Hello Reds (and United fans constantly on this page) Gerrard has been ruled out for the rest of the season. What do you think this means for us? What formation will we play? 5th out the window? I think so. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13009655.stm
not to concerned about it to be honest. We're not really playing for much so we don't need to rush him back for anything. Just get him ready for August! As long as we can wrap up 5th soon which I think we should, starting with a win over Citeh on Monday! 5th could still be a possibility if Tottenham continue their awful form of late. Wouldn't mind not having the distraction of Europa League though next season, but wouldn't complain if we got it either.
I don't think he's needed at the moment.He's had a relatively poor season by his high standards.Most of this was due to Hodgsons mismanagement of the entire team.It was too late in January to do anything about it.Lets get him fit and firing for the start of the new season.The less we depend on him the better as far as I'm concerned.It also seems that Luis Suarez has assumed the role of talisman anyway.
Another oppertunity for Lucas to step up. I reckon we'll go like this until we get some players back GK: Reina RB: Carra CB: Soto CB: Skertl LB: Wilson RCM: Meireles CM: Lucas LCM: Cole/Maxi RF: Kuyt CF: Carroll LF: Suarez
Bozz, thats not a bad formation. I like the look of that,as both Kuyt and Suarez like to go wide.They never seem to end up where they started.Suarez tends to move across the line.If one went wide,the other could move centrally and seeing as Suarez has such good feet,Kuyt would pick up on any fumbles.He's quite alert when it comes to goal-keeping fumbles.Thats how he got his hat-trick against the Salfords.Any mistakes in and around the 6 yard box and he's on to them in a flash.The best of the lot was how he took advantage of Nani's rediculous header.Fair play to him for being alert and gaining a yard and having the nous to get in there.Okay the situation was created by Suarez' ball into the area,but Kuyt pounced and got his reward.
Our midfield is so weak at the moment its alarming. Exactly why teams keep turning us over. Big priority over the summer. We need a whole new realy!
The only issue I can see is us getting flooded in the midfield. If the opposition sets up with an attacking 3-5-2 then we're in trouble and may need to rely on some hoofball. One of the things I do like about the side since the end of January is that Suarez & Kuyt get back and help press in the midfield a lot more then we did previously. this then releseases the wide midfielders to work crosses for Carroll, this stratagy alone is something we could never have done with torres as he relies on the killer pass - something that we can never provide without Gerrard.
I actually agree with the part that Suarez and Kuyt drop deep pressing the opposition midfield. However.We're a work in progress and not the finished article as of yet.The key is wingers,and Kenny has identified this as key for the summer.He knows what he needs to get the best out of both Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez.Plus the use of wingers does two jobs.It releases the pressure on the central midfielders and puts pressure on opposing full-backs. Do you think for one minute that Man United could get away with having garbage in their central midfield if they didn't have quality wingers?Their central midfield is worse than Wigans.But they have natural width.Its the reason why they are top of the league,and added to your point about attackers pressing the opposing midfield.Rooney or Berbatov/Hernandez do that to perfection because they can release their natural width.
I said it on another thread, I do not like the look of our squad at least 75% of the time ( due to injuries or what not, we rarely field our strongest 11). I don't want to bring Football manager or FIFA into this, but anytime I get my hands on those games, I completely dismantle the team and build it how I think it should be. Width number one priority, I mean seriously, do we have ANYONE that can play on the wings? A big reason I think Sterling will be one of the first Youth products to break through as he has something that we actually do not have at all. Creative AM, Gerrard used to be this, Raul sort of stepped in and has slumped, JC the less said the better, don't know why Mazi or Suarez isn't put there! ( Oh wait, no wingers). Playmaking CM. Lucas can fit the holding role for me, Spearing probably can as well. You might say we need that type of M'Vila, M'bia, M. Sissoko type player but I think the palymaking CM a la Banega, Alonso, Marchisio, Honda, etc. person that can unlock defenses with passes or some individual brilliance as well. Then obviously LB and CB. cahill has been shouted around but I think we can do better, don't know exactly who, but someone on the transfer thread posted Chiellini swap with aqua, that would be awesome. LB Coentrao has been tabbed, Taiwo, and cissokho. I like the look of all 3. Even in a 4-3-3 you ahve to have that width and we have two forwards on the wings at the moment or AM's who want to run inside all the time to clog it. THe occasional inside run is dangerous and positive when it is the right timing, but we need that wide player to hug the lines and take people on. other than Suarez, who actually beats a player?
What we have in abundance is ''pocket players''.Players that come inside and try and play between the midfield and the attack.This is the reason why Dani Pacheco isn't getting a look-in.He has Maxi and Joe Cole in front of him.I reckon one should go.Milan Jovanovic should go anyway as he's pointless.Poulsen is another pointless player,''He doesn't do what it says on the tin''. We badly need width.To incorporate width into a 25 man squad,these omissions need to be made,to also add the introduction of a creative passer.I would set it up in such a way that say if JC and Maxi both went,that would mean that Aquilani could come back as he's that thrusting CAM that we're crying out for that can fill in for SG.I don't think we need a specialised DM,if we have natural width.
Agreed, without natrual width it narrows the formation which jepordises the pass & move mentality, we then get frustraited with the lack of movement, the ball ends up at Carra's feet and we go route 1
If we can avoid talking about getting the ball on carra's foot the happier I will be.... Can't stand that ball that he plays!!!
Gerrard's absence for the rest of the season is a blow. We need the fringe players to step up to the plate now and put in some performances for the final seven games of the season.
cant believe none of you have mentioned that jonjo shelvey is practically match fit and could do with the experience, big blow but could have come at much worse times
Shelveys back, but he's apparently lacking match fitness, so it'll be interesting to see if he's played or not.
According to John Henry,Tom Werner and Damien Comolli the summer is going to be ''busy''.At both ends.There will be significant departures and arrivals.It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who the majority of the departures are.We still haven't found out who the arrivals are and probably won't until they are ready to be unveiled.However Kenny has said wingers are a priority.Its vital Kenny signs wingers.I reckon he will.If he can get in 2 wingers and a left back,I would be over the moon as both are vital.Anything else is a bonus.
