Liverpool 2010/11 Season Thread

[SharkSkin-Man]

Unfortunately, nobody else is taking the tactics time machine back to the 70's/80's with us.

[Scythe]

They said last night that it will take time for the players to adapt to Roys tactics. Has anyone worked out what they are? Other than two banks of four that are compact and don't adapt to situations, let the oppostition keep possesion with no pressing or interchange?

Torres is getting stick which is unfair he simply isn't getting the service he has been in previous seasons (although I concede he has been out of sorts).

[paul]

Torres is getting stick which is unfair he simply isn't getting the service he has been in previous seasons (although I concede he has been out of sorts).

He won't find form, if we don't find him with the ball when he's not having to come back to the half way line. He'll work hard for the team, but it doesn't seem to work the other way round when it comes to actually getting him the ball where he's most dangerous.

[Hombre]

Taken from a different forum...

Yes **** One of my best mates is a Red but a season ticket holder at Fulham as he lives walking distance from Craven Cottage and likes to take his lad to see Premiership football. This was one of many predictions he made for me when Roy first came to Liverpool. I have cut and pasted this from an email he sent in the summer:

???????
On substitutions:
He?ll make few substitutions, those he does will come late in the game and be mechanical. For example at Fulham he?ll take off Danny Murphy on 75 mins, every game. His philiosphy is essentially one of Plan A, Plan A, Plan A. He?s worked on a plan with his team (no really he has) and he?ll see it through on the basis that it is just a question of keep on working at it and it will work eventually. He is not short on believing in his convictions.

On selections:
He believes in having a first 11. He will work out who it is and then stick with it, week in week out. Others will play in the Europa League and the cups. Don?t expect to see him at the Academy too often, just not his thing.

On formation / tactics:
He?ll get his team to sit back in two banks of four, very narrow and basically say to the opposition, ?go on play through us?. It had some success against teams like Arsenal. When you win the ball back, first option will be a ball to the striker and let him hold it up. Wide midfielders will often play on the side opposite their best foot to cut in (like Damien Duff at Fulham) and the fullbacks will have to provide any width. You?ll find it frustrating to watch as they won?t press and as a fan it is very hard to get into the game when there is limited energy in attack or defense. At Fulham the fans get into it because their expectations are lower and they have more games against whay they see as better teams and anything from the games is a victory of some sorts they can support. I think you?ll find it tougher to hang on to that at Anfield.

On the media:
No question you won?t have to endure the negativity and blatant unfairness that has riled you so much last season (and I know why ? you?ve told me often enough). The media will give him an easy ride. Let?s hope they wake up to the owners, else any problems will be Rafa?s fault.
????????

[Hombre]

After the final whistle last night, Danny Murphy is in the studio being asked if there is a different training regime under Mark Hughes at Fulham, and I quote;

“We are now pressing teams a lot higher up the pitch,trying to be a bit more dynamic”

“Allowing one or two players from deeper positions to get forward more”

Just to put that into perspective, that is how we used to play under Benitez and it worked. Of course we had the calibre of Mascherano and Alonso bossing the midfield allowing this to happen, so it's partly Roy's tactics and the lack of funds from the ownership debacle meaning we can't afford to buy decent replacements.

Instead of masherano and Alonso we have Poulsen (a less effective Lucas replica) and Lucas (currently looks like a less effective Lucas replica).

Oh dear.

[SharkSkin-Man]

The Fulham ST holder sums it up pretty well there.

It's amazing/frightening how many people think we are playing using the same formation and tactics as last year.

[Scythe]

I saw the possession stats for us against Sunderland and it was something like 44% - 56% and was just thinking how can a team come to Anfield and have the lions share of the possession are we not Liverpool famous for pass and move etc.
We should be taking the game to the opposition at home at least, no one is going to be worried about coming to us at this rate and thats just not right.
I'd rather lose playing the 'right' way than scrape draws with this current system.

