Blackpool (Away) - Build up thread.

[DannyMan2006]

Nah, don't need strength there, you do need brains though, Babel lacks the intelligence to play there.

I think you do need strength. As for intelligence, I think people jump on top of Ryan too much regarding that. He didn't always pick the best options but I think players improve that as they get used to the position and their team mates.

I didn't hear many complaints after his first season, which was very positive and the only time he's been given playing time.

[DannyMan2006]

No joke. Suso. Give him a chance and you never know. He is an exceptional talent. Probably the best we had since Gerrard, Folwer and Owen.

Needs to do more in the reserves before I'd consider him ready for the first team.

[Arn]

Needs to do more in the reserves before I'd consider him ready for the first team.

What would he get out from playing for our reserves? He is an exceptional talent and playing for the reserves won't make him a better player. He is already past that stage IMO.

It is the first team or loaned out that should be the next step. Blackpool play an attacking game so he would get a lot of space to work with. It would be a difference if we played against a more physical team.

[Daniel 7]

I can't wait for Suso to be ready. Haven't heard this much buzz about a young player breaking through since the Owen "better than Fowler" rumours were kicking about the season he made his debut v Wimbledon.

[Craig_H]

What would he get out from playing for our reserves? He is an exceptional talent and playing for the reserves won't make him a better player. He is already past that stage IMO.

It is the first team or loaned out that should be the next step. Blackpool play an attacking game so he would get a lot of space to work with. It would be a difference if we played against a more physical team.

You're a loon but my curiosity has got the better of me. Put Suso in against Blackpool!!!

And balls to Pacheco, that ship has sailed

[DannyMan2006]

What would he get out from playing for our reserves? He is an exceptional talent and playing for the reserves won't make him a better player. He is already past that stage IMO.

It is the first team or loaned out that should be the next step. Blackpool play an attacking game so he would get a lot of space to work with. It would be a difference if we played against a more physical team.

When he starts dominating reserves games on a concistant basis, that's the time for him to step up.

[Rudo]

Despite today's encouraging performance, i'd freshen things up a bit with the Everton game in mind and the matches in quick succession in the weeks ahead.

It's criminal that we can't rest Torres for this match but such is our shortage of quality strikers, i don't think we can afford to rest him.

I'd go for:

------------- Reina ---------------

Kelly ----- Skrtel ---- Agger --- Aurelio

Johnson ---- Lucas --- Meireles ---- Cole(if fit)

---------- Babel -------- Torres

That should be enough to beat Blackpool

[danperkins]

------------------ Reina ---------------
Kelly ----- Skrtel ---- Agger --- Aurelio
Johnson ---- Lucas --- Meireles ---- Maxi
-------------------Cole-------------------
-------------------Torres------------------

: If Cole not fit then i'd play Kuyt up with Torres

[Exiled_red]

If Gerrard is suspended and Cole is still injured, I'm not sure who we play off Torres. And I'd like to see us stick with the same formation. Kelly has to keep his place, as do Aurelio and Agger if they're fit enough. I thought Kuyt wasn't very involved in the game today, he's usually a big game player, but the game passed him by for periods. I'd be tempted to play Johnson right midfield, but that's a bit of a gamble as to whether it would work.

Reina
Kelly Skrtel Agger Aurelio
Lucas Meireles
Johnson Babel Maxi
Torres

I've gone with Babel off Torres I'm not sure he is capable of playing that position very well, but I'm struggling to think of other options. I know people mention Pacheco, but seeing as he wasn't involved today I doubt he'll start on Wednesday. This gives us a decent amout of pace and hopefully width, the 3 behind Torres are fairly interchangeable

[Mattshark]

If Gerrard is suspended and Cole is still injured, I'm not sure who we play off Torres. And I'd like to see us stick with the same formation. Kelly has to keep his place, as do Aurelio and Agger if they're fit enough. I thought Kuyt wasn't very involved in the game today, he's usually a big game player, but the game passed him by for periods. I'd be tempted to play Johnson right midfield, but that's a bit of a gamble as to whether it would work.

Reina
Kelly Skrtel Agger Aurelio
Lucas Meireles
Johnson Babel Maxi
Torres

I've gone with Babel off Torres I'm not sure he is capable of playing that position very well, but I'm struggling to think of other options. I know people mention Pacheco, but seeing as he wasn't involved today I doubt he'll start on Wednesday. This gives us a decent amout of pace and hopefully width, the 3 behind Torres are fairly interchangeable

I think it'd be better swapping Babel and Maxi there.

[Craig_H]

Agreed. I think Maxi could be an interesting option to play off Torres.

[Mattshark]

I think you do need strength. As for intelligence, I think people jump on top of Ryan too much regarding that. He didn't always pick the best options but I think players improve that as they get used to the position and their team mates.

I didn't hear many complaints after his first season, which was very positive and the only time he's been given playing time.

He played on the left and was most effective as a sub in his first season. Babel is still most effective as a sub.

It is an important position in creating and directing attacks, Babel doesn't have that.

Why do you need strength? It isn't the most physical position.

[Rudo]

Just play Babel up with Torres. Simples.

[Mattshark]

Just Babel up with Torres. Simples.

No, 442 is not the way to go, especially with the players we have.

[Exiled_red]

I think it'd be better swapping Babel and Maxi there.

Like I say I think that 3 could be fairly interchangeable, Maxi and Babel could play any of the 3 positions, and I think IIRC Johnson has played both left and right side, so we could mix it up a bit and try and move their players out of position a bit.

I stuck Babel in the centre and Maxi on the left because I know Maxi can play there better than Babel (IMO obviously).