Our formation for the upcoming season is something that has been heavily debated on several sites, between the tactics themselves and the possible players to fill out those tactical ideas. I just thought I’d post what I personally have in mind and see what your ideas were as well. So feel free to post what you’d like to see us doing on the pitch this term.
When Skrtel arrived, if you’ll recall, there were several mentions of Carra knowing Rafa’s plans for the future. Now, adding two wing backs has simply made them even clearer. It’s obvious that Carra needs a breather here and there, he’s not a spring chick anymore. Getting a day off here and there would keep him fresh and at his best. Because of this I think we will see a combination of formations at the back in both a 4 man back line and a “5” man one.
Depending on the opposition I think you may see something like this from time to time….
—————–Torres—-Keane——————
———————Gerrard———
—————Barry———Masch———
—–Dossena—-Agger–Skrtel–Carra—-Degen
———————Reina———————–
Use the full backs to provide the necessary width while having 3 of the best cb’s in the world covering behind them. This would also provide space in the middle for the 3 up top, especially providing for Gerrard to come running onto balls centered in from out wide. Barry can go forward as necessary as well as play a holding position alongside Mascherano
Having so many great cb’s isn’t going to be a problem as some foresee, nor will Rafa put Jamie out at RB except in emergencies. He simply isn’t the attacking option necessary for a title contending side out wide. Nor would Carra want to be out there permanently I would think.
As for the typical 4 man back line, I think you’ll simply see the 3 CB rotate with a Hyppia appearance now and again, the way it was meant to be this season.
—————-Torres——Keane——-
———————Gerrard———————-
——-Babel————————New Winger
———————-Masch——————–
——-Dossena—-Skrtel—-Agger—-Degen
———————-Reina———————–
Leaving Gerrard in the center is imperative for his morale I think, but it also allows him to track back if he sees fit. Unlike this season, when everyone thought he was magical in his role behind Torres, I just thought it showed how few attacking options we really had. Losing Gerrard in the midfield is a blow. He’s a bulldog out there, and does best to trail the play slightly, finding seams in the defense to unleash his massive shot or pick out a pass. Let’s get wide and let’s spread the opposition, not only for our larger rivals, but especially against sides out for a bore draw with us on the road. I think this will allow us to break down those defenses with much more ease.
All in all, whether it’s Keane or another striker, I think it’s clear now with the sale of Crouch that the funds will be there for some attacking options. Barry / Alonso is a wash, Crouch +10 million = Keane at the absolute worst, and now we have 10 mil of the original 20 mil or so I’d say we probably had set by to say nothing of what will be generated in sales the rest of the way. Finding 15-20 mil for a wide player should not be a problem, and with that out of the way I’d say we have a side capable of bringing home #19.
In Rafa We Trust
As much as I would be okay with seeing Keane at Anfield, I am not too sure if he would come. I know not many of us would have Kuyt in our preferred starting 11 but lets not forget the work rate he puts in. His work allows for Torres to get his opportunities. I feel we should not discard Kuyt so instead of having Keane in the above fomations why not give Kuyt a run? Kuyt owes us some goals to go with his work rate and I have a funny feeling he is going to deliver for us this season.
So for me how about this:
—–Torres—-
Babel—Gerrard—-Kuyt
–Mascherano—Barry–
Dossena–Agger—Skrtel—Deggen
–Reina–
Pretty much the same as last season but with two new wingbacks and who know how effective these two new guys could be. And oh, Barry in midfield. We do not need to change too much from last season.
I appreciate everything Kuyt does, but he has to show me he has a goal scorer’s touch. I think he had 3 goals in the Premiership this past season (2 pens vs Everton), which is only one more form open play than Reina!
Keane is a lifelong fan of Liverpool and I think that brings an element that can’t be measured. He wants the club to do well and is a proven scorer in the Prem. 24 goals in all comps I think last year, 9 less than Torres, but 3 more than Gerrard.
My only real point is that out of the formation above, besides possible shuffling at fullback, Kuyt is the only player who isn’t arguably one of the best players in the world in his position. I certainly want Kuyt in the squad however, as I think he is a valuable contributor to boost us through our lesser fixtures and bring that work rate in the big matches where it’s needed. Put him on after 60 mins in a CL QF and watch him run someone to death, either way he’s a quality player, just perhaps not world class.
Any possibility that Babel play alongside Torres?
I see Babel turning into a Thiery Henry kind of player. He will not be your out and out number 9 like Torres is but can play just off the striker and still score 20 odd goals a season. I think we will see Rafa using Babel more and more as a striker this season especially now that Crouch has left. A Babel – Torres combination could be lethal and they are both still very young to. We have had the Keegan – Toshack combo, Rush – Dalglish, Fowler – Collymore, Owenn – Heskey and maybe now it’s time for Torres – Babel.
I would certainly see him as a possible fill in up top if for no other reason than to get him minutes on the pitch. The more he plays, wherever it is, the better for LFC. His future certainly might lie in that direction.
Definitely. Babel possesses what it takes, he just has to package it all together. He is perfect for playing off Torres, which is all the more reason to drop our captain back into his midfield role, able to come up and trail the attack as he is best at. I’d prefer to leave Babel up top and focus on wide attacking options such as Silva / Bentley. We’ll have to see what happens, but I am very excited with our chances for this upcoming term.