Liverpool FC Forum

by **Zi-Dan Agger** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:05 pm

I read in another thread someone say that they dont think Rafa knows his best XI and that if asked the forum would all give a range of different answers. Therfore I think it would be interesting to see exactly what everyone thinks our best XI for the coming season actually is. After alot of thought mine would have to be;

GK: Reina
LB: Riise (depending on the arrival of Heinze)
RB: Finnan
CB: Agger
CB: Carragher
LM: Kewell
CM: Gerrard
CM: Alonso (Mascherano)
RM: Pennant
CF: Kuyt
CF: Torres

Feel free to slate me....

by **shades** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:13 pm

Agree with most except Kuyt.. I would put in Crouch

by **ken_job** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:31 pm

Agree also but i'd go for Torres and Voronin for a few games at the start of the season and see if Voronin is up to it? if not - revert back to Crouch

by **shades** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:34 pm

Yeah Voronin been performing well during the past few friendly matches, got to see how he is when the season starts

by **RichardLFC1** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:43 pm

Exactly the same x1 but Mascerano not Alonso

by **JoeTerp** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:57 pm

Already seen all 4 strikers mentioned. And since 2 of them are new Rafa has no idea how either will do in England and what partnership will work best until he tries them in an actual game

by **weringo** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:58 pm

Mine is pretty different:

Reina

Finnan Carra Agger Aurelio

Gerrard Masch Alonso Kewell

Crouch Torres

Aurelio instead of Riise because he's a better crosser, he's a better dribbler and I think with a decent run in the team he's a better defender as well.
Gerrard on the right because Pennant is poor and I don't like his attitude, and the Gerrard & Alonso partnership in the middle is hit and miss.
Crouch instead of Kuyt because we definately need more goals from the team and Crouch is a better finisher, he can also benefit from the quality crossing of Aurelio, Kewell, Gerrard and Finnan. Crouch does well in the air when the cross has a bit of pace on it, last season we had Pennant and Gonzales on the wings who prefer to chip the ball in rather than whip it in.

by **RichardLFC1** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:12 pm

weringo wrote:Mine is pretty different:

Reina

Finnan Carra Agger Aurelio

Gerrard Masch Alonso Kewell

Crouch Torres

Aurelio instead of Riise because he's a better crosser, he's a better dribbler and I think with a decent run in the team he's a better defender as well.
Gerrard on the right because Pennant is poor and I don't like his attitude, and the Gerrard & Alonso partnership in the middle is hit and miss.
Crouch instead of Kuyt because we definately need more goals from the team and Crouch is a better finisher, he can also benefit from the quality crossing of Aurelio, Kewell, Gerrard and Finnan. Crouch does well in the air when the cross has a bit of pace on it, last season we had Pennant and Gonzales on the wings who prefer to chip the ball in rather than whip it in.

Its your opinion so im not going to say what the feck u tlking bout but i think that Gerrard in the centre is the key to our success. Its like Chelsea playing Lampard on the right or Man utd playing Rooney left wing or arsenal playing Fabregas right back. They lose all there quality when played out of position

by **weringo** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:31 pm

RichardLFC1 wrote:
weringo wrote:Mine is pretty different:

Reina

Finnan Carra Agger Aurelio

Gerrard Masch Alonso Kewell

Crouch Torres

Aurelio instead of Riise because he's a better crosser, he's a better dribbler and I think with a decent run in the team he's a better defender as well.
Gerrard on the right because Pennant is poor and I don't like his attitude, and the Gerrard & Alonso partnership in the middle is hit and miss.
Crouch instead of Kuyt because we definately need more goals from the team and Crouch is a better finisher, he can also benefit from the quality crossing of Aurelio, Kewell, Gerrard and Finnan. Crouch does well in the air when the cross has a bit of pace on it, last season we had Pennant and Gonzales on the wings who prefer to chip the ball in rather than whip it in.

Its your opinion so im not going to say what the feck u tlking bout but i think that Gerrard in the centre is the key to our success. Its like Chelsea playing Lampard on the right or Man utd playing Rooney left wing or arsenal playing Fabregas right back. They lose all there quality when played out of position

I think we have to think about the team rather than our best player, looking at the midfield of Pennant, Gerrard and Alonso/Masch would you say it is stronger than Gerrard, Masch and Alonso? Also bearing in mind that Gerrard and Alonso in the middle don't gel too well.

Remember in 05/06 when Gerrard was playing on the right he usually ended up in the centre anyway getting involved with our every attack, so it's not like he is getting any less of the ball, he had more of a free roaming role back then. Rafa also prefers his centre midfielders to have a very disciplined, primarily defensive role which again doesn't suit Gerrard. Considering all that I feel we get the most out of Gerrard's ability by playing him on the right.

by **cuppatea** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:36 pm

Same as last season, only with Torres instead of Kuyt.

