What will our best lineup be?

[Suss]

It looks like the Alonso and Garcia deals are close to being finished. With Rafa's squad in place, I would like to get some thoughts on what everyone thinks our best lineup is, and what would be the best formation for us to play. I think Rafa will use different formations in different situations and often play with just one striker. Here are a few possibilities.

----------------Dudek
Josemi---Hyppia---Carragher---Riise
Garcia----Gerrard---Alonso------Kewell
---------Cisse---------------Baros

Regular 4-4-2 which is the lineup I would use for most league games.

------------------Dudek
Josemi---Hyppia-----Carragher---Riise
-------------------Hamann
--------------Gerrard----Alonso
--Garcia------------------------------Kewell
-------------------Cisse

I could see the above lineup being very effective in champions league games and tough road games in the league. With the 3 central midfielders playing together, there would be no way through for our opponent. Gerrard and Alonso would be given more freedom to create with Didi behind them.

-----------------Dudek
Josemi--Hyppia--Carragher--Riise
Nunez-----Gerrard--Alonso----Garcia
---------------Kewell
------------------Cisse

In this one, Kewell would play behind Cisse and create for him as well as score goals. Kewell would be playing the role that Aimar did for Rafa at Valencia.

-----------------Dudek
--------Carragher--Hyppia--Henchov
Josemi-----------------------------------Riise
----------------Gerrard--Alonso
----------------------Kewell
-------------Baros-----------Cisse

I could see this formation being used, especially if we sign another center-half who would take the place of Henchov. Josemi and Riise could provide the width, while Kewell is able to create in the middle of the field. Gerrard and Alonso wouldn't let anything past them. Its a way to be able to use two strikers, yet be very strong at the back..

Those are just some possible ways that Rafa can go. Any comments on those formations? How would you like to see us play? And how do you think Benitez will have us play?

[Quake_scouser]

I've been itching to make a depth chart for the past week but I've been waiting to see who would sign. Now that we've got two more Spaniards I think it's time :D

Goalkeeper:
Jerzy Dudek
Chris Kirkland
Patrice Luzi
Paul Harrison

Left Back:
John Arne Riise
Jamie Carragher
Steven Warnock
Zak Whitbread

Center Back:
Sami Hyypia
Jamie Carragher
Stephan Henchoz
Josemi
Zak Whitbread (only youngster I saw play CB on USA tour)

Right Back:
Josemi
Steve Finnan
Jamie Carragher
John Otsemobor (attacking RB according to lfc.tv)

Left Midfield:
Harry Kewell
Luis Garcia (based on Barca performances)
John Arne Riise (although I'd rather see him stay at LB)
Stephen Warnock
Richie Partridge (will he ever play?)

Center Mid:
Steven Gerrard (first name on teamsheet)
Xabi Alonso (based on Sociedad performances)
Dieter Hamann
Igor Biscan
Salif Diao

Right Mid:
Luis Garcia (based on Barca performances)
Antonio Nunez (optimistic guess)
Steve Finnan
Richie Partridge (supposedly can play both sides)

Striker:
Djibril Cisse
Milan Baros
Florent Sinama-Pongolle
Luis Garcia (can play here according to Rafa)
Neil Mellor

So that is how I see it right now. This doesn't include Cheyrou, LeTallec, Vignal, Diarra, Diouf or Medjani who are all loaned out (though being capped by the French!). It also doesn't include John Welsh or Darren Potter, because I'm not sure if they are central players or not (and would love to know, btw). Looks to me like we're a little thin at the back and a little heavy on defensive center-mids (thanks, Gerard). If anyone has any thoughts I'd like to hear them.

[lgsshedden]

It looks like the Alonso and Garcia deals are close to being finished. With Rafa's squad in place, I would like to get some thoughts on what everyone thinks our best lineup is, and what would be the best formation for us to play. I think Rafa will use different formations in different situations and often play with just one striker. Here are a few possibilities.

----------------Dudek
Josemi---Hyppia---Carragher---Riise
Garcia----Gerrard---Alonso------Kewell
---------Cisse---------------Baros

Regular 4-4-2 which is the lineup I would use for most league games.

------------------Dudek
Josemi---Hyppia-----Carragher---Riise
-------------------Hamann
--------------Gerrard----Alonso
--Garcia------------------------------Kewell
-------------------Cisse

I could see the above lineup being very effective in champions league games and tough road games in the league. With the 3 central midfielders playing together, there would be no way through for our opponent. Gerrard and Alonso would be given more freedom to create with Didi behind them.

