Liverpool FC Forum

[Poor_Sunyol™]

Ah, we are going to lose....

[stmichael]

I think we need to change our gameplan - let's take them on instead of sitting back. I don't care what anyone says, form aside they are a world class team and they can punish anyone, but their confidence is so low and they look fragile. We should be looking to do them.

[peterc1992]

Barcelona looked very shaky at the back last night,and il felling very confident about the game,i wish i was there.

[puroresu]

I think we need to change our gameplan - let's take them on instead of sitting back. I don't care what anyone says, form aside they are a world class team and they can punish anyone, but their confidence is so low and they look fragile. We should be looking to do them.

Agreed.  The only way to beat Barcelona is to attack them.  Trying to get plenty behind the ball and not be too attacking isnt the answer. 

Last year we didnt take the game to Benfica and got punished.  Lets not make the same mistake again.  Barcelona will create chances,  no doubt about that.  However that doesnt mean we cant create chances and score away from home.   I know a 1-0 defeat doesnt look that bad but thats what everyone said last year and look what happened.

I think an away goal is vital and Barca are more than capable of scoring at Anfield.

[Poor_Sunyol™]

I don't think we are capable of scoring in a brothel at the moment.

[83-1171708240]

Why do so many people slate Barcelona’s defence when Puyol and Marquez are two of the best centre backs plying their trade in Europe at the moment? It seems to me that people believe Crouch will have an easy time against Puyol and Marquez, which won’t be the case and the fact that Crouch is useless with his head doesn’t help matters either. Barcelona’s defence is the weak point of their team, mainly due to their attacking presence, but reading some posts here and elsewhere some Liverpool fans believe Barcelona’s defence will be easy to break down. If we are to beat Barcelona we must not allow them to settle and gain momentum and rhythm in the match, we’ll be in serious trouble if we allow players like Xavi, Deco and Messi to settle down and get into the groove. It’s important that we play with variety in our play, instead of playing ridiculous, predictable football. I’m getting the mental image that Carragher and Hyypia will be playing long balls to Crouch, instead of keeping possession, we’ll be doing no favours in allowing Barcelona to have possession.

Saying this, I think now is a good time to be facing them, they are a bit shaky at the moment, both on and off the field, but I fancy our chances, I just hope that Gerrard and Alonso (if they start together in midfield) will work with some form of cohesion, I don’t want to see Xavi and Deco having an easy time in the centre of midfield.

Out of Interest, will Momo be on the bench? I think we could use him for the last part of the game (if we need to that is).

[stmichael]

Do we go for height or pace up front, that's the big question for me.

I'm not sure we'll get near enough to their goal that many times for Crouch's height to be a major weapon at the Nou Camp and on a big pitch he could look pretty isolated with his lack of pace so i'd save him for the home bombardment.

Barca play a pretty high line at home and are very open at the back so it's Bellamy up with Kuyt for me, Kuyt dropping off  onto their deep midfield player when we've not got it to make  a 3 in the middle.

Momo and Xabi in the middle if they think Momo's fit enough, Gerrard on the right with Finnan or Arbeloa taking Ronaldinho and Riise/Aurelio on the left.

Only other possibility for me is Arbeloa/Finnan doing the right side and Gerrard playing off Kuyt but I think that's too negative and doesn't get the best out of Gerrard. They're likely to score and we need to create some chances ourselves.

[109-1170291157]

Xabi Alonso was interviewed by Sport.es a couple of days ago. He was asked about Gerrard, and he said that we're talking much about Gerrard as he is class, but that they will see that Crouch is an "incordio" aswell. Incordio is translated as Nuisance in my dic, but it's more than nuisance, it's close to pester and bother . (He meant Crouchy is a constant source of trouble for the oposition defence and I agree)

I liked Xabi higlighting less known or praised members of the squad. And perhaps if he said that it might mean he things Crouch is going to play. I'd play Crouch and Kuyt .

