Liverpool FC’s future, cloudy with a chance of winning?

The beating drums of progress are emanating from Anfield. Liverpool FC are apparently on the way up after battling to a 2-2 draw against reigning champions Manchester City.  But why the positivity?

The answer seems to be a simple one, and one of the most fundamental parts of the ideology of good football, we passed and moved.

It wasn’t perfect, and there were errors, but the players were obviously trying to implement one of Brendan Rodgers’ now famous philosophies.

The match against Roberto Mancini’s men highlighted a few interesting things about Liverpool this season that we might expect to see for the duration, but it also raised some problems.

Firstly, the positives:

1)     Pressure.

Something we saw during the first 4 years of Rafael Benitez tenure in charge. This was a ‘press from the front’ mentality that became globally recognised through Barcelona’s Champions League performances.

The Catalan club’s forwards pushed relentlessly forward against opposition defenders, often barricading the opposing team in their own half. Any possession regained during this pack hunt would almost inevitably lead to a chance due to the proximity of the forward players and the opposing teams goal. Winning the ball back 30 yards from the opposing goal is always going to cause chaos in the calmest of defences.

This is what Liverpool showed glimpses of at Anfield. Suarez and Borini were particularly energetic in their closing down, as was Shelvey. Gerrard, who carries the burden of age looked comfortable in marking the space in central areas, discouraging through balls. This was one of the key reasons behind Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri being starved of time throughout the game.

 

Liverpool’s post-Lucas formation.

2)     Midfield.

As alluded to in the Pressure section, the midfield battle seemed to be dominated by Liverpool. Rodgers favours a three man central midfield, essentially flooding what many feel is the most important aspect of the game.

Mancini tried to counter this by going three at the back and having Yaya Toure sit deep with De Jong with Nasri as a ‘point’, but I genuinely feel there was a bit more harmony and balance between Liverpool’s players, although both teams did look uncomfortable at times as they adjusted to a new formation and a new system respectively.

Joe Allen hit 93.5% of his passes successfully, the highest out of any player, and it looks as though the Welshman will be a cornerstone of Liverpool’s side for the next decade. Allen’s influence on games will only increase as the players around become used to his style and abilities. He is a non-headline grabbing player, but one who will act as the metronome allowing other players to go and grab the glory.

Ironically, after the loan signing of Nuri Sahin, one of the ‘odd ones out’ in Liverpool’s midfield may appear to be Gerrard. Whilst still a classy player, Gerrard no longer seems to be the focal point of the team either in midfield or in attack, with Suarez and Allen taking these roles, probably with increasing authority over the next year or two, it means the long time talisman may have to get used to rotation. Rodgers will no doubt be looking to the future, and with Lucas, Allen and Sahin being young internationals, the future looks bright in that area.

 

3)     Sterling.

Not much needs to be said about the young starlet. Rodgers showed an immense amount of trust in Raheem Sterling and he will certainly feel vindicated.

The Jamaican born winger looked full of confidence and speed. It is a strong message to other players like Stewart Downing that their futures are on the line if youngsters are suddenly propelled above them in the pecking order.

Liverpool looked to isolate Sterling one-on-one against Kolo Toure when possible, and for 60 minutes it worked. Sterling looked willing to go on the outside of players as well as cutting in on his favoured right foot, which is something he’ll have to keep up in order to maintain an air of unpredictability.

Sterling did tire after the hour mark as some of his passing started to get erratic. But this shouldn’t concern Liverpool fans as, at 17, he is still coming to terms with the pace of professional football. I think Rodgers would have subbed Sterling had he not been forced into an early change with Lucas’ injury.

 

4)     Sebastian Coates.

The Uruguayan centre-back is often overlooked when talk of young players is brought up, but at 21, Sebastian Coates looks like he could become a great player. Most centre-halves don’t mature until they’re in their late 20’s but sometimes Coates plays like a player with 20 years experience behind him.

He’s far from the finished article and at times can go to ground too easily, but I was incredibly impressed by his reading of the game.

My main worry about him when we signed was his lack of speed, but I felt reassured about the players’ abilities after seeing him read the game extremely well during last years Copa America and his small number of appearances at Liverpool. Although Aguero wasn’t present on Sunday, he still faced up to one of the best attacks in Europe and did himself proud next to Martin Skrtel and Martin Kelly.

 

The positives that we can take out of the game against Man City shouldn’t be overlooked. This comes after a season of uncertainty and disappointing performances. Although it should be remembered that even under Dalglish, Liverpool did manage to look competitive against the top opposition. A real test of our evolution as a group will come against teams outside of the Champions League, where tactics come into it more due to a reduction in atmosphere, hype and adrenaline.

Positives were not the only thing to take out of the game, however, a few concerns did present themselves that I hope are obvious to Brendan Rodgers.

 

Concerns:

1)     Stamina.

Liverpool’s players expended a lot of energy against Manchester City. Pressure from the front works extremely well in games, especially against teams who are comfortable in possession, however the toll it takes over the course of a season, especially one which incorporates a Europa League run, can be damaging to a team.

In Rodgers’ first season with Swansea in the top flight, the team noticeably dropped off in the last 10 games. Rodgers’ team won only two of the last 9 games, losing 5 times.

This, I feel, would be a result of high energy performances early in the season. Another burden to consider would be the amount of extra games Liverpool FC may play compared to The Swans. With a domestic cup run and an extended European experience, Liverpool could well see themselves playing over 60 games.

One thing Rodgers does have at Anfield that he didn’t at the Liberty Stadium, would be resources and squad depth. Whilst Liverpool’s squad depth isn’t superb, it does allow the manager to make wholesale changes for midweek games, especially early on in the season against ‘weaker’ opposition.

 

2)     Andy Carroll.

I’m a fan of the big man, I must admit. Carroll’s attributes are all physical, and he does it well, whether he’s back defending corners or attacking headers. I felt like last season we were extremely obvious in our approach. Signing Downing to supply the crosses and Carroll to head them in. Sadly that type of game is easy to read for a team who have the kind of exposure we do.

Out of luck,

Under Rodgers’ fluid, attacking system, Andy Carroll seems like a square peg in a round hole. It’s not his fault, but I don’t see him fitting in here at all.

