Right, now that Benteke is in and it appears that our transfer business with regards to players coming in is finished what is going to be our strongest starting 11 with all players available for selection? I'll have a go 1. Mingolet 2. Clyne 3. Skrtel 4. Sakho 5. Moreno 6 .Henderson 7. Milner 8. Coutinho 9. Firmino 10. Benteke 11. Sturridge Bench (from) Can Lallana Markovic Lovren Ings Origi Bogdan Allen Lucas Ibe Gomez Wisdom Hard to see Can not get a start, Coutinho or Firmino will drop out to make way for him in certain games I'd imagine. If Sturridge and Benteke are both fit at the same time you have to play them both don't you? I have to say that squad looks really strong on paper, hopefully they are as good on grass. Reasons to be very optimistic for the coming season. Have I forgotten anybody?
My strongest xi is this in a diamond formation. Mignolet Clyne skrtel Sakho Gomez Henderson Milner Coutinho Firmino Sturridge Benteke Mignolet picks himself. The only one to explain in the back line is Gomez.... It's love at first sight he looks the dogs bollox. I think Henderson can play at the apex of the diamond with Milner and Coutinho just ahead. Bundles of energy and creativity in there. Goals too. Firmino to share game time with Lallana. I see Markovic having a big breakthrough season this year too. Firmino I've never seen play but get him in there he's got flair and a Brazilian passport that's good enough for me. Think we will use 2 strikers this season myself. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I agree about Gomez Shane, from what I've seen so far he would probably be an upgrade on a Moreno on last seasons form.Its hard to believe lallana wouldn't get a start, I really hope with a full pre season this year he can show us the reason why we spent almost 30M on him. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Good one. Like you. I'm struggling with the Can situation as I'd have expeted him as a regular in midfield, but do we mess about with the back line to accomodate Can in midfield perhaps (basically drop Moreno, move to three with Clyne, Skrtel & Sakho) ? [TABLE] 1. Mingolet 2. Clyne 3. Skrtel 4. Sakho 6. Henderson 5. Can 7. Milner 8. Coutinho 9. Firmino 10. Benteke 11. Sturridge [/TABLE] ... it doesn't quite look right and yet, that wouldn't stop our BR from giving it a go if Sturridge & Benteke are fit, me thinks ! I suspect part of this will be solved, by poor old Sturridge not being on the pitch regularly (pray I'm wrong, but I fear he'll move from one injury to another...). Also, I don't see us playing two up front although it would seem the right thing to do, I suspect it wil be either Benteke or Sturridge, depending on fitness and form which again will see Can get regular game time if I'm right.
Not one of last summers signings Shane in your 11, still think 2002 was worse? I agree with you on markovic, could be a big year, although wouldn't surprise me if we moved him on before summers over as we're top heavy in attacking midfielders. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Can't argue with those sides. Don't think Firmino will start against Stoke. Can see him being integrated in the first few weeks and obviously Sturridge is injured. First IX for Stoke Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Gomez, Lucas, Henderson, Milner, Coutinho, Lallana and Benteke Loads of options but I also think it's good there is almost a broad agreement on first XI as it means it will pick itself and 2013/14 showed the benefit. As someone said on the Anfield Wrap, tell Bogdan, Wisdom, Lovren, Can, Markovic, Origi etc. they will start all Europa League games and they are to go and win it.
Unlike last season it looks like we have genuine options in different positions, we have good first 11 with alot of potential behind them. We can play different systems as we've bought player capable of playing in them. My best 11 is..... Mignolet Clyne Srtkel Sahko Moreno Can Milner Hendo Coutinho Strurridge Benteke I have'nt seen enough of Gomez yet to tell if he's better than Moreno, same goes for Firminho, alot of different options.
Have to agree with that. Lucas is our only holding mid. Allen can do a job every now and again. Hopefully Emre Can could could develop here to but at the moment lucas is very important.
Am I the only one that would still have Lucas nailed on a starter. He's the only specialist DM we have and with all the attacking midfielders we could be very open at the back. -----------Mingolet-------- Clyne--Skrtel--Sahko---Gomez ------Lucas---Henderson--- Firmino---Milner----Coutinho-- ---------benteke---------- Sturridge slots in for Benteke for the few games he'l be fit for.
Imo that won't be far off the 11 but personally I don't see that 11 being best suited to a diamond formation. We'd be taking away one of Hendersons biggest strenghts(his third man runs beyond) and asking far too much of Coutinho from a defensive point of view.The wide positions in the diamond are probably as physically demanding as it comes and not that he's not a good athlete or prepared to work but I'd fear that it would take away from Coutinhos creativity. Looking at pre season so far it seems we're going back to the high press and 4-3-3 is probably the best formation to implement that. Mignolet Clyne Skrtel Sahko Gomez Lucas Henderson Milner Lallana Benteke Coutinho That would be my 11 at the moment with Sturridge still being a bit away from fitness. I can't really pick Firmino because I've never seen him play but I'm happy for some of the new players to be introduced gradually to a team that knows it's roles well. Circumstances dictated that too many new players were introduced too early last season,it put is into a bigger transition than I think was intended and the team and the new players suffered badly because of it. If you go down the road of x player cost y amount so he has to start I think you're asking for trouble.
Definite starter for me too. Games agains lesser opposition at home you could probably drop Coutinho back into a 3 with Milner and Henderson but in the main he should start.
There's a few selection headaches around the pitch which is great. - Moreno, Flanagan & Gomez at LB - Can, Allen, Lucas, Coutinho, Milner, Lallana, Ibe around the middle of the park (Hendo surely is one of the first names on the teamsheet) - Sturridge, Ings, Benteke & Origi up front. Only the GK, RB & CB positions are fairly nailed on who will start regularly. For me... Mignolet Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno Henderson Milner Coutinho Firmino Benteke Sturridge It's really close between Milner/Allen and Firmino/Lallana. I'd like to see Ibe, Can and Markovic step up their game too. They both had reasonable first seasons in a mis-firing team so lets see can they challenge the new signings for a place back in the side. I expect Skrtel & Sakho to be our first choice CB pairing so Lovren and Toure will have to take what game time they can and be ready for it. Like last season, a lot of our fortunes will rest on how our strikers do. If they can cause the opposition trouble, it'll give the rest of the side that little bit more room on the pitch to pass and move, pass and move.
If Lucas is on form, I'd have him straight into the starting 11. That's the question though, will he be on form this season? He's been injury free for a while now so maybe we will see him back on top. Fingers crossed.
He might be but i can also see how there was rumors of him leaving as we now seem overfull in the DM role with him, Allen and Can, i see Allen as bottom of those 3 but he's BR's boy so i cant see him going, also imo Can is more suited to the pressing game full of energy aswell as a good tackler . Imo the midfield area is the toughest place to pick this season as we've so many options there .
Me and you are watching different Emre Can's so far Gav,I'd really disagree that we're top heavy in the DM role. Can's not had a good 90 mins in midfield for us yet and there's still big question marks over his stamina for me. We'll see how the season develops but at the moment I'd want either one of Lucas or Allen in there for most games. I can't recall one game we controlled last season where one or the other didn't start.
We probably have been watching different Can's as ive seen him in a few u21 games for Germany i taught he was great in that role, maybe thats because he's up againist players of he's own age group i dunno, but its defo a role where he's more suited to that the defense role. I dont think we can judge him on last season either as he was being played outside of he's natural position and got a hiding a few times there which affected he's confidence a bit. People give out alot about Allen but for me they are taring him with the wrong brush, he's a player that does the job nobody notices or wants he breaks things up, then lays its off, without moving outside position. As you see we'll see what the season progress's but i feel Can was brought in for the DM role than defense .
tbh mate I don't think its close between those two (Milner and Allen). Milner is nailed on to start imo. Allen will be a squad player.