There has been something missing from Klopp’s most impressive results so far
this season. His team have gone to Chelsea, City and Southampton and won with a
collective score line of 13-3. The problem the German has, is that his £32.5m
striker started none of those matches. In all of those games Liverpool
pressed from the front and put the opposition on the back foot, forcing them
into errors which they would then exploit. Despite playing against the worst
defence in the league yesterday, Benteke was unable to do the same and
Liverpool lost the momentum and ultimately the match. The simple fact is that
Benteke is not a player who currently fits into Liverpool’s system. He is a
wonderful plan B, as he proved from coming off the bench in two of the above
games and getting in amongst the goals once the opposition was worn down by the
high intensity opening hour. But £32.5m seems like a lot for a plan B. Klopp’s
reign at Anfield has started impressively, but he has a similar problem to Van
Gaal at United, in that his team are set up to play better against the bigger
sides. Although that said, at least Liverpool can say they have a plan B, unlike
say Chelsea. And when they do click, they actually score goals, unlike United.
Jose has ran out of
ideas
Things have gone from bad, to worse, to catastrophic for Jose Mourinho. Beaten at home by newly promoted Bournemouth, themselves on a terrible run of form and not even being able to score against them represented a new low in a season of near permanent troughs. The problem for Chelsea and their manager is that like many managers in the supposed greatest league in Europe, they have no discernible plan B. Jose sets his team up in a 4-2-3-1 and has done so for around 6 years – a slight variation on the initial 4-3-3 that proved so successful during the first two years of his Chelsea reign. This formation relies on several factions working properly, not least the double pivot which has gone badly awry this season. Indeed, the form of Matic and Fabregas has tailed off almost every month since January. But despite their ailing efforts, the key man in such a system remains the 1 up top. He has to be fit, mobile and work hard to create space for the rest of the team. So far this season, Diego Costa has done none of that and is even missing the chances he is getting to boot. He has picked more fights than scored goals and his general presence seems to be distracting the entire team. Why not change formation Jose? Why not give Costa a strike partner for a couple of games and give Oscar a rest from his near terminal decline? Ultimately there is only one way under Jose. It normally works and works well, but when it doesn’t (see the player of the year now not having scored in a preposterous 25 games) he has no idea what to do. Over at Arsenal, Wenger has the same problem. It’s 4-3-3 every week, regardless of the opposition with a high defensive line and a total reliance on a single holding player to keep out the advancing midfield. City likewise and the list could go on to include Southampton and Spurs. At least Van Gaal is fluid with his formations, being able to switch seamlessly from one system to the next. All utterly incapable as each other of ever, ever scoring a goal…
Things have gone from bad, to worse, to catastrophic for Jose Mourinho. Beaten at home by newly promoted Bournemouth, themselves on a terrible run of form and not even being able to score against them represented a new low in a season of near permanent troughs. The problem for Chelsea and their manager is that like many managers in the supposed greatest league in Europe, they have no discernible plan B. Jose sets his team up in a 4-2-3-1 and has done so for around 6 years – a slight variation on the initial 4-3-3 that proved so successful during the first two years of his Chelsea reign. This formation relies on several factions working properly, not least the double pivot which has gone badly awry this season. Indeed, the form of Matic and Fabregas has tailed off almost every month since January. But despite their ailing efforts, the key man in such a system remains the 1 up top. He has to be fit, mobile and work hard to create space for the rest of the team. So far this season, Diego Costa has done none of that and is even missing the chances he is getting to boot. He has picked more fights than scored goals and his general presence seems to be distracting the entire team. Why not change formation Jose? Why not give Costa a strike partner for a couple of games and give Oscar a rest from his near terminal decline? Ultimately there is only one way under Jose. It normally works and works well, but when it doesn’t (see the player of the year now not having scored in a preposterous 25 games) he has no idea what to do. Over at Arsenal, Wenger has the same problem. It’s 4-3-3 every week, regardless of the opposition with a high defensive line and a total reliance on a single holding player to keep out the advancing midfield. City likewise and the list could go on to include Southampton and Spurs. At least Van Gaal is fluid with his formations, being able to switch seamlessly from one system to the next. All utterly incapable as each other of ever, ever scoring a goal…
Stoke have finally
shed the coat of Pulis
If the money pumped into the Premier League has done anything, it is to bulk up the front lines of numerous mid-table teams to make them more competitive in matches against the bigger sides. Indeed, such is the apparent random nature of the top flight, it’s not even a surprise anymore that we can go through a game week with Manchester City, United, Chelsea and Liverpool not winning… or indeed even scoring a goal. Stoke fans would have laughed at you if you told them a couple of years ago they’d be ripping apart Manchester City with a front four of Bojan, Shaqiri, Arnautovic and Affelay. Players who were at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan when Tony Pulis was still in charge of the Potters. Slowly but surely though, Mark Hughes has turned around this side and is now doing the most impressive job of his career. Stoke now keep clean sheets and score goals… and great goals at that. The pass from Shaqiri for Arnautovic’s second was so sexual you could have made love to it a thousand times. In the most open of open Premier League seasons, Stoke fans have plenty of reasons to be thankful this Christmas.
