Nothing more to add really, except to lay off Maxi. Its fairly obvious he isn't the long term solution, but he always puts a shift in, doesn't complain and has earned us valuable points this year (at Bolton). Do we really have to go down the "he isn't good enough and should never play again" road every time someone makes a couple mistakes?
I know he's a marquee signing and all that, but CFC TV has been on his case all week long, one interview after another doubtlessly egged on by his PR agency but one thing I remember about his days on Merseyside, for which he was reportedly grateful, was how Liverpool (fans and club) largely left him and his wife alone to have a private life. No luck there, it seems, bucko. Can't complain of fleas.
2 things - I think were touched upon earlier: 1. Gerrard - the run on the cross was nice (as was the run on the maxi miss) - but he still seems to be a bit "off" - haven't seen a long range pile driver from him in many moons. 2. Carra - his organization does indeed make a difference. Skrt looked very composed today. Agger - well he was a stud regardless. The forearm shiver really took Torres out of his game.
Maxi always offers an option for a pass, as a team player he is one of the better players in the squad, but Charlie Adam instead would be an exciting prospect in that 5-3-1-1.
Two tactical assessments of the match. Interesting reading for those who appreciate the importance of tactical formations in influencing results. They both explain how a wing-back system (ie 3 CB and 2 wing-backs) is designed to counter formations that field 2 strikers. While 3 at the back is not so common in England these days, the national teams of Egypt and Algeria utilize 3 at the back to some success. http://tomkinstimes.com/2011/02/che...ign=Feed:+TheTomkinsTimes+(The+Tomkins+Times) http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/02/06/chelsea-0-1-liverpool-tactics/
It also allows you provide width when you don't have genuine wide men but can also be negative when the the full/wing backs sit too deep. As we saw after we had scored.
I liked the graphic that showed Lucas had 45 passes in the game, 40 of them were successful. That seems astonishing to me in such a packed midfield area. Thanks for posting the two links revx
The more I watch Maxi's miss the more I view it as unforgivable. Maybe not to some extreme extent of hate, but just the sheer complacency in which he handled the situation. For no apparent reason he's turning away from goal as he hits the ball. His run did not take him away from goal. The path of the ball was not going away from goal. He thought that it was a done-deal and began celebrating too soon. We can forgive him for appreciating his moment to shine, but we've all seen it plenty of times in American football where people think the touchdown is a done deal... only to have it go terribly astray. There was no reason he couldn't put his body over the ball and place it back in there except for his own avarice.
Where's my rep for posting it before Tomkins? https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=22746805&postcount=98
To be fair, Tomkins, ZM, and I all stole those "tactical rules" from Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson - which was a very good book for tactics geeks.
It's almost a shame that he loves Sunderland and Eastern European football so much, because if he covered the more popular/mainstream clubs more often, he'd probably get a lot more credit.
Well I'm not as up on tactics as you guys but i think its brilliant. It gets all 3 backs on the pitch plus Kelly and the born-again Johnson. Against bus-parkers at home, you can attack. Against oil money away, you can defend. and the King- " Innovative? I'm just doing what works for my players." Its just natural to the guy. He looks, he sees, he acts, it works, it's simple. Just becouse none of the tens of millions of other observers saw that "obvious" solution straight off doesnt mean it wasnt obvious.
People aren't shocked by the formation working correctly. A lot of people knew that a "3-5-2" variant would work with our players. Hell, even Grinners guessed at last week. The big difference is that Kenny had the confidence and relaxed nature to pull it off. He, no doubt, made simple assignments for the players and put them in a position to be successful. More importantly, they were convinced it would work.
What a great feeling today, eh! And we did it without our 2 new signings to boot. Onward and upward, everything has been analyzed and nothing to add. YNWA
i've been forbidden to give anyone rep with a number in their moniker. i tried to give propeller74 rep. nyet! i tried to give liverbird rep ( liver's a number, isn't it? ) "sorry, cheese man", say them Fascists. this is what i live with...every stinking day!
After the comedy defending of Babb, Razor and Scales I dont think any Liverpool fan wanted to see 3-5-2 again. Its been a pleasant surprise to see how well we've adapted to it in these games.
Yeah, i do remember Rafa musing about using wingbacks for width and Johnson being bought for the purpose, and lots of talk of it here and there, but he never actually went ahead and did it that i recall. Kenney just steps right up. "here, do this". Players belief grows visibly with every kick. Its great. oh and a shout out to glen johnson he made that sliding covering hustling back tackle on the sidelines. he went in hard and won the ball. He's utterly reborn.
Nice! Some cricket fan from accounting that deals with the printers had it all done up nice and proper like? Epic Fail.
During the summer, you'll be able to get a Torres shirt (Chelsea version) for £22 at the Metro Local in West Kensington.