ConnO'var wrote:JoeTerp wrote:ahh but ConnOv'ar I never questioned wether Villa and Torres could play together, I question whether we have the right set up of players to create a 9 player system to adequately support the two strikers. The point coming from that most of our success came last year from 10 players supporting Torres as a lone striker (with Gerrard getting heavily involved himself).
Like has been stated before I think it would be a little bit of a waste and or miss use of funds to buy a player LIKE David Villa and play him in last year's Kuyt, or Babel role. If you play him in last years Gerrard role, well now Gerrard is out there on the right (and some people are ok with that, but some aren't and I don't know what camp your in). THe "other" option would be to adopt a 4-4-2 in which Babel is now playing more of an out and out left midfield role, in which I think it is perfectly legitamate to question whether he will have success there or not. Also there would no longer be two holding midfielders, and that may or may not have a huge impact on how the games are played.
I feel like I am saying the same thing over and over

Sorry Joe... misunderstood your point.... really need to read posts a little better before jumping in...

To answer your question is a little difficult as it depends a lot on your footballing points of view and likes and for that, there's no hard and fast rule, only preferences. Me? I'm an advocate of putting players in their best positions and formulating the team and strategy to suit the players we have whenever we play against the so called "inferior" teams. For teams with better quality manpower, then I prefer the neutralisation approach where we counter their threats via sacrificing our players' preferred playing style.
With the current squad of players, this is how I would set-up the team if we had Villa as well as Torres. (I've ignored Dossena and Degen as I'm yet to see them play so can't judge them outright).
IMO opinion, this is our current crop of best players.
Reina, Arbeloa, Carra, Agger, Aurelio, Gerrard, Mascherano, Xabi, Skrtel, Babel and Torres.... + David Villa. Which leaves us with possible teams that I personally think will work.
My favoured 5-3-2, which has many detractors (as our wing backs aren't good enough) or a 4-3-3 which has its own problems as well (inadequate cover down the flanks when defending).
Reina
Carra Agger Skrtel
Arbeloa Aurelio
Gerrard Xabi Masch
Torres Villa
OR
Reina
Arbeloa Carra Agger Aurelio
Gerrard Xabi Masch
Villa Torres Babel
With the resources on hand, these are the 2 outfield formations that I feel will work if we get Villa. In a classic 4-4-2 or Rafa's (apparent) favourite 4-2-3-1 (which can translate into a 4-5-1), I don't think David Villa will be as effective. To do an effective 4-4-2 and STILL incorporate Villa into the squad, we are short of 2 wingers (seems to always boil down to that even after years of having that problem).
So to answer you, yes I think that we can have Villa in the team with the current squad and still be an improvement over last year..... but the Stu is absolutely spot on, imo. The set-up has to change.