By Mayank Gupta
Without a doubt, every RED at this point is wondering the following questions
a) When will the KING be crowned??
b) Who will we buying the summer
c) (In a hushed tone) NESV is good and have show promise in January but can we trust them in the summer to open their wallet. Amidst all these ambivalence, every RED is making his own formation, team and squad for the next season.
I did not watch the LIVERPOOL of 80s as I was a toddler then but watching Liverpool over the last 14 years, I am sure under Kenny we will play football full of attacking intent which was missing since a longtime. As an icing on the cake we will take the game to the opposition from the back line (and even Pepe Reina could be starting the move).
Furthermore, we will play a variety of formations depending on the opponents and grounds unlike Hodgson where even I could predict the first 11 after seeing the injury list on Saturday’s Daily Mail. Today,we sit glued to the TV sets, internet sites till the 11 are announced as we never know what is the team. Keeps us on toes before we sing ”You Will Never Walk Alone”, keeps the opponent guessing,broadens our smile when we score the first goal, provokes chants of ”DALGLISH, DALGLISH” at 70 minutes in the lead and more importantly gives us more faith 2 hours later in the King himself.
Surprise of the team makes the squad players work hard to earn their place. (No wonder a spoilt, sulking kid left the team as he wanted place by right and did not want to earn it) As a RED for 14 years, it was extremely impossible for me to dream about the world’s best players even in my dream team for the past 2 seasons thanks to some Texan idiots. However, with the intent, promises and work philosophy of NESV so far, I will jump the gun this time. From the little I have watched the King make his team lists, I will try form my 2011 -2012 team and squad.
One of the biggest desires of every RED is class wingers to serve in crosses for Andy Carroll. An understandable concern if we want to play a 4 – 4 -2 or a 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 (with Carroll upfront on his own). However, what if we play a 3 – 2- 1 – 3 – 1 (i.e. with the 2 wing backs Kelly and Johnson/Aurelio). People would doubt it but I never did doubt it when we played that against Stoke even without Carroll.
The strength of 3 – 2 – 1 – 3 – 1 lies in the good centre backs and a good DM ahead of them. In Skrtel, we have a monster of a CB at the centre of the 3 who can dominate the air and has a physical presence about him. In Krygiakos, we get the air but no physical presence or speed. Hence, we will need a substitute for Skrtel in this formation.
On either side of Skrtel, we have our own Carragher who likes to hoof the ball upfront or give a short pass. In this system, it is easier for him to give it to Lucas or Kelly or Skrtel or Pepe and not hoof it up which annoys us. On the subs bench, we again have Krygiakos or Ayala to play there and do not forget we have Kelly who is a natural CB. The non the other side we have my favorite defender in the team – Daniel Agger. A guy who loves to hold play, take the ball forward and start amove. A versatile and a perfect defender but injury prone. However,when he goes forward, the system allows the DM to fill his
place and keep the system of 3 defenders intact. Wilson seems an ideal substitute for him.
The 2 wing backs in this system need to be quick and efficient crossers of the ball. Aurelio, Johnson and Kelly are good crossers.Kelly is quick to revert back to his defensive duties, however same cannot be said for Aurelio and Johnson. However, Johnson and Aurelio like to cut into the centre of the field which is something Kenny would not want for the system to work. Cutting in means more people in the box and cramped for movement and small length and space for crossing. Besides, cutting in exposes our flanks for the teams to setup a counter attack.
In such a scenario a defensive midfielder who is quick is needed to tackle and break the counter or ideally for a wing back who can cross from the flanks and revert to defense. Leighton Baines or José Enrique are ideal not Cashley Cole as he likes to cut in or Marcelo.
In such a system, we need a quick holding midfielder who loves to make a tackle. We have Lucas and Spearing. Lucas loves the big games where he ups his speed and becomes a fan favorite for a week until the next match where he does only one part of the job i.e. makes tackles. Spearing is maturing into a quick player and will need time to get to his feet in order to make the tackles and pass at the same efficiency. A DM in this system has the option to lay the ball sideways for his wing backs or distribute the ball to the 4 players ahead of him.
Ideally, these 4 players are positioned in the following space –Striker upfront on his own tussling with the opponents CBs and trying to stretch them. The AM right in the spot behind him and the two forwards on either side to pounce of the headers from no. 9 and run into the space of the stretched defense. A good ball distributed nicely by the DM could result in a nice move testing the keepers. Else the two wide forwards could be near the flanks if the WBs are way behind and receive the ball.
