NeilR

To be honest I wasn't convinced by it at the start of the Euros, but we all know how that ended. If you had said to me prior to the Euros starting that we could play with a false 9 type system I'd have thought you were mad. But looking at our players and the possibility of just adding Sahin and maintaining the rest of the squad (i.e. Agger), its a nice line up, although would take time to adjust to. Would be great to see the pundits take on it (obviously it'd be negative as its us and not utd). It would be the new zonal marking.

Maybe Rogers is trying to replicate the Spanish system from the Euros where Gerrard plays the false 9 like Fabregas did. For... Casillas Arbeloa Pique Sergio Ramos Jordi Alba Xavi Busquets Alonso Silva Fabregas Iniesta We do... Pepe Johnson Skertl Agger Enrique Allen Lucas Sahin Suarez Gerrard Borini ...where in reality the front 3 play all over that line and keep interchanging as the movement and then sudden penetration is the key to have it work rather than rigidly staying in the strict positions.

I think that is where there might be two loan signings, after the Allen signing. Makes very good sense if our budget is spent after Allen and something I wonder why we havent taken advantage of in previous seasons (e.g. like Spurs did with Adebayor). There are some good options that should be available for those two positions for loan (possibly with an option to buy) from the likes of Madrid, Barca, City etc. Very impressed with how we set up last night. I know it was Gomel, but I thought it would take longer to instill this type of understanding for the new system. Seems to be going nicely though.

Could be a case that contract talks aren't going well behind the scenes with Agger and we are covering our backs, as its probably better to get £22m now if we know he won't sign a new contract. That would be prudent and the only valid reason why I would consider offers for him at the high price. Best scenario for us is he signs a new deal and this all gets put to bed very soon.

Agreed! And the time he is out injured is perfect for blooding the likes of coates, who is an international for one of the best international teams. I actually think what we have (where Daniel and Martin start 70% of our games, and the old head Carra with high potential Coates as back up) isn't too bad a situation. Normally it would be hard to keep the understudies happy, but we have a situation which helps. Main problem is maintaining the cohesiveness and understanding between the defenders. But that is where we shoudl focus our efforts and not in shifting out genuinely world class players. Hoping its all just rumours with no substance.

we must have the replacements lined up. I hope that pans out to be true & not just wishful thinking on my part

perfectly as the left sided forward. before Rogers came in I wanted us to buy an out an out quality wingers (or 2). but the system he prefers then (assuming we get Allen) we'd only be missing the left sided forward position to have a quality 1st side (depth is debatable and could take time). but laying out his system ad a 4-3-3 (though it isn't that simple) we could happily have... ...................pepe Johnson skertl agger Enrique ...................Lucas ............gerrard Allen ........borini saurez ? so a player in the mould of jovetic or villa (not saying them exactly) would be the next logical step. if all we did this summer was 3 in like that, clear some out & promote some good youth, it wouldn't be too bad provided the left forward was of high quality.

its been posted before but re-looking at this article & slotting our current squad in, we aren't too far off... http://www.eplindex.com/14987/brendan-rodgers-tactical-approach-liverpool-adapt-tikitaka.html its an excellent insight into Rogers football beliefs & although it might take a while to get our players to instinctively follow it, I think he'll try to implement it from day 1. we can go with this for a start... ..................pepe................ ........skertl...........anger....... ..................Lucas................ Johnson.........................Enrique ..........gerrard.........?............... ....saurez.....................?........... ..................Carroll/?................. so for me the 3 or 4 players we need when you look at this are:- - wide forward (maybe that's ramirez). - advanced cm (where gylfi would have went). - alternative to Carroll (hence the borini link). - a back up or partner for Lucas whose basically a carbon copy. dunno who we'll go for but that's the 3-4 things I see us trying to sort out. yes we have other players in our current squad you can argue can slot in here by I personally believe these are the spots we should improve the quality or tactical ability that we have now.

its been posted before but re-looking at this article & slotting our current squad in, we aren't too far off... http://www.eplindex.com/14987/brendan-rodgers-tactical-approach-liverpool-adapt-tikitaka.html its an excellent insight into Rogers football beliefs & although it might take a while to get our players to instinctively follow it, I think he'll try to implement it from day 1. we can go with this for a start... ..................pepe................ ........skertl...........anger....... ..................Lucas................ Johnson.........................Enrique ..........gerrard.........?............... ....saurez.....................?........... ..................Carroll/?................. so for me the 3 or 4 players we need when you look at this are:- - wide forward (maybe that's ramirez). - advanced cm (where gylfi would have went). - alternative to Carroll (hence the borini link). - a back up or partner for Lucas whose basically a carbon copy. dunno who we'll go for but that's the 3-4 things I see us trying to sort out. yes we have other players in our current squad you can argue can slot in here by I personally believe these are the spots we should improve the quality or tactical ability that we have now.

You forgot bouncebackability

not to mention he gets wigan into a position where they are relegation candidates for most of the season & just turns it round at the end. I don't want 2/3 of the season struggling before saying.g great look at our form in the last 1/3. he's a likable bloke alright but even the wigan fans wanted him out at one point last season.

Was thinking that it rightly flooded the midfield!!! :-p Then it one of Downing or Bellamy, or Gerrard drops deep at the expense of Spearing or Henderson. Still think the wingback system is the only explaination for Carra not playing last night.

