Benayoun and Torres (positive knee jerk thread)

[Baldemort]

Yossi is in the form of his life at the moment. He had a great game last night and as such, should hold his place in the team. But it's easy to forget that he is inconsistent to say the least. I think it very unlikely that folks would have been suggesting that he replace Gerrard behind Torres earlier in the season, as his form was very hit and miss.

If he can maintain this level of play, fantastic.

[nebbers]

ooh, I love formations threads. What about all 3 up front with an old fashioned sweeper..? I know it's a bit narrow, but the front 3 should be mobile enough to provide width. A bit like Maureen's Chelsea striker line up.


Torres
Yossi Gerrard
Alonso Mascher
Insua Skyrtel Carra Arbeloa
Agger/Hyppia
Reina

[Fierce]

Whilst I dont think that Benayoun is a better option than Gerrard behind Torres, I do think that there is an argument for having more attacking players on the pitch at this stage of the season

We're basically win or bust in a way. We dont really have anything to lose, but everything to gain, so maybe its worth sacrificing Masher in order to have Benayoun on the pitch as well as Gerrard

[RedReet]

Whilst I dont think that Benayoun is a better option than Gerrard behind Torres, I do think that there is an argument for having more attacking players on the pitch at this stage of the season

We're basically win or bust in a way. We dont really have anything to lose, but everything to gain, so maybe its worth sacrificing Masher in order to have Benayoun on the pitch as well as Gerrard

Can't believe I've read this more than once. So we need to drop Mascherano to score more goals?

In our last 8 games Masch played six and missed two.

For the six he played games we scored, 4,4,4,5,4,4 goals. 29 goals in 6 games.

The two games he missed we only scored once.

[Shaggy]

29 goals in 6 games!!!

[Guest]

And how Benny was criticized not so long ago.

He's a world class player on his day. He's a confidence player and needs more games to reach the level he can more regularly. He's very intelligent, picks up some fantastic positions and he's creative. He can see passes and patterns of play that some players can't and his technical ability is as good as the best out there.

Benny's a top player. Shame some people did wear blinkers when we signed him.

[BFG]

Can't believe I've read this more than once. So we need to drop Mascherano to score more goals?

In our last 8 games Masch played six and missed two.

For the six he played games we scored, 4,4,4,5,4,4 goals. 29 goals in 6 games.

The two games he missed we only scored once.

Madness.

Gerrard is way way way better further forward than in the holding central role. He simply doesn't have the positional discipline to play in front of the back 4.

Benayoun is playing like a dream though. I think the challenge for Rafa is to accomodate all of them, not move around our consistently best performer to accomodate Yossi as good as he is.

[PTP]

I'll hold my hands - though i never really slagged Benayoun off I did doubt a while ago whether or not he was good enough, and at the time I was prepared to sell both yossi and pennant if it meant signing ONE right sided player to improve the squad.

I was certainly critical, maybe it was because he had been used as right mid and struggled. His form the last few months though ahs been brilliant, his work rate and his fight has been great and seems to have been the reaction of a player trying too prove something which is something you have to hold ur hands up too. Not turning this into a slag a player of thread, but look at babel and some of the critiscm aimed at him - at similar points in the season both had been frustrated at being out of the squad and rumours have floated about them wanting out - a few months down the line babel is still in the same position were as yossi has forced himself into contention with some great performances.

I don't think he is good enough to break the Gerrard/torres partnership (well who is) but he certainly is good enough to be involved with the team and I would want him to stay at Liverpool.

[PTP]

Madness.

Gerrard is way way way better further forward than in the holding central role. He simply doesn't have the positional discipline to play in front of the back 4.

Benayoun is playing like a dream though. I think the challenge for Rafa is to accomodate all of them, not move around our consistently best performer to accomodate Yossi as good as he is.

aye thats the difficulty - but at this stage of the season U have to have ur big or on form players in the squad. - Right now it would be a case of dropping riera from the left and playing Torres up top with Kuyt/Gerrard/Yossi behind them, and somehow get the balance/movement working so all free interchange across that line - ie, have gerrard popping up on the left with yossi moving inside or vice versa etc.

[BFG]

aye thats the difficulty - but at this stage of the season U have to have ur big or on form players in the squad. - Right now it would be a case of dropping riera from the left and playing Torres up top with Kuyt/Gerrard/Yossi behind them, and somehow get the balance/movement working so all free interchange across that line - ie, have gerrard popping up on the left with yossi moving inside or vice versa etc.

That's what I'd do and Riera can always come on if the balance isn't right or if we need to stretch the opposition more.

[Craig_H]

Benayoun was without doubt, utterly superb last night. Gave every ounce of energy, his passion was delightful and i'm made up about his performance.

He's not an automatic 1st teamer, but he showed what the right attitude and mentality is all about. Superb. Babel - take note.

[Fierce]

Can't believe I've read this more than once. So we need to drop Mascherano to score more goals?

In our last 8 games Masch played six and missed two.

For the six he played games we scored, 4,4,4,5,4,4 goals. 29 goals in 6 games.

The two games he missed we only scored once.

Yeah, thats exactly what I said. I didn't say that I'd sacrifice Mascherano to have Benayoun on the pitch at all

With the best defensive midfielder in the world on the pitch, we've also conceded 8 goals in 2 games. Stat off

My point was that Benayoun has been arguably our best player OF LATE so deserves to start. And seeing that we need to win, as in, not NOT LOSE, then the obvious sacrifice is a defensive player. Capiche?

[BigChief]

There was a thread earlier in the year asking which LFC player you play like. I stated Benayoun, with a bit more muscle. I stand by that and I always wanted to see him behind Torres as that is my ideal role in 11-a-side. If only my stupid hoofball England-mentality managers understood that all those years back - the idiots. I always ended up playing right mid as well.

Thank God a) Rafa is not English and b) he's stumbled upon this little combination through Gerrard's injuries.

[RedReet]

Yeah, thats exactly what I said. I didn't say that I'd sacrifice Mascherano to have Benayoun on the pitch at all

With the best defensive midfielder in the world on the pitch, we've also conceded 8 goals in 2 games. Stat off

My point was that Benayoun has been arguably our best player OF LATE so deserves to start. And seeing that we need to win, as in, not NOT LOSE, then the obvious sacrifice is a defensive player. Capiche?

Sorry, when people suggest that we should play more attacking players I automatically presume that it’s to score more goals, not tighten up the defence. My mistake.

And no need to get so defensive, although yours was the post I quoted, it was the people in one of the match threads suggesting that we should change our whole system and formation that I was mainly getting at. We’re off the back of five straight league wins and just produced one of the best attacking performances of our season, yet people are calling for radical changes.

I definitely agree that Benni should get more games, but Mascherano should not be the one making way and we certainly shouldn’t be looking at altering our formation to accommodate him (just look at the Keane fiasco).

[Icon]

29 goals in 6 games!!!

Is that a record?
For the current team or anybody?