Liverpool FC Forum

by **stmichael** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:00 pm

i don't know why, but i've got this nag in the back of my head that rafa's going to play carragher at right back with skrtel in the centre alongside agger a lot this season.

by **Leonmc0708** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:01 pm

Fo Dne wrote:
Leonmc0708 wrote:
Fo Dne wrote:Obviously at the moment we still have weak links in the side.I feel upfront, finally we have two strikers who can not only work as a partnership and compliment each others game but are both excellent players and goalscorers. Its a long time since I've had confidence that we have two strikers with the quality to help us win games, I finally feel we have that now and with Kuyt as backup I think we've got a good set of forward players.In terms of midfield though we still seem top heavy in cental midfield. With Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano. Now for me, the ideal would be Gerrard back on the right side with Xabi and Mascherano in the middle, Barry signed to play on the left. The thing is, if we sign Barry, I can see him playing centrally at the expense of Xabi, which i think is silly as you would have to have worse players on the pitch to make that system work.For me though, the real worry is the defence, not a worry we've had for a while. Finnan lacked a bit of form last season, he wasn't at his best, to be fair he wasn't poor either, just not at his usual high standards. Arbeloa isn't good enough either for me, he's a decent squad player at best, but no more. Then theres Degen, the less said the better. On the left, Dossena hasn't convinced me at all, I'm hoping he'll improve as he settles which is a distinct possiblity so on that front we'll cut him some slack, Aurelio is decent back up on that side. But in the centre I feel we're lacking alot. Hyypia is no longer what he was but for me is still equal to the other centre halfs which shows our weakness in my opinion. I think in terms or arial ability we are a very average side with no-one from the "first eleven" being dominant in the air which is something that worries me greatly.Our goalkeepers solid. I think with three top additions we could become a truely outstanding side though.Personally I'd like to see a right back, a top centre half and a left winger. If money was no object I'd look to sign Woodgate (now his injury problems appear to be behind him, Richards (who would add pace, power and arial ability to the defence and Robben who if he could stay fit would provide class down the wing. Torres KeaneRobben Mascherano Alonso GerrardDossena Woodgate Carragher Richards ReinaThat would work for me...
Keep it realistic he says ?

Yet another marvelous insightful post.

T0sser!

Insight :

Real MAdrid WILL NOT SELL Arjen Robben

Spurs WILL NOT SELL Woodgate

Micah Richards would cost AT LEAST £25m

by **Roger Red Hat** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:13 pm

ngog looks good cover for strikers to me.

by **Scottbot** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:18 pm

stmichael wrote:i don't know why, but i've got this nag in the back of my head that rafa's going to play carragher at right back with skrtel in the centre alongside agger a lot this season.

Same as mate. Will be a massive mistake for me if he does. He has to play in the middle.

by **66-1112520797** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:19 pm

stmichael wrote:i don't know why, but i've got this nag in the back of my head that rafa's going to play carragher at right back with skrtel in the centre alongside agger a lot this season.

Personally I'm not comfortable with that, I get the slight gitters thinking about that. :sniffle

Bad move IMO if he does decide to shove Carra out to fullback.

by **woof woof !** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:28 pm

Fo Dne wrote:Come the end of the season, again I expect everyone to be banging on about how we need another defender or two.

, Don't see yer point, apart from patting yerself on the back with a "I said it first". Many members seem to already agree with your declaration that the defence needs to/could be strengthened, some (myself included) perhaps don't give it the same priority as yourself for this season. Certainly at the end of the season some will be "Banging on" about needing another defender or two and why not ? Sammi for starters turns 35 later this year and must be playing what is surely his last season of any significance with us.

As for your assertion that we should go for Woodgate and Richards. Woodgate since his back operation 2-3 (?) years ago has returned to form and fitness and would be an asset to almost any defence anywhere. Spurs defending last season was at times an absolute joke (despite Woodgates presence) I doubt very much if they would release the one man who managed to give it some credibility, and for that reason imo, the chances of anyone signing him now are virtually nil.

The chances of signing Micah Richards are even slimmer unless we are prepared to shell out £20 million at least (my valuation) and even then I doubt if City would let him go (?). It didn't take a rocket scientist back in the 2006 youth cup final to see that he was an outstanding player, that was the time when we should have been moving hell and high water to sign him, not 2 years later when the lad has shown the rest of the world what a monster he is.

