What's our best 11?

[Morph]

Okay so we're 9 games in total into the season, so on current evidence what's our strongest starting 11?

Based on what I've seen so far, I'd have to say this is strongest 11:

-----------------Reina--------------
---Finnan---Agger---Carra----Riise---
--Gerrard--Sissoko---Alonso--Aurelio--
------------------Crouch-------------
----------------Kuyt-----------------

The only places I'd say that are up for discussion are left wing, because we haven't seen enough of Gonzalez yet, and we've also got Harry Kewell to consider. Some might laugh at that, but a fit Harry Kewell in my book is our best option out there. The only other spots are who should partner Kuyt - Crouch or Bellamy, i've a feeling we're going to see more of Crouch than Bellamy after the international break. Also maybe a bit of conflict between picking either Hyppia or Agger. But I think after some possible inconsitencies in defense we need to make a choice and stick with it. So for me Agger is the future and should be in the team now.

So thats my choices, what's everyone elses opinions?

[kurtangle01]

My opnion would be

.................................................. Reina............................................. ..

....Finnan.................Carra.................. ............Agger..................Riise......

.........................Gerrard...............Mom o................Xabi.........................

.................................................. .Luis............................................. ...

.....................................Kuyt......... ............Crouch...............................

Subs

Dudek
Sami
Gonzales
Pennant
Bellamy

I've put Luis in the middle but he could easily play on the left of that formation.

[lfc4ever]

2 x Aurelio, and no Sammi, interesting. And no Alonso, but on current form. I'd go with that.

Is Agger really ready to take over a CB role full time?

Crouch works best when right in there, not playing off, he would be best as lead role with Kuyt playing off him.

And have our signings this summer really been that poor, strange one that, only Kuyt gets in there, suggesting Kewell slots right back in at LW, and me suggesting Sammi is best CB with Carra.

I really like width & pace and I was hoping we had it cracked this year, obviously it's not happening yet, but 7 games into their first season shouldn't be used as the yardstick, or are we all wanting instant fixit success and wanting it now?

[Morph]

lol, hadn't seen I'd put Aurleio there twice, changed it to say Alonso. I'm tempted to not put him in there, but I can't see any amount of jigging about will give a better midfield.

We've seen the players in about 12 games now including chartity shield and euro qualifiers, so I think we can guage who should allready be in there and who shouldn't - so far of course.

Nothing would please me more than for Gonzalez and Pennant to come good, and there's still time, but I see more promise in Gonzalez than Pennant, although both look a little lightweight on the occassions we've seen them.

*edit*
Also did the team that finished last season really need changing that much anyway. We definately needed a striker, and we've got Kuyt now. We needed a LW, but only because Kewell wasn't fit, but I wouldn't say we needed first team replacements for any other positions.

[carrsim]

if all our players were fit i'd pick this team:
reina
finnan carra agger (sorry sami) risse
stevie momo xabi kewell
garcia kyut

with crouch, gonzalez, bellers and sami on the bench

at this stage for me aurelio needs to do more to earn a place and crouch is unlucky to miss out. depending on what is required during the game would dictate whether bellers or crouch came on.

i'd be quite interested to see luis and dirk work together as a partnership as both are busy and skillful- luis has the eye for a pass and dirk makes good runs

kewell on form remains our best lefty and a natural winger is needed on that side to allow stevie to start right but wander inside as he sees fit. so gonzalez would probably get the nod for me as kewell is still out.

agger offers a bit more in terms of passing over sami, but thats the toughest call i had to make. i didn't feel that the game was lost today due to boltons aggression but our own failure to create.

considering that bellers and pennant are used to the premiership, their contributions have been the most dissappointing, though finnan struggled to begin with so its just going to require some patience

[lfc4ever]

Is SG really best on RW?

Or is a touchline hugger better suited who can cross into Kuyt & Crouch, same for LW?

