Barclay's Premier League '14-'15 discussion V2

It wasn't Poch's fault, Rodgers is just a better tactician than he is.

2 players away

Also quite easy to implement your ideas on QPR and West Ham.

It will take time. Yesterday's result was expected.

Scoreline was a bit inflated because Townsend is an idiot and a BS penalty, but Liverpool deserved to win either way. The performance was meh.

Spurs offense continues to be slow and sluggish when opposition defends in numbers. Not enough combination play, I expect this to improve. This is partially why I think I would rather see Soldado playing with Eriksen, Lamela and Chadli. Still, he hasn't really shown enough to be better than ahead of Ade- and Ade continues to be inconsistent af.

Either way, new coach, new style of play, playing with players who didn't get to often play in the same starting XI last year (Chadli, Capoue, Lamela, Dier, Rose for first half of season). It will take time, as long as Tottenham pick up the points against the lower league teams then I think improved performances against the better teams will happen in time.

Pressing a 442 diamond isnt so easy.

When your playing 4231 like Spurs was, the wingers take the Pool fullbacks. Then your playing 4 v 3 as Eriksen, Bentaleb and Capoue (was it him who started?) has to try and get to grips with the 4 Pool players in the middle. That leaves on of the CB's free and Gerrard free. If Eriksen presses up on Gerrard then it leaves Henderson or Allen free, unless Bentaleb and Capoue push up and leave the even more dangerous Sterling free. Fullbacks dont want to come all the way inside to help because that leaves 2 v 2 at the back, suicide of your against what Pool have up there.

Really, Spurs had no real idea how to play any sort of pressing game in their system vs Pools.

Dani funny thing Pochetino did this same exact thing last season at St.Mary's with Southampton against us.

Guess what we did. 4-4-2 diamond.

Result? 0-3 Liverpool

Didnt know that. You would imagine he would of known and come up with a better alternative.

I don't know why Liverpool don't run the 4/4/2 diamond more since they were undefeated when deploying it last season in the league.

Motogp69 wrote:I don't know why Liverpool don't run the 4/4/2 diamond more since they were undefeated when deploying it last season in the league.

Now that Balotelli has signed, it'll be our primary formation.

We look so much more fluid and dangerous with 4-4-2 diamond. It brings the best of most of our key players namely Sterling and Sturridge.

Motogp69 wrote:I don't know why Liverpool don't run the 4/4/2 diamond more since they were undefeated when deploying it last season in the league.

Quite misleading set of statistics there, in my opinion. I'd contend that the "undefeated" record with the diamond was exactly down to the fact that it was not often used. Rodgers used the diamond midfield as a tactical option in matches where he expected it to be of tactical benefit to Liverpool, thus immediately setting it up for greater success per match than our default (so much as we had one) formation. On top of that, as it was not our standard or primary formation, clubs did not come into matches against Liverpool with plans specifically designed to negate/exploit the diamond as they did for our standard formation, giving it a second benefit it would not have enjoyed were it employed more often. To add to all of that, the diamond formation saw the majority of it's use during Liverpool's brilliant run of form (and tail off) meaning that as much as it contributed to the winning streak it also benefited from it by virtue of having very inform and confident players who were honestly performing well regardless of overall formation/tactical approach.

On top of all of that, it wasn't nearly as successful as that statistic suggests at first glance. Several matches where we initially utilised the diamond only earned us a result due to Rodgers in-game shift away from the formation as we were struggling badly with the diamond formation.

I'm not bashing the formation at all, however I do feel it's necessary to curb some of this unwarranted praise and adulation for it. It was not some blessed cure-all or unstoppable tactical masterstroke. It was (and remains) a useful tactical option that works particularly well as a "surprise" to spring on opposing sides but also one that has some notable flaws and weaknesses that clubs in the PL can quite clearly exploit to great effect.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BwfJXQBIIAAloup.jpg

Best premier league transfer window ever.

We were one of three teams to record a profit, but had the best summer

You will keep making profits due to the amount of players you have on loan lol.

you can sell 6 next year that might include the likes of Moses, wallace, bertrand, atsu etc and get about 20-30m. maybe even more.

Thank you, PSG.

RealGunner wrote:You will keep making profits due to the amount of players you have on loan lol.

you can sell 6 next year that might include the likes of Moses, wallace, bertrand, atsu etc and get about 20-30m. maybe even more.

We keep stock piling them too

The most surprising thing about that list is Everton spending 30m net.

They bought Lukaku for 28m

I think Everton had the worst window of all top 7.

Think ourselves and Chelsea had the best.

I know lol, they normally either come close to breaking even or profiting during the window. Surprising to see that they still sat with that without selling anyone major or anything first

Arsenal's wasn't fantastic either, imo.

Going into a season with 2 CB's and average DM's is not ideal.

City have a god window too, but they needed less.

Kick wrote:Arsenal's wasn't fantastic either, imo.

Going into a season with 2 CB's and average DM's is not ideal.

City have a god window too, but they needed less.

3 CB's Chambers now every well a backup CB with Bellerin the 2nd RB

And Monreal is a 4th choice emergency CB

Sorry, was meant to write experienced CB's.

Chambers could do well but he is very young.

Arsenal and Liverpool,dat English core.

Pride of England

Just visited RedCafe.

Everyone is predicting a top 2 finish now again

Imagine the Lulz if they don't beat QPR at home in their next game....I think I will laugh for days.

^ you appear quite obsessed these days with us, like you are on a mission or something. come on Chillax man. We get your point.

Agreed, It would be failure for United not to challenge for a league title now. Unless they expect 4th with these signings.