Rodgers prefers mobility over strength, and it looks like he’ll go with Suarez alone for the biggest games. That doesn’t bode well for the £35m striker but it’s a problem we’ll be stuck with for the season unless Newcastle cough up £20m.

I think it’s the sensible thing to to cut our losses on Carroll, as long we have enough money to sensibly reinvest. He’s a powerful number 9 with a hammer of a left foot, but he’d be wasted on our bench and we could put the recouped money to better use, even if it does mean selling him to a rival.

If we don’t manage to offload him, then I see Carroll’s role reduced to cup games and impact substitutions. A sad situation for the most expensive fish out of water in British transfer history.

 

3)     Left back.

Despite all of the bad press regarding his defensive side, Glen Johnson is an excellent defender. Quick, powerful and technically good on the ball, Johnson has an unfair reputation for defensive vulnerabilities. However, I don’t think it would be fair to expect either him or Daniel Agger to be stand-in left backs should Jose Enrique drop out of the side.

Enrique is a good player but he’s painfully slow. With a lack of decent competition there (Jack Robinson seems a little way off yet), I worry that Enrique’s place will be guaranteed, meaning complacency is a danger for a defender who can look switched off at the best of times.

I think left back is an area Liverpool need to reinforce.

 

4)     Fabio Borini.

The £10m Italian looks a good player, but his long term place in the team for me, isn’t guaranteed.

He’s hard working, direct and technically sound. A Rodgers player for sure, but I think he lacks that edge that maybe Suarez has. That world class vibe that puts you above the rest. I wouldn’t fancy Borini against left backs such as Aahley Cole. For me that means in that area there is room for improvement.

Of course, I hope I’m mistaken and Borini grows into a great player, he does have time on his side. Until then I hope he gets in tune with the players around him quickly and helps the team develop into the formidable passing unit that Rodgers wants us to be.

 

 

 

All in all, I think the positives from the game far outweigh the negatives. However, as I mentioned earlier Liverpool have never really had trouble getting up for the big games. The real acid test will be our next tricky away encounter, or even a home clash. An away game at Sunderland and a home game against Stoke in the next month will be perfect tests to see how far we’ve come under Rodgers first few months.

 

By Chris Severs

@footiecrisis

 

LFC: A New Hope, somewhere.

“You were supposed to be the chosen one!” cried J. W. Henry as B-Rod stood arrogantly staring back, the flames of the burning Kop greedily eating the air.” – Segment taken from ‘Liverpool’s Nightmare Future’.  

 

It doesn’t take much in football before the hype machine ‘gets out of hand’, but following Liverpool’s opening day humbling to their former assistant, the Reds were given a stark reminder of the task that lays ahead.

 

Whilst hoping that we don’t relapse to those darker times, it helps to recall what went wrong last season.

Time after time Kenny Dalglish’s men dominated games but were found wanting in attack. Even against top teams, particularly at Anfield, cries of conspiracy against the mischievous, Man United supporting woodwork didn’t make amends for profligate finishing.

 

Good luck, pal.

Fast forward to this season, opening day against mid-table wannabes West Brom and optimism is at a long time high.  Ex Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers is hoping to usher in a new era of football at Liverpool. Clearly appointed as a man who can get the best out of low priced technically gifted players, as opposed to Dalglish’s ‘all-star’ approach.

 

After 30 minutes of opening day play, it would’ve been obvious to those watching on with a familiar sense of dread, that there’s a lot of work still to be done here.

 

Luis Suarez, whilst one of the world’s most dangerous creative players, isn’t as clinical as he should be, and he didn’t set the record straight against the Baggies today.

 

Liverpool dominated West Brom in the possession stakes, first half passing  stats showing twice as many successful passes as their hosts, but as we saw time-after-time last season, the scoreline still read Liverpool 0. All too familiar.

 

Once Daniel Agger gave away the penalty, the game just slipped away from us.

The performance of Skrtel and Agger was borderline embarrassing in parts. Defenders who looked so assured for the majority of last season looked as though their thoughts may have been on other things this summer.

 

When you play away from home on the opening day of the season, rustiness can be your biggest enemy and it reared it’s ugly head in this game.

The longer the game went on, the more vulnerable Liverpool looked.

 

A hard summer of travelling taking it’s toll? Possibly. The debate about pre-season travelling will only lose its impact the more it becomes standard practice. But after Lucas Leiva’s departure, 10 man Liverpool became sitting ducks to West Brom attacks, this game could of, and perhaps should of ended 5-0.

 

But fret not, there is some hope, however, and it comes in the form of our manager. This time last season Rodgers was on the end of another hammering.

 

Getting stuffed by Man City 4-0 didn’t put his Swansea team off a great mid-season run, and we can only hope this stubbornness can be applied to Liverpool, who have a killer opening run at home against Champions League teams.

 

Some of the positives to take from the game were Joe Allen’s passing accuracy and Luis Suarez’ general sharpness (although not in front goal).

 

Ambitions for this season, I feel, wouldn’t be too lofty if we expected to challenge Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham for a champions league spot. Both Arsenal and Spurs have lost their best players over the summer, so look like ground could be made up against them if they stall.

 

The key for Liverpool this season, during this ‘time of transiton’ will be perseverance; perseverance with the philosophy that the manager is trying to instil in the players, perseverance with the youngsters and new signings who will make mistakes along the way.

 

Most importantly, we need to be realistic in our aims. A sensible target would be 70 points. It’s high enough to be Champions League competitive, as well as being a vast improvement on last season’s floundering.

 

20+ wins, including a focus on home victories should steer Liverpool to a successful season. Some kind of cup run to give the players a taste of glory so synonymous with the club would be a welcome addition to a season of scrutiny, doubt but ultimately, hopefully, good football at Anfield.

 

Let’s hope we’ve under-estimated Rodgers’ power. Many believe he was a gamble, but Brendan Rodgers task here is evolution not revolution and we have to be prepared to be in it for the long hall.

 

By Chris Severs

Brendan Rodgers: Failings and philosophies.

As you may have noticed, Liverpool FC has appointed a new manager: 39-year-old, Carnlough born Brendan Rodgers. But what do you need to know about him?

Rodgers was one of my ‘preferred three’, but I will admit that he was third in that list. Still, his appointment has given me much optimism for not only the following season, but also Liverpool’s future as a whole.

