I agree with some of that Bart. Still, it is what it is and Gerrard, Henderson and Lucas looks more average by each game that pass. No top-50 team in Europe play 3-5-2/5-3-2 so why persist when we so obviously lack the squad?
I'd say the root problem for us in that game is his indecisiveness over
the two centre backs (something we've pointed to on here).
You add in the injuries/sicknesses Enrique/Johnson, lack of cover at RB &
surprising inclusions Flanagan (came out of nowhere, that one - throw him in
away at the Emirates?) & we started with:
X Toure/Skrtel/Sakho X
Flanagan Lucas Cissokho
Henderson Gerrrard
Sturridge Suarez
In the first minute of the commentary Lee Dixon pointed to the
space where the Xs are with that formation. I still feel that it's a
question of clear roles in defence, who does what & it's just too
easy with all those defensively minded players on the pitch to
leave picking up an extra man to someone else or even more
simply the players asking where should I be right now?
Then you look at who's organising these 6 defenders on the pitch?
What I see is a horrid transfer of this notion of fluidity and
interchanging roles that Rodgers has in the final third to defense!
Defense is completely different, it's all about structure, organisation and roles
2 proper CBs, a defensive midfielder and 2 fullbacks should be enough.
Lots of these things get sorted out naturally when you have the right combination
of 2 centre backs & a decent defensive midfielder (which we have in Lucas).
Anyway, then you look at the two guys who've been selected as the high wing backs
& you get these dreaded attenders/defackers, players who do neither well. Hence as
Bart pointed out the 2 strikers are starved of the ball in the first half & there's confusion
at the back.
I think we may have started the game decently, but as the half wore it became apparent
that we lacked any control of the game.
We finished the game with:
Henderson Toure/Skrtel Sakho?
Lucas/Gerrard
Moses Coutinho
Sturridge Suarez
Granted we were actually able to create some chances but the game was
over at this point - Just seems a mess to me (with all the focus on over 80% of
our goals been scored by 2 players, the team as a whole wasn't ready for the
demands of a big game away).
The only other point I'd make is, there didn't seem to be the appetite for a big
game - a lack of sharpness that comes with regularly playing in the CL maybe?
Lucas was dreadfully ponderous in possession imo.
People will talk about injuries but by my estimation Arsenal were missing
Wilshere/Ox/Flamini/Walcott, so best to take our medicine and go back to
beating the league's canon fodder at home.