About other programme of the radio (Cadena Ser). One friend of mine was listen it, and tell me it:
The trip to escape of Gil Marin, was to give spirits to Luis Garcia and to try Xabi Alonso's fichaje, which it has approved the operation. Now the clubs have to put in agreement. 12-14 millions of €. 

Neither I nor nobody we believe ourselves the news... 

[Elchris]

i think we should opt for height...i think barcelona backline would cope more with pace then height..expect crouch to give the barca center halfs torrid time..i think they haven played against crouch before so it will be very difficult for them...if crouch plays well  and the barca defence have trouble copping wif him  we will win the game

[Ace Ventura]

Do we go for height or pace up front, that's the big question for me.

I'm not sure we'll get near enough to their goal that many times for Crouch's height to be a major weapon at the Nou Camp and on a big pitch he could look pretty isolated with his lack of pace so i'd save him for the home bombardment.

Barca play a pretty high line at home and are very open at the back so it's Bellamy up with Kuyt for me, Kuyt dropping off  onto their deep midfield player when we've not got it to make  a 3 in the middle.

Momo and Xabi in the middle if they think Momo's fit enough, Gerrard on the right with Finnan or Arbeloa taking Ronaldinho and Riise/Aurelio on the left.

Only other possibility for me is Arbeloa/Finnan doing the right side and Gerrard playing off Kuyt but I think that's too negative and doesn't get the best out of Gerrard. They're likely to score and we need to create some chances ourselves.

I would go for pace without a shadow of doubt, the likes of Puyol and Marquez would much rather play against Crouch.
Puyol when England played Spain had a big fat cigar most of the game, all he was doing was jumping early and leaning on Crouch...no contest.
Bellamy would cause far more problems with his direct running and pace.

[Sabre]

Why do so many people slate Barcelona’s defence when Puyol and Marquez are two of the best centre backs plying their trade in Europe at the moment? It seems to me that people believe Crouch will have an easy time against Puyol and Marquez, which won’t be the case and the fact that Crouch is useless with his head doesn’t help matters either.

They slate them because they know fúck all about football. It's the same case as Cannavaro, very criticised, but for what I saw recently live, one of the best centre backs I've seen in the liga in the last 10 years.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are very offensive. YOu like it or not, but if you play with Ronaldinho, Messi, Xavi, who the fúck does the recovery of the ball task? Same applies to Real Madrid, but at least Capello protects the centre backs a bit more by using two defensive midfielders. In those team some of the players receive most of the praises, and then the poor centre backs and the keeper receive all the criticism! and so many times it's not even their fault.

Marie, don't listen to the ser, they want Alonso back in Madrid ages ago

[109-1170291157]

Marie, don't listen to the ser, they want Alonso back in Madrid ages ago

Never I listen Cadena Ser Radio, coz I believe that El Athletico is El Patético!! 

[RedBlood]

personally i would go like this:

                                        REINA

                FINNAN      CARRA      AGGER      RIISE

              GERRARD     MOMO     ALONSO     SPEEDY

                               BELLAMY     KUYT
I beleive we will have to play on the break so the pace of bellamy would benifit more then crouchs height, i would go with stevie on the right to help sort ronaldinho out and momo could clean up in the middle. I would go with gonzo on the left for his pace and the fact he has played very well in spain already in his career, hopefully it would give him a much needed confidence boost

[Alonso14]

Quoting Guillem Balague said

'Forget about trying to stop Ronaldinho. Defending against him is impossible, but what you can do is stop him influencing the game by stopping the players who give him the ball and who give him the platform to perform. Xavi, Deco and Iniesta are the ones who will try to feed the brilliant Brazilian and that is something Rafa will be well aware of.'

Perhaps match them up in midfield, Sissoko Gerrard and Xabi, then revert to 4-4-2 at home and really go at them?

[mama13]

No Gerrard have play in the axis redblood
I hope liverpool win wenesday, they can (liverpool can all) and show the geniuse are at the lfc (our captain) and no at the barca.