20 Oct 2009

LIVERPOOL v LYON: Please, RAFA - play this team/formation

After Liverpool's home defeat to Aston Villa on August the 25th, I argued that several changes needed to be made to the formation, the most important of which being Steven Gerrard moving to central midfield. Given the team's run of defeats since that time, and the absence of Fernando Torres, the need for playing 'aces in their places' is now more important than ever.

I hope Rafa plays the following line-up/formation tonight against Lyon:

---------------------- Reina

Johnson --------- Carra --- Agger/Skrtel --------- Aurelio

---------------- Gerrard -- Masch

Babel -------------- Benayoun ---------- Riera (if fit)

---------------------- Kuyt

If Riera is not fit:

---------------------- Reina

Johnson --------- Carra --- Agger/Skrtel --------- Insua

---------------- Gerrard -- Masch

Babel -------------- Benayoun ---------- Aurelio

---------------------- Kuyt

Benefits:

1. Moving Gerrard to midfield solidifies the heart of the team and reintroduces some of Alonso’s qualities into the fold. It is incomprehensible to me that this has not happened yet.

2. Benyoun’s natural position is just behind the striker; he has proved this season and last that he is more than capable of playing there. It is a natural solution – playing him on the left imbalances the team and wastes much of his talent.

3. It’s obvious, but Albert Riera (if fit) brings balance to the team. What is the point of having him if he doesn’t play? if he's not fit, then Aurlelio is left-footed, which means balance to the team is retained, and the team can benefit from his passing/set piece ability.

4. Torres is out - David N'gog is an option by i think going with someone who is more experienced in the Champions League would be better.

5. This is an attacking team. Liverpool are at home. No need to fear anyone.

6. Every player is arguably in their natural/strongest/most comfortable position: aces in their places; bags of experience and no square pegs in round holes.

7. I do not have a problem with Lucas as a player - he has done his best this season and is progressing. However, the only question to consider here is this: who is the better central midfielder - Gerrard or Lucas? The answer is obvious, so Lucas must drop to the bench.

If we play this team and formation, I have no doubt we will beat Lyon.




55 comments:

  1. Yeah Rafa please play the injured Riera. Genius Kanwar.

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  2. Thanks Jaimie for answering my question! Totally agree too ;)  Maybe Agger instead of masch holding?? more attacking? better passing? faster? masch is losin desire and lacks the heart at the minute after the refusal for going to barca..

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  3. Gerrard is the best CENTRAL MIDFIELDER in the world. The best. He hasn't played for a while, so it'd take him a few games to settle in again there, but that's where he needs to be played.

    Good formation Jaimie, but I don't agree on Aurelio in LM! Not attacking or pacy enough, but i suppose he's all we have tonight.

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  4. i do not want to snipe or anything as your articles are good but uve kinda contradicted?? i remember in one article you stated that when gerrard has played in midfield liverpool have won whereas on fact 1 u have stated that gerrard being in midfield hasnt occured, i apologise if i misunderstood.

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  5. for me the formation is good but why you always name kuyt to the team,what does he bring to the team,nothing exsept give the ball to the player next to him.look at other premier lg forwards,they all can change a game with one move or beating difences something that kuyt never done or he is going to do because he is not capable,for me let try ngog, after all when torres be substituted ngoggg came in to replace.kuyt don t have quality or speed.

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  6. I don't think Babel, Skrtel or Aurelio should start after saturday's performance or lack of.

    Reina, Johnson, Carra, Agger, Insua, Lucas, Masch, Kuyt, SG, Benny and N'Gog......

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  7. please note Aurelio is awful

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  8. There may be a case for playing Agger in CM, but at the moment, I would argue we need players in positions they are used to/comfortable with.  We played an unfamiliar 343 formation on Saturda and suffered.  Best to play it safe.

    Agree with you about Masch's questionable desire, but he has played with Gerrard before; they're used to each other. Agger/Gerrard would take time to gel, and we don't have any more time to get it right.

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  9. Yes, Aurelio at LM is not the most ideal option, but I'd rather that than Benayoun, who is wasted there (IMO).  I just like the idea of balance in the team.  Left footers on the left is always a good idea.  Plus, Aurelio has good passing ability, which could come in handy.

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  10. I am not the biggest fan of Dirk Kuyt but his record in CL is very good.  He tends to score important goals, and we have to take into account his goals/assists record this season and last.

    Dropping him for the inexperienced Ngog is not fair to Kuyt.  We have to be fair here - Kuyt deserves his place in the team, and there is no one else to adequately replace him.

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  11. I'm not quite sure I get what you're saying here.  Could you possibly expand on your point. Thanks :)

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  12. I suppose good points, best to play it safe.. and we dont have enough time... but lucas is most certainly going to play, he may aswell marry him..

