Our best 11 !

[bobbyfallon]

reina
carra agger skrtel dossana
gerrard macherano alonso babel
torres keane

[rage]

I don’t get you? Every team will have a strongest 11, even if it involves players playing out of position and even if that 11 is ****.

no it doesn't. the best teams are at their strongest when they have 11 players playing in their best positions. we haven't got that yet.

[rage]

reina
carra agger skrtel dossana
gerrard macherano alonso babel
torres keane

carra is unhappy playing right back and offers next to nothing going forward. dossena has shown nothing yet as to why he'll be preferred to aurelio.

gerrard on the right, he'll lose the shape coming looking for the ball and i don't think i've ever seen babel play left in a 442.

i'd love us to play 442 but from that lineup we haven't got the players to make the most of this formation

[Rashid]

are u serious? that would not work imo. finnan and arbeloa not good getting forward not to mention no width form the two players on the wings

Finnan and Aurelio are as good Arbeloa and Dossenna going forward. In fact Aerbeloa was bought on to give us more going forward than Dossenna in satdee.

[RedReet]

Finnan and Aurelio are as good Arbeloa and Dossenna going forward. In fact Aerbeloa was bought on to give us more going forward than Dossenna in satdee.

Eh?
I'm presuming you mean Aurelio? If so, I beg to differ. Dossenna was fine going forward on Saturday, Aurelio was brought on to address our set-piece problems.

[RedReet]

no it doesn't. the best teams are at their strongest when they have 11 players playing in their best positions. we haven't got that yet.

Yes, but even the worst teams have a best eleven. It's not a perfect eleven, it's the best eleven from what's available.

[El Jefecito]

Finnan and Aurelio are as good Arbeloa and Dossenna going forward. In fact Aerbeloa was bought on to give us more going forward than Dossenna in satdee.

I know you meant Fabio and not bob.

Dossena offered in the first half more than we have ever got from Fabio though. Dossena always seems to be real good early in the game but fades fast. Can't work out why! I'm hoping things will improve and he'll be more consistent across both halves.

TBH I refuse to judge the "attacking" full backs until we are playing a 4231. In a 442 the FBs have to constantly decide between getting forward and staying back. Once they have Lucas and El Jefecito covering their backs I think they will be able to concentrate primarily on getting forward and leave all the worrying about maintaining the shape etc to the CMs.

And from what I've seen of Dossena, the quality into the box is far better than anyting (wow, I must have some Jamacian blood , or could be a typo I guess ) we've had during Rafa's regime.

[Red_Polo]

Yes, but even the worst teams have a best eleven. It's not a perfect eleven, it's the best eleven from what's available.

Exactly. Given the topic, most people would just discuss what they think our best XI is and why. I suppose there will always be folk who feel their opinions are so important they have to ram them down our throats on every thread going!

Personally, until I've seen more of Degen and Dossena, I'd go with...

Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Arbeloa
Benayoun Gerrard Mascherano Babel
Keane Torres

[the rev leeroy brown]

----------------reina--------------
carra-------agger--skrtel-----aurelio
gerard------alonso--masher----babel
----------------keane-----------
---------------torres---------

[friedk]

no it doesn't. the best teams are at their strongest when they have 11 players playing in their best positions. we haven't got that yet.

I actually disagree, look at United. Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo, Giggs and Hargreaves often play in various positions.

For me the best teams are at their strongest when they have a solid central defence and midfield; attacking full backs, and 4 attacking players who are fluid, interchangeable and comfortable in a variety of positions.

I think if our full backs deliver and offer us width, with Gerrard, Torres, Keane and Babel we could be devastating in attack.

It's a very big if though.

[Scratch]

no it doesn't. the best teams are at their strongest when they have 11 players playing in their best positions. we haven't got that yet.

Someone had better tell Fergie that Rooney is a striker then, poor lad keeps finding himself shunted out wide in order to accomodate Tevez and Ronaldo in Utd's formation. Sacrifices are made, and Keane is more than capable of playing as part of the 3 behind Torres. And in the last game against Boro, poor tho it was, he at least started to show signs of an understanding with Torres which is promising.

[dww]

I actually disagree, look at United. Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo, Giggs and Hargreaves often play in various positions.

For me the best teams are at their strongest when they have a solid central defence and midfield; attacking full backs, and 4 attacking players who are fluid, interchangeable and comfortable in a variety of positions.

I think if our full backs deliver and offer us width, with Gerrard, Torres, Keane and Babel we could be devastating in attack.

It's a very big if though.

I think there is a very solid point there the difference is though that United have a well defined set of systems which are all inter-related and based on a a back four and two deep lying midfield players (one of which is generally given a more creative remit). We have started to show signs of that for periods of every season under Rafa but have failed to carry it between seasons. Added to the number of personnel changes I think it has made it hard for us to start seasons well.

This year (as last) we have lucked out in that we have got points without playing well. We do need to develop a style of play that allows us to switch players in and out without too much disruption and to develop a confidence in one another that certainly wasn't present in the Liege game or first half of the Sunderland one (didn't see the Boro game so won't comment).

I think we do need to establish a first choice spine and at the minute we are changing CBs too much for my liking. The lack of a set central midfield is basically down to the absence of Mascherano (and possibly the god awful Barry saga) and therefore out f the managers control.

[Tee]

Our best team right now is IMO :

---------------------------Reina

Carragher---------Skyrtel---------Agger------------Aurelio


Kuyt------------Gerrard-----------Mascher-----------Babel


---------------Keane--------------Torres


Early days I know, but Dossena just does not look anywhere near good enough IMO.

[sniffer]

For what its worth, I'd like to see this formation:

---------------Reina----------------

-------Carra----Skrtl---Agger-------

Degen------------------------Dossena

-------Mascherano----Lucas/Xabi-----

----------------Gerrard---------------

---------Torres--------Keane--------

team looks good but i would replace Degen with Arbeola and Dossena with Aurellio.

I thought Degen was signed to fill the gap on the physio table Kewell left behind

Looks like he is at the mo, what's his injury at the moment?? Or is his missus saying he can't play at the moment as he has too much house work to do

[friedk]

I think there is a very solid point there the difference is though that United have a well defined set of systems which are all inter-related and based on a a back four and two deep lying midfield players (one of which is generally given a more creative remit). We have started to show signs of that for periods of every season under Rafa but have failed to carry it between seasons. Added to the number of personnel changes I think it has made it hard for us to start seasons well.

This year (as last) we have lucked out in that we have got points without playing well. We do need to develop a style of play that allows us to switch players in and out without too much disruption and to develop a confidence in one another that certainly wasn't present in the Liege game or first half of the Sunderland one (didn't see the Boro game so won't comment).

I think we do need to establish a first choice spine and at the minute we are changing CBs too much for my liking. The lack of a set central midfield is basically down to the absence of Mascherano (and possibly the god awful Barry saga) and therefore out f the managers control.

I agree that changing CB's is madness.

We have the personnel though to make that system work, provided at least one of our full backs can provide width the way players at United, Chelsea and Arsenal do.

The fact we have picked up maximum league points without Masch is a huge bonus, particular when you realise how clearly he has been missed the past few games.