Liverpool FC Forum

by **tubby** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:02 pm

Good points Rafa Dodd but on the whole hes still not good enough, Fair enough, given the circumstances we had to use him.

Anyone know if Finnan will be fit for the 2nd leg?

Its a damn shame Aurelio is out as he could have played a big part last night allowing Riise to play down the left.

by **stmichael** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:10 pm

we seriously need to play with width in the second leg and stretch them, especially if chelsea play narrow as expected in midfield. the problem is, if you play pennant then that would mean dropping one of the strikers for gerrard, as there's no way rafa won't play with two central holding midfielders.

pennant should have been on far earlier last night as we had no outlet whatsoever. gerrard spent the entire game in the centre of midfield where the play became far too congested.

by **duk** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:15 pm

stmichael wrote:we seriously need to play with width in the second leg and stretch them, especially if chelsea play narrow as expected in midfield. the problem is, if you play pennant then that would mean dropping one of the strikers for gerrard, as there's no way rafa won't play with two central holding midfielders.

pennant should have been on far earlier last night as we had no outlet whatsoever. gerrard spent the entire game in the centre of midfield where the play became far too congested.

What's wrong with dropping one of the strikers? i think pennant will pose more threat than Bellamy certainatly and i would say to an extent Kuyt.

None of the 3 strikers made an impact last night so i wouldn't hesitate dropping one for Pennant.

Why is Fowler so quickly over looked i believe he could still make an impact yet i don't see it happening

by **Rafa D** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:16 pm

bavlondon wrote:Good points Rafa Dodd but on the whole hes still not good enough, Fair enough, given the circumstances we had to use him.

Anyone know if Finnan will be fit for the 2nd leg?

Its a damn shame Aurelio is out as he could have played a big part last night allowing Riise to play down the left.

Is that meant to be in the zenden thread mate?

by **stmichael** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:26 pm

el_stinger wrote:Geez Ace, I'd be inclined to play Momo than Mash

I see no reason to drop Mascherano for Momo in a game at Anfield where we will dictate the play and need to score goals. Both Alonso and Mascherano's game was restricted last night because of the fact Gerrard drifted inside all the time so their option to pick the pass to the right was gone.

This made us lose possession far to easily especially in one period in the first half that lasted a bit too long for my liking. I can't see how bringing in Momo will sort this out.

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:39 pm

Not to mention the fact that if Chelsea are intent on playing Route 1 to Drogba again, Momo will be entirely by-passed in the middle with no ball to hunt. We'd be better off with Mascherano and Alonso sitting deep to track Cole and Lampard's runs off of Drogba, with Gerrard in just in front to drive the team forward.

by **EddieC** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:45 pm

Well, I live in the south so as you can imagine we were outnumbered about 5-1 by Chelsea fans. But you know what, all you could hear at the end of the game was our fans singing. A couple of their fans who seemed to have a bit of sense admitted they hadn't done enough & they were worried about the 2nd leg. They should be more bothered about this result than we are.

There was a good song going round the boozer last night, might be worth singing at the home leg. To the tune of Land of Hope & Glory, it goes:

We've done Barcelona
We've done PSV
Why get worried by Chelsea
We're Liverpool FC

Fair play to one of the bouncers last night though, especially considering he was a manc. There was some tw@t singing songs about Hillsborough at half time, and the bouncer gave us the nod that he'd be getting thrown out the back & gave us enough time to get round there. You can imagine the rest :;):

by **sgs** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:02 pm

I have had reason to say it b/4, but this Chelsea team is not as good as its opponents give it credit for. If we bring our A-game at Anfield, WITHOUT FEAR, we will beat Chelsea enough to qualify...

by **66-1112520797** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:19 pm

EddieC wrote:Well, I live in the south so as you can imagine we were outnumbered about 5-1 by Chelsea fans. But you know what, all you could hear at the end of the game was our fans singing. A couple of their fans who seemed to have a bit of sense admitted they hadn't done enough & they were worried about the 2nd leg. They should be more bothered about this result than we are.

There was a good song going round the boozer last night, might be worth singing at the home leg. To the tune of Land of Hope & Glory, it goes:

We've done Barcelona
We've done PSV
Why get worried by Chelsea
We're Liverpool FC

Fair play to one of the bouncers last night though, especially considering he was a manc. There was some tw@t singing songs about Hillsborough at half time, and the bouncer gave us the nod that he'd be getting thrown out the back & gave us enough time to get round there. You can imagine the rest

Where did you watch it ?

by **stmichael** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:20 pm

LittleHobo wrote:what would you say our formation was last night?

It's more about the personnel than the formation for me. Imo he Rafa should have picked at least one genuine winger to take advantage of Chelsea playing so so narrow. It's useless essentially playing 4 central midfielders and using 2 of them as supposed wingers, cause what happens?

1.) It makes Arbeola look like he is one of the worst players on the planet cause the person he should be linking up with is spending most of the time drifting to centre midfield to make an impact therefore he is exposed.

2.) It gives Mascherano zero outlets for his great defensive work that he has to keep the ball for himself, often forced into the wrong move.

3) It makes Zenden look sh#t time after time after time after time after time cause he has no pace yet he is supposed to beat full backs right left and centre. The guy wants to play centre midfield, not hugging a touchline, and when he did some great skill to get past his man he would be caught up cause of his lack of pace.

Now Rafa isn’t a tactical genius, these sort of tags are given to defensive suits who win a game by not attacking but win the odd game against a big club by playing deep and hitting them on the counter. We are not Bolton Wanderers, we shouldn’t be approaching games like these where we have the better midfield only to waste it all by playing ugly sh#t football.

by **woof woof !** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:29 pm

stmichael wrote:
el_stinger wrote:Geez Ace, I'd be inclined to play Momo than Mash

I see no reason to drop Mascherano for Momo in a game at Anfield where we will dictate the play and need to score goals. Both Alonso and Mascherano's game was restricted last night because of the fact Gerrard drifted inside all the time so their option to pick the pass to the right was gone.

