Liverpool FC Forum

[Effes]

OK - I know there has been a lot of talk about putting Gerrard back in centre mid, and it seems most people want this to happen.

However - it throws up a secondary question of What you then do with the rest of the team and formation?

I guess if you dont want anymore "tampering" with the team, the easiest would be to stick
Benayoun in behind Torres. Although, I think a few have also mentioned putting Kuyt there
and putting Benayoun in Kuyt's position.

So, I just thought I'd do this poll to see what the most popular change should be, if any.

I would go for Gerrad alongside Masch and go 4-4-2.
I'd stick Riera on the left, Benayoun on the right and Kuyt upfront with Torres.
I think Torres could do with someone else upfront with him, and having two wide men will help us spread the play a bit.

Mods - this may deserve to go in the Games section, but I thought I'd put it here to get more viewing.

[account deleted by request]

I think you are spot on Effes.

[bigmick]

Well Gerrard has to move back for me, I don't think there is any question of that to be honest. Yes his partnership with Torres is fantastic, but as things stand the central midfield is fairly obviously the main area of the team which isn't functioning, so Gerrard as per usual has to fill the gap.

Now I'm going to be controversial here and say that although I'd play Masherano alongside him, I don't think it makes too much difference right now whether it's Lucas or the Argentine. Mash is some way below his best IMHO, and while Lucas certainly ain't no playmaker, he could do a decent job IMHO sitting in front of the back four. Anyway I feel sure we'll stick with Masherano but I just thought it needed saying.

Defensively, I'd drop Skrtel and give the Greek a go. I've never bought into the Skrtel fan club, and I think he's playing well below his best. We simply have to become more dominant in the air at the back, somebodies got to pick up Keven Davies and I'd get bold and pick the Greek bloke.

On the flanks, if he's fit Riera simply has to play. I don't think there's a sensible argument against that, and on the right I'd leave Kuyt there. I think he's been very poor this season so far, and the last thing he needs now is a spell up front and yet another confirmation if it were needed that he's not good enough to play there. He also runs around a lot it has to be said (well it didn't HAVE to be said but I thought I would anyway, before someone else did).

Which leaves up top. Torres plays obviously, and I'm going to be further controversial here and say we should play Babel alongside him. I think Benayoun was poor in the last game, and I also think if you play him he'll spend the whole game meandering into spaces which Gerrard is looking to explode into. babel will stretch the play, he's got pace and a bit of power, and we need something right now.

So my team is this :                                 Reina

                           Johnson         Carragher         The Greek bloke       Insua

                          Kuyt           Gerrard                     Masherano              Riera

                                                Babel            Torres

Now it's a radical selection, and there's no chance Rafa will go with it, but a couple of points. A couple of people have said "there's no need to panic" and I disagree. Lose at Bolton, and we could br breaking our own record of beng out of it early on by being gone for all money after 4 games. We need to do something, and step one is sorting out central midfield and making ourselves harder to score against from set-pieces.

Secondly, I reckon I've seen enough of us already to be convinced that the style we are attempting to play isn't going to suddenly click in and we aren't going to suddenly become title contenders with our current set-up. Something has to give, and perhaps for the time being it's the 4-5-1. Time to get radical, and for us radical is a switch back to 4-4-2 for the forseeable.

[Bad Bob]

Well Gerrard has to move back for me, I don't think there is any question of that to be honest. Yes his partnership with Torres is fantastic, but as things stand the central midfield is fairly obviously the main area of the team which isn't functioning, so Gerrard as per usual has to fill the gap.

Now I'm going to be controversial here and say that although I'd play Masherano alongside him, I don't think it makes too much difference right now whether it's Lucas or the Argentine. Mash is some way below his best IMHO, and while Lucas certainly ain't no playmaker, he could do a decent job IMHO sitting in front of the back four. Anyway I feel sure we'll stick with Masherano but I just thought it needed saying.

Defensively, I'd drop Skrtel and give the Greek a go. I've never bought into the Skrtel fan club, and I think he's playing well below his best. We simply have to become more dominant in the air at the back, somebodies got to pick up Keven Davies and I'd get bold and pick the Greek bloke.

On the flanks, if he's fit Riera simply has to play. I don't think there's a sensible argument against that, and on the right I'd leave Kuyt there. I think he's been very poor this season so far, and the last thing he needs now is a spell up front and yet another confirmation if it were needed that he's not good enough to play there. He also runs around a lot it has to be said (well it didn't HAVE to be said but I thought I would anyway, before someone else did).

Which leaves up top. Torres plays obviously, and I'm going to be further controversial here and say we should play Babel alongside him. I think Benayoun was poor in the last game, and I also think if you play him he'll spend the whole game meandering into spaces which Gerrard is looking to explode into. babel will stretch the play, he's got pace and a bit of power, and we need something right now.

