Liverpool FC Forum

[red_indian]

i'm thinking when we talk about best 11 that probably means the team we'd play against our toughest opposition - if that is the case then i imagine Rafa would go with a 4-2-3-1 formation with something like the following

                       Reina
Finnan    Carra       Hyypia     Aurelio
          Sissoko             Alonso
Pennant           Gerrard         Gonzalez
                      Bellamy

subs: Carson, Agger, Riise, Fowler, Garcia

i think that'd be the most versatile 11 +subs bench we would have available for our toughest ties

outside of our toughest matches i'm not sure best 11 is something rafa will worry about as there is plenty of quality available to swap the above 16 - Dudek, Kromkamp, Pauletta, Warnock, Kewell, Crouch, Anderson, Zenden, Flo - all of them should be able to do a job when called upon - that being the case we may not see our 'best' 11 for much more than a handful of game this season i reckon

[onizukaeikichi]

imo i hope that we play 442, bellmay/crouch together, we seem to play better nowadays with a big man up front and crouch has good link up play as well.

[woof woof !]

If as some suggest Gerrards best position is indeed right mid why the f'uck has Rafa just spent £6 million plus on Pennant ?

Because if any of Sissoko, Alonso or Gerrard isn't playing for whatever reason then the natural thing to do would be to play 2 of them in the centre and bring Pennant in on the right.  Being 1st in line as back up to all 3 of those players will still mean he'll get over 20 games in a season I'd think.  Plus he's a different option who can come on and change a game.  He also might be the better option in home games against lesser sides than say Sissoko for example as we'd have more of a goal threat. 

But against the big sides I think you need to have Alonso, Gerrard and Sissoko in the side if they're available.  For me that means playing Gerrard on the right because none of our strikers are suited to being a lone striker (unless we buy someone else), which would enable Gerrard to play as an attacking central midfielder/second striker.

I  understand the logic there JC.
Assuming everyone is fit  the inclusion of Pennant signals that either Gerrard,Alonso or Sissoko fail to get a start (probably Sissoko). Certainly tactical considerations have to be taken into account but I'll take a friendly bet that Pennant gets more starts at right mid than Gerrard .

[woof woof !]

Who knows what the formation will look like, it's been a while since we've had so many options.

  Probably the most sensible thing any of us have said today .   

[Bad Bob]

Who knows what the formation will look like, it's been a while since we've had so many options.

  Probably the most sensible thing any of us have said today .   

True, too true!  The mind fairly boggles at all the permutations Rafa now has at his disposal (providing everyone is fit).  And, imagine if we do bring in another striker? 

IMO, this 'pick your best 11' business is a spot of fun in the midst of summer but it's a bit of a hollow exercise.  I suspect, knowing Rafa, that he'll have at least 2 and probably more "best 11's" in mind, depending on who we're playing, in what competition and depending on what tactics he'll want to employ.  We might as well be answering "who's your best 11"...

1) at home to top 6 competition?
2) away to top 6 competition?
3) home to mid-table and lower teams?
4) away to mid-table and lower teams?
5) at home in the CL?
6) away in the CL?
7) in the league after a CL away tie?
8) in early-round cup competitions?

And so on...

I have every faith in Rafa to sort it all out.  I'm just glad it ain't me that has to do it! 

[JC_81]

I'll take a friendly bet that Pennant gets more starts at right mid than Gerrard .

No such thing as a friendly bet Woof!



I'll take it anyway though

[seandundee]

Reina

Finnan     Carragher     Hyypia     Riise

                       

Pennant     Gerrard     Alonso      Kewell

                         
                 Bellamy     Fowler 

Subs:Carson, Paletta, Gonzalez, Crouch, Sissoko

[woof woof !]

I'll take a friendly bet that Pennant gets more starts at right mid than Gerrard .

No such thing as a friendly bet Woof!



I'll take it anyway though

I did consider puttin' up some cash but figured you might have a family to feed .   

[woof woof !]

The mind fairly boggles at all the permutations Rafa now has at his disposal (providing everyone is fit).  And, imagine if we do bring in another striker? 

IMO, this 'pick your best 11' business is a spot of fun in the midst of summer but it's a bit of a hollow exercise.  I suspect, knowing Rafa, that he'll have at least 2 and probably more "best 11's" in mind, depending on who we're playing, in what competition and depending on what tactics he'll want to employ.

For some time now with a fully fit squad our first 11 has been fairly predictable . As mentioned for the first time in a long time we now have dozens of options .

So folks, to make this a little more to the point .

With a fully fit squad,what would be your first 11 and subs for the charity shield match against Chelsea ? .


(do I hear a couple of thousand heads being scratched ?     )

[aCe']

against chelsea....no way we'r leaving sissoko out !
i say...
                                Reina

Finnan          Carragher          Hyypia          Aurelio

                  Sissoko                Xabi Alonso   

                             Gerrard                      Gonzales

               Bellamy
                                        Crouch

i'd love to see luis garcia...pennant too...so... Gonzales and bellamy out and luis garcia and pennant in if it was up to me !

[neil]

ps neil u got 12 mate

yeah *leaning back and raising an eyebrow*  thought it looked like a pretty strong line-up.

[LFCFan4Life]

Today I read an article in where Benitez said that he is not willing to risk Shabby and Stevie before the CL qualifier. Which brings me to my question, do  you think that either of them will start against Chelsea in the Community Shield?

With  both sides having six subs available this time around (FA made that decision, was in the Echo recently that article), I don't expect to see Rafa field the strongest side.

[JC_81]

Today I read an article in where Benitez said that he is not willing to risk Shabby and Stevie before the CL qualifier.

Where'd you read that?

Doesn't make much sense to me, I hardly think Benitez will throw them straight into an important competitive game like that without giving them any sort of run out in a friendly.  They'd be pretty rusty.

I reckon both of them will get a run out in our next pre-season game.

[LFCFan4Life]

Today I read an article in where Benitez said that he is not willing to risk Shabby and Stevie before the CL qualifier.

Where'd you read that?

Doesn't make much sense to me, I hardly think Benitez will throw them straight into an important competitive game like that without giving them any sort of run out in a friendly.  They'd be pretty rusty.

I reckon both of them will get a run out in our next pre-season game.

John, here:
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv....ge.html

[66-1120597113]

I dont think we'll see the same 11 starting too many weeks on the trot!
Benitez has added more quality to the team as he has always stated that 'the squad' is important,he will use the squad be sure of it.Look at the qulity we have in midfield...the midfield is'nt big enough to play them all.Players like Sissoko and Alonso are too good to be left on the bench so id say we'll see a fair bit of rotation in M/f especially!
I also feel that he may play 4-5-1 in tougher games with Gerrard given a free roll just off a lone striker and these may be the only games we see Alonso and Sissoko starting the game together!
The squads sure looking a lot better,togher decisions for Raffa!!