Our best line-up for the next season

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Our best line-up will depend on the oppostion. I don't think Rafa would select the above for a game against the big guns. At the very least SG would be playing at WR. Xabi would be at your AM, although he would be playing much deeper.

Kuyt would play instead of Voronin and Riise could play at WL with someone else filling in at LB.

I guess it will be certain players for certain games and also formations, i think Rafa was getting fond of playing 3 at the back with wing backs in certian games

[El Jefecito]

I guess it will be certain players for certain games and also formations, i think Rafa was getting fond of playing 3 at the back with wing backs in certian games

He's only played 352/532 5 or so times. I don't think we'll see it any more than that in the future. If we'd got Alves, then maybe Rafa would have second thoughts, but not now methinks.

[calvoboy]

---------------------Reina---------------------
Finnan ------Carra------- Agger---------Aurelio (or Heinze if he comes)
Pennant-----Gerrard------Mascher------Kewell
-------------------Kuyt------------------------
---------------------Torres---------------------


But there won't really be such a thing as a first choice 11 as it will vary from game to game depending on the opposition. I'd imagine we'd play a lone striker for a lot of games, particularly away in Europe, and Babel and Alonso will get a lot of game time too.

[RedReet]

I'd imagine we'd play a lone striker for a lot of games, particularly away in Europe, and Babel and Alonso will get a lot of game time too.

Surely our midfield is strong enough now that it can cope without the extra man. Maybe against the bigger teams we might need to overload the midfield, but for 90% of the teams we should only need the four.

[Fubar]

-----------------Reina
Finnan------Carra-------Agger-----Aurelio
--------------Mascherano
-------Gerrard------------Alonso
-----Kuyt---------Torres------Babel

When everyone is fit.

yep.. EPL chamions team

[Shaggy]

Everyone seems to be agreeing with/eulogising about AFII's team - the one with Kuyt and Babel on the wings?

That side looks awfully narrow to me. Since when has Kuyt been a right winger or an inside right? That formation looks alien to me...can't see Benitez going with a side like that.

It'll be more 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, IMO.

Something like:

-------------------Reina---------------------

Finnan ------Carra-------Agger--------- Heinze

-----------Alonso------Mascherano------

Gerrard----------------------------------------Babel

------------Crouch---------Torres--------------

Obviously Rafa will prefer to Dirk to Crouchie but I don't, so...

[red g]

Everyone seems to be agreeing with/eulogising about AFII's team - the one with Kuyt and Babel on the wings?

That side looks awfully narrow to me. Since when has Kuyt been a right winger or an inside right? That formation looks alien to me...can't see Benitez going with a side like that.

It'll be more 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, IMO.

Something like:

-------------------Reina---------------------

Finnan ------Carra-------Agger--------- Heinze

-----------Alonso------Mascherano------

Gerrard----------------------------------------Babel

------------Crouch---------Torres--------------

Obviously Rafa will prefer to Dirk to Crouchie but I don't, so...

This team is the most likely one, obviously Kuyt coming in for crouch as mentioned.

Pennant and crouch will then come on for the last half hour for xabi and Kuyt gerrard can slot in the middle.

I think this thread proves we have possibilities now. I love the fact that our subs can change a game now.

[Svennis]

Kuyt-Torres
Kewell-Alonso-Mascherano-Gerrard
Aurelio-Agger-Carragher-Finnan
Reina

[The_weatherman]

Surely our midfield is strong enough now that it can cope without the extra man. Maybe against the bigger teams we might need to overload the midfield, but for 90% of the teams we should only need the four.

Against some teams I think we only need three I like AF's formation.

[RedReet]

Everyone seems to be agreeing with/eulogising about AFII's team - the one with Kuyt and Babel on the wings?

That side looks awfully narrow to me. Since when has Kuyt been a right winger or an inside right? That formation looks alien to me...can't see Benitez going with a side like that.

It'll be more 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, IMO.

