Why not start him? He's just played his best football yet for us, brought it to an early end by a ludicrous mistake and will hopefully be busting a gut to make amends.
Lazar
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Because although United's midfield is weak as piss, I fear about having him in front of Lucas and Allen against them.
I see where you're coming from, but I'm not sure playing anyone else in there instead of Markovic will make us much (if any) safer.
He's looked excellent at international level played out wide and I thought his best moments against the Swiss came when he started wide and cut back inside.
That was his best performance for us or equal to the City game - where he again played out wider. I'm not saying he can't play central - he's looked good there at club level last season - but I think we should put Sterling central and Markovic is very capable out wide.
Seems stronger in appearance and on the ball...
Couple of his touches were exquisite....only just now caught the game as it was at ridiculouso clock here.....
Couple of his touches were exquisite....only just now caught the game as it was at ridiculouso clock here.....
I like a player who can pick up the ball and carry it into dangerous positions. We saw early indications of this against Real Madrid in the away leg when he came on. He picked up the ball in our half and he had the bottle to go at them, right through the middle. He looked as if he was going to terrorise Basel before his stupid decision to lash his hands back. I'd give him a run now and let him express himself. We need some players who can impact a game and provide another outlet for us bar Sterling. H
I was frustrated with his first few months with us. He had a slow start and found himself on the wing finding his feet. He didn't do anything wrong, his touch was instant but he shunted that ball back from where it came from. He was playing well within himself. I'm not privy to the facts here. I wonder was it a decision he made personally or if management told him to keep it neat and tidy? I suppose a bit of both.
Cannot wait for the Serbian Kaka* to explode over the Christmas period.
*Dramatization may have happened. Insert Nedved for Kaka if applicable.
I was frustrated with his first few months with us. He had a slow start and found himself on the wing finding his feet. He didn't do anything wrong, his touch was instant but he shunted that ball back from where it came from. He was playing well within himself. I'm not privy to the facts here. I wonder was it a decision he made personally or if management told him to keep it neat and tidy? I suppose a bit of both.
Cannot wait for the Serbian Kaka* to explode over the Christmas period.
*Dramatization may have happened. Insert Nedved for Kaka if applicable.
We will surely have two defensive midfielders vs. United (Lucas & Allen/Can/Henderson) and Gerrard in front of them, if you play Markovic in his favoured centre slot who loses out ? If you move him to the right then Lallana would miss out, on the left Sterling and as #10, Coutinho. I simply don't think he should replace any of those but I'd love to see him get 30 mins and tear United an new one by romping through their midfield.
I kinda agree Froggy, though he does warrant a go and the players around him aren't fairing any better. I just think it's these sort of games where you need 110% from everyone and you can't afford to carry any passengers. Lallana is a must for me, Sterling puts in a shift, but is still very much a kid who can get battled out of games, if you put Markovic in behind him, for all their potential combined trickery and pace, put a couple of players on them with a bit of bite and you're easily playing with a man down.
He won't be playing through the centre unless he comes on as a late sub. Sterling, Coutinho, Gerrard and even Lallana will be in that role ahead of him.
Has to be a 4-2-3-1 for me.
FB's will be Johnson plus take your pick of the others - I'd probably go for Moreno.
CB's look like being Skrtel & Lovren because the other 2 are injured.
To protesting midfielders should be Lucas plus either Allen or Can - either will do.
The attacking three should be Gerrard in the middle flanked by Sterling & Lallana. Coutinho or Markovic can come on for Lallana after 65 mins.
Sterling & Lallana need to exploit space between Man Utds defence & midfield and out wide - the 2 full backs need to be less adventurous & give their CB's some help.
Lucas & Can/Allen need to own the crucial space just in front of the box.
Gerrard needs to drop deep if required & cause havoc in the attacked third when possible.
Upfront - Ballotelli if he's fit - unfortunately Lambert if he's not. we're asking too much of Sterling to be put in a position of leading the forward line & Borini isn't an option for me.
Use Mourniho techniques - play ugly, sit back & hit on the counter if need be - use Sterling & Lallanas pace.
