What Formation Should Liverpool Play Next Season?

Last season Brendan Rodgers experimented with a lot of formations, but towards the end seemed to settle for a 3-5-2. This seemed to be relatively effective, and Liverpool put in some great performances, going unbeaten in their last eight Premier League matches. However, Rodgers has made some additions to the squad, so will the formation need to be tweaked?

Firstly, I must make it clear that all formations need to be flexible. If each player stuck rigidly to their assigned position, there would be no fluency, and the team would also become extremely predictable. That said, formations are a very important part of the game, and it is crucial to find the one that best suits the club. The 3-5-2 we settled upon last season was quite effective, as it moved Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique into more advanced positions, encouraging them to push forward without having to constantly worry about tracking back. However, now Carragher has retired, it would be quite hard to play this system. It uses 3 centre-backs, and currently Daniel Agger is the only one I have genuine faith in. Skrtel is extremely error-prone, and Coates is still very young. Martin Kelly has potential, but he seems too susceptible to injury to be a viable option, and (though he has played centre-back in the past) is a full-back by trade. For the 3-5-2 to continue to work for Liverpool, Rodgers would probably have to make two quality signings at centre-back. There were strong rumours linking us to Papadopolous, but recently they have cooled slightly. As such, it seems a new formation may be the way forward.

One possibility is the 4-4-2. It is not the most adventurous formation, and a lot of people discount it due to the fact that it is so widely used, but there must be a reason why it has proved so popular over the years. It suits our squad better than the 3-5-2, in that it only requires 2 centre-backs, and also provides cover in the wide areas of defence in the shape of two full-backs. However, it does have its drawbacks. The success or failure of the formation hangs largely around the performance of the two central midfielders, who are forced to be both positive in attack and also good at tracking back, providing cover for the defence. This is a lot for two people to manage at the best of times, but if either of them have an off-day the whole team tends to fall apart. In our team the central midfielders would most likely be Gerrard and one of Henderson, Coutinho, or Lucas. None of these players are naturally central midfielders, and due to this I don’t think this formation is right for Liverpool.

Another option is the 4-5-1.  In terms of the defence and midfield, this takes the best from both the 3-5-2 and the 4-4-2. It only requires two centre-backs, and provides wide threats in the form of wingers. However, there is still the problem of central midfielders. As I mentioned previously, Liverpool have no real out-and-out central midfielders (except perhaps Joe Allen), and this formation requires three. Of course, players such as Henderson, Coutinho and Lucas are good enough to adapt, but nobody plays to their full potential in an un-natural position. Also, as the three central midfielders have to consider tracking back, they aren’t usually committed too far up the pitch, which leaves the lone striker very isolated. Consequently, I think the best formation for us next season is a variation on the 4-5-1.

I am referring to the 4-2-3-1. It is clearly similar to the 4-5-1; however it is different in some key ways. Instead of three central midfielders, it uses two central defensive midfielders and one central attacking. This solves almost all the issues of the previous formations. The central attacking midfielder no longer has to worry about tracking back due to the cover of the two defensive midfielders. The two wide players (one of whom will potentially be new signing Iago Aspas, a right forward) can also stay high up the pitch. Because of this, the lone striker is no longer isolated, as he has the support of the three advanced midfielders. It is not, however, perfect. Lucas is naturally a defensive midfielder, but Gerrard is not. He would have to adapt slightly to play in a more holding role. He is very versatile and could of course manage this, although it is not ideal. On top of this there is Coutinho, who, were another attacking midfielder to come, would be shifted out to the left. He has played in this position before and is still extremely effective, but not quite as deadly as he would be in his natural position of central attacking midfielder.

Although the 4-2-3-1 requires that two minor compromises be made, it still seems by far and away the best formation for Liverpool next season. It allows the majority of the team to play in their natural positions, and allows the attacking midfielders (and also, to an extent, the full backs) freedom to roam whilst still providing cover in the shape of the two defensive midfielders. If Rodgers can get this system working for us next season, it has the potential to be mightily effective.

