Topic: Defensive options

[Chakan]

So with the signing of Lovern, we now have quite a few options at the back. So what's our best setup?

We have

Cafu
Skrtel
Agger
Johnson
Enrique
Lovern
Toure
Kelly
Sakho
Coates

So what's our best 4? Does Lovern slot right in, or do we stick him on the bench?

Personally I think our best 4 at the back would be

Flanno    Skrtel/Lovern     Sakho    Enrique

Thoughts?

[DanA]

So with the signing of Lovern, we now have quite a few options at the back. So what's our best setup?

We have

Cafu
Skrtel
Agger
Johnson
Enrique
Lovern
Toure
Kelly
Sakho
Coates

So what's our best 4? Does Lovern slot right in, or do we stick him on the bench?

Personally I think our best 4 at the back would be

Flanno    Skrtel/Lovern     Sakho    Enrique

Thoughts?

I think ideally it'd be:

Johnson/Flano   Lovren/Skrtel      Sakho/Agger      LB/Enrique

Perfect would be if Coates worked his way into 4th choice and we could sell one of Agger/Skrtel in January. Toure off to the MLS for a final pay day.

[LFC UNTIL THE MANAGER IS NO LONGER DESERVING OF MY SYMPATHY]

At the moment, I'd go:


Kelly-----Lovren------Sakho------Enrique


Johnson is out of form.

Flanagan is good but still makes too many errors and gets beaten too easily for my liking.  Although he's getting better all the time.

Skrtel will challeneg the other two centre backs

Enrique is one of the best defensive left backs around.

I think Kelly is doing well in pre season and might be our best option at right back.

[jepovic]

I'd like to keep Toure in the squad, and send off Illori and Coates on loans. Kolo has so much experience from the very highest level, which we badly need.

Agger is probably leaving, since he's not gonna accept being 3rd/4th.  Then it's either Skrtel/Lovren or Lovren/Sakho I suppose. Looks good either way.

I seriously hope we get at least one FB for the first eleven, preferably on the right. This area is by far our weakest in comparison to the other top teams. That said, Flanagan on his best side and Enrique on the left would already be a significant step up.

[Funky_Gibbons]

So with the signing of Lovern, we now have quite a few options at the back. So what's our best setup?

We have

Cafu
Skrtel
Agger
Johnson
Enrique
Lovern
Toure
Kelly
Sakho
Coates

So what's our best 4? Does Lovern slot right in, or do we stick him on the bench?

Personally I think our best 4 at the back would be

Flanno    Skrtel/Lovern     Sakho    Enrique

Thoughts?

Illori and Robinson?

Personally I hope we don’t see the Skrtel and Sakho partnership again, they clearly do not complement one another. Agger is still one of our best defenders and footballers and it is no coincidence that we keep more clean sheets and win more points when he starts but you cannot rely on him to play a full season.

I’m still unsure whether Kelly’s long-term position is right-back, he has struggled for fitness for the last few years and running up and down the wing all game is going to put added stress on his body.

So I can see a situation where we may lose one or two centre backs permanently (Toure and one of Agger or Skrtel) and maybe loans for Kelly and Robinson. Would be happy with Lovren, Sakho, Illori and Skrtel/Agger as the central defensive options.

Full back still looks worrying though, Enrique is a great defender but is prone to making silly decisions while Johnson looks absolutely shot at the moment, he really looks like he needs a few months away to get his head straight. 

[Chakan]

Illori and Robinson?

Ready to have as a backup this season? Not sure, I see both of them being loaned out and getting games somewhere else this season.

[arab88]

we need to sell Toure and keep everyone else.

Agger-Skrtel-Lovren-Sakho for 2 places is mindblowing

[CraigDS]

Johnson/Flanno  Lovren  Sakho  Enrique

I'd like to see that given a run of games together. I really don't see much between Johnson and Flanno but would probably opt for the latter just.

[Zlen]

I'd sell Kelly, Toure, Robinson and Agger.
Loan out Illori.

We're well stocked anyway, just some fine-tuning needed.

