Who should be our guaranteed starters?

[Morph]

Okay there's ben a lot of talk about not rotating the team too much so who would you pick in a consistent starting eleven. I've come up with-

Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Riise
Sissoko Gerrard
Kuyt

I think these 8 should play almost every game and the rotation should be around the other 3 positions. Now in all fairness with the odd exception I don't see rafa changing these 8 core players through the season.

The other 3 will be filled depending on what system we adopt for the particular game, so is all this rotation criticism lark a load of rubbish when you really look at it.

Pennant or Gerrard will fill the RW role depending on the game.
Aurelio/Gonzalez/Kewell/Zenden will fill the LW role depedning on the game
(Gonzalez might hopefully make this role his own eventually and thus become a starter)
Crouch/Bellamy/Fowler/Garcia will fill the second striker role depending on the game.

People bang on about the rotation policy but really I don't see those first 8 players changing much now providing everyone stays fit, apart from the odd game.

[Rocket]

not sure agger is guaranteed yet. i still think sami has alot to offer

i agree with the others

[Morph]

I think the fact that Agger was picked in one of the hardest away games of the season against 2 of the toughest strikers tells it's own story.

[Bob]

Okay there's ben a lot of talk about not rotating the team too much so who would you pick in a consistent starting eleven. I've come up with-

Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Riise
Sissoko Gerrard
Kuyt

I think these 8 should play almost every game and the rotation should be around the other 3 positions. Now in all fairness with the odd exception I don't see rafa changing these 8 core players through the season.

The other 3 will be filled depending on what system we adopt for the particular game, so is all this rotation criticism lark a load of rubbish when you really look at it.

Pennant or Gerrard will fill the RW role depending on the game.
Aurelio/Gonzalez/Kewell/Zenden will fill the LW role depedning on the game
(Gonzalez might hopefully make this role his own eventually and thus become a starter)
Crouch/Bellamy/Fowler/Garcia will fill the second striker role depending on the game.

People bang on about the rotation policy but really I don't see those first 8 players changing much now providing everyone stays fit, apart from the odd game.

Spot on with that!

Gerrard back to RW ASAP please.

[lfc4ever]

Not even a mention of Xabi??

To me, he is the ideal CL starter, along with Garcia.

[Rocket]

i reckon sami will be used against teams that have a big target man upfront that tend to send high balls in.

[anfieldanfield]

i reckon sami will be used against teams that have a big target man upfront that tend to send high balls in.

Like Drogba, you mean ?

[joyno]

Okay there's ben a lot of talk about not rotating the team too much so who would you pick in a consistent starting eleven. I've come up with-

Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Riise
Sissoko Gerrard
Kuyt

I think these 8 should play almost every game and the rotation should be around the other 3 positions. Now in all fairness with the odd exception I don't see rafa changing these 8 core players through the season.

The other 3 will be filled depending on what system we adopt for the particular game, so is all this rotation criticism lark a load of rubbish when you really look at it.

Pennant or Gerrard will fill the RW role depending on the game.
Aurelio/Gonzalez/Kewell/Zenden will fill the LW role depedning on the game
(Gonzalez might hopefully make this role his own eventually and thus become a starter)
Crouch/Bellamy/Fowler/Garcia will fill the second striker role depending on the game.

People bang on about the rotation policy but really I don't see those first 8 players changing much now providing everyone stays fit, apart from the odd game.

i cant see Alonso as one of your starters mate, i know he as had a bad start and maybe a word of warning from Rafa might suffice but dropping him wont be the answer especially if its a confidence thing,you don't go from world class to Shiite overnight.

[Bob]

i reckon sami will be used against teams that have a big target man upfront that tend to send high balls in.

Perhaps, Sami is still a potent force to be reckoned with, but has been eractic this season without Riise.

Also Agger maybe a bit young to be playing a whole season. However when he's in this kinda form why hold him back?!

[The Glove]

Okay there's ben a lot of talk about not rotating the team too much so who would you pick in a consistent starting eleven. I've come up with-

Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Riise
Sissoko Gerrard
Kuyt

I think these 8 should play almost every game and the rotation should be around the other 3 positions. Now in all fairness with the odd exception I don't see rafa changing these 8 core players through the season.

The other 3 will be filled depending on what system we adopt for the particular game, so is all this rotation criticism lark a load of rubbish when you really look at it.

Pennant or Gerrard will fill the RW role depending on the game.
Aurelio/Gonzalez/Kewell/Zenden will fill the LW role depedning on the game
(Gonzalez might hopefully make this role his own eventually and thus become a starter)
Crouch/Bellamy/Fowler/Garcia will fill the second striker role depending on the game.

People bang on about the rotation policy but really I don't see those first 8 players changing much now providing everyone stays fit, apart from the odd game.

I think those 8 players are right. Id possibly but Bellamy in as well.

[Morph]

I didn't pick another striker because I'm not sure between Crouch and Bellamy, unfortunately don't think Fowler comes into it, also if Kuyt is the only 'guaranteed' starter it makes picking a 451 formation easier.

I've left Alonso off because I think given his form at the moment he needs to be dropped. Maybe a bit harsh, but I'd play him if Stevie G was out on the right or if we played a 5 man midfield with 3 in the center picking him is easy. in a 442 formaton tho I'd play Gerrard and Sissoko in the middle, and it's something I'd like to see more of.

[lfc4ever]

This seems to have turned into a workers & shirkers thread?

[carheex]

Not even a mention of Xabi??

To me, he is the ideal CL starter, along with Garcia.

A "joke" i presume....

On current form Alonso shouldn't be anywhere near the first team squad. We can't afford to carry players when playing at such a high level.

NO-ONE should be a guaranteed starter.

[Shaggy]

At this precise moment in time Daniel Agger is the closest thing we have to a guaranteed starter. Or at least he should be. He's been ****ing imperious so far. Keep it going lad.

[StevieGnR]

Okay there's ben a lot of talk about not rotating the team too much so who would you pick in a consistent starting eleven. I've come up with-

Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Riise
Sissoko Gerrard
Kuyt

I think these 8 should play almost every game and the rotation should be around the other 3 positions. Now in all fairness with the odd exception I don't see rafa changing these 8 core players through the season.

The other 3 will be filled depending on what system we adopt for the particular game, so is all this rotation criticism lark a load of rubbish when you really look at it.

Pennant or Gerrard will fill the RW role depending on the game.
Aurelio/Gonzalez/Kewell/Zenden will fill the LW role depedning on the game
(Gonzalez might hopefully make this role his own eventually and thus become a starter)
Crouch/Bellamy/Fowler/Garcia will fill the second striker role depending on the game.

People bang on about the rotation policy but really I don't see those first 8 players changing much now providing everyone stays fit, apart from the odd game.

Agreed, all of the players mentioned have started well. Particularly impressed with Agger and Kuyt.