3rd midfield man!

 As there are less than a month now before PL kicks off, and we know we will be playing a 3 man midfield next season (as to why we were in for Sigurdsson and now Allen), who do you think deserves the chance for the 3rd midfield spot? Is him here or we should look on the market? Or you'd give some 19 years old a chance? That's considering the other 2 spots are occupied by Lucas and Stevie.

 The list is long really (think the club'll tell some of them the door sooner rather than latter):

- Aquilani
- Adam
- Henderson
- Spearing
- Shelvey
- Suso
- Allen or
- someone else. (Would be good to have a poll here)

 Personally think we've enough here and would not be looking somewhere else, we're covered in both the present and future departments. Anyway in the end believe Allen will be the manager's choice. My choice is to split it between Aquilani and Shelvey, while Henderson provides cover for Stevie and Lucas. Would let Suso go on loan somewhere but only when we're assured he'll play and they'll look after him, as he really is a special talent. Adam and Spearing are the ones I don't pretend to see here next season.

Gerrard, Lucas, Aquilani as that's our strongest midfield 3.

Gerrard, Lucas, Aquilani as that's our strongest midfield 3.

Yup.  Agreed. 

Would love to bring in Allen, he could be on the bench and come in for Aquilani or Lucas really, though he's not quite as defensive minded as the latter.  It would be a good way to ease him in, and given that he could really fill in for any of those three, it would be a good safety net in case Gerrard is out for any period of time.  Would love to see Allen, Shelvey and Suso all on the bench this season.  Lots of options.

I actually think we really need someone like Allen, IMO Aquilani doesn't close down, tackle or win back possession as well as Allen. He definitely puts more of a shift in than Aquilani, who at times looks like he can't be arsed. I'm not saying we don't need Aquilani as an option, just that we need hard working midfielders, if we want the possession style and closing down to work to good effect.

Gerrard     Lucas     Aquilani

Henderson    Spearing     Adam   as back up in the respective positions.

Gerrard Lucas aquilani
Hendo allen shelvey

Move adam and spearing on and give suso some minutes where possible.

Would let Suso go on loan somewhere but only when we're assured he'll play and they'll look after him, as he really is a special talent. Adam and Spearing are the ones I don't pretend to see here next season.

I agree with you, send him away for 6 months and then start to integrate him into the team in the latter parts of the season. Somewhere like Blackpool would be a good place since we seems to have a good relationship with them and they are playing championship football which is probably the perfect stepping stone for Suso.

But at the same time, I would also love him to stay and get some good playing time in the early stages of the Europa league/Fa/Carling cup. Not that I want us to just play our reserves, I want to win all the cups I'm not a prefer 4th place person, but I think if we put in 2 or 3 of the younger players especially in the opening rounds then it could do them some good.

Gerrard Lucas aquilani
Hendo allen shelvey

Move adam and spearing on and give suso some minutes where possible.

This for me too but where does that leave Cole who prefers to play in the middle?

My bet is it will be Gerrard, Lucas and Allen.

Although in the Starting 11 thread I went on tangent and had Stevie playing up front which would leave the other midfield spot for Aqualani.

I would love to see Lucas and Spearing in the middle with Gerrard or Aquilani ahead. I still believe Lucas and Spearing would be our best partnership in the middle.

Saying that, I wouldn't mind seeing a Lucas, Gerrard and Aquilani midfield.

Gerrard, Lucas, Aquilani as that's our strongest midfield 3.

Without question!

I agree with you, send him away for 6 months and then start to integrate him into the team in the latter parts of the season. Somewhere like Blackpool would be a good place since we seems to have a good relationship with them and they are playing championship football which is probably the perfect stepping stone for Suso.

But at the same time, I would also love him to stay and get some good playing time in the early stages of the Europa league/Fa/Carling cup. Not that I want us to just play our reserves, I want to win all the cups I'm not a prefer 4th place person, but I think if we put in 2 or 3 of the younger players especially in the opening rounds then it could do them some good.

Suso has 1 year left on his contract. And I'm sure his involvement with our first team, or the lack there of will influence his decion regarding signing an extension. Send him on loan, and don't be surprised if he's off for free to another club next summer.

