defensive midfielder

[RolandG]

A few players?! Squad players? Cos I can't name more than three I'd definitely drop from our first team side, never mind get rid of.

We need more players, not less or the same number, so we need to see even better come in & the others fight for their place in cup games & be ready to replace others when injured.

We're gonna most likely narrowly miss out on the title, there's no need to panic & make wholesale changes.

Aspas, Luis Alberto, Johnson and Agger

Borini will return for Aspas, Suso for Luis Alberto and move Flanno from LB to replace Johnson. Agger will be sold so Illori is a ready made replacement but this is a critical position where we need an experienced leader in the mould of Carra. Get in starting XI players with the transfer money. Allen and Lucas are at best squad players. Our midfield needs major strengthening.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Priority should be attacking wide player with ability to beat a man, full back who overlaps but has the engine to get back, a striker and a cb.

 

[StevieM]

Instead of playing the midfield 3 like this:

Gerrard....Lucas
........Hendo


Couldn't we play it like this?

.........Proper DM
Gerrard.......Hendo

In 2 years, I don't think Rodgers has played Gerrard in an advanced midfield position.

He's not going to start now.

 

[FoxForceFive]

In 2 years, I don't think Rodgers has played Gerrard in an advanced midfield position.

He's not going to start now.

And he shouldn't either. We need to find a way of scoring more goals from midfield some other way.

 

[Brizzle]

Part of our attack is Gerrard and his epic array of passing from that role. I don't think we have an issue in his ability to cover that position (he has really improved over the season IMO) - we need to get more cover for the 2 positions ahead of him.

In theory Hendo, Allen and Coutinho are 3 who can play that role. Coutinho more suited further forward, but did show in the Everton game and others that he is capable in the middle. Lucas has shown that this is not a role for him, it is making him play a role he hasn't for about 7 or 8 years since he grew up as a more attacking midfielder.

Our biggest issue against Palace was that both Hendo and Coutinho were unable to start meaning Lucas was the starter in this role. I think the midfield is just missing another workhorse with good attacking awareness (how I would now describe both Allen and Hendo) to help us cover those positions and allow rotation when required.

The midfield options should look like:

-------------Position 1----------------
---Position 2--------Position 3------

Position 1: Gerrard w/ Lucas as back up
Position 2 & 3: Hendo and Allen w/ Coutinho plus NEW CM to cover rotate depending on opposition, with an assumption that Coutinho will also rotate in the forward roles.

I honestly don't know who would be best to target for this role but would think Premiership experience is key to know the pace of the game and level of pressing required.

Has anyone had thoughts on current premier ship CMs who might fit the bill?

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

In 2 years, I don't think Rodgers has played Gerrard in an advanced midfield position.

He's not going to start now.

I remember that Rodgers did play Gerrard earlier this season together with Henderson in the second rank of midfield with Lucas sitting back. It was a common complaint for quite a few games that Gerrard just allowed opponents to run past him, as he'd lost his pace and speed of turn, and he couldn't press opponents well at all.

But yes, Rodgers isn't going to revert to that now.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

The midfield options should look like:

-------------Position 1----------------
---Position 2--------Position 3------

Position 1: Gerrard w/ Lucas as back up
Position 2 & 3: Hendo and Allen w/ Coutinho plus NEW CM to cover rotate depending on opposition, with an assumption that Coutinho will also rotate in the forward roles.

I honestly don't know who would be best to target for this role but would think Premiership experience is key to know the pace of the game and level of pressing required.

Has anyone had thoughts on current premier ship CMs who might fit the bill?

Having not really watched Lallana too much, can he play in position 2 or 3? Also, something about Coutinho playing there a few times that has struck me as not quite right, but it's the only place to put him.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

On a side note, imagine Yaya Toure in our side alongside Henderson, with Gerrard behind.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Having not really watched Lallana too much, can he play in position 2 or 3? Also, something about Coutinho playing there a few times that has struck me as not quite right, but it's the only place to put him.

Re: Coutinho. He actually started out playing left of a front three and did well there. So he's able to play in another position for sure if we move him out of the centre when we play one up front. Coutinho can play in 2 positions in the diamond - I think the problem with him is not so much "can he play where" but rather "which Coutinho is going to show up - the good one or the meh one". It's a consistency issue with him; hopefully he'll improve in that area next season.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

Re: Coutinho. He actually started out playing left of a front three and did well there. So he's able to play in another position for sure if we move him out of the centre when we play one up front. Coutinho can play in 2 positions in the diamond - I think the problem with him is not so much "can he play where" but rather "which Coutinho is going to show up - the good one or the meh one". It's a consistency issue with him; hopefully he'll improve in that area next season.

Agreed, I 'd actually feel a lot better about him on the left of a front 3, but at the same time, it is great to have a creator in the middle. Barca did it with Iniesta next to Xavi. I'd say his best position is the number 10 role in a 4-2-3-1, but we don't play that way these days.

 

[keniget]

I think the whole "which Coutinho is going to turn up" thing is a being a bit overstated.

Anyways, I'd bin Lucas off - lovely guy by all accounts, but never been much of a fan, fed up of watching / reading about him and we'd be better off trading him in for someone more versatile.

I know Allen can do a job at DM but despite him being deceptively tenacious I don't think it's good for him or the team. I'd keep him where he is - a little further up the field where his strengths can be emphasized.

I'd like to see us get someone that has more of Henderson's attributes than Lucas'. A bit like Fernandinho at City. We don't necessarily need someone that is a specialist defensive midfielder.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

I remember that Rodgers did play Gerrard earlier this season together with Henderson in the second rank of midfield with Lucas sitting back. It was a common complaint for quite a few games that Gerrard just allowed opponents to run past him, as he'd lost his pace and speed of turn, and he couldn't press opponents well at all.

