Rafa must play Stevie in the centre.

[Red_Polo]

Almost all my best memories of Gerrard are from when he was in a central position. Put him central, you get them more regularly.

[lfcruleus]

Free the Steven Gerrard one !!!

yeah baby lets start a petition!!!!!

[Red Chilli]

If you put Gerrard in the centre you'll have to push the CROW up top alongside Nando Torres.

[Darth Marty]

we need full backs, we have loads of midfielders, great midfielders, we now have to play at least 2 strikers each game (or sell a few quicksmart).

Answer = 3 5 2

[Red_Polo]

we have loads of midfielders, great midfielders

As a group they don't offer enough of an attacking threat though.

[Darth Marty]

dunno about that, say we do use 3 5 2, that means we have momo and masch deep breaking up play and starting things off, xabi in the middle spraying passes everywhere, shooting from any ****ing where, stevie anywhere and everywhere (but starting on the right), and harry if fit on the left. Id be happy with that. Granted Id be happier with mancini on the right and xabi in momos place and stevie in xabis place. And that could very well happen.

[Charlie_B]

I really don't see how Rafa can do - he's signed Sissoko AND Alonso up (90% of us were sure one of them were on their way out) on contracts, signed up this new bloke, who by all reports will be playing at some point this season, and we still have the fantastic Mascherano (who, on recent form, should be the 1st name in the centre) and Gerrard, who is arguably best there.

Will be interesting to see how it pans out.

[El Jefecito]

As a group they don't offer enough of an attacking threat though.

Let's see what the midfield, wingers esp. look like after this window. Kewell, Simao and Mancini all have goals in them.

[desertscouser]

I will be disappointed if we're still regularly playing SG on the right next season. He's just better in the middle, simple as that.

Prepare to be disappointed RP. Rafa will always prefer to play Stevie out of position

[desertscouser]

As a group they don't offer enough of an attacking threat though.

I agree.

It's exciting smashing our transfer record so emphatically but if Rafa doesn't buy some creative players before the start of the season then we're playing for 3rd again.

[Red_Polo]

DM: Don't know where you're getting this 3-5-2 stuff from, can't see Rafa using 3 at the back on anything more than the odd occasion. Even if we did, in that formation you're looking to the CM players to score.

Masher, Sissoko and Pennant will score **** all between them. Xabi scores a pretty decent amount for a holding player. But with Garcia now gone, who brings us the goal threat? SG is the one we're relying on. Kewell is so injury prone he guarantees little. Where are the goals coming from?

We need two quality wide players who can create and offer a goal threat. Get that and stick Gerrard in the middle, then we look like something to fear. Right now we're predictable, and easy to shut down because we are limited in our attacking possibilities. Torres is a great start on changing this, but it's out wide that is really important for us.

[desertscouser]

dunno about that, say we do use 3 5 2,

No offence Marty but this 352 nonsense annoys the hell out of me.

It's a formation we seldom use yet every season people discuss it as if it's a viable option.

[Red_Polo]

Let's see what the midfield, wingers esp. look like after this window. Kewell, Simao and Mancini all have goals in them.

There's plenty of time left, I'm in no panic. If we got Simao and Mancini I'd be creaming myself.

Even just one of those though, would make such a difference IMO.

I agree.

It's exciting smashing our transfer record so emphatically but if Rafa doesn't buy some creative players before the start of the season then we're playing for 3rd again.

I think if Kewell stayed fit and we had Stevie out wide we'd be in with a shout, but we can't rely on that. No way. With that in mind I have to agree sorting out at least one top class creative wide midfielder is what will be crucial for us.

[desertscouser]

DM: Don't know where you're getting this 3-5-2 stuff from, can't see Rafa using 3 at the back on anything more than the odd occasion. Even if we did, in that formation you're looking to the CM players to score.

Masher, Sissoko and Pennant will score **** all between them. Xabi scores a pretty decent amount for a holding player. But with Garcia now gone, who brings us the goal threat? SG is the one we're relying on. Kewell is so injury prone he guarantees little. Where are the goals coming from?

We need two quality wide players who can create and offer a goal threat. Get that and stick Gerrard in the middle, then we look like something to fear. Right now we're predictable, and easy to shut down because we are limited in our attacking possibilities. Torres is a great start on changing this, but it's out wide that is really important for us.

I agee RP. Without proper class wingers it's much of the same next season.

[El Jefecito]

There's plenty of time left, I'm in no panic. If we got Simao and Mancini I'd be creaming myself.

Even just one of those though, would make such a difference IMO.



I think if Kewell stayed fit and we had Stevie out wide we'd be in with a shout, but we can't rely on that. No way. With that in mind I have to agree sorting out at least one top class creative wide midfielder is what will be crucial for us.

Anyone remember how many Kewell got in his first season?