But besides that I just think he's good enough to get minutes for us. If we want young players to develop then we need to give them gametime to develop in our first team. Sending players out on loan should be a last resort.

Without question!

I hope it's as obvious to Rodgers as it is to some of us. There's absolutely no reason Adam, Henderson or Spearing should start ahead of those other three unless they're injured. Aquilani deserves a real chance this season or there's something incredibly stupid about the way our club is run.

Gerrard     Lucas     Aquilani

Henderson    Spearing     Adam   as back up in the respective positions.

Thought you was suggesting we play like Spain then.

As someone mentioned the club planned to send some youngsters out on loan, IMO if BR going to build his team play his preferred style of football we better keep all our prospect youngsters to learn BR's way instead of send them to play alien football somewhere.

We have 4 competitions to play, plus the injury record of our spine players tell we shouldn't worry about game time of our kids.

On topic, I think BR has proved that he/his system can make a good result even with average players so I'd say if he start with SG and Lucas in the midfield of 4-3-3 then add Henderson or Jonjo or Suso or Adam or Aquilani or Cole as the 3rd it's not worse than Swansea's midfield. I just want to say IF we cannot add any proven top quality creative midfielder I'd prefer we play our current squad players instead of go for more average/non proven/ridiculously over price midfielders.

I at first glad hearing BR want to sign Dempsey and Allen but if they cost £10M and £15M I would like to say NO, this money can get really good DM (I don't know who it is ) to compete and backup of Lucas as it's a priority, I think.

Lucas - Grit; Resilience
Gerrard - Determination; Domination
Aquilani - Creativity; Vision

Easily our best three, with Aquilani played higher up the pitch than Gerrard, who in turn is played higher up the pitch than Lucas.

Lucas - Grit; Resilience
Gerrard - Determination; Domination
Aquilani - Creativity; Vision

Easily our best three, with Aquilani played higher up the pitch than Gerrard, who in turn is played higher up the pitch than Lucas.

With downing up top to f#@k everything up

@ topic

It ll be lucas, gerrard, Aqua

Good thing is unlike kenny BR don't need to play hendo ahead of shelvy eventhough shelvy plays far better than hendo.

Think Henderson will definitely shine on this season, still not sure about Aqua or Adam. Shelvey could also be one to really shine through this season too...

Lucas - Grit; Resilience
Gerrard - Determination; Domination
Aquilani - Creativity; Vision

Easily our best three, with Aquilani played higher up the pitch than Gerrard, who in turn is played higher up the pitch than Lucas.

I'm liking that an awful lot Res, although I'd like to see Gerrard with a free role to pretty well do as he pleases as I love to see him on those darting runs and getting into plenty of scoring chances, its the goals we lacked last season, so we need the midfielders to chip in with a few more this season.

First choice:

Lucas
Gerrard - Henderson

Keep Gerrard deeper and make Henderson do the running for him, the lad probably has a future in the Rodgers-system

Youngsters:

Coady (or push Wisdom forward)
Suso - Shelvey

And Finally:

Spearing
Adam - Aquilani

I'd saw we have fair enough strength in depth there

Would like to see ....
                                     Lucas
                 Gerrard                    Aquilani

but i think it will be..
                                 
                                    Lucas
                Gerrard                     Henderson

and Henderson taking his chance and having a good season .

it would have to be
                                                     Aquilani
                                    Gerrard
                                                                     Lucas
for me with Suso to understudy  for Aquilani
                   Henderson to understudy for Gerrard
                   Shelvey to understudy for Lucas
I think that the youngsters could learn of the senior players and they will come on better with getting playing time.

i'd get rid of Adam and i'm afraid i'd let spearing go to.

An understudy for Lucas worries me still , hopefully we won't need a understudy to often but if need be i'd stick Stevie G in the deeper role and add Aquilani,Shelvey ,Adam or Allen if he's here .Spearing is a hard working honest player who can add energy from the bench but would not be a starter for me if Lucas was out and Gerrard fit.

Suso has 1 year left on his contract. And I'm sure his involvement with our first team, or the lack there of will influence his decion regarding signing an extension. Send him on loan, and don't be surprised if he's off for free to another club next summer.

But besides that I just think he's good enough to get minutes for us. If we want young players to develop then we need to give them gametime to develop in our first team. Sending players out on loan should be a last resort.