This made us lose possession far to easily especially in one period in the first half that lasted a bit too long for my liking. I can't see how bringing in Momo will sort this out.

Perhaps now at last some will finally understand why Gerrard at RM is a f'ucking waste and a gift to the opposition . It's not the first time that as you say.

Gerrard drifted inside all the time

Stevie drifts towards his natural position , his desire to be involved particularly when we're struggling overwhelms any positional responsibility he may have been given (?) to provide us with an outlet on the right . sometimes this deficiency has been masked by Finnans willingness to come forward and Momo to drift right when Gerrard has come inside . But last night with no Finnan and no Sissoko the folly of playing Gerrard as our RM was finally exposed .

Virtually every attacking approach had to be made via our left side . It was so f'ucking predictable that even Chelsea's worst player (Ferraira) had no problem coping .

Starting 11 for second leg has to be

. Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Gonzalez

Crouch Kuyt

I think we'll win , but (and I hate to say this) I think we'll go out on away goals . :sniffle

by **stmichael** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:32 pm

woof woof ! wrote:
stmichael wrote:
el_stinger wrote:Geez Ace, I'd be inclined to play Momo than Mash

I see no reason to drop Mascherano for Momo in a game at Anfield where we will dictate the play and need to score goals. Both Alonso and Mascherano's game was restricted last night because of the fact Gerrard drifted inside all the time so their option to pick the pass to the right was gone.

This made us lose possession far to easily especially in one period in the first half that lasted a bit too long for my liking. I can't see how bringing in Momo will sort this out.

Perhaps now at last some will finally understand why Gerrard at RM is a f'ucking waste and a gift to the opposition . It's not the first time that as you say.

Gerrard drifted inside all the time

Stevie drifts towards his natural position , his desire to be involved particularly when we're struggling overwhelms any positional responsibility he may have been given (?) to provide us with an outlet on the right . sometimes this deficiency has been masked by Finnans willingness to come forward and Momo to drift right when Gerrard has come inside . But last night with no Finnan and no Sissoko the folly of playing Gerrard as our RM was finally exposed .

Virtually every attacking approach had to be made via our left side . It was so f'ucking predictable that even Chelsea's worst player (Ferraira) had no problem coping .

Starting 11 for second leg has to be

. Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Gonzalez

Crouch Kuyt

I think we'll win , but (and I hate to say this) I think we'll go out on away goals .

you'd play gonzalez over riise?

rafa would never pick two out and out wingers.

by **66-1112520797** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:45 pm

stmichael wrote:
woof woof ! wrote:
stmichael wrote:
el_stinger wrote:Geez Ace, I'd be inclined to play Momo than Mash

I see no reason to drop Mascherano for Momo in a game at Anfield where we will dictate the play and need to score goals. Both Alonso and Mascherano's game was restricted last night because of the fact Gerrard drifted inside all the time so their option to pick the pass to the right was gone.

This made us lose possession far to easily especially in one period in the first half that lasted a bit too long for my liking. I can't see how bringing in Momo will sort this out.

Perhaps now at last some will finally understand why Gerrard at RM is a f'ucking waste and a gift to the opposition . It's not the first time that as you say.

Gerrard drifted inside all the time

Stevie drifts towards his natural position , his desire to be involved particularly when we're struggling overwhelms any positional responsibility he may have been given (?) to provide us with an outlet on the right . sometimes this deficiency has been masked by Finnans willingness to come forward and Momo to drift right when Gerrard has come inside . But last night with no Finnan and no Sissoko the folly of playing Gerrard as our RM was finally exposed .

Virtually every attacking approach had to be made via our left side . It was so f'ucking predictable that even Chelsea's worst player (Ferraira) had no problem coping .

Starting 11 for second leg has to be

. Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa

Pennant Gerrard Alonso Gonzalez

Crouch Kuyt

I think we'll win , but (and I hate to say this) I think we'll go out on away goals .

you'd play gonzalez over riise?

rafa would never pick two out and out wingers.

Which is pretty negative as he picks two holding midfielders in the middle.

by **woof woof !** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:49 pm

stmichael wrote:you'd play gonzalez over riise?

rafa would never pick two out and out wingers.

And there perhaps lies the root of many of our problems this season . Caution .

Must admit my first thought for LM was Riise but thats hardly gonna hurt Chelsea ( unless Riise unleashes on of his thunderbolts)

Gonzalez and Pennant are two players I've had a go at , they're certainly not anywhere near the best wide players we've had at LFC , but come the second leg we need some pace on both flanks , pump in some decent crosses for Crouch/Kuyt and maybe Stevie G sniffin' around the D .

It's times like this when our failure to resolve our wide midfield/wing positions does my f'ucking head in ! how many years is it now since we've all been aware that in an attacking sense our wide players have been sub standard . What are out options to Gonzalez and Pennant ? A converted full back who is actually better at LM than he is at LB and one of the worls best CM's forced into a role he clearly doesn't want .

Can only hope that Rafa's f'ucking sorts it in the next window .

by **destro** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:54 pm

My team for the second leg would be...

Reina

Finnan Carragher Hyppia Arbeloa

Pennant Gerrard Mascherano Riise

Crouch Kuyt

I would start with that and see how we go, if we havent scored by halftime i would come out for the second half with this...

Reina

Finnan Carragher Hyppia

Pennant Mascherano Bellamy

Gerrard

Crouch Fowler Kuyt

S.hit or bust we need to score, if we are going to go out lets go out fighting :buttrock

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