So How do Liverpool lineup

Ole's_toe_poke

Ole_Aged_Slow_Poke
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Jan 7, 2009
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So if we look past the insanity of the transfer fees yesterday how do you think Liverpool will line up and will they be any good.

--------------------Reina

Kelly----Carragher----Agger-----Aurelio?


------Lucas----Meireles-----Maxi?/Kuyt?----


----Gerrard-------Carroll----------Suarez


Carroll playing the role of an expensive Heskey and bringing people in play. But it seems incredibly unbalanced again and Gerrard is sort of wasted on the right.

Will be interesting to see. Also what do you guys think of Suarez and Carroll solely as a partnership and not taking into account the transfer fees.
 
They still lack any width.

All of their play are going to be passed through the centre and it's going to be interesting to see how long Dalgish will persist before shifting Gerrard back centrally and shafting someone else out wide.
 
They now have two world class players, one of whom doesn't have a position. And Suarez who might turn out to be a top player.

A couple of years ago they had five.

Their defence is rubbish and their midfield average. They have no wingers.

Reina might well feck off in the Summer.

They're going to be out the top four for a while.
 
Johnson at lb. I'll say one thing for Kenny: We suddenly went from looking shite at fullback to pretty good. Kelly and Johnson have both done well there.

I'm not really sure what role Suarez will play. Nominally starting from the wing a la Villa for Barca would be my guess.

I expect Gerrard in the centre just in front of Meireles and Lucas (maybe Meireless on level with Gerrard, he's been pretty far forward under Kenny). Maxi, Kuyt and Cole to duke it out for the last spot on the wing, Aurelio to stake a claim for a spot for the two games a year he is fit.
 
I would go...

--------------------Reina-------------

Kelly----Carragher----Agger-----Johnson

----------------Meireles---------------

Kuyt------------Gerrard-----------Maxi

---------Carroll--------Suarez--------


They still lack decent wingers but it's better than having one decent forward.
 
Reina

Kelly
Carragher
Agger
Johnson

Gerrard
Meireles
Lucas
Maxi

Suarez
Carroll

It will be a serious waste if Liverpool try to play Carroll alone up front with Suarez on the wing. Thats one way to make £60 million's worth of player (according to Liverpool) look about £10 million's worth
 
I would go...

--------------------Reina-------------

Kelly----Carragher----Agger-----Johnson

----------------Meireles---------------

Kuyt------------Gerrard-----------Cole

---------Carroll--------Suarez--------
 
Meireles is just starting to show he's a good player for Liverpool and the only way he's able to do that is by being given lots of freedom to get forward and shoot.

Lucas is a better holding player. Yes, Lucas.
 
B9 said:
I expect Gerrard in the centre just in front of Meireles and Lucas (maybe Meireless on level with Gerrard, he's been pretty far forward under Kenny).
Click to expand...

Ekeke said:
Meireles is just starting to show he's a good player for Liverpool and the only way he's able to do that is by being given lots of freedom to get forward and shoot.

Lucas is a better holding player. Yes, Lucas.
Click to expand...

Meireles is only being given the freedom because Gerrard is out. Unlikely they'll both be allowed to roam forward as much as they both like if they're both playing together.
 
I agree that Meireles is really filling the Gerrard 'freedom' role.

Likely to be Lucas and Gerrard in the middle, with Gerrard pushing forward. Kuyt on the right, industrious as ever (HA) and Maxi (who's just woeful) on the left.

Meireles might help them loosen the over-reliance on Gerrard by filling in that role from time to time.

Or maybe throws either Meireles or Gerrard out left instead of Maxi. Which I think is probably a better shout (see comment above re: Maxi).
 
cj4_elmo said:
Meireles is only being given the freedom because Gerrard is out. Unlikely they'll both be allowed to roam forward as much as they both like if they're both playing together.
Click to expand...

