The need for 2 right midfielders

RedNik · June 3, 2006

Why are so many posters here advocating the signing of 2 right mids, namely being Alves AND Pennant. Others being mentioned are Joaquin and the perennial Steed Malbranque. I dont believe we could accomodate 2 mids, of this suggested stature, to play in 1 position. Here is my thinking:

Momo should start. Xabi and Stevie G must and will start. Thats 3 central midfielders, the solution to which Rafa found being placing our captain on the right. He was as usual excellent in this position, perhaps not as good as in the centre as I believe we missed out on his passing range from deep which complements Xabi wonderfully.

Rafa has also been praising the work of Mark Gonzalez in Sociedad and has suggested that he will be a huge hit at Anfield. Prior to this, he was singing praises of Harry Kewell too. I would assume that one of the two will get the start, and Kewell remains at the club (which I believe he will), he will battle for that spot with Gonzalez. Others for the position will be Riise and Bolo Zenden. Aurelio can even be played there.

Consequently, the 3 other midfielders used would have to be Momo, Xabi and Gerrard - presumably with Gerrard on the right, in that semi free role. Other back ups right now in the squad for the right mid position would be Luis Garcia of course, and possibly Harry Kewell, in his 'preferred position'. We could also play Finnan or Krompkamp (if he's still here...) there, depending on who plays at right back.

How then can we possibly accomodate both pennant and Alves, or any combination of 2 extra right midfielders? Why would we even need to blow near 15 million pounds to buy 2 midfielders for a position where we might already have a starter? I can completely understand why we would want to buy 1 of them, because we need width on the right, and a naturally right sided player at that too. We have been searching for a right mid for years now, and haven't been able to find a decent solution for it yet.

There are only 2 situations in which i can see us either getting 1 right mid who would command a starting place, or getting 2 right mids.

1) Gerrard is not happy with playing on the right, and wants to and will be used in the centre. I have no idea as to whether this is true, perhaps Elisha has or can provide some light on this issue.

2) Rafa plans on playing a 4-5-1 system similar to that which he employed so effectively in Valencia. This would explain why he wants 2 wingers, like he did at Valencia, in Vicente and Rufete.

In this case of course Gerrard would be on a free role in the centre and we would have a natural winger, probably Alves playing on the right. Rafa would consider getting a back up for Alves too, in Pennant, if the fee isnt too steep. We could actually still cope without this backup, because of luis and Kewell providing effective play from the position. A question that comes up with me is, what will happen with Luis next year? He's clearly not going to get in on the left or the centre, and if we are buying 2 right mids, surely his play will be very minimal?

Additionally, if Rafa plans on playing a 4-5-1, we can be sure that he is going all out for a striker like Kujt or Torres. Crouch imo isn't good enough to be our first choice and isn't a good enough footballer to play up front alone. I don't think he will make enough use of his chances and he probably isnt strong enough to be that isolated from the rest of the team. It also means that we probably wouldnt pay a huge amount for someone like Defoe because he could only be used in a different system, which according to the above assumptions would not be Rafa's first choice.

Thoughts?

Knox_Harrington · June 3, 2006

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