Liverpool vs Crystal Palace; Sat 5th Oct; 3pm

[I, Ravel Morrison]

That'll be a nice 15 minute run out for him

And Aspas as well. If we play to our potential, that is.

[Norbs]

And Aspas as well. If we play to our potential, that is.

I meant at the start of the game

[MrMichael]

That's almost word for word complete rubbish.

Sterling is the complete opposite of everything you have posted above.

You're of the opinion that Sterling *can* tackle, tracks back and has man strength?

Indeed

I always understood that the biggest weakness of the 5-3-2 / 3-5-2, at least as when it was last really seen frequently in the league (c. Roy Evans time) was how it held up when the opposition doubled up on those wingbacks. In the last 20 minutes against tiring sides it is a totally different thing to setting up for 90 minutes with an 18yr old winger on his own down the right side. Even Ian Holloway will know what to do with that, and while it might come off if we can dominate Palace over the rest of the pitch and prevent them ever pressing up on Sterling, for me he totally does not have the attributes to be good in that position & formation over 90 minutes against that play. Few players really do to be fair, but he isn't one of them at all imo. Henderson at least has some of them even though its not right for him either.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

I meant at the start of the game

Ah, heh.

[SB]

Sterling has played as a wing back in two games this season and he's done surprisingly well both times. Against Palace at home, with magic Kolo covering him, it shouldn't be an issue.

Palace will be too busy parking the bus to cause Sterling any concern. Kolo will be his keeper.

[BigChief]

Sterling has played as a wing back in two games this season and he's done surprisingly well both times. Against Palace at home, with magic Kolo covering him, it shouldn't be an issue.

Its also probably the easiest position in any formation to play. You can shine and be a hero, or you can be rubbish and still have enough cover behind, beside and ahead of you.

[baitman]

right or left sided wing backs can get caught out of position and leave us more vulnerable to a counter attack, but more so with a back four than with a back three.
with a back three, and a DM to cover, you can then have one of the wide centre backs float wide to help counter any over the top balls into the channels.
the wing backs defensive duties will be less important in a back three than as part of a back four.
this is why i have prefered this system as although it gives us adequate cover at the back it also means we are in a better position to press and attack the opposition without leaving ourselves as open to the counter attack.

[SB]

right or left sided wing backs can get caught out of position and leave us more vulnerable to a counter attack, but more so with a back four than with a back three.
with a back three, and a DM to cover, you can then have one of the wide centre backs float wide to help counter any over the top balls into the channels.
the wing backs defensive duties will be less important in a back three than as part of a back four.
this is why i have prefered this system as although it gives us adequate cover at the back it also means we are in a better position to press and attack the opposition without leaving ourselves as open to the counter attack.

And when better to do that than at home against a ****e team?

[Hemingway]

Indeed

I always understood that the biggest weakness of the 5-3-2 / 3-5-2, at least as when it was last really seen frequently in the league (c. Roy Evans time) was how it held up when the opposition doubled up on those wingbacks. In the last 20 minutes against tiring sides it is a totally different thing to setting up for 90 minutes with an 18yr old winger on his own down the right side. Even Ian Holloway will know what to do with that, and while it might come off if we can dominate Palace over the rest of the pitch and prevent them ever pressing up on Sterling, for me he totally does not have the attributes to be good in that position & formation over 90 minutes against that play. Few players really do to be fair, but he isn't one of them at all imo. Henderson at least has some of them even though its not right for him either.

If he starts, I'm not actually expecting 90 minutes out of him, but more importantly one of the only reasons I (and some others) think it will work is because Palace won't play - they're at our place and if things go right, we should possess the vast majority of the attacking impetus. If we were away to a top-half side it would obviously be a poor idea, and I don't think anyone is suggesting Sterling as the wingback of the future. But because our first two options are hurt and the third is needed elsewhere, he's being drafted into service for a one-off.

For what it's worth, though, while overloading the flanks is a weakness of the 3-5-2 (along with getting 2-vs-3 sometimes in the midfield) as it relates to Sterling and this game in particular, he should be okay. Kolo behind him will drift over and cover, Henderson in the midfield to shuttle over and give cover when needed. If we get pinned back gaps might appear, but I wouldn't expect that nor for him to get exposed.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

If its done properly when a team tries to double up on a wing, lets say our right because of the Sterling talk, Toure should be coming further over because he has 2 other CB's already in place so he could make in 2 v 2 very quickly. We'll need lots of energy in the midfield to make it work and Henderson brings that but I'm still unsure he's smart enough to track runs and if he's good enough positionally to play in the CM role.

[The Birdman]

You're of the opinion that Sterling *can* tackle, tracks back and has man strength?

I'm firmly of the opinion that Sterling can tackle, does track back, does work very hard and is very tactically astute.

Yes his end product lets him down but he's 18.
The player with the worst end product in our team? Suarez by a country mile.

[The Birdman]

Riddle me this MrMichael, if and it's a big if Crystal Palace 'double up' on Sterling where in their team has that extra player come from?

I'll take you through the scenario's, we have 3 at the back vs their 1, Toure handles the wide player (Gayle?) leaving Sterling to mark the full back.
That leaves Skrtel and Sakho 2v1 against Chamakh.

What happens to the area the left back has just come from and how did we score 2 goals against Sunderland?

Do you think teams will play 3v2 against us when our 2 are Sturridge and Suarez?? because I don't.
No chance.
If the full back pushes on a midfielder will drop deep to cover, that then gives us 1 extra man in the midfield area, he (most probably Henderson because of his fitness and mobility) can shuffle over.

[danperkins]

Its also probably the easiest position in any formation to play. You can shine and be a hero, or you can be rubbish and still have enough cover behind, beside and ahead of you.

Disagree with that, wing back is one of the hardest positions to play in football. You have to be super fit & be capable both defensively and offensively. It is an grind & only certain types of players have the physical make up to be a successful wing back.

That's why there are so few top class wing backs out there & over the years. As for Raheem Sterling being a wing back.. not a chance. He's hardly productive when playing wide forward.. never mind win back. Doesn't have the positioning or defensive capabilities either IMO to make that position work. Our defence would spend most of their time covering for him.

[Lee]

Disagree with that, wing back is one of the hardest positions to play in football. You have to be super fit & be capable both defensively and offensively. It is an grind & only certain types of players have the physical make up to be a successful wing back.

That's why there are so few top class wing backs out there & over the years. As for Raheem Sterling being a wing back.. not a chance. He's hardly productive when playing wide forward.. never mind win back. Doesn't have the positioning or defensive capabilities either IMO to make that position work. Our defence would spend most of their time covering for him.

Pointless idea really.

It's up there with the clamour of people wanting Johnson to play RM a few years ago and Agger in the holding midfield role.

Sterling's done okay the few times he's stepped in at RB, but a RB he is not. Or RWB.

[danperkins]

Pointless idea really.

It's up there with the clamour of people wanting Johnson to play RM a few years ago and Agger in the holding midfield role.

Sterling's done okay the few times he's stepped in at RB, but a RB he is not. Or RWB.