Liverpool's best form of defence is attack
Article by Red Phil
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A couple of replies to my last article thought I was being somewhat harsh in my comments. One suggested that our passing and pressing game would create mistakes by opposing defenders and, overall, we are slowly improving with Coutinho, for one, having more shooting practice to improve his chances of scoring.
Right, great, spot-on . . . but wouldn’t our offence be improved if we had a greater attacking threat up front and not great swathes of open space between lone strikers bursting through and the supportive midfield? I just long for a time when we know that any ball played forward will ultimately be met, in the great scheme of things, by a forward with a predatory nature and a lot of pace. Sturridge’s goals record, per game, is excellent so get him higher up the pitch and let the midfield create chances for him from the mistakes of defenders who can’t cope with our pressing game. I’ve had four positive comments supporting this theory so, whilst I humbly accept the comment made, I think many LFC fans would prefer somebody to be on the last defender’s shoulder for any chances that come, from defenders’ errors or our own creative excellence.
Another comment supported “Train Crash” Sakho and said he’d be straight back into the team when fit. Again, probably quite correct, but I doubt if he’ll ever be one of Liverpool’s best-ever central defenders and, if that is the case, we need to look for somebody who potentially could be. We shouldn’t settle for somebody who might, or might not, give half the crowd a coronary when the ball is at his feet.
Probably a very nice guy and currently playing better than for many, many games, I just doubt if he will ever completely get rid of his ability to look awkward and to make a few mistakes. It may be harsh but, when LFC are involved, players who aren’t absolutely top notch need replacing. Would Mourinho play him? Would City, or United (Yes, they probably would!) or Arsenal? Far better players than Mr Sakho have been replaced by Messrs Shankly, Paisley, etc., even when the fans couldn’t believe that the managers would contemplate such things so, whilst we must always support the players who don the shirt we must always strive to field the best team we can . . . even if it means going into the transfer market.
On the defensive issue, I can recall more nervous moments I’ve had with the no doubt charming and affable Mr Sakho in the last year or so than I can recall, in total, watching literally hundreds of games involving Messrs Hansen, Lawrenson and Thompson. THAT is why I would like a change of defender!
Believe it or not, I’m a massive fan of Brendan Rodgers and hope he is at LFC for many years but our goal-scoring, since we lost Suarez – an out-and-out attacker - who played, more often than not on the shoulder of the last defender, has not been brilliant and I can’t see it improving to even near the levels we had with Suarez when our main striker is as isolated as he currently is and is so prone to wandering to the wing. We will always make chances but we aren’t taking enough of them . . . with or without shooting practice!
You don’t think of Rushie without King Kenny or Keegan without Toshack or Roger Hunt without Ian St. John, do you? Perhaps I’m a dinosaur, a relic of times gone by, I don’t know? Oh, go on then, I am!
© e-Football 2014 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football
Sucbscribe to the e-Football Podcast for FREE!
A couple of replies to my last article thought I was being somewhat harsh in my comments. One suggested that our passing and pressing game would create mistakes by opposing defenders and, overall, we are slowly improving with Coutinho, for one, having more shooting practice to improve his chances of scoring.
Right, great, spot-on . . . but wouldn’t our offence be improved if we had a greater attacking threat up front and not great swathes of open space between lone strikers bursting through and the supportive midfield? I just long for a time when we know that any ball played forward will ultimately be met, in the great scheme of things, by a forward with a predatory nature and a lot of pace. Sturridge’s goals record, per game, is excellent so get him higher up the pitch and let the midfield create chances for him from the mistakes of defenders who can’t cope with our pressing game. I’ve had four positive comments supporting this theory so, whilst I humbly accept the comment made, I think many LFC fans would prefer somebody to be on the last defender’s shoulder for any chances that come, from defenders’ errors or our own creative excellence.
Another comment supported “Train Crash” Sakho and said he’d be straight back into the team when fit. Again, probably quite correct, but I doubt if he’ll ever be one of Liverpool’s best-ever central defenders and, if that is the case, we need to look for somebody who potentially could be. We shouldn’t settle for somebody who might, or might not, give half the crowd a coronary when the ball is at his feet.
Probably a very nice guy and currently playing better than for many, many games, I just doubt if he will ever completely get rid of his ability to look awkward and to make a few mistakes. It may be harsh but, when LFC are involved, players who aren’t absolutely top notch need replacing. Would Mourinho play him? Would City, or United (Yes, they probably would!) or Arsenal? Far better players than Mr Sakho have been replaced by Messrs Shankly, Paisley, etc., even when the fans couldn’t believe that the managers would contemplate such things so, whilst we must always support the players who don the shirt we must always strive to field the best team we can . . . even if it means going into the transfer market.
On the defensive issue, I can recall more nervous moments I’ve had with the no doubt charming and affable Mr Sakho in the last year or so than I can recall, in total, watching literally hundreds of games involving Messrs Hansen, Lawrenson and Thompson. THAT is why I would like a change of defender!
Believe it or not, I’m a massive fan of Brendan Rodgers and hope he is at LFC for many years but our goal-scoring, since we lost Suarez – an out-and-out attacker - who played, more often than not on the shoulder of the last defender, has not been brilliant and I can’t see it improving to even near the levels we had with Suarez when our main striker is as isolated as he currently is and is so prone to wandering to the wing. We will always make chances but we aren’t taking enough of them . . . with or without shooting practice!
You don’t think of Rushie without King Kenny or Keegan without Toshack or Roger Hunt without Ian St. John, do you? Perhaps I’m a dinosaur, a relic of times gone by, I don’t know? Oh, go on then, I am!
© e-Football 2014 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football
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