‘Buck’ appears to be FSG’s real first choice appointment. They never hired Hodgson, and the fans hired Dalglish.

Despite all the massively misconceived press surrounding FSG’s search for a manager, it seems Rodgers played hard to get, played his cards right and got the post.

His rise to prominence has centred mostly around his Swansea City reign. Under the Welsh side, Rodgers continued and progressed the dynasty of passing football at the club to a level of national praise.

Only Manchester City completed more passes than Swansea in the 2011-12 Premier League season, which is a commendable stat.

His team of relative unknowns had been drilled and crafted to be a group of unsung heroes; tireless, technically sound and tactically disciplined.

It is this notion that forms the basis of both Rodgers’ apparent philosophy and reputation. Comparisons to Barcelona’s ‘tiki-taka’ approach may be generous, but it is easy to see why they are earned.

While I fully support Rodgers, I was curious to learn of his management past.  Rodgers has completed just three full seasons in his managerial career; two at Swansea, which were undoubted successes, and one at Watford in 2008.

Sandwiched between the two appointments was a stint at Reading. One that saw Rodgers last just six months in charge after the team failed to adapt to his approach.

Rodgers left Reading in 21^st position when he was sacked, which is a Hodgson level crisis. Previously, Steve Coppell had managed Reading for 5 years, including two Premiership seasons, which makes Rodgers performance there seem particularly bad.

The former Chelsea coach said of his Reading troubles: “I went in thinking ’Right, the club want a new vision, a new philosophy’ and I felt if I stripped it down quickly and let it build then that would be okay.”

“But what I realised after that was you are still in the business of winning.”

After looking deeper into Rodgers troubles at Reading FC, it seems that he did indeed try to change too much too quickly and in doing so, alienated the fans.

Rodgers, at the very least seems to be aware of his own failings, which happens to be a good quality in managers. It says to me one main thing; adaptability.

He added to his statements by saying: “You talk about football, creativity and invention, but you have to win games – as simple as that.

“That was something very important to me on reflection when I came away from Reading.”

A couple of Royals’ blogs that can be found state how Rodgers’ media friendly attitude can actually get on the nerves of some. It’s hard to judge based on this alone, and I won’t use it as a stick to beat him with.

However, while Swansea City were a sensation in the Premier League, I don’t believe Rodgers had to overhaul them too much. Under Roberto Martinez and then Paulo Sousa, the Swans were pleasing on the eye.

Rodgers seems to have identified some of the issues he faced at Reading, moving swiftly with what he felt were the necessary changes to Swansea.

He said: “When I went in to Swansea I knew very well I could still work with the same philosophy and identity but I would have to get to the end point quicker.

“That allowed me to round off everything I do and how I work with players and it brought me success at Swansea”

I am impressed here again by his adaptability and having the confidence to bounce back from a dire situation at Reading. While Swansea were a good footballing team, Rodgers came to really define them and hone their key skills.

A lot will depend on how much Rodgers thinks Liverpool need overhauling. I don’t think we’re at a point where we need world class players to improve, just astute and shrewd signings. Swansea, ironically, seem to be a team put together using a (very loosely based) sabre-metrics approach; an approach that has been unfairly worn like a ball & chain around the ankle of Liverpool since the FSG takeover.

FSG can’t and won’t abide profligate spending like we saw under Dalglish and Comolli. This was probably a big factor in their decision to appoint Rodgers. He is developing a reputation for getting the best out of players and really maximising their value.  One player currently on the radar and I’m glad to say it, is Gylfi Sigurdsson.

With a strong build, great touch and great vision, the Icelandicman is the type of player who turns draws into wins. Some of you may remember him looking particularly assured as a young lad during Reading’s win at Anfield a couple of years ago, particularly in regards to his set-piece delivery. Sigurdsson scored a last minute penalty to take that particular cup-tie to extra time. I don’t remember the final score…

With regards to what we witnessed at both Watford, Reading and Swansea, Rodgers track record in first team management is mixed, he does though appear to stay true to his footballing philosophies.

His performances at Reading were often lacklustre, due to a mix of players failing to gel quickly enough and plenty of players being shipped out (apparently under instruction).

After only 11 games of his doomed spell at Reading, Rodgers had used 24 players; something which wasn’t deemed wise at Championship level. Inconsistencies plagued Rodgers for the next two months until John Madejski decided to pull the plug on the Northern Irishman.

The kind of rotational approach Rodgers used is something that would now be considered the norm’ in the Premier League. Not only will Rodgers be getting his first taste of European football with Liverpool, he will have license to use the maximum of his squad, as more successful predecessors at Anfield before him have.

To summarize, while Rodgers has done well most of the time, he also knows failure, and this as he says could be a driving force for his career.

Rodgers said: “That six months at Reading over the course of a nearly 20-year period coaching and managing has been great learning for me.

“Hopefully that will be the defining moment of my career.”

I hope that fans see in him the future, and not just the present. At the moment on the pitch, we’re nobodies. A top eight team, but with so much potential we could achieve anything given the time and resources.

Under Rodgers, who FSG no doubt see as someone who can get the best out of so called ‘underdogs’, Liverpool fans should look forward to a sustained period of progression.

How many years until LFC could conceivably challenge for a league title? It’s hard to say. But I believe that Rodgers should be seeing out his current contract before we’re ready for a serious title tilt. I think we have solid foundations and some good young players. If Rodgers can cultivate and develop what we have, in line with his philosophies, then we may just be at the start of something sustainable and most importantly exciting 

By Chris Severs.

FSG: The Liverpool Way/The American Way

It’s been a rapid two years since Liverpool FC was taken over by Fenway Sports Group. In that two years, there has been unprecedented upheaval at the club both on and off the pitch.

Deadwood has been cast adrift at a rate that seems unbelievable considering the slow rot that took over the club since Kenny Dalglish left the first time.

For four years under Rafa Benitez, the glory days seemed to have returned. Liverpool was, despite its slim revenues, the number one ranked team in Europe. That, at one point two years ago, seemed to be as far in the memory as Shankly’s first league triumph.

The removal of the poisonous cretins Tom Hicks and George Gillett allowed a slim ray of sunshine to break through the clouds and shine down on the once hallowed turf of Anfield.

