Subscribe
Previous Post
There is no doubting Sissoko’s passion for the game, nor his energy, and he is so effective at breaking down opposition attacks that he’s a given on the teamsheet every week… or is he?
Sissoko’s biggest problem is that he can’t pass the ball, even a short distance, but is that a problem? Afterall, right next to him is Alonso, who can pass the ball beautifully and even weighs in with a few long range shots, so surely together they make the perfect centre midfield partnership?
Well no actually, together they make the perfect centre midfield”er”. They are each doing one half of a job that should be done by one person, a job which (for example) is currently done by Scott Parker at Newcastle. He is strong in the tackle, all around the pitch, breaks up play but can then start attacks by effective distribution. He even weighs in with the odd goal.
In playing both Alonso and Sissoko in the centre of midfield there is no room for Gerrard in what is his best postion, that of attacking midfielder. And Gerrard will be taking up someone else’s position on the pitch, like a proper right winger, or even a proper left winger. This means that the Liverpool midfield is effectively a man down with a key player playing out of position.
Until Liverpool get a decent defensive midfielder who can pass as well as track back, then they will struggle to break teams down and will continue to be restricted to long range efforts from midfield, especially away from home where there isn’t the advantage of the home crowd’s “extra man” contribution. Although the stats will look great, with 15 or so shots a game, it’s going to be hard to score from so far out every game, so the stats are misleading.
Whilst Rafa persists with Sissoko and Alonso then Gerrard will continue to be played out of position, filling in where needed, and following Dudek’s ban, then if anything happens to Pepe, don’t be surprised if you see Gerrard pulling on his gloves….
All I can say is that anybody who was at Anfield on Saturday to watch us draw with Blackburn will realise, if they hadnt already, that Mom Sissoko is VITAL to Liverpool, and without him, even if that meas Steven Gerrard playing centre mid, we are a lesser team. End of Story!
Sissoko was missed on Saturday against Blackburn and Gerrard had a subdued game as he had to scrap a little with Savage and Tugay. It would have been far better to have Gerrard free to do damage to Rovers than have him stuck right in the middle. Your most attacking midfielder should be free to do the damage that he is capable of.
Sam Allardyce doesn’t like him hahahaha……not worried about that, I don’t like his style of football. I sometimes think aloofness can be a result of feeling insecure or reserved and maybe a little resentment of a manager who doesn’t like how Bolton ‘play’ the game. Mentioning no high balls or elbows.
2 ex-managers don’t like Rafa. Now that is news. I’m guessing they aren’t French, which leaves 3 to choose from. I’m not sure how many ‘do’s’ Souness goes to but by saying that I’m throwing my eggs in the basket.
Crikey, but surely not King Kenny?????? Maybe it was Gerard after all. I’m sure of one (I think) and he may now be in the international fold. I don’t expect any answers but hey, it’s got to be 2 of the 4.
Anyone any ideas?
oh, by the way Mourinho is one of those managers that I know I shouldn’t like, …but I do!
Onion, it was two, (although Sam Allardyce also says he doesn’t like him, thinks he’s stuck up he’s said this publically as well so don’t mind repeating it here). They seem to think he looks down on them and ignores their comments or acheivements, personally think its just the Rafa is not too confident of his English so isn’t overly chatty, and he’s definitely his own man, so maybe doesn’t appreciate their advice?
Anyway, getting off now I have a hot date with a gorgeous swedish girl (the wife!)
Sportsman’s dinners, I see now.
I know you can’t name names but is it more than one ex-Liverpool manager who doesn’t like Rafa – or is critical of him. Just give me a figure: 1,2,3 or 4.
Interesting you chose not to answer my point about Rafa never banging on about what he has won – unlike someone we know. He even came out and said his first season in England was a steep learning curve, hardly the words of someone who things he is ‘the best.’
Also, I think it’s more a question of trusting your manager which I do. Show me a manager that gets things 100% right all of the time. I admit I do get so fed up with what seems to be constant over reaction to Liverpool losses or draws, but a muted response when they win with ease.
The Gerrard ‘issue’ is a bit of a red herring I think. It seems to be a hot topic now that the zonal marking debate seems to have temporarily subsided. Gerrard is better being ‘free’, and that is precisely what Rafa allows him.
Onion, I know what you mean about it gets annoying when people criticise the manager, it can get a little tideous, especially if its your own fans who are doing the criticising. I’m not a Liverpool supporter, but I try to focus on specific points or areas where I beleive there are issues. Admittedly sometimes I just think someone is not good enough, and will continue to think that way until they prove me wrong, but at least i’m willing to be persuaded.
I’m still not sure about Rafa’s decision making, but he’s the gaffa not me, so he’s the only one who knows what he’s trying to achieve, and you can either accept that (if you’re a supporter) or question it (if on the outside, looking in).
