With the league campaign coming to an end for Liverpool, against Aston Villa next Sunday, one of the interesting things to note about this season is the discovery of two talented full backs in Martin Kelly and John Flanagan. Both encouraged by Kenny Dalglish after his appointment in January, both players have forced Glen Johnson out of position to left back for one reason or another. With the Reds likely to buy a new left back in the summer, there will probably be only one full back position left up for grabs. Who would get your vote for starting next campaign?
Glen Johnson – The most likely to be given the nod by Kenny Dalglish next season, it is fair to say that Glen didn’t have the best first half of the season. With the whole team low on confidence, Johnson typified the form of a large portion of the Reds first team, with his worst match coming in the humiliating home defeat against Blackpool where he was at fault for both goals. Still, like many others, Johnson’s form has improved markedly since the arrival of Kenny Dalglish as manager.
After having a poor relationship with previous boss Roy Hodgson which led many to believe he would depart the club in the January transfer window, he began to show his true form again despite playing out of position on many occasions at left back. In fact, far from being less comfortable in the position, Johnson has actually looked more solid defensively after limiting his forward runs on his weaker foot. It has meant that when he has played in his more favoured right back role, he has played with more assuredness than in the first half the season. With his experience, and attacking threat, he has to start as favourite for the role next season.
Martin Kelly – Everyone was excited when he made his full debut for the club against Lyon last campaign under Rafa Benitez. It was an excitement that was justified after Kenny Dalglish showed faith in the defender by starting him in his first game in charge against Manchester United in the FA Cup. Since that game, Kenny has continued to play the youngster at right back, and the 21 year old has subsequently repaid the manager’s faith after a string of good performances.
Continue Reading on Page 2 . . .
I’ll keep saying it over and over again – play players where they are best suited! (unless it is absolutely necessary to play them elsewhere). Kelly has the attributes to be a great centre-back, and he shouldn’t continue to be played out of position just to accommodate players with such little long term (or short term) value as Carragher or Skrtel.
He shouldn’t immediately be first choice and left to sink or swim all season (like Insua at left back) but he should be starting more often than not at centre-back next season imo (unless we bring in another dominant centre-back that is…)
I completely agree. It’s great that we know he can play right back and he should be our 2nd choice right back behind Johnson. Johnson is unbelievably smooth. Kelly, Ayala and Wilson could be our depth at CH next season. We will see who we pick up in the transfer window.
Leave Flano there, he is doing well! Could become a long term fixture there for the reds! Put Kelly in the centre, his natural position!. Johnson isn’t good enough to play anywhere in the back 4! either play him in Right midfield or get rid!
KELLY it’s a no contest.
I think we should use a variety of them depending on the situation as managers should pick their players
Johnson is immense going forward and I highly rate him as the best English right back when going forward and we paid 19 million pounds for him, when trying to break down teams that have lesser quality and are ‘parking the boat’ in a sense he is great going forward and is likely to create chances for the likes of Carroll kuyt and Suarez, Kelly has very much impressed me as well and being a centre back he should be played as a centre back, however in tight games him in the right back position could keep us more solid than the likes of johnson
if kelly is not right back HE MUST BE IN THE TEAM.
Johnsons our right back, Kelly will give him competition and Glen will give competition to Kuyt and the new right winger. Its win win so lets let Kenny tell us how it should be eh
Johnson on the right, Kelly to play CB, Flanno to deputise for Johnson.
Agree with everyne, think Kelly long term is the # 1 Center Back but possible he will play right acka dn center back next season, Johnson should be played some games right side of midfield, Flano should get some games as right back and not left back.
It is a long season, injuries etc, for games where we are under pressure and need height in defence play Kelly at RB, for other games trust the guy as CB, he is mobile , quick on the turn and reads the suitation well.
This keeps all guys including other CB’s on their ties and increases competition.
We dont need a expensive CB per say unless Aggear is allowed to leave due to his constant injuries. Kelly to replace the greek and lets get in a experienced left back.