Thats why I see Gerrard pushed onto the wing again. That way they continue with Lucas holding and Meireles pushing on, and Maxi can continue on the other wing. Kuyt misses out which isnt the worst thing in the world
 
Ekeke said:
Thats why I see Gerrard pushed onto the wing again. That way they continue with Lucas holding and Meireles pushing on, and Maxi can continue on the other wing. Kuyt misses out which isnt the worst thing in the world
Click to expand...

Saurez is also basically taking over Gerrard's place, playing behind the lead striker. Seems weird they basically have 3 players who play their best football in the same position and will be shuffling them around instead of buying players they actually need.

Which brings me back to my original post, Gerrard doesn't have the discipline to stick out wide and his tendancy to drift centrally would make Liverpool's attack very narrow.

So no matter where Gerrard plays, he's just going to end up making his play dominantly in the middle of the park which leaves a big gap on the right for a counter and at the same time, overcrowding the middle when Liverpool attacks.
 
Now they have a big target man, they can revert to their (favoured!) long ball, and that way they dont have to rely on their shite midfield stringing passes together. Harsh but true (imho)

They only need 8 more points to be safe

Their new strikers do have the luxury of playing virtually half a season with no pressure. Not something many get to experience
 
I reckon they will play Suarez in a wider role, with Carroll in the centre and one of Maxi, Kuyt, Cole and Jovanovic on the other side.
 
cj4_elmo said:
Meireles is only being given the freedom because Gerrard is out. Unlikely they'll both be allowed to roam forward as much as they both like if they're both playing together.
Click to expand...

I've always wanted to see Gerrard in a midfield (with someone else than Fat Frank) lined up like Barca's, ie one holding and two midfielders allowed to go forward, one slightly to the right, the other slightly to the left.

It's a system that at a glance would seems to suit all three of Lucas, Raul and Stevie as well. I'm hoping Kenny gives it a shot.
 
Untied said:
Yeah, they look very narrow. I guess Johnson bombs forward a bit, but still.
Click to expand...

This is why I reckon Suarez might play nominally on the left a la Villa as Johnson will provide width whenever Suarez roams inside.
 
cj4_elmo said:
Saurez is also basically taking over Gerrard's place, playing behind the lead striker. Seems weird they basically have 3 players who play their best football in the same position and will be shuffling them around instead of buying players they actually need.

Which brings me back to my original post, Gerrard doesn't have the discipline to stick out wide and his tendancy to drift centrally would make Liverpool's attack very narrow.

So no matter where Gerrard plays, he's just going to end up making his play dominantly in the middle of the park which leaves a big gap on the right for a counter and at the same time, overcrowding the middle when Liverpool attacks.
Click to expand...

This forum can be a bit weird sometimes. A large number of people think Gerrard doesnt have the positional discipline to play in the middle. And now you're suggesting he doesnt have the discipline to play wide.

Is the general message that actually Gerrard doesnt have the discipline to play professional football at all?
 
B9 said:
This is why I reckon Suarez might play nominally on the left a la Villa as Johnson will provide width whenever Suarez roams inside.
Click to expand...

He'll be rubbish on the left. Babel bad

He can play on the right but dont expect to see much of what made him cost £23 million. He'll just be doing a job

Also, Johnson might be an attacking fullback but he wants to come inside onto his right foot, not stick to the touchline and go with his left.
 
Ekeke said:
Is the general message that actually Gerrard doesnt have the discipline to play professional football at all?
Click to expand...

This seem to be the conclusion: Gerrard is not 'versatile' he 'lacks a position'.
 
Ekeke said:
Also, Johnson might be an attacking fullback but he wants to come inside onto his right foot, not stick to the touchline and go with his left.
Click to expand...

He's been pretty good with his left peg and maintaining width so far.

We all know he can come inside when the space is there, he does the same on the right and has scored some good goals with his left doing that. But that's a bonus. Makes him more difficult to defend against.
 
