SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2010
NEWCASTLE: Defensive incompetence is to blame, *not* Roy Hodgson
After yesterday’s defeat to Newcastle, Liverpool fans are back to doing what they’ve done best this season: revelling in doom, gloom and crushing negativity. So-called Liverpool fan-sites have renewed their rabid calls for Roy Hodgson to be sacked, and the so-called fans that frequent these sites have been falling over themselves to join the overwrought chorus of disapproval. Apparently, the Newcastle defeat is the end of the world. Well, I beg to differ.
First, let me get one thing straight: Liverpool lost, and the buck stops with Hodgson. He picks the team; he chooses the tactics, and he is responsible for motivating the players. However, Liverpool did NOT lose this game because of Hodgson. He *is* responsible overall, but he is not to blame. There is a difference.
Whether people choose to accept it or not, two things cost Liverpool victories in the last two Premier League away games: defensive incompetence and atrocious finishing, both of which are things upon which the manager has no direct influence.
Defensive incompetence
I thought Glenn Johnson was Liverpool’s biggest defensive liability but I was wrong: it is Martin Skrtel. In my view, he should be banished to the reserves for the breathtaking awfulness of his performance against Newcastle. Skrtel made mistakes all game but two of his lapses were catastrophic and ultimately fatal for the team.
The first was just laughable. For some reason, Skrtel – who has the heading ability of a blind dwarf - was marking Andy Carroll for a Newcastle free kick. Joey Barton actually signalled Carroll prior to taking the kick to let him know what he was planning (!), but despite this, Skrtel completely missed the header, and Carroll got the knock-down that led to the goal.
Skrtel’s mistakes intensified after Newcastle’s Nile Ranger came on. He was all over the place, and his uncertainty destabilised the defence, which led inexorably to the second goal. Another simple headed clearance was required, and Skrtel completely messed it up yet again.
Tell me this: How can Hodgson be held accountable for such amateur individual mistakes?! The way the team was set-up and the tactics employed did NOT contribute to those mistakes (though kneejerk, ill-informed fans with an agenda will try their best to argue the opposite).
And what about the third goal? Utter defensive ineptitude again. As soon as Carroll got the ball, Lucas should have been closing him down. He failed to do this, and Carroll seized the opportunity to shoot. And should Pepe Reina be beaten from that distance with so much time to see the ball coming? No top keeper should be beaten on the ground from that distance IMO.
Again, how can Hodgson be held accountable for the third goal? He is entitled to expect Lucas to do his job and close down Carroll. It was another individual mistake (two if you count Reina’s abject attempt at a save), and there’s nothing Hodgson could’ve done about it.
And let’s not forget the defensive mistakes that cost us the Spurs game. Skrtel scored a ridiculous own goal, and then Paul Konchesky lost concentration at the death and allowed Aaron Lennon to ghost past him and score the winner (Konchesky's only real defensive lapse for the whole game).
The key point here is this: the goals conceded in both games had NOTHING to do with Hodgson’s formation, tactics and approach. Individual errors cost Liverpool, and any fair-minded person can see that.
Not that it will make a blind bit of difference to baying buffoons once again calling for Hodgson’s head.
I’ll give you an example of the pig-headed unreasonableness of the anti-Hodgson brigade: after the game, someone said to me ‘Hodgson is to blame. He picked the defenders, didn’t he?’.
The mind boggling cretinry of such a statement is truly staggering. Who else is Hodgson going to pick in central defence?! Carragher and Agger are both injured; Wilson and Kelly have negligible Premier League experience. It’s too stupid for words, and another example of how people will just pick on anything they can to have a go at Hodgson.
Atrocious finishing
Liverpool could’ve wrapped up both the Spurs and Newcastle games if the finishing had been better. Amongst others, Fernando Torres, Maxi Rodrigues wasted numerous gilt-edged chances that could’ve put Liverpool in the driving seat in both games. There is nothing Hodgson can do if alleged top-class players don’t do what they’re paid to do and bury cast-iron chances.
Some other observations:
Another good away performance
Overall, Liverpool played very well in the game. The passing was generally good, and lots of clear-cut chances were created. We dominated for most of the first half, and for the first 15-20 minutes of the second half. The match stats also reflect this:
Possession - LFC 53% / NUFC 47%
Shots on target - LFC 7 / NUFC 5
Corners – LFC 5 / NUFC 2
At White Hart Lane, possession was 49% - 51% in Spurs’ favour, which is very evenly matched. Liverpool is turning the tide when it comes to away form, and stats as well as the performances show this. If the team keeps playing this way and improving, the results will follow.
