Liverpool FC Forum

by **mattylfc** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:42 pm

I think its fair to say that this thread has done its job and has proved that we all have a different opionion on what our best eleven is.

For me its much more about tinkering two/three players to suit the opposition and whether or not it is home or away will obviously come into affect.

Our midfield pairing is the main choice i am talking about. In the main, i think our best pairing is Gerrard and Alonso, but there will be away games where Mascherano must play. For me, against the top three away from home, i would go with Masch and Alonso in the middle of the park and have Gerrard on the right.

Arbeloa should play LB in most games but at home, especially against the weeker teams, i think Riise is still our best option.

I really dont mind who plays on the right out of Pennant and Benayoun to be honest, another situation where one is maybe more suited to a specific game.

I would stick with Torres and Kuyt up front more often than not but Crouch and Voronin will be important in certain games.

I know that you have said excuse injuries but i refuse to add Kewell to my team at the minute as i have no idea what he will add to our squad when/if he comes back.

Here is my best starting 11:

Reina

Finnan JC Agger Arbeloa/
Riise

Pennant/ Gerrard Masch/ Riise/
Benayoun Alonso Babel

Torres Kuyt

by **Owzat** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:44 pm

Maybe my XI will be 'unique' to this thread, I couldn't see many who'd play Riise LM. It was a tough call between Alonso and Mascherano and I can't be *rsed to sit and consider pros and cons of each. Same goes for any position, I'm not worried if it is so close to call.

GK Reina
RB Finnan
CB Carragher
CB Agger
LB Arbeloa
RM Benayoun
CM Gerrard
CM Mascherano
LM Riise
CF Torres
CF Kuyt

I might be tempted to play Gerrard RM simply to give the side two players on either side of midfield capable of defending and attacking. You could then put Alonso next to Mascherano. Defensively I think that is our strongest back four and keeper, up front it's simply a question of who partners Torres and I'm not sure Voronin has done enough for me to pick him ahead of Kuyt

by **Smeg** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:00 pm

woof woof ! wrote:
Smeg wrote:Disagree we need a creative striker! For me, the good old fashioned target man with a bit of vision who'll get you 20 goals a season.

Easier said than done , there was only one player who got 20 goals in the premier league last season, and I don't think Chelsea would let us sign him.

There players out there good enough though Woof Woof. We all know who I'm refering to.

Theres other players aswell who will offer things we could use.

Ashton, Anelka and Keane. Any one of those three would fit into our side perfectly and give us things we need. All of them provide a goal threat and creativety. All of them have quality in abundance. The all have different strengths, but all get involved in build up play and use the ball well.

by **Smeg** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:01 pm

s@int wrote:
Smeg wrote:
s@int wrote:Reina

Finnan Carra Agger Riise

Pennant Gerrard Mascherano Kewell

new creative second striker
Torres

I think "absence makes the heart grow fonder" applies to Alonso at the moment, which means everyone should just LOVE Kewell. I don't think any of our strikers apart from Torres is good enough unfortunately. I don't think the twenty goal a season Kuyt is ever going to emerge, Crouch seems to have accepted he's on his way out, and Veronin, while not the pile of cr@p I expected is no-where near good enough for a best eleven.

I would be just as happy with Gerrard on the right and Alonso slotting back into the centre if we had the right second striker, with Kuyt playing that role I think we might struggle without the drive of Gerrard from the centre.

Disagree we need a creative striker! For me, the good old fashioned target man with a bit of vision who'll get you 20 goals a season.

We need a goal threat aswell as Torres, Gerrard and Riise.

I think its time you accepted that Ashton/Anelka are not going to come now mate . Someone who can get 10/15 goals while adding more creativity to the team would be ideal. Admittedly its a lot to ask but I think there are players out there that could do it.

I have been hearing good things about Diego since he moved to Germany, a bit small but he looked good at Santos, although he did flop in Portugal.

Elano looked good for Man City last week as well.

I'll never accept it, not untill they retire!

by **Smeg** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:03 pm

The_Rock wrote:
Smeg wrote:
The_Rock wrote:This would be my team

Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Arbeloa
Benayoun Mash Alonso Kewell
Gerrard
Torres

This team will scrap every team in the planet 1-0....

Another one who wants to play our best player out of position. You got to love Newkit!

So as long as gerrard ain't played as a CM he is played out of position

Wake up.....Gerrard always goes missing against the big teams when he plays CM.

Gerrard best position is a free role....(ie..he has license to roam around the pitch)....And what better position than a support striker.

He goes missing against the big teams? :laugh:

Shut up lad.

Against Chelsea, the Mancs and others he's been :censored:

immense for us against the "big teams".

Typical clueless muppet.

by **Smeg** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:10 pm

weringo wrote:
Smeg wrote:
weringo wrote:Reina

Finnan Carra Agger Arbeloa

Masch Alonso

Pennant Gerrard Kewell

Torres

Probably will never see that team but I believe those are the best 11 players we have.

