How do we fit

[Exiled_red]

I'd say it was similar to how Chelsea lined up under Mourinho. In difficult games, you're right, it would more closely resemble our usual 4231, but in the majority of games it would be a narrow 433, with any width coming from the fullbacks.

Surely when Chelsea played a proper 433 was in the days that they had Duff and Robben providing the width IIRC they also had Wright-Phillips as well as Cole. So surely their width came from one or two genuine wingers rather than the fullbacks??(Cole IMO isn't a genuine winger)

[Arn]

--------Lucas----Meireles---
---Pacheco--Gerrard---Cole---
-------------Torres-----------

All the players are comfortable on the ball. That means more creativity, quicker passing, and better movement without the ball. It doesn't exactly hurt either that all of them have great vision and game intelligence.

[danperkins]

I'd have Lucas over Poulsen in midfield. I've seen nothing so for from the latter to convince me he's better than the former.

Both can tackle, but Poulsen is more composed and much more solid IMO. Lucas is erratic and bit rash, squad player at best IMO should be no where near the first team. Poulsen all day long for me. But sure different strokes for differnet folks

[Nick77]

For me it would have to be:

Kuyt-----Meireles---Gerrard---Jovanovic/Babel
----------------Cole-----------------------
---------------Torres----------------------

[Fernandinho]

For me it would have to be:

Kuyt-----Meireles---Gerrard---Jovanovic/Babel
----------------Cole-----------------------
---------------Torres----------------------

That is exactly what I would want against lower table teams. But against mid table teams, especially away from home I think Cole goes to the left, Gerrard to the hole and Poulsen/Lucas comes in.

[billy_mac]

For me it would have to be:

Kuyt-----Meireles---Gerrard---Jovanovic/Babel
----------------Cole-----------------------
---------------Torres----------------------

Spot on. Play like this in the majority of our games, that is all home games and most away games. I think the 4-2-3-1 away against the tougher opponents is the way to go. Bringing Poulson or Lucas in but never both together.

Will be interesting to see how we start against Sunderland. I'd hope for what you have set out here.

[el matador]

kuyt ---poulsen-----meireles-----cole

------------gerrard---------------

-----------torres-------------------

the arguments for cole playing behind torres are non-existant for me. Gerrard playing 50 games for liverpool behind torres will be somewhere near the 20 assists and 20 goals tally. Joe cole wont get anywhere near that.

[Fernandinho]

What people seem to be forgetting is that Gerrard can still get goals from midfield. Towards the end of last season Gerrard played a few games in midfield and he managed to get on the score sheet a few times. This will also enable us to pick up more goals from midfield, then past seasons when we have had 5 or less goals from Lucas/Masch/Alonso in the last few seasons all together, while increasing Joe's chances of scoring. I also believe he looks so much better when he is in the middle of the pitch.

[Shaggy]

kuyt ---poulsen-----meireles-----cole

------------gerrard---------------

-----------torres-------------------

the arguments for cole playing behind torres are non-existant for me. Gerrard playing 50 games for liverpool behind torres will be somewhere near the 20 assists and 20 goals tally. Joe cole wont get anywhere near that.

I do agree with that, totally - Gerrard's scored 59 goals in three seasons playing mainly the advanced role.

But we could replace those 20 goals a season if Cole managed 10 from behind the striker, and Gerrard chipped in with 10 from the deeper CM role. Obviously our centre mids have contributed nothing in terms of goalscoring over the years, so if Gerrard could add 10 from there we're not really losing anything.

Dunno why I just said that anyway, cos I completely agree...Gerrard should play off Nando. Not Cole, not Meireles.

[Lecter]

I do agree with that, totally - Gerrard's scored 59 goals in three seasons playing mainly the advanced role.

But we could replace those 20 goals a season if Cole managed 10 from behind the striker, and Gerrard chipped in with 10 from the deeper CM role. Obviously our centre mids have contributed nothing in terms of goalscoring over the years, so if Gerrard could add 10 from there we're not really losing anything.

Dunno why I just said that anyway, cos I completely agree...Gerrard should play off Nando. Not Cole, not Meireles.

Or alternatively play Gerrard off the striker get your 20 goals from him and half a dozen from Cole playing on the left and maybe the same from Meireles from midfield

[Zapater]

I've never, even remotely understood the notion of Meireles playing off of the striker. He didn't play there for Porto and Portugal he either plays as a box to box or holding mid. He clearly doesn't have the creative attributes to play there and it's really just a waste of an important position. Where Gerrard has proved he can make things happen there we're pushing someone who has a very low probability of making something happen, especially scoring in there. If it's because he wants him to close down a deeplying creative player in the opposition, it seems a rather cynical tactic which limits ourselves more than stifling them imo.

I'd go for the same as el Matedor at this moment. For some reason, I struggle to see Cole consistently making an impact from that position, although it is worth a gamble. The thing is though, I don't fancy Gerrard as a central midfielder either so I think it just makes sense - the variable for me being if to choose between Lucas and Poulsen and possibly in the wide areas.

[Shaggy]

Or alternatively play Gerrard off the striker get your 20 goals from him and half a dozen from Cole playing on the left and maybe the same from Meireles from midfield

Exactamundo

[Fernandinho]

I think he was played there because he is fairly new, also probably tactically to match up against scholes who has had a good start to the season. Shutting him down would have left all the work to Fletcher who isn't the most creative player around.

[little dave hedgehog]

i *think* meireles is just being eased into our midfield atm where his mistakes won't be as severely punished. it's just a way to play our best players even though meireles may not be quite up to speed enough to run our engine room.

[Shaggy]

even though meireles may not be quite up to speed enough to run our engine room.

I read someone on another forum the other week referring to our 'boiler room'