Three Into Two

[mark1975]

Don't know about anyone else, and this is not based on last nights game, but I feel Momo is becoming just as important to us as Xabi (if not more).

There were times last night when I wanted Rafa to change it, to throw Crouch on and push Gerrard into a deeper role (withdrawing Alonso), though Xabi popped up at the end with the vital piece of vision, only he is capable of..

The problem with Gerrard is that as part of a front two, or a central midfield two, he's confined in what he does. Playing on the inside right he has less defensive responsibility (just covering the full back), and has more licence to roam, like Zidane and Nedved do on the opposite side of the pitch.

We now have Pennant, who holds his position well, sticks wide and has two good feet meaning he's not restricted to cutting inside or out, he can do both, which is exactly what we've been lacking in recent years.

So is it a good dilema? I dunno.. That's three VERY important players we need to keep happy in Gerrard, Alonso and Sissoko, a nice luxury to have some might say, but in reality, for the good of the team, sacrifices might need to be made somewhere in the longrun...

I wouldn't like to be Rafa..

[kerfuffle]

Mark, This is the exact feeling I had directly after the game, the three midfielders ( Gerrard,Alonso and Sissoko ) all need to be accomodated into the team.

The big question is HOW. To me the only option we have which needs to be tested is to go three at the back, five midfield with two strikers. It is looking more likely that Kuyt will sign, so given this you would presume he and Bellamy will be first choice up front.

For me, I would sample a back three of Carragher, Hyppia and Agger. this would accomadate a midfield of Sissoko as a holding midfield, Xabi and Stevie as central, Pennant on the right and then either Aurelio or Gonzalez on the left.

Last night's game proved to me that the squad has improved since last season and as you say, Rafa has to make some big decisions on his first X1 this year.

Nice problem to have though.

[univofchicago]

So is it a good dilema? I dunno.. That's three VERY important players we need to keep happy in Gerrard, Alonso and Sissoko, a nice luxury to have some might say, but in reality, for the good of the team, sacrifices might need to be made somewhere in the longrun...

I wouldn't like to be Rafa..

I think Rafa will stick with the three midfielders with Alonso and Sissoko in the centre, and Gerrard on the right as his first choice formation. But if one of them gets injured or suspended, Pennant can come in to fill in the right with Gerrard dropping back to CM - and my guess is that this will happen quite often so I think Rafa will do a good job of keeping all his midfielders reasonably happy.

I mean...if you see it as a bad dilemma, then it's a no-win situation for us when it comes to a right winger no matter how good he is...

[brikkis]

and Gerrard on the right as his first choice formation. But if one of them gets injured or suspended, Pennant can come in to fill in the right with Gerrard dropping back to CM

I would start Pennant every game on the right

[univofchicago]

I would start Pennant every game on the right

Pennant was terrific yesterday on the right, but I still prefer Stevie G.

Out of curiosity, if you start Pennant on the right where would you put Stevie G?

[FowlerLeftFoot]

Yes sir, i fully agree!

I would start Pennant every game on the right

[disco]

This is exactly what I posted last night after the game - who do you drop for Gerrard because (IMO) he doesn't work as a secondary striker as well.

Bellamy also seems to need a second striker to work off.

Alonso would seem the obvious choice to 'drop', and we can switch it around later if we need to.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

Good dilemma to have, isnt it?
This season is going to be fun !

This is exactly what I posted last night after the game - who do you drop for Gerrard because (IMO) he doesn't work as a secondary striker as well.

Bellamy also seems to need a second striker to work off.

Alonso would seem the obvious choice to 'drop', and we can switch it around later if we need to.

[univofchicago]

This is exactly what I posted last night after the game - who do you drop for Gerrard because (IMO) he doesn't work as a secondary striker as well.

Bellamy also seems to need a second striker to work off.

Alonso would seem the obvious choice to 'drop', and we can switch it around later if we need to.

I seem to agree with most of your views on Football...

Shame the same can't be said about that wonderful blog....

[FowlerLeftFoot]

Cant force everyone to agree with us, or we will be becoming like that fat one himself....

I seem to agree with most of your views on Football...

Shame the same can't be said about that wonderful blog....

[IanTheRed]

Don't know about anyone else, and this is not based on last nights game, but I feel Momo is becoming just as important to us as Xabi (if not more).

There were times last night when I wanted Rafa to change it, to throw Crouch on and push Gerrard into a deeper role (withdrawing Alonso), though Xabi popped up at the end with the vital piece of vision, only he is capable of..

The problem with Gerrard is that as part of a front two, or a central midfield two, he's confined in what he does. Playing on the inside right he has less defensive responsibility (just covering the full back), and has more licence to roam, like Zidane and Nedved do on the opposite side of the pitch.

We now have Pennant, who holds his position well, sticks wide and has two good feet meaning he's not restricted to cutting inside or out, he can do both, which is exactly what we've been lacking in recent years.

So is it a good dilema? I dunno.. That's three VERY important players we need to keep happy in Gerrard, Alonso and Sissoko, a nice luxury to have some might say, but in reality, for the good of the team, sacrifices might need to be made somewhere in the longrun...

I wouldn't like to be Rafa..

I was going to post a identical thread Mark, although childishly was going to include some double entendre about threesomes.

The problem (if this can be construed as a problem) we have now is that Sissoko, Alonso and Gerrard are vital parts of the team, yet with a designated right winger in Lister we now find that we need to ‘accommodate’ Stevie in different positions. I think that employing Gerrard as a left winger or second striker is a waste of his talent, therefore need to try different things in midfield.

As you mention – I thought Alonso should have been withdrawn last night and push Gerrard back into central midfield…but what do I know, Gerrards replacement scored the winner from an Alonso pass!

Benitez needs to take some tough decisions, and rotate the three if he is going to play a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. We lose presence up front if we don’t and Lister’s crosses become redundant with just one designated striker. Maybe it’ll keep the players fresher though through rotating – it was nice to win a game after Stevie was pulled off I suppose.

Maybe the solution is a 3-5-2 formation? Its probably too close to the start of the season to start experimenting, but I think the players we currently have could make this work. Stevie and Momo run all day and could cover back if needed, and we seemed to get caught flat footed with the back four we had last night – with a back three of Agger (if ever fit), Carragher and Hyypia we could then use all three midfielders.

****, just looked up at the screen and noticed I’ve automatically started calling Pennant Lister. Kept yelling it at the screen last night when he was ripping the left back apart again and again – he is identical to Craig Charles. Apologies!

[Ryan]

He's a young Lionel Richie Ian.

[univofchicago]

or we will be becoming like that fat one himself....

Well, at least we try to discuss the matter. Fatty is a tyrant of a worst kind: "agree with me or you are out! - no chance of a open discussion with me."

[Ryan]

Well, at least we try to discuss the matter. Fatty is a tyrant of a worst kind: "agree with me or you are out! - no chance of a open discussion with me."

You need to move on son.

You're coming across like an enraged ex.

[paulcooper4]

Well, at least we try to discuss the matter. Fatty is a tyrant of a worst kind: "agree with me or you are out! - no chance of a open discussion with me."

To be fair though, rupert is exactly the same on that score, although he is doing a good job exposing a conman, hes pretty similar to fatman if you dare to disagree with him on anything