Lucas & Johny....

[Muggins]

Oh and he always claps the GSE after every Home game, theres only Neville and Johnny that make an actual effort after every game.

good lad is johnny!!!

 

[Goat]

Its the little things that make legends.

 

[kenada_blue]

I don't think height matters to be honest, Johnny Heitinga has a Cahill esque leap and he's got a decent frame to go with it, he's certainly not someone who gets bullied. He didn't against Drobga, he didn't against Beattie and Fuller and I don't think he did against Jones and Bent, either. Granted, we conceded goals, but it wasn't because Neill and Heitinga where bullied or overpowered.

Jagielka also has a very good leap and is good in the air, he probably wins more headers than anyone else, his heads like a magnet at times.

I certainly wouldn't rule out a Jagielka-Heitinga partnership, nor would I write of Distin.

Heitinga didn’t play against Chelsea I don’t think, and did he play CB against Stoke or RB?

I don’t mind them having good leaps. But when set-pieces are being lobbed into the box and Fellaini is the only player above 6ft to challenge against 4 or 5, 6ft players.

Moyes always complained about having no height in the team, and a back 4 of players below 6ft (I think Neil is 6ft1inch to be fair) wouldn’t look too imposing. Ability wise, you could say it would work. But I think in terms of imposing or balance, you need some height in the team.

 

[kenada_blue]

Oh and he always claps the GSE after every Home game, theres only Neville and Johnny that make an actual effort after every game.

He’ll be the kind of player that when he scores will go nuts and feed from the fans…getting yellow carded in the process but would be well worth it.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Heitinga didn’t play against Chelsea I don’t think, and did he play CB against Stoke or RB?

I don’t mind them having good leaps. But when set-pieces are being lobbed into the box and Fellaini is the only player above 6ft to challenge against 4 or 5, 6ft players.

Moyes always complained about having no height in the team, and a back 4 of players below 6ft (I think Neil is 6ft1inch to be fair) wouldn’t look too imposing. Ability wise, you could say it would work. But I think in terms of imposing or balance, you need some height in the team.

He did, and he played centre back against Stoke. In both games, despite us conceding goals, he played well.

As I said, it'd be a worry if he wasn't as good in the air as he is but at this point, I've yet to see him dominated aerially by anyone.

And you can talk about set pieces and lack of height but Cahill actually wins more defensive headers than anyone else in the team, he's far better at it than Fellaini despite the difference in height. Liverpool have alot of tall players and have done over the past few years, it means nothing if they lack the willingness to attack the ball.

If you had Neill at right back and Jags and Johnny in the middle I think we'd have enough aerial ability to cope. Add Fellaini, Cahill, Rodwell and Saha to that and you've got quite a good side in terms of aerial presence.

That's not to say I wouldn't play Distin, because I'm really not sure what is my favored combination at the moment. Distin and Heitinga have both impressed me and Jagielka is the best in the business.

 

[Goat]

Fully fit squad we have great options all over the place. Cant wait to have at least half of our players back.

 

[bluebastardo]

Jags has no guarantee of getting his place back, and will have to prove himself all over again.

Remember that in Jags, we're not talking about a guy who has held the center back role for years, and made the position his own, but a guy who had one good season in that position.

Everton won't be saving a place for him.

He'll have to take his chance when it comes along like all the others.

 

[Blue Truth]

I loved the way Johnny went on a little run from CB, when was the last time 1 of our CBs took the ball out of defence and ran with it. It was a joy to watch.

Probably when neill did it a few minutes earlier

 

[kenada_blue]

Jags has no guarantee of getting his place back, and will have to prove himself all over again.

Remember that in Jags, we're not talking about a guy who has held the center back role for years, and made the position his own, but a guy who had one good season in that position.

Everton won't be saving a place for him.

He'll have to take his chance when it comes along like all the others.

Doubt it mate. He'll be 1st on the team sheet when back to fitness and able to play...just like Neville's gonna be in a week or two's time.

Jags was rock soild when he came in at centre back the season before, then probably turned up to be one of the best centre backs in the league last season.

The 3, minus Baines, is up for grabs. Its whoever wants to partner Jags when he's back than the other way around IMO.

 

[Goat]

I agree, its surely gotta be Jags, Baines, plus 2 others. Cant see why it wouldnt be.

 

[bluebastardo]

It really depends if our back line gets established before Jags returns.
We have a lot of options there if we include Coleman and Duffy, who I believe will eventually get their chance.

It's very difficult at the moment to pick a starting 11 with definite positions for all involved, as we have so many players who are jack of all trades.
We need to find out if they are masters or not, and if so, exactly where each should play.

Bit of a mess at the moment.

 

[Goat]

Its not really, everybody has a NATURAL postion.

 

[Muggins]

I agree, its surely gotta be Jags, Baines, plus 2 others. Cant see why it wouldnt be.

jags was a serious England contender, especially with Rio's current situation.

 

[bluebastardo]

Its not really, everybody has a NATURAL postion.

I think we could have a seperate thread on this subject, as nothing is black and white that I can see.

 

[Goat]

I dont know why you have to bring race into it. Shithouse trick that lad.