Because of my job (my real one, not this one) I get invited to a lot of Sportsmans dinners, and there are a lot of ex-managers and players, as well as ex-rugby players, boxers, etc.
No, I think I went the loo and missed a couple of minutes….
Have you watched every minute of every Liverpool match this season?
The thing about management decisions is sometimes they work, sometimes the opposition suss it out and things go wrong. That’s football. I realise the only way to stop people going on about it is for ‘pool to keep winning. It just seems as though ‘pool lose a game and its rotation this, tinkering that, gerrard here and there. It gets boring after a while.
I really wish you would shed a little light on these ex-managers who don’t like Rafa.
Am I to believe that you spend time drinking with Messers Houllier, Dalglish, Evans and Souness? Or do you need to spread the net to include assistant managers too – then I would know who you are talking about. I know you wouldn’t want to name names but come on……….
And FFS if we are talking big headed…..Mourinho v Rafa – no contest. I’ve never heard Rafa sing his own praises. But the other guy…..
And just for the record, in post match interviews I think Rafa comes pretty low down in the excuses league after a bad game (take note Messers Allardyce, Mourinho and Wenger).
Onion – as I’ve said I don’t dislike him, its more that I find him hard to warm to. There are other managers I feel the same way about, and then again there are others I really like who I feel I shouldn’t.
Believe it or not, I’m not trying to take the guy down, I think he did an amazing job winning the Champions League, and he’s obviously got a lot about him, but I just don’t understand some of his decisions. Its almost as if he does things to prove he’s the boss, and when it works, its great, but when it doesn’t you have wonder what he was thinking.
I could say the same for all managers especially my own, but whenever I think of Liverpool I think they should be challenging for the title but something always seems to conspire to pull them down and its usually self inflicted.
I meant ex-managers, but it was always said after a few drinks, after they had previous sung his praises. I get the impression that they feel he’s thinks he’s better than he is, a bit big-headed, but as I’ve said, this may just be sour grapes, because after all look at what he has acheived so in the last five years for his age.
….and I’m not a Man U fan
STJ, I can understand that you don’t like Rafa but don’t try to take the guy down. He’s a canny manager and you don’t seem to want to give him any credit – at all which I think is very unfair.
He has developed a different style of play as to what we had under Houllier. We had a good few years but didn’t push on with Gerard from what we achieved in 2002. We bought badly that summer (eg Diouf) and suffered for it. Teams also sussed out the style of play we had and we had no plan B. I remember the chants of ‘attack, attack’ during home games. He did loads for the club but we just seem to hit a barrier. I still rate him as a manager and I always look out for Lyon’s results.
Which brings me to your point about ex-Liverpool managers not liking Rafa. This is news to me but I am guessing you are referring to Gerard, but that puzzles me as he has always publicly stated he has no hard feelings towards the club.
If it isn’t Gerard then there are not many ex-managers about; Kenny, Roy Evans and Souness. I have always heard Kenny and Roy say good things about Rafa. Not sure about Souness. Are you going to tell us?
Or did you mean ex-players? But again, many ex players, Alan Kennedy, Dave Fairclough, John Aldridge etc, have always supported Rafa and have been heartened by his willingness to listen to ex-players ideas about the club.
I can’t really understand your criticism or dislike of Rafa. He has a young family, seems like a nice guy etc. I dislike some managers but I can see they are people and I respect what they do as long as it’s sporting. The only reason I can think of is that you are a Man Utd fan!
I’m afraid I disagree.
We are creating chances – just not getting the results. That is down to poor finishing as a whole, poor defending at certain moments and questionable refereeing decisions. The PERFECT example of this point is the derby match. We had over 20 shots against everton, hit the post twice and had two decent penalty appeals turned down. But we still lost 3 nil. That sums up our displays away from home this season. None of that though has anything to do with Gerrard or Sissoko. Gerrard (and Alonso)was on the bench in the Community Shield and Sissoko ran the show against Lampard, Ballack and Essien. He is a quality player and will only get better – despite your thoughts.
As for not having a striker who will weigh in with 20 goals a season, you just wait to see what Dirk Kuyt does this year. He actually reminds me of Fowler in his younger days and in my opinion is almost guaranteed 20 goals this season. I’ve watched every Liverpool match this season and am more than happy with Sissoko playing in the middle and Gerrard out wide. If you saw the way Gerrard roasted Ekotto in the spurs match from a wide right position to set up Gonzales’ goal then I’m sure you would agree.
Rafa has a plan and that involves controlling games. Alonso and Sissoko do this which provides the platform for Gerrard to go forward and dominate opposition defences. We have done that this year but have not got the goals and uncharacteristically been sloppy at the back. As soon as those two problems are resolved (as I believe they will be), we will climb up the league table. And you’ll be wishing Sissoko played for your club!