Charlie Adam or Xabi Alonso are the only people who can spring to mind to make this work. Lucas and Spearing are good but have to learn to distribute the ball quickly with effectiveness. We need a ready made first 11 player for this position and Lucas and Spearing on the bench unless Lucas continues this maturing curve and distributes the ball nicely.
The remaining 4 players have the duty to score. How to keep a formation where the opponent defenses are scattered is a like small diamond.
——————————Attacking Midfielder Shelvey—————————————-
—Right Forward— Suarez/Maxi/Kuyt———————————–Left Forward—-Suarez/Cole————-
————————————Centre forward — Carroll/ Suarez——————————————————
People are all discussing a need for an attacking midfielder for the next season. However, I firmly believe in the 3 players we have currently in our team. Gerrard is beyond discussions of a simple man like me. Meireles has shut his critics with those dazzling runs to provide options to wide forwards and WBs. As for Shelvey, the kid has a great eye to spot a space and make a pass. His vision for reading the teams play and opponent defense movement is as canny as Kenny. However, he has to become more athletic, robust, strong and quick for the EPL just like Meireles has to man up at times. We do not need a substitute in this position.
For the right forward Maxi and Kuyt are as good as anyone in the market as the crossing duty would majorly lie with the WBs. Both these players and Suarez love to drift in and make a short pass or a fierce shot at the goal posts. Ideal players for their positions. Neither likes to play at wings and Kuyt has already displayed his poaching ability against the Mancs. Maxi likes to score with a fierce shot and Meireles/Gerrard/ does not have a poaching ability (evident against Chelsea).
Keep them there to poach off the headers and lay-offs from Carroll. Cole gives us a wide option on the left with Suarez. Where as, Suarez and Cole like to drift in and play more central, Cole gives us the option of putting in decent crosses sometimes. As LB is our major concern Cole can relieve some of Johnson’s duties by putting in the crosses from the left and keeping Carroll happy.
We just can’t get enough of Suarez. He likes to drift, cross, free kicks and everything else. I cannot assign him a responsibility as he may get annoyed (like with Spearing). So simple responsibility will be, go make those mazy runs from left or right and put the ball in the net.
If the system works and everything does stick to their responsibility,Carroll shall have an easy task of justifying his 35 million GBP.Get those headers and the lay-offs to the poachers and score your headers from set – pieces.
To conclude, this formation needs a LB like Baines and a DM like Adam. No wonder King was outrageously bidding for Adam in January. I hope we get him in the summer. If Baines/Enrique comes,I can see Johnson starting RB, Kelly on right side of Skrtel and Carragher a squad player.
For my next formation, I will soon be analyzing 4 – 4 – 2.
PS – I am not John W Henry who knows how much money is there in the summer, hence, only the players we have and used are analysed here to make this system work.
I think Lucas is good enough not to be replaced but otherwise, kudos to you!
Never said, he is bad. All he needs to develop is his passing ability and range which is he surely lacking at this time. he is really good at short passes, but when it comes to setting Suarez through or a defensive split pass, he needs to learn yet. I would anyday prefer him to anyone else (Even Alonso) for his loyalty to the club and hard work.
Lucas has the best passing percentage in the league.
Firstly a number of those players are definitly not good enough for the new look liverpool. Maxi must be sold along with Johnson and in my opinion. Kuyt yes he works hard but his touch is poor and he offers little in attack bar the odd 5 yrd goal. Spearing despite a few good games isnt good enough and Lucas is just a squad player. a major overhaul is needed in the summer with a centre back, two new wingers a couple of full backs and a striker all needing to be bought. I just hope mr Henry has deep pockets!
WHATS CLEAR IS;
we need two topmplayers that are fit and proven at what they do for every position within the team.
for example;
left back = auerlio, (who just cant stay fit, we all love him but?)
center back = (soto, too slow now, too old) (agger, cant stay fit, can we relie on him?) (carragher getting on every year) and (skrtel just not consistant enough?)
for me i would like to see;
SAKHO and COENTRAO brought in, sakho can operate as a left back and mainly as a center half, both have youth, both have pace and both are getting better and better. dont forgett that fabio coentrao can play in many roles and shapes within the team that kenny wants to change, giving liverpool two players for the price of one, hence why i think ceontrao is a must.
Midfield; = we need power in their, godbless him while he is not done yet , (gerrard will probably not play ever game without the odd month out, he is getting less games each year).
