Liverpool FC Forum

by **GYBS** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:59 am

The thing about playing 442 is we lack real options on the left and right - babel cant really play in a 4-4-2 . for the attacking fullbacks to be used the 4-2-3-1 option is great as the two dms provide protection for the fullbacks to bomb forward

by **redrover** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:08 am

The Manhattan Project wrote:
oi manhattan we're not part of the british isles dont be getting us mixed up with that rabble up north

"British Isles" is a geographic term, not a political one.

It doesn't mean the Irish republic has anything to do with the British state.

Just like the term "North America" doesn't mean that Canada (which is part of North America) belongs to the United States of America.

As for Keane and indeed Barry, while the Barry deal is long and drawn out and has made headlines due to O'Neill's absurd public hysteria, I think both signings are strong indications that Rafa is placing a priority on the Premiership. Both very experienced Prem players. They'll add some much needed steel to the squad. I don't see teams like Everscum and Blackburn kicking those guys off the field.

no offence taken lad just pointing out the obvious

by **LegBarnes** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:22 am

Robbie can play any where wide on wings, striker , 2nd striker , attacking midfield , midfield , so let rafa chose what to do with him.

I like to see this line up

Reina

carra skrtel agger dos

Masch
gerrard alonso

Babel Keane

Torres

by **andy_g** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:25 am

Judge wrote:he should play in exactly the same place as he did for spurs

who do you know in our current squad that can pass the ball accurately from liverpool to north london?

by **LegBarnes** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:28 am

andy_g wrote:
Judge wrote:he should play in exactly the same place as he did for spurs

who do you know in our current squad that can pass the ball accurately from liverpool to north london?

Damn beat me to it was gonna say where in white heart lane ? lol :bowdown

by **GYBS** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:49 am

LegBarnes wrote:Robbie can play any where wide on wings, striker , 2nd striker , attacking midfield , midfield , so let rafa chose what to do with him.

I like to see this line up

Reina

carra skrtel agger dos

Masch
gerrard alonso

Babel Keane

Torres

why move carra out of the centre ?

would prefer finnan or arbeloa at right back maybe even darby

and would replace babel with kuyt and use babel as an impact sub .

by **Redman in wales** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:57 am

LegBarnes wrote:Robbie can play any where wide on wings, striker , 2nd striker , attacking midfield , midfield , so let rafa chose what to do with him.

I like to see this line up

Reina

carra skrtel agger dos

Masch
gerrard alonso

Babel Keane

Torres

that sort of formation maybe rafa's thinking behind the whole barry over alonso debacle as they could then line up like this:

Reina

carra skrtel agger dos

Masch
gerrard barry

Babel Keane

Torres

with babel and keane able to move out wide and gerrard and barry able to come inside. Lots of fluidity and movement there and lots of possibilities... no?

by **GYBS** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:07 am

If we play the above formation the three in the centre would be a lot more tighter - like the old chavs used to play with there three - would prefer xabi in there as opposed to masher - both xabi and gerrard would be able to push forward a bit more - but the one thing we would need from that would be two attacking fullbacks ? why have carra there when he is our best cb and while solid in defence isnt the best pushing forward ?? also babel last season was quite poor when starting and after the way he played in the euros can definatly see kuyt there instead of babel with babel used as the impact sub .

by **66-1112520797** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:13 am

would prefer xabi in there as opposed to masher - both xabi and gerrard would be able to push forward a bit more

Thing is Xabi doesnt push forward, he tends to sit in a "comfort" zone, just infront of the back four. Now whether thats down to Rafa and his tactics 'telling Xabi to sit' or the fact that Xabi isnt the most mobile of players and is more likely to get caught of position is one of Newkits mysteries.

Plus, IMHO if we had Barry in the midfield alongside Gerrard and Mascha we wouldnt need Xabi

On the subject of Carra at fullback, I personally wouldnt want to see it. Not just to fit Skertel in, nothings broke at the back and it certainly doesnt need fixing in the center. Its not worth the risk just yet IMO playing Skertel and Agger in the bulk of games this season while Carra is still able to produce top performances. But IF Carra were used at RB, I'd prefer it to be in a 4-4-2 formation. I know its good to have attacking fullbacks in any formation, but for me the 4-2-3-1 formation requires the fullbacks to support more. Mainly because of the two holding midfielders in the center and the way the shape of the three AM's can easily become narrowed and lose its natural width, with the wider players coming inside more. As you have two DM's, one can drop in and fill in the gap or cover if a fullback has pushed on with that fullback reassured his @rse has been covered (I do like this formation it for me allows players to roam and move from position to position more, i.e Gerrard, Keane and Babel can interchange with eachother while the fullbacks can push on, knowing one of the DM's can shift, the 4-4-2 is a slightly more rigid formation, but one I like aswell lol). Carra as we know isnt great at this (getting forward & actually doing something) thats why I'd rather see the seemingly out going Arbeloa playing RB in a 4-2-3-1 formation than Carra.

Like this.

Reina

Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossena

Mascha Barry ?

Gerrard Keane Babel ?