Lack of leadership on the field
One of the main problems with Liverpool’s away form (IMO) is the total lack of leadership on the field. A prime example of this came after Newcastle’s Ranger came on as a sub. Up to that point, Liverpool were dominating the second half, but Ranger’s pace and directness started causing problems. None of Liverpool’s players were talking to each other; no one was giving directions; no one was taking the initiative and the responsibility on the field, and that is a major problem.
The same lack of leadership was evident for the first and third Newcastle goals: No one took charge of organising the defence for the free kick; players just assumed positions and weren’t concentrating. And even though Barton’s intentions were very obviously telegraphed (!), none of Liverpool’s players were alert to the danger. Similarly, prior to the third goal, no one was yelling at Lucas to close down Carroll; everyone just stood there and ball-watched.
The lack of leadership is no surprise given the fact that Liverpool’s two main leaders were out injured. However, that is no excuse. Leadership on the field is a collective responsibility, and in the absence of Gerrard and Carragher, others have to step up and take responsibility. Hodgson cannot influence every aspect of the game, and if his players lose concentration and make individual mistakes, there’s nothing he can do about it.
Poor Torres form
Torres had a nightmare game. He repeatedly failed to hold up the ball; gave possession away countless times, and missed a couple of excellent chances. It was another poor performance from a player whose mind is clearly elsewhere.
Torres may have been tired after dealing with a newborn baby over the previous few days, so there’s an argument to say that Hodgson should’ve had him on the bench. However, if Hodgson had done that then fans would’ve berated him even more (“How can you leave a world class player like Torres on the bench?!), so it’s a no-win situation.
Dropping Babel after he scored in the last game
I thought Hodgson was wrong to drop Babel to the bench after his excellent performance against Villa. He scored a goal, and his reward is being dumped on the bench? Rafa Benitez made the same mistake countless times, and it’s not the best way to motivate a player.
Having said that, with Torres returning, who would Hodgson have dropped to accommodate Babel? Maxi and N’Gog both scored in the last game too, so by the same reasoning, it would be unfair to drop them. Additionally, N’Gog has a record of 8 goals and 1 assist in 12 starts this season, and Maxi has scored in 3 of the last 4 Premier League victories.
Dirk Kuyt was the obvious player to make way, but he ended up scoring a goal, which kind of justified his inclusion.
Late N'Gog substitution?
I've heard fans argue that Babel should've been brought on for N'Gog earlier. This makes no sense at all:
* Babel came on in the 70th minute; until the 65th minute (approximately), Liverpool were in the ascendancy.
* N'Gog was not playing badly, so removing him after, say, 55-60 minutes would have been undeserved, and possibly detrimental to his confidence.
Hoofball
At times during the game, Liverpool’s players resorted to hoofing it forwards aimlessly, losing the ball countless times in the process. After the defensive incompetence, this was the most irritating thing for me. I lost count of the number of times the ball was given away as a result.
I sincerely doubt Hodgson tells the players to hoof it forwards; why would he? The team is not tactically set-up to benefit from such an approach (i.e. no target man); it’s just another case of old habits and laziness creeping in, and a lack of individual footballing intelligence from the likes of Skrtel, Kyrgiakos and Reina, who gave the ball away many times with his aimless hoofs up the field.
Meirelles
Raul Meirelles had a fantastic game. He rarely misplaced a pass, and quickly moved the pall around with intelligent short-passing. I really enjoyed watching him play - he looks so comfortable on the ball, and I'm sure he will be a great asset for Liverpool in the years to come.
Ultimately, Hodgson sent the team out to win the game, and the stats show that Liverpool had the best of the game. Individual mistakes and bad luck cost Liverpool the points, not Hodgson.
If Hodgson IS to blame for the Newcastle defeat, please explain WHY with specific examples in the comments below (i.e. how his tactics/formation/approach had a direct impact on the loss).
As I said prior to the game, defeat to Newcastle would be unacceptable, and it is unacceptable, mainly because it was game that Liverpool could and should have won. However, defeat is not the end of the world; it suits those with anti-Hodgson agenda to paint it that way but there is still plenty of time to pull things out of the fire.
Manchester United have won only once away from home in the league this season too. Chelsea have only 3 away victories. Poor away form is not limited to Liverpool. It is a problem, and Hodgson is accountable, but the Newcastle performance was - for the most part - positive, and if away performances continue in this vein, the results will follow.
