Liverpool FC Forum

by **Lando_Griffin** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:33 am

Glorioso wrote:If the crowd played, greek and turkish teams would win more.. the atmosphere is important of course, but what really matters is the players, the team.

True you'd think.

But you've obviously never been to Anfield. :;):

by **Dalglish** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:36 am

Glorioso wrote:If the crowd played, greek and turkish teams would win more.. the atmosphere is important of course, but what really matters is the players, the team.

Sort of agree Glorisio but when the margins between the teams is narrow then the crowd can be the the factor that tips the balance :buttrock

I've said this often on here but its worth repeating ...... when the KOP show up in full voice and get behind the team the players rarely disappoint ............

by **Glorioso** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:41 am

Lando_Griffin wrote:
Glorioso wrote:If the crowd played, greek and turkish teams would win more.. the atmosphere is important of course, but what really matters is the players, the team.

True you'd think.

But you've obviously never been to Anfield.

Unfortunatelly..how i wish to visit anfield, old trafford, wembley, celtic park, nou camp, santiago bernabéu, stade de france, ataturk, maracanã, la bombonera, allianz arena, velodrome and others "churches" of football in the world. :bowdown

by **Dalglish** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:45 am

Glorioso wrote:But you've obviously never been to Anfield.

Unfortunatelly..how i wish to visit anfield, old trafford, wembley, celtic park, nou camp, santiago bernabéu, stade de france, ataturk, maracanã, la bombonera, allianz arena, velodrome and others "churches" of football in the world. :bowdown

[/quote]
You can cross Old Trafford off your list , its a Library !!

by **badradio** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:49 am

I don't think that your support will have an effect on our players..it may boost Liverpool's players confidence but our players won't be affraid of playing there. Our players are internationals for their countries, they're more than used to that. If you're hoping that the crowd will make the difference....I fear most the possibility of getting Liverpool on a super night or we make a single mistake early on. I don't know how Benfica will react if you go first 1-0. Some players will think 'let's give them the possession and strike them on counter attack', maybe other will try to play as it was a new start.
About your (natural) confidence that Benfica won't score in Anfield..we may not score,but I can assure you that we have potential to. If we play with Geovanni, Simão and Miccolli, they will give a lot of trouble to JC, Hyppia and mates..They are very talented and very fast. I'm hoping that you'll give us some space upfront for our counter attack...because this style really fits our team.
I think that the game will be decided in the midfield. We should press your creative guys far from our goal. If we start to defend in our penalty box, some cross will result in a goal... So, I don't know if we should start with a striker to prevent your CB's going to our midfield, or with mobile forwards so your defense doesnt make a man marking...
I honestly have no idea who will play upfront but I'm hoping that we score first on a counter-attack, that will really make us confident and if they defend as usual, we will go through. It will be very difficult, and it may happen what most of you are wishing. Liverpool scores 2 in the first half and I don't know how Benfica will react. We have nothing to lose,so I think that you'll start to defend the lead. Don't forget, a free kick is enough...even with 2-0.

Anyway, I'm hoping for a nice match with lots of emotion. And I really hope that Benfica doesn't waste (too much) time (It's obvious they will do it. You would do the same...). But I already know what your reactions will be. If you win, Benfica players are stupid divers and wasted time all the time. If you lose, Benfica players are stupid divers, wasted time all the time and are scum.

2-1

Garcia, Gerrard
Miccoli

by **Glorioso** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:51 am

Dalglish wrote:
Glorioso wrote:But you've obviously never been to Anfield.

Unfortunatelly..how i wish to visit anfield, old trafford, wembley, celtic park, nou camp, santiago bernabéu, stade de france, ataturk, maracanã, la bombonera, allianz arena, velodrome and others "churches" of football in the world.

You can cross Old Trafford off your list , its a Library !!

[/quote]
I won't.. i let your rivalry for you and for man.utd. fans, i just want to visit both stadia.

Do u know which is the london team with more fans?

by **Dalglish** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:15 am

I'd say Spurs have the biggest folowing in London but I could be wrong ....

by **Lando_Griffin** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:29 am

Or West Ham!

