Armin_Tamzarian

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On paper that Torres Crouch partnership should work but in reality it doesn't. His Liverpool career is over, at least under Rafa. I'd play Crouch on Saturday with Benayoun off him at the front of a midfield 5 in the hope he could link as well with Crouchy as Garcia used to.

I'm another one less than bowled over by Ryan. I think he's overrated here and elsewhere. Whether he'll eventually turn those flashes into consistent form remains to be seen. However I think this post sums up Rafa's dilemma: There's simply no-one else that can play that role in the current formation. Benayoun is even more suited to a central role than Babel, Riise or Aurelio can do a turn as conventional left midfielders but the role demands more of a striker than a defender and either there would be too great a compromise. We need pace to support Torres / balance out Kuyt and we need a goal threat from both wide attacking players. We're currently paying 60k a week for a shot player who would once have fit the bill and once he's off the books hopefully we'll address this deficiency but for now if we play this formation Babel has to start. I wouldn't play him on Saturday either. Whether its because he's sprinting more than others I'm not sure but watching him you can almost name the moment when the energy runs out and he's coasting through a game. Kuyt and Torres can play 90 minutes at full pelt but Babel looks knackered after 60. Rest him and play him on Tuesday when hopefully we'll get another one of those tantalising flashes of brilliance.

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Sadly I took it that he's yet to take the one year option, if he signed in 2003 it would run till 09 but will do and we'll have to fork out even more cash. He won't get what we've been paying him as a sub in the French league.

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If this thread is going to record all incidents of Steve Bennet's ineptitude as a referee it's going to make the Van Der Vaart thread look like a one liner. He's appalling and his presence in any big game is almost a guarantee of trouble. However anyone who watches the game knows this so the players should've known it as well.

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4Pool has written a match report of the Semi final: http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index....4947#msg4054947 Seems a lot closer than the previous one sided affairs.

That's fair criticism. I've got a copy of 4-4-2, a book Andy Gray brought out in the early 90's. It's a decent exploration of formations and tactics at the time. Interestingly enough he's extremely respectful of the Liverpool sides he came up against, using them as the model for a defensive back four for example. His weekly tactics program around that time was also good, especially as fellow professionals were prepared to join him in discussing how they approached the game. Nowadays you're unlikely to get any kind of insight from him. He repeats the same tired mantras and such is his position within Sky that no-one takes him up on anything he says. Far too often his comments are more revealing of his personal prejudices than the match he's supposed to be watching. The other night he actually strayed into the bounds of comedy, so skewed was his perspective.

Masch Reina Torres

I'd like an option on Sky to watch a discussion on the match after the game. They could allow some of their junior reporters etc to host a discussion which eschewed all the tedious b******s peddled by Keys et al in favour of actual discussion of the football. Instead of desperately thrashing around in an effort to be controversial or to rehash the latest memes spouted by no nothing pundits this revolutionary new format would be exclusively devoted to the football.

This years competition has been brilliant. Whoever wins it is almost immaterial, for that club and its support it will mean everything. I loved watching us win the Cup but to us and the other big sides its another trophy. For whichever of these sides it will be the best thing to happen to them in many years. For the style of play and brilliant support I'd like West Brom to win, but Barnsley's heroics in disposing of us and Chelsea, Cardiff, for providing the perfect setting for our own recent triumphs and a top up of Robbies pension or Portsmouth for knocking out the Mancs will all be worthy champions.

In the knickerbocker glory that is a Man Utd cup defeat the inevitable Ferguson whinge is the cherry on the top. I thought it was a penalty on Ronaldo, not sure whether this is the rasperry ripple or the whipped cream on which the cherry sits. Either way it makes the dish complete.

Excellent scouting report. I think I'll print it out and use it as a comfort blanket as the nerves start to play up tomorrow.

If anyone ever doubted the effect that confidence can have on a footballer they'd just have to look at the performances of Dirk Kuyt. In recent weeks his touch has improved, his head has lifted and he's beginning to try stuff and have it come off. He's got to be one of the most likable players on our team so even his fiercest critics should be pleased for him.

Pennant looked ok coming on as sub against West Ham but he was rubbish yesterday. He's more suited to right side in a 4 4 2 rather than this fluid formation. That demands players comfortable with cutting in and switching and he does his best work on the wing.

I'll be there.

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There's no stability in having an owner in hock to the markets, desperatley overstretching to keep hold of a club he can't really afford. It's a recipe for disaster.

It's always the Oil Baron's Ball in Dallas.

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