Arbeloa cannot simultaneously cover 3 defensive positions

[Parm]

Jinxed!!!!
Anyway, to lose two CB's in one game and still keep a clean sheet

He can and he just did.

I know man, thought the same thing when Sami and JC went off, thought he did ok, but against stronger oppo he would be severly tested.

[anfieldanfield]

I still dont think there's any reason to worry.

Sami will be back in the next few days.

It's worth remembering our next two games are Toulouse and Derby at Anfield. We'll win both those with or without Carra. Then we have two full weeks before Pompey away.

We'll be fine...

[paulcooper4]

I still dont think there's any reason to worry.

Sami will be back in the next few days.

It's worth remembering our next two games are Toulouse and Derby at Anfield. We'll win both those with or without Carra. Then we have two full weeks before Pompey away.

We'll be fine...

[Kenneth]

I still dont think there's any reason to worry.

Sami will be back in the next few days.

It's worth remembering our next two games are Toulouse and Derby at Anfield. We'll win both those with or without Carra. Then we have two full weeks before Pompey away.

We'll be fine...

Yep.

[redblood]

True

Is our backup of Hyypia, Arbeloa, Aurellio, Insua, Hobbs etc any worse than what Utd, Arsenal & Chelsea have? I don't think so. Obviously Gerrard could play RB, and if it was a real emergency then I'm sure Momo or one of the kids would fill in at CB. But I think we're looking into things waaaay too deep here. In my opinion of course.

Admittedly it's good to have plently of cover - and lack of cover cost Chelsea last year probably - but paying £££s for back-up back-up players when we have all of the above isn't needed. What are the odds on having Carragher & Agger etc out injured together for any length of time?

Defensively we're sound. Move along people, there's nothing to see here

It's very nearly happened today, it can and does happen.
We need a defender that can cover 2 positions, unless Hobbs is ready than we're ok but I really don't think he is and if we have aspirations of Challenging we can't afford not to have decent cover.
I think Rafa will seriously look at it after today.

[Lee]

It's very nearly happened today, it can and does happen.
We need a defender that can cover 2 positions, unless Hobbs is ready than we're ok but I really don't think he is and if we have aspirations of Challenging we can't afford not to have decent cover.
I think Rafa will seriously look at it after today.

And see my point above...

Anyway do remember we only have five subs, and can only field three. We brought on both Agger & Riise so there's no issues.

[paulcooper4]

If we are supposedly so weak for cover defensively how come today we were able to bring on defenders with the quality of riise and agger whilst aurelio isnt even in the squad yet?

[publiusscipio]

If we are supposedly so weak for cover defensively how come today we were able to bring on defenders with the quality of riise and agger whilst aurelio isnt even in the squad yet?

Carra and Agger are a top quality first choice pairing but we only have Hyypia as proven quality cover for them. Arbeloa is cover for Finnan and putting him in central defence as cover is 'robbing Peter to pay paul'.

In Central Midfield we have 5 players for 2 positions: Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Mascherano and Leiva(unproven in the prem, but as one of 5 rather than 1 of 4 that is less of a problem) for the centre who give us the quantity and the quality. For the flanks not including the unproven Leto, or even Riise who is primarily a left back we have 4 players in Pennant (RM) Kewell (LM) Benayoun (either flank) Babel (either flank), and of course as mentioned earlier Gerrard can play RM if Rafa wants that.With such attention to quality and quantity in Midfield, why not be equally thorough with our defensive cover?

Right Back: Finnan, Arbeloa SORTED!!!!

Centre back: Carra, Agger, Hyppia, ?????? (Arbeloa can cover here in an emergency, but that exposes right back if Finnan gets injured) *PALETTA, ROQUE, ANTWI, SAN JOSE, HOBBS (All unproven at premiership level. Do we want to risk any of these players if we are especially unlucky with injuries in the centre of defence?) PROBLEMATIC, NOW CARRA IS AWAY 4 - 6 WEEKS, WHO WILL COVER FOR HYYPIA AND AGGER IF EITHER GET INJURED IF ARBELOA IS COVERING AN INJURED FINNAN?????

Left Back: Riise, Aurelio (Currently Arbeloa is covering here as Riise is at LM but Riise and Aurelio may be enough together to allow Arbeloa to cover Finnan principally and only cover left back in an emergency) *INSUA(Unproven and young) RIISE AND AURELIO MAY BE ENOUGH HERE, EVEN THOUGH RIISE IS PLAYING LEFT MIDFIELD AT TIMES THIS SEASON, BUT WE'LL SEE

[dww]

I'm intrigued to learn which player, proven at PL level we could get. I can't see anyone. There may well be good defenders out there and another utility defender would be welcome in the squad but I think we will have to forego PL experience here.

On the other hand if they are to have a future with us this is the sort of situation where the players in our reserves have to be good enough for the bench at least or there really is no hope. At least filling in for the odd game.

Has the extent of Carras injury been confirmed yet?

[jonesie]

I'm intrigued to learn which player, proven at PL level we could get. I can't see anyone. There may well be good defenders out there and another utility defender would be welcome in the squad but I think we will have to forego PL experience here.

On the other hand if they are to have a future with us this is the sort of situation where the players in our reserves have to be good enough for the bench at least or there really is no hope. At least filling in for the odd game.

Has the extent of Carras injury been confirmed yet?

Carra will be out for about a month to six weeks. Players have played with broken noses before so I expect Sami will be ok for the Derby game, but I think we need another centre back with experience, asking Sami to play 2-3 games a week now could be too much.

Don't laugh, but what about going for someone like Sol Campbell? I've read he might not be happy at Pompey and I'm sure he'd jump at the chance of playing for a big club again. He could come in on a month-to-month contract or something like that, then come January we decide who to keep, him or Sami.

There's no way Pompey will want to sell him of course but just a thought.

[dww]

Carra will be out for about a month to six weeks. Players have played with broken noses before so I expect Sami will be ok for the Derby game, but I think we need another centre back with experience, asking Sami to play 2-3 games a week now could be too much.

Don't laugh, but what about going for someone like Sol Campbell? I've read he might not be happy at Pompey and I'm sure he'd jump at the chance of playing for a big club again. He could come in on a month-to-month contract or something like that, then come January we decide who to keep, him or Sami.

There's no way Pompey will want to sell him of course but just a thought.

If it were a possibility it would be a good idea IMO. I suspect it wouldn't be though.

I really think we must have reserves who can fill in at fullback on occasion and Hyypia and Arbeloa are capable of covering in the middle for a while. We probably could do with another CB in the squad but it is hard to see who would be willing to come in as 3rd or possibly 4th choice unless they were young or able to play another position (probably fullback).

I think we either need to loan out players like Hobbs or be willing to have them as a reserve at times like this or they are no use to us. He has been here a while and to progress will need first team football somewhere.

[ELNINO 9]

we will sign someone this week

[ELNINO 9]

i can feel it ok

[Growler]

I welcome suggestions for a CB player who is better than arbeloa, who can go straight into the first team for 6 weeks and then is happy to be 4th choice CB.

[loco_law]

Personally I'm happy as hell that Sami "Class" Hyypia decided he'd rather stay at LFC on the bench as cover for most of the season instead of plying his trade elsewhere.

We would be seriously up the preverbal creek without the required implementations to change our course.

Thanks again Sami.