Kindred

Have I missed something re Itandje? He's not made the bench for the last 2 games. Is he injured?

Kewells on.

With injuries to Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres, the Reds boss is likely to call upon some members of Gary Ablett's reserve team for the clash with the Championship outfit, as Liverpool aim to book their place in the last eight of the competition. "We'll have to see who we play," added Benitez. "It depends on which players are fit. Lucas Leiva needs to play, Sebastian Leto needs to play and so does Fabio Aurelio. So I don't know how many players we can use from the reserves, but I know I will also need some of the senior players. "Harry Kewell played 45 minutes in the reserves last week and he too needs to play games, so we will see." >>>>>

For me, one our main problems is that all bar one (Pennant) of our 'wide' players, aren't wide players. They can all do a job there, but look like they could perform so much better tucked in. So for me, lets play them in their most natural posiitons. ............................Reina Finnan........Carragher.......Agger........Arbeloa ..................Alonso.......Mascherano ......Gerrard........Benayoun.......Babel ...........................Torres Voronin, Kewell & Kuyt would easily slot in to any of the three position behind the Torres as well. With a solid defensive base behind them, I think the front 4 players would combine well in and around the box and all of them are goal scorers.

Thats certainly the obvious thing that has changed and coincided with the downturn in form, confidence and belief in each other. It may simply be the 'friendly arm round the shoulder type management' that Pako apparently brought to the table. As rafa has intimated, he is not a manager, he is a coach. An extremely capable and thorough coach, but his approach seems to treat all people as machines or pawns on the chess board rather than a group of individuals needing to be merged into one team, with confidence and belief in each other. Thats what seems to be missing and it seems to have gradually drained most of the confidence away from the individuals as well as the team.

It certainly wouldn't hurt for an odd home game to give the lad a chance to develop, even just as a sub for 20-30 mins.

That may be why we haven't seen that much of him, as he is too like Gerrard, in that his game is about getting forward from midfield, a bit like Gerrard. Perhaps, rafa doesn't feel he can play both of them together as he seems to like a holding midfielder as well. Rafas not likely to 'rest' Gerrard that often so the games he can be involved in are few and far between, unless Gerrard moves to the right!

I don't claim any great inside knowledge. Rafa said so in an interview on eseason! No criticism or praise was intended of anyone, merely thought it was interesting as you rarely get that kind of info from managers about tactical decisions within a game. No big deal though.

It wasn't rafas decision for him to push on - he took it upon himself to do it.

My two penneth using the players currently available.(not for a minute do I think rafa would do it mind!) Obviously, Alonso for Lucas & Agger for Hyypia when available. Could argue for Kuyt or Benayoun for Voronin as well. ................................Reina Finnan........Carragher........Hyypia......Arbeloa ....................Lucas............Mascherano .....Gerrard.............Voronin............Babel ..............................Torres Theres 4 (maybe 5 with Lucas) there that have shown they can score goals, whilst IMO puts Gerrard and probably Babel in their most effective positions whilst providing a solid defence and lots of natural triangles through which to move the ball. Haven't done a formation for ages, times must be bad!

Whilst my personnal preference is for 4231 as mentioned above, I really can't see Rafa changing it. He tried different formations in his first season here and has since reverted to 442 and pretty much stuck with it, apart from the odd occassion and as rafa says "I always say the same thing. What is the difference between 4-3-3 and 4-5-1? Only whether you play the wingers deep or high. Then if you press the other team they will play deep, 4-5-1. And if you cannot press them because they are stronger than you, they'll play 4-3-3. People talk about systems, but maybe they don't know a lot about systems. "At Valencia we played 4-2-3-1. And here, when we play our best football, we play 4-2-3-1. When we control the game, when we score goals, we play 4-2-3-1. What's the difference? It depends on the second striker. If he goes back to defend, it's 4-2-3-1. If he stays up, it's 4-4-2. It's the same. The system is only designed around numbers. The most important thing is what the players do." Re Pako ,one possible concern maybe now that hes gone, there is noone in the backroom staff able to stand up to rafa and say no, which would at least make him stop and rethink on occassions.