I agree sending kids on loan does nothing for me.They are either good enough or they aren't but they have to get game time to find out.
Shelvey went to Blackpool and did very well but thats one division down playing for a modist club how could that be good preparation for playing for Liverpool

For me Lucas Gerrard and Adam.  I would like to see Adam play a few games in a three man midfield which is his best formation.

Gerrard, Lucas and Shelvey.

No doubt in my mind this would be the most productive in attack and strong in defence.

Its crazy that we have quite a bit of talent for a midfield 3 set up but we were shocking last season for a number of reasons. Would love to see Suso involved as much as Shelvey was last season. If we play our cards right and keep a hold of all our talented youngsters the future will look very bright

I wouldn't be surprised to see maybe 1 person go this summer but I don't think Rodgers is under any pressure to sell so we might see all our players having a crack this season which is what we need; strength in depth!

Out of all our players to let go I'd pick Adam though and keep everyone else if we sign Allen

Gerrard, Lucas and Aquilani for me to start: first team for a few years in FIFA that will have a rating of 82 and up

Gerrard Lucas, Aquilani or Shelvey.

There's a question I'm asking myself, can someone answer please? Can Allen play at DM well? I doubt he's better than Lucas but can he play as DM or is he a box-to-box or AM.

Personally: I'd like
Aquilani    Gerrard
          Lucas

Adam, Henderson, Shelvey and a new DM as cover. I don't rate Spearing since he cannot boss a midfield at all. He gets dominated easily unless Lucas covers him. If we were to sign a more creative CM, I think we'll sell Adam although I'd give Adam a chance to prove himself until January personally.

There's a question I'm asking myself, can someone answer please? Can Allen play at DM well? I doubt he's better than Lucas but can he play as DM or is he a box-to-box or AM.

Given the way Rodgers intends to play this season (and you could see it already from just the one pre-season game) I think the role of defensive mid will change dramatically. It will be much less about being a ball winner and more about playing as a fulcrum and tempo setter more akin to the way Alonso played the role. Lucas I think will be asked to play inmush the same way he for Brazil in this system. Given that we WILL enjoy the lions share of possession against most sides (if Rodgers can do it with Swansea he bloody well can at LFC!) I think we will have far better options as cover for Lucas. Stevie can do it, Spearing too (albeit in a more limited fashion) and I'd suspect young Joe Allen (if he comes in) would also be up to the role although I see him as more an attacking player.

Gerrard, Lucas and Shelvey.

No doubt in my mind this would be the most productive in attack and strong in defence.

That's my thinking as well.

At the risk of accusations of heresy are we a) convinced that Stevie is still up to the rigours of a full season? Is there a possibility that he will be used like Fergie did with Scholes/Giggs ie only in the big important games?
Or b) is it possible he could be used as part of the front 3?

At the risk of accusations of heresy are we a) convinced that Stevie is still up to the rigours of a full season? Is there a possibility that he will be used like Fergie did with Scholes/Giggs ie only in the big important games?
Or b) is it possible he could be used as part of the front 3?

Good points. My opinions:

No, he will not be able to play all game, every game. I think we have to accept that now.

I do think he'll feature quite a lot though and isn't as close to the knackers yard as Ginger Bollocks or Grim.

Rafa suggested that moving Gerrard up top may be the best option towards the end of his career but so far, no manager has shown any desire to do that. I personally think Gerrard would be lethal up there, linking up with Suarez and we're not short of players to fill in in midfield, I just have a gut feeling that he'll continue in midfield.

             Lucas

                             Shelvey

         Gerrard


Suarez          Borini           

Lucas

                             Shelvey

         Gerrard


Suarez          Borini

                   Lucas
  Henderson               Shelvey

                 
                  Gerrard
Suarez                           Borini

?

Didn't think of that. Does look tasty.

for the 4-3-3 system i think you would need a bit of pace and fitness to achieve what BR wants to achieve. Lucas, Henderson and Aquilani would be my best bet with Stevie playing as part of the front 3 or switching Stevie with Aquilani but it has to be Lucas Henderson in the middle

for the 4-3-3 system i think you would need a bit of pace and fitness to achieve what BR wants to achieve...

...Aquilani would be my best bet