Reina

Finan Carragher Agger Riise

Pennant Gerrard Mascherano Kewell

Torres Crouch

Whichever way you work it though, there are still glaring weaknesses in our strongest starting lineup (which can't be said for Chelsea or Man Utd imo).

by **JoeTerp** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:38 pm

cuppatea wrote:Same as last season, only with Torres instead of Kuyt.

Reina

Finan Carragher Agger Riise

Pennant Gerrard Mascherano Kewell

Torres Crouch

Whichever way you work it though, there are still glaring weaknesses in our strongest starting lineup (which can't be said for Chelsea or Man Utd imo).

not sure how you can put Kewell in there and also say "same as last season." Which do position do you see as the most glaring weakness

by **cuppatea** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:02 pm

I meant the same players we had last season, bar Torres.

As for weaknesses:

We don't have a leftback who can actually defend.

Kewell can't be relied upon for form or fitness and our only other alternative on the left is a 20 year old right footed striker who's looked disctinctly average in the friendlies he's played so far.

On the right it's either Gerrard, out of position, Benayoun, who for me is a squad player (and not a winger) or Pennant, who is good, but not great.

There's also still no real cover at centre back, and the thought of 2 of our first 3 being out with injury or suspension, and travelling to places like Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge with Paletta in the team, doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

by **JoeTerp** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:15 pm

cuppatea wrote:I meant the same players we had last season, bar Torres.

As for weaknesses:

We don't have a leftback who can actually defend.

Kewell can't be relied upon for form or fitness and our only other alternative on the left is a 20 year old right footed striker who's looked disctinctly average in the friendlies he's played so far.

On the right it's either Gerrard, out of position, Benayoun, who for me is a squad player (and not a winger) or Pennant, who is good, but not great.

There's also still no real cover at centre back, and the thought of 2 of our first 3 being out with injury or suspension, and travelling to places like Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge with Paletta in the team, doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

Thats why we are trying to get Hienze, and we have Aurelio coming back in mid September as well, which will allow Riise to play some at LM if Kewell goes down. Pennant was one of our best players (top 3 or 4) in the second half of last season and doesn't seem to have lost much form, but yes it doesnt ever seem like he will be Eliete but oh well, not that necessary. and Gerrard doesn't really have a weak position, just some that aren't ideal.

I think our main problem as mentioned in antother thread is our lack of out and out strikers that require goals for sustinance. too many who like to get involved with the rest of the play instead of focusing on the end game. And since we have commmitted so much money to that position we are not going to add there until next summer.

by **RichardLFC1** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:12 pm

cuppatea wrote:I meant the same players we had last season, bar Torres.

As for weaknesses:

We don't have a leftback who can actually defend.

Kewell can't be relied upon for form or fitness and our only other alternative on the left is a 20 year old right footed striker who's looked disctinctly average in the friendlies he's played so far.

On the right it's either Gerrard, out of position, Benayoun, who for me is a squad player (and not a winger) or Pennant, who is good, but not great.

There's also still no real cover at centre back, and the thought of 2 of our first 3 being out with injury or suspension, and travelling to places like Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge with Paletta in the team, doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

Riise is a good left back when he supports attacks he is a great player supporting the winger and there isnt a left back who can do both. Attack and defend apart from ashley cole but on that note Riise was the left back for most of the season last year well we conceeded the second least amount of goals behind only chelsea.

I think Kewell can be relied upon this season hes looked sharp in the pre seasons but with negative comments against him why are you even bothered. If your talking about Babel as his cover and labelling him average then you may aswell say that Torres was a waste of money as he hasnt looked too sharp yet.

Gerrard should not be played on the right he is a central midfeild player not a right midfeilder. Pennant has looked good in the pre seasons and Benayoun is also a tricky lickle player

The 1st choice centre back pairing is Agger and Carragher yeah? WEll you have palletta and Hyypia as back up. Think about chelsea they had to have essien centre back for a bit last year and Man utd arent exactly raining excellent centre backs.

I dont see why some people are already being so negative. THe season hasnt started what the :censored:

wrong

by **JoeTerp** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:23 pm

RichardLFC1 wrote:I dont see why some people are already being so negative. THe season hasnt started what the wrong

its a very popular defense mechanism. If the team does flop they you can feel some what vindicated in that well at least you were right, but if the team does to well, then you win because what you really wanted to happen actually happened. Its always easier to try and look for negatives and shoot down hopes. But at the same time, it is pointless to be in the "in rafa we trust" camp, because 1) he will make mistakes 2) if that is everyones arguement every time than it makes for boring discussions.

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