Next Seasons Starting 11

[Chuck Fadanoid]

3-5-2 for me. Play to your strenghts (i.e. down the middle)

 

Pepe

 

Carra

Agger

Skrtel

 

Al

Dossena

 

Masch

Xabi

 

Stevie

 

Keane

Nando

 

I quite like the look of that, although whether the 3 centre halves system would work is another matter.

[Jonesy432]

One thing that has become clear is nobody rates Degan!

[elvis]

One thing that has become clear is nobody rates Degan!

 

Wrong.

[Jonte]

One thing that has become clear is nobody rates Degan!

 

I think we'll see both Degen and Dossena bombing forward against weaker teams, with Masch and Alonso/Barry holding back.

It will give us width and crosses.

 

Degen and Dossena are both technically, fast and agile and it will improve us in attack!

[spider-neil]

we have as close wo a nailed on first 11 as we have had in ages, imho there are only two questions marks

 

kuyt or babel

arbeloa or carra (at right back if rafa decides to partner skrtal with agger)

 

 

personally I'd play this team

 

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

--Arbeloa---Carragher---Agger---Dossena---

-------------Mascherano---Alonso*-----------

-----------Keane---Gerrard---Babel----------

-------------------Torres-------------------

 

* if barry isn't purchased

[Rashid]

Keane on the right is silly IMO, he scores goals and links play put him closer to Torres and tge goal. Play Gerrard right as we know he can score goals and link play from there.

[KevieG]

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

 

Bob-------Agger-------Carra-----Dossenna

 

---------Mascherano---Alonso/Barry

 

Gerrard-----------Keane-----------Babel

 

------------------Torres

 

 

 

Gerrard on the right will transform us and hopefully Babels stamina and confidence will be better

[Plewggs]

He's the 4th best CB at the club , I cannot understand why he's in your XI.

Reina

 

Finnan

Hyypia

Carragher

Dossena - I don't know how good he is but Rafa knows a defender-

 

Mascherano

Xabi

 

Gerrard

Keane

Babel

 

The Tog

 

I realise it’s heresy to say, but Jamie will be third choice CB behind Skrtell and Agger when it comes to the big, must-win matches.

They are our quickest pairing and most accomplished in possession of the ball.

[Glen C]

I realise it’s heresy to say, but Jamie will be third choice CB behind Skrtell and Agger when it comes to the big, must-win matches.

They are our quickest pairing and most accomplished in possession of the ball.

 

Disagree. In our biggest games i think rafa will want Jamie's experience and leadership skills. Skrtel is definitely carra's long term replacement but i can see it being a carra/agger partnership mainly this season.

[moxter]

I'm looking at all those XIs and I cringe every time I see Keane's name in midfield. Maybe I'll get used to it.

[Glen C]

I'm looking at all those XIs and I cringe every time I see Keane's name in midfield. Maybe I'll get used to it.

 

I won't, he's a striker not a midfielder. He should be playing up front with torres and nowhere else.

[Hazel Motes]

Same as the one I posted here.

 

http://www.liverpoolway.co.uk/forum/ff-football-forum/66060-assuming-we-sign-gareth-barry-3.html

 

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

Arbeloa--Carra--Agger--Dossena

-----Mascherano--Barry--

---Kuyt--Gerrard---Keane--

---------Torres-----------

 

I took Rashid off ignore and saw that he said it was "nonsense", however we played something very similar at Rangers I believe and won 4-0 with Keane on the left (didn't see the match).

 

If we do play this I see Keane and Kuyt as interchangeable, and also Keane and Gerrard. I think we'll see a lot of movement in the three behind Torres if we play this formation.

 

I'd agree with that (all of it - including the Rashid bit)

[spider-neil]

Keane on the right is silly IMO, he scores goals and links play put him closer to Torres and tge goal. Play Gerrard right as we know he can score goals and link play from there.

 

gerrard (to keane) - 'why are you running around in a circle?'

keane - 'because my foot is nailed to the right forward position'

gerrard - '...what? why?'

keane - 'well if I start on the right I have to stay there ridigly all game'

[Red Nick]

gerrard (to keane) - 'why are you running around in a circle?'

keane - 'because my foot is nailed to the right forward position'

gerrard - '...what? why?'

keane - 'well if I start on the right I have to stay there ridigly all game'

 

Talk about missing the point!!

[spider-neil]

Talk about missing the point!!

 

how have I missed the point?

