Strength in Depth

First, let's have a look at our probable Starting XI

------------Reina-----------
Glen-Carragher-Skrtel-LB
------Lucas----Adam------
----------Gerrard----------
Suarez-----------Downing
-----------Carroll----------

Looks pretty good, right! Now let's look at the probable back-up XI

---------------Doni---------------
Kelly-Kyrgiakos-Agger-Aurelio
----Spearing----Henderson----
---------------Raul---------------
Cole-------------------------Maxi
---------------Kuyt---------------

Doni is rubbish. Good thing is he will not have more than five games.

RB seems pretty well covered. Beyond Kelly we can depend on Carragher & Flanagan

At LB, we can expect Glen to cover for emergencies or even Robinson can chip-in with few games.

Things can become sticky at CB if two players are unavailable.

Central MF is where our strength runs deepest. That too after selling Aqualini & sending Shelvy on loan.

Henderson can double-up as RW, but it's the wide areas wher we are most vulnerable.

Though we will have a short season in 2011-12, four (let's say LB, MF, R/LW & ST) absences for a considerable period will make a big difference in strength and affect top-four finish.

Not to mention the balance in the team, with amount of left footers in the squad.

Downing, Carroll, Agger, and Adam are all left-footed

Striker: Suarez, Carroll, Kuyt
SS/Hole: Suarez, Gerrard, Aquilani, Meireles?, Henderson, Maxi
RW: Henderson, Kuyt, Suarez, Downing, Maxi?
LW: Suarez, Maxi, Downing
CM: Raul, Gerrard, Aquilani, Adam, Lucas, Shelvey, Spearing,
DM: Lucas, Spearing, Adam?, Coady?
LB: Aurelio, Insua, Johnson, Robinson, Flanno, Cissokho*???
RB: Flanno, GJ, Kelly
CB: Carra, Skrtel, DAgger, Soto, Wilson, Kelly,
GK: Pepe, Doni?, Gulacsi?, Jones?

* If he signs.


Depth is fine.

Striker: Carroll,Suarez, Kuyt,Ngog or whoever replaces him if he is sold.

SS/Hole: Suarez, Gerrard, Meireles, Henderson, Maxi
RW: Downing,Suarez,Henderson, Kuyt

LW: Downing,Suarez, Maxi

CM: Raul, Gerrard, Adam, Lucas, Shelvey, Spearing

DM: Lucas, Spearing, Meireles,Aurelio, Coady

LB:New LB, Aurelio, Insua, Johnson, Robinson, Flanno

RB: Johnson, Kelly,Flanno

CB: Agger,Carra,Skrtel,Kelly, Soto, Wilson

GK: Pepe, Doni, Jones


Aquilani will be sold if not loaned out IMO.

I would still like another winger as cover for Downing after signing a LB which is necessity.

Other than that we probably have the best squad we have had in year particularly in attack.

Part of cover is too young (Cody, Robinson), past their prime (Maxi) or injury-prone (Agger, Aurelio). Also, some of them rumored to be going out either on loan or being sold (Shelvy, Maxi, Ngog). When you consider all these, the cover is pretty thin.

As I have mentioned, 3-4 injuries will seriously compromise our CL ambition.

well well well....anyone else feels Aqua might stay if he keeps on playing blinders like today....John Henry seem to rate him very highly

Sepi wrote:well well well....anyone else feels Aqua might stay if he keeps on playing blinders like today....John Henry seem to rate him very highly

You back on the AA bandwagon?

ynwa wrote:

Sepi wrote:well well well....anyone else feels Aqua might stay if he keeps on playing blinders like today....John Henry seem to rate him very highly

You back on the AA bandwagon?

No. but surprised that Henry is in love with AA and Ngog ...He did play pretty well though yesterday

Aqua and Adam will add so much quality, I am getting really excited!

Sepi wrote:

ynwa wrote:

Sepi wrote:well well well....anyone else feels Aqua might stay if he keeps on playing blinders like today....John Henry seem to rate him very highly

You back on the AA bandwagon?

No. but surprised that Henry is in love with AA and Ngog ...He did play pretty well though yesterday

I've brainwashed half this section so far. You're next. Careful. :geek: