UEFA Champions League/Europa League 23/24/25 October *** Spoilers ***

Pigeon_Killer said:
1-0 FT

Happy with that. Defence was solid, Sahin was excellent and the two wingers (Assaidi and Sterling) both played very well. Suarez and Gerrard both looked tired again which is a concern though.
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Sums it up quite well. Not sure why Henderson didn't come on towards the end for Gerrard; as you say Gerrard looked tired and we were starting to look a bit open in midfield.

Highlight of the game was Sterling beating Samba to a flick on.
 
One More Solo said:
I think Assaidi is quicker than Nani. :p
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I think all of our forwards would look far better with a proper striker. Someone who gets in the box and is clinical in front of goal.

Suarez can score good goals but his best work is usually creating chances for someone else and Sterling and Assaidi didn't have much to aim for because Suarez rarely gets in the box and can't keep up with them.

BaZ87 said:
Sums it up quite well. Not sure why Henderson didn't come on towards the end for Gerrard; as you say Gerrard looked tired and we were starting to look a bit open in midfield.

Highlight of the game was Sterling beating Samba to a flick on.
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Forgot to mention Wisdom again. Solid as always and playing like he's been our right back for years.
 
Pigeon_Killer said:
I think all of our forwards would look far better with a proper striker. Someone who gets in the box and is clinical in front of goal.

Suarez can score good goals but his best work is usually creating chances for someone else and Sterling and Assaidi didn't have much to aim for because Suarez rarely gets in the box and can't keep up with them :o
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I agree to an extent but I'm totally against Suarez playing wide in a 3 unless we bring a top class striker. I think the priority should be to bring in wide players that can and will get in the box and score.

Like with Sterling's goal at the weekend, when we've got the ball on the right, the left hand player of the front 3 has to be more central and look to get into the box. I guess that's the thinking behind playing Borini on the right as he's naturally going to look to come inside.

The other option would be to switch to a diamond in midfield with Lucas sitting, Sahin & Allen just ahead of him, Gerrard off the front and then Suarez + 1 (possibly even Sterling) up front.

edit: and although we're top of the group, it's still up in the air as to whether we'll qualify. Assuming we don't take a decent side to Russia and lose, Udinese beat Young Boys at home in the next round of games and then we beat Young Boys and Anzhi beat Udinese in Russia, we'll need to avoid defeat in Italy in the last game to qualify.
 
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Good win. That should be us qualified.

Quietly getting on with it (along with Pool) while all other English euro teams **** up :)
 
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divaboy said:
Listening to SKY all the time these experts say zonal marking is crap , players get run on them etc etc.

Obviously they must be an advantage of zonal marking , any footie gurus care to explain?
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Someone very astutely pointed out a while back that one reason zonal gets a bad name is this:

Man-to-man marking: Mistake is made, finger of blame is pointed at the man who was supposed to be picking up the opposition player.
Zonal marking: Mistake is made, finger of blame is pointed at the system.

So essentially M2M never gets blamed for anything, it is always the fault of an individual, whereas Zonal always gets the blame, it is never the fault of an individual.

To answer your question, advantages of zonal include:
1) In theory players don't have to worry about keeping track of slippery customers (i.e. "losing their man"), they can just focus on their zone.
2) It ensures that key zones are being defended i.e. avoid the risk of players getting dragged away by decoy runs opening up space in the centre of goals for others to slip their markers and come steaming in.

As for the game last night, it was rubbish, worst game I've been to since the 0-0s vs West Ham and Sunderland in early 2009. No movement, no creativity, I'm loathe to suggest a knee-jerk after 2 matches but I think changes need to be made. Put Arshavin in the team, bring Wilshere on for 30mins, if Gibbs isn't fit then put Vermalen at LB with Koscielny in the centre, if AOC/Walcott is fit then play him - basically mix things up a bit.
 
Somebody asked yesterday why teams can't play a mixture of zonal and man marking - well they can and do. Under Rodgers we've gone back to zonal marking but today (and vs Stoke the other week) we tweaked our normal system and had Agger & Skrtel (who would usually be in the line of defenders along the 6 yard box) man marking Samba & Traore and had 3 instead of 4 players zonally marking along the 6 yard box.
 
divaboy said:
What happened? I after the spurs match I could only manage 15 minutes of liverpool match anyone got a gif?
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Keeper had the ball in one hand before he kicked it out, Agger headed the ball out of his hand and volleyed in. A very tidy finish :D
 
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Was angry at the time as I assumed wrongly you could knock it out of one hand but was also laughing at the complete cheek of Agger, such a legend
 
No1newts said:
Good win. That should be us qualified.

Quietly getting on with it (along with Pool) while all other English euro teams **** up :)
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Sammy flick and run up the middle of the park was super :D

He some size for a 20 year old when he fills out with his size and skill and pace he going to be one to watch! He just gilds past people was ease
One to take over the Legendary 23 shirt.

What better to replace Ameobi with an Ameobi on the back :D
 
BaZ87 said:
I agree to an extent but I'm totally against Suarez playing wide in a 3 unless we bring a top class striker. I think the priority should be to bring in wide players that can and will get in the box and score.

Like with Sterling's goal at the weekend, when we've got the ball on the right, the left hand player of the front 3 has to be more central and look to get into the box. I guess that's the thinking behind playing Borini on the right as he's naturally going to look to come inside.

The other option would be to switch to a diamond in midfield with Lucas sitting, Sahin & Allen just ahead of him, Gerrard off the front and then Suarez + 1 (possibly even Sterling) up front.
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Nice win against the big spending Russians, wonder if Downing will gain any confidence from it (and Rodgers attempt to install confidence by dragging him to the Kop for a round of applause)

I wouldn't mind seeing Gerrard as a false 9 with Suarez and Sterling either side of him (Lucas, Allen, Sahin/Shelvey as the midfield 3) once Lucas is back.

Sad to say but Gerrard is clearly our best finisher, think he could work there if he could adapt to not being central to the play (big ask this stage of his career but playing along side Torres has shown he has the intelligence to
 
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