But yes, Rodgers isn't going to revert to that now.

Completely agree, Gerrards days playing further forward in our midfield are done, hes simply not up to it anymore, he will be playing the DM role whether we like it or not, after a bit of a sketchy bedding in period hes been quality in the role, he offers a completely different dimension to our play from back there with his range of passing, along with the majority i didn't think it would work but it clearly has been a success.

It is very important for the team to have 2 high energy hard working players in front of him to help with the defensive side though, thats clear as day.

Some people on here are way ott about Lucas and seem to be judging him on his last few games where hes been played out of position, hes fine as a back up to Gerrard in that DM role as he proved over Xmas when Gerrard was injured.

 

[mark1975]

At times the midfield has been overran, walked through even. It's clear without Hendo we're not really the sum of our parts - look at the last few games! Ergo the other combinations don't work as well and need addressing. Lucas still has question marks, Gerrard has done well at times, and not so at others. Allen ditto. They're all good players, but as combinations, there are issues. No one dictates, controls, bosses, talks. Have a look.

I'm not saying we need a pigeon-holed anchorman, that clearly has limitations within itself, but we could and should be on the look out for something different. We've missed an imposing figure as much as a clever, tempo dictating figure in there. Hell, we miss a goal scoring midfielder too, given we get a limited amount of contribution from the three. It's about adding quality to what we have but in a way that will compliment the existing squad. Saying we need a DM is just a way of generalising the issue. We need another option and we need to constantly re-evaluate players' worth to us. Lucas especially.

Saying we can't or shouldn't be looking to improve is "fucking bollocks". Of course we should be, even if it is at the expense of the hugely divisive Lucas, or anyone else for that matter. It's no good resting on what we have when it clearly isn't perfect. Even if you are fan of whoever. If we can improve, we should. Always.

 

[Dahuge]

We need 2 commanding defenders, leaders, people with a voice to marshal the defence and to give gerrard a bollocking when he goes wandering.

We also need a midfielder with an engine and a forward player with pace.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Who are these commanding centre back leaders?

Not directed just at you Dahuge but this gets said all the time, especially lately, its gets trotted out all the time like its and easy thing to sort out but what about some names an explaination about who they are?

Sakho captained PSG at 17 so surely he must have leadership qualities? he along with Skrtel and our goalkeeper, hell actually our whole defence need to take more responsibility and communicate more.

 

[redhorizon2]

I think we need Mascher back (if he's available for less than £10m). He will improve the defensive side of our game.

 

[Glen C]

I think we need Mascher back (if he's available for less than £10m). He will improve the defensive side of our game.

But will offer ZERO going forward. Plus his passing isnt that great. No way would rodgers want someone so limited in his game. He's great for a more defensive minded coach, but not for someone like rodgers.

 

[Judge Jules]

Do you seriously imagine Barca of all clubs would have signed someone who can't contribute to a team which plays attacking football? Even with us Mascher was an important part of a team which played some tremendous attacking football coming second that one season under Rafa. Someone as good as he at the defensive stuff frees others around him to bomb on. It may well be true that Rodgers won't want him, but - though I'm a big fan of what Rodgers has done so far - the last couple of games have shown he still has lessons to learn.

 

[singlerider]

Considering the way we play, don't we basically need a Jordan Henderson that scores goals?

Dunno who that is like, but it seems most suited to our style

 

[Buddha]

A powerful midfielder is a must for me. We need proper cover for Hendo and someone who can sit next to Gerrard when we're protecting a lead and invert the midfield 3.

Lucas to Napoli would be nice.

As for the other 'must-haves', at least one top full back (or a top prospect like Shaw) and a no-nonsense defender (Papadopoulos if not deemed a fitness risk). It seems we'll add a couple of attacking players anyway (Lallana/Konoplyanka) as is our way!

 

[StevieM]

I've always figured that Lallana would, ordinarily, slot in alongside Henderson/Allen.

The thing that those two contribute least is goal-scoring, so it gives different options in that area.

He could also slot into the forward 3, playing behind Suarez & Sturridge when we're not employing Sterling.

Again - options.

 

[dmishra]

I've always figured that Lallana would, ordinarily, slot in alongside Henderson/Allen.

The thing that those two contribute least is goal-scoring, so it gives different options in that area.

He could also slot into the forward 3, playing behind Suarez & Sturridge when we're not employing Sterling.

Again - options.

I don't think he'll be part of the midfield three - will compete with Coutinho for the tip of the diamond spot, and with Sterling for a spot in the front three.

 

[rurikbird]

I'm gonna put this in my fucking signature. This has officially usurped 'whats your best 11' as the most annoying thing on this site.

WE DO NOT NEED A FUCKING DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER.

We don't. Stop typing it, stop thinking it, stop fucking imagining it. We have three players who can play that role; Gerrard, Lucas, Allen. Conveniently they can play that fucking role well too. Gerrard so long as he is alive as a human being will be picked to play in that role too.

What the fuck is the point in buying a 4th one?

Please someone explain that to me.

We have glaring holes in other parts of the side, yet people think we need a 4th fucking defensive midfield option.

Fuck this joke of a discussion.

Amen, brother. This obsession with getting rid of Lucas at any cost buying a DM has been driving me nuts for years.

 

[StevieM]

I don't think he'll be part of the midfield three - will compete with Coutinho for the tip of the diamond spot, and with Sterling for a spot in the front three.

I think Konoplyanka or someone similar is the one that will compete with sterling.