Mad Scientist

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It needs to be said: this forum was a far more pleasant place to visit when you were banned. I have a fond wish that you could manage to: 1. post something constructive 2. post less often 3. preferably both of the above simultaneously, but either would be a start

Unfortunately it's worse on every other forum. I have tried elsewhere and this place is a beacon of light compared to the rest. My main complaint is that it's the same people making the same moans week after week, match after match. There's a whole ipod out there and they've only loaded one tune.

The stats are just a few posts up: It makes interesting reading for those that have been knocking him, doesn't it? I thought he was physically off the pace a bit last season as well. As Leo mentioned earlier, he's a difficult player to categorise. Most seem to want to compare him to Xabi - I don't think this comparison works that well, mainly because Lucas typically plays 10 or 20 yards further up the pitch than Xabi when we have the ball. It also depends on the formation we're playing - if we're playing 442 then I think it's a straight choice between Xabi and Masch for the holding midfielder and Gerrard and Lucas for the more attacking spot. So the player we should be comparing him to in a 442 role is more likely to be Gerrard than Xabi. In a 4231 we can manage with two midfielders who sit deeper - i.e. we can play both Xabi and Masch. I think however that we're much more threatening if one of the two midfielders is playing a slightly more advanced role, and I think Lucas is more comfortable doing this than either Xabi or Masch (and I think this is the role that Barry was going to play - so it would have been a straight choice between Barry and Lucas for that second spot in the the 2). The thing he has in common with Xabi is that he's a 'glue' player - he'll have a touch in almost every move we make. It might not seem like an important touch, but he finds space and moves the ball along to a team mate in space, and he's doing it for the whole match. We pass better as a team when one of Xabi or Lucas is playing, we pass a lot worse when Gerrard and Masch are teamed together in the middle. Sticking with the 4231 for a minute, I think Xabi is more suited to games when we're playing counter attacking football (tricky away fixtures) as his long range passing is superior. Against teams who park the bus when we're at home I think Lucas's little triangles and one touch passing could well prove more effective, especially as they are done further up the pitch. On the 442 front I'd like to see him in tandem with one of Masch or Xabi, with Gerrard on the right in place of Kuyt.

I don't make this stuff up. Rafa Benitez: "We changed the system to play 4-3-3 and give Xabi Alonso freedom, then when he was being pressed we changed to 4-2-3-1. People said, 'Oh, Robbie Keane wasn't playing well on the left.' But we had to think about winning the game, not just one player." Now it's clear, no?

We've been playing 442 because we only had two senior central midfielders available. Now that two more have returned from the Olympics we have immediately dropped the 442. We played 433 in the first half against Villa, and 4231 in the second half.

Every season we buy new players and every season it takes time for the new players to gel with the existing players and for the new team to build up an understanding. That's it. It's not rocket science that's for sure, and it certainly doesn't need a few hundred lines of airy-fairy exposition.

Scrappy old second half. We played much better in the first half. I blame Degen (he might as well start getting used to it ). Finished 1:0, the goal from the Goal Machine decided it

Strong challenge from the Mobile Bunker. He likes a tackle does Huth.

San Jose enjoying himself in central midfield. Although just occasionally he does look like what his is, a center back playing in midfield.

Simon should have scored there really. Their goalkeeper passed it straight to him!

Peter 'Galaxi'? It's pronounced Goolachi... Couple of decent saves too.

He doesn't need to beat his man - he scored one from the touchline last season I doubt he meant it, but it hit the top corner anyway. He also scored a free kick 'a la Gerrard' (only from the left), i.e. wellying a moving ball towards the top corner. He doesn't score that many, but seems to score more often in European matches than in the league.

It looked like we were playing a 4231 formation on Sunday. Masch and Alonso deeper and Keane, Lucas and Kuyt behind Torres/Ngog.

Yep, same formation as last season. 4231 when we're attacking, 4411 when we're defending. I think Lucas will push Alonso hard for that second spot in midfield alongside Masch. Carra may well get some games at right back against the long ball teams. Rafa likes to sub the players in the three behind Torres, so I'd expect to see Gerrard spend some time in the middle no matter where he starts (e.g. Babel for Keane, Babel plays right and Gerrard central). I'd expect the full backs to also get both subbed and rotated quite often, as they'll have a lot of running to do getting up and down and supplying the width.

At least he won't be on the pitch for us Riise and Voronin both gone. Arbeloa now 6 to 1 favorite for this season's Scapegoat Derby. Benayoun and Kuyt are also receiving strong backing. Keane is the dark horse.

Maybe not, but probably still better than Gerrard at that particular skill. I thought Keane did well yesterday - set up both Ngog and Alonso for good opportunities - while his back was to the goal. We'll see how he gets on when he's settled in a bit more.

I mentioned the same thing a few weeks ago. If we'd held onto our leads last season we would have won the league. There's two facets to the problem I think - the first is scoring the second goal when we're one up (so the odd goal won't peg us back), the second is not giving away silly goals. I think buying Skrtel and getting Agger back will help with the second of these. The first is a tricky one - if you go all out for a second you may well be more likely to concede one on a counter attack. If you remain cautious and only one up, that can give confidence to your opponents and make your own players more nervous. It's a fine balance, and like John says it's something we didn't quite get right last season, especially at home. Again, I think having two faster center backs available (faster than Sami that is), may make use less likely to concede on a counter, so could well allow us to more agressive and go for the second when we're up.