Would be over the proverbial moon to have either of them at the club but, talking about signing them this season

, lets keep it real.

by **account deleted by request** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:33 pm

I think a lot depends on what formation Rafa finally decides to go with. If we go with only one defensive midfielder (Masch/Gerrard) in a 4-4-2..... we would need a strong back 4, and defensively Carra is our best RB. If we go with the usual 2 def mids (Masch/Alonso)in a 4-2-3-1, we would need more attacking options from our fb's and Carra isn't our best option going forward.

This is perhaps were Barry would come into the equation as he is more disciplined than Gerrard but more comfortable going forward than Alonso and could help link play better.

I certainly would have no worries about Carra playing RB, IF we have the right attacking players and formation.

by **stmichael** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:37 pm

Bamaga man wrote:
stmichael wrote:i don't know why, but i've got this nag in the back of my head that rafa's going to play carragher at right back with skrtel in the centre alongside agger a lot this season.

Personally I'm not comfortable with that, I get the slight gitters thinking about that.

Bad move IMO if he does decide to shove Carra out to fullback.

The right back position still concerns me full stop. I like the look of Dossena at left back but I still don't see a nailed down first choice right back in the squad.

Finnan looks as though he is on his way, Degen seems a bit injury prone and the jury is still out on him ability wise while Arbeloa suffered with injuries and a loss of form last season. Stephen Darby has impressed in pre-season and may have a chance of staking a claim.

All in all, I'd go for Arbeloa as I like the lad. He looked excellent when he first joined both defensively and going forward. However, he had a spell on the sidelines last season due to injury and a loss of form but hopefully will be back to his best this season.

by **66-1112520797** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:44 pm

s@int wrote:I think a lot depends on what formation Rafa finally decides to go with. If we go with only one defensive midfielder (Masch/Gerrard) in a 4-4-2..... we would need a strong back 4, and defensively Carra is our best RB. If we go with the usual 2 def mids (Masch/Alonso)in a 4-2-3-1, we would need more attacking options from our fb's and Carra isn't our best option going forward.

This is perhaps were Barry would come into the equation as he is more disciplined than Gerrard but more comfortable going forward than Alonso and could help link play better.

I certainly would have no worries about Carra playing RB, IF we have the right attacking players and formation.

Its not that playing Carra at FB worries me. The thing that worries me is playing Skertel and Agger at CB, I dont know why. But I feel more reasured when haing Carra at the back, plus he's a leader and organiser and shouts just aswell as he defends.

by **Ben1988** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:46 pm

this all points to carra playin right back

not only is that worryin bcos carra should not pla right back but also because agger and skrtle as centre back although promising in the future, suspect atm.

by **account deleted by request** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:58 pm

Bamaga man wrote:
s@int wrote:I think a lot depends on what formation Rafa finally decides to go with. If we go with only one defensive midfielder (Masch/Gerrard) in a 4-4-2..... we would need a strong back 4, and defensively Carra is our best RB. If we go with the usual 2 def mids (Masch/Alonso)in a 4-2-3-1, we would need more attacking options from our fb's and Carra isn't our best option going forward.

This is perhaps were Barry would come into the equation as he is more disciplined than Gerrard but more comfortable going forward than Alonso and could help link play better.

I certainly would have no worries about Carra playing RB, IF we have the right attacking players and formation.

Its not that playing Carra at FB worries me. The thing that worries me is playing Skertel and Agger at CB, I dont know why. But I feel more reasured when haing Carra at the back, plus he's a leader and organiser and shouts just aswell as he defends.

The way I would see it is Carra,Agger and Skrtel being the back 3 (staying back) while Dossena is free to raid forward from LB. This would also give Agger more freedom to step forward out of defense, knowing Carra would be watching his ar$e at the back. All this without going to a genuine 3 at the back with the obvious problems that causes.

In all honesty I would prefer Carra at CB, I am just concerned that we are very weak at full back.

by **66-1112520797** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:00 pm

In all honesty I would prefer Carra at CB, I am just concerned that we are very weak at full back.

But we've just brought in Degen ?

by **account deleted by request** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:01 pm

Bamaga man wrote:
In all honesty I would prefer Carra at CB, I am just concerned that we are very weak at full back.

But we've just brought in Degen ?

Exactly

by **66-1112520797** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:04 pm

I hope Rafa doesnt offload Finnan, he didnt have the best of seasons last year and is knocking on. But until we have a proper replacement for him, Finnan needs to stay and play. Hes still our best choice for now and Rafa needs to start scouting the market now for a new RB next summer.

by **woof woof !** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:04 pm

I think the defensive line-up will be built upon Rafa's established "Pic' n Mix" tactics. Depending on the opposition we could well see Carra at RB for one match and back at CB for the next....... expect that to also apply to other departments within the team .

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