Agger

[FatTony]

Will Agger be back?

[EwarWoo]

Regardless of who's the better player, carra needs to be first choice.

What we need most from him is his heart and soul, it's just handy he can play a bit too.

[lackyboy]

Carra will defo be a first choice centre half next season although I do believe Benitez will now utilise the options he has (more rotating) a lot more.

I think Carra, now over 30 years old, will now get more of a 35-40 game season rather than the 50 - 60 he has been used to over the last few years.

My personal opinion is a preference for a settled partnership at the back, at least for the majority of the league games. However, I am sure Benitez's opinion will differ from mine and we will see lots of rotation. The BIG difference here is that unlike other area's in the team, we will be rotating players of a very similar quality.

The other consideration here will be the formation that we play which could very easily be with three centre halves - maybe not as the regular formation but certainly on occasion.

[Woobus]

Yup I think Carra will be the number 1 choice, with Skrtel and Agger getting some games together to help form their partnership.

[-V-]

We need all 4 of them if we are going to play 60 games. It will be Hyypia who plays least. The main 3 will naturally rotate game by game

[BobTheCharmer]

We need all 4 of them if we are going to play 60 games. It will be Hyypia who plays least. The main 3 will naturally rotate game by game

if this happens we're ****ed. there's certain positions you don't rotate. keeper, centre backs, centre midfield and torres. I can see the outcry now if we lose games and one of the centre backs who's just come in makes a costly mistake. All successful teams have a first choice central defensive pairing they stick with, barring injuries, suspensions and obviously major lack of form.

I wish we had a squad of 18. With the rest made up of youngsters. To stop Rafa rotating.

[-V-]

Don't agree with you at all. Carra, Agger and Skrtle are all top quality and as long as they are well trained on positioning and communication then they will be able to rotate just fine.

It would be different if you were rotating in lesser quality players

[lackyboy]

if this happens we're ****ed. there's certain positions you don't rotate. keeper, centre backs, centre midfield and torres. I can see the outcry now if we lose games and one of the centre backs who's just come in makes a costly mistake. All successful teams have a first choice central defensive pairing they stick with, barring injuries, suspensions and obviously major lack of form.

I wish we had a squad of 18. With the rest made up of youngsters. To stop Rafa rotating.

I see where you are coming from Bob and personally, I agree but it's now part of the game and defo part of Rafa's approach.

The advantage with this particular scenario is that we can replace a quality player with a quality player. No longer do we have to replace our first choice centre half with a 'Jimmy Traore' or move a left back into the centre to cover.

If we could do this in other positions i.e. rotate Torres with Henry (or any top strker) rather than Voronin. Surely rotation would then be easier to take?

[badpiggy]

I see where you are coming from Bob and personally, I agree but it's now part of the game and defo part of Rafa's approach.

The advantage with this particular scenario is that we can replace a quality player with a quality player. No longer do we have to replace our first choice centre half with a 'Jimmy Traore' or move a left back into the centre to cover.

If we could do this in other positions i.e. rotate Torres with Henry (or any top strker) rather than Voronin. Surely rotation would then be easier to take?

don't think it makes a difference to fans whether rotation is based on top notch players or not - the problem is it might make a difference to a top notch player. i'm with bob here - but more than willing to be proven wrong - the idea of rotating our centre halves seems mad and a recipe for uncertainty and therefore goals against us.

given that i don't understand zonal marking though, perhaps there's a possibility that it fits in with rotation of backs...? can't see how but what do i know.

[Skillz]

Carra and Agger will be the preferred choice at the start of the season, IMO. Agger and Skrtel by the end of the season is a fair bet too, IMO.

[BobTheCharmer]

Carra and Agger will be the preferred choice at the start of the season, IMO. Agger and Skrtel by the end of the season is a fair bet too, IMO.

so are you suggesting carra will have a poor season?

[Reece]

don't think it makes a difference to fans whether rotation is based on top notch players or not - the problem is it might make a difference to a top notch player. i'm with bob here - but more than willing to be proven wrong - the idea of rotating our centre halves seems mad and a recipe for uncertainty and therefore goals against us.

given that i don't understand zonal marking though, perhaps there's a possibility that it fits in with rotation of backs...? can't see how but what do i know.

It's a shame DJS isn't here to give us his views on rotation.

[Martinpool]

You wanna bet ?

I'll take that bet! Expect Carra to play alot more at right back next season.

[Skillz]

so are you suggesting carra will have a poor season?

No. Just that Agger and Skrtel have the potential to put a lot of pressure on him. Carra has an improtant part to play for a couple of years at least, don't get me wrong.

Next year against the best in Europe away he will be first picked, but in the league I can see Agger and Skrtel spending a lot of time together at the end of the season. Carra will have to start this season a lot better than last.

[Marky]

I love the way people just assume Agger will stroll back into proceedings as if he'd never been away.

He was suppossed to be out for 6 weeks at first, it he ended up being out month upon month.
Worrying.