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  13. we could always play voronin ;)

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  14. Oh Ok, well basically I meant on this article on fact 1 for reasons why these formations are better than the same old benitez stubborness formations, you mentioned that gerrard hasnt played in midfield, but in another article, you mentioned that everytime gerrard plays in midfield we have won.

    (P.S Gerrard does need to play in midfield though.)

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  15. Now you've mentioned that, Rafa may see that as a possibility!  We could see something like Voronin on the right (in place of Babel), or evn up front, either with Kuyt in a 442, or instead of Kuyt, who would move back to the right.

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  16. but it could be a risk worth taking.. :-P

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  17.  i doubt he will drop lucas...

    carragher..... agger......skrtel.......insua

    kuyt........macherano.....lucas....benayoun

    ..................gerrard.........................

    .............................ngog................

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  18. Thanks.

    With respect, I have not stated anywhere that 'every time Gerrard plays in midfield we have won'.  I wouldn't say that becuase it's not true!

    You must be thinking of something else.

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  19. oh sorry i meant this season..

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  20. u never know with him...

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  21. I have heard Gerrard is not even on the bench for tonight, and Ngog starts up front!

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  22. Ah, right.  Then yes, every time this season that Gerrard has started in CM, Liverpool has won.  In the 4 defeats before Sunderland, Liverpool played the Gerrard/Torres partnership.  Clearly, this season, Gerrard in midfield is working.

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  23. Kelly is starting at Right Back.

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  24. <div>I argued right at the beginning of the season that until Alberto Aquilani is available, Liverpool should play <span><span> </span><span>Gerrard in central midfield</span></span>. Indeed, every time he has started in that position this season, Liverpool has won, the last example being the thrashing of Hull City.

    Read more: <span>http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/once-again-rafa-benitezs-illogical.html#ixzz0UV1hlBSB</span>
    </div>


    <div>I argued right at the beginning of the season that until Alberto Aquilani is available, Liverpool should play <span><span> </span><span>Gerrard in central midfield</span></span>. Indeed, every time he has started in that position this season, Liverpool has won, the last example being the thrashing of Hull City.

    Read more: <span>http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/once-again-rafa-benitezs-illogical.html#ixzz0UV1hlBSB</span>
    </div>
    The article is called "once again, Rafa Benitez' decisions condemn liverpool to defeat"

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  25. yes lol we've cracked it on its head! (finally)

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  26. Thanks - that's right, as I noted above: when gerrard has played in CM this season, Liverpool has won.

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  27. i have found the formation!!! oh my god we are gonna lose!!! Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Agger or Skrtel (forgot), Insua, Masch, Lucas, Benayoun, Gerrard, Kuyt!!!

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  28. Johnson???????
    Crazy Right back choice there!

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  29. mate well done u nearly got it just kelly for skrtel :)

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  30. Alleged line-up:

    Reina

    Kelly --- Carragher --- Agger ---  Insua

    ----------- Masch --- Lucas

    Kuyt --------- Gerrard -------- Benayoun

    ---------------- N'gog
    <div>
    </div>
    <div>Oh god. Where is the friggin' logic?!  If you're going to play a centre-back at right back (Kelly is normally CB) then why not play Carragher there, WHO HAS PLAYED THERE BEFORE!!</div>
    <div>
    </div>
    <div>Why not start Agger/Skrtel?</div>
    <div>
    </div>
    <div>it's too ridiculous for words.
    </div>

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  31. weel Jaimie we both got it wrong - Massively!! iu cannot believe it!! good thing i found it when i did otherwise i would have probably had a heart attack!! :)

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  32. I got the info before you! yay! :p spot on with ur opinions though

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  33. If we need a change of fortune why not play skrtel and agger together?  If everyone is "equal" surely carragher cant be considered as untouchable.  Our centre backs have struggled this season because we have possibly two of the worst defensive full backs in the prem.  Neither can defend but are great going forward.  Problem here is the carra/skrtel partnership doesn't seem to like being exposed to pace OR being pulled out of position.  In my opinion only Ferdinad/Vidic pairing can defend two-on-two in the prem.  We neither have the pace or agility in the centre to attempt to emulate them.  Rafa needs to realsie this...and quick.

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  34. Doesnt he have to field a certain amount of UK players?

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  35. Yes. I was a bit slow off the mark tonight it seems ;)

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  36. Kelly is a fantastic Right Back. I've seen him play in that position on a number of occasions and he has always impressed. Pre-Season being amongst them.