It gives Gerrard the freedom he needs while keeping him in the middle of the park where he's most influential.

It doesn't give Gerrard any freedom what so ever.

It completely limits him to an attacking game supporting the striker. Which is not his game. It completely takes out of the defensive side of his game, which will make him less effective... and if he does use his defensive instincts can leave the striker horribley icsolated.

Not at all, he still can track back and defend but with Alonso and Mascherano protecting the back four he will have no reason to come deep. When going forward he'll have no need to worry about getting caught out of position defensively.

It's a position he can attack and defend effectively while giving him the licence to roam and fully express himself going forward.

Also, Torres is an ideal lone striker, he has every quality you need to play well up there on your own.

Exactly. He'll have no reason to defend. Yet he's probably the best tackler in the squad and the one midfielder who can take the ball of anyone in the world. Clearly you've never seen Steven Gerrard at his best.

The last few times we've seen the Mancs at anfield our defence shits themselves when Rooney and Ronaldo run at them with pace... while they're running at our defence, Gerrard absoloutely sprints flat out, catches them, slides in and takes the ball off them. At time he was making up 20/30 yards on these players just to make one tackle and take the ball off Rooney and off Ronaldo to help our defence. Any match going fan will know what I'm talking about.

No other midfielder can do that. Go and watch some of the clips of his tackles on youtube and tell me you want him in a purely attacking role.

To then say Torres can do it on his own is completely against what Benitez wants anyway which is a good thing.

Some of the :censored:

posted on here is a joke. Absoloute joke.

Gerrard in attacking midfield... :laugh:

Like I said, I'd rather see the lad play right back.

by **RichardLFC1** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:20 pm

Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa

Mascherano

Pennant Kewell

Gerrard

Kuyt Torres

by **roberto green** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:40 pm

I think at the moment it is easier to say who are worst 11 is.

by **Bad Bob** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:30 pm

Alright folks, thirty "Best 11s" registered so far and there's a somewhat surprising (to me) consensus emerging. So, without further ado, I present the tabulated Newkit best 11 (votes out of 30 in brackets). By the way, I've gone with the standard 4-4-2 rather than some of the other formations suggested and I've put Gerrard at CM because, well, majority rules.

Reina
(30/30)

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa
(30/30) (30/30) (29/30) (21/30)

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Kewell
(22/30) (30/30)* (23/30)** (13/30)***

Kuyt Torres
(20/30) (30/30)

* Gerrard received 22 votes at CM, 4 at RM and 4 at CAM (4-5-1)

** Mascherano did receive 15/30, including 4 to partner Alonso at CM when Gerrard was pushed over to RM

***Kewell won the LM sweepstakes by some distance despite not winning a majority of the votes. The other LM votes broke down as follows: Riise 6/30, Babel 5/30, Benayoun 4/30, Pennant 1/30, Aurelio 1/30

So what does this tell us?

1) It tells us that there is significant consensus about the spine of the team: Reina, Finnan, Carra, Agger, Gerrard, Torres--with the possible inclusion of Arbeloa, Pennant and Alonso as well.

2) It highlights the problem areas, which I don't think come as any surprise: LM and to a lesser degree LB and second striker. When a player that's been injured for the better part of the calendar year is selected in many people's Best 11, it says something about the job his replacements are doing. At LB we've got a right-footed RB/CB winning the vote over two natural left backs. At second striker, the high vote tally for Kuyt may read more as the best of a bad lot rather than a genuine vote of confidence.

3) It would also seem to suggest that we are more sure of the Best 11 than Rafa is, but hold on: here's Rafa's preferred line-up in the league, based on the teamsheets for the seven games so far.

Reina
(7/7)

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa
(5/7) (6/6)* (4/5)* (7/7)**

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Babel/Riise
(7/7) (4/5)* (5/5)* (3/7 each)

Kuyt Torres
(5/7) (5/7)

*number of available games reduced due to injuries
**Arbeloa's last two starts in the league have come at RB

Rafa's line-ups for the Champions League and the Carling Cup, of course, tell a different story but I think the above numbers suggest that Rafa's Best 11 is pretty close to ours and that he is playing those players in the league, by and large, while rotating more in the cup competition.

Food for thought, I think?

by **Wilhelmsson** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:38 pm

Smeg wrote:Gerrard in attacking midfield... Like I said, I'd rather see the lad play right back.

Gerrard provides a very accomplished right foot which has scored some of the finest goals, I'll ever see, so it makes sense to play him in a more advanced position and why would Gerrard need to play deeper when for the best part he has Alonso or Mascherano parked behind him?

I’m not disputing the fact that playing Gerrard further up the pitch limits Gerrard’s effectiveness in defence, but this is a team game and Gerrard is much more useful to the team playing in a more advanced position than he is playing in a more defensive position.

