Liverpool FC Forum

[bigmick]

Desperate times require desperate measures. I'd go defensive, Pongolle up front on his own with Riise on the left of midfield. Alonso, Garcia and Hamann/Igor in the centre. Stevie G, yes Stevie G on the right. Lets give Finnan/Josemi a bit of nuclear powered, Gerrard style support.
I'd tell Pongolle to run his nuts off, he's only on for an hour then we're bringing Mellor on. If Stevie doesn't last out I'd bring Finnan on. I'd ask Garcia to really put it in, Home and Away and I'd defend solid and narrow. In our current situation, a couple of 0-0's and 1-0's would go down very nicely thankyou. Time perhaps to go back to Houllier style football. If we're not careful, our season could be nigh on over in the next few weeks. We'r in the trenches now so lets keep our emotions in check and play with our heads aswell as our hearts.

[115-1073096938]

I like you, you talk sense and don't try to talk about stuff you know nothing about.

Good post.

However.... i disagree.

I think with Kewell on the left, Alonso and Gerrard in the middle, Finnan on the right and Luis Garcia behind Mellor we have enough to play PATIENT (being the key word) possession football and attack using balls into the box which a poacher can finish from. Playing a 4 man midfield of this sort will allow us to play this sort of game to great effect.

I think defensively we MUST improve. But i feel this side now has the players to starve the opposition (whoever they are) or possession.

[Pig Catcher]

Sorry Mick I disagree with you. We have lost Baros and Cisse who were not playing well together, and if I had a choice between the two I would put Baros in the team and play some one off of him. Effectively we have lost a striker, the rest of team is playing well, with the comeback of Gerrard we will be further strengthened. Obviously we still have problem positions, mainly the right side of the team. But I don't think Cisse and Baros getting injured should change things drasticly.

For me it is a straight choice between Mellor and Pongolle to replace Baros with either Kewell or Garcia playing off who ever is choosen.

This is what I think the boss will do and I think most fans will agree.

Surprisingly for once you have got it wrong Mick, I guess were all allowd to have a stinker once in a while!

[Leonmc0708]

No Way, Never.

We do not go to sh1tholes like the Riverside to play out for a point.

We go into every game to win, and I am sure Rafa would have it no other way.

Do not ever underestimate this football club. Through darker days we have won, and we always will.

I do not buy this "we aint got no players" or "we are unlucky with injuries" rubbish.

We are what we are, and we are Liverpool Football Club, the greatest team the world has ever seen.

First is first and second is NOWHERE.

WINE FOR MY MEN, WE RIDE AT DAWN.

[Red_Si]

[size=10][b]No Way, Never.

We do not go to sh1tholes like the Riverside to play out for a point.

We do when we've got no strikers. You must be a loony.
Even the greatest optimist has to admit that we are in dire straits.

I expect a tight game tomorrow with us losing by the odd goal.
Then a hammering in Monaco and at home to Arsenal.

Sorry to be the bringer of doom but we need a few realists on this forum.

[A.B.]

STFU. You were the one that stated that we would get hammered by Crystal Palace, and you call yourself an optimist? Enough ******

[Pig Catcher]

[size=10][b]No Way, Never.

We do not go to sh1tholes like the Riverside to play out for a point.

We do when we've got no strikers. You must be a loony.
Even the greatest optimist has to admit that we are in dire straits.

I expect a tight game tomorrow with us losing by the odd goal.
Then a hammering in Monaco and at home to Arsenal.

Sorry to be the bringer of doom but we need a few realists on this forum.

Theres is no way you can call our situation DIRE. We have a few injuries in an area were we don't have much cover. But the rest of the team is playing well and are captain is back.

Middlesbrough are always going to be a hard team to play, I agree that it will probarly be tight but it could go either way.

The games against Moncao and Arsenal wil be tough and we need Gerrard to back into the swing of things fairly quick.

But I am optimistic.

[115-1073096938]

A.B... What are you chattin lad?

We do when we've got no strikers. You must be a loony.
Even the greatest optimist has to admit that we are in dire straits.

I expect a tight game tomorrow with us losing by the odd goal.
Then a hammering in Monaco and at home to Arsenal.

Sorry to be the bringer of doom but we need a few realists on this forum

Realist? You class yourself as a realist?

With views like that?

Whatever.

[Bruno Zidane!]

B0llocks, Im with Leon and Stu, Who are Middlesborough, r reserves beat them 2 nil just a few week ago, ok we have a few injuries but to go to Boro for a draw is pathetic and we do have strikers, 2 of them and i bet both of them are gaggin for the chance to show Rafa how good they are, what they might lack in talent, some people might say, they will make up for in adrenalin and pride, Rafa said he never plays to draw and im sure he will continue in that vain.......Jesus the Blue sh!te dont think as negative as that and theyve only got Bent

[zarababe]

.. I agree with Leone... but not with the size of his font... .. if we start playing defensive what chance do we have ? Any how our midfield has ben chippin in with goals ... it's not as if out strikers have been prolific...

[zarababe]

I like you, you talk sense and don't try to talk about stuff you know nothing about.

Good post.

However.... i disagree.

  good ol Stu .. 

[Pig Catcher]

B0llocks, Im with Leon and Stu, Who are Middlesborough, r reserves beat them 2 nil just a few week ago, ok we have a few injuries but to go to Boro for a draw is pathetic and we do have strikers, 2 of them and i bet both of them are gaggin for the chance to show Rafa how good they are, what they might lack in talent, some people might say, they will make up for in adrenalin and pride, Rafa said he never plays to draw and im sure he will continue in that vain.......Jesus the Blue sh!te dont think as negative as that and theyve only got Bent

I woulden't be too dismisive Middlesbrough as they are a good side and not many of their players went to interanational duty midweek.

But we have every right to be positive, we have an improving team who creating chances, so why in gods name would we start playing defensively, only a "loony" would do that.

[Bruno Zidane!]

The only player of real consern tomoz is Zenden, hes bang in form and if he gets at Hyypia with his pace, there could be problems but i think we will cope with the strenth of Viduka and JFH

[the great one]

we went to spurs on the opening day off the season for a point when we got our goal rafa took of baros and cisse  and went on the defensive

[bigmick]

Lads, we don't 'need' realists. The forum doesn't 'need' anything, it's just an exchange of views. I've said it before, Rafa doesn't read the forum! (well nobodys posts except mine anyhow).
It's just a question of balance in my opinion. If you don't carry enough potency and threat up top, then teams will overrun you and take liberties comitting men forward etc. It's not written in the rules that you have to play 4-4-2. If it's the case that we are going to be under the cosh then why not prepare ourselves and set ourselves up to cope with whats coming. In the case of Middlesboro, their best player at the moment IMHO is Downing who plays wide-left. Looks like a superb young player to me but whether he would look as good while trying to cope with Gerrard is doubtful in the extreme. Thats why I would play Stevie out there.
To answer a couple of points which came up. PC, it's not surprising if I'm wrong mate. 'Stinkers' are a frequent occurance in our house believe me And Leon, while I, like everybody else admire your passion and fervour, I find your insistance that we should just turn up wheresoever we are playing and kick some a rse regardless of circumstance a little unrealistic. A draw tomorrow would be a top result, surely you agree with that? Stu, the only reason you don't agree with my formation is because i thought of it before you. If you deny it it'll just confirm that I'm right.