Pundits keep saying they think it will take Dalglish a few weeks to work out what his best team is. Obviously the best team isnt the 11 best players in the squad, its the 11 that work best together, with the best balance. It really is a tricky one. With injuries to Gerrard I lean towards this. -------------Reina---------- Kelly-Carragher-Agger-Enrique ----Meireles-Lucas-Adam---- ---Suarez--Carroll--Downing- But worry about Adam and Meireles defensively. Spearing will sort that, and add energy, but doesnt have so much creativity. You could go 4-4-2 and but Kuyt on the right, but against a lot of teams these days 2 in the middle is not enough. Meireles looked great behind the striker yesterday, and was a goal machine there yesterday, but I don't see Carroll or Suarez as loan strikers. Carroll could do it, but needs the support from the middle. And then you have Johnson v Kelly. Johnson attacks better, but Kelly defends better. Johnson will add the width on the right which no one else can, but Kelly keeps every thing tighter at the back. I Can really see the headache Kenny has. Its a good headache to have, as it prooves we have a wide range of options. What do you guys think on the matter.
So many options... I still like the 4-4-2 system. ---------Reina--------- Kelly-Carragher-Agger-Enrique Kuyt-Adam-Lucas-Downing ------Suarez-Carroll------ This is the team I like with Gerrard injured. Also, Kenny will change the team and formation around depending on players available and who we are playing.
I wouldn't pick Carroll in the strongest XI. I rather have Kuyt up front because our style of play is based on movement, intelligence and quick link up. IMO - Carroll is far too static. I hope he improves during the season.
I like Carroll. I feel the problem with Carroll yesterday is that he was not getting enough support. I feel even if the systems all about movement you need to keep some one up top. Carroll's a target man and can hold the ball up.
I agree however Carroll struggled against Vermalen and was easily nullified. Apart from his strength and heading ability, he doesn't really offer anything else. It was no surprise that we looked more dangerous once Suarez came on in his place. Carroll is a good player and will be useful as he offers something different. However, he needs to add more to his game to be a top striker.
---------Reina--------- Johnson-Carragher-Agger-Enrique Henderson-Adam-Lucas-Downing ------------Meireles----------- ------------Suarez------------
its slightly annoying how caroll came off at the same time suarez and meireles came on (although this is rather obvious) at the same time frimpong got sent off as its hard to really determine what changed it, probably a comination of all although i do lean towards suarezs presence and creativity as the main factor there. Id ilke to see suarez starting alongside caroll for the next game to see how they work together.
I think the main thing was Carroll being a loan striker. It means he is up against 2 centre backs marking him and he had no one run around him, which I feel he needs.
IMO you're missing the point. It was the perfect time to change the attacking lineup to take advantage of the extra space and it won the game. Kenny's bought a big squad because it wins matches like it did yesterday. We don't need Carroll and Suarez to play together if playing them separately wins us points. In big games like against Arsenal you often only want one striker anyway.
I agree with the first formation suggested, however I'd also like to see this tried out in a couple of games: ----------------Reina Kelly----Carragher----Agger----Enrique Johnson----Lucas----Adam----Downing ---------Suarez ---------------Carroll The added width and crossing of Johnson would provide extra balls for Carroll, which is why I've picked him. Another option would be to have Kuyt playing off Suarez or vice versa, because I think they link up well. In-game, the midfield would probably end up as a kind of diamond (like Chelsea used to have) with Adam attacking when we have the ball at the top and Lucas remaining deep. Downing and Adam would get into advanced positions on the left, and Johnson and Suarez on the right, although in full flow I wouldn't expect it to be so rigid.
I think Carrolls usefulness yesterday was that even though he didn't get much change out of Vermaelen he definately gave him a hard time and a bit of a battering and thats going to be useful to us in a lot of away games this year. He'll get no favours off referees just as Crouchie never did so I think Kenny might on occasion just use him as a battering ram for an hour then allow the more skillful players to follow in his wake if you like For me he'll be a regular starter and hopefully once he's got a few more goals under his belt will start looking like a key part of the team and become one of those forwards that defenders simply hate playing against.
no you misunderstood what i meant, I only meant slightly annoying for analysing the game afterwards, great time for a change, but makes it more difficult to pinpoint what exactly made most difference
But the good news is that if we do find it, Mr. Ashley has still got all the money sitting around to refund us.
Well, Arsenal fans will always say it was the sending off, whereas we'd like to think it was the subs. All that matters is that it goes down as 3 points.
I'd like to see Reina Kelly,Carra,Agger,Enrique Meireles,Spearing,Adam Kuyt,Suarez,Downing Probably not many who would agree with that but I think Spearing is a better tackler than Lucas and I think Carroll hasn't been that great last couple of games and might have more luck coming off the bench late in the game. Gerrard in for Adam or Meireles when fit. Johnson back up for Kelly as I think Kelly is overall a better right back.
I'd love Carroll to fail here but he'll do well if he has a partner. When he plays as a lone striker he just gets double marked out of the game. We just had to put Ameobi up front with him and he was far better because they couldnt put 2 players on him.