If Gerrard needs to track back and defend, he’ll track back and defend, he has been doing that for as long as I can remember, this in turn won’t restrict him from playing in a more advanced role.

by **RichardLFC1** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:04 pm

Bad Bob wrote:Alright folks, thirty "Best 11s" registered so far and there's a somewhat surprising (to me) consensus emerging. So, without further ado, I present the tabulated Newkit best 11 (votes out of 30 in brackets). By the way, I've gone with the standard 4-4-2 rather than some of the other formations suggested and I've put Gerrard at CM because, well, majority rules.

Reina
(30/30)

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa
(30/30) (30/30) (29/30) (21/30)

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Kewell
(22/30) (30/30)* (23/30)** (13/30)***

Kuyt Torres
(20/30) (30/30)

* Gerrard received 22 votes at CM, 4 at RM and 4 at CAM (4-5-1)

** Mascherano did receive 15/30, including 4 to partner Alonso at CM when Gerrard was pushed over to RM

***Kewell won the LM sweepstakes by some distance despite not winning a majority of the votes. The other LM votes broke down as follows: Riise 6/30, Babel 5/30, Benayoun 4/30, Pennant 1/30, Aurelio 1/30

So what does this tell us?

1) It tells us that there is significant consensus about the spine of the team: Reina, Finnan, Carra, Agger, Gerrard, Torres--with the possible inclusion of Arbeloa, Pennant and Alonso as well.

2) It highlights the problem areas, which I don't think come as any surprise: LM and to a lesser degree LB and second striker. When a player that's been injured for the better part of the calendar year is selected in many people's Best 11, it says something about the job his replacements are doing. At LB we've got a right-footed RB/CB winning the vote over two natural left backs. At second striker, the high vote tally for Kuyt may read more as the best of a bad lot rather than a genuine vote of confidence.

3) It would also seem to suggest that we are more sure of the Best 11 than Rafa is, but hold on: here's Rafa's preferred line-up in the league, based on the teamsheets for the seven games so far.

Reina
(7/7)

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa
(5/7) (6/6)* (4/5)* (7/7)**

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Babel/Riise
(7/7) (4/5)* (5/5)* (3/7 each)

Kuyt Torres
(5/7) (5/7)

*number of available games reduced due to injuries
**Arbeloa's last two starts in the league have come at RB

Rafa's line-ups for the Champions League and the Carling Cup, of course, tell a different story but I think the above numbers suggest that Rafa's Best 11 is pretty close to ours and that he is playing those players in the league, by and large, while rotating more in the cup competition.

Food for thought, I think?

Well thats how the votes came out. So when Kewell Agger and Alonso come back from injury i doubt those eleven will ever play together because of rotation.

by **europian-kings** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:46 pm

REINA: no doubt our best keeper and one of the best around.

FINNAN: arbeloa could play here but i stil would rather finnan and his attacking runs down the wing as well as his crossing.

CARRAGHERR: our best deffender and in my opinion the best in europe.

AGGER: as much as i like hyypia we need a bit of pace at the back in dan agger.

arbeloa: has proven some critics wrong so far this season and has shown capability, but with aurelio back he may not play as often as he has, not quite a capital letter (defo selection) for me yet.

pennant: ability to beat deffenders and put in a good cross. i think the skill and pace on the right wing has been something liverpool have missed in the past few seasons. not in capitals yet because beniyion has already scored 2 goals (1 more then pennant) so will have a say this season.

GERRARD: hasn't been the amazing steven gerrard these last few games but no doubt the insperation in our team. he is mr incredible and along with carragherr the two msot important players in the squad.

mascherano: as much as i love alonso (have him on my shirt) i am starting to really like masch. he runs and runs the entire game winning very important challenges. he cant thread a ball like alonso can and im sure alonso will play just as much if not more then mascherano this season this is why he is not in capitals.

riise: not capitals as i think babel will be an excellletn player in thsi position too, but i like the way riise runs up and down the left flank, gets past the deffenders and waistes no time in making the cross. i think babel can someimes run it a little too far. a fit harry kewell may have a say later in the season.

TORRES: only striker with lightning spead and the ability to leave deffenders for dead. gets cuahgt offside a fair amount of times but has already got his fair share of goals and it is vital he plays at least 3/4 of the games this season if we want to win the league.

kuyt: i was struggling to choose from the 3 for this position, crouch and his control, laying off, hight...voronin with his pace and energy, but i decided to go with kuyt as he gives 110% effort every game and never gives up. i think he and torres will work well together. however i still believe we should get a new striker to partner torres at the end of the season.

by **babu** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 5:48 am

Bad Bob wrote:Alright folks, thirty "Best 11s" registered so far and there's a somewhat surprising (to me) consensus emerging. So, without further ado, I present the tabulated Newkit best 11 (votes out of 30 in brackets). By the way, I've gone with the standard 4-4-2 rather than some of the other formations suggested and I've put Gerrard at CM because, well, majority rules.