Henderson, for me, is the one who needs dropping at the moment - he's no business being in the forward line & isn't playing well at the moment. I think he works better in a 442 diamond, when he's partnered with someone & both are given the brief to relentlessly close opposition down.
FB's will be Johnson plus take your pick of the others - I'd probably go for Moreno.
CB's look like being Skrtel & Lovren because the other 2 are injured.
To protesting midfielders should be Lucas plus either Allen or Can - either will do.
The attacking three should be Gerrard in the middle flanked by Sterling & Lallana. Coutinho or Markovic can come on for Lallana after 65 mins.
Sterling & Lallana need to exploit space between Man Utds defence & midfield and out wide - the 2 full backs need to be less adventurous & give their CB's some help.
Lucas & Can/Allen need to own the crucial space just in front of the box.
Gerrard needs to drop deep if required & cause havoc in the attacked third when possible.
Upfront - Ballotelli if he's fit - unfortunately Lambert if he's not. we're asking too much of Sterling to be put in a position of leading the forward line & Borini isn't an option for me.
Use Mourniho techniques - play ugly, sit back & hit on the counter if need be - use Sterling & Lallanas pace.
Henderson, for me, is the one who needs dropping at the moment - he's no business being in the forward line & isn't playing well at the moment. I think he works better in a 442 diamond, when he's partnered with someone & both are given the brief to relentlessly close opposition down.
I'd take Balo off and play a false 9.
4-5-0. Put on Markovic.
4-5-0. Put on Markovic.
Do you have the water charges in UK now too?
I'd go with the false 9 idea aswell, we may as well be the sum of our parts, than trying to force in a striker that completely compromises the way we want to play. I've said this for a while now.
-------------------Ming-----------------
Manquillo-Skrtel--Toure-Johnson
------------Lucas--Allen-------------
----------------Gerrard---------------
----Sterling--Lallana--Coutinho--
With the "front three" interchanging.
-------------------Ming-----------------
Manquillo-Skrtel--Toure-Johnson
------------Lucas--Allen-------------
----------------Gerrard---------------
----Sterling--Lallana--Coutinho--
With the "front three" interchanging.
Lallana isn't really pacey so you can't rely on him to use his pace and get in behind.
Besides, he and Coutinho both like to play off other people.
You need someone else who will provide a out ball and can take the pressure off Sterling.
I've been saying in last few weeks that Markovic not being ready has hit us really hard.
Besides, he and Coutinho both like to play off other people.
You need someone else who will provide a out ball and can take the pressure off Sterling.
I've been saying in last few weeks that Markovic not being ready has hit us really hard.
It has, but I wasn't really going for Lallana as a spearhead of an attack, like I said, they'd interchange, Coutinho and Sterling both have the ability to carry the ball and take players on, they can both get in behind. I know neither can hit a barn door, but neither can any of our strikers. Short of sticking Gerrard up there, I'm not really sure what else we've got on offer.
You're too much like Rodgers for my liking. Balotelli alone up top. Not dying to have Can on the field.
Manquillo Skrtel Toure (Lovren) Johnson
Lucas Can
Lazar Lallana Gerrard
Sterling
It's an East Antrim thing.
I don't know what the resistance is to Sterling playing through the middle. For the next few weeks he's the closest we've got to Sturridge.
I'd be interested in seeing how Lallana and Coutinho go with having someone pacey through the centre. Lallana particularly needs to start looking for that type of player.
I'd be interested in seeing how Lallana and Coutinho go with having someone pacey through the centre. Lallana particularly needs to start looking for that type of player.
Unfortunately we don't have a 'right' 9.
Depends whereabouts in the middle IMO. As the middle man in the three behind the striker, fine (he's definitely got a better end product there than he has over on the left), but personally I'm not a fan of the idea of playing him up top. For one thing I fight shy of tinkering with players' positions pretty much on principle. For another, despite the fact that Sterling's a powerful little blighter for his size, I don't reckon he has the sheer heft to challenge Premiership CBs when, as it always will at some point(s) in a game, the battle in the middle turns physical.
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