-James Martin

Follow me on Twitter @JamesMartin013

Coutinho: A Big Season Ahead

As soon as he arrived in January from Inter Milan, Phillippe Coutinho became a hit at Liverpool. His dazzling performances on the pitch delighted fans, in particular his superb vision and passing. Many people are suggesting he may be Liverpool’s key player in the coming season, but can he live up to the expectations?

From what we’ve seen of him so far in a Liverpool shirt, I would have to say yes. He has shown sublime talent, and at the age of just 21 is already one of the best players in our team. His ability to create chances is second to none, and there is nobody in our team better than he is at picking a pass. This talent is crucial to Liverpool, which is what makes Coutinho such an important part of our future. Before his arrival, there was nobody in our team capable of consistently coming up with ‘killer balls’, that seamlessly split open the opposition’s defence. With him in the side, our attackers can play each match in the knowledge that chances will come their way, and often be put on a plate for them. This results in more goals, which are the key to more victories.

He has also shown immense versatility, something often lacking in younger players. After a couple of games for Liverpool, at looked as if he’d been playing there all his life! He adapted to our style of play extremely quickly, and also gelled with the rest of the team at once. As well as this, he has shown that he is able to perform well in multiple positions. Though best in a central attacking role, he has also been very effective in a wider position. With such a vast amount of good midfielders at the club all fighting for a spot in the first team, the ability to play in multiple positions is invaluable.

However, it must be remembered that Coutinho has been at Liverpool for less than half a season, and has started just 11 Premier League matches for the club. When Nikica Jelavic signed for Everton last January, he had an immediate impact, and was arguably their best player for the remainder of the season. However, in the 2012/13 season he was a complete flop, failing to make an impact at all. Although all the signs point towards Coutinho being a valuable asset for us next season, we have not yet seen enough of him to judge whether his form from last season is permanent.

Saying this, I think it is very unlikely that Coutinho will fade in the coming season. Jelavic is an out-and-out striker, and when Everton made some positional changes he was unable to adapt. Coutinho’s versatility allows him to adapt to the team around him, meaning he should be able to continue his good form from last season. If he does this, there is no question that he will be key for Liverpool. Indeed, when his ability to create chances and his individual skill on the ball is considered, it is not implausible to suggest that he will be the focal point of our team in 2013/14.

-James Martin

Follow me on Twitter @JamesMartin013

Shelvey to Swansea- Good Deal?

Today, Liverpool announced the sale of midfielder Jonjo Shelvey to Swansea City. The fee is believed to be £6million. A lot of people are happy to see the back of Shelvey, but many others believe that he has a very promising future, and we shouldn’t have let him go.

Personally, I’m thrilled with Shelvey’s departure. Although he did show some potential when he played for us, there are clear flaws to his game. Firstly, he is extremely selfish. Often we would see him squander a good opportunity by going for an ambitious long shot when a pass would have been the better option. Admittedly we have seen him score some stunning goals from long range, particularly at under-21 level, but more often than not they don’t meet their intended target. This wastefulness and selfishness is evident in his goals/assists statistics. Despite playing 47 Premier League games for Liverpool, he only managed to score twice, and didn’t get a single assist. Although this will most likely improve a little as he matures as a player, selfishness is a trait that is hard to ever fully shake off.

Also, and perhaps more importantly, Shelvey is very much surplus to requirements. At Liverpool, we have a wealth of talented midfielders. Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen, Phillipe Coutinho, Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva all occupy central positions, and at the moment they are all better than Shelvey. On top of this, Liverpool are trying to bring in Heinrich Mkhitaryan, who also plays in a central attacking role. Even without Mkhitaryan, Shelvey was still a 6^th choice midfielder at Liverpool, so to get 6 million pounds for him is a very good bit of business.

