Liverpool Rumours And General Discussion 2007/2008

dc69

ballack and essian to start for chelsea,prediction of essien breaking alonso's foot again:)

Tusky

leninbenjamin wrote: »

didn't Alex start off with a team that was much further down the pecking order though? i find it hard to make up my mind on Benitez myself. half the time i think he needs more time and money, but then you look at his flabbergasting rotation policies and think wtf?

Man Utd finished 4th the season before Alex took over, same as Liverpool.

Chardee MacDennis

if he does, i'm going to fly to london and drop something very heavy on him. also that mikel is a trouble maker too is he banned?

looking forward to this game, should be no pressure along with some young faces and some players we haven't seen for a while.

Melion

I think we could see a very experimental side tonight judging by this interview from Rafa today:

The Reds face the Blues knowing a victory would book their place in the last four of the Carling Cup and further enhance their chances of securing their first trip to the new Wembley.

But with a league match at home to Portsmouth on Saturday beginning a run of four games in 11 days, the boss insists he must make full use of all the players at his disposal, starting at Chelsea tonight.

"We want to win every game but we have Portsmouth on Saturday, so it is important that we use the squad," said Rafa.

"We have players who are tired so we have to analyse which players are tired and which players are ready before deciding on who will play against Chelsea.

"Christmas is a very busy period so we have to use the squad and that means I have to find a balance for each game.

"If I ask the players they tell me they want to win every game but if you have enough players in the squad with quality you should use them."

I wouldnt like to see him use too many kids/reserves because a heavy loss could really affect confidence. Hobbs, El Zhar and Spearing and not much more.

zing

dc69 wrote: »

ballack and essian to start for chelsea,prediction of essien breaking alonso's foot again:)

What a lovely thing to wish for. Don't even want to think about what you've asked Santa for..

ButcherOfNog

I'd love to see Nemeth get a run, just to see what he's like against 1st team opposition, he's only played 3 games for the reserves so far, but netted in all of them, 5 in total.

dc69

zing wrote: »

What a lovely thing to wish for. Don't even want to think about what you've asked Santa for..

I never said i wished for it,i said i PREDICTED it!.essien and mikel are probably the 2 most dirty players in the premiership and i can see something happening!alonso is one of my favourite players and i rate him higher than mashcerano,why would i want him injured?

RustySpoon

The Liverpool team in full is: Itandje, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Hobbs, Carragher, Alonso, Lucas, Sissoko, Babel, Voronin, Crouch. Subs: Martin, Hyypia, Riise, El Zhar, Benayoun

mike65

Bah you're quick!

---

Itandje
Arbeloa, Hobbs, Carragher, Aurelio,
Voronin, Lucas, Alonso Sissoko, Babel,

---

Crouch.

Sort of

Subs: Martin, Hyypia, Riise, El Zhar, Benayoun.

Mike.

dc69

RustySpoon wrote: »

The Liverpool team in full is: Itandje, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Hobbs, Carragher, Alonso, Lucas, Sissoko, Babel, Voronin, Crouch. Subs: Martin, Hyypia, Riise, El Zhar, Benayoun

4-3-3 ?

---

Itandje
Arbeloa, Aurelio, Hobbs, Carragher

---

sissoko

---

Alonso

---

---

Lucas
-Voronin

---

Babel

---

Crouch

machiavellianme

RustySpoon wrote: »

The Liverpool team in full is: Itandje, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Hobbs, Carragher, Alonso, Lucas, Sissoko, Babel, Voronin, Crouch. Subs: Martin, Hyypia, Riise, El Zhar, Benayoun

Momo? oh dear, so its probably something like:

---

Itandje

---

Arbeloa--Hobbs--Carra--Aurelio

---

Momo

---

---

Alonso--Lucas

---

Voronin

---

Babel

---

Crouch

---

????
I hope Alonso, Lucas and Babel are on form because I cant see anyone else stepping up to the plate to score. Hope El Zhar gets a run.

dc69

why does rafa do this,babel can play wing,vornin cant,so we have already lost a man right there in voronin,plain stupid imo

I know it will prob be a diamond but he still has no pace,cant see us win ning after that team has been named,hope im wrong though

chelsea name basically a full strnght squad

Zapp Brannigan

Where's Insua? the lad deserves a shot in the first team!

mike65

Chelsea 7 changes

Petr Cech
35 Juliano Belletti
22 Tal Ben-Haim
6 Ricardo Carvalho
17 Wayne Bridge
5 Michael Essien
12 John Mikel Obi
8 Frank Lampard (c)
21 Salomon Kalou
7 Andriy Shevchenko
17 Scott Sinclair

Liverpool will play 4-3-3 according to fivelive.