If the money pumped into the Premier League has done anything, it is to bulk up the front lines of numerous mid-table teams to make them more competitive in matches against the bigger sides. Indeed, such is the apparent random nature of the top flight, it’s not even a surprise anymore that we can go through a game week with Manchester City, United, Chelsea and Liverpool not winning… or indeed even scoring a goal. Stoke fans would have laughed at you if you told them a couple of years ago they’d be ripping apart Manchester City with a front four of Bojan, Shaqiri, Arnautovic and Affelay. Players who were at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan when Tony Pulis was still in charge of the Potters. Slowly but surely though, Mark Hughes has turned around this side and is now doing the most impressive job of his career. Stoke now keep clean sheets and score goals… and great goals at that. The pass from Shaqiri for Arnautovic’s second was so sexual you could have made love to it a thousand times. In the most open of open Premier League seasons, Stoke fans have plenty of reasons to be thankful this Christmas.
Gary Monk is in
trouble
One win in eleven and in near freefall following their impressive start to the season, Gary Monk is another manager falling fowl of the lack of plan B syndrome that is sweeping our game. Swansea have moved seamlessly between managers over several years, maintaining their attractive passing game throughout. This is the first time though, that the system has badly gone off the rails. Swansea still see plenty of the ball, 60% of it this Saturday, but they are not being anywhere near penetrative enough with it and key players are not performing as they were earlier in the season. Monk is an affable manager who hasn’t suddenly become bad at his job, but he looks faintly clueless as to how to arrest such a shocking decline in form. Managers do not get the support they used to; indeed it’s not exaggerating to say most clubs would have sacked both Mourinho and Monk by now, so they arguably need to be more tactically fluid than ever to keep ahead of the curve. If Monk does go, he will be another in a long line of managers who had one system which worked very well, only to find themselves on the unemployment list as soon it was broken.
One win in eleven and in near freefall following their impressive start to the season, Gary Monk is another manager falling fowl of the lack of plan B syndrome that is sweeping our game. Swansea have moved seamlessly between managers over several years, maintaining their attractive passing game throughout. This is the first time though, that the system has badly gone off the rails. Swansea still see plenty of the ball, 60% of it this Saturday, but they are not being anywhere near penetrative enough with it and key players are not performing as they were earlier in the season. Monk is an affable manager who hasn’t suddenly become bad at his job, but he looks faintly clueless as to how to arrest such a shocking decline in form. Managers do not get the support they used to; indeed it’s not exaggerating to say most clubs would have sacked both Mourinho and Monk by now, so they arguably need to be more tactically fluid than ever to keep ahead of the curve. If Monk does go, he will be another in a long line of managers who had one system which worked very well, only to find themselves on the unemployment list as soon it was broken.
Riyad Mahrez is
legitimately the best player in Europe
A couple of weeks ago a report by CIES (think Opta, but even more geeky) ranked Riyad Mahrez as the second best offensive player in Europe’s five major leagues. This was done on a combination of shooting, chance creation, dribbling, distribution, recovery and rigour. Only Robert Lewandowksi ranked above him. On Opta’s own list, based on similar factors but with a greater emphasis on attacking forays, only Neymar sat above him. As of Sunday afternoon, nobody was above him on either list. No midfielder (Mahrez has started at right wing in a 4-4-1-1 for over 80% of his matches this season) is even close to him. He could sit his ass on the turf for five matches solid and do nothing and he’d still be above them. That seems unlikely though… Mahrez is one of the busiest players in the league and it is he, rather than Jamie Vardy, who is the creative hub in the team sitting proudly at the top of the table. The Algerian has scored 13 and assisted 8 more in 20 games for club and country this season. An extraordinary output considering the teams he plays for and his position out on the wing. He is close to unplayable on his day, combining the vision of Silva with the distribution of Ozil and the finishing of… well… statistically, Robert Lewandowksi. Mahrez is just 24 and the tragic thing is that Leicester have absolutely no chance of keeping him past the summer. For that reason alone, one hopes he and his club continue this Cinderella story to its conclusion. In a league littered with bloated wages and big clubs floundering, Leicester are the little kid at the top table who just keeps on eating. Frankly, long may it continue.