Some would argue that Shelvey would have grown into a regular starter for us, but this suggestion is flawed. Shelvey is 21 years old, which, though young, is not much younger than most of our regular midfield starters. Of the six players mentioned above, only Gerrard is over the age of 26. This puts Shelvey in direct competition with all of them. Brendan Rodgers is building a squad for the future, and this is apparent in the midfield. Nobody would argue that Shelvey is as good as Coutinho, and yet they are the same age. Coutinho is good enough to make our first team already, and hopefully has a great career at Liverpool ahead of him. There is simply no point ‘investing in the future’ and holding on to players who show a few signs of potential if we have players the same age as them who are already good enough to make the first team!

Shelvey is not a bad player, and I’m sure he will improve with time. However, there are flaws in his game, and he cannot compete with the rest of our midfield. I wish him all the best at Swansea, but I don’t think we need him at Liverpool, and now we can invest the six million pounds in areas of the squad that actually do need strengthening.

-James Martin

Follow me on Twitter @JamesMartin013

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Out with the old bunch- Is Rodgers Creating a new Core?

When we look back on the Rafa era, we automatically think of a core group of players who were integral to our success. Stalwarts and club legends such as Gerrard, Carragher and Alonso are inextricably linked with Rafa’s time at the helm, in which Liverpool Football Club enjoyed great success. With Carragher retiring at the end of last season and Pepe Reina, who was signed by Benitez in 2005, looking likely to leave, the core members of Rafa’s elite squad are exiting Liverpool in their droves. Were Reina to leave the club, Gerrard would be the only remaining member of the team who won the 2006 FA Cup Final in such dramatic fashion. The question is, can Rodgers create his own ‘golden group’ of players?

Since arriving at Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers has shown a clear preference towards signing young talent. He has brought in Fabio Borini (22), Philippe Coutinho (who recently turned 21), Daniel Sturridge (23), and most recently Iago Aspas (25) and Simon Mignolet (24). He has also nurtured the talents of younger players in the team, most notably England under 21’s captain Jordan Henderson, who this season became a regular in the starting 11. As well as this, he is rumoured to be after Tiago Ilori (20) and Kyriakos Papadopolous (21). Combined, these players cover a wide range of positions, and are good enough to either make the first team already, or else break into it in the near future. Along with academy players that are slowly being introduced to the starting 11, such as Jordan Ibe and Raheem Sterling, it is clear that Rodgers is building a team for the future.

Steven Gerrard is still going strong, and was arguably one of our best players last season. He is also a great role model to the younger players, fiercely loyal and committed to Liverpool. However, his illustrious career will at some point have to come to an end, and if Rodgers is to build an elite band of players that remains largely unchanged for long periods of time, he will need someone else to step up to the plate, and fill the role of leader. Seemingly the perfect candidate for this is Daniel Agger. At 28 years of age, he probably still has a lot of playing time left in him, and he has shown passion for the club since the moment he joined. Despite lots of interest from Champions League clubs, he has chosen to stay at the club he loves. He even has ‘YNWA’ tattooed on his knuckles. Agger has the potential to be the leader that all of Rodgers’ promising youngsters look to. If they rally around him in the same way the players of Rafa’s heyday rallied around Gerrard, the new generation of Liverpool starlets could well go on to achieve great things.

There has been a lot of worry in recent times that Liverpool are no longer able to attract ‘big names’ to the club. Although this is frustrating in some ways, it is also in some aspects a good thing for us. In a way, it allows us to start afresh, as Rodgers is forced to look to the young talent pool, rather than to those who have already established themselves as greats in the footballing world. Because of this, we aren’t simply replacing players if and when they leave or retire, we are building a whole new generation of players. This safeguards our clubs future, and allows us to build a squad that could potentially remain a tightly-knit unit for years to come. Obviously transfers sometimes have to be made, but as a general rule a team that remains largely unchanged will work better as a unit, and consequently play better football. Players such as Coutinho, Sturridge, Mignolet and Aspas, if all goes well, could remain at the club for years to come, and be the defining players of the Rodgers era.