 

ronaldo, rooney and tevez are all forwards that roam switch positions and pull wide (are tevez and rooney wide midfielders/wingers)

[Red Nick]

Keanes best position is to start centrally and then drift into the wide areas making it difficult for the CB rather than starting wide and drifting into the centre.

 

If he doesnt start centrally then it was a complete waste of money as Silva would have done a much better job wide right or wide left or even just behind Torres

[spider-neil]

Keanes best position is to start centrally and then drift into the wide areas making it difficult for the CB rather than starting wide and drifting into the centre.

 

If he doesnt start centrally then it was a complete waste of money as Silva would have done a much better job wide right or wide left or even just behind Torres

 

and why cant he do the above at liverpool?

[Guest TK-421]

If he doesnt start centrally then it was a complete waste of money as Silva would have done a much better job wide right or wide left or even just behind Torres

 

Don't you think that's a bit over the top?

 

This thing where people keep saying strikers are playing "out wide", that's not really where Kuyt and Babel were playing last season when we went 4-2-3-1. They are not playing as orthodox, chalk on the boots wingers.

[spider-neil]

Don't you think that's a bit over the top?

 

This thing where people keep saying strikers are playing "out wide", that's not really where Kuyt and Babel were playing last season when we went 4-2-3-1. They are not playing as orthodox, chalk on the boots wingers.

 

quite.

[Glen C]

Don't you think that's a bit over the top?

 

This thing where people keep saying strikers are playing "out wide", that's not really where Kuyt and Babel were playing last season when we went 4-2-3-1. They are not playing as orthodox, chalk on the boots wingers.

 

Kuyt spent a hell of a lot of time out wide. What red nick is saying is true though. If we wanted a guy to start out wide and then cut inside then we could have bought a specialist in that position in silva. Why buy a striker and play him out wide? its a waste of money.

[Guest TK-421]

Kuyt spent a hell of a lot of time out wide.

 

That's only part of his role though, he's also expected to get into the box and help create chances for/support Torres and link up with Gerrard. It's not an orthodox wide position like e.g Pennant.

 

If we wanted a guy to start out wide and then cut inside then we could have bought a specialist in that position in silva. Why buy a striker and play him out wide? its a waste of money.

 

He doesn't start "out wide" that's my point. The full backs are expected to contribute to the width of the team and players like Kuyt, whilst they will find themselves in wide positions, are expected to fulfil other roles and not just that of an orthodox winger. Do you see Kuyt hugging the touchline whipping in cross after cross a la David Beckham?

 

It's not a waste of money because these players are versatile and intelligent enough to be able to play in a number of positions.

[Kevin D]

I realise it’s heresy to say, but Jamie will be third choice CB behind Skrtell and Agger when it comes to the big, must-win matches.

They are our quickest pairing and most accomplished in possession of the ball.

 

He really won't be. He's a far better defender than either of them and has an outstanding partnership with both Hyypia and Agger. I just could not see the logic of not playing Carragher in a ,for example, European cup final.

[JohanH]

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

? --Carra--Agger--Dossena

---Mascherano--Alonso---

---Keane--Gerrard---Babel--

---------Torres-----------

 

Babel, Gerrard and Keane switching positions.

For right back any one from Degen, Arbeloa and Darby (would be great to have a academy lad come through).

[Guest TK-421]

I'd agree with that (all of it - including the Rashid bit)

 

What you have there is five very good players supporting a top class striker in Torres, they can all help create and score goals and they can all help the back four at the same time. Add the threat from the full backs and possibly Agger and there is a solid looking team. I'd love to see us line up like that but if Barry doesn't materialise then Alonso it is and he's a favourite of mine.

 

You can make a case for Gerrard playing in Kuyt's position, shifting Keane into Gerrard's role and including Babel. And there is also the option of going 4-4-2 with Keane supporting Torres and Gerrard dropping into centre midfield, but I would guess we'll see more of the formation that served us so well at the back end of last season.

 

Another thing is I think the right back slot is wide open, I have no idea who will start there. I guess Degen will play some games but I'm not sure if he'll make the place his own.

 

Of course there is still time to sign more players but not much time to change things like tactics before the season starts.

Edited August 8, 2008 by TK421

[hamstrung]

He really won't be. He's a far better defender than either of them and has an outstanding partnership with both Hyypia and Agger. I just could not see the logic of not playing Carragher in a ,for example, European cup final.

 

Damn straight.