Nando

Or

Reina

Carra Skertel Agger Dossena

Degen? Gerrard Mascha Barry

Torres Keane

Note: Before anyone jumps down my throat about team those team selections dont bother, the point of the post was about Carra and where he should play in what formation.

TBH I wouldnt know at this stage what our best formation is let or loan our best team is, so couldnt possibly say.

by **GYBS** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:16 am

Bamaga man wrote:
would prefer xabi in there as opposed to masher - both xabi and gerrard would be able to push forward a bit more

Thing is Xabi doesnt push forward, he tends to sit in a "comfort" zone, just infront of the back four. Now whether thats down to Rafa and his tactics 'telling Xabi to sit' or the fact that Xabi isnt the most mobile of players and is more likely to get caught of position is one of Newkits mysteries.

i think watching him during the euros is more to do with xabi being told to sit a bit as he seemed to push a lot higher for spain .

by **GYBS** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:18 am

And sorry my post was supposed to mean xabi instead of barry not masher

getting barry for me would be a step sideways at most maybe even backwards as think he doesnt offer anything we dont already have .

by **metalhead** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:28 am

Number 9 wrote:I just hope Rafa does'nt do something mad like play Keane on the left of midfield.He seems to like putting "strikers" out wide like Kuyt and Babel!
Please Rafa NOOOOOOO!
Everybody in their best position please!

Rafa did say that keane can play on the right.

hopefully he doesnt put him there.

by **ConnO'var** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:36 am

He's making all the right noises to start off his career with us. Here's hoping that the pair hit it off...... as a strikeforce that is.

Torres is my dream partner, says £20m Keane - Soccernet

Robbie Keane is relishing the prospect of teaming up with Fernando Torres after completing his £20.3million move from Tottenham to Liverpool. Keane, the 28-year-old Republic of Ireland captain, agreed a four-year deal at Anfield after undergoing a medical at Liverpool's Melwood training ground and could now establish a mouth-watering partnership in attack with Spain striker Torres. The pair could become one of the deadliest strike combinations in the Premier League, and Keane is a big fan of his new team-mate.

'He has been a revelation since he came to the Premier League. He was absolutely outstanding last year and also in the Euros with Spain,' Keane told the club's website. It is hard to leave Tottenham with some of the players they had - like Dimitar Berbatov, who I had a great relationship with - but Torres is probably the best striker in the world right now. Hopefully we can play a lot of games together and do well.'

Keane should play just off Torres in the Liverpool formation, and hopes to bridge the gap between midfield and Torres.

'I see myself as a second striker,' he said. 'I can play off the shoulder, link things up and play in the hole. You are always judged on scoring goals as a striker and I have always scored a lot of goals. Hopefully I can continue that here at Liverpool.'

The new Reds frontman turned down Liverpool as a 14-year-old in favour of joining Wolves, and is relieved the opportunity to join the club he supports came up again.

'The last four years have been great for me and I believe I am at my peak,' he said. 'I am at a good age and if I didn't come to Liverpool now, maybe the opportunity wouldn't come again. It has worked out perfectly for me and, hopefully, for Liverpool Football Club as well.'

Keane is set to be handed the number seven shirt, famously worn by Anfield legends including Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez revealed: 'We were talking about the number, and the big names that have had this number, so it will be inspirational for him to have it too.' Benitez expects Keane, who has also played for Coventry, Inter Milan and Leeds, to strike up a fearsome partnership with Torres.

'We were looking for a player with game intelligence and good movement who could play alongside Torres,' Benitez said. 'He can play with Torres up front and also on the right. He is a player who can give to us a lot of goals - normally he gets about 15 each year. We were looking for the workrate he can give to us, the game intelligence and also the goals.'

by **metalhead** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:49 am

You know, people may disagree about the fee or say that the fee is steep, it is true, its alot of money but we shouldn't be worried about that really because Rafa once again got the player he wants by splashing the cash and he didnt go buy 3 or 4 average players that would cost 25m all together, he is getting the quality he needs.

by **Scottbot** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:53 am

Kharhaz wrote:
Rush Job wrote:
Kharhaz wrote:Good signing but I thought the initial reports of £20 million were daft, to find we have paid a little over that is just ridiculous. I welcome the player, without a doubt he will improve the team but worth 20 million? 10 million too much for me.

He will improve our forward options, but in himself he is not worth £20 million. If this is the price rafa is willing to pay for the players he has been linked with then in a way I hope the board have no other money to give. Rafa is looking at good players but he is paying daft money. Id rather the club not submit to such ridiculous offers. Im pleased with us not paying over the odds for barry but we have paid over the odds for keane. I'll support the club as I always have done, but im not filled with confidence for the new season.

Mate, do you not understand the football transfer market and why the club has had to pay this sort of money for the player? It's very similar to the Barry situation. Keane was Tottenham's best player last season and has been their best over the last 3-4 seasons. Spurs did not want to sell him so the only way to get him is to pay the money. Clubs do not sell their best players on the cheap and i'm wondering who you could have bought for the £10 million you would have been willing to pay? Evidently that wouldn't have been enough for Andy Johnson (who isn't good enough) and i'm not sure who else you can find for TK Max money?

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