Agger and Aurelio back in training

[Harv]

Play Aurelio in CM Rafa

[Marky]

Play Aurelio in CM Rafa

Not a bad suggestion, he was the best player on the pitch when he played in CM at Fratton Park last season.

[DannyMan2006]

Like you, i still think Babel, if given game time and a bit of slack, would do alright as another striking option. I'd like someone else in, but if not, Babel's only some match time and faith away from being decent enough cover IMO.

Whilst I think he can up his game there is a distinct lack of evidence to support this theory, nor am I totally sure Rafa will give him a chance there.

IMO Liverpool are leaving a lot to chance and are risking the title on this gamble. I can't believe that our club is risking a whole season with Voronin and N'Gog as back up. In fact I would go so far as to say I'm ****ing disgusted.

Our best success under Houllier came when we had the likes of Owen, Fowler and Heskey firing them in. That is the sort of strike force that wins games. Now we have a far better team but just lack that bit of strength in depth in the forward line.

And I think Rafa knows this.

[Craig_H]

To be fair, Kuyt can do a decent job up front too, if needed, with Yossi wide right.

As for Babel, there's been little evidence to support any faith in him coming good, but someone with his pace, power and finishing ability (he CAN finish), as far as i'm concerned, would surely do a decent job. He's got the raw materials. Sure, he's daft as a brush, but even Cisse, who was brainless too, offered some kind of decent contribution, due to sheer pace alone.

Babel's got too many physical attributes, even allowing for a lack of footballing brain and his laziness, not to be capable of offering a useful impact.

[DannyMan2006]

Fair point on Kuyt, but if we are playing him RM I would rather he just stays there for stability.

But with little chance of us signing a striker he's a good option to have.

[Craig_H]

Fair point on Kuyt, but if we are playing him RM I would rather he just stays there for stability.

But with little chance of us signing a striker he's a good option to have.

And furthermore, perhaps more in the latter stages of a game, than from the off - but if Kuyt goes to play up front, we've got a great option in Johnson, who we can push up to play RM and will offer a significant attacking threat.

[DannyMan2006]

And furthermore, perhaps more in the latter stages of a game, than from the off - but if Kuyt goes to play up front, we've got a great option in Johnson, who we can push up to play RM and will offer a significant attacking threat.

I think we do that anyway though. It's why I mentioned elsewhere that it will be interesting to see how Johnson does against a team like Chelsea and Man Utd who both push their own full backs up.

[BrianF80]

I think we do that anyway though. It's why I mentioned elsewhere that it will be interesting to see how Johnson does against a team like Chelsea and Man Utd who both push their own full backs up.

Yeah, it's been noticeable that Kuyt has been more central. It was interesting against Villa that Johnson had more difficulty getting involved with Young parked high and out on the left. Similar sort of problem to the one you allude to IMO.

He and Kuyt need to work on their "patterns of play" to draw the player out and then play around him. Kuyt and Arbeloa were OK at that, I haven't seen so much of that inter-play between Kuyt and Johnson though.

[JohnDoe]

Kuyt is really bad as a lone striker. I don't remember him having one good game in that role.

[meffin]

I prefer Insua to Aurelio

[BrianF80]

I prefer Insua to Aurelio

It's getting more difficult to choose between the two isn't it? It's looking like a trade-off between industry and slightly more quality.

[cream]

Insua is still very naive defensively.

[BrianF80]

Insua is still very naive defensively.

That was very noticeable last season, his tendency to lose track of what was going on around him was way too regular for my liking. But I've been keeping an eye out for it and it's not happened so far. That was the only weakness I saw. Did you notice others?

[cream]

His positioning is still pretty poor, just get the feeling he is playing too much football at the moment.

[Craig_H]

I dont have any problem with Insua, every player will have the odd mistake but this lad does FAR more good than bad, and the key point when he plays, is that he doesnt look remotely out of place.

Great signing.