up play and providing extra protection to our back four.

 

We still look wide open at times for teams to hit us through the middle, especially when we lose possession.

 

So would having a defensive midielder help us conceeding less goals or shutting the game off when we're ahead like Bournemouth game for example?

 

 

[Benzo-13]

Klopp had a dictating midfielder at the base at Dortmund. Sahin, Kehl, Bender and Gündogan all took turns.

 

Convinced Henderson is temp until who we want is available.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

I don't think so because I don't think Klopps approach allows for that.

 

I remember the 5-1 at Newcastle in 08/09 and there was some excellent wide shots of the game where you could Insua holding when we went down the right and Carra holding when we went down the left. Never the 2 going together.

 

Rodgers and Klopp freely let them provide the outlet and allow the attacking midfielders to try come in a bit.

 

I think he touched on his approach in the Monday Night Football piece in that he has 2 CBs, 2 FBs and the rest is fluid. If that's the case, there can't truly be a defensive midfielder that has a mandate to sit whatever the situation.

 

Anyone remember a game against Southampton around 03/04 and Southampton broke but then Gerrard came into screen shot and chewed up the ground to put in a tackle, hook the ball and get up and initiate an attack. We could do with one of those in this set up. An athletic lad that can cover ground and likes the defensive side of the game. Not elusive at all of course!!

[Benzo-13]

No Rory they all tandemed within the two. It was the partnerships of the two in the middle with the three in front.

He had a total world class no.9 at Dortmund but not here.

[Conrad]

Our bigger issue is at either end of the pitch

[Benzo-13]

Our bigger issue is at either end of the pitch

That's your opinion.

[Conrad]

Controversial I know

[Maldini]

I think most of the goals we've conceded this season have been set pieces and individual errors.

[Hassony]

Our bigger issue is at either end of the pitch

We're top scorers though

[Jarg Armani]

We certainly can't control a sausage when the chips are down.

[Stevie H]

I think most of the goals we've conceded this season have been set pieces and individual errors.

 

yeah, i've felt that f***ing loads of the goals we have conceded have been thoroughly avoidable. isn't like teams have taken us apart or scored worldies.

[Benzo-13]

We certainly can't control a sausage when the chips are down.

Our game management is poor and that's midfield.

[doug_mac]

Was chatting to some fellow reds today and we were discussing ways in which to help us stop leaking goals.

 

Mignolet and Moreno have been the biggest culprits last season, but have hardly featured for us this seasons and we're still shipping goals for fun.

 

Yes having a solid keeper between the sticks is a big thing for us, but will it solve our defensive issues?

 

Our past 2 managers have not really believed in having a defensive minded midfielder (Kante or a Mascherano for example) to just sit in the middle of the pitch break up play and providing extra protection to our back four.

 

We still look wide open at times for teams to hit us through the middle, especially when we lose possession.

 

So would having a defensive midielder help us conceeding less goals or shutting the game off when we're ahead like Bournemouth game for example?

saw us linked with that kondogbia lad at inter the other day. he plays there

 

dont know if hes any good but was highly rated a couple of years ago 

[Ed the Wool]

Klopp had a dictating midfielder at the base at Dortmund. Sahin, Kehl, Bender and Gündogan all took turns.

 

Convinced Henderson is temp until who we want is available.

 

That's interesting. Although Melissa Reddy had said we'd ended interest in Dahoud because Henderson was performing there. You think he'd move Hendo forward then Benzo? 

[LFC4Life]

I think Klopp sees Can as the long term solution there. I believe he does not think he is ready to take on that role just yet.

 

Dahoud will be playing further up.

[Jarg Armani]

Our game management is poor and that's midfield.

Agreed. I think we almost bypass it with our shape when things are going well with the ball.

 

When things are not so good we look to our forwards to dig us out and our defence to keep us in it. West Ham pushed us around in midfield on Sunday and ended up being able to play through us several times.

[épieur]

Imagine didi hamann in this side.

 

He'd be imperious. Assuming he quit smoking.

[Benzo-13]

That's interesting. Although Melissa Reddy had said we'd ended interest in Dahoud because Henderson was performing there. You think he'd move Hendo forward then Benzo?

I think Dahoud is more along where Wijnaldum is playing.

Could be more a case of Can/Henderson playing alongside but bombing on more than JH is currently doing.

But that two in the middle would be more secure and balanced than a one which we currently have.

[sangria]

Imagine didi hamann in this side.

 

He'd be imperious. Assuming he quit smoking.

 

Or, even not going back so far, imagine Lucas circa 10-11, who was as close to a combination Alonso-Mascherano as I've seen in one player.

[Rex Ham]

Its about having an experienced and cool head in midfield when it starts getting ugly, isnt it? Someone who can lead by example and put in a few tackles or blocks to stir everyone else into action. Hendersons responsibility, but clearly not working.

[Conrad]

The Henderson who has made more tackles than anyone else in the league?

 

I think we could do with more quality in midfield, but its Can's form which has been the least impressive of our midfielders this season

 

But, with a better goalkeeper we'd have conceded approx 8-10 less goals this season. No team prevents the opposition from creating chances, no team controls a match completely.

[jimbolala]

Or, even not going back so far, imagine Lucas circa 10-11, who was as close to a combination Alonso-Mascherano as I've seen in one player.

I must have missed that, the lad has never been better than decent.

[PhilM]

Or, even not going back so far, imagine Lucas circa 10-11, who was as close to a combination Alonso-Mascherano as I've seen in one player.

 

Sorry, what?

[sangria]

I must have missed that, the lad has never been better than decent.

 

For that period, he was more than decent, rising to extremely good during Dalglish's time. And more to my point, he fulfilled in one player much (if not all) of the passing of Alonso and most of the defensive ability of Mascherano. Most of the flak he got was for not being as good as either of those two, neither as good at passing as Alonso not as good defensively as Mascherano. But who is? But Mascherano wasn't as good at passing as Alonso, and Alonso wasn't as good defensively as Mascherano. What Dalglish found to be so useful in Lucas was that, in one player, he could provide most of what these players provided in their specialist areas, allowing him to basically play a midfield 1. Although he only really went that paradigm at the start of the 11-12 season, which was when Lucas made his jump in performance. Previous managers, and even Dalglish in 10-11, went with a conventional midfield pair. I thought at the time that the midfield 1 idea was insane, but that Dalglish thought it was feasible shows how good Lucas was.

[muleskinner]

For that period, he was more than decent, rising to extremely good during Dalglish's time. And more to my point, he fulfilled in one player much (if not all) of the passing of Alonso and most of the defensive ability of Mascherano. Most of the flak he got was for not being as good as either of those two, neither as good at passing as Alonso not as good defensively as Mascherano. But who is? But Mascherano wasn't as good at passing as Alonso, and Alonso wasn't as good defensively as Mascherano. What Dalglish found to be so useful in Lucas was that, in one player, he could provide most of what these players provided in their specialist areas, allowing him to basically play a midfield 1. Although he only really went that paradigm at the start of the 11-12 season, which was when Lucas made his jump in performance. Previous managers, and even Dalglish in 10-11, went with a conventional midfield pair. I thought at the time that the midfield 1 idea was insane, but that Dalglish thought it was feasible shows how good Lucas was.

we finished 7th or 8th didn't we?