So my team is this :                                 Reina

                           Johnson         Carragher         The Greek bloke       Insua

                          Kuyt           Gerrard                     Masherano              Riera

                                                Babel            Torres

Now it's a radical selection, and there's no chance Rafa will go with it, but a couple of points. A couple of people have said "there's no need to panic" and I disagree. Lose at Bolton, and we could br breaking our own record of beng out of it early on by being gone for all money after 4 games. We need to do something, and step one is sorting out central midfield and making ourselves harder to score against from set-pieces.

Secondly, I reckon I've seen enough of us already to be convinced that the style we are attempting to play isn't going to suddenly click in and we aren't going to suddenly become title contenders with our current set-up. Something has to give, and perhaps for the time being it's the 4-5-1. Time to get radical, and for us radical is a switch back to 4-4-2 for the forseeable.

Mick, have you not said in the past that Kuyt wide right in a 4-4-2 is a major liability?  What's changed?  Babel on the pitch is a second major liability so it's still the 4-2-3-1 for me with Gerrard dropping back to play alongside Masch and Benayoun taking over in "the hole".  Stick Riera on the left and Bob's (no relation) your uncle. 

[Reg]

Thats not radical Mick, its returning to basics when you´ve lost 2 games out of 3. We need to run a tight ship and build up momentum again.

[account deleted by request]

The main problem with playing Benayoun behind Torres is the same problem we had with Keane. He runs into and fills the spaces that Torres utilises. Play Kuyt in that position and he creates space for Torres, maybe not as well as Gerrard but I think Torres will get more goals with Kuyt than with Benny.

[Bad Bob]

Thats not radical Mick, its returning to basics when you´ve lost 2 games out of 3. We need to run a tight ship and build up momentum again.

How is playing Ryan Babel "returning to basics"? 

[LFC2007]

I don't see a great deal of difference in the second 4-2-3-1 option and the 4-4-2. Whoever ostensibly plays 'up top' - assuming here, Benayoun or Kuyt - they will in fact often be coming deep to receive the ball. Admittedly, Kuyt will be more 'up top' but it's not massively distinguishable, IMO.

I'd drop Gerrard back to play the conventional midfield role, Riera to come in on the left, Kuyt on the right and Benayoun 'up top' or as it will be 'in behind' Torres. Kuyt and Benny can interchange if necessary.

[Fauxy]

I don't see a great deal of difference in the second 4-2-3-1 option and the 4-4-2. Whoever ostensibly plays 'up top' - assuming here, Benayoun or Kuyt - they will in fact often be coming deep to receive the ball. Admittedly, Kuyt will be more 'up top' but it's not massively distinguishable, IMO.

I'd drop Gerrard back to play the conventional midfield role, Riera to come in on the left, Kuyt on the right and Benayoun 'up top' or as it will be 'in behind' Torres. Kuyt and Benny can interchange if necessary.

This

[Reg]

Thats not radical Mick, its returning to basics when you´ve lost 2 games out of 3. We need to run a tight ship and build up momentum again.

How is playing Ryan Babel "returning to basics"? 

Slotting SG back into midfield creating the need for a second conventional style attacker.

So it was Babel or the porn star.

Even rafa´s not that stooopid.   

[bigmick]

Bob's right I have lamented the inclusion of Kuyt in a 4-4-2, simply because he isn't good enough to hold up the right side without being assisted. As is though, he now has Johnson playing with him over there, and provided Dirk runs around a lot (which he generally does) then Johnson can do the creative stuff.

My selection is radical though i admit, but having lost 2 in 3 and played sh!te in both, something's gotta give I reckon. the Greek fella would inject some much needed passion into the team (as he'd be desperately trying to cement a place) while Babel would surely take his i-pod off for a run out up top. The team needs a bit of fire in its belly, a rocket up its erse, and my changes would be designed to give it that.

[Fowler_E7]

Reina
Johnson     Carra            Skretl         Insua
               Gerrard          Mascherano
Kuyt                     Benayoun            Riera
                             Torres

[aCe']

well... 4-4-2 for me... same formation i wanted us to start the season with...

                                                           Reina

                          Johnson              Carragher            Skrtel                 Insua

                           Benny                Gerrard            Mascherano            Riera

                                                    Kuyt          Torres


With Johnson down the right Benny can cut inside all he wants while we'd still maintain width down the right flank.. Kuyt can hustle and do whatever he does upfront without costing us much in terms of building up play... he can get into all those positions he likes inside the 6yard box for the tap ins and all that without having to worry about covering his position down the right... Gerrard behind Mascherano please, and tell him not to try the hard passes all the time, tell him we wont be expecting much from him in terms of drive and runs through the middle and we should be okay i guess... no need to go all out attacking from minute one or any of that.. tell the guys to take their time and try to move the ball around for a change, since we seem to have the players to finally do that again (IF we play Gerrard down the middle)... Seems like a very good side on paper, hope we get to see it sometime soon...

[JoeTerp]

You guys are all a bunch of choppers and changers 

[aCe']

You guys are all a bunch of choppers and changers 

Joe still wants us to try his 2-6-2 formation with 4 wingers, 17 CMs and about 7 strikers... 

someday Joe.... some...day...