Liverpool FC Forum

by **Larsson** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:34 am

lets see today :censored:

madrid - bayern and psv - arsenal. 2 great fights

by **83-1171708240** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:48 pm

Sabre wrote: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.

That’s most fans who know fúck all about then. On a serious note, I just find it strange that Puyol and Marquez and even players like Gio are slated and Valdes too when they are a key reason Barcelona have been dominate over the past few years. It seems that most people believe once you breach Barcelona’s midfield, then you get yourself a net of goals. If their defence is as bad as most people say it is then why aren’t Barcelona in the relegation area? Playing Crouch against Puyol and Marquez will not do anything, I’d much rather play Bellamy and Kuyt, because we aren’t going to get anywhere playing long balls without a purpose. Keep ball is needed against Barcelona, if they don’t have the ball then they can’t penetrate our walls with their three passes and a goal. I haven’t seen much of Madrid, but I can’t believe there is talk of sacking Capello, utterly foolish, especially when he is the manager to make them Champions once again. What’s the bet that the players concentrate on stopping Eto’o, Ronaldinho, Deco and Messi and forgetting about Xavi or Iniesta? Well I shall quit speculating about a subject I am out of my depth speaking about and I shall await and eagerly anticipated match up.

by **stmichael** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:00 pm

the closer we get to the game, the more i'm convinced that reina's going to have a blinder.

by **SouthCoastShankly** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:05 pm

stmichael wrote:the closer we get to the game, the more i'm convinced that reina's going to have a blinder.

Don't say that! What if you jinx him and he turns into Taibi!

by **stmichael** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:18 pm

SouthCoastShankly wrote:
stmichael wrote:the closer we get to the game, the more i'm convinced that reina's going to have a blinder.

Don't say that! What if you jinx him and he turns into Taibi!

that's one magic act i'd pay to see

by **Poor_Sunyol™** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:20 pm

Sabre wrote:
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?

They slate them because they know fúck all about football.

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?

Puyol did have a slump in form when his father died in that tragic accident earlier in the season but has been imperial ever since.

Marquez on the other hand has been absolute garbage for most of the season, so much so that he is now playing at DM, and doing a good job to be fair. He had a great World Cup, but has cost us several points this year as he seems to lose concentration at times.

I would also say that you can't say that Madrid *spits* are an offensive team under Capello. They are on course to scoring the least amount of goals ever in a La Liga season; they have only scored 4 more goals than Athletic who are in 17th!!!

In regards to Crapello, he is furious that the Madrid *spits* board, namely Mijatovic and Calderon, leaked details of his contract to the press. It is likely that he tried to resign but was told that he would not get any money if he left of his own volition. The board also want explanations as to why Crapello wanted Higuain and Gago so badly if he is not playing them and still persists with Emerson, Guti (I like men) and Raul (Have you met my father in law?).

Michel will be in charge of the Spastico's before the end of the season. Seguro que si!

by **Manwell_Pablo** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 3:02 pm

Afternoon scousers. Leicester fan after some info RE you game with Barcelona.

We've had a little discusson about standing at football matches on our forum, or should I say the fact that you aren't allowed to. Some of us believe it's our club that is to blame for the clamp down on standing as clubs as yourselves don't enforce the H & S as much as our club. I've personally never seen lagre scale persistant standing tolerated anywhere.

Getting to the point. Someone on there suggested that during big games and CL games (the upcoming fixture being both) it's not unusual to see 12,000 Liverpool fans PERSISTANTLY standing during the match (which means pretty much for 90 minutes) where as you stand when your singing you'll never walk, when the team get forward or you score etc etc I find it impossible to believe 12,000 Liverpool fans stand for 90 minutes during big games. So I was wondering how much if any persistant standing is done at Anfield and how tought your club are on imposing safety rules?

Thanks alot best of luck for Wednesday.

by **stmichael** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:00 pm

The full piece by Guillem Balague from the official site....

Whereas some people may have been a bit disappointed or apprehensive after being paired with last season's champions, Rafa's response was a simple 'it's okay, we can beat them'.

During his time in Spain Rafa proved he knows how to beat Barcelona. He is one of the few coaches in Europe who will be able to put together a tactical plan to succeed against Frank Rijkaard's men.

He will be brave without being too brave and he will give his players the chance to produce a performance, while always being aware of the dangers Barcelona can pose as an attacking force.

I think it will be a cagey game at the Nou Camp and that, ultimately, the tie will be decided at Anfield.

Rafa's record against Barcelona will rightly encourage the Liverpool supporters, but I don't think it will weigh too heavily on the minds of the Spanish players. They will be more focused on putting a difficult period behind them and making sure they are in the right frame of mind for the games.

They have been going through a troubled spell of late and it's true to say that all is not right at the club – but it's also true to say that a truce has been called until the end of the season.

There are problems within the camp but for the rest of this campaign they are attempting to put them to one side and trying to get everybody pulling in the same direction. I think they are more worried about themselves than about what Liverpool can do.

I do think that what we have been seeing this week is the beginning of the end for Barcelona as we know them. It will be a different Barcelona from next season.

On a positive note for them, however, they do appear to be reaching the peak of their game at the right time. Last weekend against Racing Santander saw them produce some of their best football of the season so far and some of their top players were starting to show their top form.

Any club can have problems, but when you can also field the likes of Xavi, Deco, Iniesta and Ronaldinho then it's clear they are going to be a danger whatever the situation in the dressing room.

