Joe Allen: Joe's been great for us despite playing huge portions of the season so far in a more withdrawn role. I think playing as the most central schemer in a 4-3-3 is his most natural position, more advanced than Lucas (and the position he's played so far) but with another midfielder going ahead. However, I also think he's got the all-round game to still play in the "2" of a 4-2-3-1, should we decide to dispense with a third designated midfielder in favour of a second striker. His passing and movement is more expansive than he's been allowed to show so far, and when Lucas comes back to free him up more, we'll also see that he's adept at carrying the ball forward, which will help our transitions.

My verdict: 4-3-3 suits him best, but I don't think 4-2-3-1 would bother him unduly.


Shelvey: Jonjo is a player who is really looking like he could have a big season. I think mobility is a bit of an issue with him, as is a lack of real defensive ability, so he's restricted to one of two roles: the most advanced midfielder in a 4-3-3 or as a second striker in a 4-2-3-1.

My verdict: I think, questions about his discipline notwithstanding, he's best suited to 4-3-3. One of the few players who has looked convincing in carrying the ball purposefully from midfield for us,
athough he does need to improve defensively.

Henderson: I think he's looked better this season, although
do find that his fear of making a mistake still strangles him somewhat.

My verdict: His passing is basic to a fault at the moment - he's okay at helping things tick over in a 4-3-3, but in any other formation he'd be a passenger IMO.

Sahin: Looks like a class act in glimpses, but is struggling to really impose himself on games. Best used in a 4-3-3 for me, but has got the passing game to play in a 2 in midfield if he can stay in the game.


I don't think the roles of players like Suso and Sterling are altered an awful lot by the formation changes. I think that, with us still getting used to the passing style, a 4-2-3-1 offers more support up front, and the slightly more rigid pair in midfield means we wouldn't get caught as much on the break, with the second striker helping our transitions.You could say that we should accept the teething problems that come with switching to Rodgers' style, but I do think we'd be helped sometimes by tweaking our shape.

I'll try and outline some different combinations that we could use in 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 both with everyone fit and in with our currently fit players.

1.
-------Allen---------
--Sahin-------------
-------------Shelvey

Assaidi-------Sterling
-------Suarez


2.
--------------Allen
-----Sahin

Suso--Gerrard---Sterling
---------Suarez


3.

------------Lucas
------Allen

Sterling--Gerrard---Suarez
-----------Borini

Etc etc. I'm tired now.

Sorry about how messy this article got. It was going to be a single paragraph on how we should try 4-2-3-1 for a bit.

interesting article. i hesitate to comment as i may have had a drink or two but it looks like im doing it anyway so here goes;
I thinks Suarez would be completely wasted in a withdrawn strikers role. I honestly think his talent for dribbling in down the byline is second to none and his ability to find the space to pass players where there appears to be none continues to amaze me.
in an ideal world i believe Suarez's best postion would be as a right inside forward as part of a fluid front 3.
however the situation is thus: we simply dont have 3 forwards who are capable of interchanging and scoring goals. the fact is that whilst he isnt a great goalscorer, Suarez is our greatest goalscorer and thus until we find a centre forward who is more effective than him, or two split stikers who are equally as effective as him, we must play him in the centre forward role. we are in
i think 4231 is our best bet whilst lucas is out and then revert to 433 when he's back

i know i have just made this comment about suarez which isnt strictly what you are looking for but im just too drunk to address every point. sorry if this didnt make much sense, will review in the morning

Good article Doc

Regarding Suarez :

Fantastic footballer but tactically he is a manager's worst nightmare. Rodgers has tried Suarez in so many roles already this season and not once has it all ever clicked, including the game against Norwich.

We played him as the lone-striker, playing on the shoulder of the last defender in games against Arsenal & Utd and look what happened. We played him in the wide forward role against Sunderland and look what happened. We are almost playing him as a "false-9" now, roaming around and while the goal return is good, the team performances as a whole still arent dominating enough.

I wouldnt put him in the wide forward role because he's not Rodger's type of wide forward. He is not going to stay wide waiting for the ball and then come in. Suarez is going to go looking for the ball and thus messing up our shape as a team and the whole team has to change their runs and play off him the whole match.

