With Zenden out, who gets the other CM spot?

[CWD82]

I would think it would be foolish to breakup Agger and Carra now they've got the partnership going again. I reckon we'd do better to leave them 2 and the rest of the defence settled and use someone else in there.

[Guest Raddy]

I would think it would be foolish to breakup Agger and Carra now

 

like we did on saturday you mean?

[Kurt]

Comments from Rafa indicates he will try Sami in the holding role. I really, really, really, really hope that is not the case. Portsmouth midfielders will be able to walk around him, and Sami`s complete lack of mobility will be exploited. If he does`nt trust the younger ones, he should opt for Carragher. Carragher is the one who have most experience in that role, and Hyypia and Agger have played together a few times this season in central defence, so they have proved they can play together.

[Best Believe It]

From the telegraph

 

As Rafa Benitez, the Liverpool manager, fought one fire successfully yesterday, opening talks to keep goalkeeper Jose Reina at the club on an extended contract, another emerged from the direction of the Anfield treatment room.

 

Liverpool face Portsmouth in the Premiership tonight without the services of Bolo Zenden who has injured the meniscus in his knee and will be absent from his team's fading Championship challenge for at least a month.

 

Such are the problems in central midfield for Benitez currently that the manager conceded yesterday that his impulse is to play central defender Sami Hyypia alongside Steven Gerrard in that position, although defenders Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger or 19-year-old midfielder Danny Guthrie, whose first team experience is limited to two substitute appearances in the Carling Cup, are also alternatives.

 

"It's a big problem to lose Bolo," said Benitez. "He's close to all the players, a very good team man, and on the pitch he's a player who is very good tactically. "He had problems with his knee last year, too, and ended up being ruled out for six months. The other day, he felt something again - a crack - and now it's four to five weeks out again.

 

"The first name that came into my head to replace Bolo was Sami. Honestly! People have been saying that Daniel (Agger's) emergence might mean the end for Sami, but maybe Sami can play as a holding midfielder. I need to check whether he has the tactical movement and awareness you need playing there, but it's not difficult.

 

"You just need to be clever. In Argentina, it's their number five, a holding midfielder, who's a centre-back playing a bit higher. I've spoken to him two or three weeks ago about that. Now I just need to think about which option to take."

 

Enthused as Benitez may have sounded about such a bold tactical shift, he is also clinging to the hope that Xabi Alonso may recover from his hip injury in time to return to contention although Harry Kewell, Mark Gonzalez and Momo Sissoko all remain sidelined for the medium to long-term.

 

Long-term was certainly the area in which Benitez was aiming in opening contract talks with Reina, already under contract until 2009 but, reportedly, the subject of overtures from Valencia.

 

"He's back to his best. You can see him, Carra, Gerrard and Xabi are all improving," said Benitez of his countryman. "They all needed a bit of time after the World Cup, but I'm really pleased with 'Pep' and we're talking to him about extending his contract here.

 

"When we decided to bring him here, it was because we knew he was a very good goalkeeper, but I also knew the person and his mentality. He needed confidence and, after two or three clean sheets, he's back up there. He's still very young but, for me, he's one of the top three goalkeepers in England.

"And in Spain, he's number one as far as I'm concerned.

 

"He's got two more years after this year but we're looking to extend it because we know there were some clubs asking about him and we don't want to sell him. We want to show we have confidence in him."

[Sangria]

Thinking of Hyypia in midfield makes me think of a video from Planet Earth Adam put up on Bollockyboo which featured an Elephant getting overwhelmed my loads of lions and eventually dying.

 

That can't be a good thing right?

 

I could not even come close to putting it as good as that.

 

Sami in a holding midfield role - I really do hope I never live to see it.

The man is a legend but not a holding midfielder.

[Wool Woolsson]

I think it's fair to say that the last thing Rafa will do is anything he's told the press.

[Karl_b]

Why not just ask Gerrard to play deeper an dplay Garcia in the middle?

[Barrington Womble]

Why not just ask Gerrard to play deeper an dplay Garcia in the middle?

 

i would imagine he would like to use garcia down the left wing.

[MLB]

I would try Riise in there and keep Agger at left back for the time being. Well, actually, I would probably give one of the youngsters a chance, but it doesn't look like the youth system is going to be used much under Rafa.

[aws]

I think Carra is the best option because of his greater experience. Bit unfair to chuck Agger in just when he's staking his claim in central defence.

[Best Believe It]

I would try Riise in there and keep Agger at left back for the time being. Well, actually, I would probably give one of the youngsters a chance, but it doesn't look like the youth system is going to be used much under Rafa.

 

Yeah, that's probably why he's brought in Antwi, Hobbs, Roque, Martin, Mimms, Anderson, El Zhar, Idrizaq, etc etc

[Guest Raddy]

Yeah, that's probably why he's brought in Antwi, Hobbs, Roque, Martin, Mimms, Anderson, El Zhar, Idrizaq, etc etc

 

ignore him, lad, he never has a good word to say about anyone or anything at the club.

[Jay Glover]

Things are lookin a bit thin across the middle right now, this will be a good test of our squad, arguably the strongest squad in the prem, if not then only second to Chelsea.

 

I would go with Gerrard and Garcia with the left covered by Riise and Aurelio or Warnock/Riise

 

------------Reina-------------

-Finnan-Carra--Sami-Riise/Warnock

Pennant-Gerreard-Garcia-Aurelio/Riise

-------Crouch---Kuyt---------

[Guest Raddy]

you cannot play luis garcia in the centre of midfield, it's not championship manager.

[Stu Monty]

ignore him, lad, he never has a good word to say about anyone or anything at the club.

 

He's worth thirty of you son.

[05 Milan]

Gotta hate how he's making me hate the Beatles.

[Guest Raddy]

He's worth thirty of you son.

 

don't think so, son.

[RedKnight]

The thing with him is he disagree's with the majority just to diasgree. But sometimes he'll disagree and it seems like a really strong, well-informed opinion. It isn't, it's just luck that it's come across that way.

[Guest Raddy]

Gotta hate how he's making me hate the Beatles.

 

gotta?

 

you're not on american tv. speak normally.

[Guest Raddy]

The thing with him is he disagree's with the majority just to diasgree.

 

nonsense

[Stu Monty]

don't think so, son.

 

Well your opinion on the issue means fuck all Jackanory so it doesn't matter what you think.

[RedKnight]

don't think so, son.

 

You do. It's that aggresive personality that is simmering under the surface.

[Guest Raddy]

nice one, son.

[Guest Raddy]

You do. It's that aggresive personality that is simmering under the surface.

 

i'm a scouser, we're all aggressive.

[Rashid]

Raddy why the fuck are you not using capital letters? You have been found out, so why carry on being a knob jockey?