Workhorses or footballers?

[Slim]

Anyone notice anything about the teamsheet today? Out with the industrious workaholics, and in with the footballers.

The likes of Kuyt, Riise and Sissoko sacrificed for players far more comfortable with the ball at their feet - like Crouch, Aurelio and Mascherano. We had four ball players strung across the midfield, ball players in both full-back positions and ball players up front.

And what a difference it makes, huh?

At the moment, to me, this looks our strongest side. Gerrard in a free role and offering pace down the centre, and Gonzalez (much improved today) and Pennant (ever improving) offering pace from wide areas. Strength and solidity through the spine with one key, common attribue - comfort on the ball. Throw in a ball-playing centre-back in Agger, and we've got a team packed with ability.

Great team selection from Benitez today. I just hope he sticks with it. He won't, but I hope he does.

Top post Shaggy. I said on another thread like if we could play this more positive attacking style of play away from home as well we really could challenge for the Prem next year.

We are set up far too defensively away from home a lot of the time when we don't need to be IMHO - look at the turgid rubbish that was the Villa game. I hate to say it but the Scum will win the league by being as positive and attacking away from home as they are at Castle Greyskull.

Of course a few more quality additions to the squad in the summer will also help.

Credit to Rafa today - hope he sticks with it.

[Shaggy]

Most frustrating thing today? See Crouch bag a hat-trick. Why hasnt he shown this sort of finishing all season? I'd all but written him off myself, but maybe a good finish to the season could prove me and others on here that he's got a future at the club.

He has shown it for most of the season - that's why he's our top scorer with 16 goals.

For ANY striker to find any sort of consistency, you need to be playing games regularly.

Crouch will be on the bench on Tuesday night - and to me that is ****e.

He scores almost whenever called upon and he can do no more. If he was given a regular berth, he'd score more goals. It really is as simple as that, in my opinion.

[EST_1892]

[QUOTE=desertscouser;364617] plenty of passing and movement throughout
QUOTE]


Definatley the one aspect of our play we have been missing of late. It just all came in place today in the way which we know and expect each week.

Aurelio had a blinder today and should be given a run. Gonzalez and JAR can rotate for a bit.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Crouch will be on the bench on Tuesday night - and to me that is ****e.

That's my gut feeling as well.

And you are right, it's completely ****e.

The guy's just scored a hattrick, he'll be absolutely flying, and this is the biggest game of our season coming up. Perhaps Rafa will do the sensible thing and bench Kuyt for a man in form. I mean why complicate things?

[Shaggy]

Usually I like 'horses for courses' - and Kuyt is clearly a horse for the course in PSV. Normally I would understand him being selected in this game, but after today how can Rafa possibly leave out Crouch? Crouchie is also our top scorer in the CL - what does he have to ****ing do eh?

Maybe Rafa will surprise us all and stick with the top scorer, for once.

[EST_1892]

Maybe Rafa will surprise us all and stick with the top scorer, for once.

I will be in a state of total bewilderment if Crouch does not start on Tuesday.

[DannyMan2006]

He has shown it for most of the season - that's why he's our top scorer with 16 goals.

For ANY striker to find any sort of consistency, you need to be playing games regularly.

Crouch will be on the bench on Tuesday night - and to me that is ****e.

He scores almost whenever called upon and he can do no more. If he was given a regular berth, he'd score more goals. It really is as simple as that, in my opinion.

Thats fair enough Shaggy, and I agree with it all. HOWEVER.

We all know that Rafa will continue to rotate. No arguing that one. We also know that evidence suggests that Rafa prefers Kuyt. So Im going with the theory that Kuyt and Voronin will defo be here next season. I also think we will only have 4 senior strikers next year. So if we go along with the fact that at least one striker will come in next year, that means that Bellamy or Crouch will be sold.

Would you be happy with a strikeforce of, say: Kuyt, Crouch, Voronin and Villa?
Or would you sell Crouch and bring in 2 top strikers?

Remembering Morientes and signings this year, could we risk keeping only one current striker? Risky business this management lark.

[andyinswinton]

I'd only sell Crouch if the money was right. Too be honest, there aren't too many in our squad who I wouldn't sell full stop.

Crouch was great today and he should start against PSV although I don't think he will. He should do though, he must be flying at the moment. A hat trick today and he also missed the England debacle. His position in the England team is strengthened without him actually playing.

