Magic8Ball

looks good on paper, but: 1 Babel has played most of his games (from youth onward) as Striker or LW 2 Don't know how competent Riera will be 3 Gerrard maybe forced to play deeper alonside Mash as there isnt much tracking back from the wings in that team 4 With only Mash holding ( mostly) the FB will be reluctant to attack - therefore we'll be narrow again Having said all that, right now I think that could ( subject to Reira ) be our best formation - at least until we know how Keane works with Torres

have to agree with this. Sure Rafa needed a plan to help Torres this year and get cover now that Crouch has left - but 20m on a player that doesn't play 4231 seems odd - now we have to learn a new system and 4132 seems the best option but that exposes Mash. I can only conclude Rafa really had 433 in mind with Babel, Torres and Keane all as out and out strikers - and a midfield of Gerrard, Mash, Barry. Guess we're in deep do do now

Rafinha and drenthe would be great ( not sure how long aurelio will stay fit)

I thought we were to be 433 too - right now we could do with another Plessis as we have no Barry

I think it shows Rafa cant get ( afford) the "expressive players" that are good enough to consistently impose their game on the oppositon. If all you have is "expression" it had better be consistent and scare the hell out of the opposition, there are some players than can do that Messi, C Ronaldo, even Ronaldo ( before the weight), but they are a hand full. Players like Quaresma, Juaquin haven't crossed over, they have the skill and can express but they are not consistent and have nothing to offer when their "expression" fails. The only way we're going to get a player of that type is to gamble on someone not quite there and hope they make it. To me that gamble stands a better chance is the "not quite there" player is very young.

or ---------------------Reina---------------------- ---Finnan-----Carra------Agger-------Dossena -------------------Mascherano------------------ ----------Gerrard------Xabi-------Lucas------- ------------------Keane---Torres---------------

in theory practise and theory are the same, in practise, they're not we know 4231 worked with the personnel from last season, but this season we have Keane, we also have most of the premiership more aware of Torres' game - Until we know how Keane links with Torres even a fluid 4231 may not be the right way to play. But I will accept what ever formation we use, needs to be fluid

The problem I h ave with 4231 and Gerrard in the middle is we don't know that willl work this season as: We have to accomodate Keane and RHS attack is NOT his position - also you need to know how Keane works with Torres, they may work best as 2 out and out attackers rather than Keane as a link striker or on either side. Until you know that, you don't know the formation. we could end up playing 442 with a diamond - that's effectively 4132 with the full backs overlapping. [ which is my guess] This being the case Gerrard will be RHS attack ( allowed to roam) we would then need a LHS attack (who's as capable as Gerrard, but left footed)

thats why the other attacking midfielder has to be left footed, ie able to cross and tackle with his left foot - doesn't mean he has to be a winger - we could have dossena and babel on the left - he would need to be capable of helping either out

you think Barry would make a good attacking midfielder ?? yes, I think Lucas could do this as well as cover for Gerrard so the first position is the most important

I'll bite, enlighten me

Top quality wingers are rare and cost a fortune, besides the clubs they play for wont let them leave anyway. what we need now are 2 additional players: 1 - a LHS Left footed Attacking midfielder like Gerrard but for the left 2 - A box to box CM who can keep the ball moving around the opposition box, has a good engine and can tackle

if we're going to get a little good luck I would sooner we get it all in one season so we win something big ... let's see them sack Rafa then!

barry was aweome agian today

how bad was skytels miss?

may not have been great for us, but he'll get goals - he's a 16 a season striker

a wide player that works his balls off and regularly scores 18 goals a season is fine by me, even if it is kuyt

this is where people get confused, they think keeping xabi and getting a winger would solve that - it wouldnt.there was an article posted on this site about level1,2 and 3 football. levels 1-2 are counter attacking, and that's where xabi and wingers would work best - but we're moving towards level 3 which is about possession, close 1-2's around the box and carrying the ball. this is an area where xabi is weak and barry is stronger

don't know - but the only advantages of Barry are: 1 he's english 2 he's left footed 3 he's box to box ( but can play DM) 4 he's at his peak now if we have to wait a season surely we're better off looking for alternatives, and (correct me if I'm wrong) but I thought Plessis was left footed. So if we have to wait we need another box to box midfielder pref left footed (not obligatory) but he can be less experienced than Barry

I'm now of the opinion that we should give up on Barry and sign Michael Johnson instead, we have Pleassis who could do tha Barry role - and johnson's still young enough to adapt to any CM position

totally agree we have a capable understudy in Plessis

You'll have to explain that in more detail - So far this summer Rafa's played a blinder

I like Xabi, I think he's an ace player, but my experience of Xabi is Mr Hollywood pass, he's a pass master 40 yard balls millimeter perfect. That works perfectly when you have wingers, but we don't have wingers. Even Xabi can't play a 40 ball through a packed defense all match long - he'd be lucky to do it once a game. that's not enough to win games in this league. We need someone who can keep the ball and play quick 1-2's around the box feeding players with guile like Keane. If that's Xabi then I stand corrected, but it sounds more like Barry to me

seems reasonable, thanks. so now we have Mash ( Plessis), Barry (Leiva), Gerrard (Spearing) ... where does Xabi fit in there ?