Would you be happy with this starting 11

[kev776]

---------------------Pepe

Johnson------Carra--------The Beast-------Dagger


Kuyt---------Gerrard-------Mascher--------Riera


--------------Benny

--------------------------------Torres

I cant see much wrong with this, but if Scabby goes it may be all we have.

[dww]

It's decent but I really don't think you get the best out of Gerrard in that position. Benayoun doesn't offer the defensive qualities Gerarrd does in the attacking midfield positions either - by defending/getting the ball back higher up the pitch we are improved hugely by Gerrard in his current position. I also prefer a more natural short passer than Gerrard in the deep play maker role.

Would be interesting to see Agger at left back. Not sure it really suits him but can see why it could do.

[Reece]

No because if we do sell Xabi then I'd like to think we'd use the money to bring in some attacking quality.

[Exiled_red]

Why play Agger at left back?

I'm hoping Alonso stays, but if he doesn't I'd expect us to buy a replacement.

Also I'm still hoping we sign a creative winger/forward regardless of anything else

[bobbyfallon]

if we take gerrard out of his position i think we would be sacrificing possibly 10 goals, assuming he still gets ten from cm. if alonso goes then he has to be replaced like for like, if there is somone out there.

can lucus step up? doubtful really just yet but who knows.

also it would be a change of formation and after the way we ended the season last year i dont think its a good idea. we were playing free flowing and free scoring football.

[kev776]

Why play Agger at left back?

I'm hoping Alonso stays, but if he doesn't I'd expect us to buy a replacement.

Also I'm still hoping we sign a creative winger/forward regardless of anything else

I thought about this aswell, but at left back it is the only way to keep him, the beast and Carra playing, any would be wasted sat on the bench.

The alternative would be to play 3-5-2 and use Johnson and Dossina/Imsua as flanking full backs

[Lee]

It's decent and would beat most PL teams, but that team posted above is a step back on this years.

Agger at LB, I'm not sure, can't recall seeing him play there and I think he'd be wasted there too. I'd have him at CB alongside Carragher and then one of Aurelio (if fit), or Insua at LB.

Losing Alonso would weaken us a lot, in my opinion... and breaking up the Gerrard / Torres partnership to play Gerrard somewhere he hasn't for a few years would be a crazy idea, methinks.

[saj]

Gerrard's best postison is behind Torres. I think the whole of world Football knows that. Agger is deifnately no left back.

---------------------Pepe

Johnson------Carra--------Skrtel-------Insua


Kuyt/Benayoun---------Alonso-------Mascher--------Riera/Babel (Mata would be a good edition for this position)


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

--------------------------------Torres

[Imy]

Like others Agger at left back is a no from me, also I know Benayoun had a great end of season i am however unsure whether he could produce that for an entire season, also i wouldn't want to burden Gerrard with defensive duties when in recent seasons he's been VERY effective as a forward.
IF Alonso leaves i hope Rafa buys a replacement.

[Van Halen]

Gerrard's best postison is behind Torres. I think the whole of world Football knows that. Agger is deifnately no left back.

---------------------Pepe

Johnson------Carra--------Skrtel-------Insua


Kuyt/Benayoun---------Alonso-------Mascher--------Riera/Babel (Mata would be a good edition for this position)


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

--------------------------------Torres

I agree, Torres and Gerrard must stay up front, no doubts there. Agger will get his fair share of games, the question is who do we bring in as a back up for Torres (Ngog clearly isn't ready) and who do we bring in as a back up for Xabi (if he goes) Lucas may have a part to play but we are not comparing like for like. Nobody distributes the ball like Xabi.

[Exiled_red]

I thought about this aswell, but at left back it is the only way to keep him, the beast and Carra playing, any would be wasted sat on the bench.

The alternative would be to play 3-5-2 and use Johnson and Dossina/Imsua as flanking full backs

I can see us rotating the centre backs a bit more this season. I can see us starting to phase Carra into the Sami role towards the end of the season, now he's getting a bit older. If we can get one of the other two to be a bit more vocal and organise the defence.

3-5-2 could be an option but I'm not sure how we'd play it

[rudedog]

If Xabi or Mascherano were to leave, I wonder if Agger could actually make a decent deep lying playmaker/holding midfielder. He has the defensive qualites, an eye for a pass and a cracking shot - he seems to love getting forward so could weigh in with a few goals.

[kev776]

I left Alonso out on purpose and also Aurelio and Arbeloa (injury and possible departure)

[SimonNo7]

Gerrard's best postison is behind Torres. I think the whole of world Football knows that. Agger is deifnately no left back.

---------------------Pepe

Johnson------Carra--------Skrtel-------Insua


Kuyt/Benayoun---------Alonso-------Mascher--------Riera/Babel (Mata would be a good edition for this position)


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

--------------------------------Torres

Agger before Skittles everyday of the week for me otherwise I like it.

[Exiled_red]

This is the team I would see starting the season as things stand

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

Johnson-Carragher*--Agger*---Insua

Kuyt---Mascherano#--Alonso#--Riera^

----------Gerrard
----------------Torres

* I see us rotating centre backs depending on the game, mostly between Agger and Skrtel in the early part of the season.
# These players have been linked with moves away personally I hope they both stay, but if they go I expect us to make direct replacements.
^ I'm hoping regardless of other comings and goings we will sign someone else that will probably start ahead of Riera.