[Funky_Gibbons]

Ready to have as a backup this season? Not sure, I see both of them being loaned out and getting games somewhere else this season.

I'd be happy to have Illori as back-up this season, spend the season here getting the odd game here and there would help his development.

Agree Robinson should have another year on-loan somewhere hopefully at a Premier League team (should sound out Southampton......).

[Pricey]

I think we've fucked up loaning out Wisdom. For my money he's better than Johnson, Kelly and Cafu.

[arab88]

I'd sell Kelly, Toure, Robinson and Agger.
Loan out Illori.

We're well stocked anyway, just some fine-tuning needed.

I just can't imagine Agger wearing a different jersey...

He must stay,with him we have 4 world class CB and the season is going to be very,very long...

[rickardinho1]

I've seen a lot of Skrtel-Lovren and Lovren-Sakho mentions, but what do people think of a potential Lovren-Agger partnership? (ignoring that Agger might be the most likely to be sold)

[Chakan]

I've seen a lot of Skrtel-Lovren and Lovren-Sakho mentions, but what do people think of a potential Lovren-Agger partnership? (ignoring that Agger might be the most likely to be sold)

It's an option, but I really think any back 4 (if we are talking best of the best) should include Sakho.

[Zlen]

I just can't imagine Agger wearing a different jersey...
He must stay,with him we have 4 world class CB and the season is going to be very,very long...

It's strange isn't it - but I'm uncertain he's willing to battle it out with Sakho for the position.
Not looking to make it about Agger - so let's just skip it.

Overall we're good, we'll be much better then last year and I'm still expecting one or two fullbacks.

[LFC UNTIL THE MANAGER IS NO LONGER DESERVING OF MY SYMPATHY]

I'd sell Kelly

Is there any point?

He is probably on such low wages and we wouldn't get hardly any fee, we might as well keep him (or loan him) and see if he can get back to his best.

I was very worried about him last season, but I think he is looking much better in pre season.

[Chakan]

What about playing 3 at the back?

                 Skrtel       Agger/Lovern      Sakho

Flanno                                                                Enrique

?

[CraigDS]

I've seen a lot of Skrtel-Lovren and Lovren-Sakho mentions, but what do people think of a potential Lovren-Agger partnership? (ignoring that Agger might be the most likely to be sold)

Probably be the slowest CB pairing in the league.

[CraigDS]

What about playing 3 at the back?

                 Skrtel       Agger/Lovern      Sakho

Flanno                                                                Enrique

?

Did Van Gaal become our manager?

[arab88]

we'll be much better then last year and I'm still expecting one or two fullbacks.

I think what we need in defense is a left back and nothing more...in the right I think we are fine with Johnson,Flanagan and Kelly.

[Funky_Gibbons]

What about playing 3 at the back?

                 Skrtel       Agger/Lovern      Sakho

Flanno                                                                Enrique

?

Don't we basically do that anyway when Gerrard drops into the Agger/Lovren position when in possession?

[Red Bird]

Probably be the slowest CB pairing in the league.

We did have Hyppia and Henchoz and did us little harm. Pace with no positional sense is next to worthless.

There may be better [technical] footballing reasons why that may not work, though.

[Red Genius]

Probably be the slowest CB pairing in the league.

Lovren slow? - can't say i spent an awful lot of time watching him last year....

[CraigDS]

We did have Hyppia and Henchoz and did us little harm. Pace with no positional sense is next to worthless.

There may be better [technical] footballing reasons why that may not work, though.

We played a very different style back then which suited having two slower players, if we want to play the way we do now then we'd get mullered by even a little bit of pace against us with those two starting IMO - great positional sense or not.

[CraigDS]

Lovren slow? - can't say i spent an awful lot of time watching him last year....

It was Southampton fan's main issue with him from what I've read.

[lessthanmatt]

With who we have at the moment:

Flanagan  Lovren  Sakho  Enrique


Please no Johnson. So frustrating and half-arsed. I remember Enrique being very frustrating as well (particularly with lobbing the ball forward towards Suarez all the time), but we have to see what he's like now he's back.

