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I think lots of people on here talk a lot about formations. How 4-4-2 is defunct. How we need a more flexible attacking formation. How Central Midfield is now a purely functional "platform" for the attacking players ahead of them. I see this a lot when people defend mediocrities like Lucas and talk about how United's team has never really had a great CM since Keane (forgetting Scholes, but anyway). I saw it a lot when people where slating Budgie and his antediluvian 4-4-2 formations and tactics. People eulogise about how Man Shitty have a great defensive midfield platform (Barry/ Yaya/ De Jong) and then allow the front players (Dzeko/ Tevez/ Silva/ Aguero/ Milner/ Johnson/ Yaya again/ Balotelli - I'm getting depressed now) to play an "expansive, fluid, exciting modern style of football". How Barca don't employ strict "winger/ striker/ midfielder" positions or formations. Chelsea have Mikel holding in front of Meireles, Torres, Anelka, Mata, Drogba, Malouda and co. But can we do that? Does Kenny even want to? Henderson was bought as our midfield "legs". Lucas is still - inexplicably - getting regular football. Adam is there to probe and pass. But ahead of them? The only player - other than the injured for 6 months Gerrard - who can adopt this type of formation and play in several different positions is Suarez. Suarez should really be playing the Mata/ Silva/ Aguero type role, but we don't have enough Suarez's. He could play any of the front three roles, but we don't appear to have anyone who can play the other two properly. Carroll = old-fashioned striker, needs chances created for him, a "classic" Number 9. He isn't about movement or creativity, or individual skill. He's a less skilled, slower Drogba. And Downing. Well, Mata, Aguero or Silva he is not (and some seemed to think this was a positive). He's an old-fashioned winger. So, that word again. "Old-fashioned". Have we got too many players who can only play in one formation? Who rely too much on support and delivery from their team-mates? Are they too rigid? Has Kenny spent £100m on a team that could challenge for the title...20 years ago?

So the first one is nearly upon us. Unlike some, i can't wait for it. Everton haven't got out of 2nd gear yet, and whilst we are hardly tearing up trees - nothing gets the blood pumping more than a chance to shove it up the bitters in their own wooden hole. So what do we think? Gerrard from the start? Kuyt or Bellamy have to start this as were going to need experienced heads amongst all the young lads. I'd keep Carroll in, he nearly got the monkey off his back yesterday - and he's gonna need a run of games to get full match sharpness and to appease the media and fans who have already made up their minds about him - scoring the winner at Woodison wouldn't be a bad way to kick-start his season. Think we'll have 'em 1-2. Edit : I appreciate it might be a bit early for a match thread... but meh. Its the derby and i dont care

John_W_Henry John W. Henry Speculation on players shouldn't include those of a certain age. We are not going to be successful by merely filling short-term needs at LFC