Brum game

[magneto]

Stand correected but we've never won there in the league since they've been back. Have given a few of our "rivals" a tough time.

[Benzo-13]

We're gonna be leggy against these due to the ten men but we can do them with an early goal and breaks on the counter.

Edited April 3, 2010 by Benzo-13

[David Hodgson]

If this is the team, and I fear it will be, then I'm throwin' an Andy fit and burning my season ticket etc

 

 

---------------------------Reina

 

The Johnson----Carra----Agger----Insua

 

Kuyt---------Masch--------Lucas--------Maxi

 

------------Gerrard-------Torres

 

 

.....unless we win.

[Leo No.8]

If this is the team, and I fear it will be, then I'm throwin' an Andy fit and burning my season ticket etc

 

 

---------------------------Reina

 

The Johnson----Carra----Agger----Insua

 

Kuyt---------Masch--------Lucas--------Maxi

 

------------Gerrard-------Torres

 

 

.....unless we win.

 

That team is everything I hate about Rafa's approach this season, basically the tactic is just hope Gerrard and Torres do something with no support from a slow / deep lying midfield. Is Babel suspended from all forms of football or just Europe? He's been a first choice player for some time now.

 

If its just Europe then I think he'll play as he only had twenty minutes or so the other day. This is the thing, take an unneccesary Defensive Midfielder (preferably Lucas) out and put a pacey wide player in and it completely corrects the balance of the side to what it should be.

Edited April 3, 2010 by Leo No.8

[David Hodgson]

That team is everything I hate about Rafa's approach this season, basically the tactic is just hope Gerrard and Torres do something with no support from a slow / deep lying midfield. Is Babel suspended from all forms of football or just Europe? He's been a first choice player for some time now.

 

If its just Europe then I think he'll play as he only had twenty minutes or so the other day. This is the thing, take an unneccesary Defensive Midfielder (preferably Lucas) out and put a pacey wide player in and it completely corrects the balance of the side to what it should be.

 

I think there is next to zero chanxce that Lucas and Masch aren't paired. There's a chance Babel is preferred ahead of Maxi. A slim one.

 

The right team to go with for this one is the team that beat Sunderland.

[Leo No.8]

I think there is next to zero chanxce that Lucas and Masch aren't paired. There's a chance Babel is preferred ahead of Maxi. A slim one.

 

The right team to go with for this one is the team that beat Sunderland.

 

Agreed - which would be exactly the above, just Babel in for Lucas. If Babel does play then it won't be instead of Maxi; I think Maxi is going to be one of Rafa's 'first names on the teamsheet' you can tell just how much he thinks of him from his post match comments and team selections.

 

I don't mind Maxi and Kuyt both playing as long as one isn't wide and Lucas is sacrificed. Lucas and Masch can both play as long as Babel is in.

 

As I've said before with the right wide players (with pace) two holding midfielders can work, and with an extra attacking midfielder in the middle you can fit both the slow moving Kuyt and Maxi into the team. However you can't put them all in at once because it completely unbalances the side and leaves the front two very isolated because we can't move the ball through midfield quickly enough and don't get numbers forward.

Edited April 3, 2010 by Leo No.8

[Billy Dane]

Rafa should be starting Babel and playing on the fact he owes the team for his red card the other night etc.

[Hightown Phil]

We won there 3-0 just before Houllier left.

[Mike]

it'll be the wigan team

[Earl Hafler]

it'll be the wigan team

 

Are they going to agree to that ? Be nice. Give our lads a rest before the Benfica match.

[Conrad]

We won there 3-0 just before Houllier left.

 

we played some lovely football that night

[Jarg Armani]

it'll be the wigan team

 

Gerrard centre mid...

[fabfive]

as long as we get 3 points I don't care who starts.

[KIDORIGINAL]

After taking a massive kicking on Thursday night, am I the only one who would leave Torres on the bench and give him a rest against a physical side? Unless we play Babel or Kuyt next to him, I don't want to see him in this one (from the start at least). I'd start with a 4-4-2 and see how it goes;

Reina

Johnson Carragher Agger Insua

Maxi Gerrard Mascherano Benayoun

Babel Kuyt

Not gonna be easy to win but we can definitely do it if we play fast football down the wings.

 

[David Hodgson]

After taking a massive kicking on Thursday night, am I the only one who would leave Torres on the bench and give him a rest against a physical side? Unless we play Babel or Kuyt next to him, I don't want to see him in this one (from the start at least). I'd start with a 4-4-2 and see how it goes;

Reina

Johnson Carragher Agger Insua

Maxi Gerrard Mascherano Benayoun

Babel Kuyt

Not gonna be easy to win but we can definitely do it if we play fast football down the wings.

 

 

That's a nice team, but this game is arguably more important than Benfica.

[smithdown]

Pacheco must start

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on the bench

[Gerrardrules]

I would start with the greek. He has to play on thursday so why not play him now?

Gerrard to midfield. We play so much better.

[Metro]

I would start with the greek. He has to play on thursday so why not play him now?

Gerrard to midfield. We play so much better.

 

 

I'm inclined to agree with that. Presumably you would put Agger in Insua's place? And why isn't anyone mentioning Benayoun? Midfield - Kuyt, Gerrard, Masch, Maxi. Upfront, Yossi and Torres. Simples

[Epic Swindle]

I'd like to see Maxi, Gerrard, Masch and Benayoun in midfield and Torres and Babel up front.

[MFletcher]

Reina

 

Johnson

Carra

Kyrgiakos

Agger

 

Maxi

Gerrard

Mascherano

Babel

 

Kuyt

Torres

[anfield11]

I'm more worried as to who the ref is, than what the team is. Says it all really!!

[JonShar]

That team is everything I hate about Rafa's approach this season

 

First, I love you Leo.

 

Second, I think that's a bit harsh. Babel & Rieira have been tosh for most of the season, and with Yossi's and Aqua's injuries Rafa doesn't have much to choose from. I do think you're right that he's relying on Stevie and Nando to do something magical, but there aren't many other options.

[Swagger]

Reina

 

Johnson

Carra

Kyrgiakos

Agger

 

Maxi

Gerrard

Mascherano

Babel

 

Kuyt

Torres

 

Agreed.

[Hieronymus Bosch]

Same midfield/attack/approach as Sunderland, please.

[Jarg Armani]

I think Babel will start.