alonso and sissoko staying proof of new formation?

[kris90210]

Sissoko has been vocal about his desire to play as opposed to sit on the bench, and I am sure that Alonso would want similar assurances about his place in the team following the signings of Mascherano and Leiva. How could Benitez possibly keep 5 quality midfielders happy with only 2 central midfield slots in our current set up?

Our defence has been fantastic since Benitez took charge so I cant see him switching from 4 at the back. With that in mind I believe that Benitez will change his system to something similar to Chelsea's 4-3-3, and will choose his transfer targets accordingly.

Our back 4 are well established. We have fantastic central midfielders so it makes sense to get as many of them into our first team as possible.

---------------------Reina---------------------
Finnan-----Carragher---------Agger--------Riise
-------------------Mascherano-----------------
---------------------------------Alonso--------
---------------Gerrard-------------------------
-Winger/Forward---------------Winger/Forward-
--------------------Striker---------------------

Dirk Kuyt can play as a striker or off the striker and does so for Holland. I believe that Voronin is also capable of playing both roles. And Crouch can play as a lone front man. Pennant could easily operate as a right winger in this formation.

As Ive said, the main reason I believe that this change will happen is that Benitez must have offered some assurances to Sissoko and Alonso to persuade them to sign new contracts. But also consider that this formation is a slightly more attacking version of the tactics Benitez employed at Valencia.

Just a thought...

[BobTheCharmer]

I agree it will be safety first as usual.

[Rich]

Maybe this Lucas chap will be more of an attacking midfielder, in the (whisper it) Kaka mold?

[Zapater]

Maybe this Lucas chap will be more of an attacking midfielder, in the (whisper it) Kaka mold?

But this formation doesn't really suite a playmaker. If it's a 4-3-3 sort of a thing with somwhat wide forwards. Seeing that Lucas is a box to box midfielder I don't see him being that player. Rafa's formation at Valencia was usually 4-2-3-1 sort of a thing with two true wingers; Rufete and Vicente with Aimar making play in the middle, the formation which was suggested i.e a 4-3-3 I don't think Lucas is the player to be playing off of anyone.

It could be on the cards though, the likes of Malouda and Mancini players that we've been linked to imo would fit into a system like this quite nicely. If we don't sign a winger that stays wide and crosses very well then there is a fair chance this sort of thing could materialise. I guess waiting and seeing will be the best option.

[Snigger]

:tinkerman2:

[Rich]

But this formation doesn't really suite a playmaker. If it's a 4-3-3 sort of a thing with somwhat wide forwards. Seeing that Lucas is a box to box midfielder I don't see him being that player. Rafa's formation at Valencia was usually 4-2-3-1 sort of a thing with two true wingers; Rufete and Vicente with Aimar making play in the middle, the formation which was suggested i.e a 4-3-3 I don't think Lucas is the player to be playing off of anyone.

It could be on the cards though, the likes of Malouda and Mancini players that we've been linked to imo would fit into a system like this quite nicely. If we don't sign a winger that stays wide and crosses very well then there is a fair chance this sort of thing could materialise. I guess waiting and seeing will be the best option.

Aye, only problem is that waiting and seeing doesn't work on a forum!

Personally, I do think we'll be going down the route of effectively 3 central midfielders - with Gerrard having the most responsibility for pushing forward. This means though that the 3 players higher up the pitch need to be excellent - a higher calibre than our current crop.

[retroquestions]

Sissoko has been vocal about his desire to play as opposed to sit on the bench, and I am sure that Alonso would want similar assurances about his place in the team following the signings of Mascherano and Leiva. How could Benitez possibly keep 5 quality midfielders happy with only 2 central midfield slots in our current set up?

Our defence has been fantastic since Benitez took charge so I cant see him switching from 4 at the back. With that in mind I believe that Benitez will change his system to something similar to Chelsea's 4-3-3, and will choose his transfer targets accordingly.

Our back 4 are well established. We have fantastic central midfielders so it makes sense to get as many of them into our first team as possible.

---------------------Reina---------------------
Finnan-----Carragher---------Agger--------Riise
-------------------Mascherano-----------------
---------------------------------Alonso--------
---------------Gerrard-------------------------
-Winger/Forward---------------Winger/Forward-
--------------------Striker---------------------

Dirk Kuyt can play as a striker or off the striker and does so for Holland. I believe that Voronin is also capable of playing both roles. And Crouch can play as a lone front man. Pennant could easily operate as a right winger in this formation.

As Ive said, the main reason I believe that this change will happen is that Benitez must have offered some assurances to Sissoko and Alonso to persuade them to sign new contracts. But also consider that this formation is a slightly more attacking version of the tactics Benitez employed at Valencia.

Just a thought...

Going from this years 4-4-2 / 4-5-1 / 4-4-1-1 to 4-3-3??

If anything he'll revert more to his Valencia formation days.

[matycowling1007]

for me it means gerrard on the right once again.

[BobTheCharmer]

for me it means gerrard on the right once again.

its where he plays best. its where he enjoys playing. everyones happy.

[dww]

its where he plays best. its where he enjoys playing. everyones happy.

Not last season. He seemed determined to cut into the middle when played on teh right and was actually in my opinion relatively poor there. The season before was a different story.

However Gerrard seemed to have worked on being a more disciplined CM last season and consequently played more the role Rafa requires in the 2 deep lying CMs in front of the back four. to the detriment of his attacking qualities.

I think that the more attacking central role in a 4-2-3-1 or wide right will prove to be his position next year but it is far easy to decide where he woudl be most effective.

[BobTheCharmer]

Not last season. He seemed determined to cut into the middle when played on teh right and was actually in my opinion relatively poor there. The season before was a different story.

However Gerrard seemed to have worked on being a more disciplined CM last season and consequently played more the role Rafa requires in the 2 deep lying CMs in front of the back four. to the detriment of his attacking qualities.

I think that the more attacking central role in a 4-2-3-1 or wide right will prove to be his position next year but it is far easy to decide where he woudl be most effective.

I was taking the piss. He hates playing wide. I personally thinks he's **** playing off the front man. So that leaves his ideal positiop as centre. But Rafa knows best.

[Roboklopp]

If we continue with 442 wi SG on the right, we do need an overlapping RB a la Alves, mush as I love Finn.

[simey85]

This means though that the 3 players higher up the pitch need to be excellent - a higher calibre than our current crop.

exactly eto with kaka and messi behind him would be alright i suppose.

[Neil Young]

Ooh, I noticed only this morning how there has been a dearth of team line-ups in recent days. I was just thinking what a good thing that was.

Ah well, nothing last forever.

------------Reina-----------
Finnan--Carra--Agger-Chiellini
---------Mascherano--------
-----------Alonso-----------
----------Sissoko-----------
----------Gerrard-----------
-----------Tevez-----------
--------------------------------------Henry

[tomasjj]

Ooh, I noticed only this morning how there has been a dearth of team line-ups in recent days. I was just thinking what a good thing that was.

Ah well, nothing last forever.

------------Reina-----------
Finnan--Carra--Agger-Chiellini
---------Mascherano--------
-----------Alonso-----------
----------Sissoko-----------
----------Gerrard-----------
-----------Tevez-----------
--------------------------------------Henry

I would play Henry in front of Tevez
Then we could really put the other teams to the sword.