Potential starting 11 for the 2010/11 season

           Reina   
Kelly Carra Agger Konchesky
Maxi Lucas Meireles Cole
       Gerrard
              Torres

Looks very likely mate to have those players available for us
So if our squad was
    *    1. Jones
    * 2. Johnson
    * 5. Agger
    * 6. Aurelio
    * 8. Gerrard
    * 9. Torres
    * 10. J Cole
    * 12. Pacheco
    * 14. Jovanovic
    * 16. Kyrgiakos
    * 17. Maxi
    * 18. Kuyt
    * 19. Babel
    * 21. Lucas
    * 22. D Wilson
    * 23. Carragher
    * 24. Ngog
    * 25. Reina
    * 26. Spearing
    * 28. Poulsen
    * 31. El Zhar
    * 32. Darby
    * 33. Shelvey
    * 34. Kelly
    * 37. Skrtel
    * ??. Insua
    * 6 / 4. Meireles
    * 3. Konchesky

I'd line it up
                         Reina
Johnson    Carragher   Agger    Konchesky
 Maxi/Kuyt          Meireles      Jovanovic   
               Gerrard      Cole
                         Torres

This way with the two most creative players further up the pitch and with this i doubt we need a second striker
Looks good to be honest, not that big of a fan of Konchesky though

Looks very likely mate to have those players available for us
So if our squad was
    *    1. Jones
    * 2. Johnson
    * 5. Agger
    * 6. Aurelio
    * 8. Gerrard
    * 9. Torres
    * 10. J Cole
    * 12. Pacheco
    * 14. Jovanovic
    * 16. Kyrgiakos
    * 17. Maxi
    * 18. Kuyt
    * 19. Babel
    * 21. Lucas
    * 22. D Wilson
    * 23. Carragher
    * 24. Ngog
    * 25. Reina
    * 26. Spearing
    * 28. Poulsen
    * 31. El Zhar
    * 32. Darby
    * 33. Shelvey
    * 34. Kelly
    * 37. Skrtel
    * ??. Insua
    * 6 / 4. Meireles
    * 3. Konchesky

I'd line it up
                         Reina
Johnson    Carragher   Agger    Konchesky
 Maxi/Kuyt          Meireles      Jovanovic   
               Gerrard      Cole
                         Torres

This way with the two most creative players further up the pitch and with this i doubt we need a second striker
Looks good to be honest, not that big of a fan of Konchesky though

We need a striker as back up though!

Reina
Johnson - Carragher - Agger - Insua*
Rodriguez - Lucas - Meireles - Cole
Gerrard
Torres

Subs: Jones, Skrtel, Kelly, Poulsen, Babel, Kuyt, Toivonen (?).

*Holding onto the small hope that Insua stays, if not, then put Fabio there.

                       reina
johnson   carragher    agger    konchesky
                 gerrard  meireles
maxi                                      jovanovic
                       cole
                      torres

or for lesser clubs:

                 reina
kelly    agger    skrtel  aurelio
            lucas   poulsen
johnson                       pacheco
                gerrard
            babel/ngog/new striker

both look like pretty good sides to be fair. hopefully we can bring in a striker before tuesday as back up... I just dont think ngog is ready 

                       reina
johnson   carragher    agger    konchesky
                 gerrard  meireles
maxi                                      jovanovic
                       cole
                      torres

or for lesser clubs:

                 reina
kelly    agger    skrtel  aurelio
            lucas   poulsen
johnson                       pacheco
                gerrard
            babel/ngog/new striker

both look like pretty good sides to be fair. hopefully we can bring in a striker before tuesday as back up... I just dont think ngog is ready 

Kuyt being sold mate?

