The way to go...

[Imy]

I like the formation, it will rely on Gerrard, Babel and Benayoun getting their fair share of the goals and i don't see that happening, to play that formation we need attackers who have an eye for a goal like Fabregas and Ronaldo.

[Pacman]

The 4-2-3-1 formation is the way we should go in the future. As things stand, it's the best formation for the players we have and we should buy future signings in order to suit this.

..............................Pepe

.......Finnan......Agger.........JC......Arbeloa

..................Alonso.............Masher

..Benayoun............Gerrard................Babel

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

Then in January, ship out Kuyt and Voronin. Sign a new striker to replace them.

And with the turmoil and uncertainty at Spurs, now is the time to SIGN AARON LENNON.

Play him in the Benayoun position, let Babel get a run of games in that formation and i think we'll see a major improvement.

We dont have good enough strikers to play 4-4-2.

Masherano's protection is needed. Alonso's ability to pull the strings is needed. Gerrard needs to do what he does best and drive through the centre.

The best solution is this formation and we're far closer to having the right personnnel for THIS formation than any other.

My god for once we agree

However if and it's a big if Kewell is fit I'd start with him on the left and Babel on the right.

[tomasjj]

Agree with that formation. been saying that for ages.
I was well pleased to see Rafa playing it now against Arsenal.
Still think it is with this formation we have looked the most dangerous - with Luis, SG and Kewell rotating behind the striker.
Kuyt and Voronin are not the ones to give such a formation it's needed dynamic and creativity though.

[Parm]

In my country you would get a blow job.

[AFII]

We are only two excellent wing backs from being able to play 4-2-3-1 with a team with no holes in it when everyone is fit.

I think Rafa want to play like that but he hasn't been able to do that because of injuries and Lucas needing time to adapt.

[dww]

We are only two excellent wing backs from being able to play 4-2-3-1 with a team with no holes in it when everyone is fit.

I think Rafa want to play like that but he hasn't been able to do that because of injuries and Lucas needing time to adapt.

I don't think you need excellent wing backs/attacking fullbacks to play it necessarily. What you do need is players both sides of the defense who are capable of passing the ball into midfield and either crossing from deep or overlapping the winger.

I think Finnan and Arbeloa give us good options on the right and Aurelio (if he is ever fit) could do the jobs described very well. The problem is that we have been very unbalanced of late, with no one on the left doing the job well, and if the opposition know which wing you are strong on it is easy to target.

[Skillz]

The 4-2-3-1 formation is the way we should go in the future. As things stand, it's the best formation for the players we have and we should buy future signings in order to suit this.

..............................Pepe

.......Finnan......Agger.........JC......Arbeloa

..................Alonso.............Masher

..Benayoun............Gerrard................Babel

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

Then in January, ship out Kuyt and Voronin. Sign a new striker to replace them.

And with the turmoil and uncertainty at Spurs, now is the time to SIGN AARON LENNON.

Play him in the Benayoun position, let Babel get a run of games in that formation and i think we'll see a major improvement.

We dont have good enough strikers to play 4-4-2.

Masherano's protection is needed. Alonso's ability to pull the strings is needed. Gerrard needs to do what he does best and drive through the centre.

The best solution is this formation and we're far closer to having the right personnnel for THIS formation than any other.

Ahhh, DJ your back in form. Good thread this IMO, as I feel this is where we will end up, although it is simplistic to suggest Rafa will have a rigid formation, with same players. For me we play this pretty much anyway, or a form of it, with Kuyt in Gerrards position most of the time.

Kuyt has had this season to make it his own and he has not be wanting on effort. Unfortunately he lack in the class department and that will make him a squad player IMO. Crouch may stay if he plays well over the next month or 2 but Rafa will dispense of one of them and the Crow looks most likely.

We need to purchase a class forward to partner Torres, one that suits but while he is injured I hope Harry gets a run as a forward. In kuyts role he will lack stamina but his class may be what we are looking for.

..............................Pepe

.......Finnan......Agger.........JC......Arbeloa

..................Alonso.............Masher

..BABEL............Gerrard................KEWELL

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


The 2nd line of attack can be interchanged into any formation you like, changing many times through out a game.

[Pablo]

I like it Syd, my only conerns would be:

Do our wide players score enough goals? - i.e we would be sacrificing the threat of an extra striker for two wide players who rarely score (Pennant especiallly). United play that formation but their wide players score heavily.

Will Rafa ever drop Kuyt? - i have a feeling he would always be one of the two wide players in this formation, and that worries me.

[AFII]

Rafa will only sell Kuyt if he doesn't do the work he is told to do on the pitch good enough.

Nothing to do with how many goals or assists he makes. It's the overall performance from Rafas point of view that counts.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Id like to see us get Lennon and the Berb from Spurs

Berb and Torres up front would be a lovely partnership and one of real quality

[red g]

Id like to see us get Lennon and the Berb from Spurs

Berb and Torres up front would be a lovely partnership and one of real quality

why dont we add bale as well!!

[friedk]

Id like to see us get Lennon and the Berb from Spurs

Berb and Torres up front would be a lovely partnership and one of real quality

Except Berb() is a whinging **** who sees himself as more important than the manager.

He did well last season; his achievement this season is most offsides and most fouls committed in the league.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

why dont we add bale as well!!

Forgot him

We need a left back badly what we have is useless

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Except Berb() is a whinging **** who sees himself as more important than the manager.

He did well last season; his achievement this season is most offsides and most fouls committed in the league.

He does look off form this season and a bit "not bothered" but he’s a great player wonderfully gifted, one of the most eloquent players, fantastic touch and intelligent player, oh and he can score goals too

[bobbyfallon]

He does look off form this season and a bit "not bothered" but he’s a great player wonderfully gifted, one of the most eloquent players, fantastic touch and intelligent player, oh and he can score goals too

a striker who scores goals????

doesnt sound like a rafa type player

cept torres of course