Ekeke said:
This forum can be a bit weird sometimes. A large number of people think Gerrard doesnt have the positional discipline to play in the middle. And now you're suggesting he doesnt have the discipline to play wide.

Is the general message that actually Gerrard doesnt have the discipline to play professional football at all?
Click to expand...

He lacks discipline to play in central midfield, and out-wide. It's why his best games always come when he's given the role behind the striker with 2 central midfielders backing him behind.

Reckon he was relied to do too much for Liverpool at the beginning of his career, he's basically running about doing everything for them and it's now just a natural part of his game to do whatever he thinks is the best for the team.

In short, he's basically the player version of Harry Redknapp, tactics be damned, just outplay them. Shit only hits when you can't outplay them and you're found wanting.

Note: What he thinks and what is really the best might differ, although in Gerrard's case, he makes a pretty good argument that his option is pretty much Liverpool's best option.
 
B9 said:
I've always wanted to see Gerrard in a midfield (with someone else than Fat Frank) lined up like Barca's, ie one holding and two midfielders allowed to go forward, one slightly to the right, the other slightly to the left.

It's a system that at a glance would seems to suit all three of Lucas, Raul and Stevie as well. I'm hoping Kenny gives it a shot.
Click to expand...

Pretty much why your best football along with Gerrard's comes when he was lining up behind Torres with Alonso and Maschenaro in midfield.

Carroll's pretty lucky though, he's essentially assured of a starting spot unlike Saurez.
 
They'll start something like

--------------------Reina-------------------
Kelly-------Carragher----Skrtel------Johnson
------------Meireles-----Lucas--------------
Cole/Maxi/Kuyt----Gerrard----------Suarez--
------------------Carroll--------------------

Then they'll probably realise that that defence is crap, Lucas deeply average, and they still have no real width and very little pace through the middle. A slightly better line up would be something like:

----------------Reina----------------
Johnson---Carragher--Skrtel---Aurelio
Gerrard----Meireles---Lucas-----J.Cole
----------Carroll---Suarez---------------
 
Ole's_toe_poke said:
--------------------Reina

Kelly----Carragher----Agger-----Aurelio?


------Lucas----Meireles-----Maxi?/Kuyt?----


----Gerrard-------Carroll----------Suarez
Click to expand...



Drogba Torres

Malouda Lampard Essien

Luiz

Cole Terry Ivanovic Bosingwa

Cech
​


Game on.
 
Johnson at LB's going to cost them points. I honestly can't understand the logic behind putting him out there to accomodate Kelly. If they don't fancy him they should look for a buyer and use the money to buy a proper LB. Perhaps the problem is they know no one would touch him for anything like the fee they paid for him?
 
Team Brian GB said:

Drogba Torres

Malouda Lampard Essien

Luiz

Cole Terry Ivanovic Bosingwa

Cech
​


Game on.
Click to expand...

Do you think they'll play Luis in midfield? I'd be amazed if he and Alex weren't competing for the one slot at centre-half.
 
sincher said:
They'll start something like

--------------------Reina-------------------
Kelly-------Carragher----Skrtel------Johnson
------------Meireles-----Lucas--------------
Cole/Maxi/Kuyt----Gerrard----------Suarez--
------------------Carroll--------------------

Then they'll probably realise that that defence is crap, Lucas deeply average, and they still have no real width and very little pace through the middle. A slightly better line up would be something like:

----------------Reina----------------
Johnson---Carragher--Skrtel---Aurelio
Gerrard----Meireles---Lucas-----J.Cole
----------Carroll---Suarez---------------
Click to expand...

Lucas is being criminally underrated.
 
Brophs said:
Do you think they'll play Luis in midfield? I'd be amazed if he and Alex weren't competing for the one slot at centre-half.
Click to expand...

No I don't, that graphic was rather simplistic, I'd play him right in front of Ivanovic and Terry to provide them extra cover to compensate for sending Bosingwa and Cole further forward more often so in effect it would become a back three.