Descending toward the earth on that bright light was John Henry, Tom Werner and the rest of the FSG gang. From the off, not without justification, ‘The Americans’ were met with superstition by many.

The Glazers, Randy Lerner and Messrs Hicks and Gillett have all irked the fans of their respective clubs with their absent ownership and money sucking approach to the game.

This label, however, I feel to be completely undeserved of FSG. In what can only be described as a 300 word Brain Fart . Mark Lawrenson ranted that FSG’s unwillingness to appoint a new manager even before June is detracting from the clubs ambitions and diminishing their reputation world-wide.

Lawrenson splutters: “I can’t believe they are doing it so publicly. They have basically let everyone know who is on their ­short-list and who they want to interview.”

What utter tosh. If Lawrenson can provide me with any quote from ‘The Americans’ to do with appointing a new manager I will chow down on my own hat as if it were made out of delicious cake.

Worryingly, the cross analysis in the press of how FSG are handling the manager search has reached bull shit levels so high that James Murdoch himself would nod approvingly.

One day we may look back upon this ‘disastrous’ and ‘public’ affair and refer to it as the great misconception. Contrary to popular belief, Henry and co have not gone public in their search.

Disappointingly, the most public protagonist in this whole affair is Julian Assange wannabe Dave Whelan. The loud-mouthed Wiganer has been on speed dial to every cheap-story journo in the country.

WhelanLeaks has kept the whole country abreast of every development he can perceive from his pie-based tower to do with prospective Reds boss Roberto Martinez.

 

The man in the know

Not only is his blabber-mouthing unhelpful to Martinez both at present and should he choose to stay at the Latics, it also adds to the storm-in-a-tea-cup that is the tenuously xenophobic reaction to FSG’s pursuits of a manager.

Another Lawro belter, which seems standard splurge for any MotD pundit was: “ I know Liverpool’s owners are going about the search for a new manager the American way, but they’ve got it wrong.”

Whatever ‘The American Way’ is, I’m sure Lawrenson doesn’t understand it. From an outsider’s viewpoint, all I see are the following facts:

• Liverpool have performed poorly for the last two seasons as a whole.
• Liverpool have spent a considerable sum of money, enough to challenge for a Champions League spot at least.
• The owners originally wanted a young manager but felt pressured by fans to appoint Dalglish.
• They’ve taken two decisive steps in replacing Hodgson and Dalglish.
• They’re currently being quiet, patient and sounding out somebody they feel will truly fit their model in the long term.

All the second-guessing and rumour mongering across the back-pages has somehow mutated into accepted truths about FSG.

The fact that they have come in for so much stick from fans and press alike before they have even taken two weeks to replace Dalglish has been baffling.

Their obvious preference for a young and exciting manager to create a project with seems to me the correct path to go.

I fail to see any issues, with most of the players (current squad and potential targets) about to play at the European Championships, in taking our time to appoint a manager. It simply isn’t as urgent as some would make out.

A cynic may suggest that it’s no coincidence the two week long search is poised to end as the Euros start, dulling the focus on any new man.

In summary, I feel that the frothing at the mouth and faux bafflement at Liverpool FC’s management search is irksome and short sighted.

Whether it be Brendan Rodgers, Roberto Martinez or Ron Atkinson, FSG have gone down the correct channels and made as little impact as possible on their end.

The nonsense surrounding the search has at its eye just one man; Dave Whelan. Once this untactful gossiper gets his satisfaction only then can we sit down and chew over the facts. Until then, take what you read with a pinch of salt and thank the baby Jesus that it isn’t you getting the job.

By Chris Severs

Futbol es negro y blanco, no?

“Por que, negro?”

I’ll just let that hang there for a minute.

Just words on a page, yet the impact such words have had out there in the big bad world has been staggering.

I refer, of course, to the Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra ‘incident’. Not a pleasant one, obviously, but there has been endless debate since, so I won’t try to get too involved in the intricacies, merely refer to it in the point I wish to impart upon you, reader, which is that the criticism of Liverpool FC and Luis Suarez has been misguided.

For the last couple of week I have worn the same look on my face whenever I read an article and see the name Luis Suarez; utter bewilderment.

Not bewilderment at the racism and prejudice involved in football. That in itself is something which is clear cut, there is no place for racism. No, my perplexity is the result of the rank hypocrisy that infects the press, and the misguided witch hunt that has resulted in Suarez being hung out to dry.

I’ve never seen a bigger bandwagon than the one marching and banging its drums at Luis Suarez. “LUIS SUAREZ RACIST, LUIS SUAREZ RACIST” they’re dying to scream out, the Daily Mirror practically did this with its ‘Racist’ back page headline. As a result, Liverpool FC, in their bid to defend their man, have been branded as racists by association. If there is such a thing, Liverpool FC, and its fans appear to be so.

The general feeling I get when you try and even debate the case intelligently, is that you should be ashamed to even think about arguing it. Racism by association is the bug that’s preventing good honest discourse. Anybody who has an opinion tends to be shot down immediately; our arguments dismissed with a lazy ‘bias’ or ‘tribal’ excuse.

The same journalists who choose to write how Liverpool have shown no grace or respect in their defence of the bad man have their employee newspapers printing pictures of tits on Page 3 and talk longingly about the Premiership legend that is the openly fascist Paolo Di Canio.

So far, I am yet to see any mainstream English journalist tackle the obviously flawed FA report into the racism case. Liverpool were well within their right to brand the trial subjective, and whether Suarez said it or not, the question is how we can definitely be sure. The answer is we can’t, because there isn’t enough evidence. Instead, we have a cauldron of changing accounts (from both sides), inconsistencies, controversies in practice and then we land at the point of ‘Probably racially abused him: definitely 8 game ban’.

It seems incredibly easy to sit high up and condemn those below you. With every news outlet in the country revelling in their position as moral compass. The very concept of ‘newspaper’ and ‘moral compass’ is a laughable oxymoron when applied to the majority of the rags in Britain.

Yet those dismissing the misgivings of people arguing the Suarez verdict should remember that there is no problem in challenging something that is deemed ‘official’, in fact, it should be encouraged. Any journalist reading that report should try to challenge it, if they had good journalistic instinct, they should be happy to dismantle it as easily as one lawyer seems to easily have done here, for Tomkins Times.

