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How do we sort the attack for next season?

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keniget

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The attack, for me, is the most frustrating part of our squad because whilst we've managed to bring in some talented players (at huge expense), there seems to be no obvious way to build a consistent and balanced attack that gets the best out of everyone.

We've been playing one up top for most of the last two seasons but Sturridge, our best striker and player when fit, isn't really suited to playing as an out and out number 9.

It feel like there is a huge decision to make here. Do we build around him or not? Or maybe there is some neat solution that I'm missing?

Elsewhere, we've got the Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho dilemma. It's all too one paced and samey with all three in the side. We desperately need something different in the side - namely pace.

Coutinho is still effective playing deeper in midfield so what do we do with the 50-60M pair of Firmino and Lallana? Rotation?
 
Origi is best suited to Klopps game so it will be interesting to see who is favoured when fit.

There's a possibility between a partnership between Origi and Sturridge. Origi can press, look to break offside trap and work the channels. Sturridge naturally drops deeper, looks to get involved from midfield and be involved in the link up play and provide bit of quality in the final third. I can't see Klopp favouring a 2 striker set-up, though. Firmino can compete with Sturridge for the second striker position.

The midfield needs width as well as pace. Someone who can take the ball on the outside, has some tricks and isn't completely predictable.

If we are saying Coutinho is automatic starter than it's best this pacey, wide player players on the right hand side.

To complicate maters further, Gotze looks like more of the same in terms of floaty AM's. Surely one of Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino needs to go if he arrives.
 
I'm not sure Coutinho is an undisputed automatic starter in the team next season, particularly if Gotze arrives. For me his status in the team has took a tumble after that awful final performance (what was it, 28 total passes and zero dribbles in 90 minutes? Talk about hiding on the pitch...) and now I think of him as one of the several talented, but inconsistent attackers we have, rather than a leader and playmaker. Until he proves otherwise, I think that's how he should be treated.
 
Our attack is not our weakness.

It's glaringly obvious that unless we sort out our defensive side of our game, we'll never go far. Our GK, the hapless back four, the shield behind the back four. Sort those clowns out first.
 
Our attack is not our weakness.

It's glaringly obvious that unless we sort out our defensive side of our game, we'll never go far. Our GK, the hapless back four, the shield behind the back four. Sort those clowns out first.

I agree. The attacks start from the back. We had some excellent attacking players against Sevilla but they got almost no help at all so not much they can do. Our weakness is that we don't have enough team players and we don't have enough players with good game intelligence.

In short, some of our players are almost brainless on the pitch. I would say that that is a problem.
 
It is a team game. The defense is a part of our attack and our attack is a part of our defense.

No problem. Put forward your view of our attacking line-up in the context of the wider team.
 
No problem. Put forward your view of our attacking line-up in the context of the wider team.

A new keeper with good game intelligence would be a good start. One that can start quick attacks. Central defenders that also have good game intelligence and is comfortable with the ball in tight situations. Fullbacks that is excellent in the attacking half and have the brain to decide when to attack. Moreno is excellent in attack, the best fullback in the PL in the attacking half but he don't have game intelligence enough to decide when to attack when to stay back.

A Xabi like holding mid. A Masch like defensive mid.

A new striker with good game intelligence. Sturridge don't have that.
 
I'd like to see Sturridge and Origi play together so I guess that would mean two wide/support/floaty types. And I'd like to think we're going to buy someone new to add to the mix, preferably with a bit of pace and trickery.
Sturridge just off Origi with Ings to add the mix and Firmino to throw in. With any 2 permed from Firmino, Coutinho, Lallana, Ibe, new person for the other role.
 
A new keeper with good game intelligence would be a good start. One that can start quick attacks. Central defenders that also have good game intelligence and is comfortable with the ball in tight situations. Fullbacks that is excellent in the attacking half and have the brain to decide when to attack. Moreno is excellent in attack, the best fullback in the PL in the attacking half but he don't have game intelligence enough to decide when to attack when to stay back.

A Xabi like holding mid. A Masch like defensive mid.

A new striker with good game intelligence. Sturridge don't have that.

That's sounding suspiciously like a new team.

What about players in the wide positions. Do you stick or twist?
 
We're really missing some pace in attack. No coincidence that we look much more dangerous with Origis movement and pace.
Getting a pacey winger/forward is surely high on Klopps list.
Shame Dembele went to Dortmund.
 
Our attack is not our weakness.

It's glaringly obvious that unless we sort out our defensive side of our game, we'll never go far. Our GK, the hapless back four, the shield behind the back four. Sort those clowns out first.

It's not a weakness but it's quite clearly not good enough. There's been too many matches where we dominated the ball and got into very good positions but only to mess up with the pass selection, the pass or the finishing and squander the opportunity. The first half on Wednesday is the latest example of that. Being only 1 goal up wasn't good enough for the dominance that we had.

Sturridge seems to have lost his pace and without it, he's not the same player as he was two years ago. So Origi lead the line for me with Sturridge dropping back into a deeper role. He was always better with a partner anyway.
 
I think looking at Ancelotti's model for the 2009-10 Chelsea team would be a good idea.

Lots of tactical flexibility in that team - could run a 4-3-3, a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-4-2 diamond.


Drogba was obviously the centerpiece who could lead the attack as either a pivot or a battering ram. Anelka the slightly withdrawn support striker. Deco and Joe Cole as two floaty AMs. And Malouda and Kalou as wide forwards.

You replicate that with Origi in place of Drogba. Sturridge in place of Anelka. Coutinho/Lallana/Firmino in place of Deco and Cole.

You'll need to add at least one quality wide forward though.

The basic formations can be something like this:

4-4-2 (diamond)

-------------Origi
----------------------Sturridge
------------Coutinho


4-3-3

------Coutinho---Origi---Lallana/new WF


4-2-3-1

------------------Origi
--Coutinho---Firmino---Lallana/new WF
 
We should no doubt splash pretty much all of the cash on a keeper, a fullback, a centre back and a midfielder.

It's about taking chances, we can absolutely take a chance on Studge, Origi, Firmino to start for us next season so replacing them is pointless.

Those we cannot under any circumstance take a chance on are Mignolet, Moreno, Toure\Sakho\Skrtel and our current CM situation.

It's pretty simple, once we replace all of those, if any cash remain, only then think of the attack. If not, we should take a chance with what we have.
 
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