Kuyt can be put off from the 11. He's a very important player, decisive several times.

                       reina
johnson   carragher    agger    konchesky
                 gerrard  meireles
maxi                                      jovanovic
                       cole
                      torres

or for lesser clubs:

                 reina
kelly    agger    skrtel  aurelio
            lucas   poulsen
johnson                       pacheco
                gerrard
            babel/ngog/new striker

both look like pretty good sides to be fair. hopefully we can bring in a striker before tuesday as back up... I just dont think ngog is ready 

Looks good two good looking teams,nice 1

I think we should try this:

               Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Aurelio
               Lucas
         Gerrard  Meireles
Maxi         Torres         Cole

                Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Kelly

Kuyt Gerrard Meireles Jovanovic
               Cole
                 Torres

If, and it's a big IF, we sign Llorente I'd like to try something abit different.

Reina
Skrtel - Carragher - Agger
Johnson - - - - - - - - - - - - - Konchesky
Gerrard - Meireles
Cole
Torres - Llorente

                   Reina

Johnson   Skrtel   Agger    Konchesky

           Gerrard   Meireles
Kuyt                                Jovanovic

             Cole/Pacheco
           
                 Torres


I really think Pacheco can be that player for us in years to come, so he needs playing time.

I think with the pick up of Meireles and Konchesky and the rumored addition of Fernando 2.0 (Llorente) it may be time to look into abandoning Rafa (and now Roy's) 4-2-3-1 in favor of a staggered 4-3-3. 

Advantages:

1. Roy seems to like the abilities it offers.  http://en.uefa.com/trainingground/tactics/formations/video/videoid=519237.html

2. Players like Llorente, Kuyt, Jovanovic, and Babel aren't natural wingers.  They are forwards - and the 4-3-3 may give them the opportunity to play in a more natural position.  Roy mentions in the above video how one can rotate the 3 forwards around - which would also give Ngog more opportunities as well.

3. Though Joe Cole prefers to play in the hole, it may not necessarily be his strongest suit.  He succeeded in the 4-3-3 during his best years at Chelsea, he showed some flashes (as many as the English team could muster) of creativity from the wing in the World Cup.  This may be his best suit and, in a staggered 4-3-3, you can still have him and Stevie playing in an attacking role.

4. It isn't the 4-4-2.

Disadvantages:

1. You take Cole out of the position he came here to play.

2. More importantly, the nature of the 4-3-3 would have Meireles in the middle.  Would Stevie be okay playing RM?  My guess is yes, primarily because he'd be in a more attacking role than he currently is in the 4-2-3-1 (or will be once Cole comes back).

So this is how I see it.

                             Reina

Johnson     Carragher          Agger       Konchesky

                            Meireles

                Gerrard                Cole

Llorente                                         Kuyt
                            Torres

As far as I'm concerned, Kuyt and Llorente are interchangable, I prefer Kuyt to the right, but I have him left here because A.) He had a great game there on Saturday and B.) Cole would need more coverage defensively than Gerrard.

I have Konchesky starting mainly because I think he at left back is better than Skrtel at center mid.  Plus I rather have Skrtel the first center back off the bench than Kyrgiakos. 

I fully expect the 4-2-3-1 to continue with Llorente either joining Ngog on the bench or perhaps taking Jova's spot on the Starting 11.  It's just that, for my money, this is the best way to get our best 11 on the field. 

Have you actually seen Llorente play? He wouldn't be used in a wider position.

Have you actually seen Llorente play? He wouldn't be used in a wider position.

I actually have and understand fully that the 4-4-2 would be the most practical way of getting him in with Torres (and a formation that both Llorente and Hodgson are used to).  My point is that, with that, you take players like Kuyt, Jova, and Cole away from their natural strengths and continue on with a formation that is frankly stagnant against the increasingly European styles of the league and I was trying to find a more creative way of pairing the two.  It isn't as if the young man is used to being alone up top at Bilbao - I'd simply be interested in seeing if he could play left or right along with Torres and Kuyt.  That's all.

CarraXY we need a back up striker not ANOTHER striker turned right midfielder. Don't mean to be harsh but i'm glad your not the manager. Llorente is not a midfielder he is a striker end of! You say 4-4-2 would be the most practical way of getting him in with Torres? Well try playing him alongside Torres and not behind him in the right attacking midfield position! Contradiction and contradiction.

