Liverpool FC Forum

[account deleted by request]

I think a lot depends on who we have up front to be honest. If we have Kuyt and Voronin up front with  two defensive midfielders behind them and  Riise and Gerrard/Benayoun out wide we will struggle to score, if we have Torres and Crouch up front  with Kewell and Gerrard/Benayoun out wide, I would be happy to play 2 defensive midfielders behind them.

[heimdall]

The only problem I had with the line up last night was that Crouch didn't start. Crouch at the moment, and this pains me to say, is our second best striker and should play alongside Torres. I cannot understand why Rafa doesn't play him, especially if he is looking to sell him in a few weeks time!!
Also when is Agger coming back, I miss him, Hyppia is too damned Slow these days.

[Igor Zidane]

I think a lot depends on who we have up front to be honest. If we have Kuyt and Voronin up front with  two defensive midfielders behind them and  Riise and Gerrard/Benayoun out wide we will struggle to score, if we have Torres and Crouch up front  with Kewell and Gerrard/Benayoun out wide, I would be happy to play 2 defensive midfielders behind them.

There both fair point's Bob and saint , but i was thinking more about having 2 sort of holding midfielders together , not both defensively minded midfielders ie mascherano and sissiko but more a creative and defensive midfielder ie sissoko and lucas as against Newcastle or Alonso and mascherano. It would cover us defensively without taking away the creativety. With those type of midfielders , it should be more than enough to cover the whole of the midfield ,with gerrard getting back when needed.

[Sabre]

I'm with Igor on this one. A Double holding midfielder is my personal choice, and the covers of one of them, plus a RB that measures his going forwards are more than enough to have under control Stevie's risky adventures, where as you have all the danger that those adventures provide.

It's a problem though if you play a Pennant on the right a Kewell on the left, and Gerrard in the middle trying to do a difficult one on one. If the play ends in goal, man of the match, if it doesn't, counter attack, and serious teams will do us harm. For me Igor's option is a good one.

[Igor Zidane]

The only problem I had with the line up last night was that Crouch didn't start. Crouch at the moment, and this pains me to say, is our second best striker and should play alongside Torres. I cannot understand why Rafa doesn't play him, especially if he is looking to sell him in a few weeks time!!
Also when is Agger coming back, I miss him, Hyppia is too damned Slow these days.

Yeh ,should of played Crouch , sack Rafa. We could have won by more , your poo Rafa , you havent got a clue.

[Bad Bob]

I think a lot depends on who we have up front to be honest. If we have Kuyt and Voronin up front with  two defensive midfielders behind them and  Riise and Gerrard/Benayoun out wide we will struggle to score, if we have Torres and Crouch up front  with Kewell and Gerrard/Benayoun out wide, I would be happy to play 2 defensive midfielders behind them.

There both fair point's Bob and saint , but i was thinking more about having 2 sort of holding midfielders together , not both defensively minded midfielders ie mascherano and sissiko but more a creative and defensive midfielder ie sissoko and lucas as against Newcastle or Alonso and mascherano. It would cover us defensively without taking away the creativety. With those type of midfielders , it should be more than enough to cover the whole of the midfield ,with gerrard getting back when needed.

I like that idea, mate.  I'm just not sure Lucas is quite ready for that yet in this type of high-pressure game.  Alonso, of course, is and it would be great to have him available for games like the Marseille match or the showdown with the Mancs.

[Igor Zidane]

I think a lot depends on who we have up front to be honest. If we have Kuyt and Voronin up front with  two defensive midfielders behind them and  Riise and Gerrard/Benayoun out wide we will struggle to score, if we have Torres and Crouch up front  with Kewell and Gerrard/Benayoun out wide, I would be happy to play 2 defensive midfielders behind them.

There both fair point's Bob and saint , but i was thinking more about having 2 sort of holding midfielders together , not both defensively minded midfielders ie mascherano and sissiko but more a creative and defensive midfielder ie sissoko and lucas as against Newcastle or Alonso and mascherano. It would cover us defensively without taking away the creativety. With those type of midfielders , it should be more than enough to cover the whole of the midfield ,with gerrard getting back when needed.

I like that idea, mate.  I'm just not sure Lucas is quite ready for that yet in this type of high-pressure game.  Alonso, of course, is and it would be great to have him available for games like the Marseille match or the showdown with the Mancs.

You could be right about Lucas bob , but he has really impressed me ,the games he's played. I have a hunch he'd be fine.

