Indeed. What an exciting game it was this weekend.
I was up at 6.30am raring to go for it.
Fantastic first half, thought we sat to deep in the second.
I realize that Rodgers likely wanted to soak up pressure and counter attack but to me after a rest at half I think we could have done more of the same, killed the game off with a 3-0 goal and then made subs (Lucas for Sturridge) and played a 451 or a 433 as Rodgers like to call it. The wingers going forward in attack is the difference.
Personally I favour the two holding midfielders when we've got a decent lead and with Sturridge out I think vs. Chelsea that should be used.
Vs. Norwich I would just sub hendo for Allen in the same position and Moses for Sturridge. That means 4231 from the start with Gerrard and Allen sitting deep (Allen havin the license to push up and join the attack as the pivot). Moses, Coutinho and Sterling behind Suarez but crucially having the license to interchange positions.
Sterling has been fantastic when he has been able to drift into the number 10 role, Countiho has done well there as well but has also played well on the left (recall early in the season he was fantastic in that position) and Moses went stale when he was kept on the left for long periods like against Hull or against Swansea (barring a spot of magic in which he scored the goal).
Considering Norwich is a weaker team I think we should go for the jugular. Moses will be rusty but will be raring to go and I think although Norwich is fighting for their lives and has just had a manager change we should be able to outscore them if Sterling continues to make runs into the box and with Moses and Coutinho's trickery it would make sense.
In the Chelsea game I would take a more cautious approach with Lucas and Gerrard being the holding midfielders. I remember well how our midfield was overrun on the counter attack through the Xmas period when Lucas was the only holding midfielder in the City and Chelsea games.
Assuming Sturridge is still injured (which is likely as he tweaked his hamstring) I think that is our best bet with Allen coming in for Moses (from line up discussed at Norwich above) as he has more defensive bones in his body and works harder both ways. He is also less risky in possession taking on people less and better at keeping the ball by choosing the safer options. Coutinho has always been better at hitting more through balls however if looking at stats he is also the person in the team who gives the ball away most often (although he has improved in that sense as well from the first 25 games). Interestingly the person with the most development this year is Sterling. He also hit a fair few through balls now which is a product on him playing more centrally as well as growing more confident from playing well and being able to protect the ball must better than previous years. His development has been phenomenal and his form is part of the reason I have hope for the summer. He can go past people, protect the ball now (his strength and strategic positioning is better when in position and when positioning himself defensively about when to press and when not too), and cruicially he can hit pin point through balls.
Here is more good tactical analysis as ever from Zonalmarking.net
With his pace he also makes intelligent runs and because of that is able to get into one on ones with the keeper regularly. Currently his only point of weakness is his finishing. And I say that despite his exquisite composure to finish yesterday. He only has seven goals this season but probably could have had 10-15 if his finishing was better. That will come though he is only 19. Lots of credit has got to go to Rodgers.
I think Sterling has been our best player for a while now as much as Suarez and Sturridge has been scoring the goals.
Allen is also a better option for the Chelsea game because he runs his socks off snapping at heals which we may need tight game like the one against Chelsea is likely to be. Jose likes to shut up shop in these games and we should aim to hit them on the break quickly. Pace is not their strong suit at the back (Terry, Luis and less so Cahill).
Anyway you got me going. Fantastic win yesterday although I thought we got lucky and yet again we suffered from the lack of changes when his early 2nd half tactics did not work. Silva was dominating and Gerrard could not get close to him. Lucas should have came on sooner.
We also should have had a penalty against us (Sakho on Dzeko first half).
So far Rodgers have learnt from his tactical mistakes and made changes. I hope he does again. I thought we were lucky to come away with the win yesterday as well despite our fantastic first half. We could have had 3 or 4 goals perhaps if to your point, Suarez or Sturridge would have been on form or the final pass had been better or bounced our way.
Chelsea game decides the title for me.
Your thoughts?
YNWA,
Stian
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