Liverpool FC Forum

[Lucky]

Ballack, Essien and Carvalho out

Don't be suprised if Ballack and Carvalho make miraculous recoveries.

Benitez should say Gerrard and Carragher are both doubtful.

Benitez won't because he knows Mourinho won't buy that.

[redhayesy]

In the Times today:

Two years ago, on the approach to Stamford Bridge, one of those moments you dread arrived. “Headhunters,” my companion hissed. And there they were, surrounding us, fingering their calling cards. It was about to get ugly. The seconds that followed were a blur; the pain still almost tangible. They tried to recruit me for a leading financial institution in the City. The idea that Rupert and Tarquin thought I was a merchant banker makes me wince even now.

Once, Stamford Bridge was an intimidating place. On the pitch, the players were uncompromising brutes with names like Micky, Tommy and Chopper. The supporters came from council flats in Battersea and had names like, well, Micky, Tommy and Chopper.

Now the players have names like Claude, Ricardo and Hilário. Battersea has been gentrified and supporters at the Bridge have names like, well, Giles.

And then there are the songs they sing. What visiting fan hasn’t felt a shiver of fear when the cry of “One man went to mow!” rises up from the Matthew Harding Stand. Or, imagine what it is like being Frank Lampard and realising that, yes, they’ve thrown another man at that meadow. “Come on Sheva, there’s eight of them mowing now. The grass doesn’t have a chance. That’s the sort of commitment we’ve got to match . . . Good Lord, it’s nine now ! Let’s win it for the nine . . . ten . . . and Spot.”

Or is it part of the mad plan of Peter Kenyon, the chief executive, to turn Chelsea into the biggest club in the world by 2016? “Right, at every kindergarten in the land they are singing our song. How many does that add to our fanbase? Millions. And we’ll get their kids, too. Take that, Manchester United!”

To single out Stamford Bridge for a lack of atmosphere would be cruel, though. It is a problem across football, even at Anfield. But Liverpool supporters recognise this and have made massive efforts to keep their individuality with initiatives like Reclaim The Kop, a grassroots movement aimed at educating those not fully conversant with Kopite traditions. But compare the stadiums when Barcelona visited in this season’s Champions League.

At Anfield last month, the stadium was in a frenzy. Many supporters prepared special flags for the occasion and the Kop was a bouncing wall of red. Barça were greeted by a wall of flags at the Bridge in October, too. Only these had been supplied by the club. It was contrived and proved that mere banners do not create the right mood in a stadium. People do.

To this end, Liverpool supporters have something special in mind for the two ties over the next week. They have looked to Greece in the quest to reach Athens.

Impressed by the fanaticism of PAOK fans and the catchy nature of one of their songs, Liverpool supporters have appropriated the tune and added their own lyrics, which will boom out of the old Shed End tomorrow and take the roof off the Kop next week. Apart from Anfield on Saturday, it hasn’t been heard before on Premiership grounds. It’s new and innovative but will carry the weight of history with it.

Are you ready for it Chelsea? You were not two years ago and we’re set to take things up a notch. Because that thing called atmosphere is Liverpool’s calling card. And if you are not four up going to Anfield, worry.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol....151.ece


And quite a good Guilleme Ballague article:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol....092.ece

brilliant read that mate thanks for posting it! sums it up for me,maureen & co didn"t know what hit them 2 years ago & still don"t understand the consept of the 12th man! can"t wait to see the banner REMEMBER US ! + many other gems i"m sure.

[66-1112520797]

No I am convinced the silence from the moaner is more dangerous. I think it is a sign of how seriously they take LFC as opponents (in cup games at least). I guarantee he has them all wound up to the point of bursting. They will want to win both legs and prove a point.

Quite determination is more dangerous than loud boasting.

Exactly mate I agree with that. For Chelsea they have been unusually quiet, which their not normally. Their getting pumped for this, Maureens probably got Newspaper clippings up, photo's up of us beating them two years ago all round the training ground and what not.

We're doing more of the talking which I honestly dont like.

[Red_Freak]

We can beat them. If we can go to the Nous Camp and win 2-1, we can definitely get a result or even a win at Stamford Bridge. I don't believe this b******* that Barca have got a brutal defence and that's why they lost. Puyol is their Terry. No team with a "brutal" defence can win 2 La Ligas and a Champions League in two Seasons, and quite possibly add a 3rd La Liga to that.

[ckay]

It all comes down to who wants it more and who get's that little bit of luck and run of the ball. We can beat them and they can beat us. Only time will tell which way it goes. I just hope we kick there @ss's!!!!!!!