-James Martin

Follow me on Twitter @JamesMartin013

BR’s Transfer Tactics- Are Foreign Signings the Right Approach?

This summer transfer window, Brendan Rodgers has got to work quickly.  Kolo Toure has already been signed (he officially joins the club on July 1^st), the deal between Iego Aspas and Liverpool looks to be effectively complete, and we also appear to be closing in on signing Tiago Ilori. Aspas is an exciting young Spanish talent who plays in the wide forward role for Celta Vigo, whilst Kolo Toure (Man City) and Tiago Ilori (Sporting) are both central defenders. They all look to be good acquisitions, but should Rodgers be searching closer to home for new players?

Kolo Toure is by no means an inspiring signing, but he is a sensible one. He came to Liverpool on a free, having run out of contract at Manchester City. It is unlikely he will get regular first team action, but he is a very experienced centre-back, and his presence in the squad should put pressure on the likes of Martin Skrtel (and potentially Tiago Ilori if he joins) to perform well in order to fight for their place in the team. The only issue with the deal is Toure’s relatively large wage demands, believed to be about 70k a week, which is a lot to be forking out to a player who isn’t even getting first team action. He will have a positive impact on the club, even if it is just giving the other centre-backs a metaphorical kick up the backside, but the money we’re spending on his wages could have been better invested elsewhere, possibly on a young, homegrown talent with lots of potential.

However, there is a problem with ‘buying British’ in the football world. English players that have really made a name for themselves tend to be hideously overpriced, and an equivalent overseas talent cam often be acquired for half the fee. Brendan Rodgers appears to have taken this into account, and we know he is good at spotting up-and-coming foreign talents based on Coutinho’s instant success at the club. This means that the only feasible way of signing English players is taking a gamble, and buying a player who has gone relatively un-noticed by pundits, potentially someone from the lower end of the football league. A prime example of this tactic paying off is Norwich’s signing of full-back Russell Martin. He started his career at Wycombe (where I watched him a lot, as I used to have a season ticket there), then moved to Peterborough. Norwich then took him on loan for a season, as a sort of trial run. He impressed them, and they then proceeded to buy him the following season. He is now a regular in the Norwich first team, and is one of their better players. It’s a risky tactic, but buying young players who have slipped under the pundits’ radar can prove very effective.

With Aspas and Ilori, the situation is slightly different. They are both young and upcoming talents, and Ilori in particular is not very renowned. Aspas has attracted a large amount of praise and attention from Spanish pundits, but until very recently was practically unknown in England. In these cases, it is pointless to try and buy an equivalent British player. Aspas is going to cost approximately 9 million, and for a player who has attracted so much attention in the top division of Spanish football that is very cheap. An English wide striker who had shown a lot of talent in the Premier League would most likely set you back at least double that. It’s the same story with Ilori. He is relatively unknown, but has still been capped 4 times this year for the Portugal under-20’s. The rumoured fee is around three-and-a-half million. Swansea signed Danny Graham for that sum in 2011, even though the forward had only scored 38 goals in almost 100 appearances for Watford in the Championship. This goes to show that unless you are looking to make a gamble on a really obscure talent, it’s not worth buying English players. As a general rule, those who have managed to make a name for themselves are massively overvalued by their club (looking at you, Tom Ince and Blackpool), forcing Premier League clubs to look to the foreign market. It’s sad in a way, as the top division of English football is now swamped with foreign talent, which isn’t how it should be. However, the Premier League clubs can’t be blamed for looking abroad in order to get better players for cheaper prices, and so far in this transfer window Liverpool appear to be doing so very effectively.

-James Martin

Follow me on Twitter @JamesMartin013

Suarez to Real - Deal or no Deal?

