The Valencia formation

[Craig_H]

Thats what I am actually trying to anticipate, Im certain Rafa is on the same wave length, but sometimes I struggle to realise why Rafa does want say 4 or 5 strikers though as he is not a big fan of using them in that position, we not more than 1 in a game in that role.

I think he sees them less as strikers, and more as the type of forwards that suit the system. Eg, Kuyt's workrate and linkup play means he can play in behind, while Bellamy's pace and tendency to get wide means he can do the left or right forward's role.

Fowler, on the other hand, is the 'fox in the box' finisher...and guess what? He rarely plays.

[Red_hot]

Thanks for the post, you're only 2 and 1/2 years late with it.

From Rafa's first season it's been obvious he's been attempting to recreate the 4-5-1 variant he used at Valencia.

Welcome to the site.

You can f*ck off now.

Now now boys.

[Craig_H]

Now now boys.

Well someone needed to tell the fecker to do one...

[einar]

.............Reina
Finnan.Carra.Agger.Riise
.......Mascher.Alonso
Quaresma.Gerrard.Gonsalez
...............Kuyt

IMO these are Gerrards and Kuyts best positions. IMO Kuyt is not good enough on the ball to play further back but has good positioning and power, and a nose for goals. And this is the position I have been waiting for Gerrard to play for 3-4 years now.

Then I would like to see a Quaresma type player on the right and Gonsalez type player on the left.

[bazza76]

I think he sees them less as strikers, and more as the type of forwards that suit the system. Eg, Kuyt's workrate and linkup play means he can play in behind, while Bellamy's pace and tendency to get wide means he can do the left or right forward's role.

Fowler, on the other hand, is the 'fox in the box' finisher...and guess what? He rarely plays.

I know what your saying, and maybe he thinks he can convert the type of player they normaly are or were before they joined to be more tactically aware and flexable player, I think of it as Rafa trying to make a god finisher with good attributes, eg. Belamy speed and aggression into a wide attachikng player who can provide aswell as finish from a wideish position.
Maybe its because the sufficient quality has never been available for him in them positions, but i'd love to see us signing, as you say a natural attacking wide player of real class for the left and right positions ala Mancini & Quarsema, with a natural goalscorer like Eto'o to go along with them, we would be a real real strong team that nobody in Europe would want to play, i'd like to see us sorting out the left full back position aswell though.

[Craig_H]

I know what your saying, and maybe he thinks he can convert the type of player they normaly are or were before they joined to be more tactically aware and flexable player, I think of it as Rafa trying to make a god finisher with good attributes, eg. Belamy speed and aggression into a wide attachikng player who can provide aswell as finish from a wideish position.
Maybe its because the sufficient quality has never been available for him in them positions, but i'd love to see us signing, as you say a natural attacking wide player of real class for the left and right positions ala Mancini & Quarsema, with a natural goalscorer like Eto'o to go along with them, we would be a real real strong team that nobody in Europe would want to play, i'd like to see us sorting out the left full back position aswell though.

IMO, with Riise, Aurelio and now Arbeloa (and his versatility), we're ok with LB.

[bazza76]

IMO, with Riise, Aurelio and now Arbeloa (and his versatility), we're ok with LB.

I think Rafa may well settle for that next season, although I still think there is room for improvement there, Im led to believe Arbeloa's natural position is on the right and Aurelio's injury record along with not being the best defensively, which the same could be said of JAR, Rafa must surely have half an eye open looking there, and may well bring in a talented youngster in that position.

[cobrakai]

Honestly do you think this topic has not been discussed before?

I can remember on Match of the Day at least a year ago it being discussed how Rafa was trying to implement a Valencia style system.

No need to throw your rattle out the pram just because some people [more than just me] pointed out how old this thread is.

[Craig_H]

I think Rafa may well settle for that next season, although I still think there is room for improvement there, Im led to believe Arbeloa's natural position is on the right and Aurelio's injury record along with not being the best defensively, which the same could be said of JAR, Rafa must surely have half an eye open looking there, and may well bring in a talented youngster in that position.

It's one of those positions though, where you can have someone decent, and not necessarily 'world class'.

It's not an 'impact' position, if you get my meaning. What we've got there is good enough IMO. Obviously if we had more money than we could spend, we might seek to improve it. But who would you sign? Bale maybe, but he isnt the finished article.

Not many 'world class' fullbacks in the world.

[Craig_H]

Honestly do you think this topic has not been discussed before?

I can remember on Match of the Day at least a year ago it being discussed how Rafa was trying to implement a Valencia style system.

No need to throw your rattle out the pram just because some people [more than just me] pointed out how old this thread is.

As i alluded to, if you're not interested, you can feck off and read other threads. Why are you wasting your time reading something so 'old' ?

Leave it to others who seem interested in contributing.

[bazza76]

It's one of those positions though, where you can have someone decent, and not necessarily 'world class'.

It's not an 'impact' position, if you get my meaning. What we've got there is good enough IMO. Obviously if we had more money than we could spend, we might seek to improve it. But who would you sign? Bale maybe, but he isnt the finished article.

Not many 'world class' fullbacks in the world.

I agree, we are blessed to have Finnan or a player of his quality at fullback, it would be a hell of an ask to have someone of the same quality on the opposite flank. I doubt that will put Rafa off searching for that player though, almost forgot about Insua aswell, havnt seen anything of him if im honest.

[tomasjj]

Charmer as ever DJS....


As for the 4231, I like it very much, and reckon Rafa will play it more now as he has Mascher there.
Xabi moves more forward, SG behind the striker.
We played some very good footy with that formation in 2004-05, with an inferior team compared to the one we now have.

[cobrakai]

As i alluded to, if you're not interested, you can feck off and read other threads. Why are you wasting your time reading something so 'old' ?

Leave it to others who seem interested in contributing.

I'd rather make zero contribution than a worthless contribution

Honestly have you only just started watching Liverpool games this season?

Because I can remember in Rafa's first season playing with Hamman, Alonso and Gerrard in CM with two wingers and Baros up front..which was OH YEAH! a 4-5-1.

[cobrakai]

We played some very good footy with that formation in 2004-05,

Zing!

[Craig_H]

I'd rather make zero contribution than a worthless contribution

Evidently not...

For such an old and boring tired topic, it's amazing how you're devoting so much time to it...