central midfield and the left wing problem

[Guest gumper]

mmmmm.......where does it all fit together?

 

First off: 'possibilities....no?': Its my belief that Rafa will not have a preferred central midfield pairing (or three) but will rotate depending on the opposition, injuries, the fitness of the players etc. etc.

 

Zenden i expect to leave at the end of the season therefore will not figure.

 

However: I would expect momo, alonso and mascerano to be competing the central spots the majority of the time with gerrard in a freeish role on the right wing with license to come inside; (no pun intended). Perhaps for the tougher games we may see a 4-5-1 a bit more with gerrard moving centrally along with two of the others.

 

In my opinion the only pairing of our options that will not work is gerrard and momo on their own; they are both too action oriented and do not have good enough positional sense; i think those two would leave us too exposed.

 

For this system to work properly it is absolutely critical that we have a line hugging, pacy left winger in our team; to ensure that we maintain our width and to provide an outlet (our central midfield could easily become too packed with gerrard roaming on the right). Gonzales has failed to deliver so far (although he is only young) and I expect kewell will be leaving this summer.

 

I think our priority this summer will be a top class left winger (and not a right footed left winger who will cut in ala simao) I don't know who that player is but think its more important for us to fill that poisition than our right wing.

 

Just some early morning ramblings and not very coherent but what do you think??

[Knox_Harrington]

Think it's far too early to start presuming Gerrard's going to live right wing, or for that matter as the one in behind in a 4-2-3-1. I think we play a lot of s**** at home in this league and have shown that a 4-4-2 with Gerrard/Alonso in the centre can work. It isn't a massive leap to conclude that likewise with Gerrard/Mascherano can work as well. I'd also venture that we've proven it can work (in a 3-4-3) away from home against poorer sides as well.

 

I wouldn't write Kewell off either and we have no idea how Leto will be or if Gonzalez will improve. This also bets without Garcia.

 

The priority for me isn't a winger who plays either side but simply a player who can pick the ball up in deep areas and can commit two or three players routinely. These players are few and far between and to think we can be picky enough to select a side in wanting to buy one of these is far too hopeful.

[ricflairandy]

Gerraards best position is a free role.

 

Wether he starts on the right, left, in goal or up front, it doesnt matter. When he is roaming hes unstoppable.

 

Sometimes i wonder if that is the problem with him being down as right or left. The fact that really its more of a free role and we have nothing on that side when he goes.

[fred milne]

It isn't a massive leap to conclude that likewise with Gerrard/Mascherano can work as well.

I think that's right - you can draw a parallel with the old Gerrard/Hamann pairing, although we will miss Alonso's passing range from deep.

[Knox_Harrington]

Whilst I think Gerrard plays better given a free role from the right I think that in certain games, again - against s**** - bottom half home and away, bottom 14 home - having a wide right with Gerrard in the middle gives us more options going forward.

 

I think that's right - you can draw a parallel with the old Gerrard/Hamann pairing, although we will miss Alonso's passing range from deep.

Yes and I think Gerrard enjoyed the extra onus on him when paired with Hamann - "I do all the attacking duties."

[JohnBonham]

We now have two well balanced pairings for cm, two holding and two more offensive (in Momos case maybe more "harassing" than "offensive"): Mascherano-Gerrard and Alonso-Sissoko. We could of course also play Mascherano-Sissoko and Alonso-Gerrard.

[rikf]

Slightly related, I think we could see all 4 start against barcelona.

 

With Xabi and Mascerano as the defensive midfielders, Gerrard on the right and Sissoko playing infront of Xabi and Mascarano to disrupt Xavi and prevent Barcelono from starting plays from deep.

[honourablegeorge]

Three defensive-ish midfielders is a lot though - not a whole lot of runs into the box from midfield there and only one striker up front.

 

I still can't help wondering - with Eto'o likely to leave Barca, them interested in Xabi, Rafa describing Masch as a dedicated holding midfielder (which I interpret as him beign amore natural central partner for Gerrard)..... I'm puttign two and two together and coming up with millions here, but....

[rikf]

Dont forget momo started out as a striker

[Magic8Ball]

For this system to work properly it is absolutely critical that we have a line hugging, pacy left winger in our team; to ensure that we maintain our width and to provide an outlet (our central midfield could easily become too packed with gerrard roaming on the right). Gonzales has failed to deliver so far (although he is only young) and I expect kewell will be leaving this summer.

 

I think for the system to work you need a Left AND a Right winger who are pacey, can run with the ball, beat defenders AND score goals - I would also say that Gerrard would play as a Free Midfielder in such a formation

 

Now Re Barca - I don't see why we wouldn't play all 4 midfielders - with Gerrard on the Right (initially)

[tag]

FWIW, i think to survive in the league, we need to play with 2 strikers. so i think it'll be kuyt & ANother.

 

so, IMHO, rafa'll rotate between playing a 4-4-2 system with Gerrard on the right or 3-5-2 with Gerrard playing the free-er role, in which will be his prefered choice if we could get Alves & a proper left wing-back (Lahm/Riise/Aurelio???). In which in both cases, he'll rotate Xabi, Mascherano & Sissoko for that 2 central midfield role, no?

 

Should be an interesting summer, for sho.

[Magic8Ball]

FWIW, i think to survive in the league, we need to play with 2 strikers. so i think it'll be kuyt & ANother.

 

so, IMHO, rafa'll rotate between playing a 4-4-2 system with Gerrard on the right or 3-5-2 with Gerrard playing the free-er role, in which will be his prefered choice if we could get Alves & a proper left wing-back (Lahm/Riise/Aurelio???). In which in both cases, he'll rotate Xabi, Mascherano & Sissoko for that 2 central midfield role, no?

 

Should be an interesting summer, for sho.

interesting debate - I think it depends on how good the lone striker is - Chelsea didn't suffer ( in previous seasons) playing Droba up front alone - yet (interestingly) this season Drogba is on fire ... is that because he has a strike mate ?

 

I think all possible formations will be used at some time by Rafa - I still would like to see 2 pacey wingers Left and Right -

and I would like to see Hammill ( sp) given a run in the C-C C