MarK Hobbs, if you can’t get close enough to break down teams, then you are always going to be vunerable to the opposition on the break, you should know this, Liverpool used to be masters of it. What I’m trying to say is that Sissoko is reducing your creativity and effectiveness in the final third. He is great at breaking up attacks, but going forward he’s not effective at helping the attack, and Liverpool like to attack (and defend) as a team. You currently don’t have a 20 goals a season striker in the mould of Rush, Daglish, Fowler (in his younger days), so you have to rely on the midfield creating and weighing in with the goals
Onion – I don’t necessarily dislike Rafa, but I don’t like him (if you see the difference), I just can’t warm to the guy. I know one or two ex-Liverpool managers who REALLY don’t like him but I suspect that is partly down to sour grapes.
I agree it takes several years to build a team and it doesn’t happen over night, which is why I dispair at those fans who ignore what Houllier did for the club and have wiped him from their memory.
My comment about failing so publically was in direct reference to Rafa’s ascertion that Liverpool were now capable of challenging for the Premiership title. I could wait until it was mathematically certain that Liverpool can’t win it, or I could make an informed opinion based on what I think the problems are about their chances of achieving that this season. And I think Liverpool had blown their chance by the end of September. You cannot lose so many games and expect to be challenging for the title, unless you are relying on all the other teams to do the same, and thats just not going to happen.
My two twopenny worth is that Man U will win the title this year, and I’ve said that from the closed season. They are strong and skillful, but they have the hunger that Chelsea no longer have, its become routine for Chelsea so they have become lazy.
Liverpool’s problems do not just lie in their midfield, I know that, but I do think that more creativity through the middle would allow the likes of Kuyt to find the net more often, he is currently playing to deep, looking for the ball, instead of letting the ball find him.
So let’s get this straight.
You’re blaming Sissoko for Liverpool’s leaky defence in away games this season and our strikers’ profligacy in front of goal?
Anon – I have no doubt about Sissoko’s ability to break down the opposition attacks, nor to I beleive that Perker is in Alonso’s league when it comes to long range passing or even long range shots (I think Alonso is a most gifted player in that area), but I do doubt the assumption that Sissoko has improved his passing game. Everyone keep pointing out how young he is, and maybe he will improve, but while he is a natural tackler, that he is not a natural passer of the ball.
I’ll give you that he sometimes does suprise me, with his short game, I remember him putting Garcia through on the right wing with a lovely weighted pass between two defenders, but the point was that I was surprised, because whenever I see him with the ball I half expect him to give it away, and he does give it away more often than he should, especially when he is under pressure.
It’s obvious you have team loyalties elsewhere and fair play you do not hide that but:
Maybe you are a die hard England fan and want Gerrard in the centre?
You dislike Rafa and don’t believe he is capable of building a team – even though his record at Valencia and ‘Pool strongly suggests otherwise.
You cannot ‘build’ a team overnight. You need to bed players in gradually and that is what Rafa has done. This season he has brought in two pacy wingers to stretch play more – so there will undoubtedly be more space for the opposition when the move breaks down. To suggest a team is publicly failing after 7 games is absolute top drawer hype of the highest order. Shame on you. I challenge you to name all the competitions we have been knocked out of……..
As for Gerrard, why does he have to play in the centre in every game? We all know that he loves to get forward – and with wingers in the side this can leave the team very exposed. I trust the manager when he chooses to use the best player where he can best taunt the opposition. If, as you claim, you know about Valencia, you would know that Rafa did this at Valencia with great effect.
So give both Rafa and Momo a break.
And to everyone that has been annoyed by this article…….there is a theory that people write this sort of thing to put pressure on managers via irate fans. The sub-theory is that on some phone ins you get ‘fans’ phoning up that are really fans of other teams…..to stoke up the fire etc. I ask you all to make your own interpretations based on what is being said here. And once this debate has finished……bite no more at the cynics and fans of other clubs.
Anfield Hero – spot on mate, that is in essence what I was trying to get across, although I seem to have been diverted somewhat along the way.
Rushback – don’t worry mate, I print all replies, if someone has taken the time to make their point then even if I don’t necessarily agree with it, i still think they should be heard. But your arguement appears to be made up of insults against the author rather than any constructive criticism against the article, sounds like you’re a hypercrite, accusing others of what you are so clearly doing yourself.
As I said, whilst I beleive that Sissoko is a great tackler and the bees knees at breaking up the opposition attacks, buthe is also effectively reducing the teams attacking creativity, if you beleive this to be wrong then resorting to name calling just shows your lack of eruditeness.