Could Finnan be the left back we're looking for?

[alias75]

Made this point in a couple of threads but maybe it deserves its own topic.

 

Riise has been very poor this season so bad that many people think that left back is the position that needs changing the most. But there arent that many great left backs out there. We've been linked with Alves and many people have suggested that we dont need to replace Finnan which is true, but how about playing Finnan left back?

 

Hes played there before for Ireland and he is a very solid 2 footed player so i dont see that being a problem for him, if there is a chance to sign Alves in the summer we have to take it, if we wait someone else will get him. The problem if we did sign him would be would he replace Finnan whose one of our most consistent players, playing left back could be the solution, he couldnt be any worse than Riise's been this season could he?

[Falconhoof]

I'd look at signing an actual left back first.

[Earl Hafler]

I'd look at signing an actual left back first.

 

It would certainly seem preferable to switching one of the best right backs in Europe.

[alias75]

My point is if Riise is a weakness (which he is at the moment) but there arent any credible left backs to sign, yet there are a couple of good right backs including Alves we could possibly sign, why not sign the right back and move Finnan to left back where hes played numerous times before.

 

Answer me this question is a defence with Alves right back and Finnan left back better than a defence with Finnan right back and Riise left back?

[Joxer]

My point is if Riise is a weakness (which he is at the moment) but there arent any credible left backs to sign, yet there are a couple of good right backs including Alves we could possibly sign, why not sign the right back and move Finnan to left back where hes played numerous times before.

 

Answer me this question is a defence with Alves right back and Finnan left back better than a defence with Finnan right back and Riise left back?

 

the answer is, Sure, Possibilities.

[Earl Hafler]

My point is if Riise is a weakness (which he is at the moment) but there arent any credible left backs to sign, yet there are a couple of good right backs including Alves we could possibly sign, why not sign the right back and move Finnan to left back where hes played numerous times before.

 

Answer me this question is a defence with Alves right back and Finnan left back better than a defence with Finnan right back and Riise left back?

 

Instead of changing two positions, why not just change one ?

[alias75]

Instead of changing two positions, why not just change one ?

 

Because there is a lack of top quality left backs out there, but there could be 1 very good right back available in the summer. Its not as if Finnans never played there before, from memory msot of his caps for Ireland have been left back and right midfield cos Carr seemed to get picked at right back.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

if we're looking at signing one of the best rightbacks in Europe, I would think it makes sense to see if we can't make another of those into a great leftback.

[Stevie H]

if we're looking at signing one of the best rightbacks in Europe, I would think it makes sense to see if we can't make another of those into a great leftback.

no. it wouldn't.

[alias75]

Guess im in the minority on this one, but what if a quality left back isnt available? Do we make do with Riise or hope that Insua is going to be a player?

 

Do we not sign Alves because we have Finnan?

 

Its all about the relevant strength of the startng 11, just as i feel the overall team is stronger with Gerrard wide right as opposed to Pennant, with Alonso and Sissoko (or Mascherano) in the middle. So the overall team would be stronger with Finnan at left back and Alves at right back as opposed to Riise left back and Finnan right back.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

no. it wouldn't.

 

Why exactly would it be better to have Finnan or Alves sitting on the bench, when there's a good chance there won't be a player of comparable quality playing on the left?

[Stevie H]

Why exactly would it be better to have Finnan or Alves sitting on the bench, when there's a good chance there won't be a player of comparable quality playing on the left?

1. alves isn't a liverpool player.

 

2. finnan is one of the best right-backs in europe.

 

3. and this is the clincher, finnan is not a left-back.

 

you're talking championship manager sh*te.

[alias75]

1. alves isn't a liverpool player.

 

2. finnan is one of the best right-backs in europe.

 

3. and this is the clincher, finnan is not a left-back.

 

you're talking championship manager sh*te.

 

1. Ok but what if Alves is a possible signing for next season do we not get him because we have Finnan?

 

2. True but i dont see why he couldnt be one of the most reliable left backs

 

3. Finnan has played left back a lot, it hasnt happened here, but hes played there a fair few times for ireland and fulham, hes good with both feet and an intelligent player i see absolutely no reason why he couldnt play left back. Finnan isnt a left back in the same way Gerrard isnt a right winger.

[Gray - YPC]

Hmmm.... not such a crazy idea, but I'd deffo prefer to have a left footed left back. It just gives you more balance and at the highest level little things like that can make a big difference!

[Earl Hafler]

Finnan has played left back a lot

Really ?

 

it hasnt happened here

 

There ya go.

 

but hes played there a fair few times for ireland and fulham

 

So not " alot " then ?

 

Finnan isnt a left back in the same way Gerrard isnt a right winger.

 

Pitiful comparison.

 

It makes no sense and as Stevie H says, it's console management.

