You really expect Aqualani to start ahead of Henderson and Miereles?

+ that formation has no width at all, or are the two fullbacks providing that width?

No. That is certainly not how we'll line up. Firstly Carragher will start. If he was 69, he would still start, he has the ability and until it goes, he will continue to start irrespective of his age. Secondly Agger will play on the left of the centre of defence. I would also like to see a new left-back come in.

I don't see us going 4-3-3 either. I think we're likely to see some kind of 4-2-3-1 variation. I think we'll start with something like this:-

-----------------------------Riena---------------------------------------
Johnson----------Carra------------------Agger---------Enrique
--------------------------Lucas------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------Adam----------------------------
-----------------------------Gerrard------------------------------------
----------------Suarez-------------------------------------Downing
--------------------------------Carroll-----------------------------------

With this formation and the players we have bought in, we have options. Aquilani will be sold, Meireles might be following him out the exit. I would love to keep both but the signs aren't looking good.

I like Meireles in the Midfield, he brings a lot of energy and proved what he can last year.

Also may I add, the competition for places has just got competitive and is looking like it might even get more so. Hopefully will will reap huge dividends from this. My above team has Kuyt on the bench, who has been on of my favourite players in recent years, I don't see Kuyt settling for that, he'll be firing on all cylinders to get back in there, if that were the case. Also we would have Henderson, possible one of Aquilani and Meireles also.
Kelly, Flanagan, Skrtel and Robinson, for defence.

From what I can see, these few signings and the youth players who have come through, have vastly improved our squad. I just hope there's space for one more big surprise who will vastly improve the first eleven.

comment by Pretty fly for a white guy! (U5127)
posted 1 minute ago
I like Meireles in the Midfield, he brings a lot of energy and proved what he can last year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meireles is a strange one for me. He is a good technical player and has a fantastic ability of getting into great positions but his unwillingness to put himself on the line, to get involved in a tackle, is highly frustrating and puts pressure on the rest of the team. Somebody mentioned him playing DM for us but I'm afraid that isn't going to work for the reasons I have mentioned. Even Roy noticed this problem and tried sticking him out of the right, which obviously didn't work. Kenny played him further forward which seemed to get the best out of him. Apparently he was promised higher wages after he signed in the first year but they don't seem to be forthcoming as in was neither Kenny nor the current owners who sanctioned such a deal, and this has caused him to want out. Taking all this into consideration and our buying of two central midfield players and also with the return of Aquilani, who might still stay, I think his days are unfortunately numbered.

I don't expect Aquilani to be picked first but I think he deserves a shot. will trust kennys judgement as he sees them in training but he does have a real problem on his hands trying to pick the team which can be seen as a good thing. As for henderson he's still young but you can't surely put a 16 million pound buy on the bench I hope he gets a good few games but I think at one point we are going to need some consistency I don't mind rotation and I think its needed but not to the extreme where we are fielding an complete new midfield each week. and yeah I was hopeing that the fullbacks would give us the width which I know johnson can do and I think enrique could do the otherside.

>>You really expect Aqualani to start ahead of Henderson and Miereles?

I would. He's better than those two.

I like the formation by OP as well.

There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)

I actually suspect they may move Adam into DM to somewhat accommodate Meireles' role. To be fair to the guy, he isn't a bad tackler.. he had a shocker where he bottled it once against Man Utd and got slated for it.

But I guess thats just how it is.

Adam is a bit of a bruiser, he'd fit nicely into DM.

........................ Reina .....................
Johnson .. Carragher .. Agger.. Cissokho
................. Lucas ........ Adam .........
........ N'Zogbia ... Gerrard ... Suarez........
........................ Carroll .....................

Thats a realy strong team, and sometimes kuyt can come in for aqua and switch with gerrard

Hang on.......No carra?

...............................Riena...............................
.....Johnson....Carragher..Agger....Cissoko.....
.........................................................................
...................Lucas..............Adam....................
.............................gerrard................................
......Suarez......................................Downing...
..............................Carroll................................

And a bench of!

Doni.
Kelly.
Merelles.
Skertel.
Kuyt.
N'zogbia.
New striker.

I do like a few of the set ups being shown but would really like a pass and move game more than constantly flying balls in to the box not at all saying the ones suggested are that mind. Not to keen on downing don't think he is worth the reported fees being mentioned but will support him and hope he proves me wrong if he does sign. I have to disagree about carragher tho I think this is last season were he may get many games. I do rate him and love how much he loves the shirt but I don't believe he will be able to keep up the same standard. I know pace has never been his strong point and I think he can read the game well but the premier league is not the italien league and he can't go on forever.
can anyone tell me about Cissokho don't know really anything read about us being linked with him but don't know his attributes and anyone looks good on youtube

...................................Reina...............................
.....Johnson........Carra.......Agger......Cissokho....
.........................................................................
...................Meireles..............Aquilani....................
..................................Gerrard................................
............Kuyt......................................Suarez...
...................................Carroll................................

Subs: Doni, Skrtel/Kelly, Aurelio/Flanagan, Lucas, Adam, Henderson/Maxi, Park-Chu Young

(Maybe Bastos instead of Cissokho)

4231 reina-johnson-carra-agger- cissoko lucas-gerrard suarez-adam-downing Carroll

Would love to see Aquilonso's team, but I honestly believe that either Alberto or Raul will leave, and I'm afraid there is no way Lucas will be left out, should he play like last season. I also think one of Henderson or Adam will play. I think we'll look like this:

--------------------Reina--------------------
Johnson--Carra--Agger--Cissokho
-------------Lucas--Adam-----------------
Suarez-------Gerrard-----Downing (so long as well don't overpay)
-----------------Carroll-----------------------