It's certainly not Sh*tski!

by **Dalglish** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:32 am

Lando_Griffin wrote:Or West Ham!

It's certainly not Sh*tski!

Yes but their a "BIG" club now Lando

by **kunilson** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:35 am

i think luis should be left on the bench for atleast the 1st half. Cos i see him as a sort of super-sub...like litmanen was, but better...

the goals should come.....i think the 0-0 draw would have stuck in their minds and the eerie silence at anfield on the night would have proved to them that if they played like that under houllier, they would have been praised, but right now we have higher standards and attractive football at times don't matter if you don't get results.

and if benitez don't get the £30 million he wants.....square 1. :sniffle

by **Lando_Griffin** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:38 am

Dalglish wrote:
Lando_Griffin wrote:Or West Ham!

It's certainly not Sh*tski!

Yes but their a "BIG" club now Lando

Yes. A really "BIG" club!!!!!

by **The_Rock** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 4:59 am

Come on reds......i want another champions league trophy.

by **TheoRacle** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 5:35 am

Nervous as hell already!

But Iwill be up before dawn to watch this one live on Thursday morning here in Oz. It's my birthday on Wednesday so hoping that the boys can make it one to remember for all the right reasons.

I thought Cisse did quite well on the wing against Charlton - at least as well as Kromkamp that is, in the game against City. Having said that, Kromkamp played very well as RB and well enough maybe to allow Finnan a go at RW. This isn't the game for that though - so I can see Cisse starting on the right and Gerrard in the middle with Alonso. Gerrard in the middle is a must have IMHO.

The back four picks itself (Finnan, Carra, Sami, Riise)and Kewell is the natural choice for the LW. Of course, that leaves the problematic area of our strikers to sort out...

I think Rafa will start with Crouch and Nando up front if he elects to go with Cisse on the RW to try and take advantage of Cisses' crosses. Cisse will have to remember of course that Crouch and Nando are likely to be 10-15 yards behind him when he does cross the ball so that we don't see too many wastefully flashing across the 6 yard box. :grinning:

We do have a lot of options really, and with no combination leaping out as the obviously more effective one it does make it difficult to plan a bench for this game.

Garcia is always a potential threat and Robbie has got the clinical finishing ability if not the mobility. They both could be used to good effect especially if we are prepared to play with three at the back like so:

Reina

Finnan Hyppia Carra

Gerrard Alonso

Cisse Kewell
Crouch
Garcia Fowler

With every body on their game this looks to be an awesome amount of firepower on paper - with any of the midfield or attacking players capable of scoring wonder goals. May be a bit too cavalier from the word go (maybe not esp. if Benfica have come to defend) but if Steve and Xabi are dominating and it's still 0-0 it would be worth a gamble for the second half.

by **galo** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 6:15 am

I am more than happy with my club current Champions League run, I will not be angry if we don't get through. I just want my team to play the best they can, and to, at least, give a good fight.

I just hope that it won't be a game for the faint hearted, as I like to live these big matches to the fullest.

My personal feeling is that is gonna be a tight one, with Liverpool winning 1-0 or 2-0, and Benfica scoring a free kick from Robert(scored two nice goals in last 2 games) or Simão in the late game.

Some quotes from Laurent Robert:

"Liverpool doesn't score many goals. In the end of last season they were dangerous, but they're not a deadly team in front of goal. I believe that their lack of creativity is the main reason of their low form recently. "

"Anfield is very special. We've to play better than in the first game if we want to get through."

"We know it's going to be tougher now, because Gerrard is one of those players that can decide a game."

"I believe we've good chances because we're in better position right now."

by **SouthCoastShankly** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:13 am

This game is so reminiscent of the Olympiakos game. A must win. Got to be so good defensively, can't afford any away goals. This is the game where the likes of Morientes, Cisse & Fowler, if given the chance, have to prove their pedigree.

I think we'll win but as always when the chips are stacked against us we'll make hard work of it

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