Rafa has a mighty CB headache!

[rage]

call me old fashioned but i really do think key to a teams success is a consistent and solid back 4 who know each other well through playing with each other week in week out. i hope the pre season determines what our back 4 will look like for the first dozen or so games, and then when changes are made they are only through injuries, in the domestic cup games or against weaker teams.

oh and providing they're fit i reckon deggen carra agger dossena. can't see why rafa would be bringing in anymore squad players so i'm expecting good things of the two new fullbacks.

skertl has really impressed me also, the turning point imo of drogba scoring in the 2nd leg was skertl getting injured.

[Morph]

call me old fashioned but i really do think key to a teams success is a consistent and solid back 4 who know each other well through playing with each other week in week out. i hope the pre season determines what our back 4 will look like for the first dozen or so games, and then when changes are made they are only through injuries, in the domestic cup games or against weaker teams.

oh and providing they're fit i reckon deggen carra agger dossena. can't see why rafa would be bringing in anymore squad players so i'm expecting good things of the two new fullbacks.

skertl has really impressed me also, the turning point imo of drogba scoring in the 2nd leg was skertl getting injured.

Will never happen, Rafa does most of his rotating between August and Jan, which is when the biggest flow of games comes, however when you're bringing in good players it shouldn't make a great deal of difference

[billy_mac]

oh and providing they're fit i reckon deggen carra agger dossena. can't see why rafa would be bringing in anymore squad players so i'm expecting good things of the two new fullbacks.

skertl has really impressed me also, the turning point imo of drogba scoring in the 2nd leg was skertl getting injured.

I think its a bit much to be expecting degen to start, he hasn't played for half a year and even then he wasn't exactly making headlines around europe. Nobody it really sure how good he is. I think Carra could start there away to Sunderland. Will wait and see what preseason has in store.

Yes poxy luck Skrtle getting injured then, made a big difference without him.

[einar]

You can never make enough chances, but we did make enough at home in the stupid games we drew and especially against Chelsea in the semi final. Its something Rafa no doubt was using to dig at the players, but also to shield away from the overall lack of creativity. I'd put that down to how Rafa has us set up rather to personel, playing predominantly on the counter attack. We don't play high up the pitch at all and are happy to let teams have the ball and play.

Point taken about 2 up top to forrage on their own merits and hitting the ball early. But better to have 2 to try make it stick up there than have one chap (unless its Torres) on his own. I see it with 3 at the back and 2 up top there are more players in advanced positions to have the emphasis and possession much higher up the pitch. As we both argee its how you play it. Yes you could be light down the wings. Skrtle and Agger both have plenty of pace and could cover the wings with wing backs and with mascherano & xabi/barry not far away.

4 is plenty at the back, but sometimes 3 could be enough or 3 + 2 might be needed. Its good to have the options and a healthy problem to have 4 very good CB. The best thing is Sami knows he will be a bit part player, Carra will do whatever is asked of him for the club, Skrtle is just delighted to be here and Agger the same. I can't see any problems being caused if somebody is left out.

We definitely have the option to play with 3 at the back, but according to this comment:

"The talks I have had with Benitez have mostly been about tactics. He has explained that he wants a four-man defence but that the most important thing is that the balance on the pitch is never broken. There must be balance between the left and right-backs."

Taken for Dossenas first interview for .tv it seems it will be 4 at the back a vast majority of the time.