My team for Thursday

[Cisse]

----reina----

Masch-Carta-Greek-Agger

--Lucas-Stevie-------------

GloJo---Aqua---Benny

-------Dirk------

[surf]

any team with masch at RB is wrong

[Epic Swindle]

Kuyt's out isn't he?

 

I'd go.

 

Reina

 

Johnson Carra Kyriagos Agger

 

Gerrard Masch Lucas Benayoun

 

Aqualini

 

Babel

[Hassony]

Kuyt's out isn't he?

 

 

really?

[Epic Swindle]

Think so.

[Jarg Armani]

Kuyt's out isn't he?

Is he? What's he done?

[Epic Swindle]

Went off today with a calf strain apparently.

[CarraLegend]

Kuyt is only a doubt.

 

The team picks itself.

 

Reina, Johnson, Carra, K, Agger, Yossi, Gerrard, Mascherano, Babel Aquilani, Kuyt

 

Or does it?!

 

I think he'll start Aquilani.

Edited April 25, 2010 by CarraLegend

[David Hodgson]

Ok, count down to the big one starts here. With Ngog and Kuyt possibly missing and Maxi cup tied, I'd this the team that picks itself ?

 

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

 

Johnson-----Carra---kryiagos----Agger

 

Gerrard----Masch-----Lucas-----Benayoun

 

--------------------Aquilani

 

----------------------Babel

[muleskinner]

Is Dirk that badly hurt? It does almost pick itself but . . .

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Ok, count down to the big one starts here. With Ngog and Kuyt possibly missing and Maxi cup tied, I'd this the team that picks itself ?

 

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

 

Johnson-----Carra---kryiagos----Agger

 

Gerrard----Masch-----Lucas-----Benayoun

 

--------------------Aquilani

 

----------------------Babel

 

If Kuyt and Ngog are gone then there is not much left unless he puts Johnson to RM and drops Aqua with Gerrard in his forward position.

 

Out squad is thread bare if that is the choice !

[surf]

perhaps we could play romario up front with babel

[Falconhoof]

I'd take that, or slight variations on it. I'd be confident of a win.

I think we've shown a few times that if you get a critical mass of ball players in the front 6 then we do a hell of a lot better.

 

Babel's substitute appearance the other night drew a lot of criticism but he did play one sublime through ball for Kuyt and that was more than NGog had achieved in the preceding 67 minutes. I still think Babel is one that you have to go against the grain with and make him feel like he could be a superstar. Indulge him, it won't hurt the rest of the squad, we've indulged plenty of other underperforming players after all.

[Epic Swindle]

I thought Babel grew into the game today when he went up front. Maybe the added responsibility focuses his mind. I'd probably go with Kuyt if he's fit for his big game experience but I'd have no worries if it was Babel. His pace alone gives us a different option and puts fear in defenders minds. I just hope nothing silly happens like starting El Zhar.

[baz2107]

Reina

Johnson, Carra, Greek, Agger

 

-------------Masch-----------------

 

Babel---Aquilani Gerrard Yossi

 

Dirk

[David Hodgson]

I thought Babel grew into the game today when he went up front. Maybe the added responsibility focuses his mind. I'd probably go with Kuyt if he's fit for his big game experience but I'd have no worries if it was Babel. His pace alone gives us a different option and puts fear in defenders minds. I just hope nothing silly happens like starting El Zhar.

 

That would just be spiteful from Rafa if he did that.

 

Babel up front. Has to be.

[CarraLegend]

This is gonna be hell, we cant get anywhere near close to relaxing unless we go 3-0 up, and even then it can get worrying (see Benfica).

 

Then again, we never do it the easy way so nothing new there!

[magneto]

If we really want this trophy, we need a Chelsea/St-Ettienne-esque atmosphere ....

[Sion]

We need to do what was done versus Spurs. Meeting the players as they get off the coach. It sparked off probably our best performance of the season.

 

Anyone know if this is in the works?

[Nebraska Red]

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

 

Mascherano-----Carra-------Agger-----Johnson

 

Gerrard----Aquilani-----Lucas-----Benayoun

 

--------------------Kuyt (if fit)

 

----------------------Babel

 

Johnson looked OK at left back today.

[stonty]

They defend like girls, hopefully Babel can get at them

[Paddy 66]

The fact we are likely to have to start Babel fills me with no confidence.

[Cheesecake]

Ok, count down to the big one starts here. With Ngog and Kuyt possibly missing and Maxi cup tied, I'd this the team that picks itself ?

 

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

 

Johnson-----Carra---kryiagos----Agger

 

Gerrard----Masch-----Lucas-----Benayoun

 

--------------------Aquilani

 

----------------------Babel

 

put Aquilani back in midfield and drop Lucas, play Pacheco (no I am being deadly serious here) up top with Babel. Midfield with JM & LL wont get us anything going forward and will leave AA/Babel/Whoever totally isolated. Plus a front 2 of Babel and Pacheco has lots of pace which may help

 

Also it may be the youngest front pairing in a European semi final ever!

Edited April 25, 2010 by DPD1973

[Hightown Phil]

Pacheco isn't a centre forward.

 

ARGH.

 

And he's also in danger of becoming some over rated it's ridiculous.

Edited April 25, 2010 by Hightown Phil

[D.Boon]

And he's also in danger of becoming some over rated it's ridiculous.

 

He's 50% Johan Cruyff and 50% Bruce Lee