A solution to the problem would be to put Meireles alongside Lucas in central midfield while leaving Gerrard to support Carroll up front with Kuyt and Suarez playing wide right and wide left. It would certainly look to be a very attacking 4-2-3-1 formation but I have a couple of concerns about how it would be implemented.
Certainly Luis Suarez has played in wide areas before. For Uruguay during the World Cup, he played wide on the right with Edison Cavani on the left hand side to support Diego Forlan up front. For Ajax he has played a number of times on the left hand side for the Dutch club although he has predominantly played in tandem centrally alongside Mounir El Hamdaoui. Suarez’s biggest threat is in central areas where he can threaten the opposition goal with his excellent finishing abilities. Although it is not a square peg in a round hole scenario, as Suarez has the talent to play the role, I think we should play him where he excels best after paying £23million. He may like linking up play in midfield and could be a provider for Andy Carroll, but he is by far a bigger threat in the penalty area where he can capitalise on Carroll’s strength in the air.
The second concern with the 4-2-3-1 is pretty obvious, the need for out and out wingers with pace. The best exponents of the formation have speed and pace to burn to stretch opposition on the wings and we need players to get to the by-line and put in threatening crosses to get the best out of Andy Carroll. Although with Suarez and Kuyt, Carroll would have support up front; the team would play very narrow with Suarez generally cutting inside to get involved in central midfield areas. Long term, for both Carroll and Suarez to be success, a different approach maybe needed. Perhaps Suarez could play in Gerrard’s supporting role behind Carroll but do you then put Gerrard back in central midfield? Would formation would you prefer to get the best out of the pair?
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I think the obvious solution is a 433. Thats what KK played when Torres was still here, and I think he’s waiting for Carroll to come back. Then he’ll play it. As rightly pointed out earlier, Suarez is not an out an out striker. He’s played as a winger/supporting strikers for a lot of his career, and still scored. I think Kenny knows this. When torres was here we played that 433. But we had Maxi on the left. I think Suarez was bought as an all round attacker. Versatile. I think he’d be playing on that left wing if torres was still here and he’ll play more to the left when playing with Carroll. I think the team will be 4-3-3/4-3-2-1
reina kelly carra agger johnson gerrard lucas meireles kuyt and suarez either side/supporting Carroll. Quality team. Need a winger or 2 in the summer, and the same applies for central midfielders. IMO Charlie Adam, Ashley Young, Yann m’vila, Charles N’zogbia, Coentrao and Enrique would all be good buys in the summer.
Just for Sunday (horses for courses) Gerrard on the right would be decent, with
Reina
G Johnson Carra Agger Aurelio/
Gerrard Meireles Lucas Cole/Maxi
Suarez
Kuyt
After 60 mins bring Carroll on…
we’re gonna need about 3-4 players in the summer, two wingers (especially a left-sided one!), one defensive mid and a left back as well, maybe Charlie Adam as well if we want… For the rest of THIS season i think 4-3-3 would be decent
Reina
Johnson Carra Agger/Skrtel Aurelio/Agger
Lucas
Gerrard Meireles
Kuyt/Pacheco Suarez/Cole
Carroll
I think they have plans for Johnson, and rightly too. He hasn’t had a bad game under Kenny. You saw how advanced he was against West Ham. Good player, should be in the side. Even when he has played in defence under Kenny hardly anyones gone past him.