Anyone else think the fact we rested Carra and Agger last night & the fact Skertel has been our best player this season is pointing towards us going with those 3 at the back and probably Johnson and Enrique playing as wing backs? Kenny did something similar before to Chelsea last season and completely surprised them and it worked a treat. Risky but my gut instinct is this is what we'lll do. Why else would we have rested Carra unless he is going to start, and surely he isn't going to replace either Agger or Skertl? --------------------PR---------------- ------JC----------MS-------DA--------- GL--------JH---------JS---------JE -----SD----------SG--------CB-------- -------------------LS---------------------- Looking at that its fairly strong, but would Kenny have the audacity to go with a non-regular formation in an FA Cup final? I think he will.

adding to this it would allow us to cover for gerrards injuries & start to phase him out for life without him in a few years. e.g. Reina Johnson. skertl. agger. Enrique Lucas. banega affelay. gerrard/saurez. bellamy/downing saurez / adebayor / huntelaar

right idea & 3 positions, but don't think we could afford those 3 or beat the competition all over Europe there will be for them. I'd go for something similar, still quality but more attainable. like banega, affelay and hunterlaar / adebayor. sell kuyt, Carroll, Maxi, aurellio, Cole, aqualani, (release degen & poulsen if they are still on our books). bring in some of the youngsters to bulk the squad.

Agree. Less quantity, more quality. We'll not be able to compete for the big names, but I'd be happy with something like the following and think its feasible for us:- CM: Banega or Sissoko RW: Affelay or Pedro Fwd: Huntelaar or Adebayor Doesn't necessarily need to be these players, but this type of quality and are all gettable due to their current situations or clubs I think.

Thats my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong). Phase of play doesn't mean each pass is a phase. A phase in my eyes is a flow of movement in the one general direction. In this case the ball was put forward in the direction of Cisse. If it doesnt reach him or takes a touch that dramatically changes the direction of the flow of play, then he isn't off side. Say for example he is offside when someone shoots, the keeper palms it out to him and he slots it home. Or a pass attempted forward to him is deflected (by either team) in another general direction, the ball breaks out and goes to him directly on the next pass having gained advantage of being ahead from his off side position but has now returned onside. Both of these are ok and seen as a 2nd phase of play. However, in saturday's casethe ball takes a slight nick (if even as even in slow motion its hard to tell, although I think it did), but the ball continues in the same general direction to Cisse, then he is off side as this isnt a different phase of play. Like most referees and officials in our league (bar one or 2 in the very good or very bias categories), I dont think its corruptness or an anti Liverpool agenda. It pure incompetence, which is not excusable at this professional level. But nothing happens and the club are not allowed to talk about it. Sometimes I wish we'd just call a spade a spade and say how bad the ref decisions are and its not acceptable and take the fine as a club. Probably wouldn't do us any favours though (we aren't Mr ferguson afterall)

came to the conclusion yesterday when the sides were named that Carroll must be getting sold I. the summer. there is no reason why at home to a team in relegation trouble you wouldn't go 2 up front when you have a fully fit striker who is your record signing & has already been rested for recent games starting on the bench when we aren't exactly full of goals. shame really, but I think the fee has taken its toll on him mentally. would love him to come good but seems like the management have no faith in him at the moment

I think that post is spot on for me. Kenny deserves next season to see where he can take us. To get us back in the CL spots everyone can clearly see we need a right winger, a goal poacher and a CM to play alongside or instead of Lucas if he was injured or rested. No point wasting money anywhere else. If Kenny doesn't see that, or doesn't correct that in the summer then its his own fault and I expect us to be a cup team again next year. However, if he forgets about the buying English for the sake of it (we are well stocked in the quota now) and does address these 3 positions with quality signings, then I do believe he can get us back into the CL spots. I dont think we are far off it (3 quality signings only) but it'll also depend on what our competitors do. Chelsea will need to rebuild an aging team without a doubt and get a new manager which is always an unknown factor regarding how he'll do (Boas would have ticked many boxes but failed). The decline on Spurs may have already started (hopefully) and Harry might take the England job which will effect them as I dont think they are established enough yet. Aresenal are arsenal and Wenger will do what he always does transfer wise, and I fully believe Van Persie will be off or is due an injury again (bar this year he has always has his injury problems). So I don't think the door is shut for evermore on us, but it is key Kenny & the club realise the precarious position we are in if we let one or 2 of the also ran competitors get their house in order before us. No more Charlie Adam level signings please. We need to operate as close to the big league as we can in order to get back into it.

Agree about Adam. Think we may go more orthodox 4-4-2 this one although it hasnt usually suited our players this year (but with Adam out and not starting Henderson either it might work). Its clear something has got to change as we have been dire since the turn of the new year. My choice considering its a Derby... ------------------Pepe--------------- MK--------JC-----------MS-------JE DK--------SG-----------JS-------CB ------------LS-----------AC------------

Also think he'd strike a good balance with Lucas beside him.

When that happened my 2 year old daughter said "look at the man with the crazy girls hair"! Made me laugh for a few seconds then it was back to the nail biting and shouting at the TV.

Why would we sell him. Proper world class talent. Has served his ban. Its what utd would want us to do. Luis just needs to stay out of controversy and it'll all blow over eventually. The best thing he can do at his haters is get on with his game and help us to win cups and hopefully leagues. Its the best way to get back at them. Seeing him holding the carling cup at the end of the month would be a good start and it'll hurt them. I can still see us ending with more trophies than utd at the end of the season!

hope its to try & put an end to it ASAP so we can focus on the cup final for the rest of the week. the club should draw its own line under the while saga now & not comment on this whole thing again.

Henderson's situation reminds me a bit of Lucas when he arrived. A lot of people expect too much at too young an age. But he has get talent in him and I think with the more and more experience her gets he'll develop into a very good player and one a larger number of supporters will come to appreciate more.