I’ve never known the British Government to release a report that hasn’t been combed over and analysed to an inch of its life. So why has the FA report so readily accepted? When it comes to football, it seems the sports journalists in the national press aren’t accustomed to investigation. I don’t blame them I suppose, when you spend your days making up transfer stories and reporting on ‘Tweets’, how reliable can you be when it comes to critically analysing a report?

It is unfortunate that it is Liverpool fans who are being discredited for ‘blindly supporting’ Suarez. It’s only because it’s their player that is on the receiving end of the punishment that there is a feeling they must go that extra mile to look into the report whereas your average Bob Punter need only read about it in a tabloid to form his opinion. The same situation would no doubt have happened at any club should one of their players become entangled in such a high profile case.

From a personal point of view, it makes me wonder how reliable the information is I get from newspapers on other, world news reports. If I had not read the Suarez report itself, I may well have had my mind made up that the debate was without question. Yet after reading it, I can only deem that it is in-fact inconclusive. It goes some lengths to highlight the amount of trust we place into the journalist who writes the article we read, on any matter of importance.

There is an obsession with being offended in the country at the moment and dare I say it, it’s getting a bit much. Over 20,000 people complained about Jeremy Clarkson’s ‘outrageous’ comment on the One Show while nowhere near that figure would bat an eye lid as David Cameron and co break up the country and sell it off piece by piece.

Of course, everyone has a right to be offended, but, what of it? You’re offended, carry on. A world without offence is just one step away from a world were men are threatened with their lives for drawing a picture of another man called Muhammad. The real battle and focus for the press should be on the deeper problems in the game regarding racism.

So Luis Suarez ‘may’ have used a taboo word during a heated argument. Though it should be remembered that even the word itself has been subject of debate (inside and outside of the hearing) regarding whether it is an offensive term, unlike for instance had he used a more clear cut term such as nigger, which is what Evra initially claimed.

Racism is of course abhorrent. But the international outcry at Suarez and Liverpool FC has been borderline carnivalesque. Where is the grass roots investigation? Where is the press report into racism in this country. It exists all around us. It stinks of selective hearing that journalists will lazily churn out this report, ignoring its cultural nuances and complexity. I fear that in their rush to condemn everyone involved in the whole case, they have trampled over the most important issues relating to race and prejudice in this country. While Liverpool has been unofficially declared racist by association, it should be remembered and reported that according to this official home office document, Liverpool and Manchester City were the only teams in 2010/2011 that did not have to ban a fan for racially aggravated abuse or chanting.

In summary, I think that in the mad scramble to fill pages and timelines with Luis Suarez churnalism, the real issues of racism have been overlooked. People are so happy to be offended by pretty much anything, that it becomes almost taboo to challenge such a view. Is this right? Certainly not. The problem seems to be that sensationalism and the need to ‘get a headline’ or make a point (as the FA have been accused of doing in relation the FIFA racism ‘storm’), has affected both the FA and the press.  I am yet to be convinced that anybody in the press gives two hoots about racism any further than a Luis Suarez headline. The overriding feeling of condescending disapproval of Liverpool FC and its fans is nothing but short-sighted. The issues at hand are far deeper than many lazy hacks are willing to delve. Ironically, I’m sure that if Liverpool fans hadn’t of so vehemently defended Suarez, the press would have quickly moved on to the next headline without so much as a second thought.

Adios, vos blancos y negros.

Chris Severs

The genius of Mario Balotelli.

Football, let’s be honest, is utterly Vaudeville.

Good guys, bad guys, crooks and gangsters, heroes and villains.  It’s theatrical and ridiculous, and it’s never been more so than today.

Nostalgia is a murky, stagnant pool and when we stare into it with our rose tinted glasses, we see what we want to see. Glorified depictions of years gone by, famous captains lifting trophies in a timeless image.  Yet we forget that at the time of our greatest moment as a nation, ’66, that the game was rather silly. Players could volley each-other around the field, it was most likely as corrupt as Jack Warner’s bank account and twice as bonkers as the man himself.

Yet, despite all the naysayers., the journalists and critics who dream of the olden days. Those days were rife with thuggery and hooliganism both on and off the pitch, it beggars belief how people cant see his behaviour being the brother of ‘British Passion’. We’ve entered the age of the ballet.

The theatrics, devilment and general skulduggery is here and it’s bigger than ever. But should we hate? Well, we know haters gonna hate no matter what. We have our bad guys in football, sure; most of them wear suits, some of them wear kits. Let us not dwell on them though, football is about entertainment, and whether you love them or hate them we have our villains, and the villains are always the star performers.

Some in the media have described him as the gift that keeps giving, others as a buffoon not deserving of his status as a Premier League footballer. For those of us who find joy in the sublime and the ridiculous, we call him Mario Balotelli.

All you need is access to Google to find out all about the man. The triumphs and disasters, and there are far more than you think. For me, this clown of a man, this man-child, this comic book villain, is everything I currently love about the game, I only wish he gave more sound bites.

Blessed with supreme talent, and the brain power of a drained out tea bag, Super Mario is stupid on such a great scale he is borderline genius. And this is why he and his ilk must be treasured, villainised, loathed, cheered, booed and celebrated. But never asked to change.

Football is one big act, from the frauds at the top to the humble workers at the bottom. In an age of depression across the world, were 2011 has been a year so full of disaster that Charlie Brooker’s annual News Review will be feature length, we should remind ourselves that football is there to make us laugh and cry, for all the right reasons

There are some players who don’t deserve the love or loathing of the masses. They don’t play the game in any spirit befitting of the term ‘entertaining’, and their mere presence in my mind at this moment is dulling my senses.

Tevez and Barton, for example, play with a nastier edge. This doesn’t make them villains or ‘bad boys’, it just makes them cunts. Yes, there, I said it.

These morons only embarrass football in a way that that makes the all important ‘man on the street’ shake his head in disappointment. The problem with these two examples, is that they feign to be more important than they are. They don’t look as though they get any joy from what they do, and tend to spend most of their time moaning and making themselves look like despicable twats. I know, swearing again. Sorry.

Anyway, back to the fun. Balotelli and friends, and I put people like Zlatan, Pique, Ronaldo, Mourinho and even Ferguson to an extent, in this group they all add to the game in a way which should be celebrated and not denounced. I don’t think there’s anything wrong in hating these villains, afterall, they’re pure theatre. People who just couldn’t be what they are in any other job outside of the beautiful game.

