Total Football and progress.

This topic contains 9 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by  Paxman 8 years, 4 months ago.

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  • #690598
    redrob
    redrob
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    Particularly good display yesterday against a disjointed Chelsea team. I have noticed that Chelsea are very static and vulnerable at the back against mobile, nippy players who move the ball quickly for the past couple of seasons now – apart from when they park the bus !
    I posted to say that mobility was the key with Firmino at no.9. Yes Benteke did very well when he came on but our first half performance was excellent too. Milner was on the left wing at times and Lucas up front for an attacking header. Clyne and Moreno did their share of work in the opposition penalty box. Lallana, Firmino & co. were back helping out in our own box – all in all a performance to be proud of.
    I’ve posted the Total Football title as the game yesterday started reminding me of the ideals of the original Dutch sides of the 70s under Rinus Michels as I think we could see any NEARLY any player performing in any position – well apart from Lallana and Coutinho in a Sakho or Skrtel role.
    OK – perhaps I’m overdoing it slightly here – but the movement yesterday was superb and makes you question what exactly we did under BR. Outfield players were overflowing with enthusiasm to get into space and really chase back and “hunt” the opposition in packs so as to regain the ball. BR’s teams seemed in a straightjacket in comparison as they tried to stick to his uncertain tactics.
    Of all the teams I’d expected to lay like this we’d suppose Koeman’s Southampton or Van Gaal’s Mancs would be the side performing like this. At least Koeman’s side are good on the ball as they try to support the long ball but Van Gaal has their supporters tearing their hair out – well Scholes never had much!
    From the Chelsea side yesterday I saw only one player who’d get in our side – that was Willian who again showed great ability under pressure. Just think what we would be like if Gerrard had persuaded him to sign!
    The next couple of matches against Palace and Citeh will be very tough tests of our progress – especially after EL exploits before we play Palace. You’ve got to respect Pardew’s ability as a manager and the danger they hold.
    In one way glad we play Citeh after the break – as long as our players come back unscathed. I dread to think which of our England squad members are in danger of being unfit. The fewer players play the better including our South American , Belgian and European players.
    If we can get to the end of the Citeh match away from homewith 4 more points and 3 EL points I think we can then go from strength to strength this year.

    #690601
    redrob
    redrob
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    • :

    Oh and by the way – if we continue like this we’ll have a lot more players and agents wanting to come to Liverpool when the transfer windows open !

    #690604
    redrob
    redrob
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    “Space and the creation of it were central to the concept of Total Football. Ajax defender Barry Hulshoff explained how the team that won the European Cup in 1971, 1972, and 1973 worked it to their advantage: “We discussed space the whole time. Johan Cruyff always talked about where people should run and where they should stand, and when they should not move.”

    Sounds like Klopp is an advocate then !

    #690820
    Bob-Notts
    Bob-Notts
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    Redrob, was a great performance and shows it was the right move to get Klopp. Just one point though there were times we played like this under Rodgers. Yes the ending wasn’t great and we were devoid of ideas but at some points we were scintillating under Rodgers also.

    The difference is that ultimately Klopp is more experienced, so has more rounded tactics and also his ability to attract big players, an area I always felt BR struggled in. I do agree though it makes for exciting times and I cab just imagine a different level of individual wanting to join us with Klopp in charge (thou we will still be a little hampered by our wages).

    #691264

    Paxman
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    Rob, this is so so over the top, it was 1 decent performance, no more, but 2 fantastic finishes by Coutinho, but realistically the Chelsea defence helped in all three goals, had our defender given the opposition that much space in and around our box we would be going mad saying we gifted them goals.

    #691450

    kopite
    Participant
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    Paxman: Perhaps if your beloved BR had managed to muster a few wins over Chelsea in 8 tries, we wouldn’t be so excited.

    #691627

    Paxman
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    Kopite – That is just childish. Yes I wouldn’t write off a manager that has done so much for this club, and I don’t just mean that one season, he did a lot behind the scenes, like getting the original ‘This is Anfield’ sign back where it should be, getting lots of the old pictures of the greats getting put back up around Anfield and Melwood, this was a man that put his soul into the club and did his best for it. Sorry I refused to jump on his back and slag him with the masses, but isn’t being Liverpool fans about, if a player or manager doesn’t quite have the ability but they do their absolute best then they deserve our support. The thing is it is quoted in the corridors of Anfield and still used on forums, and podcasts to this day but I don’t see much evidence of it.

    As far as the Chelsea jibe goes, someone could level the same about Spurs the other way and may still be able to in a few years, you never know.

    #692056
    redrob
    redrob
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    “so over the top” ? Well, no not really Paxman. Excitable – yes ! I think that sensing a shift from BR’s overall lack of nous in terms of winning games against top teams or in key fixtures is perfectly acceptable though. I did attempt to temper my post with “OK – perhaps I’m overdoing it slightly here “. I also noted that tough tests lie ahead in the next few fixtures so PLEASE excuse me if I see Klopp perhaps enabling Coutinho to perform at his true level! You should also understand that your comment of “had our defender given the opposition that much space in and around our box we would be going mad saying we gifted them goals.” is really a contradiction as that was exactly the point – we didn’t ! The whole team was galvanised from front to back and so prevented any such instance
    I am greatly enjoying the promise of the new Klopp era. I argued with my nephew long before the title run of 2014 that BR didn’t have the required ability to achieve the best results where it mattered. His calls at crucial times in matches and clueless substitutions were mystifying. Perhaps we should dare to dream – although whilst not expecting miracles. I just want to state for the record that JK is certainly going about things the right way. Walk On !

    #692227
    Bob-Notts
    Bob-Notts
    Participant
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    Redrob, again I share your excitement and sentiment and agree it was the right decision (when a manager of the stature of Klopp becomes available) however BR also won games against top teams in key fixtures. Yes BR ‘lost it’in the end (as happens with MAnagers when they become stale) but we nearly won the league under him and despatched top sides on the way.

    Was it the correct decision to fire him? Yes because Klopp was available, but he equally wasn’t that bad as some have mentioned (not referring to you btw).

    #692272

    Paxman
    Participant
    • :

    RedRob – As far as not giving players that much space in the box, that is a minimum requirement, and doesn’t equate to good defending, just normal defending.

    As far as the over the top, I was talking about the total football quote, this term gets banded about so much, normally by Arsenal fans not knowing what it means. I have to say you did qualify it, showing you know what it means, ‘every player being able to play every position’ but we are a million miles away from total football, it is 2 draws and 1 win in three, yes the last result was good, all be it against a clueless Chelsea at the moment, don’t forget it wasn’t that long ago BR was getting the plaudits for a fantastic performance away at a far better Arsenal side.

    The signs are encouraging, but lets leave it at that. It is not the going over the top that I have such a problem with it is more the mood swings, a result like this and we are best in the league, lose to Palace next week and we need 8 top class players and half the team aren’t fit to wear the shirt. This is football there will be good and bad results along the way.

    As far as the 2014 title run in, I was at the games and all of Anfield would have disagreed with you, and without some individual errors we would have walked away with the title, and no manager is responsible for those.

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