West Brom at Home Build Up

[Craig_H]

Lucas and Poulsen both starting at home to West Brom, i don't get it.

It'll be a reaction to the slaughtering Roy rightly got, for playing 442 at City.

There's a time for both systems and i agree that at Anfield, against sides like West Brom, we really dont need the double protection of 2 holding mids.

If anything, i would be inclined to play just one holding mid, still play Gerrard off Torres, but put another attacking CM in the side.

Something like this:

Reina

Johnson Carra Skrtel Agger

Poulsen


Kuyt Lucas Jovanovic

Gerrard
Torres

I've put Lucas there, but you could equally put Dani Pacheco in there if he's comfortable doing it.

Alternatively, i'd even look at doing this:

Reina

Johnson Carra Skrtel Agger

Poulsen


Kuyt Gerrard Jovanovic

Torres N'Gog

N'Gog contributed to another goal in midweek and doesnt deserve to be dropped. We have an international break after this game, so there's no need to be resting anyone.

Really and truly, home to WBA is a game that isnt going to bite us for not having defensive protection. It might bite us for not being able to break them down, which with 2 holding mids, becomes a possibility.

If that's the team and system, Roy's got it arse about face. Playing the system we SHOULD be using at home to WBA in an away game at City, and playing the system we should've used at City, for a home game against WBA.

[Rudo]

i think we only went to 442 because of player availability/fitness issues

What exactly are these player availability/fitness issues?

There's Babel, Maxi, Pacheco, N'gog all available. One of them would be a better option than Lucas.

[Craig_H]

What exactly are these player availability/fitness issues?

There's Babel, Maxi, Pacheco, N'gog all available. One of them would be a better option than Lucas.

Which of those players would've been a better option at Man City, instead of Lucas?

Lucas rightly played at City, the mistake was playing a 442 and not putting another holding mid alongside him.

[Rudo]

Which of those players would've been a better option at Man City, instead of Lucas?

Lucas rightly played at City, the mistake was playing a 442 and not putting another holding mid alongside him.

City away is alot different to West Brom at home man.

Yes, Lucas should have played at City, but when we have Poulsen with another 90 minutes under his belf on Thursday, he should be playing tomorrow with Gerrard. No need for Lucas.

[Craig_H]

If missing the point was an olympic sport, you'd have gold all over you

Dirk07 said:

i think we only went to 442 because of player availability/fitness issues

And he was referring to why we played 442 at Man City, because Poulsen was said to be behind with his fitness, so with that and Mascherano acting the cunt, it forced our hand and left us with arguably little choice but to play 442.

You then came in with:

What exactly are these player availability/fitness issues?

There's Babel, Maxi, Pacheco, N'gog all available. One of them would be a better option than Lucas.

And you were obviously talking about the WBA game. But when Dirk07 was referring to fitness and availability issues, HE was talking about the City game, as was i, when i posted my reply to you.

[cream]

Must win game, we're in the relegation zone.

[Mostar]

Something like this:

Reina

Johnson Carra Skrtel Agger

Poulsen


Kuyt Pacheco Jovanovic

Gerrard
Torres

I've put Lucas there, but you could equally put Dani Pacheco in there if he's comfortable doing it.

Good call Craig.

That would be my preferred formation and I would drop Lucas in favor of Pacheco.

[Craig_H]

Yep, i think you could rely on the workrate of Kuyt and Jova to add a bit of solidity, IF we needed it - but i dont think we would in this game.

[Mostar]

Too bad we don't have any real wingers to give us some width but with Kuyt and Jova at home I feel confident we will break them down.

[little dave hedgehog]

would love to see us hand out a tonking here. not sure we will, but i will tell myself i believe it.

[banditos]

Good call Craig.

That would be my preferred formation and I would drop Lucas in favor of Pacheco.

And drop SG back into Cm and have Pacheco behind Torres.

[SB]

And drop SG back into Cm and have Pacheco behind Torres.

I'd love to see Danni start this one and if it means Stevie playing deeper then so be it

Stevie is a doubt so he may not even play

[BigChief]

We can have defensive solidity as long as we play better (at attacking) wingers. My team:

Back 5
Poulson Lucas
Gerrard Pacheco Babel
Torres

Babel's done surprisingly well against the Turkish club and WBA shouldnt be too much of a step up from them.

[Icon]

It's WBA...

Pepe
Carra
SG
Torres

[Shaggy]

If that is the team, is anyone gonna slaughter Roy for playing two DMs at home against cannon fodder?