-----------------Dudek
Josemi--Hyppia--Carragher--Riise
Nunez-----Gerrard--Alonso----Garcia
---------------Kewell
------------------Cisse

In this one, Kewell would play behind Cisse and create for him as well as score goals. Kewell would be playing the role that Aimar did for Rafa at Valencia.

-----------------Dudek
--------Carragher--Hyppia--Henchov
Josemi-----------------------------------Riise
----------------Gerrard--Alonso
----------------------Kewell
-------------Baros-----------Cisse

I could see this formation being used, especially if we sign another center-half who would take the place of Henchov. Josemi and Riise could provide the width, while Kewell is able to create in the middle of the field. Gerrard and Alonso wouldn't let anything past them. Its a way to be able to use two strikers, yet be very strong at the back..

Those are just some possible ways that Rafa can go. Any comments on those formations? How would you like to see us play? And how do you think Benitez will have us play?

Excellent assessment of the options now open to Benitiez. What's important is the realization that the squad now has enough quality to cover for injuries and to play several tactical combinations as needed in CL, Cup and regular league games.

I agree with the players you list and those you omit, although I still think Warnock and Biscan will see a fair amount of playing time over the season.

[SuperElf]

Suss - I think we'll see an awful lot of option #2 in tough road matches (read: on the road in CL, Stamford Bridge, OT, Library, etc.) especially if Cisse or Baros is nursing a niggling injury. (Pretty likely, actually.) Using the first formation as a base tactic, I LOVE all the flexibility we'll have for late game substitutions/tactical shifts.

Quake - I think if Riise comes out on the left, Warnock goes in. There's just too many other places where we need Carragher. (Leon can't do everything!)

My hunch is, Finnan was getting shopped around because Raffa rated him behind Josemi and Carra at RB, and behind Nunez, Garcia, (and Gerrard, Biscan, and Welsh?) on the right wing.

[Twenty26Six]

Regular 4-4-2 which is the lineup I would use for most league games.

------------------Dudek
Josemi---Hyppia-----Carragher---Riise
-------------------Hamann
--------------Gerrard----Alonso
--Garcia------------------------------Kewell
-------------------Cisse

I could see the above lineup being very effective in champions league games and tough road games in the league. With the 3 central midfielders playing together, there would be no way through for our opponent. Gerrard and Alonso would be given more freedom to create with Didi behind them.

-----------------Dudek
Josemi--Hyppia--Carragher--Riise
Nunez-----Gerrard--Alonso----Garcia
---------------Kewell
------------------Cisse


I don't think you are going to see much of Alonso/Gerrard/Hamann on the pitch at the same time. Unless we have Gerrard outside center or as a support striker. In fact I don't think we are going to see much Hamann at all now. From all reports Alonso is the type of player that tracks back very far is disciplined in his runs and like to go back deep to retrieve the ball from his defenders. Couple all that with the fact that Hamann is slow, prone to lunging, offers little in moving forward and you can see why his playing time should decrease substantially.

Also I think we are more likely to see Garcia in a supporting forward role before Kewell. Right now it would not be out of the ordinary to see Garcia in RM a lot. When Nunez comes back healthy I think you are going to see a lot of Garcia behind Cisse with Baros off the bench. What we play in european home games is really going to be more indicative of what our best shape is as a team. League games are always going to follow english "laws" with heavy emphasis on wing play and pace.

I'd look for some of this in the CL @ home...

Josemi----Hyypia---Carra-----
-------Alonso------------Riise
Nunez----------Gerarrd-------
--------Garcia---------Kewell
-------------Cisse------------

...and on the road in Europe.

Josemi----Hyypia---Carra-----
-------Alonso------------Riise
Nunez----------Biscan--------
-----------Gerrard------Kewell
------------Baros-------------

The lesser the team the more likely you may see Gerrard pushing up as an out-n-out attacking midfielder.


I think Baros and Cisse will split a lot of time. Both players offer very different attributes. Baros is very active and if his form/health holds he will get a a lot of time based on his workrate.

I like Kewell, but I think everyone is giving Kewell a little more credit than he deserves right now as a support striker. I think that is Kewell does not step-up his form he could very easily lose his starting spot. I don't think Rafa has been particularly pleased with Kewell and I don't think he would have pressed so hard for Garcia if he was 100% behind Harry. I don't think he will be dropped anytime soon, but it is something to look for. Kewell needs to start dictating play more on his wing before he gets a look at a more influential central position.