(Lucus is now a good solid team options, not first choice for every game, becasue he agian will get the odd knock too.
Id keep (spearing, hes youngm, he has trust in the club, he has legs and he is young to be quick to get better, he is worth leeping, while his wages are low too).
then you have (raul, while i like the bloke, he still has to do it week in week out v the smaller teams, he turns up v city and does his thing but v west ham and other games, was crap).
so for me we need at least one maybe two new players in their to help the depth of quality.
id like either banega or moussa sissoko, because of banega drinking record and so called bad attitude around the complex at valencia- then maybe MOUSSA SISSOKO would fit in.
Like most liverpool fans we need width, but i dont think we need two wingers, we need one great one, we also have johnson and now suarez that like to float out wide, not ideal but for me why pay 15 -20 mill when johnson can play wide right or wide left or at both flanks? save the money and buy a great one that does what wingers do when needed.
for me there are navas, mata, and sanchez all would bea huge risk but there is young, still not 100% on him, id like aguero brought in and that would help with the front options, so do we need a winger when we can buy and all rounder that can do both.
AGUERO
THEN SIGN TAWIO ON A FREE.
IF REINA STAYS
REINA
KELLY CARRAGHER SAKHO COENTRAO
JOHNSON SISSOKO GERRARD
AGUERO
SUAREZ CARROLL
SUBS;
LUCUS, RAUL, KUYT, SKRTEL AGGER, TAIWO, AURELIO, FLANNO, GULUCSI GK, MAXI, SPEARING, WILSON, AYALA, YOUTH PLAYERS ETC,
I don’t think Alonso will return, he has a real passion for the club, but he’s a key cog at Real and I can’t see him returning. For me, Charlie Adam simply does not fit in as a DM, if you’ve watched Blackpool, you will see he is often the midfielder highest up the pitch. Although he can shoot and pass the ball brilliantly, he cannot tackle.
The thing I will throw into the mix is, that there is one candidate for the DM role, that is so obvious that it’s easily overlooked, it’s someone, who when he first came into the team, seemed to be earmarked for this role, now the wrong side of 30, might I suggest that Steven Gerrard, as he naturally slows with age, has the experience and football intelligence which would be a perfect asset for this key role.
“For the right forward Maxi and Kuyt are as good as anyone in the market”
If you think Maxi is good enough to play for a team aspiring for CL..You are out of your mind!!! He is a mid table player.
Adam is not a DM.
Pls dont mention players that will not remain at the club for next season(maxi cole) and the ones that will never make it to anfield.charlie is good but instead we need a natural playmaker to give us more attacking options than depending on the wings for the whole season.come to think of if caroll gets injured so whats the use of the wingers of cause we cant cross to suarez nd kuyt. All we need is a playmaker, a winger, defensive midfielder and a versitile defender.
@rolando, i hate glory hunters like you who only like to see “world Class” players brought in. Let These Lucas n Spearing kids alone for awhile will you? and kuyt odd 5 goals a year? do you even watch liverpool matches? He scores at least 11 goals a season. Thats the Least. Yes NOT good enough for a striker but good enough for a winger. he works his socks off, defends, attacks and scores impt goals. WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT HIM TO DO? Be a RONALDO OR MESSI? That Happens only twice a generation! Anyway Good Post fellow REDMAN. Dun Forget The Point That AQUAMAN Might be coming back. YNWA
gerrard is and never will be a defensive mid, he hasnt not got the energy for 40 odd games in that role, his body is showing signs of wear and tear too.
we need a power house play either to rotate so that lucus and raul can take a break or indeed put their with gerro in the center, let gerro dictate the pace of the passing and tempo by passing and running form deep or behined carroll anbd luis, but for me would be boss if we can get a moussa sissoko to let gerrard run free.
I think we need a centre half, a left back and a winger, 3 strong additions to the squad we have, and the extremely talented academy who might not be able to play week in week out but are strong enough to be able to fit in when needed, e.g. Flanagan.
I would love to see Gary Cahill playing for us, a strong, young up and coming defender, even Andy Carroll has said hes the hardest defender hes ever played against, he would fit in perfectly. A left back, names are being dropped her, there and everywhere, but ideally someone strong and fast, Taiwo has been named but i only know him of footy manager, hes decent on there but it is only a game! Them a winger, Ashley Young would be amazing, but hes gonna come at a premium! I’m sure Comolli has plans in order and out squad is going to be significantly stronger next season.