And that’s why I worry. There are those in the game who are unhealthily obsessed with football conservatism. Who try and beat players to a beige normality. The media trained player is a sad animal. It’s like taking a trip to a Bangkok zoo and seeing the magnificent tiger trapped in a 10 x 6 ft cage.

It’s not a good image to see such dullness in our players and it’s due to the fear the media creates around clubs. Which is a shame, as repressing the character off the pitch dulls the enthusiasm towards the heroes of many.

That’s why characters like Balotelli, Ibrahimovich and Marco Materazzi (in his day) should be encouraged to be who they are. They’re at the top of their game, and doing what they do best, lets not stifle the laughs they give us along the way.

Media training never gave us any entertainment, Twitter and all round hijinks do. So let’s open up football and embrace the insane, embrace the idiots as much as we do the heroes, there’ll always be room for the Vaudevillains of the beautiful game.

By Chris Severs

 

Money Ball, a true tale of greed.

The slobs blinked in unison as they were led down through thick grey mist on the gloomy, winding path.

The stone tunnel was lined with images of glory and conquests, ‘More awaits you inside’ says the sign that hangs above the damp, black archway.

Above, on the gangways, a group of be-shaded men looked on. Each suited and booted man has behind him a lowly slave. Ugly and harsh to look at, the slave is there only for the good grace of their masters. They need not worry about their families, ‘Serve me and your kin will remain free’ slobbered one of the men as another slave polished his shoes.

Flags hung on the wall behind the masters; an American one, a Saudi one and a British one among others. At that moment, one of the miserable creatures shuffling toward the tunnel paused and looked upward.

The steak pie (£3.99) he had in his hand spilled out. His solemn eyes widened a little at a half remembered dream. He opened his mouth, as if to speak; crust (pie or skin we do not know) fell on to his replica football shirt (£39.99).

“Hey” he croaked. “You’re the chairman! You..you promised us the greatest product…” Before the words could leave his mouth a colossal vulture swooped out of the mist above. It’s iron talons gripped the pie and tore it away. Gravy and blood mixed as it fell to the floor.

The vulture flew up and up to the walkway were The Chairmen stood. Landing on the shoulder of a slim grey-haired American, it squawked a hellish noise back at the peasant who staggered back.

Another one of The Chairmen stepped forward. Overweight and balding, his fingernails scraped against one another. He sneered, showing sharp red-stained teeth and wiped away what looked like blood with a black and white striped football shirt.

“You’ll know your place, little man!” he barked. “We have given you the greatest spectacle in sport, and you’ll damn well shut up and take it the way we give it to you. We created this, FOR YOU!”

The fan hung his head and turned. Further down the tunnel other fans were chanting songs. He smiled faintly and walked toward the darkness and the noise. Before he reached it, he had to depart with just five of his English pounds. ‘A cheap price to pay to truly belong’ suggested the sign on the turn-style.

The fan thought for a moment, something came back to him, as if he’d already paid £35 to be where he was, yet he paid it anyway and walked onward. A song started up about some player being ‘well hard’. The fan had already forgotten about the Chairmen and was lost in bliss

Meanwhile, back at Premier League headquarters…

Around a huge oak table in a well-it room, much wine was being quaffed a long with foods of the most exotic variety.

Singing and classical music resounded off the walls and the hallways came alive with the sound of laughter.

Inside the room, old men danced as young women served drinks. They were throwing paper everywhere. Not paper…something else…money! It was money!

Billions of pounds littered the floor as the fat cats of the FA jigged across it. They were celebrating their alliance with The Chairmen. Together they would ensure eternal dominion of the plebeian and his like.

They locked arms and jumped as they sang their song:

We stroll the land hand in hand

Money talks and never sleeps

 

The small man shouts and sings his song

But his soul is ours and to us he’ll belong

 

He works hard to pay our way

But it’s our game at the end o’ day

 

That was their favourite song. It reminded them of their power, and the hold they had over the common man. Their product was the best in the world, wasn’t it? It was so slick and shiny and the man in the street was delighted to be able to give away all his money each year for never-ending jubilation.

After all, the Premier League was a faultless product in which competition was fair and everyone was in it only for the love of football. The Chief Executive laughed at that notion then quaffed a bottle of vintage 1990 Don Perignon.

Then, without warning the huge building suddenly lurched to one side, sending glasses hurtling off tables.

“What the fuck?” screamed Richard Scudamore. “What’s the problem here?”

Sir David Richards, looking out of the tall window and saw the problem: “It’s the fans!” he shouted. “They’ve stopped carrying us on one side, they’re chanting about lower prices and easier access to football.”

Scudamore thought for a second. A flash of brilliance crossed his mind. “What if we lower prices for games? Or allow easier TV access?”

Before he could even compute the impossible act of sensitivity that infected his greedy brain, it was gone.

“Bring out the big guns.” He said.

Pouring out of the building like ninjas and acrobats came marketeers with their replica shirts and merchandise. The fans anger and discontent soon waivered, they paused and soon forgot their pathetic protest, “We love football!” one man shouted, before others took up the call.

Soon enough, the fans were happy once more, blissfully unaware that the football they know and love was on the verge of eating itself. Their heroes loved them after all. If they didn’t they wouldn’t have all this wonderful merchandise to spend their hard earned cash on.

Back on the top floor, an old man who looked more like a dried tea bag moved into the room on a hover chair.

Richards bent to one knee immediately. “Mr Murdoch” he said sheepishly.

“Is there a problem?” said Murdoch, his voice dripping with malevolence.

 “No!” peeped Richards, the fans will do as we say.

A loud horn blew and the huge building was heaved upright once more. The sounds of whips cracking filled the sweet wine soaked air. The singing resumed

once more and the fans continued carrying the FA headquarters toward their goal of China and the Middle East… toward the Promised Land.

Murdoch moved to the large bay window that looked out toward the East.

“Soon.” He said to himself. “Soon I will have complete dominion over them, and all of the world will beg me even for a highlights package.”

Choking laughter filled his black lungs as he reversed his hover-chair back behind the green curtain from whence he had came.

The End.

Note, the above story is actually true.

Part 2: 3-5-2, a continuation.