[account deleted by request]

I think a lot depends on who we have up front to be honest. If we have Kuyt and Voronin up front with  two defensive midfielders behind them and  Riise and Gerrard/Benayoun out wide we will struggle to score, if we have Torres and Crouch up front  with Kewell and Gerrard/Benayoun out wide, I would be happy to play 2 defensive midfielders behind them.

There both fair point's Bob and saint , but i was thinking more about having 2 sort of holding midfielders together , not both defensively minded midfielders ie mascherano and sissiko but more a creative and defensive midfielder ie sissoko and lucas as against Newcastle or Alonso and mascherano. It would cover us defensively without taking away the creativety. With those type of midfielders , it should be more than enough to cover the whole of the midfield ,with gerrard getting back when needed.

I must admit Igor a few times last night I thought Gerrard went roaming forward a bit too much, and left the cupboard a bit bare behind. Hopefully Lucas will get a few more opportunities to show us what he's got, even when Alonso gets back and the competition for places becomes even more difficult.

As for Gerrard on the right,I think he can show the required discipline when called upon, and with Kewell on the other flank gives us a balance and goal threat that none of our other wide players can match.

[Sabre]

As for Gerrard on the right,I think he can show the required discipline when called upon, and with Kewell on the other flank gives us a balance and goal threat that none of our other wide players can match.

So do I, but why call him upon to do so if we can use his threat and solve the unbalance with other options?

Of course he'd know to play a less lurking the area role with more sacrifice, I just think he can play with a free role (plus he's always generous tracking back) while we reduce to minimum the risks by having always people watching his back.

[Bad Bob]

I think a lot depends on who we have up front to be honest. If we have Kuyt and Voronin up front with  two defensive midfielders behind them and  Riise and Gerrard/Benayoun out wide we will struggle to score, if we have Torres and Crouch up front  with Kewell and Gerrard/Benayoun out wide, I would be happy to play 2 defensive midfielders behind them.

There both fair point's Bob and saint , but i was thinking more about having 2 sort of holding midfielders together , not both defensively minded midfielders ie mascherano and sissiko but more a creative and defensive midfielder ie sissoko and lucas as against Newcastle or Alonso and mascherano. It would cover us defensively without taking away the creativety. With those type of midfielders , it should be more than enough to cover the whole of the midfield ,with gerrard getting back when needed.

I like that idea, mate.  I'm just not sure Lucas is quite ready for that yet in this type of high-pressure game.  Alonso, of course, is and it would be great to have him available for games like the Marseille match or the showdown with the Mancs.

You could be right about Lucas bob , but he has really impressed me ,the games he's played. I have a hunch he'd be fine.

In hindsight I think you're right, Igor--Lucas probably would have done the business last night with Gerrard out on the right.  I say that because Quaresma offered very little down that flank.  I presume that the Portuguese lad is capable of more than he showed last night (although I still think he's well short of the hype) and if he'd had a bit more about him, he might have caused us some significant problems down our right flank. 

FWIW, I like the look of Lucas too but I'd like to see him get a run of Premiership games against mid-table or lower opposition--preferably partnering someone like Mascherano rather than Sissoko.  With so much riding on these CL games--both on and off the pitch--I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea of throwing this lad in at the deep end.

[Lando_Griffin]

Did we lose?

No.

So rotation worked last night.

[account deleted by request]

As for Gerrard on the right,I think he can show the required discipline when called upon, and with Kewell on the other flank gives us a balance and goal threat that none of our other wide players can match.

So do I, but why call him upon to do so if we can use his threat and solve the unbalance with other options?

Of course he'd know to play a less lurking the area role with more sacrifice, I just think he can play with a free role (plus he's always generous tracking back) while we reduce to minimum the risks by having always people watching his back.

I am not a lover of playing only one striker Sabre, I know you prefer it mate, but I think if you get the right partnership up front, 2 strikers is much more productive (one creative and one great finisher).

I also think over time it can have a very negative effect on a striker battling away up front on his own. I remember Gary Burtles (sp) who looked top class at Forest early in his career. Faded to nothing after a few years playing lone striker.

Probably different philosophies due to upbringing etc. or maybe because our football is a little more physical?

[Leonmc0708]

Did we lose?

No.

So rotation worked last night.

We won inspite of the team that "he" put out. 

[dawson99]

its the difference of rotation for rotations ake, and changes that are needed...

thats what i think anyway. rafa just seems to know slightly more what canges work best... but these are things he could have worked out in training instead of costing us valuable points in the premiership. but its worked lately so no harsh words from me

[account deleted by request]

Typical, here we are discussing the subtle differences and nuances of different approaches and styles of play , and Leon stepps in with both his size 14's and ruins it