Your first choice XI without Sturridge

[Alex]

Dont think I want to see Can stuck at the back though. Every time I have seen him play a more advanced role he has done really well.

Its a shame that our other CB options are not very good.

[danperkins]

Can at CB would be a disaster. Square pegs in rounds holes once again. He's a progressive midfielder, lets not take his natural game away. There is so much competition for places in that midfield, i think Lucas, Lallana, Ibe, Markovic, Can will be battling for places and Coutinho, Milner & Hendo will be the main stays. Firmino surely will play up top as midfield is stacked. Very hard to pick a line up when/if everyone is fit.

I have absolutely no idea how we are going to line up, excited to see us play when everyones back but hoping that we can find that balance early... especially with the poxy fixture list.

[Alex]

Can at CB would be a disaster,. Square pegs in rounds holes once again. He's a progressive midfielder, lets not take his natural game away. There is so much competition for places in that midfield, i think Lucas, Lallana, Ibe, Markovic, Can will be battling for places and Coutinho, Firmino, Milner & Hendo will be the main stays.

I have absolutely no idea how we are going to line up, excited to see us play when everyones back but hoping that we can find that balance early... especially with the poxy fixture list.

It wouldnt, thats just hyperbole. He has shown last season he can do a job, and outperformed most of our CBs when called on. I agree it limits his natural game though.


On that last line, its kind of the idea of the thread to have an idea though So come on, show us what you would like to see.

[Chris]

Can at CB would be a disaster.

And yet it wasn't last season. Oh I forgot, you also said "Can had a horrible 2015" despite being nominated for Premier League player of the month in January and excelling in many games after.

Also, if you are claiming to have someone on ignore then piss off with the indirect replies.

[danperkins]

It wouldnt, thats just hyperbole. He has shown last season he can do a job, and outperformed most of our CB's when called on. I agree it limits his natural game though.


On that last line, its kind of the idea of the thread to have an idea though So come on, show us what you would like to see.

Can's confidence was destroyed at the end of last season by consistently playing him out of position. He done well for a time but IMO it does him no favours to play him in an unnatural position.

I call stunting a very talented young players growth by playing him out of position, a disaster & sure everything is hyperbole on here. The use of the rod hyperbole is about as hyperbole as hyperbole gets.

It's a hard one until we know what way Rodgers wants to set us up.

Vs top sides:

............Mignolet

Clyne...Skrtel...Sakho...Moreno

................Lucas

......Milner..........Henderson

...............Coutinho............

........Firmino......Benteke

I like the look of Gomez but massive step up in the premier league, to playing some part timers. Moreno was fairly dodgy defensively but I had an idea he would struggle in his first season in the premier league. I'd like to think he will be much improved this season.

I'm actually fairly positive about this season. I like the players we've bought and I think Can,Moreno & Ibe will improve. Markovic will struggle to get a look in and haven't been convinced about him.

Hopefully Sturridge, Lucas, Lallana & Sakho won't be injured as much either, I mean surely they can't be!!? I think we'll be a much more balanced squad & hopefully Rodgers can find a formation earlier and get some cohesion into the first 11.

The kicker is though that, teams that finished miles ahead of us last season.. have & will strengthen this season. The start we have really has no forgiveness either. If we can ride that start and players can hit the ground running, we could very well make a push for 4th... but it's going to be very difficult.

[Alex]

You said he was a disaster at CB. I really wouldn't class Can as a disappointment at all at CB. So calling it a disaster is hyperbolic to me. It wasn't ideal though and I dont think he progressed him much. Hardly made him go backwards though, as someone like Lovren appeared to do.

There you go. Lovren, he is a good example of a disaster.

[redmike65]

-----------Mignolet
Clyne---Skrtel---Sakho--Gomez (yes!)
------------Lucas
-------Hendo---Milner
----------Coutinho
---------------Firmino
----------Benteke

[BobTheCharmer]

why has nobody got lovren as a starter

Post 14 my friend!

[danperkins]

And yet it wasn't last season. Oh I forgot, you also said "Can had a horrible 2015" despite being nominated for Premier League player of the month in January and excelling in many games after.

Also, if you are claiming to have someone on ignore then piss off with the indirect replies.

I did have you on ignore, but I don't like having anyone on ignore so took it off last week. You do indirect replies more than anyone, so lets not go there. We don't seem to agree on anything LFC related and seem to be two very different type of supporters... but we are LFC supporters nonetheless & ffs a non personal football debate shouldn't be too much surely?

This constant indirect/direct sniping is gone beyond tedious Chris, I'm sure you'll agree. I don't know you and you don't know me. If you want to carry on with this back and forth ****, that's up to you... but I really couldn't be arsed mate honestly.

As regards Can, clearly you know I rate him by my posts.... I was gutted for the lad the last 3 months of the season when he really was struggling at RCB. I'm a big fan of him and didn't like to see teams targeting the lad. I was hoping Rodgers would take him out of the limelight so he could regain some confidence. He's a very talented player that should be played in a more progressive role, as IMO it suits his natural progressive game a bit more.

[Lee]

I call stunting a very talented young players growth by playing him out of position, a disaster & sure everything is hyperbole on here. The use of the rod hyperbole is about as hyperbole as hyperbole gets.

No idea.

You said he was a disaster at CB. I really wouldn't class Can as a disappointment at all at CB. So calling it a disaster is hyperbolic to me. It wasn't ideal though and I dont think he progressed him much. Hardly made him go backwards though, as someone like Lovren appeared to do.

There you go. Lovren, he is a good example of a disaster.

Can was our best CB for a chunk of the season, particularly when played in a back three. It was only at RB where he looked shaky.

[danperkins]

You said he was a disaster at CB. I really wouldn't class Can as a disappointment at all at CB. So calling it a disaster is hyperbolic to me. It wasn't ideal though and I dont think he progressed him much. Hardly made him go backwards though, as someone like Lovren appeared to do.

There you go. Lovren, he is a good example of a disaster.

ok fair enough mate disaster is a bit much. But I did think he regressed, he looked so confident and composed & the last few months of the season he looked shot to ****. I felt sorry for the lad.

As regards Lovren, I will be positive about him and say that there's no way he can be as bad as last season. Same goes for Markovic actually. So in that respect they've improved already

[Gibbo]

When have you ever seen him in a central role ? he has never been played there, for both club or country

Yes he has, there was a period where Villa played him there for a long time, alongside Petrov. And has also played the role a few times for England, just never really made it into the Middle for City, despite him wanting to play there

[Daniel 7]

I can't remember Can playing as part of a central defensive partnership, but he did do well with the security of having 2 others played alongside him. Agreed, his worst performances have come as a right back, which was bordering on the ridiculous given that we had specialist right sided defenders who couldn't get a game.

Alex hit the nail on the head earlier - he's going to be a utility player I'd imagine we'll see most in the Europa / League cups. I hope he also gets a go as a progressive central midfielder. He shouldn't just be limited to defensive roles

[danperkins]

Yes he has, there was a period where Villa played him there for a long time, alongside Petrov. And has also played the role a few times for England, just never really made it into the Middle for City, despite him wanting to play there

he was brilliant for Villa in a central role. Had his most productive season there by a long stretch the season before he moved to City.

[danperkins]

Are we too stacked in the midfield?