Until we get wingers who can take on and beat the LB or RB, why not try 3 strikers Kuyt, Crouch & Bellamy, going 4-3-3 with SG operating in the middle, so I suppose that makes it 4-2-3-1 going to 4-2-1-3 when in attack mode, with the winger/striker being used as second striker when not in possession:

................................................ Reina............................................. ..

....Finnan.................Carra.................. ............Agger..................Riise......

...................................Momo........... .....Xabi.........................

.........Bellamy.............................Gerra rd......................Kuyt...................

................................................Cr ouch...............................

[carrsim]

Is SG really best on RW?

Or is a touchline hugger better suited who can cross into Kuyt & Crouch, same for LW?

Until we get wingers who can take on and beat the LB or RB, why not try 3 strikers Kuyt, Crouch & Bellamy, going 4-3-3 with SG operating in the middle, so I suppose that makes it 4-2-3-1 going to 4-2-1-3 when in attack mode, with the winger/striker being used as second striker when not in possession:

................................................ Reina............................................. ..

....Finnan.................Carra.................. ............Agger..................Riise......

...................................Momo........... .....Xabi.........................

.........Bellamy.............................Gerra rd......................Kuyt...................

................................................Cr ouch...............................

there is no width on your left there and you're playing bellamy AND Kyut out of position to accomodate stevie as a support striker.

no balance and no natural width in an unorthodox system

no thanks

[Shaggy]

For what it's worth, if we had a Cup final tomorrow I'd go with:

Reina

Finnan
Carragher
Agger
Riise

Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Gonzalez

Kuyt
Crouch

IMO that's our strongest XI as such, but there's really no such thing anymore as it's always dependant on who we're playing...horses for courses etc.

[lfc4ever]

there is no width on your left there and you're playing bellamy AND Kyut out of position to accomodate stevie as a support striker.

no balance and no natural width in an unorthodox system

no thanks

I don't want Stevie as a second striker, but I do want him "bossing" the middle, a stronger & better Lampard.

As for balance & shape, well that's all to cock this year anyway, so it's anybodys guess as to who starts where, and SG on the left is no better than what I offered.

I also like what the chavs did last year with their 4-3-3 system, but they had decent wingers, I'm just trying to somehow come to that with what we have.

Anyway, it's all bollox all the same, no one listens to us therefore it's a pointless & futile exercise, prob just venting frustrations somewhere on usenet is the best we will ever be at managers.

[Morph]

But it's our job as fans to do things like this, as well as that i like to hear other peoples opinions who might mention something I hadn't first thought about.

[Bob]

I actually agree with Shaggy as i said earlier, however i throw another into the mix. Morphorino will like the fact it ain't 442

-----------------Reina--------------
---Finnan---Agger---Carra----Riise---
---------------Sissoko---------------
------Gerrard---------Alonso--------
--Bellamy-------------------Gonzalez-
----------------Kuyt-----------------

Probably a home team, but hey!

[Morph]

Interesting, i don't like our shape in a 4 man midfield, and we loose too much up front in a five man midfield, unless we played 3 at the back, in which case we could go with:


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

-----Hyppia----Carra----Agger-----

--Garcia--Sissoko--Alonso--Riise----
--------------Gerrard--------------

-----------------Crouch------------
-------------Kuyt------------------

Is it possible Rafa had something like this in mind when he was trying to go for Alves, and not getting him has scuppered his plans a bit. The problem with doing it now is that Garcia is too unreliable to do any defensive duties. but if we could switch him for Alves, I think this would be a killer formation, then depending on how/who we're playing, would depend on how far up or downthe pitch Riise/Alves would play.

[Bob]

I think you missed my point - that could shift to 442 quite comfortably, if the game needed it. But i think Kuyt could get enough support with that set up.

I'm loathe to go three at the back. We have in Riise and Finnan two exquisite full backs on their game, and we could do with less tinkering at the back!

[Morph]

I don't like tinkering at the back

All these formations are pie in the sky, I'd like to see some of them but realistically it's always going to be 442 or 451 for Rafa, I just don't think we can accomodate the personnel, in a 442 and it's a shame.

[Bob]

I don't like tinkering at the back

:whatever: