Liverpool boys still settling in
Today’s game against Portsmouth should not be used as an indicator to where Liverpool’s hope lie in the upcoming Premiership.
Essentially it was a warm up game aimed at building up the players fitness and personally I don’t think too much should be read into the lack of cutting edge up front against Pompey.
As Benitzes himself stated after the game, the Liverpool players are still not as fit as he wants them to be and therefore by the time the big kick-off starts the team should have improved in all aspects further (what with more friendlies to come). Furthermore having all these new players coming into the squad added to the manager’s rotation policy Liverpool have not been able to set a rythmn as such.
As a consequence the “loss” today is hardly all too surprising.
In my opinion Rafael Benitez views his best XI as…….
Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger Riise
Mascherano Alonso
Pennant Gerrard Kewell
Torres
…………in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Perhaps playing this team week in week out for the majority of games in the premiership this season may aid Liverpool with their quest to “compete” for the title, but only time will tell and how long it takes for new player to “settle” in.
Do you think Liverpool will compete for the title and to what degree to you appreciate, if at all with allowing a period of time for new players to intergrate with the present players?
Topics: Liverpool, Match Reports, Rafael Benitez
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to me that team looks incomplete, it looks like its missing a player or its the wrong formation.
July 28th, 2007 @ 01:24I agree with dan. I think they’ll have more than 1 striker, and I doubt Pennant will play that much
July 28th, 2007 @ 01:28dont think pennant will get that many games, and dont believe kewell will be fit for enough games. So replace those two with babel and benayoun for most games. Its not a bad formation because gerard will be given a free role
July 28th, 2007 @ 01:40But lfc will most probably play with 2 strikers at home.
Unfortunately for lfc fans that means gerard out on the right again.
If BenÃtez is planning to use Kewell as a first-team regular then he has learnt nothing over the last three years!
July 28th, 2007 @ 02:02Hmmmmmmmm well its very simple the team needs to get to know each other when alonso figures out what kind of pass suits torres and when babel gets more possesion we have a great chance at the title my ideal formation would be.
Finnan Carragher Heinze Riise
Pennant Gerrard Alonso Babel
Torres Voronin
If heinze dosent come im sure benitez will have another CB on his list if this team learns to play together with a few rotation for the small games
The League is OURS!!!!!!!
July 28th, 2007 @ 02:09Arvin, either you didn’t know or you safely avoided mentioning it. Anyway here it is, Fernando Torres Missed a Penalty today!!!
I know I know, it’s only a friendly. But couldn’t help but take a dig at that!
July 28th, 2007 @ 03:34Quote:
Hmmmmmmmm well its very simple the team needs to get to know each other when alonso figures out what kind of pass suits torres and when babel gets more possesion we have a great chance at the title my ideal formation would be.
Finnan Carragher Heinze Riise
Pennant Gerrard Alonso Babel
Torres Voronin
If heinze dosent come im sure benitez will have another CB on his list if this team learns to play together with a few rotation for the small games
The League is OURS!!!!!!!
**************
I’m a Man Utd fan, and that line up is rubbish!
You won’t get Heinze, and there is no way Benitez will play without Sissoko or Mach in the middle.
July 28th, 2007 @ 05:29put babel on the right and kewell on the left
July 28th, 2007 @ 05:42Feel that Liverpool’s Best Formation, With Their current squad should be 4-3-3
Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger Riise
Gerrard Mascherano Alonso
Torres Venonin Kuyt
although this might mean the lack of wingers…which is most probably against benitez style of play….so he will use this:
Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger Riise
Mascherano Alonso
Gerrard Kewell
Torres Kuyt
Of course, with rafa’s rotation policy….Pennant Babel Crouch Venonin Arbeloa Sissoko Lucas Hyypia should figure more often…
July 28th, 2007 @ 16:52I dont think liverpool are capable enough to win the title for the sold season the squad still is not good enough.still lacks spark and creativity.
July 28th, 2007 @ 16:58Sole reason mi bad.