[ExtremePabs]

For me this season has been the most depressing ever as a Liverpool fan this includes the shocking Souness era. I have zero confidence in the manager, he doesnt seem to understand the liverpool way at all. We are not Fulham - the style of football he played at Fulham is not acceptable at Liverpool.

I understand and fully accept that we are weaker in certain areas than last season but we were much better under Benitez. As it currently stands I cannot see us finishing in the top ten and we can totally forget any form of European football next season.

I have watched all the Liverpool games so far this season and we have not been the best side in any game we have played. I cannot remember in my lifetime ever having a run of performances like this. I do concede that we have had worse runs of results at times but the performances were never this bad.

I want him gone and gone now before he irreverssibly damages this football club and Torres, Gerard and co leave in January. This is a massive change of heart for me as although initially I wanted Benitez to stay it was time for a change and I was quite positive about Hodgson.

One very depressed Liverpool fan.

[Hombre]

For me this season has been the most depressing ever as a Liverpool fan this includes the shocking Souness era. I have zero confidence in the manager, he doesnt seem to understand the liverpool way at all. We are not Fulham - the style of football he played at Fulham is not acceptable at Liverpool.

I understand and fully accept that we are weaker in certain areas than last season but we were much better under Benitez. As it currently stands I cannot see us finishing in the top ten and we can totally forget any form of European football next season.

I have watched all the Liverpool games so far this season and we have not been the best side in any game we have played. I cannot remember in my lifetime ever having a run of performances like this. I do concede that we have had worse runs of results at times but the performances were never this bad.

I want him gone and gone now before he irreverssibly damages this football club and Torres, Gerard and co leave in January. This is a massive change of heart for me as although initially I wanted Benitez to stay it was time for a change and I was quite positive about Hodgson.

One very depressed Liverpool fan.

I think the change that was needed wasn't outing Rafa, it was outing Gillett and Hicks.

[Scythe]

Benitez with a budget would have been awesome, I am sure of it.

[SharkSkin-Man]

Benitez with a budget would have been awesome, I am sure of it.

During the spell he did have money to spend, he was pretty good - even if some people would like to think otherwise.

A short journey down the line from then and it's looking like a golden age compared to this. The fact that people out there that actually wanted this to happen is incredible stuff.

[Hombre]

That's the only thing that keeps my hopes up, that there will be a change of ownership at some point and the possibility of it being someone similar to Dubai International Capital.

I really do think that would be the end of the line for Roy though, new owners would most definitely want someone with more ambition.

[ExtremePabs]

That's the only thing that keeps my hopes up, that there will be a change of ownership at some point and the possibility of it being someone similar to Dubai International Capital.

I really do think that would be the end of the line for Roy though, new owners would most definitely want someone with more ambition.

Lets hope thats the case and that it is soon so that there is at least a team for someone to inherit.

Oh well this weekend we have got getting outplayed and turned over by Blackpool to look forward to.

I agree with your sentiments about Benitez when he had money he did well I certainly was happy with him I just felt in the last season his man management skills seem to be shown as somewhat lacking.

[paul]

I want him gone and gone now before he irreverssibly damages this football club and Torres, Gerard and co leave in January. This is a massive change of heart for me as although initially I wanted Benitez to stay it was time for a change and I was quite positive about Hodgson.

Be careful what you wish for. Last year was a period of regression for the club as a whole, but the blame for that was not solely (if at all) with Benitez. However being the public figurehead of the club, he was always likely to get it from over expectant fans and a xenophobic media.

[ExtremePabs]

I dont think we would be any worse off without him, the man seems completely devoid of passion and pride and that seems to rubbed off on the team.

Performances this season so far look like a bottom half of the table team (if we are lucky and decisions go our way) and I can see Torres leaving in January (wouldn't blame him either). Does anyone really think we would look so completely hopeless with anyone else?

Come to think anyone think we will beat Blackpool at the weekend? It could go either way they are certainly going to attack and our back four look very poor.