Not playing with any striker against Utd would be madness imo.
United (A)
- Thread starter Brizzle
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Yes, well you'd hope that he was included on the bench. Apart from impressing on the pitch in recent reserve games, it's also, surely, a decent gamble to boost a team low on confidence by bringing in a kid who is confident, untainted by failure and eager to make a mark. When the team gets in a rut like this, each player becomes a mirror of the other's fear and frustration. Bring in someone who's bright and bubbly and positive.
I'd play Sterling upfront alongside Lambert, with Lallana in behind.
Lallana can hold the ball up & play it quickly when needs be, Lambert can at least hold it up well, & Sterling's pace should trouble them no end.
The problem would be whether Sterling can play that high up without dropping deep so often. Not having Sterling playing as an AM could also be an issue, but as his current form means that his passing is suffering I think using his pace & trickery up top may be a better use of his talents.
We could get all hysterical about not playing a striker, just because it sounds awfuland no doubt some folk are itching to be apoplectic about anything, but if you think about it and our situation/circumstances - it's not really that horrendous an idea.
Rodgers will clearly want to play on the counter for several reasons; It's the only way we're any good, it allows us to sit deep and keep it tight, and United have been ripped open by everyone from Swansea to Leicester to Leeds (?) this season by teams that sit deep and break in numbers. United have no recognised DM, and their full-backs leave enormous gaps. Plus, I don;t rate their CB pairings at all.
So, why not drop a Lambert type, and go with pace all across the front line? I'd imagine he wants Markovic-Sterling-Hendo, or some variation of it - all of whom can break quickly, arrive in the box late, and can carry the ball deep.
Playing Lambert there would only stifle that, and slow us down. He likes to play towards our goal, the others play better going at De Gea. There’s some sense to this.
I’m not suggesting it’s going to work, but I don’t mind the thinking.
Rodgers will clearly want to play on the counter for several reasons; It's the only way we're any good, it allows us to sit deep and keep it tight, and United have been ripped open by everyone from Swansea to Leicester to Leeds (?) this season by teams that sit deep and break in numbers. United have no recognised DM, and their full-backs leave enormous gaps. Plus, I don;t rate their CB pairings at all.
So, why not drop a Lambert type, and go with pace all across the front line? I'd imagine he wants Markovic-Sterling-Hendo, or some variation of it - all of whom can break quickly, arrive in the box late, and can carry the ball deep.
Playing Lambert there would only stifle that, and slow us down. He likes to play towards our goal, the others play better going at De Gea. There’s some sense to this.
I’m not suggesting it’s going to work, but I don’t mind the thinking.
Maybe Bournemouth, in the cup, is the game to give him a start?
Yeah, I think the Jones rumours are bs aswell.
I'm really pessimisstic about this game. Cant see anything but a loss, so I wont post to much I think.
If he selects the right team instead of the "safe" option - I'll be more positive
Markovic has to start imho.
I'm really pessimisstic about this game. Cant see anything but a loss, so I wont post to much I think.
If he selects the right team instead of the "safe" option - I'll be more positive
Markovic has to start imho.
I wouldn't. I'd use him as a sub. But I think even having a couple of good youngsters in the squad might help morale. At the moment we're just reshuffling melancholics.
This.
Great hubby you are or will be.
Carrick has done a very good job for them in that position though shielding the back four and linking with their AM's/Forwards and also falling back in defence when needed. I watched their game against the Saints until Van Persie scored, and until that time Carrick was very impressive. It's no coincidence that their recent unbeaten run began since he's been back in the team.
Whilst their forwards are their main weapons, IMO we need to do a job on Carrick today much like what a lot of teams have done against Stevie this season.
Don't disagree at all - and I do find it strange he hasn't at least stuck the odd kid on the bench.
Agreed Macca, though I think we could use the same argument for throwing in Markovic, he's looked bright of late and he's a bit of an unknown quantity.
As for Lambert and Sterling, we've tried it a few times now and it's not really come off, as Ryan said, we're better on the front foot going at teams, than trying to build patiently through a "back to goal" centre forward. We don't have a recognised goalscorer, so playing an unorthodox front three of attacking midfielders who can interchange, might cause them a headache or two.
I hope he doesn't carry on with this bollocks of trying to be too clever, as soon as your lineups start being dictated to by the opposition, you're fucked
Switch Sterling and Markovic in that .... both are then in, or close to, their favoured positions.
I saw Toure was back in training .. is he fit to start though ?
Me too.
The alternative is that Rodgers really is making inexplicable decisions under pressure. Mignolet's just had 3 of his best 4 games of the season.
yep, might be bottling it.
Right, I've been defending Markovic and supporting him as much as anyone and more than most. That said, he's produced about 25 minutes of reasonable football for us all season and people think that's enough to suddenly start against the manc's?
He should be on the bench and I'd like to see him play but Lallana should certainly be starting ahead of him.
He should be on the bench and I'd like to see him play but Lallana should certainly be starting ahead of him.
Yep I'm with you on Lallana.
But we've seen all season long that we struggle to play our way out of trouble / through teams. What we've really missed is pace and the ability to get in behind sides. That's why Sterling has been so important for us and why Markovic has been such a big miss.
I doubt Markovic would be in anyones side if Sturridge was fit but with the forward options we have available to us it makes a lot of sense opting for someone who can give us an outlet.
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