Would you be happy with this starting 11

[RedSince1964]

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.

That's an interesting point you've raised there my friend

[Rafael Benítez Maudes]

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<reina>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

johnson>>>>carra<<<<<<agger>>>>>>>insua

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>monster<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<<<kuyt>>>>>>>>alonso>>>>>>>>>babel

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gerrard<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>torres<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[dww]

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'm not sure, I think Carragher would benefit from more rest and hence three into two over a season would work fine. The problem being that Agger and Skrtel both need to step up and take some responsibility and learn to organise those around them.

3-5-2 would be a horrendous mistake. The occasionally employed by Rafa 3-4-3 is a slight improvement but unless the opposition are totally inept or specifically vulnerable in certain areas both formations are always in danger of falling back into a back 5 and are more suitable for situations where you need a draw then for a team aiming to win the league.

[Rafael Benítez Maudes]

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<reina>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

<<<<<<<<<<<<<carra>>>>>>agger>>>>>>>>>>skrtel

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<monster<<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<kuyt>>>>>>>alonso>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>silva

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<gerrard<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<torres>>>>>>>villa<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Brucester70]

I am pretty sure that our current squad was not far off winning the premier league and Champions League. I think a few small additions would give us the chance to get over the line and win number 19!

Glen Johnson a great signing, adds attacking skills to our right full back position. If we can sign up David Silva then I think that along with back up striker would be enough. As for back up striker I think Michael Owen on some sort of heavily weighted apperance fee deal would be a good fit. If he stays fit he scores goals its as simple as that.

So next seasons championship winning side could look like:

--------------------------Torres----------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
----Silva-----------------Gerrard-------------Kuyt----------
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------Alonso---------Masherano---------------
------------------------------------------------------------
Insua-----------Agger------------Carragher-------Johnson---
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------Reina------------------------------

Subs:
Caviliari
Skrtel
Aurelio
Benayoun
Lucas
Babel
Owen

[saj]

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<reina>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

johnson>>>>carra<<<<<<agger>>>>>>>insua

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>monster<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<<<kuyt>>>>>>>>alonso>>>>>>>>>babel

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gerrard<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>torres<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

That truly is a pain the dick to read

[Tatterdemalion]

That truly is a pain the dick to read

Try opening your other eye

[Rafael Benítez Maudes]

hahaha.

[Lee]

So next seasons championship winning side could look like:

--------------------------Torres----------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
----Silva-----------------Gerrard-------------Kuyt----------
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------Alonso---------Masherano---------------
------------------------------------------------------------
Insua-----------Agger------------Carragher-------Johnson---
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------Reina------------------------------

Subs:
Caviliari
Skrtel
Aurelio
Benayoun
Lucas
Babel
Riera

I like that team, a lot. That'd do me nicely

[The_weatherman]

Agree with Brucester70 and Levi on the XI, on paper this looks great, should turn a lot of draws to wins - Give Babel and N'Gog another chance upfront along with Kuyt so we have plenty of backup.

--------------------------Torres----------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
----Silva-----------------Gerrard-------------Kuyt----------
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------Alonso---------Masherano---------------
------------------------------------------------------------
Insua-----------Agger------------Carragher-------Johnson---
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------Reina------------------------------

Subs:
Caviliari
Skrtel
Aurelio
Benayoun
Lucas
Babel
Riera

Must admit I have not seen much of Silva but from the very little I've seen and by all accounts is the sort we need. Won't cry if there are no other changes to the squad though.

[ronanm]

---------------------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.

No, I wouldn't be happy. Looks pretty disappointing.

[kev776]

No, I wouldn't be happy. Looks pretty disappointing.

I agree, I chose this team from the players we actually have and not my "wish list" players like Villa, Silva etc.

[Fierce]

So assuming Alonso leaves and for some bizarre reason we dont get someone else in, we'd line up like this, which is also what I'd like to see:

---------------------- Reina ----------------------
-- Johnson -- Carra -- Agger/Skyrtl -- Dossena/Insua
-------------------- Masher --------------------
------- Kuyt --------- Lucas ------- Riera -------
-------------------- Gerrard -----------------------
---------------------- Torres ---------------------

The only way we would, or should ever even consider breaking up the Gerrard/Torres partnership, is if we signed one of the worlds best strikers. I'm talking Villa, Aguero, Pato, Ibra, Drogba, Eto'o, Henry etc etc
Anything less than that type of player shouldn't displace Gerrard in a million years

So with that in mind, the only change to the team that pushed for the title last year, is who would play in Alonso's place, and its abundantly clear given last season, that that person is Lucas

[ronanm]

I agree, I chose this team from the players we actually have and not my "wish list" players like Villa, Silva etc.

No probs - if anything, you have shown the harsh reality. Need to get at least 2 more in imo.

[calvoboy]

If Alonso goes, Lucas will step up. I don't know why, but for some reason I'm less terrified by that than I probably should be. Possibly because it would give us the money to buy Silva or someone similar on the left.

So long as we don't lose both Mascher AND Alonso, I think we'll be OK. The money would have to be right for the deal to happen, and that should allow us to bring in the necessary replacements.

I'm hoping we'll keep both though. Then I'd see the squad being:

GK - Reina/Cavalieri
RB - Johnson/Darby?
CB - Carra/Agger/Skrtel/ A N Other
LB - Insua/Aurelio
LW - Riera/AN Other
CM - Mascher/Alonso/Lucas/Gerrard
RM - Kuyt/Yossi
CF - Torres/AN Other

So you can see from that I reckon we're signing a left-winger a striker/forward and a centre back. Rafa has the money for one more decent signing (according to recent comments). Selling Dossena and Arbeloa should make up the money for another. And the CB will only be a cheap squad player in case of emergencies. Distin at £2m would do. If not, he'll probably pick someone up on a free?