It’s kind of ironic that the two best away performances of the season have resulted in defeats, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. I still believe Liverpool can make it into the top 4, and as I've maintained all season, I still believe the club will be within touching distance of the top 4 by January.
Liverpool has lost another battle, but it will ultimately win the war.
Jaimie Kanwar
First, let me get one thing straight: Liverpool lost, and the buck stops with Hodgson. He picks the team; he chooses the tactics, and he is responsible for motivating the players. However, Liverpool did NOT lose this game because of Hodgson. He *is* responsible overall, but he is not to blame. There is a difference.
Whether people choose to accept it or not, two things cost Liverpool victories in the last two Premier League away games: defensive incompetence and atrocious finishing, both of which are things upon which the manager has no direct influence.
Defensive incompetence
I thought Glenn Johnson was Liverpool’s biggest defensive liability but I was wrong: it is Martin Skrtel. In my view, he should be banished to the reserves for the breathtaking awfulness of his performance against Newcastle. Skrtel made mistakes all game but two of his lapses were catastrophic and ultimately fatal for the team.
The first was just laughable. For some reason, Skrtel – who has the heading ability of a blind dwarf - was marking Andy Carroll for a Newcastle free kick. Joey Barton actually signalled Carroll prior to taking the kick to let him know what he was planning (!), but despite this, Skrtel completely missed the header, and Carroll got the knock-down that led to the goal.
Skrtel’s mistakes intensified after Newcastle’s Nile Ranger came on. He was all over the place, and his uncertainty destabilised the defence, which led inexorably to the second goal. Another simple headed clearance was required, and Skrtel completely messed it up yet again.
Tell me this: How can Hodgson be held accountable for such amateur individual mistakes?! The way the team was set-up and the tactics employed did NOT contribute to those mistakes (though kneejerk, ill-informed fans with an agenda will try their best to argue the opposite).
And what about the third goal? Utter defensive ineptitude again. As soon as Carroll got the ball, Lucas should have been closing him down. He failed to do this, and Carroll seized the opportunity to shoot. And should Pepe Reina be beaten from that distance with so much time to see the ball coming? No top keeper should be beaten on the ground from that distance IMO.
Again, how can Hodgson be held accountable for the third goal? He is entitled to expect Lucas to do his job and close down Carroll. It was another individual mistake (two if you count Reina’s abject attempt at a save), and there’s nothing Hodgson could’ve done about it.
And let’s not forget the defensive mistakes that cost us the Spurs game. Skrtel scored a ridiculous own goal, and then Paul Konchesky lost concentration at the death and allowed Aaron Lennon to ghost past him and score the winner (Konchesky's only real defensive lapse for the whole game).
The key point here is this: the goals conceded in both games had NOTHING to do with Hodgson’s formation, tactics and approach. Individual errors cost Liverpool, and any fair-minded person can see that.
Not that it will make a blind bit of difference to baying buffoons once again calling for Hodgson’s head.
I’ll give you an example of the pig-headed unreasonableness of the anti-Hodgson brigade: after the game, someone said to me ‘Hodgson is to blame. He picked the defenders, didn’t he?’.
The mind boggling cretinry of such a statement is truly staggering. Who else is Hodgson going to pick in central defence?! Carragher and Agger are both injured; Wilson and Kelly have negligible Premier League experience. It’s too stupid for words, and another example of how people will just pick on anything they can to have a go at Hodgson.
Atrocious finishing
Liverpool could’ve wrapped up both the Spurs and Newcastle games if the finishing had been better. Amongst others, Fernando Torres, Maxi Rodrigues wasted numerous gilt-edged chances that could’ve put Liverpool in the driving seat in both games. There is nothing Hodgson can do if alleged top-class players don’t do what they’re paid to do and bury cast-iron chances.
Some other observations:
Another good away performance
Overall, Liverpool played very well in the game. The passing was generally good, and lots of clear-cut chances were created. We dominated for most of the first half, and for the first 15-20 minutes of the second half. The match stats also reflect this:
Possession - LFC 53% / NUFC 47%
Shots on target - LFC 7 / NUFC 5
Corners – LFC 5 / NUFC 2
At White Hart Lane, possession was 49% - 51% in Spurs’ favour, which is very evenly matched. Liverpool is turning the tide when it comes to away form, and stats as well as the performances show this. If the team keeps playing this way and improving, the results will follow.
Lack of leadership on the field
One of the main problems with Liverpool’s away form (IMO) is the total lack of leadership on the field. A prime example of this came after Newcastle’s Ranger came on as a sub. Up to that point, Liverpool were dominating the second half, but Ranger’s pace and directness started causing problems. None of Liverpool’s players were talking to each other; no one was giving directions; no one was taking the initiative and the responsibility on the field, and that is a major problem.