CarraXY we need a back up striker not ANOTHER striker turned right midfielder. Don't mean to be harsh but I'm glad your not the manager. Llorente is not a midfielder he is a striker end of! You say 4-4-2 would be the most practical way of getting him in with Torres? Well try playing him alongside Torres and not behind him in the right attacking midfield position! Contradiction and contradiction.

Think you misread it mate, the out wide wasn't ina  442, it was out wide on a 433, more of a right forward, rather then right midfield. However if we were to play a 433 involving Torres and Llorente, I would play Llorente in the center Torres on the right and Babel on the left.

Think you misread it mate, the out wide wasn't ina  442, it was out wide on a 433, more of a right forward, rather then right midfield. However if we were to play a 433 involving Torres and Llorente, I would play Llorente in the center Torres on the right and Babel on the left.

Even as a right forward, it doesn't make sense.  Llorente doesn't have the pace or dribbling ability to operate in the channels.  He is a CF/ST... a typical number 9.  He would be a player that can hold the ball up for us, allow the attack to develop, then work his way into the box to finish off crosses.  If anything, Torres would be the one to be pushed out wide due to his ability and willingness to run with a ball at his feet, beat defenders, and score goals on the counter. 

Assuming we get Llorente, this is how I think we could utilize both Torres and Llorente in the starting 11, while maintaining balance in the team:

                          Reina
Johno/Kelly   Agger       Carra      Konch/Aurelio
                       Poulsen
           Meireles            Gerrard
                         Cole
                 Torres      Llorente

Torres likes to run through the channels, and is great at springing our counter attack by latching onto long balls from Gerrard (and hopefully Meireles can chip in with some good long passes through the channels too).  Let Llorente be our target man/poacher in the box.  Give Cole the free role just behind the two front players, but he should also be allowed (even encouraged) to roam out wide as he has proven he can be effective on the wings with Chelsea.  Have Stevie and Raul play just in front of Poulsen in a similar way as what Xavi and Iniesta play in front of Busquets....they will be the ones doing most of the work to keep possession, release Torres through the channels, find Llorente and Cole, or send Johnson/Kelly/Aurelio/Konchesky through on the overlap.  Poulsen will be required to sit deep, and be the destroyer.  Hopefully he will understand his role, and won't attempt to play the long balls, because lets face it, he doesn't have the accuracy that Gerrard has.  If this team could keep its shape, it would see Gerrard and Meireles getting to take plenty shots from distance.  The width would come from our full backs, and we would have two good finishers in our 2 Fernando's to put the ball in the back of the net. 

Or, we could just stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation and let Llorente rotate with Torres when we can afford to give him a rest. 

Even as a right forward, it doesn't make sense.  Llorente doesn't have the pace or dribbling ability to operate in the channels.  He is a CF/ST... a typical number 9.  He would be a player that can hold the ball up for us, allow the attack to develop, then work his way into the box to finish off crosses.  If anything, Torres would be the one to be pushed out wide due to his ability and willingness to run with a ball at his feet, beat defenders, and score goals on the counter. 

Assuming we get Llorente, this is how I think we could utilize both Torres and Llorente in the starting 11, while maintaining balance in the team:

                          Reina
Johno/Kelly   Agger       Carra      Konch/Aurelio
                       Poulsen
           Meireles            Gerrard
                         Cole
                 Torres      Llorente

Torres likes to run through the channels, and is great at springing our counter attack by latching onto long balls from Gerrard (and hopefully Meireles can chip in with some good long passes through the channels too).  Let Llorente be our target man/poacher in the box.  Give Cole the free role just behind the two front players, but he should also be allowed (even encouraged) to roam out wide as he has proven he can be effective on the wings with Chelsea.  Have Stevie and Raul play just in front of Poulsen in a similar way as what Xavi and Iniesta play in front of Busquets....they will be the ones doing most of the work to keep possession, release Torres through the channels, find Llorente and Cole, or send Johnson/Kelly/Aurelio/Konchesky through on the overlap.  Poulsen will be required to sit deep, and be the destroyer.  Hopefully he will understand his role, and won't attempt to play the long balls, because lets face it, he doesn't have the accuracy that Gerrard has.  If this team could keep its shape, it would see Gerrard and Meireles getting to take plenty shots from distance.  The width would come from our full backs, and we would have two good finishers in our 2 Fernando's to put the ball in the back of the net. 

