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Bunch of 5s: Things I want to see against West Ham


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Hopefully I will have better luck with this list than the last one. Of the five things I wanted to see against Villa I got one (Adam Lallana making his debut), for all the use it was. God loves a trier as they say, so here’s what I’m hoping to see from the game at West Ham tomorrow evening.

1 Two up front

 

When drawing up a starting eleven on paper (or if you like, on those fancy new apps you can get on your phone), 4-3-3 looks great doesn’t it? A central striker flanked by two pacy wide attackers, supported by two box to box midfielders and full backs who bomb on. Job’s a good ‘un.

 

We have so many players who appear ideally suited to it, so much so that it even looks like Rodgers had the system in mind when he recruited many of his summer signings.

 

westham1a.jpg

 

There’s just one major flaw with it though; we’ve looked garbage whenever we’ve played it this year. Don’t ask me why, I’m no tactical expert and I’m sure Brendan has his reasons for repeatedly playing this way. I’d suggest the biggest reason he’s doing it is that he no longer feels he HAS to play two up front because his strikers are no longer good enough to force his hand. At least not with Sturridge unavailable anyway.

 

With Sturridge and Balotelli both fit and available I’d expect to see a whole lot more of the midfield diamond/two strikers approach that worked so well against Spurs. However, even without Sturridge I think a case has to be made for us to play that way regardless, certainly at Anfield anyway. All year we’ve looked better with two up top, and the stats below (compiled by Dan Kennett, you should follow him on twitter) make for very interesting reading.

 

 

Bx5CqVCIEAE7_6S.png

 

Even if you disregard stats, the eye test tells it’s own story too. Balotelli needs a partner, and if it’s not Sturridge then it should be someone else, probably Borini. Not because Borini is better than Lambert, but because he’s a better fit alongside Mario as he provides mobility and pressing. We need to press from the front and a pairing of Balotelli and Lambert probably isn’t going to allow us to do that. And neither wants to run in behind, which Borini will do all day

 

Perhaps with it being away from home it will be easier for us to play on the break and there will be more space for us to make 4-3-3 work, but it’s Sam Allardyce and he’s likely to play this like the away team so in this case I’d suggest normal rules may not apply.

 

Play two up front Brendan, you know it makes sense.

 

 

 

2 More from Coutinho and/or Lallana

 

westham1b.jpg

 

I doubt if both will start - in fact it wouldn’t shock me if neither did - but we need more from this pair as they’re supposed to provide the creative spark and so far both have failed to deliver. Lallana has a very valid excuse of course; he’s still looking for full sharpness after his injury layoff and is also trying to adjust to new surroundings and new team-mates.

 

Coutinho has been very disappointing though, especially after he looked to be in such great form in pre-season. Playing away from home may help as you will often find more space to operate in, which makes it all the more unfathomable as to why the Brazilian is usually invisible in away games.

 

One or both needs to step it up on Saturday evening anyway.

 

 

 

3 A more competent Mignolet

 

westham1c.jpg

 

The Belgian is coming under increasing pressure to show that he doesn’t need replacing. The lack of command of his box is a continual problem and repeatedly we see miscommunication between him and the defence. Gerrard absolutely slaughtered him for not helping out Sakho the other night. We got away with it (the striker pushed Sakho in the back), but if Mignolet comes and claims the ball it makes it easier for everyone.

 

Then he comes rushing out in the last minute when there’s no need, resulting in yet another daft goal conceded. I’ve not written him off and I really want him to succeed, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to have some serious doubts about him right now. Clean sheets and commanding performances are the way to dispel those doubts, starting at West Ham.

 

 

 

4 A goal from Hendo

 

westham1d.jpg

 

He’s playing well, we all love him and it’s nice to see him named as vice captain. Now he needs to start scoring more goals as that’s the one area he’s lacking, and it’s an area he really should be able to excel given the role he plays in such an attacking side.

 

I’m not expecting him to ever be as prolific as Lampard or Gerrard were in their prime, or as Aaron Ramsay is now even. But there’s no reason he can’t be Steve McMahon, regularly nothing 10-12 goals a season. He’s got the ability to do it, he’s playing a role that allows him to do it, so come on Hendo lad, step it up and start putting it in the onion bag.

 

 

 

5 Allardyce complaining

 

westham1e.jpg

 

I love it when Big Sam gets all bent out of shape after we’ve beaten him. It’s especially satisfying when he gets to blame the officials, as he did last year (and pretty much any time he's lost to us for that matter).

 

I want to see us win and I want to see Allardyce's mashed potato face contorted with rage.

 

 

Dave Usher

@theliverpoolway

 

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4-3-3 has looked shit because without Suarez and Sturridge we're, as would any other side, a considerably weaker side. It has looked shit because Lallana and Markovic played on the wrong flank. It has looked shit because the midfield has been shit. It has looked shit because the focal point at the moment, Balotelli, is having to adapt from being a lazy, indulged, clear star of the team, playing in a league that plays at half the pace, to playing for a team, that is set up to press from the front. A team that doesn't tend to dominate possession high up the pitch. A transformation he has to do overnight.

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I'd like to see Sterling up top and Balotelli coming in from the left wing. We need our quickest player leading our attack so we can stretch west ham. If we look to cross the ball into the box for Balotelli, they will defend that all day long, and kick Mario all day long while they are about it. We need the running in behind the defenders style that we know and love. A couple of moves like that, and west ham will shit it and back off. Then we can mix it up and cross a few in when they're not expecting it. 

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I really want to see us play the 4-4-2 diamond, because we've looked miles better with that formation, but not if it means Borini starting.  Sterling and Balotelli up front?  Yes, please.  Even Markovic tucked in behind Mario?  Sure.  Not as excited by a partnership of Lambert and Balotelli but I think it would still be better than anything that puts Borini on the pitch for 60 minutes or more. 

 

As a person, I really like Fabio, but I'm just not excited by him as a footballer at all.  He has the first touch of Dirk Kuyt but without the knack of being in the right place at the right time to poach a goal.  I'd far rather us give the 4-3-3 another go even if it hasn't quite worked yet this season.

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We can't leave Balotelli up front on his own in this kind of game. Left alone, to be kicked in the calf every time he tries to shield the ball, would just be a recipe for disaster. 

 

I can't blame Rodgers for trying to put bodies in midfield though, as we've looked weak without Allen or an in form Cou, and until our young fullbacks learn when to bomb on and when to stay back we're always flirting with leaving gaps at the back.

 

I'd like to see 4-4-2 diamond, with Lallana in alongside Hendo, Sterling at the tip and Borini to partner Balotelli. We looked far better in attack in mid week when he came on.

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