Liverpool FC Forum

by **The Manhattan Project** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:21 pm

Rafa should take some cigarettes.

Because Birmingham's board of directors may need them to use as currency in prison.

by **Roger Red Hat** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:23 pm

fk it - full team out. dont belive in resting people.

by **Igor Zidane** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:29 pm

JoeTerp wrote:
bunglemark2 wrote:Have to say, I watched the Reserves vs. Wigan the other night and there wasn't a single player who stood out. Not a great sign for next season - can't see very many (if any !) making the step up to the first team...
I haven't seen all the Reserves games this season but I've seen a few...

The ressie league had already been wrapped up, and we had just played Wigan a week before in the County Cup or something. There was no Pacheco or Bruna, Ayala had his worst game, the captain Darby did not play, San Jose was played out of position, Simon got his first start of the season, Nemeth was taken off early, Hobbs has been on loan for nearly the entire 2nd half of the season, Leto hasn't played since November, Putterill didn't play against Wigan and he had been playing well, Flynn was on the left when his better position is on the right. Don't judge em on one game, epecially that one. And they still came back and won.

Spot on joe, the ressies have p!ssed the league this year . Surely this is only a good sign.

by **Reg** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:15 pm

Same old boring sh!te from the same old boring sh!te people.
++

Steve Bruce fears over Liverpool rotation policy

Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, has voiced fears that Rafael Benitez could distort the battle for Premier League survival this weekend by resting several key Liverpool players against third-bottom Birmingham at St Andrews on Saturday.

With Liverpool facing a decisive Champions League semi-final second-leg against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday, Bruce expects Anfield manager Benitez to leave a raft of leading players out of his plans at Birmingham in preparation for the return fixture against Chelsea.

Bruce, whose Wigan team can confirm their own Premier League future with victory at home to Reading on Saturday, said: "Whichever team Liverpool put out, they will be an outstanding team, but it would be nice if they put their big hitters out against Birmingham. I doubt it will happen, but we will have to wait and see."

Benitez was widely condemned last season for fielding a virtual second-team against Fulham in the build-up to last May's Champions League Final against AC Milan.

Fulham's 1-0 victory in that game proved enough for the Londoners to secure their Premier League future at the expense of Sheffield United, who occupied the final relegation spot, just one point below Fulham.

And despite Bolton manager Gary Megson raising his own concerns about the make-up of Benitez's team for last Saturday's league game at Fulham, which Liverpool won 2-0, the Merseysiders once again lined up at Craven Cottage without a number of first-choice players.

Premier League rule E20 states that 'In every League Match, each participating Club shall field a full-strength team.'

However, Liverpool went uncensured for fielding a weakened team at Fulham last season, despite the subsequent ramifications on the relegation battle, and Benitez is expected to draft in fringe players once again against Alex McLeish's team in order to avoid losing key men to injury ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge

by **Rush Job** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:06 pm

bunglemark2 wrote:I disagree...Didn't see anyone who impressed me....bar Plessis.

Are you sure you had your eyes open??
Our ressies are made up of quality youth not as it used to be full of highly paid expensive flops that where happy just picking up their wages and doing feck all. If you cant see any quality i think that says more about you than i does them considering how they did this year, i mean if our`s arent up to much what does that say about anyone else`s.

by **NANNY RED** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:39 am

Not a bad record is it and some people were and are still calling for his head

BENITEZ HEADING FOR REDS MILESTONE
Jimmy Rice 24 April 2008
Rafa Benitez will take charge of his 150th league game for Liverpool on Saturday looking to create the second best record of any manager in Anfield history.
A victory would mean the Spaniard has chalked up 82 wins in 150 games – more than any predecessor except Kenny Dalglish.

The King masterminded 87 victories in his first 150 games, with Gerard Houllier on 81, Bob Paisley 79, Bill Shankly 77, Roy Evans 72 and Tom Watson 66.

A clean sheet on Saturday would also give Benitez the joint best defensive record in any manager's first 150 league games.

His side has so far conceded 119 goals in the top flight – level with Bob Paisley.

Meanwhile, Benitez's record in his first 149 games compares favourably with that of Manchester United counterpart Alex Ferguson.

Benitez has won 81, lost 34, scored 228 and conceded 119. Ferguson won 63, lost 43, scored 205 and conceded 152

by **JoeTerp** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:08 am

Rush Job wrote:
bunglemark2 wrote:I disagree...Didn't see anyone who impressed me....bar Plessis.

Are you sure you had your eyes open??
Our ressies are made up of quality youth not as it used to be full of highly paid expensive flops that where happy just picking up their wages and doing feck all. If you cant see any quality i think that says more about you than i does them considering how they did this year, i mean if our`s arent up to much what does that say about anyone else`s.

