With Jordan Henderson on the verge of signing for Liverpool for £16m, and another midfielder in Charlie Adam more than likely to be on his way to Anfield this summer, it is fair to say Liverpool’s central midfield will be filled to the brim. Listing all the players, it begs to question of what sort of formation King Kenny is thinking about using for next season.
Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Steven Gerrard, Raul Meireles, Alberto Aquilani, Jonjo Shelvey, Jay Spearing, Lucas Leiva, Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen will all be in the first team squad, and although at least three of these will most probably be leaving this summer, it does still raise the issue of how all of these players will fit in. Perhaps Henderson has the potential to play out wide, but that would still leave Raul Meireles, Steven Gerrard and Charlie Adam effectively challenging for one spot in the team if the Reds do play with both Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll in a 4-4-2 formation.
I am sure Kenny has got a plan in mind though, and from what I can ascertain, it looks more likely he will opt for a 4-3-3 formation. I maybe second guessing him here but with rumours that the Reds transfer targets are Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Connor Wickham, Stewart Downing, Jose Enrique and perhaps Scott Dann, the lack of wingers on the list suggest a different approach to a basic 4-4-2.
The purchase of players such as Henderson and Downing, as well as the continual presence of Meireles in the squad suggest that Dalglish is looking for players who are adaptable to a number of positions. Meireles played right side, left side, central midfield and attacking midfield last season, while Henderson can play either centrally or on the wing, while Downing can play right, left or centrally too.
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If we’re gonna have lots of central midfielders who may stock the centre in our formations then fullbacks are gonna be key. We’ve got Johnson who’ll be effective with this approach but the left is lacking.
Any Liverpool worth his salt will read this article on Baines. Imagine his stats in a red shirt next season!
http://footballneutral.blogspot.com/2011/06/why-liverpool-need-leighton-baines.html
We need wingers/creative players FFS, we’ve been saying this for years…this is the priority.
We need…..
1 experienced striker in addition to Wickham.
1 holding midfielder
2 wingers (as above)
1 left back
1 centre back
…and any other quality player we can hold of to pack out our bench.
…and by the way…Downing, Enrique and Dann are all crap. If this is what we have to look forward to then we’re screwed!
I’d say that the wingers and left back are far more of a priority than another striker – assuming that we continue to play a one central striker formation, we already have Carroll and Suarez for the role, with Kuyt (and Ngoo?) waiting on the bench. Even if we play with 2 strikers (hopefully not!) 3 experienced strikers and 1 reserve should surely suffice.
Downing and Enrique aren’t crap either imo btw – Downing isn’t what we need (doesn’t have the pace or flair to elevate us to elite status or excite the fans/potential young signees), but he is at least capable of doing a job
We need to focus on left back and wingers first. Then move onto positions in order of priority. Adam isn’t a priority! Enrique and Dann aren’t the answer. Not crap but not good enough to help us back into the top 4. That’s gotta be the aim so why are these 3 players linked.
Wouldn’t mind Downing or N’Zogbia but that has to be in addition to a top class creative wide player like Mata.
I’ll support the players Kenny eventually does sign whoever they’ll be and if I don’t agree, I hope the likes of Adam, Dann and Enrique prove me wrong IF they do come.
You are right along my lines of thinking Chris! Mata plus Nzogbia (or Elia) and a decent left back would have us realistically looking at title contention again.
Dann is surely not any better than Kelly, so I don’t understand the obsession with looking at young centrebacks that have only played more than Kelly because they’re at lesser clubs with no pressure to deliver
I think he is going to make sure he has the adaptability within the squad to play any formation whether its 3-5-2, 3-4-3, 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-5-1 or simply you ten guys go out and play! One of the only complaints he had bout the squad last season was its lack of options caused by lack of quality in depth. Exciting times ahead and if you think we’re having problems predicting what to expect how do you think all other premier league managers are feeling? It’s their job to try and predict the King ha ha almost feel sorry for them!
4/5/2
Reina
Johnson(Kelly) Carragher/Skrtel Dann/Agger Enrigue(johnson)
Lucas (Spearing) Adam (Poulsen)
Henderson(shelvey) Gerrard Mirieles(Rodriguez)
Carroll(Kuyt) Suarez(Wickham)
yet another person who has somehow forgotten that football is an 11 a side game, not 12 a side.
what the…
We need a squad with quality in depth, even without European football next season, the management are planning ahead. The aim next season is to achieve top four and have a good crack at the domestic cups for a change. The season after will be the one where all should be set for a full on title assault. Having a top quality bench is essential to success, the Mancs, Chelski and the Sheik had over £50 million sitting on their benches last season, we need to have the same if we are to compete at the top level. Having a bench of Lucas, Spearing, Wilson, Maxi & Shelvey will not be good enough regardless if the first 11 are all super men.
This would be great balf but we are only allowed eleven players on the field 🙂
I have always believed that if you play Carroll then you must have both Suarez and Kuyt supporting him. Mirieles is a must for a midfield position as are Gerard and Lucas(holding midfield). I can only see 433 with quality wingbacks yet to be signed although Johnson(left) and Flannagan(right) in the absence of new signings would probably be good enough, leaving Carragher Skrtel and Kelly to compete for central defence positions.
1.You don’t get a full season out of most players.
2.Theres more than enough games for all, it lets have a good go at the carling and fa cup as well.
3.We will sell also.
4.We still haven’t bought all those players yet…
5.You need two squads these days if you want success, ask Cheeski, Manure and Man City!
I don’t see what all the fuss is about
Meireles and/or (Henderson) Lucas and/or(Spearing)
Gerrard out wide on the right or in the hole if we opt the 4-5-1 with Suarez. Shelvey as a sub, Poulsen out, Cole out, Aqua out.
You need some depth in your squad! You can never control injuries. But you can make sure it doesnt affect your team when it does happen.
but hold on! Adam is a starter, not a bench warmer and with Lucas on the up (won LFC player of the year), we defo don’t need Adam! your right with the outs, but strong “bit part” players such as Maxi and hopefully a player that plays with heart and soul like Park Chu Young can be added to the mix! LFC will only bring in 1 winger because of the importance of kuyt being on the pitch, so a player of N’Zogbia and Hopefully using Johnson in a more foward position would be helpfull. Also know that Kenny will use Suso and may be even Pacheco (when he’s not on loan) to play the bit part for now!
I honestly think Adam would be one player too many for the centre of midfield but I was speaking to a good mate of mine yesterday, Spurs fan.
He said the only way at a push to justify purchase of Adam is 433/4321 with Lucas playing in the Mascherano role, Adam spraying passes like Alonso and Gerrard/Meireles providing runs into the box. Backed up by Henderson and Spearing to provide depth and variety.
Makes sense. But is that what the setup will be?
OH MY GOD PLEASE NOT HIM – THE SEASON WILL BE OVER
WE DONT NEED THAT C-R-A-P PLAYER HERE !!