Desailly would often play such a role back in the day, deeper than Makelele but forward of the back four.
 
Brophs said:
Johnson at LB's going to cost them points. I honestly can't understand the logic behind putting him out there to accomodate Kelly. If they don't fancy him they should look for a buyer and use the money to buy a proper LB. Perhaps the problem is they know no one would touch him for anything like the fee they paid for him?
Click to expand...

I think we do fancy him. He's doing really well at lb. Going forward as well as he does on the right and seems to have improved his defending since moving there too. I reckon it could be his future position. He is close to two-footed anyway.
 
I expect Dalglish to go for a 442.

It's interesting that both Chelsea and Liverpool, who have played with only one out-and-out striker for years, are both suddenly looking likely to play 442 on a regular basis (or at least some formation with two main strikers).
 
B9 said:
I think we do fancy him. He's doing really well at lb. Going forward as well as he does on the right and seems to have improved his defending since moving there too. I reckon it could be his future position. He is close to two-footed anyway.
Click to expand...

Any time I've watched him (maybe five or six times this season) he's looked defensively suspect - as he's been for his entire career - and usually looking to turn back on his right to cross, though he is decent with his left.

Is Kelly really going to be good enough to displace him, or is it all down to the failed Konchesky experiment?
 
Team Brian GB said:
No I don't, that graphic was rather simplistic, I'd play him right in front of Ivanovic and Terry to provide them extra cover to compensate for sending Bosingwa and Cole further forward more often so in effect it would become a back three.

Desailly would often play such a role back in the day, deeper than Makelele but forward of the back four.
Click to expand...

Of all the positions David Luiz plays, midfield isnt one of them. He'll be one of your best CBs, so why would you A) weaken your defence by not having him in there and B) play him out of position

Surely if you're going to play a central defender out of position, you'd want it to be the likes of Alex as you arent going to miss his defending with David Luiz in there
 
Brophs said:
Any time I've watched him (maybe five or six times this season) he's looked defensively suspect - as he's been for his entire career - and usually looking to turn back on his right to cross, though he is decent with his left.

Is Kelly really going to be good enough to displace him, or is it all down to the failed Konchesky experiment?
Click to expand...

I honestly don't think it's a question of displacement. I think Kenny simply decided that he is not just a rightback but a fullback for both flanks.

Kelly does look very promising, but I think the competition he will be facing is from Aurelio. Johnson will play when fit. What flank comes down to who is doing better (largely hypothetical with Aurelio always injured) of Kelly and Fabio. With Konchesky and Kelly as the options, that was a no-brainer.

Tbh, with carra out, I wouldn't mind Kelly displacing Skretl in the centre if Aurelio is fit. He has been abysmal.
 
Brophs said:
Any time I've watched him (maybe five or six times this season) he's looked defensively suspect - as he's been for his entire career - and usually looking to turn back on his right to cross, though he is decent with his left.

Is Kelly really going to be good enough to displace him, or is it all down to the failed Konchesky experiment?
Click to expand...

Fulham should have scored at least a couple of goals but shots were either right at Reina or wide. Better strikers would have buried Liverpool.

Defense looks pretty woeful to me still.
 
Ekeke said:
Of all the positions David Luiz plays, midfield isnt one of them. He'll be one of your best CBs, so why would you A) weaken your defence by not having him in there and B) play him out of position

Surely if you're going to play a central defender out of position, you'd want it to be the likes of Alex as you arent going to miss his defending with David Luiz in there
Click to expand...

I think he's trying to get at that it will be essentially a 3-5-2...

Cech
Ivanovic Luiz Terry
Bosingwa Essien Lampard Malouda Cole
Torres Drogba​

...when going forward.

As we know Cole and Bosingwa are attacking full-backs.

And then...4-1-3-2 or 5-3-2 when defending.

Cech
Bosingwa Ivanovic Terry Cole
Luiz
Essien Lampard Malouda
Torres Drogba​
 
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