Our best performance dominance wise was the first half against Udinese. That is BR's vision for this team

So while Suarez is this great talent and the best number 7 we've had since the King, he just doesnt seem to fit.

Regarding Gerrard :

I'll say his best position is CDM. He doesnt have the legs & high-intensity that he possessed to roam in the CAM role that he played under Rafa. His passing hasnt been as bad as people make out this season. He also still one of the highest in terms of chances created. So let him dictate from deep and leave the running and huffing & puffing to someone else who can do it. I think him & Sahin rotating between CM & CAM was the best we've seen from both players.

Shelvey seems the best for the job for me atm in CAM. Just his final ball really needs to improve if we are going to rely on him.

I think we should play a very narrow 4-2-3-1 with one actual speedy winger ie Sterling on the left and one narrow wide forward ie Suso that will play closer to the CAM & striker proving midfield numbers & vision to create with the attacking RB providing the width.

Hi doc, ive read this on the way to work and am in a bit of a rush. Great article thouh so i felt the need to give my opinion.

Its no secret that we are very short in the striker role. Suarez looks to be having a great season bit jan can't come quick enough. A proven goalscorer in the box predator mould is badly what we need to pad numbers when we attack.

I agree suarez would be best utilised in wide forward role. Not a natural winger so sterling/assiadi on the the other side gives us width. Sterling has already proven he can follow instruction and come in off that wide line to fill numbers in the box when attacking from the other side.

Regarding midfield, this is our strongest area and we totally dominate teams in the middle. 4-2-3-1 maybe the best way to go until a striler is found, we look a bit toothless sometimes in 4-3-3 if players are injured etc. Jan cannot come quick enough.

Right im off to work, am late now! Sorry in advance if grammar is poor, this is all a bit rushed.

Absolutely fantastic article, as usual. Completely agree. Whilst I admire Brendan's philosophy and determination to stick to his system, we simply don't yet have all the players we need for it. Therefore we need to go to a formation which all players are suited to and with Suarez the only striker, that means we can't be crossing the ball, so that rules out wingers, meaning no Downing, for example, in a 4-4-2 or similar.

With Gerrard not the master of short simple passes and being excellent in penetration, whether it be a pass or a shot, he needs to be moved up, behind Suarez. We then need two players to play in sort of wide attacking midfield roles, Sterling is perfect for this on the left, he is great in attack and excellent tracking back, he tackles well also. On the right, we have a problem. Suso is not the answer for me, I rate the lad but he is better either in midfield where he can pass the ball. Aissadi is probably the best option there and that again highlights that we're missing a player there.

With Lucas and Allen, we have two players perfectly suited to the midfield roles. One the more defensive and one more of an all rounder. Obviously with Lucas out, Allen takes Lucas' role and Sahin takes Allen's.

In defence for me, it picks itself. Skrtel and Agger at the heart with Johnson and Enrique right and left respectively.

For me that is a far more balanced team and one where players work in their respective positions. It's much more creative with Gerrard pushed forward and is very sturdy in defence.

I admire Brendan's determination but we need a few players before we can play that system. We need a striker and an inside forward, at least.

Ahh, I remember the good old days.

Champions League football, chinese with the missus, happy times.

We challenged at the top table and Rafa my second father was the boss.

4-2-3-1, we ruled. I miss it. It's easy, just sign back 2-3 of the old guard and we'll be in the top four by March.


Reina

Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique

Lucas Allen

Benayoun Gerrard Suarez

Fernando Torres


(Mascherano and Alonso on the bench).

Job done.
Great article mate.

If we sign Benayoun, I'll cut my wrists.

There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)

Sory mate but i'm a nostalgic so and so. I'd happy live in a recurring world where 2004-2009 gets replayed for the rest of my life. Long live Rafa and our Champions League football.

In that case you can put Luis Garcia in there who was just as frustrating but is less likely to make me want to tear my eyes out.

I thought Yossi B was very good for us. Always seemed to play the right pass and that goal at Fulham!!

I thought he was terrible and despite the odd bit of magic wouldn't pass until he'd beaten a player and ran around in his own shadow when he got the ball. Was afraid to tackle a generally didn't look too fussed what result we got as long as he beat a few players and could claim to having a good game.

Great responses.

Jav, stop disappearing off JA606 for months