Liverpool FC Forum

by **Bammo** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 6:35 pm

aCe' wrote:if we play Lucas-Mascherano again and end up winning 3-0 i think Rafa will probably decide to keep faith in this setup and im pretty sure itll end up costing us again the better sides...

that's what we played at Old Trafford last season... :nod

It's actually the stronger teams I'm less worried playing that against. They're more defensive and so can stop the opposition. The trouble is against teams where we need to attack (e.g. Spurs, Stoke) they may be too defensive when we should go for it.

Anyway, here's what I hope the team will be:

Reina
Johnson Carra Skrtel Insua
Masch
Kuyt Gerrard Benny Riera
Torres

and here's what it will be:

Reina
Johnson Carra Skrtel Insua
Lucas Masch
Kuyt Gerrard Benny
Torres

by **JoeTerp** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 6:39 pm

why did you put Spurs in that category? They were on the front foot more than we were

by **Bammo** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 6:46 pm

Precisely why I put them...I'm gonna try to explain so I don't end up confusing myself so bear with me :laugh:

Against Utd, Chelsea etc, the games tend to be close with packed midfields designed to stop the opponents. That's when 2 defensive mids are ideally suited.

Against teams like Stoke etc who come to just defend there's only really use for 1 DM. We need more creativity going forwards.

Now, teams like Spurs have some quality but they also play more open than the big 4 tend to. There we should have 1 DM and 1 box-to-box midfielder to drive forwards and support the attack. 2 DMs leave Gerrard and Torres isolated. Against Spurs I thought Lucas could have played further forwards and done that kind of job. He didn't (probably under instructions from Rafa) and if that's how he will play alongside Masch then there are games when we don't need both of them.

Now, any questions?

by **redhayesy** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 6:49 pm

Dundalk wrote:
Number 9 wrote:I nearly shot my load in my trunks there!!
I thought this match was at the weekend,had no idea we were playing tonight.

YAY football night!

FANTA TIME

spot on mate, it certainly is! the ale is going down nicely.

gutted i can't be their tonight,but know the atmosphere is always special first home game of the season. i'm sure the lads will rise to the occasion an produce a performance to be proud of!

for me normally i think the result is what matters normally an work on the performance as we go on throughout the season,however tonight i sincerley think that the performance is as important as the result to get team confidence truley on track an make the statement that we are a side with true belief in our ability etc.

COME ON YOU MIGHTY REDS!

by **aCe'** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 6:53 pm

Bammo wrote:
aCe' wrote:if we play Lucas-Mascherano again and end up winning 3-0 i think Rafa will probably decide to keep faith in this setup and im pretty sure itll end up costing us again the better sides...

that's what we played at Old Trafford last season...

It's actually the stronger teams I'm less worried playing that against. They're more defensive and so can stop the opposition. The trouble is against teams where we need to attack (e.g. Spurs, Stoke) they may be too defensive when we should go for it.

Anyway, here's what I hope the team will be:

Reina
Johnson Carra Skrtel Insua
Masch
Kuyt Gerrard Benny Riera
Torres

and here's what it will be:

Reina
Johnson Carra Skrtel Insua
Lucas Masch
Kuyt Gerrard Benny
Torres

The game against Utd we relied on a direct long ball style... we didnt need the midfielders linking up the play with the attacking players... just hoof the ball towards torres and have him go at their defenders with Gerrard supporting him... Nothing pretty about it just a defensive formation designed to stop the opposition from playing..

Personally id never play the 2 together against any side, unless all other options are unavailable... it was obvious from preseason that it wasnt going to work.. even against the sht sides it didnt so dont know why Rafa thought it would against a very good Tottenham side....

by **Bammo** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 6:58 pm

Assuming Aqiulani was injured I'd play Lucas and Masch as 2 DM in games like Utd where it's compact and as you say, we don't rely on them passing it through.

Unless Lucas is given a freer role then it renders the midfield a bit short on drive against other teams.

by **redhayesy** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 6:58 pm

Effes wrote:I'd stick with the usual formation for this game, but put Benny on the left if Riera is not eligible.

totally agree mate. if everyone's fit stick with it,otherwise the rotation rage thread will be in force already this early on in the season! :eyebrow

by **Toffeehater** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 7:01 pm

Read that riera is in the squad tonight , which means we could see both him and benny starting

by **Dundalk** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 7:04 pm

Toffeehater wrote:Read that riera is in the squad tonight , which means we could see both him and benny starting

Once Babel is at home rapping ill be happy

by **Bammo** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 7:08 pm

Team news: Ayala and Benny in for Skrtel and Babel

by **Dundalk** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 7:08 pm

The Reds XI in full: Reina, Insua, Johnson, Ayala, Carragher, Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Voronin, Riera, Ngog, Babel, Kelly.

by **Toffeehater** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 7:13 pm

Good team though would have started Riera in place of Lucas , throwing stevie back with masch and yossi nbhind torres

by **Bad Bob** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 7:15 pm

Let's hope Ayala's been studying the tape of the Delap long throws these last few days.

by **Toffeehater** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 7:16 pm

Apparently Micky Quinn has just said on TalkShit that he (rafa) stormed out of Anfield this morning and Sammy Lee will be manager for tonight.

Paddy from PaddyPower has just been on too and said that 'he's 100% gone'. They've suspended betting on him being the next manager to leave his post.

by **TheLad** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 7:17 pm

Starting team is:

. Reina
Johnson - Carragher - Ayala - Insua
Mascherano-Lucas
Kuyt - Gerrard - Benayoun
Torres

Should be good enough... I don't know.

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