NOTE: Suarez saga number 2 is written about here: http://jamesmartinblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/not-again-suarez-saga-version-20.html

In the 2012/13 season, our best player has been Luis Suarez. He has been prolific in front of goal, and terrorised defences with his superb on-the-ball skills. Naturally, he is attracting a lot of interest from other clubs, and the club that looks most keen to sign him is Real Madrid. At this stage there are only rumours, but it has been suggested that Madrid are looking to do a swap deal whereby Liverpool get Benzema and Di Maria in return for Suarez.

This swap could be great for Liverpool. Angel Di Maria would be an excellent signing, as he is a proven talent and we could do with another winger. Stewart Downing has improved vastly this season, but is still not up to the standards of the rest of our attacking line. Di Maria has assisted 16 goals in all competitions this season, which is extremely impressive. He has also netted 9, which isn’t a bad tally for a wide player. If both he and Benzema were able to make the transition to English football, the attacking partnership of Di Maria, Benzema, Sturridge and Coutinho has the potential to be formidable, one of the best in the Premier League.

Also, Suarez brings a lot of controversy. He picked up a 7-match ban last season for racism, and is currently serving a 10-match ban for biting Ivanovic, meaning he will miss the first six games of next season. This prompts a question: Is he worth it? Benzema has scored 19 goals for Real Madrid this season, and has assisted 20! For a forward, that is a ridiculously high amount of assists. We also know he can be extremely deadly in front of goal (he netted 32 times for Madrid in the 2011/12 season). This sort of return for goals and assists is on a par with Suarez’s (arguably even better), and Benzema doesn’t bring with him the excess baggage of controversy. If he could carry his form from Madrid over to Liverpool, he would arguably be even better for us than Suarez has been. Getting Di Maria on top of this would be an added bonus, and if Madrid were to offer this deal we would be foolish not to at least consider it.

On paper at least, this looks like an extremely tempting offer. However, things have the potential to go very wrong. We know that Suarez fits in at Liverpool, and he has proven his ability to score goals for us on numerous occasions. Benzema is a very talented striker, but has never played in English football. It is more physical than La Liga, and if he failed to make the transition Liverpool would be in trouble. Without a suitable replacement for Suarez, we would be hugely reliant on Sturridge to get us goals, and his form is much too hit-and-miss to warrant the role of main striker. Di Maria could also prove a bad signing. Despite his relatively high goals and assists return, he does have a tendency to squander chances by going for ambitious long shots or trying fancy passes. We need a winger who can consistently provide chances, not one who throws them away.

All this uncertainty makes me think that it wouldn’t be worth taking the risk. Without Suarez we would have had an absolutely awful season, and if we’re going to get rid of him the price has to be right. However, were more to be offered, I think that it could be a good deal. If Real were to offer some money as well as the two players, we would at least have a safety blanket that allows us to sign others if Di Maria and Benzema backfire. Another name that has been mentioned a couple of times in relation to this deal is Diego Lopez. If Madrid were to offer him as well as Di Maria and Benzema in return for Suarez, Liverpool should definitely do it. Lopez has been keeping Casillas out of the first team recently in La Liga, and with Reina seemingly on his way out I cannot think of a better replacement. If Madrid were to make this offer (which is admittedly unlikely), we would be extremely foolish not to take it.

To sum up, it will have to be a pretty special offer from Madrid to make it worth getting rid of Suarez. Although Benzema and Di Maria are great in La Liga, they have never played in the Premier League, and may struggle. Suarez is a proven talent at Liverpool. However, were money or Diego Lopez to be offered alongside Di Maria and Benzema, it would make it a good trade, and I think Liverpool should go for it. If everything went well, we could end up with one of the best ‘keepers in the Premier League as well as one of the best attacking line-ups. Suddenly Suarez is starting to seem like a small price to pay.

-James Martin

Follow me on Twitter @JamesMartin013

Carra’s final game- Liverpool 1 QPR 0

As I walked up towards Anfield before the match yesterday, it was clear something was different; this was no ordinary match day. All around me were Liverpool fans with Carragher shirts, scarves and flags. Thousands of people had come to bid the club legend goodbye, and the usual pre-game excitement was tinged with sadness, but also with gratitude towards our great centre-back. Liverpool got the victory, but more poignantly kept a clean sheet, Jamie Carragher’s 200^th and last for the club, the game finishing 1-0.