Reina
(30/30)

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa
(30/30) (30/30) (29/30) (21/30)

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Kewell
(22/30) (30/30)* (23/30)** (13/30)***

Kuyt Torres
(20/30) (30/30)

* Gerrard received 22 votes at CM, 4 at RM and 4 at CAM (4-5-1)

** Mascherano did receive 15/30, including 4 to partner Alonso at CM when Gerrard was pushed over to RM

***Kewell won the LM sweepstakes by some distance despite not winning a majority of the votes. The other LM votes broke down as follows: Riise 6/30, Babel 5/30, Benayoun 4/30, Pennant 1/30, Aurelio 1/30

So what does this tell us?

1) It tells us that there is significant consensus about the spine of the team: Reina, Finnan, Carra, Agger, Gerrard, Torres--with the possible inclusion of Arbeloa, Pennant and Alonso as well.

2) It highlights the problem areas, which I don't think come as any surprise: LM and to a lesser degree LB and second striker. When a player that's been injured for the better part of the calendar year is selected in many people's Best 11, it says something about the job his replacements are doing. At LB we've got a right-footed RB/CB winning the vote over two natural left backs. At second striker, the high vote tally for Kuyt may read more as the best of a bad lot rather than a genuine vote of confidence.

3) It would also seem to suggest that we are more sure of the Best 11 than Rafa is, but hold on: here's Rafa's preferred line-up in the league, based on the teamsheets for the seven games so far.

Reina
(7/7)

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa
(5/7) (6/6)* (4/5)* (7/7)**

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Babel/Riise
(7/7) (4/5)* (5/5)* (3/7 each)

Kuyt Torres
(5/7) (5/7)

*number of available games reduced due to injuries
**Arbeloa's last two starts in the league have come at RB

Rafa's line-ups for the Champions League and the Carling Cup, of course, tell a different story but I think the above numbers suggest that Rafa's Best 11 is pretty close to ours and that he is playing those players in the league, by and large, while rotating more in the cup competition.

Food for thought, I think?

That's a cracker post Bad Bob, thanks.

by **LOVERPOOL** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:30 am

Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Riise

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Benyaoun

Kuyt Torres

by **woof woof !** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:09 am

Bad Bob wrote:Alright folks, thirty "Best 11s" registered so far and there's a somewhat surprising (to me) consensus emerging. So, without further ado, I present the tabulated Newkit best 11 (votes out of 30 in brackets). By the way, I've gone with the standard 4-4-2 rather than some of the other formations suggested and I've put Gerrard at CM because, well, majority rules.

Reina
(30/30)

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa
(30/30) (30/30) (29/30) (21/30)

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Kewell
(22/30) (30/30)* (23/30)** (13/30)***

Kuyt Torres
(20/30) (30/30)

* Gerrard received 22 votes at CM, 4 at RM and 4 at CAM (4-5-1)

** Mascherano did receive 15/30, including 4 to partner Alonso at CM when Gerrard was pushed over to RM

***Kewell won the LM sweepstakes by some distance despite not winning a majority of the votes. The other LM votes broke down as follows: Riise 6/30, Babel 5/30, Benayoun 4/30, Pennant 1/30, Aurelio 1/30

So what does this tell us?

1) It tells us that there is significant consensus about the spine of the team: Reina, Finnan, Carra, Agger, Gerrard, Torres--with the possible inclusion of Arbeloa, Pennant and Alonso as well.

2) It highlights the problem areas, which I don't think come as any surprise: LM and to a lesser degree LB and second striker. When a player that's been injured for the better part of the calendar year is selected in many people's Best 11, it says something about the job his replacements are doing. At LB we've got a right-footed RB/CB winning the vote over two natural left backs. At second striker, the high vote tally for Kuyt may read more as the best of a bad lot rather than a genuine vote of confidence.

3) It would also seem to suggest that we are more sure of the Best 11 than Rafa is, but hold on: here's Rafa's preferred line-up in the league, based on the teamsheets for the seven games so far.

Reina
(7/7)

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa
(5/7) (6/6)* (4/5)* (7/7)**

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Babel/Riise
(7/7) (4/5)* (5/5)* (3/7 each)

Kuyt Torres
(5/7) (5/7)

*number of available games reduced due to injuries
**Arbeloa's last two starts in the league have come at RB

Rafa's line-ups for the Champions League and the Carling Cup, of course, tell a different story but I think the above numbers suggest that Rafa's Best 11 is pretty close to ours and that he is playing those players in the league, by and large, while rotating more in the cup competition.

Food for thought, I think?

Good stuff Bob .

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