Or, we could just stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation and let Llorente rotate with Torres when we can afford to give him a rest. 

I don't agree that Llorente should play on the right of a 4 in midfield or on the right of a 3, he would have to play center. The team you picked is similar to the one I suggested, though I'd honestly prefer to play Skrtel over Poulsen, I feel the would give full/wing backs more opportunity to get forward and provide the width.

Llorente if he signs which i doubt he will then he would 100% have to play central in a 4-4-4 alongside Torres and i'm not so sure if that would work or not. That formation clearly showed him playing in the attacking right midfield role but 4-3-3 is a formation which i am wary about because on the counter we are fu**ed.

I don't agree that Llorente should play on the right of a 4 in midfield or on the right of a 3, he would have to play center. The team you picked is similar to the one I suggested, though I'd honestly prefer to play Skrtel over Poulsen, I feel the would give full/wing backs more opportunity to get forward and provide the width.

I understand your point.... just agree to disagree.  I'd much rather have 2 CBs with a DM in front of them.  Skrtel is not mobile enough to operate as a DM, and he is sh*te with the ball at his feet.  While I'm not a very big fan of Poulsen, I do think he can do the limited job of anchoring the midfield and breaking up opposing attacks (at least he will do it better than Lucas). 

However, if we continue to play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, I would much prefer Gerrard and Meireles to play the two CM positions.  It would require them to be aware of where the other one is and make sure that we always have one of the two covering our back line, but I think they would be able to figure that out.  This would allow Cole to have his favored position in the hole, and we would just have to continue to use our makeshift wingers (Kuyt/Maxi/Babel/Jovanovic) on the flanks.... although I'd love to see Pacheco get a few starts in this position this season

I understand your point.... just agree to disagree.  I'd much rather have 2 CBs with a DM in front of them.  Skrtel is not mobile enough to operate as a DM, and he is sh*te with the ball at his feet.  While I'm not a very big fan of Poulsen, I do think he can do the limited job of anchoring the midfield and breaking up opposing attacks (at least he will do it better than Lucas). 

However, if we continue to play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, I would much prefer Gerrard and Meireles to play the two CM positions.  It would require them to be aware of where the other one is and make sure that we always have one of the two covering our back line, but I think they would be able to figure that out.  This would allow Cole to have his favored position in the hole, and we would just have to continue to use our makeshift wingers (Kuyt/Maxi/Babel/Jovanovic) on the flanks.... although I'd love to see Pacheco get a few starts in this position this season

Yeah we'll agree to disagree about that, I suppose I haven't seen enough off Poulsen to judge which would work better.

I doubt we'll sign Llorente anyway, I would stick with 4231 and play a this team:

Reina
Johnson - Carragher - Agger - Konchesky
Gerrard - Meireles
Kuyt - Cole - Maxi
Torres

Jovanovic can come in for games against the likes of Man United, Chelsea and others like that, against teams of lesser quality, Maxi offers more control over the game with better technique, I suppose the same could be said of Kuyt, but I don't think we have someone who can replace Kuyt as well (maybe Pacheco, but he probably needs to be gradually blooded in)

Then we have Kelly, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos and Aurelio for defensive cover, Poulsen and Lucas for central mid (as well as Spearing and Shelvey if really needed) Babel can also cover the wings as well. Pacheco can come in for Cole, or Gerrard can move forward. We really need another striker and a out'n'out winger.

Playing a 4-3-2-1 seems a lot better, this having 2 of the most creative players around working behind Torres instead of 1 in a 4-2-3-1 formation
Especially now with a player such as Meireles' quality who can hopefully boss the centre circle on his own