Liverpool FC Forum

[Kenny Kan]

4-4-2 is not a good formation in the modern game.

It leaves you outnumbered against a team that play 4-3-3 (Barca), 4-2-3-1 (Madrid).. the two best teams in the world dont play it. Barca have not played 4-4-2 since pre Cruyff (1988).

Gerrard's natural position being in advanced midfield means two central midfielders behind him. This system means we player either 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. If we played a 4-4-2 with Gerrard in a 2 man central mid we would get ripped apart.

With the personnel we have.. i think a 4-3-3 would be our best formation because Luis cannot play alone upfront in a 4-2-3-1... so a 4-3-3 with him on the right, Downing on the left.. and Soldado (dreaming) in the middle. The midfield trio being Javi Martinez (well its in the Mirror), Lucas.. and then Gerrard advanced.

----Downing--Soldado--Suarez
------------------Gerrard
-----------Martinez---Lucas

We don't play R.Madrid and Barca on a weekly basis it's an irrelevant analogy you've made there. We play the likes of Sunderland, Bolton, Stoke, West Brom and Norwich etc on a weekly basis. Teams who come to Anfield and defend (most of the time). With the formation you've put down and the formation WE'VE ACTUALLY used this season - the proof is in the pudding!

Forget the new chestnut that 4-4-2 can't be played in the modern game, we've seen it under Kenny (earlier this season) being played in a pass and move style akin to the LFC team he managed in the 80's.

@ Benny. I'd play Spearing in the center alongside Gerrard. I'm not going to concern myself that 'Spearing can't do it on a weekly basis' because neither can Adam or Gerrard do it effectively enough in a 4-2-3-1. Spearing is mobile, combative and tackles better than Adam. I'd have no hesitation in putting Spearing back in, going back to a simple and effective formation that attacked with aplomb like it did earlier on in the season. We need to win games and score goals, changing the shape of the team may make this much easier than it already has with the 4-2-3-1 formo.

[yckatbjywtbiastkamb]

capello was on that goals on sunday program on sky earlier on in the season and one of the presenters starting going on about christmas tree formations and the like and capello just stopped him waffling on and said something like ` dont get too bogged down by formations,the modern game is so fluid everyone attacks and everyone defends, fullbacks are important attacking players these days and strikers are the first line of defence, in the modern game teams are encouraged to win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible so strikers really are important defensive players, the modern formation in reality is 1-10`

[Kenny Kan]

capello was on that goals on sunday program on sky earlier on in the season and one of the presenters starting going on about christmas tree formations and the like and capello just stopped him waffling on and said something like ` dont get too bogged down by formations,the modern game is so fluid everyone attacks and everyone defends, fullbacks are important attacking players these days and strikers are the first line of defence, in the modern game teams are encouraged to win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible so strikers really are important defensive players, the modern formation in reality is 1-10`

Yes, this maybe so but in our case it's been 1-9-1. With our striker isolated. We're not at the bottom of the table in goals scored for no reason.

[fivecups]

capello was on that goals on sunday program on sky earlier on in the season and one of the presenters starting going on about christmas tree formations and the like and capello just stopped him waffling on and said something like ` dont get too bogged down by formations,the modern game is so fluid everyone attacks and everyone defends, fullbacks are important attacking players these days and strikers are the first line of defence, in the modern game teams are encouraged to win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible so strikers really are important defensive players, the modern formation in reality is 1-10`

Tis true.

[friendlyguy33]

The midfield needs more dynamism. If the rumours are true about Javi Martinez and maybe Hazard it will help next season. I wouldn't be surprised to see Adam depart in the summer if the midfield is strengthened. He's more vulnerable than Downing or Henderson to my mind.

[Roger Red Hat]

Henderson for all his sh!teness has time on his side, adam however I feel may be moved on to Bolton or West Brom. Downing is just starting to come good.

[7_Kewell]

Henderson for all his sh!teness has time on his side, adam however I feel may be moved on to Bolton or West Brom. Downing is just starting to come good.

i was begining to wonder the same thing myself. Adam hasn't really stepped up and his penalty miss in the cup final summed up his time here.

I'd get rid or keep as a squad player. He shouldn't be getting a regular start, he's not good enough.

[Greavesie]

Henderson for all his sh!teness has time on his side, adam however I feel may be moved on to Bolton or West Brom. Downing is just starting to come good.

i was begining to wonder the same thing myself. Adam hasn't really stepped up and his penalty miss in the cup final summed up his time here.

I'd get rid or keep as a squad player. He shouldn't be getting a regular start, he's not good enough.

I actually think all of the three named could be squad players come next season. We can find better out there but in terms of the squad we'd be very healthy on the bench

[stmichael]

The midfield balance is all wrong at the moment and it'll be interesting to see what happens to sddress this during the summer.

Personally I'd be interested to see us bring in a proper top class out and out defensive midfielder and allow Lucas to play more box to box in a midfield three.

[7_Kewell]

The midfield balance is all wrong at the moment and it'll be interesting to see what happens to sddress this during the summer.

Personally I'd be interested to see us bring in a proper top class out and out defensive midfielder and allow Lucas to play more box to box in a midfield three.

another winger wouldn't go amiss either.

[stmichael]

another winger wouldn't go amiss either.

yeah we definitely need a proper right winger because as it stands we don't have one in the squad. infact we haven't had one since pennant really.

there's a likelihood that kuyt will be leaving in the summer aswell.

[Thommo's perm]

The midfield balance is all wrong at the moment and it'll be interesting to see what happens to sddress this during the summer.

Personally I'd be interested to see us bring in a proper top class out and out defensive midfielder and allow Lucas to play more box to box in a midfield three.

another winger wouldn't go amiss either.

Kuyt played on the right for Holland last night

[friendlyguy33]

The midfield balance is all wrong at the moment and it'll be interesting to see what happens to sddress this during the summer.

Personally I'd be interested to see us bring in a proper top class out and out defensive midfielder and allow Lucas to play more box to box in a midfield three.

another winger wouldn't go amiss either.

Kuyt played on the right for Holland last night

Why doesn't Kuyt ever cross like that for Liverpool?

[Thommo's perm]

The midfield balance is all wrong at the moment and it'll be interesting to see what happens to sddress this during the summer.

Personally I'd be interested to see us bring in a proper top class out and out defensive midfielder and allow Lucas to play more box to box in a midfield three.

another winger wouldn't go amiss either.

Kuyt played on the right for Holland last night

Why doesn't Kuyt ever cross like that for Liverpool?

Its Carrolls fault

[SouthCoastShankly]

The midfield balance is all wrong at the moment and it'll be interesting to see what happens to sddress this during the summer.

Personally I'd be interested to see us bring in a proper top class out and out defensive midfielder and allow Lucas to play more box to box in a midfield three.

I disagree. Lucas IMO is a great disruptive defensive midfielder, I have seen nothing (in all his years here) to suggest he could do an more attacking role.

To replace Gerrard and to provide a quality attacking midfield force we need to recruit and sign proven talent in the area. I think Shelvey in 5 years could be very good but he needs games to develop.

Kaka could be a nice option but I don't think he would come. Snieder would be ideal but I could not seeing him even considering it unless we made CL next year.