In Part 1 we discussed the emergence, or re-emergence of 3-5-2 to a successful side. Udinese Calcio, before they had the best part of their team ripped away from them this summer were a shining example in how the formation can be used effectively.

 

3-5-2 has also been given a new lease of life on the international stage. 2011 Copa America champions Uruguay were an example to all in flexibility.

 

Rated a long way behind their more illustrious neighbours Argentina and Brazil, the tiny nation managed to battle their way to glory, displaying throughout great managerial adaptability and intuition. For that, credit must go to Oscar Washington Tabarez.

 

The Uruguayans went in to the tournament with three famous names up front. Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez all ‘had’ to start.

 

El Maestro was dealt a slice of luck though after the Andy Carroll of Uruguay, Cavani, picked up an injury ruling him out of the tournament. The two-time world cup winners then switched to 4-4-2.

It wasn’t until the semi-final against Peru that Tabarez changed his team. The results were clear to see. Uruguay’s dominant display against, admittedly an inferior team, was testament to the boon playing 3-5-2 can give to a team.

 

The Uruguayan’s seemingly natural doggedness and ‘harrying’ style, combined with high level technical skill was the perfect match for a -3-5-2 formation.

 

Lugano, Coates and Caceres were able to pick up two conventional forwards with one spare to mark midfield runners at all times.

 

Combining this with a defensive midfielder along with Maximiliano and Alvaro Pereira at wingback make breaking through the lines of the Uruguayan’s defence extremely difficult.

 

Of course, every formation has it’s weaknesses and 3-5-2 is not without it’s own. A team brave enough to keep wide players high up top against a high back line can leave the formation looking extremely ragged. However, forcing the opposition to be brave and take a chance means you’re doing it right.

 

The modern trend of playing 4-3-3 means any manager who decides to switch to a 3-5-2 must do so with the utmost confidence in his team. When I speak of 4-3-3, I do so with a nod towards 4-3-2-1, which often incorporates one lone striker and two wide players in support.

 

And so it is the lone striker aspect, which can often undo 3-5-2. With one striker to mark between three centre-halves, and wingbacks forced to pick up wide forwards, a team could find itself short on numbers further up the pitch.

Because of this, the individual selection or buying of players to fit the formation has never been so important. To successfully combat 4-3-3, the natural bane of 3-5-2, it is important to grow, produce or buy defenders with a ‘Libero’ mentality.

 

Three rugged centre-halves would leave the team short changed on possession and ability. Players like Gerard Pique, Daniel Agger and David Luiz are examples of players that could fit the libero role alongside an organiser. Skill on the ball and the ability to bring it forward to open up the field is essential if a team playing 3-5-2 was to stand a chance against a free roaming 4-3-3 set up.

 

Johann Cruyff famously criticised 3-5-3 as being the ‘death of football’, but he failed to acknowledge the complexity and intricacy of a formation and how many cogs must go in to a formation to make it work.

The formation doesn’t dictate the footballing philosophy, the philosophy dictates the formation. Whether you play 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 3-5-1-1, the stamp a manager  puts on a team through transfers and the players he chooses decides what style he is forming.

 

Cruyff believed wingbacks became athletes, sacrificing skill for power and stamina. The game has moved on though, and whether Cruyff would admit it or not, athleticism is essential more than just wingers. Players have gotten fitter, the game faster. Athleticism does have a place in the game, but it must compliment the skill and creativity of other players to make a successful team.

 

Players like Cafu, Dani Alves, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson and Zambrotta are just a few examples among hundreds of players who can combine athleticism, getting up and down the line to technique. All of these players have played in 3-5-2 formations and have looked not out of place in doing so.

 

Since Cruyff’s statement, fullbacks have become an ever more potent weapon in football and their athleticism has become an almost minimum expectancy. A fullback is expected to provide width, and is often used as part of a balancing act, where a left sided midfielder may be asked to step inside.

 

An example of this can be seen at Chelsea, particularly when Jose Mourinho was in charge. With a narrow midfield, players like Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole often spent most of the game in the opponents half despite being part of a 4-4-2. So, in essence, the gradual evolution of the game has made making brash statements like Cruyff made, futile, given the ever-changing nature of football.

 

So, for 3-5-2 to flourish, what does it require? The most important thing is bravery, followed by success. As seen at Udinese, and Napoli to certain extents in recent years, 3-5-2 must be proven successful for others to take it on, and it needs a brave, visionary manager to risk a lot in implementing it.

 

3-5-2 is an excellent option for a team rated as ‘underdog’, look no further than Liverpool’s 05 Champions League win, to see the use of 3-5-2 in games against ‘superior’ opposition. It is of course, down to the available players, and a team which may  look to dominate a game can incorporate the formation to this end to.

 

Jonathan Wilson’s excellent article on Argentina manager Carlos Bilardo and his efforts to introduce it is a great look at the history of changing formations. For Bilardo, Maradona was the key.

 

Each team and each manager must have their reasons and beliefs in changing formation. Whether it’s because of a lynchpin player, injury, or belief in tactical supremacy, 3-5-2, although currently in the wilderness of modern football, does have a place and I hope to see it back and used to great effect.

 

Chris Severs

Part 1: A study in 3-5-2.

Over the aeons, on-the-pitch tactics have changed with the slow burning evolution of fashion, think trilbies to shoulder pads and back to trilbies.

 

The sweeper was cool once, now, it’s retro. Usually played in Masters games by that one balding overweight bloke who you sort-of remember.

 

4-4-2, used to be the must-have tactic of the 90’s and early noughties. So much so that lady-leering sexist Andy Gray would be positively spitting feathers if two strikers were not deployed in tandem.

 

Then, with the influx of fresh managerial blood from the continent in the form of Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez, 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 respectively became the flexible two-piece that you could don in any situation. It was just what the English needed.

 

Finally! A break from 4-4-2. Jose’s romping success in the press (and in football) made sure that rotation (Rafa apart) and tactical changes were not as taboo as they once were.

 

Back in the good ol’ honest non-diving days, you would pick your best 11 in a handsome 4-4-2 formation and hope your players would be better than theirs, in a sort of flesh and bones subutteo. During the match, if your team was floundering, you’d simply change the personnel, easy! Even Big Ron could do it.