Mike.

machiavellianme

dc69 wrote: »

why does rafa do this,babel can play wing,vornin cant,so we have already lost a man right there in voronin,plain stupid imo

I know it will prob be a diamond but he still has no pace,cant see us win ning after that team has been named,hope im wrong though

chelsea name basically a full strnght squad

Its not so much a lack of pace as his inability to shoot at the target with any power or accuracy in his shot. Viduka's slow pace never cost him from banging them in so its hardly a valid excuse here. Still, it was a nice bit of business by Leverkeusen offloading him onto us, even if he was free.
I predict a Pool win with Babel and Xabi on fire.

dc69

machiavellianme wrote: »

Still, it was a nice bit of business by Leverkeusen offloading him onto us, even if he was free.

lol:)

Unearthly

Can't see much goals in this game at all

Tusky

Sky Sports going on about Rafa fielding a weakened side. Im glad the likes of Gerrard, Mascherano and Torres aren't playing. Id rather they be rested for Portsmouth. Did they go on about Arsenal fielding a second string team last night ?

dc69 wrote: »

why does rafa do this,babel can play wing,vornin cant,so we have already lost a man right there in voronin,plain stupid imo

I know it will prob be a diamond but he still has no pace,cant see us win ning after that team has been named,hope im wrong though

chelsea name basically a full strnght squad

I'm sure its a 4-3-3 so Babel is playing as a wing forward I would say.

astrofool

Arsenal have a good second string.

Zapp Brannigan

Fairly strong Chelsea side. We'd do well to win tonight. Will be watching Sky Sports News for updates (don't have Sky)

Chardee MacDennis

ray wilkins talks some crap...

"players cant be tired after 20 games" "why isnt carragher rested if players are tired" "zonal marking isnt as good as man marking coz players dont know who to pick up" [all paraphrased]

it is a nothing trophy and players dont have to be tired to be rested.

oh and "Frank Lampard never gets tired" LOL! you have to cover a significant amount of ground in a game to get tired..

Melion

Cant see us getting a result, glad he's rested Torres etc. Hopefully Xabi comes through unscathed and ready for the weekend. Expecting a big game from Lucas.

No match winners though!!!!!

Tusky

astrofool wrote: »

Arsenal have a good second string.

Liverpool are playing the likes of Carragher, Arbeloa, Alonso, Lucas, Babel, Crouch...I consider it to be a strong enough second string. Looking at the team Chelsea are fielding though, it looks like it will be very tough.

Unearthly

Chelsea will be quite toothless upfront with Sheva. Sinclair is meant to be promising but can't see him doing much. Kalou is meh

Can't see Liverpools frontmen doing anything either

0-0, if someone scores it will be Lampard

mike65

Sounds like loads of fans are stuck in traffic on the M40, Chelsea say the game will start on time (SKY will demand it proberbly).

Mike.

Tusky

mike65 wrote: »

Sounds like loads of fans are stuck in traffic on the M40, Chelsea say the game will start on time (SKY will demand it proberbly).

Mike.

Ive never heard of a match being delayed because fans are stuck in traffic. They should have left earlier!

Chardee MacDennis

Tusky wrote: »

Ive never heard of a match being delayed because fans are stuck in traffic. They should have left earlier!

i'm not sure if that's sarcasm? i have heard of it lots of times...

mike65

If you can't watch its on BBC five live AM/FM (blocked on net) or BBC Radio Mersyside (in the clear).

Mike.

sweetie

any links to a stream?
edit: 64362 amcik tv on tvu

dobsdave

Tusky wrote: »

Ive never heard of a match being delayed because fans are stuck in traffic. They should have left earlier!

Accident on the M40, not just heavy traffic.

el rabitos

another game littered with carraghers punts upfield

Guy:Incognito

el rabitos wrote: »

another game littered with carraghers punts upfield

He's obviously been told to play like that to some degree, otherwise Rafa would put a stop to it, no?

mike65

Listening via BBC Mersyside its all pretty even-stevens by the sound of it. Both teams have had decent chances well saved. The ref sounds like a 'homer'

Mike.

el rabitos

Stekelly wrote: »

He's obviously been told to play like that to some degree, otherwise Rafa would put a stop to it, no?

always it is good to have options, no? but it is clear to win the game we must pass it on the ground, for sure

mike65

Just stop that!

Mike.

Tusky

Pretty even first half but I would say Rafa would be the happier manager. Sissoko has actually played surprising well apart from a couple of mistakes. Babel has looked good when hes had the ball, as had Voronin. Very little pace in the squad which is allowing Chelsea to defend quite high up the pitch.

Lucas only denied by a great save by Cech. Almost exactly the same incident had happened moments before with Lampard & Itandje.

Guy:Incognito

mike65 wrote: »

Just stop that!

Mike.

But always there are poshibilities, no?

el rabitos

more end to end stuff, carragher punts it forward and sissoko punts it back in the wrong direction, end to end.

mike65

El Zhar coming on in a moment, Alonso off. Crouch almost scores.

Lampard scores off Carra.

Christ the wheels have fallen off. Crouch is off.

Mike.

_blank_

Lamps deflected shot.

Who'da thunk it.

Davei141

****ing fluke...

el rabitos

lol carragher: "jammy bastard"

Drag00n79

To quote Carra there right after the goal: "Jammy Bastard".
Crouch sent off.

_blank_

Crouch OFF wtf?!

Davei141

All gone to ****...Straight red though? bit of a homer that decision

Mitch Connor

Right decision from the ref - dunno what the hell Crouch was thinking.

Pacifico

Funny looking tackle from crouch there!

_blank_

lol

BBC Merseyside calling "absolute nonsense".

Which is it?

Pacifico

It looked quite ridiculous in the replay.

Don't think it was a red though....

Drag00n79

Crouchy lost the plot there I feel.