Glen is with Maicon the best rightback in the world, he has strength, speed, technique and can use both feet, we’re lucky to have him in our team (thanks to Rafa), onlyfew teams have a fullback of this level, Barcellona/Alves, ManU/Evra, Inter/Maicon, Liverpool/Johnson…the only problem is that i saw him this year a little bit oversize, maybe is the consequence of the injury…however if he’s in good shape he’s a top player, no doubt about this…and i think too that kelly could bee the next Carra, let him play as centerback
looks good for the team with so much competition id play johnson as a right winger with kelly at RF untill flanno is ready then kelly can go CM with skrtyl cos agger is too injury prone [pity] buy baines in the summer and the defence is sorted
I’d go for Johnson but unless his defensive performances are solid, I’d pick Kelly anytime. Kelly might also be a very good central defender
In the absence of any class wingers, we should set up like so:
——Kelly/Carra-Agger-Skrtel
Jonno————————–LB (whomever)
Flanno should go back to deputy duty, is far too young to be first choice.
On a sidenote, Martin Skrtel is on his day the second best defender at the club (behind Dagger) and one of the finest combative defenders in the Prem. Having your jaw broken in an aerial challenge is horrific enough, but having it done by your teammate is traumatic and its no wonder his form has been down the pan for ages (did Carra do it deliberately because his place was under threat? Oooooooooooooh conspiracy).
But since Kenny’s return, we have seen the destructive, bonerattling Gulag guard that was on duty during 08/09. Long may his recovery continue until he is rightly viewed at the pinnacle of the game once more – better still, let it be in a Red shirt.
Carra is two times better than Skrtel who is pretty good but, Carra is better in every aspect of the game, even if Skrtel is better in air game, Agger is one of the best centerbacks of the world with the ball in the feet and Skrtel surely not…if Agger will stay fit we have already a super defense and Skrtel can be a perfect reserve
swap them around when needed i say, id like to be seeing kelly get games at CB and RB, id also like to see ayala get a few games but hopefully he will be on loan all season at a P L club, flanno has more chance if he was trained for cb also he has a good enough tackler and reads the play well enough. im sure we could see them all playing in the same team in cup games and europa league
If we play 442 then play kelly @ RB and move Johnson to RW. We will be immense on the right hand side. Both offer pace & mobility down the right. Can u think of any team in the league that offer so? I think it may b time to drop kuyt out from the RW position on concentrate using him as a striker from the bench. But if we adopt 352, we can used kelly@RCB & Johnson@RWB. In this formation both of them can still offer us a great deal down the right hand side. Flano can be deputy at right back rather then being a 3rd choice..
If only competition for places was as good in the rest of the positions.
It all depends on whether or not Liverpool buy a new left back this summer. If yes then Johnson will be reverted back to his natural position at right back where he is a great threat going forward. If no then Johnson can be the long term solution to the left back position and Kelly will be played at right back with Flanagan his deputy. Obviously buying a new left back is the priority and I would like to see Liverpool sign Baines. This way, we can have Johnson on the right and Baines on the left. Aurelio, Insua or Mavinga as deputy left back and Kelly to cover for Johnson at right back although Kelly should gradually be reverted back into centre back as he could be the long term replacement for Carragher. With 4 or possibly 5 quality full backs, Flanagan could go out on loan to a Premier League club where he’d be playing more regularly.
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Baines
Kelly Ayala Agger Aurelio
We must play with 4 3 3 in my opinion, Carrol is pretty static so we need a fast offensive player to help Suarez in creating space for Carrol, like Alexis Sanche, Neymar, Pastore or Aguero, in mid field we have Steve, one between Lucas and Meireles and we need for third mid fielder one playmaker like Xabi or Fabregas, Pirlo is free agent, leave Aquilani to Juve and sign Pirlo for free, i know he’s 31 but still a great player and for free, plus is same kind of player of Xabi so, i will go for him