Our problem area

[Assassin]

The left side

Riise, is a left sided utility player, big engine, no positional sense, no good at defending

Aurelio, is a left sided utility player and injury prone, better in offensive role than defensive

Kewell, left sided midfield/winger, never shown his worth and injury prone

Leto, left sided midfield/winger, solid, but doesnt have speed

Insua, left back, very promising, but is it too early to blood him.

Babel, I have left him out of the equation as he isnt really a left sided player


If we ever want to be serious PL contenders, we need draft in one decent LB and one decent LM/LW.

Thoughts on who we should be getting in to fix this

[captainfog]

The left side

Riise, is a left sided utility player, big engine, no positional sense, no good at defending

Aurelio, is a left sided utility player and injury prone, better in offensive role than defensive

Kewell, left sided midfield/winger, never shown his worth and injury prone

Leto, left sided midfield/winger, solid, but doesnt have speed

Insua, left back, very promising, but is it too early to blood him.

Babel, I have left him out of the equation as he isnt really a left sided player


If we ever want to be serious PL contenders, we need draft in one decent LB and one decent LM/LW.

Thoughts on who we should be getting in to fix this

IMO right wing is more important

[Imy]

Both wide areas including both fullbacks are a problem, Under Rafa the fullbacks overlap and provide width, Arbeloa/Finnan are ok but there are players who are better.

Benayoun/Kewell are OK but are far too inconsistent, we need players who are much more creative.

[kev776]

what about attack, if route 1 to Torres fails, then what ?

[Frank Leroux]

I'd still propose Gerrard for the left & Kewell for the right - Arbeloa right back - can't think of left sided defender who is comfortable over-lapping (with an end product).

[Imy]

what about attack, if route 1 to Torres fails, then what ?

Then we have Kuyt and Crow who with their pace, skill and eye for goal pick up the slack...oh wait

[AFII]

Kewell have only played a few games after being out a looooong time. If anyone thinks that he will make excellent games all the time then I can say for sure that that you are deluded.

He will make some bad games and have some bad periods until he is 100% again and that will take time.

Give him three, four months from now to get back fully fit again and judge him then, everything else isn't fair.

[Jazzmaster]

Kewell have only played a few games after being out a looooong time. If anyone thinks that he will make excellent games all the time then I can say for sure that that you are deluded.

He will make some bad games and have some bad periods until he is 100% again and that will take time.

Give him three, four months from now to get back fully fit again and judge him then, everything else isn't fair.

I agree with that sentiment 100%. Actually ive been very impressed with Kewell lately and I think the bad press he got post-scum was unfair, largely due to the fact that Riise was so poor and offered very little in the way of left wing link-up play.

If he can stay fit (and so far so good touch wood) I think that Kewell, on his day, is a match for anyone in the world on that wing.

[The Birdman]

It's the full backs for me, it's fine playing wide players who come in off the line if you've got the full backs to bomb on and overlap (like Giggs moving inside while Evra does all his attacking work).
I think Arbeloa if fine to play this role on either the left or right, Finnan supports from deep without powering on past whoever plays in front of him.
I think Riise is **** and have done for years, Aureillo could be the answer at LB but he seems injury prone.
But please can this not start another Daniel Alves thread

[AFII]

It's the full backs for me, it's fine playing wide players who come in off the line if you've got the full backs to bomb on and overlap (like Giggs moving inside while Evra does all his attacking work).
I think Arbeloa if fine to play this role on either the left or right, Finnan supports from deep without powering on past whoever plays in front of him.
I think Riise is **** and have done for years, Aureillo could be the answer at LB but he seems injury prone.
But please can this not start another Daniel Alves thread

Lahm would be the answer. If he is available then we should sign him. The best fullback in the world.

[bobbyfallon]

finnan has a season or two left

arbeloa imo the most imroved player at lfc

leto/insua too soon to judge

kewell impressive at times since his return - not 100% yet

riise has to go but replacing him will not be easy

sami finished now for nearly a year

pennant was never going to be good enough

benny done ok to be fair although absent against mancs

aurilio - dont know what to think frustrating

[tomasjj]

Left back is a problem, but Arbeloa can do a proper job.
There are other areas I would rather prioritise.

A partner for Torres would do, and centre back cover.

[red g]

Kewell have only played a few games after being out a looooong time. If anyone thinks that he will make excellent games all the time then I can say for sure that that you are deluded.

He will make some bad games and have some bad periods until he is 100% again and that will take time.

Give him three, four months from now to get back fully fit again and judge him then, everything else isn't fair.

Kewell will never be 100% imo

[Fierce]

Completely unrealistic, but the kid at Spurs looks exactly the type of left back that Rafa would like. Fantastic going forward, knows how to tackle and tracks back. Possible question marks over his defensive positioning, but he's young and this will improve

For the right? Alan Hutton at Rangers. Again, awesome attacking fullback, but he really knows how to tackle too. Looks an ideal 'Rafa' fullback to me

Wingers. I'm not 100% sure that we definitely do need out and out wingers. I think that we should have them as an option, but i'm not sure its the answer that everyone thinks it is

If we have the back four that we need (Carra, Agger, 2 attack minded fullbacks) then it will give us lots more possibilites for the midfield

Babel has looked quality, but is incredibly raw. Right now, based on the ability we've seen, I think he'd be perfect on the left or right side of a 3 up top formation. If we were to go down that route, we'd be able to have 3 central midfielders, albeit not necessarily playing as typical central midfielders. Having attacking, overlapping fullbacks would negate the need for typical wingers

[CAD]

Both wide areas including both fullbacks are a problem, Under Rafa the fullbacks overlap and provide width, Arbeloa/Finnan are ok but there are players who are better.

Benayoun/Kewell are OK but are far too inconsistent, we need players who are much more creative.

EOD