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Poll When Magic returns...

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When Glen Johnson is fit again, what should our defence look like?

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T

TheBunnyman

Well-Known
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I like Johnson a lot, but you can't deny the fact we've been much more defensively solid since Carra moved to RB. I think this is simply because a four-man defence with two attacking full-backs is naturally unbalanced. Barca can get away with it, but they play with a different system (and have better footballers).

Personally, I think we need one attacking full-back (Magic) and one ultra-solid full-back (Carra, given the dearth of options) so my suggested solution is that we play Carra at LB. You might remember he was a very good LB for several seasons - I always thought he looked more comfortable there, in fact, than at RB. Our best defence in the past 20 years was the one with Carra at LB and Babbel at RB. Obviously this isn't a long-term solution, but our options at LB are really crap and I can't think of a better solution at the moment.

Can anyone else?
 
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=39102.msg1061981#msg1061981 date=1267394392]
Johnson RB Carra CB

That's their best positions.
[/quote]

Did you miss the first half of the season ?
 
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=39102.msg1061982#msg1061982 date=1267394465]
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=39102.msg1061981#msg1061981 date=1267394392]
Johnson RB Carra CB

That's their best positions.
[/quote]

Did you miss the first half of the season ?


[/quote]

When most everyone was doo doo ?

Nope.
 
532/352

Reina
Carra Skrtel Agger
Johnson Mascherano Lucas/Aqua Aurelio/Insua/NewLB
Gerrard/Yossi
Torres Kuyt/Babel
 
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=39102.msg1061981#msg1061981 date=1267394392]
Johnson RB Carra CB

That's their best positions.
[/quote]

I don't disagree, but that does mean having Insua at LB, which IMO weakens us defensively as a whole.

Kelly might be able to play LB (he has before, hasn't he?) but Rafa clearly doesn't trust him at the moment, so - assuming Skrtel and Aurelio are out for the rest of the season - I'd play this defence from now on:

Magic - Zorba - Agger - Carra
 
[quote author=SummerOnions link=topic=39102.msg1061985#msg1061985 date=1267394549]
532/352

Reina
Carra Skrtel Agger
Johnson Mascherano Lucas/Aqua Aurelio/Insua/NewLB
Gerrard/Yossi
Torres Kuyt/Babel
[/quote]

What was the last team to win a major trophy playing three at the back?
 
[quote author=SummerOnions link=topic=39102.msg1061985#msg1061985 date=1267394549]
532/352

Reina
Carra Skrtel Agger
Johnson Mascherano Lucas/Aqua Aurelio/Insua/NewLB
Gerrard/Yossi
Torres Kuyt/Babel
[/quote]

What in the name of.....?
 
[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=39102.msg1061988#msg1061988 date=1267394600]
Kuyt up top, Johnson on the right and carra behind him
[/quote]

And Torres on the bench? Or are we playing 442 now?
 
[quote author=themn link=topic=39102.msg1061984#msg1061984 date=1267394546]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=39102.msg1061982#msg1061982 date=1267394465]
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=39102.msg1061981#msg1061981 date=1267394392]
Johnson RB Carra CB

That's their best positions.
[/quote]

Did you miss the first half of the season ?


[/quote]

When most everyone was doo doo ?

Nope.
[/quote]

Do you think that the complete lack of balance in the side had asbolutely nothing to do with the reason why we were shite ?

Bunnyman is right, we can't afford to play with Insua at LB and Johnson at right back.
 
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=39102.msg1061992#msg1061992 date=1267394653]
[quote author=themn link=topic=39102.msg1061984#msg1061984 date=1267394546]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=39102.msg1061982#msg1061982 date=1267394465]
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=39102.msg1061981#msg1061981 date=1267394392]
Johnson RB Carra CB

That's their best positions.
[/quote]

Did you miss the first half of the season ?


[/quote]

When most everyone was doo doo ?

Nope.
[/quote]

Do you think that the complete lack of balance in the side had asbolutely nothing to do with the reason why we were shite ?

Bunnyman is right, we can't afford to play with Insua at LB and Johnson at right back.
[/quote]

Ok, new LB it is then.

Actually, I've been thinking that Johnson should be pushed up to RW for a while now and that's all I have to say because you lot get too *intense* about it.
 
