Liverpool FC Forum

by **Effes** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:53 pm

bigmick wrote:So my team is this : Reina

Johnson Carragher The Greek bloke Insua

Kuyt Gerrard Masherano Riera

Babel Torres

Controversial Mick.

Im going cold on Skrtel as well, but Im not sure I'd put the groc in yet.. I could take it or leave it I guess.

I simply wont put Babel in though. The fella completely winds me up when he plays. Ive no patience left for him.
Wish I could put him on "ignore" so that I couldn't see him when he comes on the pitch.

I think Benayoun deserves to be in the team aswell.

by **Bad Bob** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:54 pm

Reg wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:
Reg wrote:Thats not radical Mick, its returning to basics when you´ve lost 2 games out of 3. We need to run a tight ship and build up momentum again.

How is playing Ryan Babel "returning to basics"?

Slotting SG back into midfield creating the need for a second conventional style attacker.

So it was Babel or the porn star.

Even rafa´s not that stooopid.

Dunno, Reg, I think I'd play Voronin ahead of Babel up top and I suspect Rafa would too. Thankfully, we don't need to do that because we can play either Benayoun or Kuyt behind Torres, with the other on the right and Riera on the left. Either way, that to me is far and away the strongest line-up we could field.

by **Effes** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:56 pm

Just another point.

Playing 4-4-2 helps Gerrad attack as well - when the ball goes out wide it gives him the
chance to join the attack.

by **Bad Bob** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:57 pm

Effes wrote:I simply wont put Babel in though. The fella completely winds me up when he plays. Ive no patience left for him.
Wish I could put him on "ignore" so that I couldn't see him when he comes on the pitch.

by **red37** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:00 pm

LFC2007 wrote:I don't see a great deal of difference in the second 4-2-3-1 option and the 4-4-2. Whoever ostensibly plays 'up top' - assuming here, Benayoun or Kuyt - they will in fact often be coming deep to receive the ball. Admittedly, Kuyt will be more 'up top' but it's not massively distinguishable, IMO.

I'd drop Gerrard back to play the conventional midfield role, Riera to come in on the left, Kuyt on the right and Benayoun 'up top' or as it will be 'in behind' Torres. Kuyt and Benny can interchange if necessary.

Me as well. Plus, Kuyt on the right offers a degree of insurance defensively when Johnson goes on a raid.

by **burjennio** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:38 pm

cant split up Gerrard and Torres for me guys, while the performances have been dreck thus far I don't think splitting the partnership that turned us round in the last 18 months could be benificial, Lucas aint Alonso as many, many, many people have pointed out but I feel that this isnt where the creativity is being starved, its more in the final 3rd where we dont seem to have many options wide and everything continually gets narrow and easily defendable.

Also I havn't seen many others if any mention this but IMO Jamie Carragher really has to get his act together, people have threw all sorts Lucas' way but Carra was at fault in the Tottenham game giving away a needless foul that led to their second goal where he was again at accountable for being beaten by Bassong. Forward to Monday past he was again easily beaten in the air by Davies for the second goal. Perhaps this is what Rafa was referring to when he crticised the senior players, when it could have been perceived he was having a goat Stevie perhaps it was aimed a bit more in Carras direction?

Just to add IICRC a few had mentioned in the run-in at the end of last season that Jamie perhaps wasn't looking as sharp as he once had in years gone by, and most of us put it down to being the end of a long hard season but now a few games in perhaps we are seeing age catch him up a little? Thoughts?

by **Rush Job** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 4:27 am

burjennio wrote:cant split up Gerrard and Torres for me guys, while the performances have been dreck thus far I don't think splitting the partnership that turned us round in the last 18 months could be benificial, Lucas aint Alonso as many, many, many people have pointed out but I feel that this isnt where the creativity is being starved, its more in the final 3rd where we dont seem to have many options wide and everything continually gets narrow and easily defendable.

Also I havn't seen many others if any mention this but IMO Jamie Carragher really has to get his act together, people have threw all sorts Lucas' way but Carra was at fault in the Tottenham game giving away a needless foul that led to their second goal where he was again at accountable for being beaten by Bassong. Forward to Monday past he was again easily beaten in the air by Davies for the second goal. Perhaps this is what Rafa was referring to when he crticised the senior players, when it could have been perceived he was having a goat Stevie perhaps it was aimed a bit more in Carras direction?

Just to add IICRC a few had mentioned in the run-in at the end of last season that Jamie perhaps wasn't looking as sharp as he once had in years gone by, and most of us put it down to being the end of a long hard season but now a few games in perhaps we are seeing age catch him up a little? Thoughts?

Not sure about that one mate.Its not like he`s the wrong side of 35 and he hasnt got any pace to lose.
Just a loss of form I recon although if rafa had a little more money to spend I think he would have brought in a younger and probably an all round better player than the big greek and this player would have by next season replaced carra.
As things stand we need carra to buck up.

by **Sabre** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:56 am

I can understand the temptation of moving Gerrard back to midfield, but I'd resist the temptation a bit more. The temptation I wouldn't resist though is to bring back Riera ASAP. He's necessary.

