alias75

A lot of the deadwood that will be moved on havent figured for us this season or did so sparingly. Le Tallec, Pongolle, Cisse were all out on loan this year but will be sold Zenden, Fowler, Dudek, Gonzalez were part of the first team but didnt play many games So thats 7 players there that will most likely leave but it doesn't really affect the squad too much, i agree we need 2 or 3 top players to slot straight into the first 11 and then maybe 2 or 3 young players like the Brazilian that will be part of the squad with the potential to be top players in the next few seasons.

Theres a clear improvement in the side compared to 2005 despite the result, for long periods we controlled a top side and made them look very ordinary, the next step is keeping that solid defensive part to our game and adding more going forward, which means better quality in the attacking third. No disrespect to any of our players but its clear we can improve in certain areas we need more top quality going forward todays game is a clear example of that.

How about this with Sissoko used to get in the face of Pirlo and Seedorf and stop them dictating. Milan are quite narrow too so playing Stevie on the right further forward and Kewell on the left could limit the amount of attacking their full backs do and if our full backs support well (knowing theres good cover there with Masch and Xabi) we could exploit that space out wide. ................Reina Finnan-Carra-Agger-Riise ...Masch-Alonso-Sissoko.. Gerrard.....................Kewell ..........Kuyt or Crouch........

Im wondering if Sissoko should start this one, Milan are similar to Barcelona in the midfield that they have some good ball players that given time can kill you, Pirlo, Seedorf and Kaka. Momo proved against Barcelona that hes very adept at stopping this type of player from having the time to play Im thinking 4-5-1 to start that solid 3 of Mascherano and Alonso holding and hopefully contaning Kaka, and Sissoko given a license to get in the face of Pirlo and Seedorf. That would allow us maybe to be more adventerous out wide which is where Kewell and Gerrard would play supporting Kuyt or Crouch. Milan are pretty narrow in midfield if those central 3 can contain them we could exploit some gaps out wide using Kewell and Gerrard and the fullbacks.

We may not have any choice with Xabi if he wants to go back home we have to sell because his contract is running down. All conjecture of course but if we dont have to sell anyone its an encouraging sign as to what could happen in the summer.

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv...-name_page.html Well Rafa thinks hes an attacking midfielder

The problem with that is everyone knows we have Reina and everyone knows Carson doesnt want to stay here if hes #2, on the plus side hes on a longish contract i think so we arent forced to sell for a price we arent happy with, i think 5 million would be good business for someone that only cost 750,000 im still not convinced he'll go on to be a top keeper for a top side. Its one thing to stand out in a side like Charlton but as we know the attributes needed to play for a top 4 side are not the same, its much more about concentration and not making ANY mistakes. Wish him well wherever he goes and hopefully the money we get for him can be used to good effect on the team.

Cant see what the problem is here, the examples they give simply arent comparable, we have a CL final in a few weeks and our league position can be no worse than 4th no matter what results we get in the last few games. Why should Rafa give a toss about any other club than Liverpool FC, what sort of stick would he get if we fielded our strongest team in the league and then lost Reina, Carra, Gerrard to injury? Jewell and Warnock should look closer to home for excuses.

Think Pennant has done enough that he can be considered back up for the right wing and you'd be fairly confident with him starting some games. That means if we sign another right sided player we can use Stevie mainly as a central midfielder or just off the striker, maybe that means one of Alonso or Sissoko can be sold? Then theres also the option of signing someone like Simoa who can play right and left, and hopefully one of Gonzalez, Kewell, Leto steps up.

Isnt it 7 subs in the CL if thats right there will be room for Kewell. Id go with Crouch and Kuyt too, we need them both Kuyt's workrate will be needed to stop Pirlo dictating things. And i think Crouch will cause them all sorts of problems. Probably will be Gerrard on the right with Alonso and Mascherano holding, think Gerrard can get at Maldini if we leave them 1 on 1. Looks like Zenden is going to play on the left although theres also the option of Arbeloa / Riise down the left.

The kid can play, anyone that saw him in La Liga last season knows the potential he has. He hasnt shown anything like that form for us...YET. It would be stupid to sell him after 1 season in which hes been injured and not played a lot, let him get a full pre-season and hopefully he gets some confidence in the pre-season games. I still think hes playing low on confidence and still trying to earn the respect of his team mates. Pennant was in a very similar position at the start of the season but hes had the game time to turn it around and now he looks a different player confidence wise, i think Gonzalez needs that chance too. The problem is going to be will we sign a left winger in the summer, and if we do that will limit the game time for Gonzalez. Hopefuly pre-season will be his chance to get some confidence.

