Every piece, has a place. The question is; how?

@Paulcarrero That was an extremely useful video; it gave me a lot of useful information and ideas that I had not previously considered. I had considered the same Colle system and even the London system, as I started playing them I realized I was 'winning' more often; however I didn't know 'why' I was winning. So I dropped the systems and picked up the Queens Gambit instead.

You mention in the video you could make a video for the Italian Game. Stepping away from the Colle system; after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 it seems to me that your responding to your opponents move; 3. ... Nf6 4. Ng5, 3. ... Bc5 4. 0-0, 3. 3. ... f6, 4. d3 - each time the plan seems to change with the fight for the center either being necessary or unnecessary. The only common ground is the open castle file which changes from necessity 3. ... Bc5, to possibility 3. ... Nf6 4. Ng5 ...

It seems to me in open positions after something such as the fried liver attack that is defended well forcing a concession or retreat; the game becomes overly hectic and loose. How do you plan for such things?

Do not waste your time on openings. Do not switch between openings: London, Colle, Queen's Gambit, Italian: pick any one and play it all the time so as to gain experience. Otherwise you never learn anything. If you really really want to study openings, then focus on your defences as black first.

After 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6, the move 4 Ng5 is bad in the sense that it violates the opening principle of moving a piece twice in the opening. Now several world champions have played 4 Ng5, because a pawn is a pawn and they know how to defend against an attack and how to convert a pawn advantage in the endgame. I guess you know neither, so it is better to play natural moves like 4 d3 or 4 d4 or 4 o-o or 4 Nc3. Most grandmasters play 4 d3 now.

@Convenient

I'm glad you find it useful, I already uploaded a vid on italians here:

youtu.be/t-eAPGnl-0Y

Almost at the end of it I talked about the Fried Liver attack which I prefer to call "Fegatello".

I agree with tpr when he says that at this level memorizing theory is not so useful, but I believe that learning the common plans is always something helpful.

I'd recommend you to play 1.e4 instead of 1.d4 to expose yourself to open and more tactical positions which at this level are essential, so that in the future you can make a transition to closed and more complex games.