Liverpool FC – The change that makes more sense by Brendan Rodgers
Why the switch in formation makes sense by Brendan Rodgers
Everyone reading this, I would like to assume, has played Football Manager, FIFA or Pro Evo. You would have sat in front of that screen messing around with your team formation to try and get the best result possible. Me? I use to love the 4-1-3-2 on Championship Manager 01/02. Absolutely loved it because my 3 midfielders used to boss any game.
It meant that Kabba Samura (You will know what I mean if you are a CM fan) could score over 50 goals a season with ease. Over the years that formation has changed and the less I played Championship Manager and the more I played FIFA that formation changed to a 4-4-2 diamond to a 4-1-3-2 to 3-4-1-2.
The 3-4-1-2 formation, looking at it on paper does look very strange. It’s always mad when you see teams lining up with 3 at the back, as it is not the “norm”. When I play online and the opponent sees my formation they always comment. “What am I playing?” and “That formation is insane” In fact a certain @Putitinthemixer was so amused he stopped talking! Only for a minute mind as he then went on back to rambling on.
My simple and quick answer to the FIFA questions is, “To get an extra body in midfield and attack”. The real reason and longer answer is that I was shocking on FIFA when I first started playing in 2008. I checked on Google for “The best FIFA tactics” and read this amazing blog that recommended this formation and gave me detailed tactics on how to crack FIFA. However I like to keep that to myself when I’m playing online as I’m smashing the opponent.
What I have found funny the last few weeks, is that Brendan Rodgers and his coaching staff team have now adopted “My” FIFA formation into real life and into the first team. I must admit I’m presently surprised that this has happened and after listening to “The Anfield Wrap” and “Bib Theorists” dissect it, I wanted to drop my opinion into the mix on why it is working and how it is the perfect formation for our current setup.
On deadline day Liverpool went out and bought Sakho and Llori and managed to keep hold of Skrtel. This meant that in the first team squad they now had 8 players who play centre back (You can have fun your selves pointing out who these are NOTE: Coates is injured, but I counted him in there).
With the injuries to Cissokho against Northampton in the cup and Johnson to Manchester United in the league, coupled with Wisdom’s poor form. It was starting to look obvious that our weaknesses were going to be in cover at fullback. Hence against Southampton, Liverpool lined up with four of those centre backs in defence. This game as we know was shocking.
The Red Men looked flat, unadventurous and very narrow because Sakho and Toure couldn’t add the creative element that Enrique and Johnson provided in our 4231 formation. By reverting to a 3412 formation it has instantly solved this problem by having three defenders who all look comfortable playing there. They are backed up with two energetic wingbacks that mean that when the opposition attack our defence isn’t being pulled out of position.
By using Sakho, Skrtel and Toure as the three, Liverpool are very fortunate to have that flexibility to quickly resort to four at the back in game if needed.
There may be times at Anfield when the opposing team setup with only one forward with the rest of the team camped in their own half. So by having that option it means that Toure can join the attack as he did against Crystal Palace at the weekend.