The same lack of leadership was evident for the first and third Newcastle goals: No one took charge of organising the defence for the free kick; players just assumed positions and weren’t concentrating. And even though Barton’s intentions were very obviously telegraphed (!), none of Liverpool’s players were alert to the danger. Similarly, prior to the third goal, no one was yelling at Lucas to close down Carroll; everyone just stood there and ball-watched.
The lack of leadership is no surprise given the fact that Liverpool’s two main leaders were out injured. However, that is no excuse. Leadership on the field is a collective responsibility, and in the absence of Gerrard and Carragher, others have to step up and take responsibility. Hodgson cannot influence every aspect of the game, and if his players lose concentration and make individual mistakes, there’s nothing he can do about it.
Poor Torres form
Torres had a nightmare game. He repeatedly failed to hold up the ball; gave possession away countless times, and missed a couple of excellent chances. It was another poor performance from a player whose mind is clearly elsewhere.
Torres may have been tired after dealing with a newborn baby over the previous few days, so there’s an argument to say that Hodgson should’ve had him on the bench. However, if Hodgson had done that then fans would’ve berated him even more (“How can you leave a world class player like Torres on the bench?!), so it’s a no-win situation.
Dropping Babel after he scored in the last game
I thought Hodgson was wrong to drop Babel to the bench after his excellent performance against Villa. He scored a goal, and his reward is being dumped on the bench? Rafa Benitez made the same mistake countless times, and it’s not the best way to motivate a player.
Having said that, with Torres returning, who would Hodgson have dropped to accommodate Babel? Maxi and N’Gog both scored in the last game too, so by the same reasoning, it would be unfair to drop them. Additionally, N’Gog has a record of 8 goals and 1 assist in 12 starts this season, and Maxi has scored in 3 of the last 4 Premier League victories.
Dirk Kuyt was the obvious player to make way, but he ended up scoring a goal, which kind of justified his inclusion.
Late N'Gog substitution?
I've heard fans argue that Babel should've been brought on for N'Gog earlier. This makes no sense at all:
* Babel came on in the 70th minute; until the 65th minute (approximately), Liverpool were in the ascendancy.
* N'Gog was not playing badly, so removing him after, say, 55-60 minutes would have been undeserved, and possibly detrimental to his confidence.
Hoofball
At times during the game, Liverpool’s players resorted to hoofing it forwards aimlessly, losing the ball countless times in the process. After the defensive incompetence, this was the most irritating thing for me. I lost count of the number of times the ball was given away as a result.
I sincerely doubt Hodgson tells the players to hoof it forwards; why would he? The team is not tactically set-up to benefit from such an approach (i.e. no target man); it’s just another case of old habits and laziness creeping in, and a lack of individual footballing intelligence from the likes of Skrtel, Kyrgiakos and Reina, who gave the ball away many times with his aimless hoofs up the field.
Meirelles
Raul Meirelles had a fantastic game. He rarely misplaced a pass, and quickly moved the pall around with intelligent short-passing. I really enjoyed watching him play - he looks so comfortable on the ball, and I'm sure he will be a great asset for Liverpool in the years to come.
Ultimately, Hodgson sent the team out to win the game, and the stats show that Liverpool had the best of the game. Individual mistakes and bad luck cost Liverpool the points, not Hodgson.
If Hodgson IS to blame for the Newcastle defeat, please explain WHY with specific examples in the comments below (i.e. how his tactics/formation/approach had a direct impact on the loss).
As I said prior to the game, defeat to Newcastle would be unacceptable, and it is unacceptable, mainly because it was game that Liverpool could and should have won. However, defeat is not the end of the world; it suits those with anti-Hodgson agenda to paint it that way but there is still plenty of time to pull things out of the fire.
Manchester United have won only once away from home in the league this season too. Chelsea have only 3 away victories. Poor away form is not limited to Liverpool. It is a problem, and Hodgson is accountable, but the Newcastle performance was - for the most part - positive, and if away performances continue in this vein, the results will follow.
It’s kind of ironic that the two best away performances of the season have resulted in defeats, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. I still believe Liverpool can make it into the top 4, and as I've maintained all season, I still believe the club will be within touching distance of the top 4 by January.
Liverpool has lost another battle, but it will ultimately win the war.
Jaimie Kanwar
Read more: http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2010/12/newcastle-defensive-incompetence-is-to.html#ixzz17zq10Nie
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