Chalkboards, Chalkboards, Agger, and Chalkboards

By: Noel | January 17th, 2011

Does a “Goodbye, Blue Monday” joke work following a draw like yesterday’s? Not really? Drat. Oh well, on with the show.

There was absolutely nothing, not even nothing. And then there was this great big bang. And that’s where all this crap came from…

* It’s charts and chalkboards over at OYB, as with the continuing lack of tangible results Liverpool bloggers everywhere are left to pick at any positive signs and hope it all comes together damn soon. In this case, the positives signs come from dissecting both matches against Everton this season and comparing the results to find tangible proof of a move towards a more pressing, possession-based game under Dalglish. Nate also points out that despite the signs of progress, this is very much still the season from hell. Because it is. If this keeps up, they may have to think of replacing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” above the gates with something more appropriate.

* While we’re on a run of chalkboards, Zonal Marking gets into the specifics of the Everton match and the 4231/433 employed by Liverpool in it. When it (occasionally) comes to off-pitch matters regarding Liverpool, Zonal Marking can make you want to pull your hair out, and he nearly loses it at the start this time around by claiming Meireles had one of his best games for Liverpool yesterday (before saying he didn’t create anything in the advanced playmaker position that isn’t his natural one), but the man does know his tactics. On the whole, then, if you aren’t sure you have a handle on it already, this latest piece will help you come to grips with the system Dalglish appears intent on employing for his second stint with the club. And if you’ve already got that grip, it’s an interesting look at the specific movement of some of the players involved in yesterday’s derby.

* Meanwhile, Daniel Agger appears to be a safe bet to be with Liverpool past the end of the transfer window. Sigh, relief, breath, deep, etcetera:

Per Steffensen, Agger’s representative, has dismissed suggestions that the 26-year-old could quit Merseyside before the window shuts at the beginning of next month and claims that Dalglish has outlined his vision to the defender in a meeting between the pair.

“Kenny Dalglish thinks a lot about Daniel and has made that clear to him in a meeting,” he said.

Unfortunately I was unable to find any chalkboards of the meeting where Dalglish outlined that vision of Agger’s role in the side.

In the meantime, if you haven’t had enough charts and chalkboards, I suppose you could always just read the Meireles piece from earlier today again. For the rest of you, with deep regret at not being able to find a clip of Everton set to it…

Some Related Liverpool Posts:

Category: Team News

« Raul Meireles is Still a Central Midfielder | Home | Twitstorm 3-D »

ZM

To answer the criticism, I thought Meireles DID have a good game, despite not doing much playmaking. He opened the scoring and pressed Everton well, breaking up their play, forcing Arteta into sideways balls rather than letting him create (I think that's the best way to stop Everton). He's far better there, in more of a midfield three, than he is when Liverpool were playing 4-4-1-1 with him 'in the hole' (ie at Old Trafford in Sept) or when he was stuck out on the right.

Sorry if my views on Liverpool make you tear your hair out :S but cheers for the link, nice piece.
Noel

Fair enough. I would still maintain that a deeper role that allows him to do more of that playmaking is where he shines the most, but as that's my expectation for him based on his run of matches paired with Lucas towards the end of 2010 while Gerrard was out, it's always possible the lens I viewed his play against Everton through obscured some of what he might have brought to the table from a more advanced role.

And I'll just say I was one of those exceptionally bothered by the departure of our manager-before-last. So, off the pitch stuff &etc. Or some of us may just not know when to let go, I suppose.
ZM

Indeed, that's the point I made. I said that the attacking midfield role wasn't his natural one because he's not really a creative attacking midfielder, but in this game I thought he filled in admirably, because his energy and defensive work in closing down Arteta and Fellaini was crucial to Liverpool's first-half dominance. Not sure that's such a massive contradiction as you seem to imply...
Noel

Oh, I didn't mean to imply a massive contradiction existed with my last reply. Simply accepting any culpability I may have had for overlooking what positives he did bring to the more advanced role based on previous expectations keeping me too focused on the resultant shortcomings &etc.
David Webb

A draw is better than a defeat and it is in the right direction.

David
http://www.keelbyunited.co.uk
Grubb

And Noel. I would take you to task on your photoshoppery regressing like possession football under Roy, but that would be far too harsh on you.

Damn I wish I was around when the Hodge was cut loose, would loved to have celebrated with you all. Maybe we can have a globally coordinated bender when Poulsen is transferred in the future? Oh well, there goes the cursor and my ability to see the rest of this message. Disqus is still like a digital Cerberus guarding the comments section with the ferocity of a 3-headed Dobermann I see.

Oh and Galahaad - James Squire Sundown Lager. If you can find some in Austion, it's well worth your while.

Cheers!
Noel

The "art" in this one is a reference to Breakfast of Champions; or, Goodbye, Blue Monday! Which you may or may not have already known. In any case, welcome back--at this rate, maybe Ed and I should be looking to the Australian government for some sort of grant.
Grubb

Hey ballbags, I have returned. Did you miss me?

I've heard there are some other regular Aussies on here now? Great to hear, hope you guys aren't suffering from the flooding widespread across much of the Eastern states right now.

I'm excited about Suarez, and also about the passing game that is returning under Kenny. I'm looking forward to work starting again in Feb and my regular internet access (and subsequent wastage of time on this website) c. ,... Ahh, can't tell what is appearing in the comment box as the text has disappeared from view and I can't tell what the holy hell I am typing. So of course I'm gonna post this shizbnit anyway.

Riosco, I miss you brother. Ed, you're full of shit. Katie is the queen of pumpkins and Noel is smartyer than 5 Einsteins and a chimapnzee. Missed ya blokes! This has all gone down the toilet very quickly. Oh and also I'm drunker than Rosco at a family do so please excuse this message.
Ed

MORE DRUNK POSTS
Noel

More drunk posts?
Ed

I suppose this is Disqus telling me that my time has passed. It's been nice.
Noel

No! Don't listen to the machines! Don't let Disqus win!
Ed

MORE DRUNK POSTS
Noel

More drunk posts?
Rosco

Was actually only the other day I began wondering when your ugly head would rear itself once again.

Explain yourself
Ibra

hope after roy? we haven't seen this brand of football since before houllier or even further back. It's the start of the revolution and Dalglish only needs support from the owners and to beleive in himself. The players are still suffering from the Hodgson era (you can see it in their first touch), if Dalglish stays stubborn and continues on his path, it won't be long before you see a successful liverpool.
Noel

Here's to staying hopeful, then. Fingers crossed Wolves will end up being the turning point.