The team performance was better today, like its been already said, the mix between the workhorses and the footballers was there against Arsenal. I think it is certainly the strongest side at present.

[Lee]

I agree, when I first saw the teamsheet I was like 'Bloody hell'!!!

I'd still take Finnan over Arbeloa, and then 2 out of either Riise, Aurelio & Gonzalez. I was chuffed with the way they combined on the left today. Very impressive. Mascherano & Alonso in the middle with Stevie playing behind the front man is also the way ahead, that's a stupidly strong midfield. If Pennant, Gonzalez & Aurelio can kick on from todays (and Pennant's last few) games then it bodes well for the future.

What a squad though, what a ****ing squad we have

[Joey Jones]

I agree, when I first saw the teamsheet I was like 'Bloody hell'!!!

I'd still take Finnan over Arbeloa, and then 2 out of either Riise, Aurelio & Gonzalez. I was chuffed with the way they combined on the left today. Very impressive. Mascherano & Alonso in the middle with Stevie playing behind the front man is also the way ahead, that's a stupidly strong midfield. If Pennant, Gonzalez & Aurelio can kick on from todays (and Pennant's last few) games then it bodes well for the future.

What a squad though, what a ****ing squad we have

The system worked well today but I can't see Gerrard being selected to play behind the front man happening on a regular basis. As for the side today I think that Gonzalez was the weak link and I'm sure Rafa saw it that way as well, hence taking him off after 70 minutes.

With regards to the squad I feel that were at least 3 players away from a squad capable of challenging for the Premiership. We need a 20+ goals a season striker, a decent left sided winger and possibly cover for Carra and Agger.

[CAD]

The key was not Kuyt or Riise.

The key was Momo! Don't pretend you don't know. We were able to play football all over the midfield because Momo wasn't there. Pennant gave us width on RM. It was a simple change that we all know would make a massive diff. Bench Momo and play football.

Kuyt is at least as capable on the ball as Crouch imo. Crouch finally played the match of his LFC life. After watching him **** up chance after chance in game after game he scored on everything that moved today. Rumours has it that he scored a girl on the way to the locker room after coming off. He was just ****e hot today. I personally guarantee that he will play like **** again come next chance he gets. You can run out and tell all your friends I said so.

[lfc4ever]

The system worked well today but I can't see Gerrard being selected to play behind the front man happening on a regular basis. As for the side today I think that Gonzalez was the weak link and I'm sure Rafa saw it that way as well, hence taking him off after 70 minutes.

With regards to the squad I feel that were at least 3 players away from a squad capable of challenging for the Premiership. We need a 20+ goals a season striker, a decent left sided winger and possibly cover for Carra and Agger.

Sami for this & next season at least, no harm in seeing how much Woodgate would cost though?

Which would allow top $ being spent on the other 2 areas you mention, we will still need to watch the spending as it won't be unlimited, far from it.

[Joey Jones]

Sami for this & next season at least, no harm in seeing how much Woodgate would cost though?

Which would allow top $ being spent on the other 2 areas you mention, we will still need to watch the spending as it won't be unlimited, far from it.

Hasn't he already agreed to join Boro permanently at the end of the season?

I agree with the spending it won't be unlimited but I'm sure it's feasible to think that Rafa will get around £40m to spend in the summer.

[Ben_Itez]

I'd personally love to see Woodgate at the club. Without all his injuries he'd have 50 caps for England by now.

He seems to be fit now so we should go in for him. Think he'd find it difficult to replace Carra or Agger though but class will always tell.

Summer signings for me would be Woodgate, a pacey, clinical striker such as Villa or E'too but cant see either happening tbh and possibly a RW or LW. Only player i'd get rid of would be Zenden and i think Fowler is on his way too unfortunately.

[lfc4ever]

Hasn't he already agreed to join Boro permanently at the end of the season?

No - he's holding off to see what options are on the table.

Boro have agreed everything, just that Woodgate has agreed nothing.

I agree with the spending it won't be unlimited but I'm sure it's feasible to think that Rafa will get around £40m to spend in the summer.

Seriously, in today's market, that's possibly a good striker and a good LW, and who needs to sell to us anyway, PL is loaded from next season.

We will have the Cisse money to come though, and any sales that Rafa generates as well of course.