LIVERPOOL v ASTON VILLA

[fred milne]

I can't see a thread on this anywhere.

 

From Rafa's comments earlier in the week, it sounds like Arbeloa is 50:50 and Xabi and Yossi are likely to miss out.

 

Arbeloa usually does well against Young but if there is any doubt over his fitness we should stick with the same back four from last Saturday. Sami doesn't deserve to be dropped after a showing like that anyway.

 

Might be tempted to start with Babel instead of Riera, otherwise same again please.

[carrafan]

From Rafa's comments earlier in the week, it sounds like Arbeloa is 50:50

 

Didnt Rafa say that he has started light training (this was like three days back) and should be fit for the game?

[Roscoe]

nil all.

[David Hodgson]

I can't see a thread on this anywhere.

 

From Rafa's comments earlier in the week, it sounds like Arbeloa is 50:50 and Xabi and Yossi are likely to miss out.

 

Arbeloa usually does well against Young but if there is any doubt over his fitness we should stick with the same back four from last Saturday. Sami doesn't deserve to be dropped after a showing like that anyway.

 

Might be tempted to start with Babel instead of Riera, otherwise same again please.

 

Do we have any suspensions after the bookings last week ?

 

Otherwise, I'd bring in Babel for Riera. Personally, I'd like to see Aurelio get Xabi's spot, if he's injured, with Dossena given a chance to build on his confidence.

[Bailo]

Do we have any suspensions after the bookings last week ?

 

Otherwise, I'd bring in Babel for Riera. Personally, I'd like to see Aurelio get Xabi's spot, if he's injured, with Dossena given a chance to build on his confidence.

Whilst shattering Lucas' after a decent game against the Mancs?!

[David Hodgson]

Whilst shattering Lucas' after a decent game against the Mancs?!

 

Don't let's start this. IMHO Lucas did not have a good game against the Mancs. I know the bar by which people are prepared to judge him is incredibly low, but he still wasn't above it. If Alonso or Mascherano had put in that performance they would have been roundly criticised.

[honourablegeorge]

Do we have any suspensions after the bookings last week ?

 

Otherwise, I'd bring in Babel for Riera. Personally, I'd like to see Aurelio get Xabi's spot, if he's injured, with Dossena given a chance to build on his confidence.

 

 

We can't afford to let Dossena build his confidence against Villa. Need our best possible team for this.

[Nate.]

If Alonso or Mascherano had put in that performance they would have been roundly criticised.

 

 

After winning 4-1?

 

I'd have been f***ing amazed if that happened.

[fred milne]

Lucas did not have a good game against the Mancs. I know the bar by which people are prepared to judge him is incredibly low, but he still wasn't above it. If Alonso or Mascherano had put in that performance they would have been roundly criticised.

I can't agree with that. He might not have hit the heights Xabi would have but he played his part. Filled in gaps defensively and moved the ball on quickly to a teammate when he got it.

 

He deserves to keep his place for Sunday.

[D.Boon]

Riera was absolutely terrible against the mancs and has been poor for a good while now. Swap him for Babel and the rest of the team stays the same. Lucas having had a good game against the Mancs keeps his place

Edited March 20, 2009 by gackwilliams

[David Hodgson]

I can't agree with that. He might not have hit the heights Xabi would have but he played his part. Filled in gaps defensively and moved the ball on quickly to a teammate when he got it.

 

He deserves to keep his place for Sunday.

 

He was outmuscled on a few occasions, and lost possession several times. He worked like a dog, but I think people are judging him from a patronising perspective to say 'he played well'. It may have been OK for a much maligned 22 year old, but in absolute terms he did not look a top drawer player.

[Swipe]

Riera was absolutely terrible against the mancs and has been poor for a good while now. Swap him for Babel and the rest of the team stays the same. Lucas having had a good game against the Mancs keeps his place

 

Agree. Reira has been really poor. Babel has done ok recently and deserves a start.

 

If Xabi is still out then Lucas should stay in. He did fine against Utd, especially in the 2nd half.

[David Hodgson]

After winning 4-1?

 

I'd have been f***ing amazed if that happened.

 

Alonso got plenty of criticism last season despite being part of winning teams. I'm not saying they'd have been banner headlines, but in terms of looking at individual performances, then yes, he would have been criticised for playing at Lucas's level.

 

FFS, what is it with this forum, is it run by Leiva's family, or is criticising Lucas a crime against Rafaholicisim ?

 

Personally I prefer another Rafa signing, Fabio aurelio, in central midfield to Lucas Leiva. So shoot me.

[fred milne]

He was outmuscled on a few occasions, and lost possession several times. He worked like a dog, but I think people are judging him from a patronising perspective to say 'he played well'. It may have been OK for a much maligned 22 year old, but in absolute terms he did not look a top drawer player.

Admittedly I've not watched the game again since Saturday afternoon but I didn't come away from it thinking he had a poor game.

