The boy to win us number 19!

[BobTheCharmer]

If it's only Magners, then it should be painless.

well thats something to bare in mind when i'm on all fours on the bar, arse in the air going 'fill her up jane, fredo says it'll be pain free'

[DeeTheDog]

Yes change the formation but only on occassions.

Afterall this system that is so successful has won us exactly what? **** all is the answer.

At home when we have played two defensive midfielders and struggled badly at times why not play two up top instead? take a gamble. the more players on the pitch that can put the ball in the net the better. its worked for utd for the past 20 years.

Well playing 4-4-2 for the previous 18 years wasn't too succesful either. Our current formation suits the players we have and brings out the best in our three best players; Torres, Gerrard and Mascherano and allowed us to chase United very close. As widely reported the fact that we could only play Torres and Gerrard 14 times together was our main downfall, not the formation.

On topic of the post, a confident Babel that reached at least 80% of his potential would be a massive boost and could easily play any of the four attacking positions in our formation. He played just behind the striker in Holland's victorious under 20 team and was superb, showing guile and basically all the qualities he hasn't really shown for Liverpool.

[RedReet]

Yes change the formation but only on occassions.

Afterall this system that is so successful has won us exactly what? **** all is the answer.

At home when we have played two defensive midfielders and struggled badly at times why not play two up top instead? take a gamble. the more players on the pitch that can put the ball in the net the better. its worked for utd for the past 20 years.

Our points tally in all games playing 4231 would beat any previous premiership total and if we didn’t play 442 so much last year I think we would have won it then.

[rudedog]

I hate Kuyt upfront on his own, the pace is zero and it depresses me to the point that I've actually pondered the thought of drinking a bottle of magners via my anus, ice and all. is it possible? enough of this, its the time of year where you have to be OPTIMISTIC.

I think Kuyt has progressed a hell of a lot since his last stint as a front man so its a bit unfair to judge him on those performances.

[BobTheCharmer]

Our points tally in all games playing 4231 would beat any previous premiership total and if we didn’t play 442 so much last year I think we would have won it then.

but we didn't win anything last season. record points count for nothing. I think we have a system that works very well on the whole but you always have to be flexible and prepared to change if required. if you come off the pitch nil nil and you've peppered the goal and hit posts & bars and given yourself every chance of scoring then so be it.

Anyway, Torres will get injured this season, the way he ends up chasing endless lost causes on his own almost guarantees this. I think Babel will prove to be a great option to replace him when required.

[scully]

Benayoun as a regular starter would be infinitely more likely to win us the Premiership.

[BobTheCharmer]

Benayoun as a regular starter would be infinitely more likely to win us the Premiership.

with his twists and turns and twists and turns and twists and turns and finally a shot!

Good player.

I also reckon we'll do better if Gerrard & Torres become more selfish instead of this ever devloping on pitch love in. To me to you to me to you (just shoot ffs), its like watching the chuckle brothers without the taches or the humour. I feel they over do it at times.

[fah-q]

Wait...you can cross your penis?????

[RedReet]

Torres will not play every game this year. Surely you can agree with that? In that case, it would benefit us if Babel could step up and do a job in the absence of Torres. Hopefully Fernando has an injury free season and plays most games, but that's by no means a guarantee. Hence the fact I would like us to sign a striker. But if we don't and Babel steps up then that would be a definite plus point.

I do know what you mean but I guess it’s how you interpret the title. The way I read it is, regardless of where or how Babel plays, if it’s with or in place of Torres, then we’re a weakened team, and a team that I don’t think would be good enough to win the title. You’re thinking that we’re obviously gonna be weakened at some stage, Torres or Gerrard are gonna be out, but if Babel does a bit better than Keane or Kuyt last year, then it could be the difference.

But to put it simply, if Babel plays a handful of games for Torres, he won’t be responsible for us winning the league, regardless of how well he plays. He might offer a vital contribution, but he won’t be ‘the boy to win us 19’. If he’s to play as many as Torres missed last year, then I think we’ll struggle.

[Slinky Skills]

Babel looks a lot stronger on the ball in pre-season but he still can't pass for ****. I do think he'll have a decent season though if given chances.

[RedReet]

He needs to vary his play a bit. Far too often he still cuts inside at every opportunity. Most pre-season games I watched he started off well, but even against poor opposition, once he got by a couple of times, the soon realised and cut it out.

In saying that, I do have hopes for him this year. Rafa just needs to choose when to use him wisely, hopefully get a bit of confidence up.

[Exiled_red]

the biggest issue with babel is where to play him.

He's not a left winger because he doesnt produce anything from the left hand side but rafa keeps playing him there.

I would think he could be better on the right but kuyt should start the season as first choice and his play with johnson could be something to watch out for.

i would like to see him in the torres role or even just behind although his final ball isnt good enough to see him as a viable alternative to gerrard.

The talent is there but you cant build your team around him especially when gerrard and torres are in the starting 11.

I agree we don't yet know his best position, he's dropped down the the order on the left wing, he's behind Gerrard and Benayoun for the position behind Torres as I don't think he has the game intelligence to play that role. Up front I feel he has the pace, but he lacks composure and gets caught offside alot more often than he should.

[SB]

i reckon that against smaller teams - and maybe not in the starting line-up but perhaps against crappie teams where it is 0-0 with 35 minutes to go................i think a formation of something like this could very well force victories:

--------------------REINA--------------------

JOHNSON----CARRAGHER--AGGER--------INSUA

---------------MASCHERANO------------------

KUYT------------GERRARD--------------RIERA

---------TORRES-----------BABEL------------

That side will score goals IMO.

You could just as easy replace riera with Benny and hello No 19

[ric.williams]

he's ****. headless chicken with no brain whatsoever. yeah he is fast but not with the ball, he cant dribble or pass. he has a powerful shot but a la cisse it could go anywhere. when he plays on the wing he doesnt protect his full back well enough cos he is lazy.....

and yet despite all this i'd really like to see him given a proper run upfront. his few chances he has been put up there he's been decent

[Exiled_red]

i reckon that against smaller teams - and maybe not in the starting line-up but perhaps against crappie teams where it is 0-0 with 35 minutes to go................i think a formation of something like this could very well force victories:

--------------------REINA--------------------

JOHNSON----CARRAGHER--AGGER--------INSUA

---------------MASCHERANO------------------

KUYT------------GERRARD--------------RIERA

---------TORRES-----------BABEL------------

Rafa to make a change before the hour mark!!