Seems like Dirk Kuyt is untouchable

[MrMichael]

I just fail to see why we didn't buy players to suit the formation we did well with last year.

That's baffled me too. Like it or loathe it, we consistently played our best football with the settled 4-2-3-1 we played in the latter half of last year.

I would wonder if losing Mascher and Lucas to the Olympics made a difference to Benitez going 442 again so far (a formation which I don't ever think he's had us playing really fluid football in), but then the Keane signing would seem to say otherwise. I have to admit to being a little confused as to what Rafa's overall plan will be for this set of players so far.

[Rashid]

What confuses me is that he gave up on Barry and then went after Riera - two totally different players. He had Gerrard who was superb alongside Torres - so he goes and get's Keane who is a great player but really what we need? In the meantime we have Kuyt wide ride totally untouched.

[Craig_H]

That's baffled me too. Like it or loathe it, we consistently played our best football with the settled 4-2-3-1 we played in the latter half of last year.

I would wonder if losing Mascher and Lucas to the Olympics made a difference to Benitez going 442 again so far (a formation which I don't ever think he's had us playing really fluid football in), but then the Keane signing would seem to say otherwise. I have to admit to being a little confused as to what Rafa's overall plan will be for this set of players so far.

I think we've played 442 PRECISELY because Lucas and Mascher were away. Plessis is too inexperienced to be relied upon and Alonso is hot and cold. Putting the pair of them into the holding role could've caused major problems.

As for the Keane signing, i think we've signed him because he's a 'forward' rather than a striker and rafa fully intends to use him in the Babel or Kuyt or even Gerrard roles, as the season goes on, in the 4231 formation.

Either way, i dont think 442 is something rafa intends to use on a regular or long term basis. When the personnel are available, it'll be 4231 and Keane will either play in the hole or in one of the wide AM positions.