Arbeloa & Aurelio

[Eskimo]

Injury/fitness permitting have to start every game.

[Cobs]

MORE KEY PLAYERS !!!!!!

[TheLa]

No Finnan?

 

Treated like a dog.

[Rimbeux]

I think the plan last night was clearly to keep the left solid and bomb on down the right, boss must have seen their left as vital or open.

 

On fullbacks, it's always nice to have two who want to play a bit, as we did early in the seson.

[Eskimo]

On fullbacks, it's always nice to have two who want to play a bit, as we did early in the seson.

 

IMO, Alvaro offers more of an attacking threat than Finnan, he's more direct, has a touch more pace and skill and is not as one-dimensional. As for Fabio, well its a no-brainer really....

[honourablegeorge]

As for Fabio, well its a no-brainer really....

 

Heh. Quality deadpanning. You made coffee come out my nose.

[The_Adder]

IMO, Alvaro offers more of an attacking threat than Finnan, he's more direct, has a touch more pace and skill and is not as one-dimensional. As for Fabio, well its a no-brainer really....

 

Agreed. Think we have been lacking some quality attacking full-backs for years, they can add so much to your attacking play.

 

Finnan, hes brilliant at what he does, he's just not in that mould. Hes still a great player though but against the so called lesser teams at Anfield I'd personally start Arbeloa & Fabio everytime when fit.

[Rimbeux]

IMO, Alvaro offers more of an attacking threat than Finnan, he's more direct, has a touch more pace and skill and is not as one-dimensional. As for Fabio, well its a no-brainer really....

 

 

That's fair comment, but I do worry about him defensively. There are probably many times when we play against a noarrow midfield where that wont be an issue.

[Swagger]

IMO, Alvaro offers more of an attacking threat than Finnan, he's more direct, has a touch more pace and skill and is not as one-dimensional. As for Fabio, well its a no-brainer really....

 

Agreed. As you say, Fabio is no brainer, and whilst Finnan has been great for us for the last three years, he seems a little bit off the pace this season.

 

Finnan is the better crosser of the two, Arbeloa more direct going forward, and far more dangerous braking into the box.

[Leo No.8]

Every one of the very best teams in Europe has technically gifted full backs because they should be involved in starting a lot of your attacking play, in particular against teams who we expect to beat.

 

Something I've learned from both Houllier and Rafa's periods in charge, is that if you want to win the title in England you've got to think of your full backs as attacking players as much as defensive ones for the majority of games, or you'll struggle to win enough games to finish top.

 

Aurelio might not be 100% defensively but you've got to think along the lines of letting the opposition worry about the threat he poses to them with his left foot rather than whether they could catch him out. There aren't that many great right wingers around - I'd have concerns over him being up against Ronaldo or maybe someone with extreme pace like Lennon at his best but that's about it.

 

Aurelio needs to play when fit, with Arbeloa and his greater pace and defensive qualities at left back against United and maybe one or two others away domestically (and more often away in Europe) and that is about it. Basically Aurelio is far and away the best left back for this football team for 95% of games.

 

Arbeloa got forward really well last night but I don't doubt Finnan would have done the same against such poor quality opposition. Finnan has consistently provided more assists than just about any other full back in the Premier League over the last few years and he is still absolutely my first choice there.

Edited November 7, 2007 by Leo No.8

[Eskimo]

That's fair comment, but I do worry about him defensively. There are probably many times when we play against a noarrow midfield where that wont be an issue.

 

Granted he may not be as good a defender as an on form Finnan. However, I think he adds more balance/options in the attacking third and to be honest I don't mind shipping the odd goal if it means our play is a touch more adventurous.

[honourablegeorge]

We seem to play with two primarily defensive central midfielders anyhow, so we need the impetus from full back a bit more.

[Eskimo]

Finnan is the better crosser of the two, Arbeloa more direct going forward, and far more dangerous braking into the box.

 

That's what I mean by one dimensional, you can read Finnan like a book most of the time i.e. cut back and loft one in with the left peg. For the most part his crosses are bread and butter for CB's and are even less effective when Crouch is on the bench. I'd like to see him actually whip in crosses with his right but I just don't think he has the ability to actually get into a decent position in order to do so.

[Eskimo]

Every one of the very best teams in Europe has technically gifted full backs because they should be involved in starting a lot of your attacking play, in particular against teams who we expect to beat.

 

Something I've learned from both Houllier and Rafa's periods in charge, is that if you want to win the title in England you've got to think of your full backs as attacking players as much as defensive ones for the majority of games, or you'll struggle to win enough games to finish top.

