Think we can expect a goal-fest this season..

[floyd the barber]

Theres no doubt we can into this season with lots of optimism.

With a number of quality signings since january its pretty likely we are gonna see some entertaining football.

With players such as Gerrard,downing,carroll,suarez,henderson,adam - all matchwinners who all weigh in with a number of goals..im not worried about that part.

 

I am worried about our defence, regardless of the opposition our pre-season has been littered with a ton of goals conceded mostly due to our errors.

 

At this stage i couldnt for the life of me tell you what our first 4 in defence will be and that is a huge worry..the options dont really give me confidence.

Carra - 99% hes gonna be first defender on the team sheet, but should this be the case?

Agger - cannot be relied on due to his horrible track record with injuries

Skrtel - to his credit he had a decent last 6 months...but isnt the level we need

the greek - not good enough

wilson - hasnt shown anything in the brief times we`ve seen him..needs another 12 months

Kelly - hasnt really had a chance as a center back

 

Full backs and

kelly - should be first choice for me as a right back

johnson - still questions marks regarding his defending, though like skrtel had a decent last 6 months...he also showed himself to be decent as a left bacl

flanno - excelled when in the side...though is he ready for consistent first team action?

Robinson - like flanno he did a great job, but isnt ready yet

aurellio - permanently injured

insua - not good enough

 

Tons of options and good potential for the future but now?

 

so for me, we go into the season without a clue who our back 4 will be...not good

With Agger and Aurellio fit it becomes easy...but this aint gonna happen

 

With what we have now, id go with

--kelly-----carra--skrtel----johnson

 

we played that a few times last season and it worked out well.....IF we dont bring anyone else in, it really is our best option

 

Basically right now i can see excting games with us......but for us to challenge for the title, we have to bring in a couple of defenders before the end of the window.

[Flasher]

I'm really impressed by Flannagan at the moment, more so than Kelly at right back. It's is natural position and suits him well. Admittedly Kelly was great as a wing back though, .

[Ombudsam]

I don't think that Kelly is better than Johnson FWIW. Also many of things that are impressive about Kelly as a full back (and he is impressive) are things that he will not be able to do as a centre back which is where a lot want him played

[Earl Hafler]

I don't think that Kelly is better than Johnson FWIW. Also many of things that are impressive about Kelly as a full back (and he is impressive) are things that he will not be able to do as a centre back which is where a lot want him played

 

 

He'd still be able to get forward. I know people praise his crossing but this is because he's comfortable with the ball - another attribute lacking in our other centre halves.

 

Just needs games there.

[épieur]

I don't think that Kelly is better than Johnson FWIW. Also many of things that are impressive about Kelly as a full back (and he is impressive) are things that he will not be able to do as a centre back which is where a lot want him played

 

Mostly his crossing. His pace and physique would probably come more to the fore as a centreback.

 

And if we have ballplaying full backs, as I assume we will, his skill on the ball will be more useful to is in the centre than out wide, where we only have Agger to do something with it every 3rd game.

 

the real question is whether he is actually any good defensively in the centre. Open question still.

[Ombudsam]

He'd still be able to get forward. I know people praise his crossing but this is because he's comfortable with the ball - another attribute lacking in our other centre halves.

 

Just needs games there.

 

I don't see a particularly high level of passing from him though.

 

Mostly his crossing. His pace and physique would probably come more to the fore as a centreback.

 

And if we have ballplaying full backs, as I assume we will, his skill on the ball will be more useful to is in the centre than out wide, where we only have Agger to do something with it every 3rd game.

 

the real question is whether he is actually any good defensively in the centre. Open question still.

 

 

His pace is mostly used to run down the line very quickly with the ball. I'm not sure there's a ball player there. And you are right we don't know if he can defend from centre back.

 

None of this is to slate the kid who I think is hugely promising

[Murphman]

I don't think that Kelly is better than Johnson FWIW. Also many of things that are impressive about Kelly as a full back (and he is impressive) are things that he will not be able to do as a centre back which is where a lot want him played

 

 

Kelly is a raw talent, he's nowhere near Johnson's class.

[floyd the barber]

Kelly is a raw talent, he's nowhere near Johnson's class.

 

well same again today, yes pre-season but for me johnson seems better as a left back....for me, with who we have...id start kelly right back, johnson left.

[The_Adder]

well same again today, yes pre-season but for me johnson seems better as a left back....for me, with who we have...id start kelly right back, johnson left.

 

Me too.

 

Think there is an argument to say Johnson has to concentrate more at left back due to it not being his natural position and he was solid (never thought I'd say that about him) there last season when shifted by Kenny.

 

Kelly was excellent at right back, both defending and attacking, looked our best player in some games last season.

[Spion kop]

Kelly came in and made an impact but didn't play enough games to be judged fully as a permanent fixture. I'm eager for him to move to centre because his pace could really help us.

[Murphman]

well same again today, yes pre-season but for me johnson seems better as a left back....for me, with who we have...id start kelly right back, johnson left.

 

 

Nah, we need a proper left footed left back, right footers are ok going forward but are wrecked when a quick winger attacks on the outside. Johnno is decent there but he's not the answer on a permanent basis.

 

Kelly came in and made an impact but didn't play enough games to be judged fully as a permanent fixture. I'm eager for him to move to centre because his pace could really help us.

 

 

It depends who he plays alongside, if it's Agger that's Ok but I wouldn't want him alongside Skrtel or Carra on a permanent basis, we need somebody who can hold on to the ball when we come out. Kelly is DEFO going to be a great right back, hemight become a good CB as well, great cover for Johnson at the moment, we should give the lad time to develop and not expect him to be the real deal just yet.

Edited August 2, 2011 by Murphman