Soto

[dww]

We've had just as slow defences before, if not slower and never had a problem.
For a season or two we had a backline of:
Finnan, Carra, Hyypia and Riise...we used to keep loads of clean sheets although them 4 had a brilliant understanding

Now there's alot of chopping and changing with the defence and there's defo not the same level of understanding that we used to have with Finnan, Carra, Hyypia and Riise
They were the good old days

We also allowed Reina to sweep behind them allowing them to operate differently. The it also depends a lot on how well you move the ball out of defence and the DM ahead of them.

It's not just clean sheets that are the issue but the ability to contribute higher up the pitch and get back. Especially if the midfield is as narrow as ours that is the problem. Currently with no player with pace nor acceleration the demands to cover on the CBs are more than they can handle when one of the fullbacks pushes up.

[Mostar]

Chelsea can play lovely football, aswell as having the option of using Drogba that way too, thing about Drogba is he is fantastic on the ground too, a true athlete, his pace is going to be very difficult for Skrtel and Soto to handle. I'm hoping that he gets involved in more of a physical battle, which IMO Soto and Skrtel are much more suited. As you said don't wanna be playing him too sophisticated.

Sure then all we have to worry about is Anelka/Malouda/Essien/Cole etc

Dreading this game, they have pace everywhere on the park and can score from so many different positions, as stats have shown if you take out Torres/Gerrard we are screwed as both of them have been involved in every goal scoring or assisting. But pace really worries me, we really really don't have any especially at the back, Soto/Skrtel/Carra & The Konch are all snails. Good oul Roy is gonna have to seriously get the tactics spot on. Big game for him, IMO we need at least a draw, actually i'd be delighted with a draw.

I also have concerns with lack of pace and mobility. It will be a very difficult game and if we don't press high and keep some meaningful and well thought out possessions Drogba, Anelka and Malouda will brutalize Carra, Soto and Konk.

[Craig_H]

We've had just as slow defences before, if not slower and never had a problem.
For a season or two we had a backline of:
Finnan, Carra, Hyypia and Riise...we used to keep loads of clean sheets although them 4 had a brilliant understanding

Now there's alot of chopping and changing with the defence and there's defo not the same level of understanding that we used to have with Finnan, Carra, Hyypia and Riise
They were the good old days

That was before the days of Bodgson.

[danperkins]

I also have concerns with lack of pace and mobility. It will be a very difficult game and if we don't press high and keep some meaningful and well thought out possessions Drogba, Anelka and Malouda will brutalize Carra, Soto and Konk.

and now ****ing Lampard is back

[The Birdman]

Carragher and Kyriakos got badly exposed last night by pace and movement, what makes it even more baffling is that in Hodgson's congested system our width is coming from the full backs so when they advance it leaves those 2 really at risk

[Shaggy]

Aye...thought Soto was better than Carra though.

[5europeancups]

I said he was a GOOD signing and you laughed at me saying that.

Personally I dont think he was a good signing.

If you watch every Liverpool game he gets caught out at least once or twice and if he plays on sunday he will be run ragged by Anelka.

From static setpieces he is great but from open play I think his shortcoming s are highlighted

How can we sign a defender that is great in the air , but weak against fleet footed oppostion. He's a good solid defender with a great head but thats about it. How many of the other top 6 teams would sign Soto?

If Liverpool want to really challenge for the lelague they can not have defenders which have such a blatant weakness.

[banditos]

Personally I dont think he was a good signing.

If you watch every Liverpool game he gets caught out at least once or twice and if he plays on sunday he will be run ragged by Anelka.

From static setpieces he is great but from open play I think his shortcoming s are highlighted

How can we sign a defender that is great in the air , but weak against fleet footed oppostion. He's a good solid defender with a great head but thats about it. How many of the other top 6 teams would sign Soto?

If Liverpool want to really challenge for the lelague they can not have defenders which have such a blatant weakness.

Are you chanelling Danperkins. He cost £1.5m and was meant to be 4th choice CB. FFS.

[RichC]

Personally I dont think he was a good signing.

If you watch every Liverpool game he gets caught out at least once or twice and if he plays on sunday he will be run ragged by Anelka.

From static setpieces he is great but from open play I think his shortcoming s are highlighted

How can we sign a defender that is great in the air , but weak against fleet footed oppostion. He's a good solid defender with a great head but thats about it. How many of the other top 6 teams would sign Soto?

If Liverpool want to really challenge for the lelague they can not have defenders which have such a blatant weakness.

Well bar Johnson who's positionally gets caught out at least once a game and Agger who is permantely injured none of our defenders are pacey are they!

Soto has been a good signing IMO and without him this season we'd have less points on the board than we currently do.

[Neil Young]

Are you chanelling Danperkins.

Yep, here we go again.

[Mostar]

Aye...thought Soto was better than Carra though.

Same here. He should be playing on Sunday and not Carra.

Are you chanelling Danperkins. He cost £1.5m and was meant to be 4th choice CB. FFS.

[Ben_Itez]

I think our biggest worry against Chelsea is if Carra is moved back into the middle. Drogba knows he can get the better of him, and time and again he does. Mind you having Carra at RB he'd get ripped a new one by Anelka or Malouda....

So what to do? I reckon GJ might get dropped and Carra played RB which would be a mistake in my opinion as it would lead to our back four playing even deeper with no attacking outlet on the right (despite Roy comparing Carra to Carlos Alberto recently ).

Mind you Soto and Skrtel will probably get ripped to shreds by Drogba and co too......tricky decision for Roy. However, if we sit as deep as we have been doing and allowing Chelsea possession we're in trouble.....whoever we play, when we do get the ball they'll press us high up the pitch and put pressure on our midfield and defence leading to us ceding possession in dangerous areas.

TBH i can't see anything but a defeat.

[Neil Young]

I agree, I think Carra will play right back. And we're going to play incredibly deep so we don't get roasted by Chelsea's pace. We're going to need a lot of luck to get even a point.

[Mostar]

I agree, I think Carra will play right back. And we're going to play incredibly deep so we don't get roasted by Chelsea's pace. We're going to need a lot of luck to get even a point.

If Carra plays RB where GJ will play. As CB?

I think GJ will move to his normal position of RB and Carra will form partnership with Skrtel (Soto on the bench) in the middle of defence.

[Neil Young]

If Carra plays RB where GJ will play. As CB?

I think GJ will move to his normal position of RB and Carra will form partnership with Skrtel (Soto on the bench) in the middle of defence.

I just think Dodger will revert to a defensive line-up that has played together a few times this season, meaning Johnson will be on the bench. At least I think it wouldn't be entirely illogical. And I'm not sure Johnson playing two full games in a few days straight off an injury is such a good idea anyway.

You could be right though - Kygiakos playing yesterday might be a sign he's going to be rested for Sunday.