Our buildup play needs improvement. neither of our fullbacks is particularly effective in buildup. Robertson struggles with short passing, while Trent often takes risks rather than maintaining control. Mac and Szoboszlai tend to push higher up to form a four-man press, leaving Gravenberch isolated in midfield.
The simplest solution might be to replace our fullbacks with players who are more comfortable in controlling the game, similar to what many teams are doing right now. However, we also need a more dynamic midfielder to play a box-to-box role. Perhaps signing a new number 6 would allow Gravenberch to take on that role effectively. Szoboszlai provides decent defensive cover, but his passing is inconsistent, while Mac lacks the dynamism needed for this system.
It could just be a matter of form, but we definitely need someone more consistent in both work rate and passing to stabilize our midfield.
Or it may simply be changing our tactics to do so. I don’t think our players are incapable of doing what you’re suggesting, I think it’s more that those are their tactical instructions. Mac Allister and Szoboszlai were perfectly comfortable doing that last season.
it might just be a matter of form. Last season, Mac Allister played like one of the best in the world, so it’s surprising to see him struggling a bit now. But I do think both Mac and Szoboszlai have been overplayed recently, especially with the heavy load of international football.
I think MacAllister has played too much football. In addition to the high demands of club football, he has won the World Cup and the Copa with Argentina, so he has played virtually non-stop for a couple of years.
Mind you, as I think about our midfield, I do think we could do with another. It might be greedy, but I want to dominate teams a bit more than we have been, and someone like Zubimendi would help us on that front. Endo will likely make way due to the numbers, but I don’t see any of the others being as content to accept his limited minutes, so we may have problems keeping them all happy, especially when you add Elliott back into the mix too.
Still, I suppose these are the issues you have if you want to be at the very top.
While we were working on someone like Zubimendi, it’s not a guarantee until he’s not officially a Liverpool player. And while that’s in the process, of course you don’t have to announce to the world that ideally, we’d cash in on Endo. The ideal scenario didn’t happen.
I didn’t get the feeling that we wouldn’t let him go under any circumstances, but I’d say it’s pretty clear to everyone what his situation is. Kept as a backup player in a situation where we didn’t get who we wanted, and will probably be sold next summer (regardless of a Zubimendi or not).
Anyway, it’s been only a few months. The team now is not set in stone for the next couple of years. Inevitably, there will be more changes. Especially with some players getting to a certain age and contract situation.
All that is pretty normal, changing the team bit by bit.
I think Bajcetic might be simply assessed next pre-season and then we decide with which midfielders we’re going into the season with. Business as usual. Won’t be easy for him after a season (so far troublesome) in Austria, but we’ll see.
The 4 man press is made up of the 2 widemen, CF and Szob, Macca stays as one of the two in midfield, where they do get outnumbered by a 9 dropping deep or an opposition fullback moving inside in almost an 8 position.
I do agree that we do lack the ability from Robbo to play out from the back
I think my memories regarding the football I watch are seriously flawed, because for some reason I keep thinking that he was vital to our build-up under Jürgen, especially with Wijnaldum and Mané. Did something change, or is my memory really that bad?
Watch when we play Arsenal, there whole positioning in pressing is for us to play out on the left side of our defence, because they feel we are weaker down that side.
Not just because of Robbo, but they force Virg onto his left foot, then if he plays it to Robbo they trap him and if they play it back towards our keeper, he is again on his weaker foot, all resulting in a hopefull long ball.
Robbo is a fantastic fullback, great with forward runs but intricate build up play has never been his forte
Isn’t it simply the case that the midfielder on that side (was it Gravenberch?) was not available enough to help out? I think it was Diaz as well, wasn’t it?
I would agree that dancing around with intricate play has never been his forte, but he’s always been at least decent with making those quick passes and runs to receive the ball again…
