So where is this width coming from this season?

[Rix007]

not coming

[johnnyfish]

I can see the criticism but then the same could be levelled at both Chelsea and Arsenal (even United when Ronaldo is played up front at times). I actually think that we have fine players for the wide attacking roles in terms of providing width so long as we have good support from the fullbacks. The problem for me is more about guile and creativity in the final third and pace on the counter.

I think Torres, Gerrard and Keane (if he comes) are all capable of giving movement enough to stretch a defence wide if people are willing to commit to support from the opposite flank (which we haven't often seen but Babel may progress and Kuyt did it for the Dutch at the Euros).

I really think people obsess to much about wingers - for me it is about intelligent running and movement and we have players capable of providing both. There are very few real wingers about and even fewer doing well for big clubs. I find it very odd that people crave 'width' and then say Silva is the answer. I'm happy to admit that I think he would be a fine addition and could potentially solve the problems I see in our attack but he isn't the wideman that people seem to crave.

I can kind of agree with all that ................but it doesn't get around the fact that (a) Rafa talks about width and he recognizes we don't presently have it and (b) teams at anfield will come and get eleven men behind the ball and we will need width to break them down

[Woobus]

Would 3 centre backs be an option this season?? from what I've see so far (and I know that pre-season is a ****e time to make an evaluation!!) the 2 seem much more comfortable going forward than defensively - with 3 centre halves there wouldn't be as much of an onus on their defensive capabilities thus being able to concentrate more on attacking.

If the above is the case, it would be such a pressing need in finding wingers this summer as Dossena and Deggen would provide the width we missed at times during last season.

Think Mascherano will cover for which ever full back goes in attack, cant see both of them playing against the stronger teams only the teams who come to stick 11 men behind the ball.

[El Jefecito]

Answers on a postcard please...................

Same place Arsenal and Manure get it from.

The fullbacks.

[dww]

I can kind of agree with all that ................but it doesn't get around the fact that (a) Rafa talks about width and he recognizes we don't presently have it and (b) teams at anfield will come and get eleven men behind the ball and we will need width to break them down

I think that comes down to the fact that last season our fullbacks were too defensive - which we have sorted even if their quality is yet to be determined. I also think that a large part of the width comes from the intelligent play of the people in the attacking quartet. For me Benayoun actually offered good width to the play last year - the problem was that he failed to consistently use the ball creatively in those areas.

I think even if we are to buy another attacking midfield player a lot of the improvement we may see this season will come from how the players we already have improve or adapt to having Keane and/or attacking fullbacks added to the team. I think there is a lot of potential there but as Arsenal have seen in several of the recent seasons it is a risk to rely on it coming out. I do however think we have a more solid and flexible base to start from where Arsenal have always been trying to build the spine of their team this way.

I for one think that a more dynamic and positionally flexible player like Barry in the deep lying CM roles would help the transition. However if it works and we have a fluid attacking unit Xabi may well thrive.

[Hammer]

I don't think Rafa sees wingers as a priority anymore.
Since he arrived we have had the likes of Kewell, Pennant, Leto, Gonzalez and Nunez and none of them have provided what we need from wide areas. Not all of them were at the quality we require and maybe a world class winger would have offered us that much needed width. But maybe Rafa has a different philosophy.

Up until the change to 4-2-3-1 formation Pennant and Kewell always had their fair share of games when available, but since the change they were hardly used. With Kewell now gone and Pennant possibly on his way it doesn't look like Rafa is looking for like for like replacements. Due the success of the formation maybe Rafa doesn't see these type of wingers as the way forward but instead is hoping for the fullbacks to provided this width. His 1st 2 signings this summer were fullback which shows this was a key area he wanted to strenthen.

Hopefully Degen and Dossena provide us attacking support and will give us what we need. They may weaken us defensively but it may be what we need to break down weaker teams who come to Anfield for a 0-0. Against the top 3 however I can see Rafa still going for defensive fullbacks to keep things tight and use Kuyt/Benayoun/Babel/Keane? to cover the wide areas.

[Parm]

Dossena and Degen.

Babel and Pennant

I'd imagine a combination of the 4 will give us our width.

[billy_mac]

I don't think we'll sign wingers this summer. So it has to be the full backs. The addition of Barry is pretty important to Dossena bombing forward and keeping some sort of balance to the side. I hope I'm completely wrong with everything I've said, but its Rafa that's making the decisions.

[S-RED]

Steven Gerrard

[Exiled_red]

I imagine we'll play a narrow midfield with the wide midfielders cutting inside and the fullbacks overlapping, Mascherano can then fill in for the missing fullback if he gets caught and we'll still have another midfielder back fairly deep to cover (Alonso/Barry)

[nossaro]

We will play 4 -3 - 3. To provide width we will push on our full backs - especially Degen, Up front it will be Babel & Keane either side of Torres and in midfield Barry and Gerrard to the left and right of Mascherano. Plenty of width and fluidity there. we may also buy a winger if Pennant leaves.

[glenbuck cherry picker]

Do people not get sick of having a pop at Kuyt.

It's getting very boring.


Up yours shaggy lol

I don't get people like you. gillett and Hicks have put their money where their mouth is again. Oh, and they are funding a new stadium. What more do you want?

[Only1mboy]

we need 2 sign SILVA! silva and babel switchin all the time wud be class!

Agreed

[Sarb]

Won't have any width like the last two or three seasons...actually probably longer than that. And that will cost us the title again. If normal fans can see the problem then why can't a 'genius' like Rafa?!

[El Jefecito]

Won't have any width like the last two or three seasons...actually probably longer than that. And that will cost us the title again. If normal fans can see the problem then why can't a 'genius' like Rafa?!

Rafa has seen the problem. He bought wing-backs to provide the width. Some fans seem unable to grasp the fact that wing backs provide width.

It's really that simple.