A question about Rafa...

[Lecter]

I'd have been inclined to go 442 myself, because in the 4231 system, you need an Alonso and he's not a player you can really replace or replicate properly.

This is a real conundrum for me

Gerrards most effective position is playing off Torres its where he causes more damage to the opposition

However I do recognise the need to have someone with his passing and vision playing central midfield (like Alonso did)

The thing I no longer like about Gerrard playing central midfield is that he vacates his position far too frequently and this leaves you exposed. Hes also prone to switching off and letting runners in behind him

[Chrono]

Be serious we dont play 8 defensive players EVER

At most we play 4 defenders and 2 holding midfielders, 2 of the defenders are "attacking fullbacks"

That's 8 defensive players.

[banditos]

That's 8 defensive players.

Rocket surgery.

[Chrono]

That's 8 defensive players.

Sorry I misread what you said but we have played with a back 4, two holding midfielders and two fullbacks on our wings.

[Vermilion]

That's the problem fredo, we're using the same system and tactics as last year, without the players to utilise it successfully. Rafa's so inflexible, that the same methods are used, despite not having the right players to make it work.

Case in point is when Torres either comes off or doesnt play, he brings in a vastly inferior replacement and asks them to do the same job as Torres - which they obviously cant.

The system is useless if you dont have the correct personnel to implement it - and we're asking Lucas to be Alonso and make the same system work as it did last season - there's no way that would work.

If rafa was more flexible, he'd change the system to suit the personnel we have. But that's not happened.

Isn't there a stat to prove Alonso never played all that many games last season....and that when we were without him we did fine in comparison ?

[Lecter]

That's the problem fredo, we're using the same system and tactics as last year, without the players to utilise it successfully. Rafa's so inflexible, that the same methods are used, despite not having the right players to make it work.

Case in point is when Torres either comes off or doesnt play, he brings in a vastly inferior replacement and asks them to do the same job as Torres - which they obviously cant.

The system is useless if you dont have the correct personnel to implement it - and we're asking Lucas to be Alonso and make the same system work as it did last season - there's no way that would work.

If rafa was more flexible, he'd change the system to suit the personnel we have. But that's not happened.

Again you could argue that its a different system

Our fullbacks are pushing on far more than they did last season

To me we could play last seasons system (without Alonso) providing we had good defensive fullbacks who werent so gung-ho

Playing a system with attacking fullbacks means we have to have an Alonso type player who has great positional sense, can nick/intercept balls and relieve some pressure off the holding midfielder and the centrehalves

One of Rafas biggest fundamental mistakes was probably being too adventurous this season. Hes compromised his system by not only changing his fullbacks but also by losing Alonso

Thats why I think his signings havent come off, Johnson should only be signed if Alonso stayed and I can only see Aquilani fitting in if you had two decent defensive fullbacks

[Lecter]

That's 8 defensive players.

Last time I checked 4 defenders plus 2 holding players = 6 defensive players

[Imy]

This is a real conundrum for me

Gerrards most effective position is playing off Torres its where he causes more damage to the opposition

However I do recognise the need to have someone with his passing and vision playing central midfield (like Alonso did)

The thing I no longer like about Gerrard playing central midfield is that he vacates his position far too frequently and this leaves you exposed. Hes also prone to switching off and letting runners in behind him

He was a right selfish fecker vs Benfica, Insua's getting raped surely he should have gone back and helped out.

[Imy]

Last time I checked 4 defenders plus 2 holding players = 6 defensive players

+ 1 goalkeeper and does Kuyt count as an attacking player?

[Lecter]

Sorry I misread what you said but we have played with a back 4, two holding midfielders and two fullbacks on our wings.

Very rarely have we played that

I cant remember doing that this season

[Lecter]

+ 1 goalkeeper and does Kuyt count as an attacking player?

Kuyt is an attacking player imo

Goalkeeper doesnt count I am assuming we are only talking outfield players

Pepe is also probably one of our most creative players anyway

[banditos]

Very rarely have we played that

I cant remember doing that this season

Perhaps once in Europe when our injuries were really bad (Aurelio and Degen as wide midfielders).

[red g]

+ 1 goalkeeper and does Kuyt count as an attacking player?

i think kuyt counts as half

[-V-]

Sorry I misread what you said but we have played with a back 4, two holding midfielders and two fullbacks on our wings.

Pompey away. We went to the worst team in the league and played 4 defenders, 2 holding mids and an extra 2 more fullbacks. 4 ****ing full-backs we played. We sat there and let them run all over us and beat us. So so embarrasing.

[Imy]

Kuyt is an attacking player imo

In theory

Pepe is also probably one of our most creative players anyway