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39102.msg1061991#msg1061991 date=1267394646]
[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=39102.msg1061988#msg1061988 date=1267394600]
Kuyt up top, Johnson on the right and carra behind him
[/quote]

And Torres on the bench? Or are we playing 442 now?
[/quote]

Obviously not at the cost of Torres, Im just trying to accommodate Kuyt as Rafa does
 
[quote author=themn link=topic=39102.msg1061994#msg1061994 date=1267394696]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=39102.msg1061992#msg1061992 date=1267394653]
[quote author=themn link=topic=39102.msg1061984#msg1061984 date=1267394546]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=39102.msg1061982#msg1061982 date=1267394465]
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=39102.msg1061981#msg1061981 date=1267394392]
Johnson RB Carra CB

That's their best positions.
[/quote]

Did you miss the first half of the season ?


[/quote]

When most everyone was doo doo ?

Nope.
[/quote]

Do you think that the complete lack of balance in the side had asbolutely nothing to do with the reason why we were shite ?

Bunnyman is right, we can't afford to play with Insua at LB and Johnson at right back.
[/quote]

Ok, new LB it is then.
[/quote]

Obviously Themn, but we're talking about the rest of THIS season.
 
I believe we should buy two new fullbacks and push Johnson up to RW.

RB - Cheapish Arbeloa/Finnan MKII; solid, consistent, injury free, etc.
LB - Strong, quick, can beat a man, compliment Riera, etc.

Rafa has shown he can buy good defenders on the cheap (admittedly not many fullbacks!) but I hope he can find two.

We've been crying out for width and creativity on our attacking flanks for years. Now Johnson is here, I think it would be a crime not to use him. With a limited budget, too, fullbacks generally come cheaper than attacking midfielders, so it makes sense with our budget to concentrate on these positions.

(Ha, should of read the thread first. More appropriate reply coming soon!)
 
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39102.msg1061997#msg1061997 date=1267394802]
[quote author=themn link=topic=39102.msg1061994#msg1061994 date=1267394696]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=39102.msg1061992#msg1061992 date=1267394653]
[quote author=themn link=topic=39102.msg1061984#msg1061984 date=1267394546]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=39102.msg1061982#msg1061982 date=1267394465]
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=39102.msg1061981#msg1061981 date=1267394392]
Johnson RB Carra CB

That's their best positions.
[/quote]

Did you miss the first half of the season ?


[/quote]

When most everyone was doo doo ?

Nope.
[/quote]

Do you think that the complete lack of balance in the side had asbolutely nothing to do with the reason why we were shite ?

Bunnyman is right, we can't afford to play with Insua at LB and Johnson at right back.
[/quote]

Ok, new LB it is then.
[/quote]

Obviously Themn, but we're talking about the rest of THIS season.
[/quote]

See my edit.

*runs away*
 
Yeah, Carra RB, Johnson RW.

This is dependent on Skrtel and Spartan keep up their good form.
 
I would play Johnson on the right wing in a 4-4-2.

Carra - Skrtel - Agger - Insua

Johnson - Gerrard - Mascherano - LW

----- Kuyt ---- Torres


On the left my preference would probably be for Riera ahead of Yossi. But I don't really have any strong feelings on it.

It gets most of our weaker players out of the side, puts our two best midielders in the middle, defensive players in defensive positions, attacking players in attacking positions. It's genius really, at least you'd think so given the team selections this season.

It's so good we don't even need a keeper.
 
Magic at RW would be my second choice. This would be my team for the rest of the season btw:

Reina

Magic - Zorba - Agger - Carra

Gerrard - Mascherano

Kuyt - Yossi - Babel

Torres


(If we have Carra at LB, we can afford the more erratic Babel in front of him; similarly, if we play Magic at RB, we need the more solid Kuyt in front of him. Plus Kuyt and Johnson looked like a good partnership earlier in the season.)
 
If we play 4-4-2 then I agree, though I'd move Johnson back to RB in the current formation.

