tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post561544034650888421..comments2023-12-22T01:47:49.178-05:00Comments on oh you beauty: On Liverpool Crossesnatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-16712720768071855952010-10-18T15:40:23.799-04:002010-10-18T15:40:23.799-04:00Not just the quality of the crosses themselves - a...Not just the quality of the crosses themselves - and not just about the number of attackers available, but positioning. Torres inexplicably tucked in behind defenders countless times yesterday and crosses that did make it to his area were easily dealt with. I can only assume this is a tactical direction, because I have to expect an world-class striker will take up, you know, the appropriate position.Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-8254360873773161342010-10-18T13:12:08.792-04:002010-10-18T13:12:08.792-04:00And with the Reds playing such a deep back line an...<i>And with the Reds playing such a deep back line and midfield it's basically a cross going to Torres, plus maybe one or two more Reds, in a sea of defenders.</i><br /><br />This is an important point, one I absolutely should have mentioned, also brought up by James T of Unprofessional Foul (go read it if you don't already; link's on the sidebar) via Twitter. In addition to the problems listed above, Liverpool almost always doesn't have enough attackers in the box to capitalize on crosses.<br /><br />It's especially pronounced without Kuyt in the line-up, but was a problem regardless. Gerrard did well to head in the aforementioned goal against Sunderland, but against Everton, he came deeper as the match went on, which eliminated him as a presence behind Torres up front, which is where he "thrived" in '08-09 (and to a much lesser extent last season). Almost every cross against Everton was in the direction of Torres, while surrounded by at least two defenders, without any charging midfielders around if the striker was fortunate enough to win a flick-on/knockdown. It's not a recipe for success. Just like most of Liverpool's tactics so far this season.natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-703134203566664492010-10-18T13:05:08.856-04:002010-10-18T13:05:08.856-04:00One thing that I noticed with Cole's crosses i...One thing that I noticed with Cole's crosses in the derby was that he would run into all this space down the left with the ball, stop and then switch to his right foot and cross it in. It gave time for Everton's defenders to catch up.<br /><br />And with the Reds playing such a deep back line and midfield it's basically a cross going to Torres, plus maybe one or two more Reds, in a sea of defenders. <br /><br />These tactics are bullshit and it's setting us up to lose from the startAndyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13594349215461552495noreply@blogger.com