Liverpool FC Forum

Here's an idea, why don't we try signing someone who is at their best in a system we play/plan to start playing? Then all this "he needs time to adapt" would be over with a damn sight sooner.
Look at it:

Adam from Blackpool's 4-3-3 - different style of play, different team impetus. Result? Pap signing for us.

Henderson from Sunderland's central midfield - played on the wing (wtf was Kenny even thinking about when this one came about). Result? Pap, apart from when he's played in a system that suits him.

Downing - bought from Villa and played exactly the same within himself, but in a team with a different mentality when it comes to attacking. At Villa, they would try and flood the box with players (Carew, Heskey, Agbonlahor, Bent, Petrov, Dunne, etc, albeit not at the same time) who would get on the end of the deliveries around 40-50% of the time as they're all spanking in the air.  At Liverpool, there's often 2 players in the box maximum,  Carroll and Suarez, which simple maths tells you makes it very difficult for us to score when there's up to 5 opposition defenders + the 'keeper in there. Carroll wins a massive amount of aerial balls but because he's the only one realistically capable of getting onto them unless they're inch-perfect, he's often isolated and facing away from goal. Our central midfield lacks runners into the box, meaning that almost every attack is broken down quite easily at this point.

Stuff this signing players who look good for teams who play a totally different style to us. If we are to persist in wing-play, we need to look at signing a right winger who will take players on and cross the ball. Then we need at least 2 CMs who can advance quickly through the middle during an attack and are in the box ready to get on the end of a cross, or at the very least pick up the knock-downs from Carroll/clearances from the defenders. (Stevie is made for this role - we just need another one.) We also need a reliable, mobile defensive midfielder to cover the gaps left by the attacking players, which is where we are missing Lucas.

Let's get back to Rafa's zonal marking where we showed the rest how it's done, use Coates as first choice if he can play zonal properly (or buy a CD to suit that philosophy if not), and I'd be tempted to buy Higuain if they'll sell and then use Suarez on the right of a front 3, like so:

                                                                                                       Reina

                            Johnson                                     Coates                                       Agger                                   Enrique

                                                                                                       Lucas
                                             Gerrard                                                                                                      Downing

                                                                              Suarez               Carroll            Higuain

Luis is more of a creator than a finisher anyway and likes to drop back into midfield too much for an out-and-out striker. In times of need this could easily translate into a 4-4-2 with Andy and Higuain up front and Suarez on the right, but it would also allow for there to be 4 players (with Gerrard) in the box for Downing or Suarez to cross for. It would require more discipline from the fullbacks, but it's a fairly mobile back 6 with Lucas and Pepe so should be able to cope. I wouldn't necessarily advocate this system for every match, but it only requires one signing over the summer which, if we've only got £30m to spend, I would rather go towards a player that will improve us immensly. Gomez from Beyern would also be a good buy, but I would imagine his value would be too high after their CL run.

Sorry Lando but where is our player of the year in that formation??

RED BEERGOGGLES » Thu May 24, 2012 2:40 pm wrote:When, rather than if we get Martinez ,if he doesn't bring Victor Mose's and James McCarthy with him I will never forgive him .

When Martinez comes Victor moses will be here too. He is exactly what we need at the club regardless of the manager and the fact that martinez is his current manager just makes it all the better

victor fooking moses .
thats exactly the type of sh!t that martinez needs to leave behind if he does get this job.
id be gutted if he's allowed to sign players of that calibre for liverpool.

red till i die!! » Fri May 25, 2012 9:53 am wrote:victor fooking moses .
thats exactly the type of sh!t that martinez needs to leave behind if he does get this job.
id be gutted if he's allowed to sign players of that calibre for liverpool.

LOL.

Hes not that bad if he can be had cheap as a squad player.

weve signed enough players like that.
look at whats arrived last year in hendo,adam,carroll and downing and apart from carroll towards the end the rest have been so poor.taking players from lower clubs and hoping they are wolves hiding in sheepskins isnt the answer.
moses in fairness to him doesnt look the worst out there but he's far from looking the best.
surely we can aim higher than this

RichardLFC1 » Fri May 25, 2012 6:54 am wrote:Sorry Lando but where is our player of the year in that formation??

We need aerial dominance and as neither Martin nor Danny offer this one has to drop out of the first 11 and I feel that Agger offers more to the team. Bring back Skrtel as and when Danny is out injured. I doubt he'd have been player of the year if we hadn't had a midfield which yielded to all and sundry time and again. That's not to say I don't rate him - I just think Agger is the better player and more suited to play alongside a Sami-type player in a zonal system.

Whilst I do have faith in FSG and I believe they will appoint the right people, can't say I'm not feeling a little depressed seeing our rivals strengthen further. Chelsea signing Marin, Hazard and possibly Hulk. Arsenal getting Podolski and possibly M'Vila and Llorente. United probably getting Kagawa and City can get whoever the hell they want. Gonna be mighty tough to get back amongst those champions league places. Sigh.

And we have Wee Jay.

Reg » Tue May 29, 2012 8:40 am wrote:And we have Wee Jay.

well let's hope that will change soon. I really don't rate Spearing at all.

seen as we might not be armed with a warchest this year here is a look at 20 bosmans from the prem this year.

(1) mohammed diame.
(2) martin petrov.
(3) salomon kalou.
(4) michael owen.
(5) juinor hoillett.
(6)hugo rolladega.
(7) david dunn.
(8) rory delap.
(9) kevin davies.
(10) heruelho gomez.
(11)paul scharner.
(12) owen hargreeves.
(13) johnathan woodgate.
(14) emile heskey.
(15) craig gordon.
(16) ricardo fuller.
(17) andy johnson.
(18) manuel allmunia.
(19)simeon jackson.
(20) jose bosingwa.

not a great selection but for me the picks of the lot would be hoilett,diame and at a push petrov.
lets hope we have a few quid to spend

Lando_Griffin » Thu May 24, 2012 3:36 pm wrote:Here's an idea, why don't we try signing someone who is at their best in a system we play/plan to start playing?

Lets just hope we get a manager who knows what type of system he wants to use with the players we have, and one that can adapt our squad to fit that system.

stmichael » Mon May 21, 2012 2:52 pm wrote:berbatov is on a free  

we should be going all out to get hoilett. we'd have to pay a small compensation fee but it'd be worth it. the kid is class.

Totally agree that Hoilett has to be somewhere at the top of our list because he was a constant threat for blackburn (not easy in that team) and he fits the mold FSG seem to have for new players

Luciano Narsingh. He's one to watch at the Euros in a couple of weeks.