[Zoob]

I'm not thrilled by the idea of Finnan at left back in the long run, but yesterday, instead of Finnan going off, I wouldn't have minded seeing Riise going off, and Finnan moving to left back.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

1. alves isn't a liverpool player.

 

That's why I qualified it with the initial premise 'if we're looking at signing one of the best rightbacks in Europe' [ie Alves]. It's not exactly an unlikely premise.

 

2. finnan is one of the best right-backs in europe.

 

So is Alves.

 

3. and this is the clincher, finnan is not a left-back.

 

Not right now. He does have a very handy left foot for a rightback though.

 

Personally, I think it would be a shame if we signed Alves and had to keep one of Finnan or him on the bench with an inferior player taking up the leftback spot.

[Earl Hafler]

I'm not thrilled by the idea of Finnan at left back in the long run, but yesterday, instead of Finnan going off, I wouldn't have minded seeing Riise going off, and Finnan moving to left back.

 

I think i would have preferred Riise for Hyypia, Zenden for Crouch and a change in formation

[alias75]

Finnan has played left back a lot

Really ?

 

it hasnt happened here

 

There ya go.

 

but hes played there a fair few times for ireland and fulham

 

So not " alot " then ?

 

Finnan isnt a left back in the same way Gerrard isnt a right winger.

 

Pitiful comparison.

 

It makes no sense and as Stevie H says, it's console management.

 

I only put this forward as 1 option but i seriously dont see the problem. If there arent any decent left backs out there what do we do? Stick with Riise cos theres nobody out there, and lets not sign Alves cos we already have a very good right back.

 

Do you honestly think playing Finnan on the other side of the defence will all of a sudden turn him into a bad player? could he be any worse than Riise's been virtually the whole season?

 

Finnan has played a lot of football at left back, its not an alien position to him he did it for Ireland cos they had Carr at right back, our problem has probably been the reverse 3 or 4 players that can play left back but really only Finnan at right back so the suggestion of playing him there hasnt needed to be brought up. BUT left back is now turning into a problem position, if there arent many good left backs out there do we just stick by a player thats been poor all season cos theres no one better?

 

I ask the question again, theoretically which team is stronger...

 

Alves at right back Finnan at left back?

Finnan right back Riise left back?

[Guest Finnan3]

Finnan has played left back a lot

Really ?

 

it hasnt happened here

 

There ya go.

 

but hes played there a fair few times for ireland and fulham

 

So not " alot " then ?

 

Finnan isnt a left back in the same way Gerrard isnt a right winger.

 

Pitiful comparison.

 

It makes no sense and as Stevie H says, it's console management.

 

You swear he came in to your house and pissed on your kids the way you responded to him. The almighty has spoken!

Edited February 11, 2007 by Finnan3

[alias75]

You swear he came in to your house and pissed on your kids the way you responded to him. The almighty has spoken!

 

Dont worry buddy, most forward thinkers are under appreciated in their own life time

[Rimbeux]

Sensible idea. In an ideal world of my own making, I'd have Finnan and a clone as my full backs. Seriously though, if this new defender we just got is any good, I wouldn't be shocked if Finnan did move to left back during the run in to third place, I'd back him to be better than anyone else in the squad playing there and it might just solve a fair few issues. Again, sensible idea.

[Guest Cardie]

Sensible idea. In an ideal world of my own making, I'd have Finnan and a clone as my full backs. Seriously though, if this new defender we just got is any good, I wouldn't be shocked if Finnan did move to left back during the run in to third place, I'd back him to be better than anyone else in the squad playing there and it might just solve a fair few issues. Again, sensible idea.

 

Rob Jones being moved to accomodate McAteer.

 

Learn from history people.

[alias75]

Rob Jones being moved to accomodate McAteer.

 

Learn from history people.

 

A few differences...

 

1. McAteer is no Alves, i only suggested this if we signed Alves as i think hes a player we have to go for if hes available but that shouldnt necessarily mean its either him or Finnan.

 

2. Rob Jones as far as im aware had never played left back before, Finnan has numerous times. Anyone that watches him knows hes very capable with his left foot.

 

3. Im not sure who Jones replaced at left back (Bjornebye? Harkness?) but at the moment Riise isnt playng well yet it seems hes got to play every week, if we had a left back that was playing well i wouldnt even consider this, but at the moment left back is the problem position in the team.

[Guest Cardie]

A few differences...

 

1. McAteer is no Alves, i only suggested this if we signed Alves as i think hes a player we have to go for if hes available but that shouldnt necessarily mean its either him or Finnan.

 

I know, was making the comparison with Arbeloa not Alves who's a fantastic player (as Arbeloa may be).

 

I don't rate Finnan quite as highly as some here do though so perhaps I'm not the best judge.