A couple of weeks ago a report by CIES (think Opta, but even more geeky) ranked Riyad Mahrez as the second best offensive player in Europe’s five major leagues. This was done on a combination of shooting, chance creation, dribbling, distribution, recovery and rigour. Only Robert Lewandowksi ranked above him. On Opta’s own list, based on similar factors but with a greater emphasis on attacking forays, only Neymar sat above him. As of Sunday afternoon, nobody was above him on either list. No midfielder (Mahrez has started at right wing in a 4-4-1-1 for over 80% of his matches this season) is even close to him. He could sit his ass on the turf for five matches solid and do nothing and he’d still be above them. That seems unlikely though… Mahrez is one of the busiest players in the league and it is he, rather than Jamie Vardy, who is the creative hub in the team sitting proudly at the top of the table. The Algerian has scored 13 and assisted 8 more in 20 games for club and country this season. An extraordinary output considering the teams he plays for and his position out on the wing. He is close to unplayable on his day, combining the vision of Silva with the distribution of Ozil and the finishing of… well… statistically, Robert Lewandowksi. Mahrez is just 24 and the tragic thing is that Leicester have absolutely no chance of keeping him past the summer. For that reason alone, one hopes he and his club continue this Cinderella story to its conclusion. In a league littered with bloated wages and big clubs floundering, Leicester are the little kid at the top table who just keeps on eating. Frankly, long may it continue.
Team of the Weak
Courtois – Thrust back into the action following injury Courtois never looked fully comfortable this weekend and was ultimately at fault for the decisive winning goal
Ivanovic – It’s not entirely clear why Ivanovic is still getting games for Chelsea. Azpi on the right, Baba on the left. It’s not hard Jose
Skrtel – A typically sketchy display by Skrtel resulting in an own goal and a defeat
Williams – Swansea’s captain needs to channel the performances he has given for his country to dig his club side out of this rut
Demichelis – Another woeful defensive display from City when Kompany wasn’t on the pitch. Demichelis wandered around like he was off to collect his pension from the post office
Delph – It’s been an indifferent, injury ravaged start to his City career and Delph needs to play better than this to get in the Euro 2016 squad and not leave many questioning the wisdom (cough greed) of his summer move
Fellaini – The Belgian did not play badly on Saturday, but his selection was indicative of the pragmatism under Van Gaal. When will the Dutchman take the handbrake of his team and give his faster, attacking players room to breathe?
Sterling – Horseshit. The guy’s transfer fee is an absolute fucking disgrace (I’d been quite mild mannered this week as well…)
Mane – When Mane & Pelle fail, so do Southampton. They are woefully reliant on the two players to create the spark to break down opposition sides and if either of them don’t turn up, they tend to crash and burn like they did on Saturday
Benteke – Arsenal. Arsenal was where you should have gone Christian
The Norwich City Strike Force – Jerome, Mbokani and Grabban have played for over 1400 minutes this season and scored 5 goals. A rate of one every 4.8 hours. For a team who often attack with wild abandon, that is garbage.
Courtois – Thrust back into the action following injury Courtois never looked fully comfortable this weekend and was ultimately at fault for the decisive winning goal
Ivanovic – It’s not entirely clear why Ivanovic is still getting games for Chelsea. Azpi on the right, Baba on the left. It’s not hard Jose
Skrtel – A typically sketchy display by Skrtel resulting in an own goal and a defeat
Williams – Swansea’s captain needs to channel the performances he has given for his country to dig his club side out of this rut
Demichelis – Another woeful defensive display from City when Kompany wasn’t on the pitch. Demichelis wandered around like he was off to collect his pension from the post office
Delph – It’s been an indifferent, injury ravaged start to his City career and Delph needs to play better than this to get in the Euro 2016 squad and not leave many questioning the wisdom (cough greed) of his summer move
Fellaini – The Belgian did not play badly on Saturday, but his selection was indicative of the pragmatism under Van Gaal. When will the Dutchman take the handbrake of his team and give his faster, attacking players room to breathe?
Sterling – Horseshit. The guy’s transfer fee is an absolute fucking disgrace (I’d been quite mild mannered this week as well…)
Mane – When Mane & Pelle fail, so do Southampton. They are woefully reliant on the two players to create the spark to break down opposition sides and if either of them don’t turn up, they tend to crash and burn like they did on Saturday
Benteke – Arsenal. Arsenal was where you should have gone Christian
The Norwich City Strike Force – Jerome, Mbokani and Grabban have played for over 1400 minutes this season and scored 5 goals. A rate of one every 4.8 hours. For a team who often attack with wild abandon, that is garbage.
What you may have missed
David Silva returning from injury and being played off the park by Glen Whelan, who remains perhaps the most underappreciated player in the history of the entire Premier League; Arsenal fielding 5 (five) English players during their win over Sunderland; the entirety of the apparent football match at Old Trafford; Deeney and Ighalo continuing the league’s best double act; and Tony Pulis grinding out a draw vs Spurs and showing all the Stoke fans what they’re now missing.
David Silva returning from injury and being played off the park by Glen Whelan, who remains perhaps the most underappreciated player in the history of the entire Premier League; Arsenal fielding 5 (five) English players during their win over Sunderland; the entirety of the apparent football match at Old Trafford; Deeney and Ighalo continuing the league’s best double act; and Tony Pulis grinding out a draw vs Spurs and showing all the Stoke fans what they’re now missing.
Nothing. They’re missing
nothing Tony.
Just like at Old
Trafford.
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