July 28th, 2007 @ 17:04Sean that is what i’d expect from a manc but its ok u clearly dont understand.
Benitez is all about tactics he wont play our best players everywere he will play players who can play together.
Sooooooo Torres Missed a Penalty ::::: that whole crises well think about 3 years from now when torres is a star wud u want to look back and say his first liverpool goal was in a pre season match in a Penalty Shoot out.
Anyone can miss the pressure got to Torres nobody on the team have bonded with him it will happen more and more but the think is torres was creating chances with runs and passes and hes not even adapted yet.
So b4 manu fans get their hopes just remmember torres and babel havent adapted to english football yet so dont judge them on a pre season match.
July 28th, 2007 @ 17:23By the way Torres still hasent started a liverpool match and still isnt close to full fitness.
Finnan Carra Hypia Traore
Gerrard Alonso Sissoko Risse
Cisse Garcia
That was our best formation the season we got over 80 points now think what we can do with the team ive given just above
July 28th, 2007 @ 17:37Liverpool fan.what are you trying to do? Prove to us that liverpool will challenge for the title? I mean ya liverpool have strengthened but so have chelsea and i dont even want to start on manutd. Liverpool have a good squad yes i will say that but i mean compared to others? manu for example. dont come close.dont forget that we have spent more than any other club.
July 28th, 2007 @ 17:57arsenal fan,
reina
finnan,carragher, agger, riise
gerrard, mascherano, alonso, babel
torres, voronin.
although i think that it is between l’pool and arsenal for 3rd again, i would like to see gerrard in the middle. but babel looks like a player who likes to wonder, so i dont know whether benitez would rely on gerrard’s attacking creativity down the middle anymore than he did last year, especially with what is expected to be a very dangerous striker in torres.
July 28th, 2007 @ 18:35Liverpool Fan
July 28th, 2007 @ 18:45In the comments you’ve put down 2 different formations that ‘Pool should use and personally I think that they will have to start accomodating peole in CM because I can’t see Mascherano or Alonso being dropped. I think that the formation that Ridder8(no.9) is probably the best you could put out if you switch Kuyt with Babel. Then even if you have that formation you have no width. Liverpool still don’t have top class wingers and United have that in abundance.
yeh one formation is the one from 2 years ago and Taehr i am simply pointing out its not all about big names and i think that team has everything to be called upon.
So b4 yeh start pointing fingers ino every other team is also improving i am a liverpool fan so i will be more influenced by how my own team is improving.
and gooner10 i am i bit dissapointed to here a fan with no ambitions for his team but if that is how u feel then thats isnt my problem its urs.
July 28th, 2007 @ 20:21i think arsenal can win trophies, but they still neither they or liverpool have the strength in depth like chelsea have over 38 games, that is probably why the two arsenal and l’pool have done better in cup competitions
July 28th, 2007 @ 21:28Kewell, are you being serious? The guy is terrible, if anything, put in Babel (Whom will be worth the 11.5mil over Torres 20mil+ flop) over Kewell in midfield and then maybe play him wide field. Kewell should be on a side like NEwcastle or Middlesbrough. No offence to both clubs but he would fit into both. Also Voronin is proving to be much better then Torres at fitting into Liverpool.
July 29th, 2007 @ 00:26Yeh that is why Benitez is trying to make a team with two good playyers every position so we can have consistancy it is almost complete.
Arsenal didnt do to well today but dont worry as they say it is only pre season and your youngsters will develop faster and faster at a far higher rate than anyone else but i still reckon u guys need a good finisher.
Da silva cud be that but only time will tell.
July 29th, 2007 @ 00:51well…i had been supporting Kewell since his Leeds days myself…I have to agree that yes, he had not produced that kind of form he has with leeds united….but I feel that we should let him be full to fitness den we judge him.
Alright, lets say that he cant swing it for us by january…it’s his last year of his contract anyway..if im nt wrong…so i think rafa will try to sell him by then…
So i say…let’s give him another half a season to prove himself…
July 29th, 2007 @ 11:06I agree ridder8 we shud wait until everyone reaches full fitness b4 we think about how we r going to do next season
cant wait till torres gets his first start
July 29th, 2007 @ 17:36dump reina, replace by carson.
finnan n carra keep their place.
dump agger n risse, they r sub standard. get better CB n LB.
dump PENNANT! get a better right wing.
as gerrard n alonso play r somehow the same, i will go for the liverpool capt. so, alonso to the bench.
kewell babel n benayoun shall compete the left wing position.
torres and voronin should lead the attack.
those names tt i didnt even mention, i THINK they should just packed their bag n leave for another club OR they shall just sit on the liverpool bench happily.
July 30th, 2007 @ 09:04Benitez maybe a class act in the champions league but he will never cut it in the premiership.He will never have a constant starting eleven,because to him rotation is the thing,im sorry to disappoint all the liverpool fans out there but frankly speaking,the scousers EPL title will not come via benitez.
Carraghers comments about chelsea being the team to beat is just like a hater not appreciating greatness,look at how quickly nani,and hargrieves are settling in to the united team and how liverpools signings are still struggling.And all that smuck that liverpools players are still to hit their prime,then why the bloody hell did they spend money on some half baked youngstars,who will take a whole season to mature in the EPL,plus with the rotation maybe two seasons atleast. like arsenal did with last years youngstars.But atleast they got a regular place at the starting eleven.with arsenals performance yesterday,liverpool are back in their usual fourth place finish at the end of the season coz arsenal are reclaiming third.
July 30th, 2007 @ 11:31Dump Reina Santiago?? U got to be kidding!!!
I rate him as 2nd best in the premiership, right behind Petr Cech…He’s only 25/26…wif some more years to come…If he is not of Khan and Buffon’s standard… I think he is at least a Ricardo of Portugal or Coupet of France…He is definitely better than Van Der Sar, Tim Howard And Jens Lehmann…
He’s only not play for Spain because of Casillas, I’m sure he is next to replace Casillas in the spanish squad if Casillas is out!!
Agger is good, alright..he can play well…I remember vaguely(if my memory dint fail me) how he fared against Drogba in the Second Leg of Champions League last season…He done well..after the first leg how he was embarassed by Drogba..
Well..Riise slipped up many times..im afraid to say…but he can challenge for the Left Midfield spot…
Spizzy is right about the difference between time Lpool and Man Utd player takes to settle in…and im also starting to get worried…perhaps that’s the reason to all the poor start to the season for the past 2 seasons…But im sure Arsenal cant claim third…
July 30th, 2007 @ 12:28well RIDDER8 , i’m sure arsenal can come third, with rvp fit, we have a goalscorer, a better defence with the signing of sagna and eboue will be moved to right mid, i am sure that is better than last season. i dont hate liverpool but torres might not change too much for you. although having seen him play for spain he looks able to cut it in any league, but will he score as many as drogba, ronaldo, and (hopefully) van persie? i think not.
July 30th, 2007 @ 14:23Rafa has been trying out the new boys in differing positions to see how they will work into the team as well as to get their fitness level up.
Watch this weekend’s Rotterdam games to see if there is any improvement! It will be a return to play Dirk’s last team before he joined Liverpool.
I think our team is doing well and their fitness level seems to be improving each week. Everything will show within the first 10 games of the EPL.
Not interested in arguments with fans from other teams, just real football talk. Not fan shit!!!!
July 30th, 2007 @ 16:32Now that ive seeen liverpool try out all their Strategys but i am still not sure if we r fit enough.
Torres and Gerrard look Really Good they have to start. Benyoun also shud start agaisnt Villa I think we needed stronger oppenents to get fit but too l8 now.
Voronin, Kuyt and Kewell are all awfully negative Switch Torres and kuyt and Switch Kewell and Babel.
I reckon That will turn our negative play into positive Overall I am not impressed with Kewell and i am a big fan of his.
August 6th, 2007 @ 17:41