Width?

[El Jefecito]

Tony Barrett intimated this morning that we are NOT interested in Bentley. To me that points the way to the FBs being responsible for providing the width next season. Both of the FBs we have been linked with (Degen & dossena) are really WBs and their strengths are the attacking side of their games.

Implies that 4231 is here to stay as with El Jefecito in the fray, he can pretty much cover for any of the back 4 getting forward.

Width via the FBs is probably cheaper than going for one of the 3-4 real wingers in world football, they are a rare commodity.

So 8m for Dossena and 0M for Degen, where should we be spending the rest of transfer $ and is width from the FBs enough?

I can imagine a lot of people being pissed that we'll not be getting chalk on tthe boots wingers, but I think Rafa is getting the right balance.

[kop-al-74]

I have to admit,i am crying out for a out an out,touchline hugging world class winger.Someone with a trick or two,who isn't afraid to try the unthinkable and with pace to burn.(Does he exist)!

[Darkon]

The one real advantage if we manage to get two good attacking fullbacks for that system is that it will allow for kuyt and babbel to get in to the area more, and provide a bigger treat in front of goal...

It however puts more pressure on the def mid as mentioned, and that could mean that we would need one more of the mascher kind of style working hard from side to side of the pitch. Not sure Alonso is though enough for that role...

[Roboklopp]

Don't worry, Downing is on his way.

[dww]

I think that touch line hugging wingers are pretty much a thing of the past. We need flexible attacking players capable of both scoring and creating and who are comfortable interchanging positions in the front line or positions behind a main striker. Ronaldo is the Archetype of the new attacking footballer.

For me Babel is the right sort of player and we need probably two more like him (although preferably less raw). I think that width or at least crosses are best provided by having the option of either overlapping or good at deep crossing fullbacks. They are much harder to pick up and as such tend to have more time. In addition to this they free up the other forwards to get into the box.

[Harv]

pretty obvious that he's going for the Italian/Brazilian style width.

I watched Dossena closely the other night against Milan. He bombs forward, has a bit of pace, and was generally solid in defense (although Milan usually attacked down the other flank, so he didnt get much chance to defend).

Degen looks like a similar player, my German housemate says he is fantastic going forward, but can sometimes be sloppy in defense....which i guess is the drawback in having attacking fullbacks.

Nothing wrong with this method BTW. Hell Italy and Brazil have been using it for decades.

[slimbimjim]

pretty obvious that he's going for the Italian/Brazilian style width.

I watched Dossena closely the other night against Milan. He bombs forward, has a bit of pace, and was generally solid in defense (although Milan usually attacked down the other flank, so he didnt get much chance to defend).

Degen looks like a similar player, my German housemate says he is fantastic going forward, but can sometimes be sloppy in defense....which i guess is the drawback in having attacking fullbacks.

Nothing wrong with this method BTW. Hell Italy and Brazil have been using it for decades.

Someone like Cafu comes to mind.

[JohnDoe]

I really don't care where our width come from, if Rafa is looking at this:

Reina
Degen Carragher Agger Dossena
Mascherano Barry
XXXXX Gerrard XXXXX
Torres

Then I don't mind the definition the X's falls into. We're over complicating things sometimes. I want those two to have pace, be able to beat their man and cross, possess good technique and have the ability to score goals on a consistent basis. If that's what wingers are, fine, if that's what wideattackingmidfielderswhodonthugthetouchline are, fine. We have Babel who can grow into the role, but he's not enough. Kuyt's not good enough and Benayoun's a better alternative for Gerrard's role rather than the wide role.

Whoever they are, this is where most of our transfer budget should be spent. If we sign top quality players for those spots, we'll be challenging. If we end up signing decent players who can do a job, we'll be looking at those two positions once again next summer.

[Guest]

I really don't care where our width come from, if Rafa is looking at this:

Reina
Degen Carragher Agger Dossena
Mascherano Barry
XXXXX Gerrard XXXXX
Torres

Then I don't mind the definition the X's falls into. We're over complicating things sometimes. I want those two to have pace, be able to beat their man and cross, possess good technique and have the ability to score goals on a consistent basis. If that's what wingers are, fine, if that's what wideattackingmidfielderswhodonthugthetouchline are, fine. We have Babel who can grow into the role, but he's not enough. Kuyt's not good enough and Benayoun's a better alternative for Gerrard's role rather than the wide role.

Whoever they are, this is where most of our transfer budget should be spent. If we sign top quality players for those spots, we'll be challenging. If we end up signing decent players who can do a job, we'll be looking at those two positions once again next summer.

[Roboklopp]

I really don't care where our width come from, if Rafa is looking at this:

Reina
Degen Carragher Agger Dossena
Mascherano Barry
XXXXX Gerrard XXXXX
Torres

Then I don't mind the definition the X's falls into. We're over complicating things sometimes. I want those two to have pace, be able to beat their man and cross, possess good technique and have the ability to score goals on a consistent basis. If that's what wingers are, fine, if that's what wideattackingmidfielderswhodonthugthetouchline are, fine. We have Babel who can grow into the role, but he's not enough. Kuyt's not good enough and Benayoun's a better alternative for Gerrard's role rather than the wide role.

Whoever they are, this is where most of our transfer budget should be spent. If we sign top quality players for those spots, we'll be challenging. If we end up signing decent players who can do a job, we'll be looking at those two positions once again next summer.

[Exiled_red]

Personally I still think we need wingers with creativity and who can score goals, because at the moment we don't have that, at present we are still looking to Gerrard and Torres to create the spark to win games in probably 80-90% of matches. I still don't think Kuyt is right for that position, you can't doubt his effort and work rate but I don't think he has the skill, creativity or pace to play that position as well as is required

[meffin]

we cant sort out all of the positions in 1 season, it would be too expensive and too many new faces in the starting line up- sorting out full backs looks like the main thing this pre season. wingers maybe next year

[The Birdman]

Which teams currently play with out and out wingers? the Mancs don't, Arsenal don't and Chelsea don't.
Most of their width is provided by the full backs.
We started it with Rob Jones and (cough) Sting Inge Bjornebye

[Parr_Zee]

To me, it seems that in games where teams are prepared to sit back and put 10 men behind the ball, Rafa will be playing Degen and Dossena to provide the width, with Kuyt and Babel drifting inside to provide more threat in around the box.

[lfc1394]

Maybe it's just me, but since we changed to 4231 i don't think we have struggled to break teams down. Having attacking full backs is better than having the archetypal winger for these situations anyway. The full backs are harder to mark then a winger would be. What we lack is goal scoring players, what ever their position.