Coppell: Width will always beat Liverpool

iceFatboy SG

Reading boss Steve Coppell says Liverpool struggle against wide players after their shock victory on Saturday.

Coppell said: "We were talking the day before the game about Gerrard maybe coming from a wider area, which obviously makes them a sort of 'thin' team, if you know what I mean.

"They were thin and we tried to play with width. That was the contrast and the way we set up against teams who bulk up the middle. Obviously with players who are being asked to play wide they are not comfortable there. They are forever keep making the pitch thin and we just tried to turn that round by attacking down the flanks as much as possible."

iceFatboy SG

for those who watch the game, do you agree?
pool is super strong in the middle of field but their width is suspect.

anyway, they are facing a tough 3 games, against reading, marseille, and then MUFC.

is this their achille's heels?

red_amoeba SG

I didn't watch the complete match but gathering from what the match was, I think Benitez must have told the guys - ok look, we got this pesty Reading before our crunch match against Marseille and Man U - these are tofu players and I think we can spank them left right centre. Therefore, you guys better conserve some entergy for Marseille becos thats crucial - your year-end bonus depend on us getting through to the next round.

So don't get yourself hurt or booked. And keep the damage low...

====

He din't play a strong team and so they lost to a hungrier team. In any case, this loss don't count much (compared to Arsenal losing Middlesborough) - his job is on the line against Marseille, lose that & he can submit his resume to English FA.

Medicated Oil SG

Liverpool do have wingers that are not injured.

The issue is that Ah Ben decide NOT to deploy any wingers due to his tactical stupidity or over-confidence.

So, width is definitely not a issue with Liverpoo.

The issue is alway how the manager decide to play his match.

For the Reading match, it is very obvious that Ah Ben did not bother to win the match.

gunner77 SG

why do liverpool even bother to buy width players at the 1st place Rolling Eyes

iceFatboy SG

but then Marseille will be going all out cause a lost means they are out also.
and they got cisse who will be keen to prove himself so he will go all out..

a tough match..

4getmenot SG

since when the pool play width style...everything is from the center..thats y its beginning to be very predictable...the only time they switch to wing formation is when crouch comes in... Mr. Green

turbo_drift SG

Agree.. Laughing

kopiosatu SG

voronin left wing sial, what was ah ben thinking? Mad