A bonus for Liverpool is the fact that Eto'o, despite his return to action, is still a long way short of total match fitness. He had a very serious injury and he has clearly jumped the last stage of his rehabilitation. He admits he isn't feeling secure as far as his knee is concerned which is bad news for neutrals but good news for Liverpool.

This season they have actually scored more goals without Eto'o compared to last season when they had him, but it's in these big matches when he can often score the first, important, goal. They are a worse team without him, that's for sure.

So, how can Liverpool stop Barcelona playing the brilliant attacking football we have all admired on TV? For me, the key is in midfield and on stopping Xavi. Barcelona are very strong in the centre and if you can win that battle then you have a great chance of getting the right result.

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.

I don't know what Liverpool's plan is going to be but they do have the players to stop Barcelona. They need their strongest players playing across the centre – the likes of Alonso, Sissoko and Gerrard – and they are going to have to be at the top of the game and ready for a hard night's work.

Everyone has their predictions about the tie and how it's going to unfold over the two games, but when I speak to friends and journalists in Spain I don't think they realise how important Anfield is going to be in the second leg. They don't understand what that stadium could do to them or their team.

Some of the Barcelona players will have played at Anfield before, but if the Liverpool fans can reproduce anything like the atmosphere from the famous Chelsea semi-final then it could blow them away.

I've been to the biggest matches in the biggest stadiums all over the world but there is nothing like Anfield on a major European night.

I can't wait for these matches now. On the night of the second leg I'm working at SKY until 5pm and from then I have two and three quarter hours to make it to the game. I'm getting a flight from Heathrow to Manchester and then travelling as fast as possible to make it in time for kick off. I don't want to miss it because I have a feeling it's going to be another occasion to savour.

My prediction is that Barcelona will win the first leg but I don't think they'll build up a big enough lead to defend at Anfield. I think Liverpool will then go through after extra time.

Coming from an Espanyol fan first and a Liverpool fan second, let's hope I'm right.

by **clik** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:04 pm

sorry nothing to do with thread but mascherano has been given go ahead to play for l/pool can he play in champs league

by **andy_g** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:38 pm

well... i'm well and truly gutted. i flew OUT of barcelona airport this morning on my way back over here for a few days work commitments and had to witness the streams of red shirted and red scarfed lfc faithful arriving in the fine city of barcelona. besides p.issing me off even more that i was going in the wrong direction - and had had to give up my ticket - it got the hairs standing up on the back of my neck and confirmed to me the feeling that we are not going to be beaten in catalunya tomorrow night.

all is not well in the barca camp despite the return of the amazing messi - their biggest danger to us in my opinion. as people have said, putting momo, gerrard and alonso across the middle should reduce the number of balls that get out to him and goofy in dangerous areas. rafa knows what to do and while i am not convinced we will win this leg i am fairly sure we will not get beaten.

by **stmichael** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:40 pm

i've heard rumours today that arbeloa will be starting at right back with finnan possibly pushed into a right sided midfield position.

by **Scottbot** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:54 pm

Manwell_Pablo wrote:Getting to the point. Someone on there suggested that during big games and CL games (the upcoming fixture being both) it's not unusual to see 12,000 Liverpool fans PERSISTANTLY standing during the match (which means pretty much for 90 minutes) where as you stand when your singing you'll never walk, when the team get forward or you score etc etc I find it impossible to believe 12,000 Liverpool fans stand for 90 minutes during big games. So I was wondering how much if any persistant standing is done at Anfield and how tought your club are on imposing safety rules?

Thanks alot best of luck for Wednesday.

Not sure about the CL games because i am not a regular match goer but i went to the FA Cup home loss to Arsenal and i reckon i was standiong for about half an hour of the 90 mins. This was due to the Hillsborough protest and it took several requests over the tanoy before most fans sat back down again. however, i don't think this is the norm and was probably a one-off due to the emotion and strength of feeling regarding the slimy skumbag that is Mackenzie (of the Skum)

by **Red Red Tom** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:58 pm

Manwell_Pablo wrote:Afternoon scousers. Leicester fan after some info RE you game with Barcelona.

We've had a little discusson about standing at football matches on our forum, or should I say the fact that you aren't allowed to. Some of us believe it's our club that is to blame for the clamp down on standing as clubs as yourselves don't enforce the H & S as much as our club. I've personally never seen lagre scale persistant standing tolerated anywhere.

Getting to the point. Someone on there suggested that during big games and CL games (the upcoming fixture being both) it's not unusual to see 12,000 Liverpool fans PERSISTANTLY standing during the match (which means pretty much for 90 minutes) where as you stand when your singing you'll never walk, when the team get forward or you score etc etc I find it impossible to believe 12,000 Liverpool fans stand for 90 minutes during big games. So I was wondering how much if any persistant standing is done at Anfield and how tought your club are on imposing safety rules?

Thanks alot best of luck for Wednesday.

I've been to all three home CL games this season - wasn't in the Kop for Galatasary, but was for the other two, and in both, the whole stand stood up for the whole match.

Other games this season when I've been in the kop we've NOT stood; it's just Europe.

by **jeffiroquai** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:00 pm

stmichael wrote:i've heard rumours today that arbeloa will be starting at right back with finnan possibly pushed into a right sided midfield position.

I can see Rafa doing this. He always is keen to put one up front and stuff the middle of the park during away matches in Europe.

Pepe

Arbeloa Carra Agger

Finnan Riise

Gerrard Mommo Xabi

Kuyt

Crouch

I think this is how he will line it up

by **red37** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:03 pm

i wouldnt be at all surprised to see Gerrard do a job out on the right tomorrow night.

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