Starting 11

[The Magician]

Hi all, What starting 11 do you guys think Gerard Houllier should start with next season. Here is my 11.

GK Jerzy Dudek
RB Seve Finnan
CB Sami Hyypia
CB Stephane Henchoz
LB Jamie Carragher
RM Danny Murphy
CM Steven Gerrard
CM Dietmar Hamann
LM John Arne Riise
F Michael Owen
F Milan Baros

[Matt Clark]

Hi there. Welcome to bigsoccer.

Like your line-up, but do you not think we will be signing one or two other players for direct inclusion in the first team, who would displace some of those you list? I doubt Finnan will be the only summer arrival.

[RedKnight]

Originally posted by Matt Clark
Hi there. Welcome to bigsoccer.

Like your line-up, but do you not think we will be signing one or two other players for direct inclusion in the first team, who would displace some of those you list? I doubt Finnan will be the only summer arrival.

I doubt Finnan will be the only arrival as well--but I am not sure we will acquire anyone who will immediately fit into the starting XI. If we were to sign the mythical Duff, maybe he'd take the place of . . . Murphy? Riise? We seem to be looking exclusively for creative, attacking mids, so I would think that Didi is more or less safe (for this year, at least.)

Looking at Magician's (welcome, by the way) lineup, I don't see anyone who would be immediately, obviously displaced by any potential signing I've read about in the transfer rumour mill.

My guess is, Matt, that you'd say Riise would/should sit?
I seem to remember your having a low estimate of his performance this past season.

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[Matt Clark]

I've got no such preconceptions, to be honest. It's true, I thought Riise disappointing last season (in terms of performance and endeavour) but I do not doubt he is a quality player and that, on form, he is an asset to the team.

Beyond that, the "who sits?" debate is driven largely by whom we sign.

First of all though, I think GH and Parry recognise that the time for "potential" is not now. Last summer's purchases were always likely to need a season to integrate into the English game, but last season also coincided with a crashingly disappointing league campaign. Only a fool would presume the two factors to be unrelated.

Both GH and Parry have said we will be buying 2 or 3 established players.

We know Finnan and the two young French lads are coming in. We may also take Diarra on after his loan in France (those three cover our "potential" quotient for the year, in any case).

None of the Frenchies are likely to feature in the first team league side as regulars next season (unless either Le Tallec or Sinama-Pongolle are really that good ... not impossible, but unlikely). Finnan is clearly destined for RB, with Carra either at LB or as cover in the centre of defence. Permutations there include Riise at LM. Which in turn makes the Diouf/Murphy choice a factor in this discussion.

But that's it. We know little else as things stand. The Cisse links seem to have hit a snag with both the player and Auxerre being fairly certain that no deal will be concluded this summer. So that means up front we will see a three-way tussle between Owen, Baros and Heskey for the front spots next season, assuming no short-term alternative is worked out (the Anderson rumour was intruiging).

The Kewell or Duff links need to be resolved one way or another - if neither is landed, then we have a problem, insomuch as we will have failed to significantly strengthened an obviously weak aspect of our squad. At the same time, either or both of those players would be immediate first -team material. My guess, say, for instance, we sign Duff for LM, would be that Murphy would retain the RM spot and Diouf would find himself fighting for a more advanced role (where GH still believes he should ultimately be playing).

This "phony war" period of the transfer season is always such a pain in the arse! ;)

[655321]

If Duff makes it, then I say Riise would sit, not Murphy.

[gerr18]

I don't forsee Murphy sitting...he was our most consistent performer all season. Diouf will be the one who ends up sitting...IMO.

[kopiteinkc]

Originally posted by 655321
If Duff makes it, then I say Riise would sit, not Murphy.

Or Carragher is benched with Riise at left back instead.

[655321]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc
Or Carragher is benched with Riise at left back instead.


Agreed.

[GoHawks4]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc
Or Carragher is benched with Riise at left back instead.

That's what I was thining too.

Also, I don't think Houllier would have Diouf on the bench.

