Liverpool FC Forum

[Barca Murph]

Silvinho definately out for the first leg and probably the second as well.

http://home.skysports.com/list.as....annel=&

Gio is mostly favoured as our LB for CL games anyway. Just hope we don't get anymore injuries. Still got 5 more games to get through before we play you.

[spion]

Got my tickets & cant wait!

[80-1169754111]

It's worth mentioning that we have to strike a balance between defence and attack against Barcelona, if we push up too much, they'll get passes through and attack us on the break, but if we invite them onto us, they'll heap the pressure and we'll crack under it. We need to show aggression, grit and not allow them time on the ball, like what we did against Juventus. Barca fans are very sure of themselves that they'll walk over us at Camp Nou and draw with us at Anfield. The Barca players think this too, which is great, remember Juventus.

I hear Eto'o and Messi will be back by the time the first leg comes around, do you think they'll feature in that game, if at all?

[Rafa D]

I hope Eto's out. He is amazing.

[80-1169754111]

He is, but if a defender stamps his authority early on Eto'o his performance isn't quite so good, If I was Carragher I'd give Eto'o some stick in the first five minutes, maybe hack him down early enough and it unsettles him. Even if he is back, I'll doubt he feature much in the match, he won't be match ready.

I'm more worried about Xavi then anyone else. The lad can do damage, he is very underrated IMO. It's allways all about Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Messi and Valdes.

[weringo]

It's worth mentioning that we have to strike a balance between defence and attack against Barcelona, if we push up too much, they'll get passes through and attack us on the break, but if we invite them onto us, they'll heap the pressure and we'll crack under it. We need to show aggression, grit and not allow them time on the ball, like what we did against Juventus. Barca fans are very sure of themselves that they'll walk over us at Camp Nou and draw with us at Anfield. The Barca players think this too, which is great, remember Juventus.

I hear Eto'o and Messi will be back by the time the first leg comes around, do you think they'll feature in that game, if at all?

I agree we have to treat this game like we did against Juve 2 years ago, we have to start at an extremely high tempo and overwhelm them and try and grab a goal or 2 (Chelsea also did this against Barca a couple of years ago and got 3 in the first 20 mins). Then we just have to stick 10 men behind the ball and leave Bellamy up front and hang on for the win. We are one of the best teams in the world at absorbing pressure, we often conceed goals from being out-paced at the back but if we defend deep we can counter this.

[80-1169754111]

I wouldn't advice sitting back against Barcelona, they will treat this match very seriously once they get out on the pitch. If we score first we must make sure we score again and again until Barca submit, I wouldn't advice getting complacent and sitting back on a lead, they showed against Arsenal that with a few passes they can score goals and change the course of a match. the lads must play at a high tempo throughout the ninety minutes, the lads need to be aggressive, intimidating and confident. Barca don't like to be hassled, they hate it and hassle them enough and they'll make a mistake.

I would opt for a 4-3-3 in this match, Bellamys pace and eye for goal is must, Gio cannot handle immense pace and I'm sure if Bellamy times his runs and isn't caught offside, he'll get through more often than not. Play crouch, Marquez and puyol do not like tall players, crouch's ability will really cause them two problems at back. kuyt is a work horse and he can be utilised down one of the flanks if we need penetration as can gerrard.  Alonso and Momo in the middle with Gerrard and I'd have the back defence of Steve Finnan, Jamie, Sami and John.

.................................Reina............................

.......Finnan............Jamie......Sami..............John...

...................Gerrard......Xabi.....Momo..............

..........Bellamy...........Crouch......Kuyt...........


I'd like to see this (I cant explain in words) more rotating tactics during in matchs, this is very narrow and at times we will need width in which case this is needed


........Gerrard.......Momo.......Xabi........Kuyt...........

.....................Bellamy.......Crouch..............

other times this might be needed

.....................Gerrard......Momo.....Xabi...............

...............................Crouch..............................

.................Bellamy...................Kuyt.................


if the lads can play like this and rotate between defense and attack during the match, as well as press Barca it will cause them problem.

[Barca Murph]

Bit of a long shot but any spares?

Times like this i wish i were a Barca season ticket holder 

[80-1169754111]

It's times like these I wish Zaragoza were in the Champions League. We'll struggle even more to get into Europe's best competition now that Platini wants to reduce the number of places to three.

[Sabre]

Looking at the bright side, other english teams will have even harder to reach to our 5 cups.

Plus, I think we can be third with no problem, and perhaps that way the UEFA will be again an important competition, like in the eighties.

You read it here first, I told you, in Barcelona, the crisis is a fact.

Their papers are asking new signings, and for instance fat lampard occupies one of their paper's website

www.elmundodeportivo.es

Deco in the other hand says that "It's uncertain" that I'll reach the final of my contract (2010) because it seems to me there are some people who has personal issues with me".

I don't know how many times Barcelona will have to make the same mistakes. Once they get some stability, in the first hint of problems, everyone becomes mad, and a huge crisis arises from nowhere. That's why they've only won it 2 times. Barcelona has achieved all that has achieved when people that know about football were allowed to take charge of the situation.

That's why Cruyff was so good for them, he had the personality, and the football knowledge. But the Surroundings of that club are always ready to disturb the people who has a clue about football, and in the mean time they don't fix that, they won't dominate Europe for long periods of time.

Marca announces BTW, that ETOO is due to be recovered for the Racing Santander match, 11st February.

[Zi-Dan Agger]

I think its a shame Luis Garcia is injured for the Barca games.  Everyone knows that players often come back to haunt their old clubs and he just has that knack of scoring in crucial European games!  Hopefully Rafa's tactics and the quality we have in the rest of our squad will be enough to get past them and win it 6 times in Athens!

[Barca Murph]

Sabre, i think it's safe to say that Barca DO need to make a couple of additions to the squad. Having Eto'o and Messi injured together has left our attacking options very limited. Also both Edmilson and Motta have been no more than average for us this season, a DM is a must in the summer IMO.

[Sabre]

It's true Barcelona needs more depth, their starting eleven is CL final stuff, defensive midfielder like Motta, though, are average at best.

FWIW, Luis Aragones Spanish coach has sent a blow to the confidence of our oposition keeper. A catalan journalist asked how come Valdes do not make it to the national Squad. Aragones has despised the question stating that right now, Both Casillas and Reina are in a much better form than Valdes.

And I agree that.

[Larsson]

eto'o and messi are ready, start to praying scousers

[premiership fan]

barca will lose at anfield