Really glad we got Braga as they play a very attacking and creative style. They also demolished Sevilla earlier this season to get into the champs league and will really test our team. They have loads of Brazilians so definitely some good footy to be seen!
It will probably be a good game then! Carroll should be available to play, Kuyt and Carroll up front in a 3-5-2 should neutralise their attack whilst giving an outlet to run down the middle. I'd be tempted to use Aurelio rather than Johnson in the LWB position as Aurelio typically is a better crosser of the ball, and with Carroll up front as the target man he's going to need crosses into the box. ---------------Reina--------------- ----Carragher--Agger---Skrtel------ --Kelly--------------------Aurelio--- ---------------Lucas--------------- -------Gerrard-------Meireles------- ---------------Kuyt---------------- --------------Carroll---------------- Possibility of putting Spearing in where Gerrard is if Gerrard won't play. Agger should be recovered by then too.
Agger suffered a dead leg so it is far from serious.He may not play against the Hammers,but do we really need him.He will be fit for March 10th,I reckon he'll even play against the Scum sunday week.
Hope so, but I just feel it may have been more than a dead leg because he was coming into this match on the back of an injury already. It's a shame about Carroll not playing against the Hammers, probably the best team to have your debut against this season.
I'd be more inclined to go with ---------------Reina--------------- --------Carragher----Agger--------- --Kelly--------------------Johnson--- ---------Lucas------Aurelio---------- -------Gerrard-------Meireles------- ---------------Kuyt---------------- --------------Carroll---------------- This gives Johnson the freedom to bomb up the wing and create aerial chances for Carrol while Aurelio can cover defencively while Lucas can do the same for Kelly OR We almost have a potential selection headache because if Cole puts a shift in against West Ham he could be an option... ---------------Reina------------------ --------Carragher----Agger--------- --Kelly--------------------Johnson--- ---------------Lucas------------------ -------Gerrard---Meireles----------- ---Kuyt-----------------------Cole--- --------------Carroll----------------- This would require a lot more dicipline from the full backs as a counter attack could easily lead to us being outnumbered in the midfield (esp. after corners). there are other things we need to think about too, Soto was brilliant last night so could be in for a shout. Maybe remove Johnson and put the more diciplined Agger in the LB role (of the second formation) and have Soto as the other centre back
I'm not sure, Braga are a very attacking side - Our CBs aren't consistent enough for us to just have 2 on the pitch in my opinion. I'd rather see 3 central defenders than 2 and cut down the wings a bit, we don't have natural wingers - there's no point pretending we do. Also I don't think Cole is particularly good enough at the moment to be played in this type of game - if he gets a start every game between now and 10th March then he will be in contention, but if that doesn't happen he just won't have enough match fitness. I think you're right about Soto, I'd rather put Soto in the back 3 than Skrtel, but I feel Soto can be bit slow - and I'd usually only put him in a lineup to add height for crosses, but we have Carroll for that now. Just playing off your idea a bit... If we used the same players we could do this.. ---------------Reina--------------- --------Carragher---Agger--------- --Kelly--------------------Johnson--- --Gerrard--Lucas---Meireles--Aurelio- ---------------Kuyt---------------- --------------Carroll---------------- I'm not a fan of the 4-4-2, but it could work if we can control the midfield and get crosses into the box. My only concern would be Kelly and Johnson - Kelly will be restricted to a solely defensive display which I think will hamper his skill a bit and Johnson's only redeeming quality at LWB is that he can get forward more, he's as good at defending in LB as he is at RB.
Its definitely a dead leg,it was announced during the coverage that it was a dead leg,they could tell the way he pulled up.Its definitely not serious.