I'd throw the Greek in against "physical" teams in place of whoever's playing worse out of Agger and Skrtel.
 
johnson is a right back and the defensive side of his game isn't as bad as some people are making out besides which we have two (count them, TWO) holding midfielders
 
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=39102.msg1062005#msg1062005 date=1267395247]
If we play 4-4-2 then I agree, though I'd move Johnson back to RB in the current formation.

I'd throw the Greek in against "physical" teams in place of whoever's playing worse out of Agger and Skrtel.
[/quote]

Skrtel's gonna be injured for a while, isn't he?
 
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39102.msg1062006#msg1062006 date=1267395268]
johnson is a right back and the defensive side of his game isn't as bad as some people are making out besides which we have two (count them, TWO) holding midfielders
[/quote]

You can apportion blame wherever you like, but it's clear that playing two attacking fullbacks has not been a success for us.

We need to resolve that.
 
And until Johnson's back, Kelly should be playing against the shit teams to get some experience. Ie, Portsmouth a week on Monday.
 
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=39102.msg1062010#msg1062010 date=1267395420]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39102.msg1062006#msg1062006 date=1267395268]
johnson is a right back and the defensive side of his game isn't as bad as some people are making out besides which we have two (count them, TWO) holding midfielders
[/quote]

You can apportion blame wherever you like, but it's clear that playing two attacking fullbacks has not been a success for us.

We need to resolve that.
[/quote]

two? who's the other one? anyway, aren't we always going on about having an attacking team? is it any coincedence that the top scoring teams in the league also occupy the top places as well. every time the team begins to develop attacking instincts the defense right on que buckles so the long and the short of it is the defense needs shit loads of protection so they are good defenders only when the entire team pitches in and the fullbacks curb their attacking instincts.
 
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39102.msg1061989#msg1061989 date=1267394611]
[quote author=SummerOnions link=topic=39102.msg1061985#msg1061985 date=1267394549]
532/352

Reina
Carra Skrtel Agger
Johnson Mascherano Lucas/Aqua Aurelio/Insua/NewLB
Gerrard/Yossi
Torres Kuyt/Babel
[/quote]

What was the last team to win a major trophy playing three at the back?
[/quote]

Barcelona.
 
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39102.msg1062020#msg1062020 date=1267395760]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=39102.msg1062010#msg1062010 date=1267395420]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39102.msg1062006#msg1062006 date=1267395268]
johnson is a right back and the defensive side of his game isn't as bad as some people are making out besides which we have two (count them, TWO) holding midfielders
[/quote]

You can apportion blame wherever you like, but it's clear that playing two attacking fullbacks has not been a success for us.

We need to resolve that.
[/quote]

two? who's the other one? anyway, aren't we always going on about having an attacking team? is it any coincedence that the top scoring teams in the league also occupy the top places as well. every time the team begins to develop attacking instincts the defense right on que buckles so the long and the short of it is the defense needs shit loads of protection so they are good defenders only when the entire team pitches in and the fullbacks curb their attacking instincts.
[/quote]

We've scored less goals with attacking fullbacks than we did with non attacking ones. It's not helping us.

The team with the best goal difference normally wins the league, the major exception to that rule was us last year.
 
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=39102.msg1062024#msg1062024 date=1267396066]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39102.msg1062020#msg1062020 date=1267395760]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=39102.msg1062010#msg1062010 date=1267395420]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39102.msg1062006#msg1062006 date=1267395268]
johnson is a right back and the defensive side of his game isn't as bad as some people are making out besides which we have two (count them, TWO) holding midfielders
[/quote]

You can apportion blame wherever you like, but it's clear that playing two attacking fullbacks has not been a success for us.

We need to resolve that.
[/quote]

two? who's the other one? anyway, aren't we always going on about having an attacking team? is it any coincedence that the top scoring teams in the league also occupy the top places as well. every time the team begins to develop attacking instincts the defense right on que buckles so the long and the short of it is the defense needs shit loads of protection so they are good defenders only when the entire team pitches in and the fullbacks curb their attacking instincts.
[/quote]

We've scored less goals with attacking fullbacks than we did with non attacking ones. It's not helping us.

The team with the best goal difference normally wins the league, the major exception to that rule was us last year.
[/quote]

ros what are you going on about? WHAT attacking fullbacks? johnson has been missing for ages and insua is fucking shit.
 
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