 

The English have always had a way with ‘sticking’ to what we know. But now, it could be time for a tactical revolution. But who will bolt first?

 

4-3-3 is, as we speak, the hot thing to have. Barcelona is doing it, so everyone should do it. 4-3-3, or its defensive-minded brother 4-5-1 was the natural bane of 4-4-2. Offering more flexibility, and midfield compactness than two central midfielders could handle.

 

4-5-1 lent itself particularly to counter-attacking effectiveness. A team may have the ability under 4-5-1 to absorb pressure by having 10 players behind the ball. Then, if possession is regained, said team can spring forward with natural width, catching out any players who may have committed forward, denying the rigidity of their 4-4-2 positions. Perfect for teams who may not have the natural talent to pick apart ‘better’ opponents through the more adventurous 4-3-3 or a powerful 4-4-2 formation.

 

At the 2010 Fifa World Cup Germany demonstrated how flexibility, the ability to absorb pressure and then break with speed and power could pay dividends. The combination of stamina and tenacity of players like Khedeira, Muller and Podolski with the genius of Mezut Ozil resulted in the Germans regularly overwhelming teams.

 

With a nod to Rafa Benitez in mastering the 4-5-1 and knowing how to slay giants with it, it was Fergie at United, and Pep Guardiola at Barcelona who truly made 4-3-3 their own. With that in mind, it’s no coincidence that they’ve met twice in Champions League finals in recent years.

 

An attacking three of Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo was the fantasy football dream team that wreaked havoc on flat back fours for two years in England. In Cataluña, Messi, Villa and Pedro were and still are regularly outscoring entire teams between them.

 

4-3-3, as a game plan favoured the less physical, more technical players. With three working in midfield, a stronger more aggressive opponent could be simply passed around, or hounded out of possession through sheer numbers. Once the ball was in possession, the deepest of the three midfielders would, in theory have a nice spread of friendly shirts to pick out. Flexibility was the name of the game when it came to this attacking formation.

 

An example of the different strengths each can bring can be seen in Spain’s win at the 2010 World Cup. Almost railroaded into a 4-4-2 due to the presence of Fernando Torres and David Villa, Spain was hamstrung into underperformance.

 

Torres almost inevitably picked up an injury, which led to Spain reverting to a more natural 4-3-3 considering the technical ability of their players and the Barca-heavy influence in the squad.  The change bred success, and although the Spanish may not have put teams completely to the sword the way many had hoped, they looked assured and comfortable enough throughout. Xavi, Iniesta and Alonso were a formidable three.

 

But, and this is a big one, 4-3-3/4-5-1 isn’t always the answer, nor should it be seen as the sole symptom of a good team.

 

Serie A bore witness to a quiet revolution. This took place in the black and white striped form of Udinese Calcio.

 

After a struggling start, the Zebrette, under the influence of experienced manager Francesco Guidolin refined a 3-5 2 tactic that took Serie A by storm.

 

With the right blend of personnel, including new Barca man Alexi Sanchez and midfield anchor Gokhan Inler (also now left to Napoli), the Stadio Friuli club managed to swing in to some of their best form since their 1896 beginnings.

 

The key to their success, besides the exploits of Antonio Di Natale up front, was their fluidity and width. They managed to regularly dominate teams through sheer numbers in each 3^rd of the field.  Having two wingbacks allowed Udinese to go up against better teams and match them.

 

The beauty of the 3-5-2 formation is its simplicity. Through the centre of the pitch a strong spine must be deployed. Any wandering out of position when defending could spell disaster; after all you’re only as strong as your weakest link.

 

The theory behind the midfield three, when attacking, will always permit two midfielders to join the two strikers in attack while one holds. With the wingbacks free to raid forward, the system becomes an almost 3-1-4-2 which offers excellent opportunity for crossing and cutting in, if that’s your cup of tea.

 

For Udinese, Mauricio Isla and Pablo Armero regularly contributed in both defensive and attacking moves. Pace, stamina and technique is essential for the wingback if this formation is to be successful.

 

The excellent website Zonal Marking have illustrated an Udinese victory over the supposedly superior Inter Milan which can be found here. This win, one of many over-performances by the ancient Italian club shows how Guidolin manages a free-flowing, flexible team that exploits everything that is good about 3-5-2 and wingback play.

 

Udinese are not alone however, more and more teams, many ranked as underdogs are deploying 3-5-2. In the next part, Footie Crisis will take a look at Uruguay, and where 3-5-2 goes from here.

 

By Chris Severs.

 

 

Rants, revelations and the rapture.

Those of you who believe in magic, witchcraft and biblical things will be well aware that tomorrow is the day of ‘The Rapture’.

A day of epic proportions when God, or some other benign force drops down and takes everyone who believed in something some other place, leaving the rest of us on Earth.

That’s right, we get the place to ourselves and this concept drops nicely into my fantasy of a sensible game of football.

Football is a crystal clear mirror of the world. What happens in the world as far as sociology goes, is reflected in the manic world of football.

An obsession with image, character and money lends credence to the ‘he who shouts loudest wins’ mechanism that keeps football turning over.

Internet sites, terraces, bars, clubs, schools, work places and taxi cabs are crammed to the brim of people with an opinion on football that makes you want to tear your hair out.

The reason isn’t because you disagree; disagreement is one of the most appealing parts of football.  The reason is because the other person is simply shouting his opinion. You can debate, argue and hold opinion on any subject and believe that whether you’re proved right or wrong, things will change, as long as you do it with what can be described as a footballing brain.

This is what I want to promote on Footie Crisis, but I don’t want it to be a reflection of the game: that loud, abusive place full of ranting, media hype, terrible punditry and exclamation marks.

Footie Crisis will be, as the sub heading suggests, a haven for the rational football mind. It won’t be perfect, it won’t be always right (if ever) but it will not be a site of ‘TOP TEN BEST EVER SIGNINGS” and “WAG WEEKLY’S”.

Footie Crisis is an answer to all the nonsense that surrounds football.

This site will enjoy the intricate details of football that are skewed by the likes of Sky Sports News and 5-Live.

Tactics, signings, psychology, finances, skill are all on the list of Footie Crisis. If you want to contribute, and you’ve got anything to say about any team in the world, then email footiecrisis@gmail.com. 

Enjoy!

Chris