 

Good attacking FB's are essential when a team doesn't have out and out wingers. I've said it before I don't mind a narrow midfield, in fact I prefer it but in order to play that system you need FB's to offer width.

[fred milne]

I think the plan last night was clearly to keep the left solid and bomb on down the right, boss must have seen their left as vital or open.

And was probably more comfortable with the idea of Carragher sweeping up behind Arbeloa than Hyypia sweeping up behind Aurelio.

[Rimbeux]

And was probably more comfortable with the idea of Carragher sweeping up behind Arbeloa than Hyypia sweeping up behind Aurelio.

 

 

For sure, that too!

[alias75]

Should play most home games for sure, its amazing how much extra good quality full backs can give you, Arbeloa was playing almost as a right winger yesterday and that allowed Benayoun to tuck in when he wanted too without losing any width, Aurellio gives us someone on the left that doesnt give the ball away and is able to pick out someone like Crouch with long passes rather than aimlessly hoof it upfield.

 

Still think Finnan away from home is a good solid option maybe with Arbeloa on the left but at home i think yesterdays full backs should start most games.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

I think Finnan's ropeness this season has partly (or mainly) been casued by Agger missing - so Carra's got to cover, or at least psyche himself up for covering Sami. And to a lesser extent JAR, leaving Finnan more exposed than ever

[fred milne]

Still think Finnan away from home is a good solid option maybe with Arbeloa on the left but at home i think yesterdays full backs should start most games.

A decent shout.

[Molby]

Every one of the very best teams in Europe has technically gifted full backs because they should be involved in starting a lot of your attacking play, in particular against teams who we expect to beat.

 

Something I've learned from both Houllier and Rafa's periods in charge, is that if you want to win the title in England you've got to think of your full backs as attacking players as much as defensive ones for the majority of games, or you'll struggle to win enough games to finish top.

 

Aurelio might not be 100% defensively but you've got to think along the lines of letting the opposition worry about the threat he poses to them with his left foot rather than whether they could catch him out. There aren't that many great right wingers around - I'd have concerns over him being up against Ronaldo or maybe someone with extreme pace like Lennon at his best but that's about it.

 

Aurelio needs to play when fit, with Arbeloa and his greater pace and defensive qualities at left back against United and maybe one or two others away domestically (and more often away in Europe) and that is about it. Basically Aurelio is far and away the best left back for this football team for 95% of games.

 

Arbeloa got forward really well last night but I don't doubt Finnan would have done the same against such poor quality opposition. Finnan has consistently provided more assists than just about any other full back in the Premier League over the last few years and he is still absolutely my first choice there.

 

 

this is 100% correct and it's part of what I've been banging on about since pre-season

 

if we get injuries through the spine of the team, and even if we don't, where is our plan B?

 

in the absence of true wingers that can create and score, you need full backs who do what Neal and Kennedy used to do - all our competitors have them

 

and as an aside, it wouldn't be bad for Finnan to get some competition

[CaptainXabi]

I just like the look of "s***, where's Arbeloa coming in from this time" on the scorer's face right after the goal.

[deacon]

Finnan should start in every important game we have. I can't believe you are lot are dismissing him already after a good performance from Arbeloa, against a very weak side. Finnan has consistently been one the best full backs in the league for the past couple of seasons. Ridiculous.

[Maldini]

Finnan's been our best player this season IMO. He's played well even when those around him have been awful.

[Guest RedLegend]

Lads we were playing at home to a Besiktas team that didn't want to know last night. Just because our full-backs had the pipe and slippers out and could bomb forward at their leisure doesn't mean they should be starting every game from now on.

 

I'd judge a full-back firstly on whether he can defend against teams who are actually half-decent and will put you under a bit of pressure. A bit mad IMO to be suggesting that Arbeloa replace Finnan just because he had a field day against a rubbish Besiktas.

 

No harm in the competition but who's actually done it in tight games that really matter?

 

Aurelio is less of an issue as we don't really have anyone nailing down the left-back slot. He's far better on the ball than Riise but I do have some doubts about him defensively.

Edited November 7, 2007 by RedLegend

[jimmylibel]

First half hour last night Arbeloa gave the ball away a few times and was caught out of position a few times. Thankfully none of them were punished but if they were we wouldn't be having this discussion.

 

I think the defence actually looks a little unstable with Arbeloa at RB. However it looks very solid when he plays LB.