Theres a huge difference between a long punt downfield and a long pass, we can be a direct team sometimes but the long passes are usually on the money. Wonder if hes saying these things because he knows if we are direct with Crouch and Kuyt thats probably the last thing the Milan defence wants. Someone like Nesta has always struggled against tall forwards, i remember Hartson giving him a torrid time for Wales, i think Crouch's height really could trouble them.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/...p;TEAMHD=soccer AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has dismissed Champions League final opponents Liverpool as a "long ball" side. Gattuso and his team-mates saw off Manchester United in the semi-finals this week to set up a repeat of the 2005 final, when Liverpool recovered from 3-0 down at half-time to win on penalties. Of the two sides, former Rangers midfielder Gattuso believes United are the better team and accused Liverpool of using outdated tactics. He said: "I feel there is a noticeable difference in talent between Manchester United and Liverpool and that we have beaten the better side of the two. "United have far more technical players, who are quick and able to do things on the ball. Liverpool do not have those individuals. "What they have is a way of playing as a team. They are like an Italian team of 10 years ago. All they try to do is defend together, with everybody behind the ball and just one striker. Every ball is a long ball."

It is a tough one and Charlton could be fighting for their PL life in that game we dont want to risk injury to any key player when we dont need to. Keeping them sharp is going to be Rafas main job but at the end of a long season (coming off the back of a world cup) i think freshness is much more important. Im sure some of those that will start in the final will figure in 1 of the 2 league games we have left but i think our real key players like Reina, Carragher, Gerrard shouldnt play and risk an injury.

If he thinks any of the current youth team should be in our first team hes deluded, when he said Spearing could play in the PL now you have to wonder if he really understands whats required to make it at the top level. No doubt hes produced some very good youth teams with the emphasis on team, but for Rafa its much more important to be producing players good enough for the first team, winning youth cups is great but finding players for the first team is ultimately the #1 priority of the academy.

4th place secure, the difference between 3rd and 4th is only financial but with the final to look forward to how do we approach the last 2 league games? We dont need to risk injury to any key players but we also want our players to maintain their sharpness for the final, i reckon we'll play mainly reserves and 1 or 2 youngsters, should the 11 that are likely to start the final not play again until the final? There was the same debate before the Chelsea game and i think Rafa got it right, as we saw Chelsea lost Carvalho who is a key player (it also meant Essien had to play out of position) we dont need to take the same risk. The question is can the players maintain their sharpness at Melwood? So id like to see the players that played against Pompey last week plus Kewell and maybe 1 or 2 from the youth cup side given a chance in the last 2 league games. And let the likely starters for the final rest and train and get ready for the final.

the revenge factor could also work against Milan, Gattuso today was like a man possessed and if things start going against him he could be a walking red card. Im more confident than last time but its still an even game, stopping Kaka will be half the battle.

We are better than 2 years ago and they are a little worse without Schevchenko and a few of their defenders that were old in 2005 are 2 years older. But they are coming into good form and in Kaka they have the best player in the world at the moment. We need to focus on stopping him and if we can do that it will go a long way to winning the match. Last time we were big underdogs this time i think its much more of a 50/50 game but Kaka is the obvious danger that we must stop. Could be Sissoko's job to stop him like he stopped Xavi and Deco against Barcelona, or maybe it'll be Mascherano and a Brazil v Argentina game within a game.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=4...es+Milan+repeat Rafa Benitez believes Liverpool will meet Milan in this season's UEFA Champions League final. The Spaniard has predicted that the two sides could contest the final in Athens in a repeat of the epic showpiece in 2005. Liverpool face holders and favourties Barcelona in the last 16 and Benitez is confident his troops can cause an upset again like they did against Milan two years ago. "I think the final will be Liverpool v Milan and that we will win again. It's sure," Benitez told Corriere dello Sport. Liverpool face the daunting task of Barcelona this week and Benitez has hit out at critics who have ruled out his side's chances of progressing. "In football there is nothing impossible," added Benitez. "We are ready to astonish you once again. "Whoever sees us as victims is wrong. We were the same also against Milan in Istanbul's final and to those who see us already beaten by Barcelona, I suggest to see how that match ends."

Are they like WBA but worse?

I think it was pretty telling tonight that in our most important game of the season Rafa went with Macherano and Gerrard. Rafa has always seen Alonso as his voice on the pitch in these key games. Alonso's recent form hasn't been great but he hasn't been poor either, but now we have Mascherano who can arguably play that position better. In an ideal world this will bring the best out of Alonso but i have a sneaky feeling he'll move back to Spain and maybe he'll be used to get someone we want that plays in Spain. Maybe the emergence of Pennant means Gerrard can play primarily as a central midfielder if we sign another right sided player we can now trust him and Pennant to cover the right side, meaning we probably do have 1 too many players in the middle, especially as the quality of player we have there it means 1 of them probably isnt to going to play as much as they should.

So who we signing from Spain Figaro?

What about the bright yellow kit? we've worn that in Europe too havent we?

He was the one signing this season id didn't think would make it but hes proved me wrong, hes improved as the seasons gone on which is what you'd expect for a new player at a new club. On current form he has to be in the first team his delivery is very good and he should hopefully only get better next season. I thought we'd wasted all that money based on his first few games but hes looking like a good signing.

could be used as a make weight for Richards