Aldridge calls for Kelly

[alunevans]

I'd have no problem playing Gerrard up there at all and understand why people say it's his best position. But if he's going to play up there we need to plug that gap next to Meireles with a midfielder who has some quality and for me Lucas is a big weak link.

I think holistically the team has less weak spots in it with current personnel with SG in CM, and Cole in the free role off the front man.

[Fredo]

I'd have no problem playing Gerrard up there at all and understand why people say it's his best position. But if he's going to play up there we need to plug that gap next to Meireles with a midfielder who has some quality and for me Lucas is a big weak link.

I think holistically the team has less weak spots in it with current personnel with SG in CM, and Cole in the free role off the front man.

I agree with that, it's not been the same since Alonso's left. Gerrard is our best option at CM at the moment, which is a shame as I think his best position is playing off Torres. Roy doesn't seem to be giving Meireles a go in that position though, which is a bit strange as he's been bought in to play there. If he's going to be that player we all crying out for, play him there.

[The_weatherman]

To me our best line up at present would likely be:

Kuyt---Meireles---Lucas---Cole
-----------Gerrard-----------
------------Torres-----------

Clear as day to me

[Fierce]

Gerrard has no problems playing CM. The problem is that when you put him there you lose a lot of his creativity. Since we lack creative players it ends up with us lacking a cutting edge with him at CM. It's not that he can't play there, it's that our team lacks quality elsewhere.

On the subject of Lamps and Gerrard for Englands - both exceptional but both similar. Both have proved they can play central when paired with Barry who is more defensive minded. Our problem last season was two defensive midfield players, two attacking minded midfielders brings about different problems.

I think if we want the best out of Gerrard we either give him a free role, or we play a defensive minded player at CM with him and bring a creative player to take his position off the striker.

To me our best line up at present would likely be:

Kuyt---Meireles---Lucas---Cole
-----------Gerrard-----------
------------Torres-----------

Although, I don't think Joe Cole is enough of a winger to be a winger, same for Kuyt really

I think both of them are perfectly suited as the wide men in a 4-3-3 formation. Which of course, is arguably 4-5-1 anyway:

Reina

Johnson Carra Agger Kelly

Miereles Gerrard Lucas

Kuyt Torres Cole

Stupid American spelling

[banditos]

To me our best line up at present would likely be:

Kuyt---Meireles---Lucas---Cole
-----------Gerrard-----------
------------Torres-----------

Stick with this line-up please Roy.

[-V-]

I was taking it to mean as the team going forward.

Personally I'm not sure I think Johnson would make a very good winger.

Better than having no decent option at all at RM. His pace would give us something extra

[Fredo]

Better than having no decent option at all at RM. His pace would give us something extra

What will his pace give you when teams are sitting deep? He'll run into the same blind alleys. All it needs is a system which maximises his runs from deep and covers the gaps when we lose the ball.

[DannyMan2006]

What will his pace give you when teams are sitting deep? He'll run into the same blind alleys. All it needs is a system which maximises his runs from deep and covers the gaps when we lose the ball.

in fairness, whilst I want Johnson to remain at RB I do disagree with what you say.

Gary Neville at Man Utd used to be good at getting forward in his younger days. He never took players on, instead would just run beyond Beckham and pick up a ball that had been layed on for him. He'd then whip in a cross.

Johnson, whilst able to do this, is also capable of taking players on. Most full backs can not do this. He is also good with either foot, he can go on the outside or come inside, decent at crossing or shooting with either foot. Even Babel can't do this and he's judged to be an attacking winger of sorts.

So whilst most full backs would struggle at being pushed further up due to lack of ability to beat a man, Johnson has the required skill set for such a deployment.

The only thing I don't know, is if he has the necessary positional sense for such a deployment.

[danperkins]

Johnson is a poxy defender been saying it for god knows how long now, with his attributes and physicality IMO he woul dbe much better suited to RM. He would provide natural width, pace and great delivery. he can beat a man too which is unheard of in this Liverpool team in the wide areas. I would love to see him deployed there.

[the rev leeroy brown]

johsnon has to stay at rb for two reasons . . . . . he is the most attacking full back we have and the only alternatives are carra and kelly . . . . .both nowhere near good enough at right back.

[Fredo]

in fairness, whilst I want Johnson to remain at RB I do disagree with what you say.

Gary Neville at Man Utd used to be good at getting forward in his younger days. He never took players on, instead would just run beyond Beckham and pick up a ball that had been layed on for him. He'd then whip in a cross.

Johnson, whilst able to do this, is also capable of taking players on. Most full backs can not do this. He is also good with either foot, he can go on the outside or come inside, decent at crossing or shooting with either foot. Even Babel can't do this and he's judged to be an attacking winger of sorts.

So whilst most full backs would struggle at being pushed further up due to lack of ability to beat a man, Johnson has the required skill set for such a deployment.

The only thing I don't know, is if he has the necessary positional sense for such a deployment.

I haven't said that he can't play in that position, just that he would be far more effective if his attacking skills were used to better effect coming from deep. It is arguable but I think you get better width by having a full back coming from deep rather than a more traditional winger. It's not an easy system to implement by any stretch of the imagination though, so maybe for the less tactically astute Roy Hodgson, it's better to stick Johnson in there. Again, arguable.

[ashey]

Whether or not Johnson can play right wing, Kelly is already a better defender than him. We have to stop the opposition wingers from putting in crosses; it's cost us dearly this season already. Kelly is better equipped to this than Johnson.

[danperkins]

johsnon has to stay at rb for two reasons . . . . . he is the most attacking full back we have and the only alternatives are carra and kelly . . . . .both nowhere near good enough at right back.

At the moment a chimpaneze could defend better than Johnson has been. Guy has be woeful for about a year now, but this season he looks medicore defensively. He is making crucial mistakes in every game which is costing us. IMO Kelly already looks a better "defender" than Johnson, which in that position is first and foremost.

P.S. I actually like Glen Johnson too, just not at RB or in this system

[Roboklopp]

-Johansonn-----Carra----Aggs---Fabs/Konk-
--------------Lucas-----------------------
--------------------------Raul------------
--Dirk-------------Stevie-----------Cole---
--------------------Nando----------------

Complete no-brainer to me to be honest.

[Fierce]

-Johansonn-----Carra----Aggs---Fabs/Konk-
--------------Lucas-----------------------
--------------------------Raul------------
--Dirk-------------Stevie-----------Cole---
--------------------Nando----------------

Complete no-brainer to me to be honest.

This that new Swedish kid we signed? Didn't think he'd be ready for first team action straight away but fair play



Looks like Roy thinks the same as Aldo, albeit for the next game only, leaving Agger out of the squad totally?! unless he's saving him for Blackpool....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/9040797.stm