[Red Genius]

It was Southampton fan's main issue with him from what I've read.

Be interesting to see how high a line we play, might see a different approach this year then...sat a bit deeper and using our pace to hit teams on the counter. Would seem a bit daft to shell out £20m on a defender with little pace to then go and play a high line.

[gray19lfc]

Ideally, I'd like our defence to look something like this in the near future:

?? | Sakho | Lovren | ??

Backed up by:

Enrique | Agger/Toure | Skrtel | Flanagan + Kelly

However, come the Southampton game I can see Brendan going with:

Enrique/Flanagan | Lovren | Skrtel | Johnson

I think Johnson's time with us is up.  I've always stood by him when he's come under fire but I think it's clear for most to see now that his legs and his motivation have gone.  I can see one of, if not both of Agger/Toure leaving and I also believe that had Enrique not spent most part of last season out injured that he'd be on his way out too.

With things how they are though, I'd expect Enrique to share game time with a new left back (if we can bring one in) and also Flanno.  Hopefully, with the addition of Manquillo we can move Johnson on but if not I'd expect Manquillo, Johnson and Flanno (and Kelly) to rotate on the right.

I can see Coates being sold/loaned out and Ilori sent on another loan too.

[BostonScouse]

Moreno                     Lovren   Skrtel     Johnson
Enrique/Flanagan     Sakho    Ilori        Manquillo

[PhaseOfPlay]

We did have Hyppia and Henchoz and did us little harm. Pace with no positional sense is next to worthless.

There may be better [technical] footballing reasons why that may not work, though.

Not at all. Pace covers a multitude of mistakes. The problem is when that player loses their pace, their mistakes are exposed. Positional sense, of course, lasts with or without pace.

But pace on its own is a good thing.

[CoventryYNWA]

First Choice

Flanno Lovren Sakho Enrique

Second Choice

Johnson Coates Agger Robinson

Can see Skrtel being moved on and us keeping Coates to be honest.

[The Infamous_LFC]

For the opening game of the season I would play

Enrique Lovren Skrtel Johnson

Flanno and Sakho would have to wait for their competitors(Skrtel & GJ) to slip up and get their chance. Creating a pecking order that is fair. As long as you put in top class performances you have chance to cement ur spot in the team.

[Pricey]

What about playing 3 at the back?

                 Skrtel       Agger/Lovern      Sakho

Flanno                                                                Enrique

?

If we signed someone like Moreno for left back i think it'd be a fantastic option.

The only stumbling block i'd say regarding this is Gerrard. At the moment he's virtually a 3rd CB as he drops in. If you play 3, the two in front tend to need legs, which Gerrard doesn't have.

[Latenight Surfer]

Sakho can definitely become one of the best in a few years. The only concern is with his style of tackling which is at times reckless. I think Skrtel is of the same mould but with a better control, hopefully as time passes by Sakho keeps in check that part of his game. Agger again is of a completely different mould, more like those Italian center-backs of the yesteryears who tackle with style and panache (generally).

In what category would Lovren fall is still unclear as I have seen both sides of his game too often.

[CraigDS]

Sakho can definitely become one of the best in a few years. The only concern is with his style of tackling which is at times reckless. I think Skrtel is of the same mould but with a better control, hopefully as time passes by Sakho keeps in check that part of his game.

Sakho can't be that reckless, didn't even pick up a booking last season for us.

[Pricey]

Sakho can't be that reckless, didn't even pick up a booking last season for us.

Perhaps by Reckless he means "front foot" which he certainly is. His style is more prone to getting booked but it's astonishing he never got one.

[GlenJohnson2]

Hope we'll go: Johnson (preferably new RB), Lovren, Sakho, Moreno

Think we'll go: Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Enrique

[trembles97]

Wouldn't hate Sterling at wingback if we decided to play 3 at the back.

[CraigDS]

Wouldn't hate Sterling at wingback if we decided to play 3 at the back.

Other than would probably cut out at least half his goals.

[Chris~]

I want to see Can in back three, even if it's just for a friendly.