Liverpool FC Forum

by **Big Niall** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:13 pm

I would have a fit (i.e. not this season) Agger as my first choice as he is the most comfortable on the ball and I think having defenders who are comfortable on the ball is essential to building a title winning team.

I'd have the legend Hypia at number 4 due to age and pace (not sure if i'd give him a new contract).

It is still too early to see judge Skyrtel so Carra for now.

BTW - I think JC is terrible at full back, not a criticism as he is a centre half but for Rafa's squad to have so little cover for full back is terrible.

by **Big Niall** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:14 pm

I also think Finnan is getting on and I don't have confidence in Aurelio or Arbeloa. :down:

by **Bad Bob** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:32 pm

I'd still choose Carra and Agger as the CB pairing, provided Agger gets back to fitness and the form he was enjoying before the injury. Skrtel will get plenty of games anyway and eventually Carragher will make way. We must hold onto Sami though--invaluable leadership and still a great warrior for the cause...what better cover could you ask for? :nod

by **Zi-Dan Agger** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:16 pm

The Manhattan Project wrote:
yet they do all the ugly stuff well too.

Skrtel certainly does.

Have you seen his face?

He's the second ugliest defender in football history.

Number one is Phillip Senderos.

Martin Keown? :wwww

by **SouthCoastShankly** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:30 pm

Zi-Dan Agger wrote:
The Manhattan Project wrote:
yet they do all the ugly stuff well too.

Skrtel certainly does.

Have you seen his face?

He's the second ugliest defender in football history.

Number one is Phillip Senderos.

Martin Keown?

Alan Stubbs

You should check out www.uglyfootballers.com. Here's a few of my favourites -

2006 Premiership XI

2004 Premiership XI

by **ivor_the_injun** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:40 pm

Feels like a long time since we had this kind of dilemma at the back. Hopefully once Agger's back we'll have fierce competition for the spots, and having quality back-up will do Carra's long-term future at the club no end of good. He's been unrestable for far too long, and now we finally have options to come in and offer reassuring alternatives.

Shame that Finnan's having a poor season, as I thought right-back was going to be really competitive between him and Arbeloa, but unless his best form returns he looks like being a permanent sub beyond this season. As for the centre, Carra and Agger when fit, but it's good to see Skrtel settling in after a very dodgy debut.

by **JoeTerp** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:05 pm

If it is true that we would look into a Rafinha type player on the right, I can't see Finnan staying. Arbeloa's versatility and possibly even better quality make him much more valuable to the club that finnan once you rule out that neither will be starting on a regular basis. I would think Hyypia's last year will be next year, then Arbeloa can take the 4th CB spot as well as the 2nd RB and LB spot. Fewer amoutn of players in teh team = fewer rotations AND more money to bring in less players of higher quality. a year from now I might be able to see this working:
Reina
Skrtel Carra Agger
Rafinha ALonso mascherano Insua
Gerrard
Torres (name your favorite World class level striker)
similar to what we are doing now but more solid at the back in my opinion and instead of Gerrard having two half targets in support in the form of Kuyt and babel, he has one freaking awseome Torres clone being who is baggin em in like nobody's business, oh yea and by the way that is only going to open the play up for Torres more. If its true about Rafinha being in the Dani Alves mold (or jsut get alves but we probably will be priced out of that) and from what I have seen of Insua, we shouldn't have much to worry about getting help on the flanks. PLUS, the fact that they know that 3 centre halves AND macherano AND Xabi are back there, they are going to throw caution to the wind and help out wide to provide the neccessary crosses

if that is too defensive then how bout:
reina
Skrtel Carra Agger
Rafinha Mascherano Aurelio
Gerrard Lucas
(that SS everyone keeps talking about)
Torres

I think I could do this all day I better stop

by **LFC2007** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:40 pm

Joe Terp's crazy formations

by **Magz** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:30 pm

Mate they should just have the Man Utd line up for the ugliest team in football in 2008: Teveth, Shrek, Vag lips Rio, Gary the c8nt neville, Van Der Sauce, Browned his pants.

by **Owzat** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:59 pm

What a pleasant problem to have, three CBs and deciding which pair to build the defence around. I'd go with Carra and Agger, use Skrtel as injury cover and for games where players need resting, Europe, Carling Cup etc. Say thanks to Sami and send him off to see out his career somewhere and find a promising youngster to provide the fourth CB and cover that we have lacked at times.

What I don't want to see is Carra back at FB on any kind of regular basis. He's a great pro and capable of playing there, but he's best and we're best when he's in the centre and I'd rather make Agger or Skrtel cover for FBs if need be. It isn't ideal playing CBs at FB anyway, Carra isn't the greatest going forward although he shows his true professionalism when playing the role

by **The Kid Torres** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:21 am

Personally, my back line would consist of (when all fit and available of course) Alvaro Arbeloa, Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher and Steve Finnan.

Skrtel has done very well since his poor debut against H&W in the FA Cup. He has decent pace, strength, wins a lot in the air and looks quite composed on the ball, but Agger was tremedous last season and should he reach the same form when he's 100% fit again he would be one of the first names on my team-sheet.

John Arne Riise has been a tremendous servent to the club but I just feel that Arbeloa's extra pace and defensive ability puts him ahead of John. The other player to miss out, Fabio Aurelio, I'm as yet to be convinced. He has a good left foot (even though his set pieces for us have been far from great if truth be told) but he lacks pace and makes too many casual errors.

Benitez may see it differently though. I just hope he doesn't toy with the idea of playing Carrager at right-back (he's done extremely well there in the few games he's played in that position this season) so he can accomdate both Agger and Skrtel.

by **Toffeehater** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:28 am

JoeTerp wrote:If it is true that we would look into a Rafinha type player on the right, I can't see Finnan staying. Arbeloa's versatility and possibly even better quality make him much more valuable to the club that finnan once you rule out that neither will be starting on a regular basis. I would think Hyypia's last year will be next year, then Arbeloa can take the 4th CB spot as well as the 2nd RB and LB spot. Fewer amoutn of players in teh team = fewer rotations AND more money to bring in less players of higher quality. a year from now I might be able to see this working:
Reina
Skrtel Carra Agger
Rafinha ALonso mascherano Insua
Gerrard
Torres (name your favorite World class level striker)
similar to what we are doing now but more solid at the back in my opinion and instead of Gerrard having two half targets in support in the form of Kuyt and babel, he has one freaking awseome Torres clone being who is baggin em in like nobody's business, oh yea and by the way that is only going to open the play up for Torres more. If its true about Rafinha being in the Dani Alves mold (or jsut get alves but we probably will be priced out of that) and from what I have seen of Insua, we shouldn't have much to worry about getting help on the flanks. PLUS, the fact that they know that 3 centre halves AND macherano AND Xabi are back there, they are going to throw caution to the wind and help out wide to provide the neccessary crosses

if that is too defensive then how bout:
reina
Skrtel Carra Agger
Rafinha Mascherano Aurelio
Gerrard Lucas
(that SS everyone keeps talking about)
Torres

I think I could do this all day I better stop

I see u've got insua in almost all ur teams eh ??

by **RedBlood** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:11 am

insua is a great little player...we need to promote him to the first team next season as hes out grown the reserves and hes too good a talent not to give a chance

by **Toffeehater** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:43 am

RedBlood wrote:insua is a great little player...we need to promote him to the first team next season as hes out grown the reserves and hes too good a talent not to give a chance

i agree mate but slowly rafa shud ease him into the team , lets say carling cup matches , Fa cup games , or maybe against lesser oppositions

by **RedBlood** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 11:12 pm

skrtel has impressed me alot since he joined i feel in years to come him and agger will make a great partnership

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