We were treated to some wonderful attacking football right from the off, with Glen Johnson looking extremely threatening as well as Coutinho lighting up the stadium with his skill. We deserved a goal for our incredibly bright start, and it seemed as if Coutinho had provided it after just two minutes, heading the ball into the net from a corner. From my seat in the Main Stand I had an uninterrupted view of the goal-line, and at the time I was convinced the ball had crossed. Having seen replays since, I can see that I was not wrong, and indeed the goal should have stood.

The team were not disheartened. 17-year old debutant Jordan Ibe was making some very promising runs down the left, although he was often outmuscled and dispossessed too easily. Although Ibe is a winger and Carragher is a defender, there was certainly an element of ‘the passing of the baton’, and the symmetry of a promising academy youngster making his debut in Carragher’s final game was excellent. It was Ibe himself who assisted Liverpool’s goal when it eventually came, laying it off to Coutinho who guided it powerfully and expertly into the bottom corner. As it went in I looked up at the match clock in the corner of the stadium, and saw that it had been scored in the 23^rd minute. This was as good a tribute to our exceptional number 23 as any of the ones planned by the club.

The team as a whole played very nicely throughout the game, but Sturridge simply wasn’t at the races. This is why we need to ensure we buy a new striker in the summer; Borini is frankly not good enough, Suarez is suspended and Sturridge is brilliant on his day but some weeks just doesn’t turn up. Yesterday was one of his poor games, and consequently Coutinho didn’t have as much of a chance to show his excellent through-ball ability (although he still demonstrated his all-round talents). It was immensely frustrating to watch, as Sturridge has tremendous pace, but seemingly couldn’t be bothered to use it. In his demeanour and playing style he strikes me as similar to Berbatov, slouching around and not making many runs, but being absolutely deadly when the chances come his way. At first I was sceptical about the idea of buying Loic Remy in the transfer window, but now I see that his willingness to make off-the-ball runs could be very useful to us, and fully utilise Coutinho’s immense passing skills.

One of the highlights of the match was Jamie Carragher striking the woodwork with a screamer of a shot from outside the box. Yes, you did read that correctly! Whenever he got the ball the crowd were urging him to shoot, and on one occasion he did. It was struck with a huge amount of power, and would have easily beaten Rob Green. Unfortunately it was marginally too high, and Carragher was not able to sign off with an unlikely wonder goal. He was given a standing ovation when he was substituted in the last 10 minutes. Credit to the QPR fans here, a large majority of whom joined in with the applause as a footballing legend left the field having played his final game.

QPR made a couple of half-chances, but never looked like scoring. In the end the action of the game was overshadowed by the occasion, Carragher’s farewell. Coutinho scored a brilliant goal, once again showing that he is a brilliant signing and may well play a key part in Liverpool’s push for the top four next season, but the man of the hour was Jamie Carragher. After the match he came back on to the pitch, making a short speech. Unsurprisingly, there were no Beckham-esque tears from the born and bred scouser, but you could sense that he was sad to have played his last. He then joined the team in a final lap of honour. Luis Suarez also participated in this, as did Steven Gerrard, who had his arm in a sling. He then left the pitch to tumultuous applause from the Liverpool fans, nearly all of whom had stayed in the ground for this tribute after the final whistle. The great defensive stalwart will be missed, not only for his defensive prowess but for his leadership, passion and love of the club. He has been at Liverpool since before I was born, and has walked through many a storm, but also been part of many glorious ‘golden skies’, most notably the 2005 Istanbul Champions League Final where he threw his body on the line despite serious cramp. He will be missed.

Thanks Carra.

-James Martin

Follow me on Twitter @JamesMartin013