A case for defence

[(.)Boobies(.)]

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/ ... 25,00.html

I've read a few comments since the arrival of Matt Mills, that young Pearce might miss out and Cisse would continue at the back.

I'm more hopeful, and i think it's also more likely that Pearce and Mills will be the favoured centre back pairing, and then we have Ivar to return and push them both.

The defence is looking very promising this season. As is the midfield. Just up fron that is worryingly lightweight now.

Rosenior --- Mills --- Pearce(c) --- Bertrand

Armstrong backup at left back.
Kelly backup at right back.
Ingimarsson back up at centre back.
Cisse as above.

All very positive!

[Terminal Boardom]

Plus Psycho will be available once his suspension concludes. All in all, a good bit of balance and experience in there.

[Snowball]

The best combo might take a few weeks to discover (and then, if he's not sold, we have Bikey back)

Big issue with Ingi is whether he will be able to recapture his old form. Obviously I hope he can.

Pearce is, fairly clearly an out and out CB. Looks like the new guy is, also.

So that means guys like Cisse are great to have on the team-sheet, starting in MF or on the bench
able to slot effortlessly into either position.

When Bikey is back (presuming he doesn't get sold) I would love to see him get a few runs in midfield.

We sure wouldn't get over-run, we'd have a powerhouse going forward, extra power in the air

Rosenior --- Mills --- Pearce(c) --- Bertrand

---------------Bikey--------Cisse----------------

Noel Hunt ------Matejovsky----------- Kebe
or Henry-------- or Davies-------------or HRK

Church or Long as the "1"



If we are playing 4-5-1/433 Noel makes a damn good scoring right-winger and good defensive cover

Provided Federici steps up to the plate, I think we have a superb defensive squad, a very tidy midfield

We just have to hope someone gets into the goals up front, but Bikey/Cisse above would probably get 5-6 each a season
Hunt on the right cutting in would get 10 in a full season (not so sure about the left wing)

[chilipepper91]

Don't forget Cissé is a midfielder too. A midfield three of Cissé-Matejovsky-Tabb would be very good indeed, should Mills usurp him into the CB position as he probably will. To bring back Parjudas' phrase: "spirit, tenacity and flair".

[Agent Balti]

You can add Karacan to fill in at right back too, since he's been trialled there in the pre-season friendlies. OK, Kelly's been injured - but he's a slightly more experienced option.

IMO, the choice pairing is Pearce and Mills, with Ingi as backup...Bikey as the midfield destroyer (if Rodgers can tame the beast) but more likely he'll be on the bench - that's if he's still here once his suspension is up. Problem being, with a midfield 3, would Bikey fit?

[SLAMMED]

Blah blah...

Church or Long as the "1"

blah...

Lone striker = bad idea.

[79Royal]

Harper also to come back, hopefully in for Tabb.

[Jeffers217]

I don't care where Bikey plays as long as he does play! Looked shaky on sat but maybe he would be better in midfield with the centre backs to clear up any mess. I would still prefer Karacan to Gunnarsson, Cisse or Bikey in that DM position. He's a box-to-box player who's good in the tackle and can chip in with the odd goal. I'm quite shocked how he hasn't been considered yet

[Jeffers217]

Harper also to come back, hopefully in for Tabb.

Are you feeling alright today mate? Maybe a bit of swine flu coming on? Tabb is quality, much better than Harper

[Royalee]

Harper also to come back, hopefully in for Tabb.

For shits and giggles if we're dominating a game and want to make it more interesting for the last 10 minutes right?

[CMRoyal]

I'm probably going against the grain here, but I would not like to see Bikey in midfield. It'd be one raking crossfield pass for every three fouls given away, and that's before we get onto the hair-raising sight of him taking on players rather than playing the simple ball. I don't mind the odd bit of excitement, but I fear he'd be like Gunnarsson with an AK47.

[West Stand Man]

Harper also to come back, hopefully in for Tabb.

Are you feeling alright today mate? Maybe a bit of swine flu coming on? Tabb is quality, much better than Harper

Methinks it is you who has a dose of something unspeakable if you genuinely believe that. Tabb is very good, Harper is also. Tabb is not >>>> than Harper, just a different player.

[TBM]

I've been saying for ages that Bikey would make a quality holding midfielder.......maybe Rodgers will try him out there this season??!

[Jeffers217]

Harper also to come back, hopefully in for Tabb.

Are you feeling alright today mate? Maybe a bit of swine flu coming on? Tabb is quality, much better than Harper

Methinks it is you who has a dose of something unspeakable if you genuinely believe that. Tabb is very good, Harper is also. Tabb is not >>>> than Harper, just a different player.

Did you go on saturday? Tabb did everything Harper didnt do! Tackle, pass the ball FORWARDS. I like Harper but only for his humour- it would be well worth cashing in on him now with the amount of midfielders we have

[TBM]

Are you feeling alright today mate? Maybe a bit of swine flu coming on? Tabb is quality, much better than Harper

Methinks it is you who has a dose of something unspeakable if you genuinely believe that. Tabb is very good, Harper is also. Tabb is not >>>> than Harper, just a different player.

Did you go on saturday? Tabb did everything Harper didnt do! Tackle, pass the ball FORWARDS. I like Harper but only for his humour- it would be well worth cashing in on him now with the amount of midfielders we have

I have to agree that Tabb is twice the player Harper is at the moment....

The thing i like about Tabb is that despite being small he NEVER backs out of a challenge - look at the 50/50 he went in for with Essien - his face wasn't scared and he won the ball.

[Royalee]

Tabb's stronger on the ball, better in the tackle, better at anticipating, better at keeping and using the ball, better at picking out runs, better at knowing when to run forward, better at marking and better positionally than Harper.

This means he is better than Harper, hth.

[brendywendy]

Harper also to come back, hopefully in for Tabb.

massive harps fan me, but i see tabb as the 1st name on my Midfield teamsheet.
his workrate/tackling is better than anyone elses IMO-which is quite important as a DCM

[Royalee]

I've been saying for ages that Bikey would make a quality holding midfielder.......maybe Rodgers will try him out there this season??!

The only issue for me is his discipline - it'll be interesting to see if Rodgers can iron the lapses of concentration out of his game and ensure he can hold position.

[Hoop Blah]

I've been saying for ages that Bikey would make a quality holding midfielder.......maybe Rodgers will try him out there this season??!

The only issue for me is his discipline - it'll be interesting to see if Rodgers can iron the lapses of concentration out of his game and ensure he can hold position.

He's too cumbersome to play in the centre of the park.

At centre back he gets to read the game a bit more and take his time on the ball. In the middle you need to be a bit lighter on your feet and a little more mobile. On top of that all his good play with the ball is long range stuff. In a tight midfield you need to be quicker in thought and much better at short quick interchanges than Bikey.

He showed on the few occassions he played there in the past that midfield isn't the place for him.

[Ian Royal]

Bikey is too stocky and clumsy to be a good central midfielder IMO. We have no need to try and crowbar in Mr unreliable, given the number of quality midfield options we have.

And just as an added thing, I know it was only one half and when we were under the cosh, but NHunt was completely anonymous when he played on the right against Chelsea. HRK was at least 10 times better there.

Bikey may be able to play alongside Mills. But my preferred partnership, even with all available will be Mills and Pearce. Cisse will get very few games at the back. Probably only Forest, whilst Mills is brought up to speed.