Our best 11 with Lucas back and inform??? Who drops??

Lucas in the back 3 ?!

Is that a mistake Diego ?

Not a mistake, to be honest I'm just trying to think of different things

I'm thinking more like Busquets play for Barcelona, depending on the opposition he sometimes drops even deeper than the CBs in order to collect the ball... I would expect him to step out of defense when we have the ball though... you can put him alongside Allen in midfield if you want

The idea is to give greater freedom to the fullbacks and also enable Allen to be more proactive.

I was thinking we should try playing with 2 strikers to ease the load... oh wait a second.

Reina; Wisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson; Lucas, Allen, Gerrard; Sterling, Suarez, Enrique.

That is our best XI up until January imo. While Gerrard may not be in the best of form, he is still a player that is creating chances, unlike so many of our other players. He's still a player that takes a risk with a through ball, goes for the killer pass, is easily our best finisher, and he still offers us a lot on set plays.

Reina; Wisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson; Lucas, Allen, Gerrard; Sterling, Suarez, Enrique.

That is our best XI up until January imo. While Gerrard may not be in the best of form, he is still a player that is creating chances, unlike so many of our other players. He's still a player that takes a risk with a through ball, goes for the killer pass, is easily our best finisher, and he still offers us a lot on set plays.

He's all that, true, but he's also lethargic these days and the game just passes him by in midfield. That's why if we really need Gerrard, I would try him upfront, where his flaws wouldn't be so exposed. Suarez and Sterling would need to do a lot of pressing and cover a lot of ground, but I think it's possible.

                           Reina
             Skrtel      Lucas      Agger                 
   Johnson        Allen   Sahin        Enrique
             Suarez  Gerrard   Sterling

I think that with Lucas back we could play with 3 at the back. That would be a back 3 of Skrtel..Coates..Agger. I would have Jose LWB and Glen RWB. I would give Gerrard another 3 games to find his form and motivation. I also think having Lucas back will help Stevie. Allen to partner Gerrard but pushed forward a bit. If given the chance he could link up with Suarez and Sterling. He has a great first touch and 9 times out of 10 will make a pass. This would mean Sterling play more centrally with support from Glen and Jose. Get a couple of players in January and we have a very good starting 11. Having Lucas back is a major boost.

Hope the owner don't visit this forum or I can see now they very busy calculate the price of Steven Gerrard if sale him to American club or the like of Anzhi, it's really excellent job improve a wage bill 

If Lucas come back fully fit and in good form then I'd like to see this lineup :
 
                                                  Reina

                                     Skrtel                  Agger
               Johnson                                                        Enrique
                                                  Lucas

                                     Gerrard            Sahin 

                 Suso                                                          Sterling

                                                 Suarez                                                     


Who drops?  If it's me I'll put Allen on the bench.

For me it's a midfield 3 of Lucas, Allen and Shelvey/Gerrard. On current form I think Shelvey should get a few games ahead of Stevie.

Think Sahin was brought in to cover in the European games and the domestic cups so our first choice/permanent midfielders can have a rest.

I would rather see Gerrard on the bench in all fairness. Personally I would have a midfield three of Lucas-Allen-Sahin with Suso and Sterling out on the wings. I'd entertain the idea of Shelvey swapping with Allen or Sahin but I'm unpleasantly surprised by how much I think those 4 midfielders are more useful than Gerrard at the moment.

Allen - all day long - not convincing at all.

Allen - all day long - not convincing at all.

I agree Allen is in a poor run of form but do you not think he deserves a few starts in his natural position now Lucas is back? After all he wasn't bought to play defensive midfield.

Allen - all day long - not convincing at all.

Thought he was pretty good against saints in a more advanced role, just as BR said he would be.

I think this is our best lineup:

                                 Reina

Johnson         Skrtel            Agger                Enrique

                     Sahin              Lucas

Shelvey                  Gerrard                         Sterling

                            Suarez

Shelvey tucked in more. Sahin hasn't done much to earn the role, but I know how great he was at Dortmund as the more creative of a defensive two.