What about Defence?

Defence will always be a problem without the team being able to play a high line and compressing the space between defence and midfield.

Which means Skrtel needs to be binned and Migs dropped.

Defence will always be a problem without the team being able to play a high line and compressing the space between defence and midfield.

Which means Skrtel needs to be binned and Migs dropped.

Precisely mate.  They may play in their "designated" positions but they're very much square pegs in round holes when it comes to Brendans preferred set up. 

One drops deep, the other's glued to his line whilst the rest of the defense are moving in the opposite direction.  It makes our defense look a total F**k up, costs us points in virtually every game and the best DM in world football wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference in protecting them. 

It needs some of de creosote, I'm on it.

Defence will always be a problem without the team being able to play a high line and compressing the space between defence and midfield.

Which means Skrtel needs to be binned and Migs dropped.

Just as you mention that, how's Bogdan with his feet?

Just as you mention that, how's Bogdan with his feet?

Well if his hands are anything to go by then not very good Bert

I know it's not a popular opinion but I'd happily send Skrtel packing. Instead we offered him a new contract. Non communicator who lives off the dominance and hard work of others. Overrated.

Thinking back to when Rafa signed him he always seemed dodgy , giving away stupid frees around the box , silly decision making from him .

Well if his hands are anything to go by then not very good Bert

  Can't have worse feet than Migs I imagine.

It needs some of de creosote, I'm on it.

Fook you must be old , you got somr old stock in the shed have ya , cant get it no more tried to buy some a while back .

Scoring goals is the biggie, the defence was ok at times last season, if we can keep main guys like Sakho & Skrtel fit we have a solid base there, Clyne will make a massive difference as well.

Enrique and Flanno when fit will also push Clyne & Moreno this season.

And the young CB's like Llori & the new lad will also be pushing the regular guys, competion for places should be a lot better, which will make everybody play better.

Fook you must be old , you got somr old stock in the shed have ya , cant get it no more tried to buy some a while back .

Thinking back to when Rafa signed him he always seemed dodgy , giving away stupid frees around the box , silly decision making from him .

That's still him now. Hand on heart I don't think he's improved at all it's just that the people around him have gotten worse over the years. He's our "best defender" by default.

To be fair when I started this thread I was just thinking about some new signings, not the formation aspect.

Interesting viewpoints and I guess that's why I'll never make a good manager ;-) Personally I'd like to see Cann in Midfield at some point.

Also at the moment just look at how attacking we might be at full-back if Clyne and Moreno both play. I suspect we will be pretty dodgy defensively again next season if that's a the case.

Also at the moment just look at how attacking we might be at full-back if Clyne and Moreno both play. I suspect we will be pretty dodgy defensively again next season if that's a the case.

Which is why a new DM is so important.

Which is why a new DM is so important.

I agree although I personally would prefer to see one attacking full-back on one side (such as Clyne, I'm not a big fan of Moreno) and a more solid player on the other side (think someone like Phillipe Luis at the chavs) as tis gives you a little more defensive solidarity. With this in mind i'm hoping young Flanagan can get himself fit and claim that left-back spot (he has had all of his best games playing on that side of the pitch).

Johnathon Northcroft saying Lucas is likely off to Italy. So looks like we are in the market for a defensive minded midfielder like Illarramendi, probably waiting for the Sterling saga to finish.

Johnathon Northcroft saying Lucas is likely off to Italy. So looks like we are in the market for a defensive minded midfielder like Illarramendi, probably waiting for the Sterling saga to finish.

Well with Cabaye going to Palace I hope we do have someone in the bag if Lucas is to be off. Personally I think it's a mistake letting Lucas leave if two DM don't come in, we've been caught short before in that area but Brendan clearly thinks that either Can or Allen can cover. I'd disagree with him, conclusively on Allen and simply due to experience and development in terms of Can.

Well with Cabaye going to Palace I hope we do have someone in the bag if Lucas is to be off. Personally I think it's a mistake letting Lucas leave if two DM don't come in, we've been caught short before in that area but Brendan clearly thinks that either Can or Allen can cover. I'd disagree with him, conclusively on Allen and simply due to experience and development in terms of Can.

It's obvious that Rodgers doesn't play with a real DM by the number of times Lucas has played under him.
Before his ACL Lucas was as good as you get in the EPL but his  lack of mobility now is only going to be further exposed in a Rodgers midfield.

I would prefer Kovacic personally but Illarramendi is still an upgrade on Lucas as a DLPM.

Think it's risky to rely on 1 specialist DM, should be keeping Lucas and buying a 2nd with Allen as third choice DM and Can & Allen back ups for Milner & Hendo in that box-box role.

If it's true and we do plan on selling Lucas, we should try for, Camacho(really rate him), Kramer, Illarra, Bender, Schneiderlin or Carvalho, failing that, we'll probably end up buying Cattermole and play him as a deep lying defensive playmaker!

Camacho(really rate him), Kramer, Illarra, Bender, Schneiderlin or Carvalho

Like this list although I've only seen Camacho play a few times (guess you mean Ignacio?)

Like this list although I've only seen Camacho play a few times (guess you mean Ignacio?)

Yep I think he's at that stage in his career where he should join a big club to take him to the next level. Every time he plays for Malaga, they look much stronger with him as a defensive and attacking unit. Another play I rate highly is, Sergi Darder, though not quite a DM, he is similar type of player to Allen, but far better in every aspect!

Anyway, we have our defense in the forward areas covered and actually think our high pressing can be just as good as the 13/14 season:

Firmino  Ings
    Lallana/Coutinho
Milner   Hendo/Allen
        DM

All players capable of pressing intensely all day long! But what good would that be without a strong DM? I cannot emphasise enough the importance of a strong DM/DLPM sitting there, it really does allow our players more freedom, whether to press or attack. An exceptional DM changes everything for me.

Yep I think he's at that stage in his career where he should join a big club to take him to the next level. Every time he plays for Malaga, they look much stronger with him as a defensive and attacking unit. Another play I rate highly is, Sergi Darder, though not quite a DM, he is similar type of player to Allen, but far better in every aspect!

Anyway, we have our defense in the forward areas covered and actually think our high pressing can be just as good as the 13/14 season:

Firmino  Ings
    Lallana/Coutinho
Milner   Hendo/Allen
        DM

All players capable of pressing intensely all day long! But what good would that be without a strong DM? I cannot emphasise enough the importance of a strong DM/DLPM sitting there, it really does allow our players more freedom, whether to press or attack. An exceptional DM changes everything for me.

I agree fella.

If we got Lacazette or Berahino + any of those you listed (my preference would be for Bender but Illarra is not much of a downgrade then I think we're set for top 4.

If we just get Benteke and sell Lucas then I think we're stuffed.

If we just get Benteke and get Illarra (any of those you listed) then I think top 4 is possible.

I think Milner has been brought in to do what Gerrard did towards the end of his time and that's to cover the back 4. he has a good range of passes and can tackle along with the amount of distance he covers per game which is high. I think he would be a ideal player there as we would get more games out of him and he can have a Can next to him or just infront along with hendo to link up the play. For me Lucas now is on borrowed time with BR as we have seen since his arrival 3 seasons ago he's not bought an out and out DM and has always beleived in just having one of the mid player taking responsibility and covering when people bomb on. i think we will line up like this below with defence picking itself as Sakho and skrtel clyne and moreno.
                                                   
                                           milner   can
                                             hendo
                                   Coutino         Firmino
                                              Striker