I'd resist the temptation of moving Gerrard back for these reasons:

* It would be the official message to Lucas of "we don't trust you". I think this is the season in which he must prove whether he has a place here or not, but I wouldn't write him off for two defeats, especially when we couldn't single him out for those defeats. I don't think Rafa will retire his trust on him especially after talking well about him.

* If you move Gerrard back in a month time you'll have to, either move Gerrard back to the partnership with Torres (more choping and changing) or not using your new Italian bet.

* The third reason is that the Gerrard-Torres partnership won us many games in the past, and I think that will remain true.

So I wouldn't enter the panic mode just yet, for now I'd echo what some mates ask about some players bucking up or improving their game, and I'd only introduce Riera in the current set up.

P.S. I think that's others. Keeping the same formation and bring Riera, and perhaps El Greco.

by **tubby** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:08 am

Regarding Reira was have missed him badly this season. Most have been too quick to use the Alonso card as it's now known but we can't forget how much Riera contributed last season, even if his form is touch and go at times.

by **Sabre** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:11 am

I agree Bav, perhaps in his position his game is appreciated most when he scores and when he delivers a cross, but in the task of giving oxygen to the midfielders, not losing the ball, and decission making he's such a difference compared to Babel, that he's fundamental. He's one of the reasons Alonso played better last season.

by **tubby** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:14 am

His overall game intelligence even when keeping moves going, helping to build up play is far superior to Babel. I stilll don't know why he hasn't been used so far. Does anyone? I think you mentioned there was no injury noted so either he has had a falling out with someone or we are keeping him wrapped in cotton wool for an impending transfer.

In losing Alonso we might have gone back a step (at least until Aquilani is fit) but in losing Riera too we have gone even further back. This was so evident agasint Spurs and Villa.

by **jacdaniel** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:56 am

Hi lads, newbie hardcore reds fan here.

After reading a lot of your posts, I agree with lots and disagree with quite a bit too. The system in place at the moment has worked SO well for us in previous years that i don't think we can just drop it over 2 :censored:

games.

The main problem for me this year has been the defending! 5 set pieces! We started off alright on Monday until Lucas gave away that free and then headed into his own net! The mistakes started then and we seemed to just lose the heads. (Which is bizarre for us).

We need to defend better in general and get more going on in the centre. Gerrard probably is the best option at the moment although i wouldnt mind Jay Spearing getting a shot!

The league is FAR from over for us. The Manc's dropped points in about 10 games last year and in our corresponding fixtures last year, we only got 4 points out of 9. This time we have 3 so its not a disaster yet.

Anyone considered Johnson and Dossena as wing backs in a 5-3-2 formation.

Reina
Johnson Carra Skrtel Greek dude Dossena

Benayoun Masch Gerrard
Kuyt Torres

Could be useful and the 3 centre halves might help with defending set play while freeing up Johnson a little more. Kuyt and Gerrard could drift out wide also and have 2 centre forwards up there.

by **mrt** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 11:01 am

Can't see any reason Mascher couldn't sit out the Bolton game. They've no Kaka, Messi type for him to take care of. Gerrard could drop back and Lucas' confidence would not be further eroded. No point expecting Stevie and Nando to pull us out the poop when there's no-one to give them the ball when and where they want it. Would like to see Riera back but wouldn't be at all surprised, during the game, to be thinking 'Why's he waiting til 65 mins before subbing Riera. Should have been been off at half time!'

by **Scottbot** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:29 pm

Can't help but think football fans (all of us) get a bit too obsessed with systems and formations on here. It might make a massive difference on Champ Manager but it's not always the case on the pitch. It wasn't all about the formation on Monday night, we simply had too many players well and truly off their game, the lads couldn't string 3 passes together for long stretches of that first half, our movement was poor and no-one really showed for the ball. It was a lousy performance in 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2, 4-4-2, timbukblo.o.dy 2!

FWIW i'd make the one change bringing in Riera for Lucas. I'd like to see the Captain back in the midfield because he's our best player and we need him on the ball.

by **Scottbot** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:35 pm

bigmick wrote:I don't think there's a sensible argument against that, and on the right I'd leave Kuyt there. I think he's been very poor this season so far, and the last thing he needs now is a spell up front and yet another confirmation if it were needed that he's not good enough to play there. He also runs around a lot it has to be said (well it didn't HAVE to be said but I thought I would anyway, before someone else did).

I thought Kuyt was one of our better players (i know that doesn't amount to much) the other night mate, not everything he tried came off but he was one of the few who offered something other than a sideways pass. I know it's easy to take the mick (no pun intended!) out of his 'running around a lot' but he does ALWAYS show for the ball even if he's having a mare.

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