Liverpool FC Forum

by **ckay** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:17 pm

Lets just see what happens. We can discuss confidence and who does or doesn't fear who but it'll all come down to exactly what Xabi say's. tactics, technical abilty, and physical fitness. ( and that little bit of special hoodoo and magic dance i'll be doing before kick off lol )

by **Ace Ventura** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:35 pm

ckay wrote:Lets just see what happens. We can discuss confidence and who does or doesn't fear who but it'll all come down to exactly what Xabi say's. tactics, technical abilty, and physical fitness. ( and that little bit of special hoodoo and magic dance i'll be doing before kick off lol )

Sorry mate but it doesnt all come down to that, obviously that plays a major part, but also the players characters themselves will play a major part.
There attitude building upto the game, how they prepare.
I have gone into games myself expecting a win and not been focused from the start. Before we know it the team are losing and in a difficult position.
I am not suggesting Rafa isnt going to be totally meticulous in his planning and tactics but being confident or overconfident breeds more problems than positives.
I hope i am wrong.

by **Igor Zidane** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:42 pm

Ace to be honest mate , i haven't really seen or heard the players spouting off in the press , it's all been pretty low key stuff. The only spouting off has been by the likes of me on here , can't help it i,m afraid 'i'm properly bricking it and it helps me to calm down abit.

COME ON REDMEN.

by **stmichael** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:54 pm

reminds me of that idiot kezman before the 2005 semi final second leg.

"anfield is nothing special"

:laugh:

by **ckay** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:09 pm

stmichael wrote:reminds me of that idiot kezman before the 2005 semi final second leg.

"anfield is nothing special"

and it isn't.................it much more important than that!!!!!! :buttrock

by **tubby** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:19 pm

Ace Ventura wrote:Just to remind everyone (not put a dampner on things) the last time we felt this confident against Chelsea and made the sort of predictions and statements we have been making this week, we were beaten 4-1 at home.
We play better as underdogs all this confidence worries me and makes me feel like we are being complacent.

Hope to god i am wrong.

I mentioned this very point a few pages back. Its possible but with only this to play for now we have to believe that the players will give 100% over the 2 legs.

by **ckay** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:27 pm

It should be 110% energy on this. We in next years comp now, so lets go for it.

by **GLB1** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:28 pm

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200704/s1905351.htm

Mourinho's dirty laundry aired

Two British newspapers have alleged Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho once hid in a laundry skip used for transporting the club's kit to get round a UEFA ban covering a big game.

Paper The Daily Mail said it happened two years ago when Mourinho had been barred from contact with his players during both legs of a quarter-final Champions League tie against Bayern Munich.

He was being punished after indiscretions in the previous round with Barcelona.

On the night of the home leg, observers were convinced that Chelsea fitness coach Rui Faria was using an earpiece hidden under a woolly hat to communicate with the manager, the Mail said.

Both The Mail and The Times said Mourinho arrived early at the ground, watched the game on a TV in a dressing room and delivered the pre-match and halftime talks.

Both papers alleged that about 10 minutes before the end of the game, which Chelsea won 4-2, the manager clambered into one of the laundry skips.

He was then wheeled away to Stamford Bridge leisure club where it was claimed he had spent the entire evening.

Both papers quoted a Chelsea statement saying: "The situation is very clear. Both matches were controlled by UEFA and they were more than satisfied on both nights that their ruling was intact, hence the statements that were issued by UEFA at the time and subsequently.

"The only reason to publish this so close to a big match is to serve an agenda that is intended to undermine our team."

Chelsea play the first leg of this season's Champions League semi-final against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

UEFA would not be taking up the alleged episode with Mourinho, The Mail said. The Times suggested they were unlikely to act because of the time lapse.

-Reuters

by **ckay** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:31 pm

GLB1 wrote:http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200704/s1905351.htm

Mourinho's dirty laundry aired

Two British newspapers have alleged Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho once hid in a laundry skip used for transporting the club's kit to get round a UEFA ban covering a big game.

Paper The Daily Mail said it happened two years ago when Mourinho had been barred from contact with his players during both legs of a quarter-final Champions League tie against Bayern Munich.

He was being punished after indiscretions in the previous round with Barcelona.

On the night of the home leg, observers were convinced that Chelsea fitness coach Rui Faria was using an earpiece hidden under a woolly hat to communicate with the manager, the Mail said.

Both The Mail and The Times said Mourinho arrived early at the ground, watched the game on a TV in a dressing room and delivered the pre-match and halftime talks.

Both papers alleged that about 10 minutes before the end of the game, which Chelsea won 4-2, the manager clambered into one of the laundry skips.

He was then wheeled away to Stamford Bridge leisure club where it was claimed he had spent the entire evening.

Both papers quoted a Chelsea statement saying: "The situation is very clear. Both matches were controlled by UEFA and they were more than satisfied on both nights that their ruling was intact, hence the statements that were issued by UEFA at the time and subsequently.

"The only reason to publish this so close to a big match is to serve an agenda that is intended to undermine our team."

Chelsea play the first leg of this season's Champions League semi-final against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

UEFA would not be taking up the alleged episode with Mourinho, The Mail said. The Times suggested they were unlikely to act because of the time lapse.

-Reuters

That guy is a c0ck. You would see Rafa cheating like that, but then again, you wouldn't see Rafa getting a banned!!!!

by **red37** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:33 pm

best place for him. Only bettered by the grid. It was plainly obvious there were shennanigans goin on that night...plain to see unless you are a UEFA delegate. :glare:

by **Ciggy** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:38 pm

From todays Times :buttrock

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. Luv the end bit
:cool:

by **stmichael** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:43 pm

by **Ciggy** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:31 pm

Rafa's press conference earlier on Sky he said.

"I suppose I would like to be in Chelsea's position only because it means trophies would have been won.

"But if you ask me whether I would want to swap this city, my team, my club, our stadium and supporters then the answer is no.''

Well in Rafa pure class statement. :buttrock

by **Ciggy** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:49 pm

WE WANT REVENGE

DIDIER DROGBA says Chelsea are not dwelling on the Champions League semi - final defeat by Liverpool two years ago - because they are too busy thinking about revenge this time round.

Hypocritical Soul Glow MOFO.

by **red37** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:55 pm

Ciggy wrote: WE WANT REVENGE

DIDIER DROGBA says Chelsea are not dwelling on the Champions League semi - final defeat by Liverpool two years ago - because they are too busy thinking about revenge this time round.

Hypocritical Soul Glow MOFO.

pmsl

Ciggy, that sig nearly made me choke on me egg and chips!

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