Liverpool FC Forum

by **JC_81** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:26 pm

LFCFan4Life wrote:
john craig wrote:
LFCFan4Life wrote:Today I read an article in where Benitez said that he is not willing to risk Shabby and Stevie before the CL qualifier.

Where'd you read that?

Doesn't make much sense to me, I hardly think Benitez will throw them straight into an important competitive game like that without giving them any sort of run out in a friendly. They'd be pretty rusty.

I reckon both of them will get a run out in our next pre-season game.

John, here:
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv....ge.html

Cheers.

Although there are no actual quotes from Benitez that he's not going to play Alonso and Gerrard until the CL qualifier. He's quoted as saying it's important to keep the rest of the players fit after Garcia and Aurelios' injuries, and it seems that the writer has simply speculated that Alonso and Gerrard will be rested until then.

I think it's rubbish, at this stage of pre-season when players aren't properly fit, they're just as likely to pull up injured in training as in a friendly game. Might as well get them the match practice.

by **fanatic dee** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:49 pm

Reina

Finnan Carragher Hyypia Riise

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Gonzalez

Fowler Bellamy

Subs: Carson, Aurelio, Zenden, Garcia, Crouch.

Paletta and Agger need a full season to adapt the English game, they are young and I suspect they'll be fringe players this season. However injuries happen and things change quickly in football.

Viva la Rafalution

by **J*o*n*D*o*e** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:50 pm

lol big internet tough guy, your a disgrace to the club you claim to support.

by **Cool Hand Luke** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:00 pm

by **JC_81** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:00 pm

green apes 2002 wrote:LIVERPOOL=NATSIM

Have they started using chemical warfare over there now too??

Because something's obviously fu.cked you up.

by **aCe'** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:04 pm

Yoou know what....come to think about it...i think garcia should be in our starting 11...and so does bellamy !
soo...
Reina

Finnan Carragher Hyypia Aurelio

Sissoko X.Alonso

Pennant Gerrard
L.Garcia
Bellamy

Gonzales or kewell can play instead of pennant with Gerrard swithching to the right midfielder role...Garcia stays at second striker!

by **Bad Bob** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:12 pm

green apes 2002 wrote:

Here's an idea you jumped up bellend. Why don't you make that stupid fucking sign into a giant banner and bring it on over to Anfield for the first leg of the CL qualifier? If you last the match without having your face caved in, I'll be impressed.

Or, are YOU too chicken? :veryangry

by **Cool Hand Luke** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:13 pm

A “first 11” is becoming more and more rare in today’s game, when you play 2 games every week it is impossible to play the same team again and again, rotation will be a feature this season so even players who you wouldn’t consider being part of the first 11 will still feature heavily. But if we presume we will use a 4-4-2 most of the time we can roughly outline who the 11 players will be. But the defence is looking the most secure to me, with the exception of left back.

Reina – He is our undisputed number 1, Rafa bought him to be number 1 and he consolidated that last year, no dispute there.

Finnan – Alongside Carragher he has been our most consistent performers since Rafa arrived and is undoubtedly our best right back.

Carragher – Not much needs to said, he will be the first name on the team sheet every week.

Hyypia – He had an awesome season last season and it would be silly to replace him, he and Carragher have an excellent understanding and complement each other perfectly. Agger and Paleta will have to earn a spot, both are still learning and probably not close to being the finished article.

Left Back – I was under the impression that Fabio Aurelio had been bought to the club in order to try and make the left back position his own. But the Warnock’s comments about himself and Riise being the main competitors for the left back spot has left me confused, plus in the 2 games Aurelio has been used as a left midfielder, maybe in time he will be given a chance to earn the left back spot.

by **aCe'** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:27 pm

yea...left back . Riise is a good player , but is yet to prove himself in that left back position.... his performances last season were inconsistant, and if we had a better choice for his position, i would have loved to see them in the field instead of riise. Aurelio is a very good player....seen alot of him with valencia and i dont understand how rafa could play him in a left midfield position...aurelio is seen by many as Roberto Carlos's replacement in that left flank for brazil, and im sure many would be dissapointed if he was to make the bench in liverpool for an unproven left back in riise! I dont give a rats As* who plays for brazil or doesnt, except i think aurelio should be given his chance in the left back position....im pretty sure he'll make it his own, given the chance.
Reina,Carragher,Hyypia,Finnan,Sissoko,XabiAlonso,Gerrard,Kewell....all played better than riise last season if you ask me... Aurelio in left back for me

by **J*o*n*D*o*e** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:31 pm

5 times ive attempted to do this with a diffferent result each time, whilst it has been frustrating as hell it does brings home to you what a cracking squad Rafa has put together.

should be one hell of a ride.

by **GOAT** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:09 pm

I dont think there is going to be a definite first choice 11 this season that will start every game, i think rafa will use certain players against certain teams, different formations and ideas each match to try and overcome the opponents style of play, as Rafa says the new players can give us possibilites, we have a lot of different ways we can play and its great because the opposing team will never know what to expect from us.

If i had to pick my best 11 thought it would probably be:

Reina

Finnan Carragher Hyypia Aurelio

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Gonzalez

Fowler Bellamy

Or the same but with gerrard out to the right to replace pennant and sissoko in the centre

by **ivor_the_injun** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:10 am

Most encouraging for me is when you have a look at a potential second XI that we could put out...

Carson

Kromkamp Palletta Agger Aurelio

Pongolle Sissoko Zenden Gonzalez

Garcia

Fowler

Last season, the alternative XI you could muster looked decidedly weak. Now, if you entered the team above in the Prem, you'd have to say they'd be in the mix for the UEFA Cup places.

by **Liverpool_In_My_Blood** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:15 am

BarryBelfast wrote:I dont think we'll see the same 11 starting too many weeks on the trot!

Most people's complaint with Houllier was lack of consistancy in the side. If Rafa doesnt play the same side are we going to all moan at him?

But I don't mind Rafa changing it to much as long as the spine stays the same. Reina, Carra, Momo, Xabi, Stevie and at least one striker. If those 6 play pratically every game, we should be fine.

by **woof woof !** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:55 am

Liverpool_In_My_Blood wrote:I don't mind Rafa changing it to much as long as the spine stays the same. Reina, Carra, Momo, Xabi, Stevie and at least one striker. If those 6 play pratically every game, we should be fine.

Reina, Carra, Momo, Xabi, Stevie and at least one striker
If those 6 play pratically every game, we should be fine

:laugh:

Sorry mate , just had to laugh out loud .

by **MilitiaRusher** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:08 am

It's a pretty hard choice really. If its a game more physically fought in the midfield, it will be very tempting to put Gerrard on the right and Sissoko/Alonso/Zenden in any of the two slots in the middle. If its a more open game, it would be wise to put Pennant on the right with preferably Gerrard and Alonso in the middle. Also, it might also be tempting to give Agger or perhaps Palletta a first team step up to replace Hyypia as the season progresses. After all, Hyypia's so-called positional sense would finally give way to his age. So here it goes:

Reina

Finnan Carragher Hyypia Riise

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Gonzalez

Bellamy Crouch

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