[stmichael]

ballack will play. forget the rumours. infact i'll tell you chelsea's team now.

                                   cech

            diarra      terry     boulahrouz       cole

                                   mikel

                     lampard              ballack

                                   j.cole

                    drogba               shevchenko

i don't think that'll be far off. infact i almost hope they play that narrow because it means they have to rely awfully heavily on ashley cole to provide any width.

FWIW i don't think this chelsea team is as good as the one from two years ago.

[LFC #1]

ballack will play. forget the rumours. infact i'll tell you chelsea's team now.

                                   cech

            diarra      terry     boulahrouz       cole

                                   mikel

                     lampard              ballack

                                   j.cole

                    drogba               shevchenko

i don't think that'll be far off. infact i almost hope they play that narrow because it means they have to rely awfully heavily on ashley cole to provide any width.

FWIW i don't think this chelsea team is as good as the one from two years ago.

Hope thats the team they put out, I'd be very confident of getting a win nevermind a draw.

[ckay]

I want us to bombard diarra and boulahrouz, they are the weak links in defence.

[LFC #1]

I want us to bombard diarra and boulahrouz, they are the weak links in defence.

Rafa may play Gerrard on the left for that reason as has been rumoured I believe. TBH if their is one area of the pitch we could really get at them it's their right back. Milner and Carr gave Paulo Ferreira a tough time of it on Sunday.

That would probably mean Pennant on the right and Riise left out or replacing Arbeloa.

[ckay]

I want us to bombard diarra and boulahrouz, they are the weak links in defence.

Rafa may play Gerrard on the left for that reason as has been rumoured I believe. TBH if their is one area of the pitch we could really get at them it's their right back. Milner and Carr gave Paulo Ferreira a tough time of it on Sunday.

That would probably mean Pennant on the right and Riise left out or replacing Arbeloa.

Does any one think that Gonzallez could do a good job against diarra? I really want the lad to do well.

[kunilson]

jesus 15 pages and the match ain't even happpened yet....excited are we?

boulharoooooz is not a natural CM so id be very confident if he plays there. In fact if the team stmichael posted is their team id be happy with that, we have played well against them and got no rewards the last couple of seasons at their place....time to change that. especially if we can beat barca at home....

i only worry about j.cole, he seems to play well against us, we cant allow their strikers any room(especially dogbreath), im assuming the fatboy will go missing cos it is a big game...but we need to own that midfield, cos in these games thats the most important. Alonso and sissoko should mop it up.

gerrard supporting striker to crouch that can drop into midfield, and switch with riise on the left cos he seems to like playing against chelsea.  well thats what i think should happen.

[LFC #1]

I want us to bombard diarra and boulahrouz, they are the weak links in defence.

Rafa may play Gerrard on the left for that reason as has been rumoured I believe. TBH if their is one area of the pitch we could really get at them it's their right back. Milner and Carr gave Paulo Ferreira a tough time of it on Sunday.

That would probably mean Pennant on the right and Riise left out or replacing Arbeloa.

Does any one think that Gonzallez could do a good job against diarra? I really want the lad to do well.

So do I, but he's done nothing to convince anyone that he's capable of doing a job in any game let alone a CL semi-final.

He's not good enough for Liverpool. Sad but true.

[Redman in wales]

well now according to physioroom.com - Carvelho isn't on there any more - so he could well be fit to start alongside terry

[Dundalk]

I want us to bombard diarra and boulahrouz, they are the weak links in defence.

Rafa may play Gerrard on the left for that reason as has been rumoured I believe. TBH if their is one area of the pitch we could really get at them it's their right back. Milner and Carr gave Paulo Ferreira a tough time of it on Sunday.

That would probably mean Pennant on the right and Riise left out or replacing Arbeloa.

Does any one think that Gonzallez could do a good job against diarra? I really want the lad to do well.

This is a Champions League Semi final not a friendly against Wrexham

No time to be trying stuff out

[ckay]

I want us to bombard diarra and boulahrouz, they are the weak links in defence.

Rafa may play Gerrard on the left for that reason as has been rumoured I believe. TBH if their is one area of the pitch we could really get at them it's their right back. Milner and Carr gave Paulo Ferreira a tough time of it on Sunday.

That would probably mean Pennant on the right and Riise left out or replacing Arbeloa.

Does any one think that Gonzallez could do a good job against diarra? I really want the lad to do well.

So do I, but he's done nothing to convince anyone that he's capable of doing a job in any game let alone a CL semi-final.

He's not good enough for Liverpool. Sad but true.

I tend to agree. shame really.