Something like:

-------------------Reina---------------------

Finnan ------Carra-------Agger--------- Heinze

-----------Alonso------Mascherano------

Gerrard----------------------------------------Babel

------------Crouch---------Torres--------------

Obviously Rafa will prefer to Dirk to Crouchie but I don't, so...

Is there much width to this team either Shaggy? Admittedly I’ve only seen Babel play up front, but being right footed, surely he’ll favour coming inside the full back than going to the by-line. Then with Stevie given licence to roam, that only leaves our full backs for natural width.

I think people are becoming too obsessed with this winger thing. Most people still think we have no chance unless we buy this ‘world-class’ winger, and dismissing most formations without natural width on the flanks.

Don’t get me wrong, I think 4-4-2 will be our most likely formation, but not every game will require our wingers to go down the outside and get crosses in. The fact that all our CM’s were happy to sign new contracts also indicates to me that we wont be playing 4-4-2 all the time, as it’s unlikely all four could be kept happy with just two spots available.

[The incredible igor]

-----------------Reina
Finnan------Carra-------Agger-----Aurelio
--------------Mascherano
-------Gerrard------------Alonso
-----Kuyt---------Torres------Babel

When everyone is fit.

Probably line up more like

------------------Reina
Finnan------Carra-------Agger-----Aurelio
--------Mascherano----Alonso
----------------Gerrard
-----------Kuyt---------------Babel
-----------------Torres

[Emmo]

...........Reina

Finnan Carra Agger Riise

.......Masher Alonso

Gerrard....Kuyt.......Babel

.............Torres

Carson
Hyppia
??? New Italian lad / Heinze ???
Arbeloa
Aurillo
Momo
Lucas
Yossi
Kewell
Pennant
Voronin
Crouch

Thats nearly a team and a top quality 11 to replace it.

Emmo

[gerbin11]

I think this comming season we have to think more about roles and responsibilities rather than individuals.

............................Keeper
.......R.Back......C.Back....C.Back......L.Back
..............H.Midfielder.......H.Midfielder
........................A.Midfielder
.........S.Striker.....................S.Striker
........................Target Man

Keeper Picks himself at the moment
R.Back Finnan, Arbeloa, Paletta
L.Back Riise, Insua, Aurelio
C.Back Agger, Hyypia, Carragher, Paletta (Any pairing)
H.Midfielder Alonso, Mascherano, Sissoko
A.Midfielder Gerrard, Benayoun, Lucas
S.Striker Babel, Benayoun, Voronin, Kewell, Pennant
Target Man Torres, Kuyt, Crouch

Set up as a diamond attacking four in front of the two defensive midfield, this would give one of the defensive midfield pair the opportunity to break forward also enabling the fullbacks to be more adventurous. Could this fit in with Rafa's recent comments about the team being more exciting and attacking this coming season.

Voronin could even play the A. Midfielder role looking at his strength and the way he kept the ball against Wrexham. I would also suggest that this gives more oportunities to play the key players so as to keep them happy.

[tomasjj]

Reina
Finnan Carra Agger New left back
Alonso Masch
Gerrard Kuyt Kewell/Babel
Torres

[WILF]

Personally I think these formations with 2 Holding Midfield players are too defensive. Our weak point has been goal scoring, not defending, in recent seasons.

I think we need to have as many players as possible( within reason) who offer a genuine, regular goal threat.

Finnan, Carra, Agger, Riise, Alonso, Masher, between them they scored about 6-8 league goals last season (I think but I haven't checked )

So that only leaves 4 probable goal scorers, not enough in my opinion.Especially at Anfield where many teams put 10/11 men behind the ball we really don't need both Masher and Alonso.

We need to attack , so...

---------------Reina--------------

Finnan----Carra----Agger-----LB

-------------Mash/Xabi-----------

Kewell-----------SG---------Babel

---------Torres--------Crouch-----

Kewell and Babel can switch wings at times

Obviously this relies upon Kewell being fit and Torres and Babel settling well.

As several posters have pointed out we need to find another 30ish more goals (probably), 2 DMs will not give us this imo