Liverpool FC Forum

by **Owzat** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:44 pm

The Manhattan Project wrote:We need to be at least 3-0 up with 15 minutes to go.

Then we can take off the best players.

Isn't Rafa more the school of thought you keep the stars on the bench and bring them on if the cavalry is needed? I would start with the best XI and take players off if they need a rest.

by **tubby** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:53 pm

Yeah but how many times has he tried that and we haev gotten of to a bad start. Its better if we start with them so we get a good tempo going right from the start. Otherwise if we are play badly it becomes a struggle once the other team gets into the game.

by **Moop123** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:22 pm

Mascherano is out for the game against Newcastle

Javier Mascherano has been ruled out of Liverpool's Premier League clash with Newcastle United tomorrow.
The Argentine star limped out of the 4-0 victory over West Ham with a muscle problem and will be sidelined for the visit of Kevin Keegan's Magpies this weekend.

He is also doubtful for the midweek trip to Milan when the Reds will be looking to protect a 2-0 first leg lead and book their place in the last eight of the Champions League.

"I will need to speak to the doctors before we decide about Inter Milan but he will not be available this weekend against Newcastle," said manager Rafael Benitez.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N159090080307-1331.htm

by **Feugo** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:49 pm

Toon seem really desperate to win!
Come on Reds!

4 - 1

Torres Hat Trick and Crouchinho. :censored:

Yeah!

by **Reg** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:37 pm

Newcastle is a special fixture, even at 2-0 up I wouldnt bring the key players off. 3-0 ok, but 2 is not enough.

We all remember the 4-3 games dont we?

by **heimdall** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:40 pm

Reg wrote:Newcastle is a special fixture, even at 2-0 up I wouldnt bring the key players off. 3-0 ok, but 2 is not enough.

We all remember the 4-3 games dont we?

They were some of the most exciting games I have ever seen and both with good outcomes :wwww

by **The Manhattan Project** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:36 pm

As a LFC legend, Keegan should do the honourable thing and tell his players to lose.

by **skatesy** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:09 pm

The Manhattan Project wrote:As a LFC legend, Keegan should do the honourable thing and tell his players to lose.

hahaha that's awesome.

by **holylamb2006** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:32 pm

We're on a good streak so i suspect a nice win for the books !!

Hopefully Torres will score another hat trick and be level with ronaldo on top scorer cause i dnt want him being player of the year .

by **big al** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:41 am

some of you may have realised by now I don't really care how stupid I look after the fact so If im wrong on this one Yeppeee. Masch is as a major component of our defense as Gerrard is of our attack, and visa versa his loss is massive. If Rafa keeps the same team and the same formation as v West Ham, then he can bring Lucas in for Masch and we'll manage against NFC. If Masch is not fit for the Intr game then we are in trouble and wil be against it from the start .

by **bigmick** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:01 am

Well I think that barring injuries we should keep the same team which took the filed against West Ham (no surprises there then). If as appears likely Masherano is unfit to play against Newcastle, that is plenty enough changes for me whoever we bring in to replace him (and in all probability it'll be Lucas I would think).

This kind of fixture though is likely to bring precisely the type of selection however which has lead to some of us calling for a change of management at the end of the season. I would be surprised if there aren't many changes, not only to the personel but also to the formation. I would have thought we will probably prevail regardless (although it isn't time for Leons fourth appearance of the season in goal ) but it would be a shame to jig things around, just as we showing the early shoots of cohesion and rhythm.

Inadvertantly we seem to be on the verge of stumbling upon something it seems to me. Kuyt, God only knows how given he doesn't appear to possess a single attribute which would make such a scenario likely, appears to be able to play wide midfield in a five very effectively. Alonso is gradually drifting back into some kind of form and with his intelligence can make the central three work for him, while Gerrard despite not appearing to like it previously, looks to me like he's getting used to playing in behind Torres. Even Babel, despite using his left foot purely for standing on, seems to be able to fill in down left midfield and despite looking clueless and confused in equal measure on many occasions, chucks in the odd goal or assist to keep everyone off his back.

I wouldn't exactly describe us as being fluent, but we are kind of hot and cold with good patches within each game at the moment. Given we are almost certainly going to play 4-5-1 in Italy, and given that it's kind of working for us at the moment, there seems no point whatsoever in changing it right now as far as I can see.

This game should be looked at not just as an opportunity for three points, nor as an opportunity to "rest" people, but as an opportunity to further bed in the system and build some fluency. This is the first time that Rafa's undertaking to rotate less will be tested. I hope he resists the temptation to excercise the old trigger finger, but alas I think I'll be disappointed.

by **Scottbot** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:41 am

bigmick wrote:This game should be looked at not just as an opportunity for three points, nor as an opportunity to "rest" people, but as an opportunity to further bed in the system and build some fluency. This is the first time that Rafa's undertaking to rotate less will be tested. I hope he resists the temptation to excercise the old trigger finger, but alas I think I'll be disappointed.

You will be disappointed mate. The manager's pre-match press conference indicated there would be changes for this game. Must admit I don't really blame him though. Wednesday's game is massive so i think we will see the big guns on the bench at Anfield tomorrow. Expect to see Yossi, Crouch, Lucas and Pennant back in for this one.

by **The Manhattan Project** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:55 am

The Inter game is big of course, but with momentum on our side and Everscum being humbled in Florence, this is our chance to muller Newcastle and stamp our authority on fourth place.

That will give us even more confidence to take to Milan.

by **Ciggy** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:31 am

Same team apart from Masch bring in Lucas, Torres must play.

by **Toffeehater** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:19 am

I'd go for a 5-0 win , but i think newcastle will be better as owen look deadly in his last amtch , need to man mark him well and i hope that agger does get a run some part in this game

Reina
Finnan Skrtel Hypia Riise

Masch Alonso

Kuyt Gerrard Babel

Torres

I'd fancy torrest to get a hat trick

, and a goal for kuyt and Masch to add the icing on the cake

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