To be fair, if you ONLY watched the Wigan game I can see where you MIGHT come to that conclusion, especially if you only watched the first half. But Jay Spearing was putting in deadly balls all day long on set peieces, so much so that he caught the goalie cheating over and whipped one in far post. ALthough Nemeth didn't score, he still looked lively and set up play very nicely. REssies play again today against Marine, they have had a LOT of games over the past month, wouldn;t be surprised if they were tired, and I know Ablett really wants to win the Overall ressie league which is decided next week against the southern champions Aston Villa. I know the goal isn't neccissarily to win at the reserve level, but it certianly can't be a bad thing, especailly when you see that we don't use ANY fringe players, its basically a U20 or U19 team, and we nearly have an entire team out on loan, an entire team of "fringe first team talent" and some talented U18 strikers (although I am worried with how they finished the season). And on top of ALL of that, the players who are probably the most highly rated and poses the most natural skill (maybe apart from Nemeth) are Pacheco and Bruna, and they have played what can barely be considered a "bit part" in the reserves.

by **Toffeehater** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:44 pm

Thats a great record i reckon but nanny those records set by the king , bill and paisley would have been long beaten today as sadly , football is now a game where money talk and also's rafa may have the most wins after the king and best defensive record but they have more trophies but its still a soldi record for a foreign manager to set in his 4 years deffo better then any in the epl even mourinho as he had money on side .

by **Thingy** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:05 pm

Yeah money talks Tofeehater, and its something we really havent got, or maybe just starting to get. If Rafa had the money like Mourinho Fergie etc, no doubt in my mind he'd bring us the league.

by **Ace Ventura** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:34 pm

With Aurellio out now i think Insua is in with a shout for this one. Rafa may want to make sure Riise is ok for Wednesday despite his own goal on Tuesday.
I'd have Nemeth on the bench as well and give him the last 20 minutes or so.
The likes of Gerrard and Torres i wouldnt have playing at all to be honest, fourth is sewn up now, no point in risking them.

by **JoeTerp** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:58 pm

Ressie team tonight

1. Peter Gulacsi
2. Martin Kelly
3. Stephen Darby (captain)
4. Mikel San Jose
5. Ronald Huth
6. Daniel Ayala
7. Ryan Flynn
8. Jay Spearing
9. Jordy Brouwer
10. Krisztian Nemeth
11. Gerardo Bruna

Substitutes:

12. Daniel Pacheco
13. Dean Bouzanis
14. Andras Simon
15. Craig Lindfield
16. Steven Irwin

Missing PLessis and Insua who will certainly feature at the weekend

by **taff** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:35 pm

I hope they get a game to be honest

Now the league has gone rest key players as Chelsea have a humdinger of a match.

I would be delighted with a draw to mathematically ensure the 4th place. If we give youngsters experience and we win then yahoo

by **Toffeehater** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:21 pm

Reina

Finnan Hypia Skrtel Insua

Plessis Lucas

Pennant Riise

Yossi

Crouch

2-0 to us

by **RedRoots** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:51 pm

Reg wrote:Same old boring sh!te from the same old boring sh!te people.
++

Steve Bruce fears over Liverpool rotation policy

Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, has voiced fears that Rafael Benitez could distort the battle for Premier League survival this weekend by resting several key Liverpool players against third-bottom Birmingham at St Andrews on Saturday.

With Liverpool facing a decisive Champions League semi-final second-leg against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday, Bruce expects Anfield manager Benitez to leave a raft of leading players out of his plans at Birmingham in preparation for the return fixture against Chelsea.

Bruce, whose Wigan team can confirm their own Premier League future with victory at home to Reading on Saturday, said: "Whichever team Liverpool put out, they will be an outstanding team, but it would be nice if they put their big hitters out against Birmingham. I doubt it will happen, but we will have to wait and see."

Benitez was widely condemned last season for fielding a virtual second-team against Fulham in the build-up to last May's Champions League Final against AC Milan.

Fulham's 1-0 victory in that game proved enough for the Londoners to secure their Premier League future at the expense of Sheffield United, who occupied the final relegation spot, just one point below Fulham.

And despite Bolton manager Gary Megson raising his own concerns about the make-up of Benitez's team for last Saturday's league game at Fulham, which Liverpool won 2-0, the Merseysiders once again lined up at Craven Cottage without a number of first-choice players.

Premier League rule E20 states that 'In every League Match, each participating Club shall field a full-strength team.'

However, Liverpool went uncensured for fielding a weakened team at Fulham last season, despite the subsequent ramifications on the relegation battle, and Benitez is expected to draft in fringe players once again against Alex McLeish's team in order to avoid losing key men to injury ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge

Seems like a stupid rule tbh, it doesn't make sense, a club can put out any team they like, is this rule even real?

by **Thingy** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:05 pm

Full strengh team? What is a full strengh team? It will be different for each person, plus in certain games, players who arent first choice would be more effective than the first teamers, so that " rule" is nonsense.

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