KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Starting 11 vs the scum

maxi spent most of the match covering Johnsons backside, he is a crap defender and he has completely lost confidence going forward too.

Meireles is more of an offensive player compared to Lucas and Poulsen, and since its an away game i say we play the first half more defensive, like we did at Birmingham with the midfield duo, and leave Meireles for the start of the 2nd, since hes just gettin his feet wet in the PL. A good counterattack i believe is key and we got Cole back along with Torres and Gerrard and hopefully Milan will keep his word.

its obvious, roy has more attacking options than midfielding, Gerrard can do DM for now and Maxi can make a good CM

ok, now is the time

i'd love this
---------------Reina-------------
Johnson----Carra---Agger----Konch
--------------Poulsen------------
-------Gerrard-------Meireles----
---------------Cole--------------
----------Babel----Torres--------
with Jones - Skrtel - Kelly - Spearing - Jovanovic - Pacheco

but i'll see this
---------------Reina--------------
Johnson----Carra---Skrtel----Konch
--------Poulsen------Meireles-----
--------------Gerrard-------------
-------Cole-----------Jovanovic---
--------------Torres--------------
with Jones - Agger - Kelly - Lucas - Maxi - Babel

I'm of the opinion that we are actually ok defensively, but our weakness is when we have the ball we don't know what to do with it. Whether that is because our two holding midfielder plan is inherently weakened by the players we pick, or because we find ourselves under too much pressure because players off the ball are not active enough is for debate. What i do think is that we can afford to be less defensive, and also have the players available to become very aggressive; choosing which route will obviously be decided by opponent and venue.

Less defensive is easy - only one of Lucas or Poulsen. More aggressive than that: neither of them.

So if we were to take a more balanced side to OT, but with attacking intent:
---------------Reina-------
--Johnson--Carra--Agger--Konch--
------------Poulsen-------------
----Meireles--------Gerrard-----
--Cole------Torres-------Jova---

Meireles is on the right to cover for Johnson bombing forward, while Gerrard will fill the void behind Jova. Otherwise change it to 4-1-4-1 with Cole and Jova dropping back, or perhaps 4-4-1-1 with Cole in the hole and Gerrard as RM (or vice versa). I believe this XI is very flexible, especially since we can substitute Poulsen for Babel or Pacheco to become more attacking, or Jova for Spearing or even Wilson if we need to defend more. If we just need to tighten up at the back, then Kelly for Johnson. If we need a lot of forward ball, then Skrtel for Konch (Agger moving to LCB and Skrtel in the middle) and push Johnson into midfield. I also think that Lucas would do fine in Poulsen's place as the lone DM, and N'gog or Babel would be adequate as striker.

EDIT: bench - Jones, Kelly, Skrtel (or Wilson), Pacheco, Shelvey (or N'gog or Amoo), Babel, Spearing (or Suso)

Think we have to go for it at Greyskull, go for the win. If we play two holding midfielders Torres will get battered by manures back 4, it will be back 4 coz we aint got any width to occupy the full backs. If Lucas and Poulsen play it will be sideways passes till Gerrard gets on the ball(impatiently) and looks to hit Nando immediately who will be double marked with at least one full back on the cover.

Straw poll:

a) 0-0 draw following an inept performance
b) play cagey like at City and lose
c) play cagey and nick a point
d) play gagey and fluke a 1-0
e) go for it put in a positive attacking performance and lose

I'm for e) ahead of the all the others, I wanna see some belief from the players, belief that they can go and outplay the mancs and win

I would quite happily stick Lucas on Scholes for the whole games and just mark him out of the match, No Scholes no Utd at present. IMO we would then have a side that are more than capable of going for the win.
Reina
Johnson Carra Skrtl Konchesky

Cole Gerrard Lucas Miereles Babel

Torres

Would play to have Cole join Torres when we have the ball and to fall back to help out when Utd have it.

whoever plays, i hope we on our toes, i hope the new boys will adjust to a very hostle atmosphere.

Unfortunately under a new coach, im in no position to predict, lol

I just dont feel i know this new manager well enough,

Im not writing off our chances, we a strong club, and fernanado has the indian sign on vidic.

United are not playing fantastic footie.

Reina will be a 12th man for us i feel

Reina

Johnson Carragher Agger Konchesky

Babel Gerrard Meireles Pacheco

Cole

Torres

Subs: Jones, Kelly, Kyrgiakos, Lucas, Maxi, Jovanovic, Ngog

looks good but:-
-jova is starting instead of pacheco
-agger won't start, Skrtel will and the greek won't be there
-admit it, we have to see Lucas or Poulsen, or even both