 

I can remember him being turned by Carrick, being outmuscled once and making a couple of loose passes. However, I also remember at least one fine defensive block when Sami got caught out of position and more than a few quick passes to Gerrard in space a la Xabi.

 

Considering who and where he was playing I was pleased with his contribution.

[Redwire]

I can't agree with that. He might not have hit the heights Xabi would have but he played his part. Filled in gaps defensively and moved the ball on quickly to a teammate when he got it.

 

He deserves to keep his place for Sunday.

 

Spot on.

 

He had a good game.

[Bailo]

He was outmuscled on a few occasions, and lost possession several times. He worked like a dog, but I think people are judging him from a patronising perspective to say 'he played well'. It may have been OK for a much maligned 22 year old, but in absolute terms he did not look a top drawer player.

From yahoo sports stats (here) Lucas made more accurate passes than anyone on the team (38), made as many misplaced passes as Gerrard, Reira (7) and less than Aurelio (14) and made more tackles than anyone else (9).

[honourablegeorge]

He was outmuscled on a few occasions, and lost possession several times. He worked like a dog, but I think people are judging him from a patronising perspective to say 'he played well'. It may have been OK for a much maligned 22 year old, but in absolute terms he did not look a top drawer player.

 

 

He's a kid, and he did better than Carrick or Anderson at three times the price each.

 

He's our backup centre mid, I wouldn't ever have him ahead of Alonso, but as a backup, and a prospect, he deserves better than the criticism he gets.

[Bigal]

He was outmuscled on a few occasions, and lost possession several times. He worked like a dog, but I think people are judging him from a patronising perspective to say 'he played well'. It may have been OK for a much maligned 22 year old, but in absolute terms he did not look a top drawer player.

 

sorry lad, I dont agree at all.

 

I thought he did his job very well.

[Marvin]

Alonso got plenty of criticism last season despite being part of winning teams. I'm not saying they'd have been banner headlines, but in terms of looking at individual performances, then yes, he would have been criticised for playing at Lucas's level.

 

FFS, what is it with this forum, is it run by Leiva's family, or is criticising Lucas a crime against Rafaholicisim ?

 

Personally I prefer another Rafa signing, Fabio aurelio, in central midfield to Lucas Leiva. So shoot me.

 

 

Who are these Rafaholics of whom you speak? They must be infidels and should be destroyed. Only the Rafastarians know the true path to the deity

[Jarg Armani]

Rastafarians? Rafaholics? Splitters!

 

Pro-Rafaelites mate.

[Flight]

He was outmuscled on a few occasions, and lost possession several times. He worked like a dog, but I think people are judging him from a patronising perspective to say 'he played well'. It may have been OK for a much maligned 22 year old, but in absolute terms he did not look a top drawer player.

 

Just not true. I've watched the game at least 4 or 5 times - he doesn't give the ball away more than anyone else and played well.

 

 

FFS, what is it with this forum, is it run by Leiva's family, or is criticising Lucas a crime against Rafaholicisim ?

 

 

Silly thing to say. Digger disagrees with you, for one. Either he is a Rafaholic or you are wrong.

 

 

Digger : The only difference is that United`s squad players don`t receive stick from their own fans and are trusted to perform when given a chance. I keep reiterating the fact but the fans must start to respect the so-called Liverpool squad players more. Players came in such as veteran Sami Hyypia and the young lad Lucas who put in excellent performances.

 

 

Still, what does Digger know about football, eh ?

Edited March 20, 2009 by Flight

[Bigal]

Just not true. I've watched the game at least 4 or 5 times - he doesn't give the ball away more than anyone else and played well.

Silly thing to say. Digger disagrees with you, for one. Either he is a Rafaholic or you are wrong.

Digger : The only difference is that United`s squad players don`t receive stick from their own fans and are trusted to perform when given a chance. I keep reiterating the fact but the fans must start to respect the so-called Liverpool squad players more. Players came in such as veteran Sami Hyypia and the young lad Lucas who put in excellent performances.

Still, what does Digger know about football, eh ?

 

he knows how to hold and give but do it at the right time..........

[Flight]

SSN reported Agger in with a shout of a game against Villa. Jamie at RB again I suppose ?

[Flight]

he knows how to hold and give but do it at the right time..........

 

 

 

Lucas has had some poor games this term, but he has had some good games too. If he turns out not to be good enough, then he's given 100% so he'll get best wishes if he moves on. What I don't understand is the continued b******s that is spouted though. Two things about him that simply aren't true :

 

i) he can't pass;

 

ii) he gives the ball away much more than anyone else.

 

Both total nonsense. I'll give you he needs to improve his tackling, but he is obviously working on that.

[McBain]

Xabi is needed as we're at home against a team that will park the bus. Lucas was useful last week as we were the away side and his job was to destroy and keep it simple. More than that will be needed aqainst Villa.

 

And agree with dropping Riera

Edited March 20, 2009 by Mcbain