The spine of the Liverpool team

Just wait until SamCharles gets to his 1000th post!

What will come first ?
His 1000th post or his 1000th -ve rating ?

What will come first ?
His 1000th post or his 1000th -ve rating ?

Should we set up a poll? 

So Richobaz you still feel that we have 7 spine players?

So Richobaz you still feel that we have 7 spine players?

You couldn't let it rest could you

You couldn't let it rest could you

Like Richobaz would say! I'm right and your wrong

No but really he said he was going to be the winner of this debate, so I'm still waiting for him to answer...
Like I said I'm not tryin to heat things up, if he wants to join me for some Red Wine then he's more than welcome!

Round 2!

I believe we have 7 spine players also.

What?

Who's mentioned Macherano!

In all our important games, Reina, Finnan, Agger and Gerrard have played.  So I'm the winner!

Sorry to backtrack everyone! If you read a little bit before, note the 'for example' section of my post! Thank you I didn't mention that he was a spine player, it was a seperate note!

And yes, quite a hot topic! I do think that we only have a trio of nailed on spine players! Maybe four with Agger! Changed me mind a little now, thinking about it! The rest of the players all do much different jobs! And I don't think Torres can be classed as automatic choice just yet, regardless of price tags!

So, has anyone's view changed on this?

(Poll added to see who would win in a fight between Ra Ra Rafa & Richobaz )

So, has anyone's view changed on this?

(Poll added to see who would win in a fight between Ra Ra Rafa & Richobaz )

Very Funny Ed, didn't know you had it in you !

I'd have to vote for myself to KO Ra Ra to be honest - and his footy knowledge sucks also !!!!

I actually read somewhere (some ex-liverpool player, can't remember whom) that the spine of the team was:

Reina, Carra, Gerrard and Torres.

So I stand corrected - as it's obvious everyone agrees with that **** Ra Ra Rafa!

You're entitled to your opinion like everyone else Richobaz.

I for one thought this was a good debate when it first came about.

I see the handbag's leading the way at the moment

Redkenny it was a good debate - got the juices flowing.

Secretly I still think I was right!

The obvious names would be Gerrard, carra, reina and Agger. With torres in now there is 6 players i would like to see playing almost every match.

                   reina
finnan     carra     agger     

     gerrard         

           torres

For me these players would start in any team

good subject this, but it depends on what you dertermine as the spine, from my understanding it is the players who are through the centre of your team that make up the unit from front to back and back to front.

my ideas of what our spine would be or indeed is ;

                                REINA
                              CARRAGHER
                               GERRARD
                                KUYT
                               
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT WORK SO HARD TO MAKE THE SHAPE OF THE TEAM AND THE ONES THAT KNOW THE SYSTEM AS WELL AS ANY.

but you can then say a spine can make up more players it open to debate, ?

But who do you think would win in a fight sam?

But who do you think would win in a fight sam?

    Feeling better Ed   

It certainly isn't what started against Pompey and lost us 2 valuable points and not what started against Brum today. If it seems so obvious to everyone but Rafa,why did he bother signing Torres to sit him on the bench. Perhaps he's just modelling the new strips. Christ am I pissed off.

TBH the teams we put out against Pompey & Birmingham should've won, I don't think we can blame team selection.

Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard & Fernando Torres.

These four players I belive are the only untouchables in the Liverpool squad. They pick their own places in the line up! And then you build your team around them!

Anyone agree?

I agree.  People may say it is too early to use the 'Untouchable' tag in association with Fernando Torres, but IMO he is clearly the best striker we have at the club.  I'm in favour of the rotation policy to a certain extent, and do believe that players need to be rested, but if you are a club with aspirations of winning the league title then players like Reina, Carragher, Gerrard and Torres should be in the first eleven week in week out.  Benitez has left Torres on the bench for the past two league games, yet he will play him from the start tonight in the Carling Cup against Reading!  Far be it for me to question our great Manager, but IMO tonight would have been the time to rest Torres after playing him from the start in the last two league games.  Torres has proven he is quality, and at 23 years of age, and at the cost of over £20 million i think he should be starting league games week in week out because there isn't an alternative.  Kuyt and Voronin are similar players, and Crouch obviously doesn't possess the same threat as Torres, therefore, the other three strikers should be rotated around Torres.

I'd disagree that Torres should be part of the spine. The only type of striker I would put in as a spine player would be a proven goalscorer, something I think we should have bought this summer & something Torres is not. In an ideal world where there were no financial constraints I would've signed Eto'o instead of Voronin, and he would've been the 'spine' player for me. The only striker I would have as a nailed on starter is the one who can guarantee me goals, the others can be rotated around him as they will bring different strengths against different opposition, the need for goals would be the one constant factor regardless of opposition.

I feel that Agger too picks himself and cant see why a few people are leaving him out.

                                    Reina
                         Carra                  Agger
                                  Gerrard
                                 Torres

For me these players would get into anyones team and I feel that if picked every league game it would impressive to see the goals for and against colums.Then I would be very happy to see them sit on the bench every other game.I understand some people why torres mightn't be but for me it's not all about the goals ,he unsettles defenders and most importantly has a change of pace over five yards which is a brilliant asset to have against all defences.

I'd disagree that Torres should be part of the spine. The only type of striker I would put in as a spine player would be a proven goalscorer, something I think we should have bought this summer & something Torres is not. In an ideal world where there were no financial constraints I would've signed Eto'o instead of Voronin, and he would've been the 'spine' player for me. The only striker I would have as a nailed on starter is the one who can guarantee me goals, the others can be rotated around him as they will bring different strengths against different opposition, the need for goals would be the one constant factor regardless of opposition.

Why spend £20+ million on a player you wouldn't consider a 'spine' player? 
Fernando Torres has more quality then any of our other strikers, therefore, the other strikers should be rotated around him.  In an ideal world I'd have Eto'o too, but there's no point talking about an ideal world when it's who we have actully got at our disposal that matter.

You're right that he has a lot more quality than our other strikers, but those qualities won't always be the right ones for the opponents we're playing. I would play Torres 9 out of 10 times, but wouldn't consider him a nailed on starter for this reason.