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  37. Im a LFC fans since childhoold and will always be. Carragher has always been faithful to the club and has contriuted a lot for the team. But personally, Carragher should give his place to another young defender now.He should do like Sami Hypia did.He knew he could not deal with the pace of english strikers,thats why he step back. I feel agger and skrtel in the central back will be very good. And i totally agree that Gerrard should play more in the central midfield now and play the same role that xabi did in the past. I think rafa needs to adopt a zonal marking as LFC is not comfortable with man marking and most of the goals that LFC has conceded are from setpieces

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  38. no offense, and thank you for the time you put into this, but i really doubt rafa reads these. To be fair to L.F.C they have a whole coaching team and have probably looked at all formations already. We are not privvy to the statistics that are found in training.

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  39. Of course he doesn't read liverpool sites!  No one was suggesting he did.

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  40. Im sorry mate but your contradicting yourself again, you cant have it both ways, read your title, please Rafa play this team. How could he if he hadn't read this.

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  41. Right.  Do I even need to respond to this?!  Where in my post did it state 'open letter to Rafa Benitez"?!

    It's well-worn headline device.  It is not literally meant to be a plea to Rafa to read the site.

    but that it obvious, and I'm sure you know that.

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  42. what a shame, defeated in home turf..
    oh, shit happens again and again..

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  43. I don't think we played that badly to be honest.  A draw would've been a fairer result.  I thought Kelly and Ngog did okay; Kelly got a couple fo great cross in and Ngog was getting into the right positions. We're just on a run of extreme bad luck at the moment. I'm not fussed about the Cl anyway - the league has to be the priority.  I still think we'll beat United on Sunday though.  It's always the way - we're written off; everyone thinks we're out of it, and then we come back with a great win out of nowhere.

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  44. I wouldnt call it bad luck, i would call it poor tactics, leadership and an almost total absence of desire from the players.

    Last season they fought to the death, even when playing badly but now seem resigned to being second best.

    the best i can hope for is that ALL our bad performances are out of the way and starting sunday we go on a crazy run of wins. By crazy i mean we win every game till May......

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  45. I agree. Kuyt doesnt deserve to play in the chinese league( with my respect to the chinese league). no quality whatsoever, and what is worse is playing him as a wing when someone like Babel proved he can be a great right wing in the 20 mins he played there in the WestHam game. I started to think that Kuyt might be the son-in-law to Rafa. Lucas is maybe Rafa's nephew. Rafa is ruining his career by his stubborness and favouritism.

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  46. Kuyt doesnt deserve to play in the chinese league( with my respect to the chinese league). no quality whatsoever, and what is worse is playing him as a wing when someone like Babel proved he can be a great right wing in the 20 mins he played there in the WestHam game. I started to think that Kuyt might be the son-in-law to Rafa. Lucas is maybe Rafa's nephew. Rafa is ruining his career by his stubborness and favouritism.

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  47. Lets face it,we need quality. Lyon have far more quality players than we have. Even Benayoun, one of the few good players in we have, doesnt play in his natural position and Rafa replaced him today when we most needed him and left the stranded Kuyt, Ngog, Lucas..etc
    I still believe Rafa is the best manager in the world, but he is ruining his career to be honest. If we sack Rafa, we would maybe finish 10th in the prem.  Rafa should stay, but he should bring quality players who deserve to play for liverpool. Why dont we have talented players like other teams have. its so depressing, guys. Africa and South America are full of talents. here is a video of the  Brazilian Player Nilton who is linked with a move to Anfield. I wish that will happen, he is very talented:                   

    http://www.youtube.com/v/3CX55Gf4nFk

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  48. agreed 
    not fussed bout CL either 
    a win on sun is on the cards

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  49. apart from reina - kuyt would have been the 2nd name on the team sheet tonight - you obviously don't understand football as babel has not got the right attitude or talent to play for us. Lucas broke their moves down well, although sometimes I do think he slows quick counter attacks down by not playing the ball forward enough.
    Taking benayoun, off and putting fat boy on was a very poor substitution though.
    We have gone backwards this season,I mean who would you rather have out of the following?
    benayoun / luis garcia
    insua / riise
    lucas / sissoko
    ngog / crouch
    voronin / bellamy
    babel / kewell

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  50. like I mentioned before in my earlier post carragher and insua were essentialy at fault for our goals.  Insua got roasted throughout the game.  I was screaming at the screen 'put Aurelio at left back and switch insua yo midfield' .....he couldn't hear me.  Carra was ball watching for both goals.  Rafas loyalty may cost him dearly.  What do you think?

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  51. So, was the formation played ok?

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  52. last week it was bitchy ball,
    and this week you told that kops run extremely bad luck..

    good comment from you fellas.. :-D

    aurelio was sitting ducks during second half, damn u..
    kelly was brilliant player, and ngog was short form of never going on goal(NGOG)..

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  53. degen carrager aurielio johnson
                macsharano
    riera           aquiliani          aquiliani        kuyt
                                   gerrard
             
                               torres

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