Three Central Defenders

[ElRobbie]

I think last night should put to bed all these calls to play 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 or whatever way you want to spin it.

First off, I know it was a nothing game and there were a few inexperienced lads in there, and also that Carra played in front of the other two central defender at times and some of them switched positions etc etc.

Last nights defending was just shambolic, they got caught ball watching and not knowing where they were too many times and often they were in each other's way and frankly wasting a place in the team.

Individually I think Agger and Paletta are promising, and to play in an unfamiliar system in a CL game was a bit unfair on them.

For me, to play that system you need need world class attacking wing backs and I don't thin we've got them, if you take into account playing that system is sacrificing a more attacking player then its the quality of the wing backs that need to make up for it.

Doubt we'll play that system much unless we are short of player or resting midfielders, thank god.

[Chris]

Best system ever after Wigan, ****e after the next game.

[ElRobbie]

Thing is, when you've got Alonso who sits in front of the back four anyway then what's the point in trying to play Carra in front of back four, his distribution isn't great and we don't need to be breaking up play in a nothing game like that.

Just attack and play positively.

On a positive note I thought Bellamy looked dangerous.

[Rich]

Watching the game last night, it looked much more like a 4-4-2 with Carragher in midfield, than a 3-5-2 with Peltier and Riise as Wingbacks.

[hertsred]

I didn;t think the system worked, but it wasn't only the system at faut for bad defending. Paletta looked absolutely horrible last night. He gave away one goal, and consistently scewed up on crosses to give a big advantage to galatasaray. Agger looked much better.

[dww]

Watching the game last night, it looked much more like a 4-4-2 with Carragher in midfield, than a 3-5-2 with Peltier and Riise as Wingbacks.

I agree with you. Carra went back a few times to try and organise the other two though. You could see him talking to them - did sod all good though.

I dislike 3-5-2 as a system but it can be useful in particular situations (Wigan this season, Newcastle last) and when we don't have alternative personnel in midfield. However I think people are trying to see it in every game at the minute, both those who favour it and hate it and it is often not even in use.

I thought Carra did an okay job last night as effectively a sweeper in front of the back four. Despite what has been said his distribution was good when we were doing well in the first half. He is never going to dictate the pace of the game from that position and he takes time to move the ball on which is a problem in that role but when other people give him good options he is a decent enough fill in player in midfield.

I thought our biggest problem last night was the CB's and the fact that we were a bit flat due to it being a nothing game for us.

[alunevans]

Watching the game last night, it looked much more like a 4-4-2 with Carragher in midfield, than a 3-5-2 with Peltier and Riise as Wingbacks.

I agree. It wasn't a 3-5-2 in my view.

[Rich]

If it was a 3-5-2 it was a very strange one, as Pennant spent all his time wide right - that should have been the job of Peltier.

It must have been a standard 4-4-2 with Carragher very deep ()

[kurtangle01]

We never played 3-5-2 last night we played 4-4-2.

[Fiddy]

I think last night should put to bed all these calls to play 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 or whatever way you want to spin it.

First off, I know it was a nothing game and there were a few inexperienced lads in there, and also that Carra played in front of the other two central defender at times and some of them switched positions etc etc.

Last nights defending was just shambolic, they got caught ball watching and not knowing where they were too many times and often they were in each other's way and frankly wasting a place in the team.

Individually I think Agger and Paletta are promising, and to play in an unfamiliar system in a CL game was a bit unfair on them.

For me, to play that system you need need world class attacking wing backs and I don't thin we've got them, if you take into account playing that system is sacrificing a more attacking player then its the quality of the wing backs that need to make up for it.

Doubt we'll play that system much unless we are short of player or resting midfielders, thank god.

As others have said, we were playing 4-4-2 last night...making most of that irrelevant

3-5-2 would work because we've got 3 good CB's, Finnan would be serviceable at RWB, Riise is perfectly suited to playing LWB, and we've got 3 CM's who, when they're all fit, demand a first team place. I agree that ideally you need world class wing backs for a true 3-5-2, but IMO that would work better than the current unbalanced midfields we've got, which is where most of our problems stem from.