[SuperElf]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc
Or Carragher is benched with Riise at left back instead.
Seems most likely, pending future transfers.

That doesn't mean Jamie doesn't have a role to play. I'm sure injuries and fatigue (ahem . . . DH) will come into play within weeks of the start of the season.

Depth is good.

[skipshady]

Originally posted by SuperElf
That doesn't mean Jamie doesn't have a role to play. I'm sure injuries and fatigue (ahem . . . DH) will come into play within weeks of the start of the season.
Indeed. And with Carra's ability to play anywhere in the back four or in the defensive midfield, I think he's more valuable on the bench rather than in the starting 11.

[Bjornebye]

Originally posted by Matt Clark
<snip>This "phony war" period of the transfer season is always such a pain in the arse! ;) <snip>

It's tortuous, and torturous.

Stig

[UVALaw]

We really need to sign one more player this summer. Cisse would be nice, but I can live with Baros, Owen, and Heskey. I wasn't really convinced by Diouf at right mid, and would like to see Murphy free to take up that position. Carragher, in my opinion, needs to be a backup at CB. I got SO pissed watching him screw up our attack last year. I think Jamie is a great asset to the team, but he absolutely horrid as an attacking player. I would like to see a starting 11 of:

G Kirkland
LB Riise
CB Hyypia
CB Henchoz
RB Finnan
LM Duff, Kewell, Joe Cole, Ronaldo (from Portugal)
CM Gerrard
CM Hamann (or J Cole, in which case SG plays DM)
RM Murphy
F Owen
F Baros (preferably Cisse)

Bench
Dudek (probably be sold if Kirkland is healthy)
Heskey
Carragher
Diouf
Smicer

[GoHawks4]

I start Jerzy.

[655321]

No surprises from me, guys.

Dudek or Kirkland (doesn't matter to me)
Finnan/Hyypia/Henchoz/Riise
Duff or Ronaldo/Gerrard/Hamman/Murphy
Owen/Baros


If we don't get either of those new guys I listed, then I guess go with Diouf. He did get better and for ten million pounds, he surely must have more in him.

[GoHawks4]

You'd play Duffer on the right? I'd rather put him no the right and but Riise in the backline.

[liverbird]

Originally posted by 655321
No surprises from me, guys.

Dudek or Kirkland (doesn't matter to me)
Finnan/Hyypia/Henchoz/Riise
Duff or Ronaldo/Gerrard/Hamman/Murphy
Owen/Baros


If we don't get either of those new guys I listed, then I guess go with Diouf. He did get better and for ten million pounds, he surely must have more in him.

Seems about right to me.

[footballitis05]

Whatever happened to Diouf?? The Senegaleese superstar didn't make it on many peoples starting lineups? He's not terribly bad, but unless liverpool start signing some bigger names, I think he maybe a starter as an attacking midfielder next season. By the way, what attacking midfielders are the reds looking for? Ronaldhino seems to be going to ManU...just like to hear who people think Houllier should go after

[RedKnight]

Originally posted by footballitis05
Whatever happened to Diouf?? The Senegaleese superstar didn't make it on many peoples starting lineups? He's not terribly bad, but unless liverpool start signing some bigger names, I think he maybe a starter as an attacking midfielder next season. By the way, what attacking midfielders are the reds looking for? Ronaldhino seems to be going to ManU...just like to hear who people think Houllier should go after

Welcome, footballitis05.

I think that the sentiment among supporters--for two years now--has been that we need to sign an established, creative midfielder.

It may be overly hopeful to think that will happen, but if it does, Diouf IMO is the first man to go to the bench (the other midfielders, remember, are Murphy and Gerrard--and Hamann is the d-mid.)

If, however, we don't sign a top-flight mid, then I would not be surprised to see Diouf in the XI come August.


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[Theo]

maybe Cheyrou will become really, really good over the summer and so he'll have to start on left...

or hopefully we'll just sign Harry Kewell (fingers crossed...)