Waiting for his kid to be born.

FABIO AURELIO was expected to make his long awaited recovery from injury in a behind closed doors friendly today. The Brazilian is pencilled in to face Crewe in a reserve game scheduled at Liverpool’s Academy. Providing the full- back feels comfortable enough to start, he’ll be involved for the first time since snapping his Achilles tendon in the 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in last year’s Champions League quarter-final first leg. “We hope Fabio will be able to play in this game,” explained manager Rafa Benitez. “He’s been training well and now we think he is ready. It’s positive news to have him back.” here

Was he not just checking the ball was on the spot properly? - partly trying to put him off as well, in doing so

No problem. Thats just what it sounded like after a few listens, but it wasn't overly clear. Haven't seen the whole game as i had to work that day.

I don't know if this was picked up elsewhere but I've just watched the highlights on .tv and when Carragher came off and had words with the official & rafa (couldn't work out what he said to the official) but it certainly sounded like he said to rafa that 'I could've gone on', to which rafa just patted him on his back. I know theres always a bit of adrenalin flowing around which can take some of the pain away at the time but its possible its not 'that' serious and maybe a week or twos rest and he'll be ok. I seem to remember him breaking his leg years ago and came back to play in the derby about 5-6 weeks later and play well. He seems to be a quick healer, which can only be positive news.

LIVERPOOL are likely to face Sunderland without skipper Steven Gerrard this weekend. Gerrard missed last night’s international with a broken toe, and despite playing through the pain barrier against Chelsea, he’ll need rest to make a full recovery. It’s expected the captain will be out for at least ten days, ruling him out of the trip North East and making him a doubt for the return Champions League tie with Toulouse on Tuesday. A reassessment of Gerrard’s injury will be made when club doctor Mark Waller returns from his international duties. here Xabi & Masch then? or will Sissoko get a look in?

I was wondering if it was maybe a little gentle reminder to watch his behaviour on the field after reacting to that challenge and getting booked. We have a pretty good disciplinary record generally and Rafa may want to remind him of his responsibilities to the team not to put himself in a position where he may get sent off. I think its likely that Benayoun will start anyway mind.

Its from .tv

Players can still sign post dated or pre-contracts can they not?

Its interesting to note that all hell broke loose on here when ManU 'signed' Nani & Andersson and we hadn't signed anyone, yet according to the BBC they've actually only just now signed their contracts. Looks like their negotiations take them about the same amount of time as ours.

2. 1939

I agree actually about Benayoun. Merely meant to imply he would be a financial bargain in the modern football world.

I suggested that theory on another thread. Surely, rafa would at least have a ball park figure to work with by now and if he wasn't happy would not serious rumours of him wanting out have started by now. We maybe have a reasonable amount to spend but maybe rafa wants the bulk of it to spend on one or two high quality(expensive) players so to facilitate that he needs to pick up the odd bargain player (Benayoun?).

I think the one thing that most people would agree on, is that if Rafa wasn't given a reasonable amount to spend, then he would walk out. I know during the season all the quotes were saying that no budget had been set, only a plan for the way ahead, but surely by now, Rafa would at the very least have a ball park figure from which to work and plan. So, if the amount wasn't as much as implied so far, then would we not of at least heard of an odd rumour of how Rafa isn't happy and is considering his future at the club. Now I haven't read every article out there, so maybe Ive missed it (feel free to point one out which directly suggests this), but I haven't seen anything seriously suggesting this as a possibility. What has been seen is attempts to sign the odd player, like Benayoun and links, left right and centre to every player on the planet! Perhaps, Rafa has a reasonable amount to spend and wants to throw the bulk of it on one (or two) players from Spain, which can't really be done, whilst their league is still coming to a close. This would maybe sort one (or two) positions out for the next few years and next summer, he can add another one (or two!) high quality (expensive) players to finally fill one of the few positions we have serious requirements for, in what is largely a very good team. This policy would probably require one or two bargains to be found in the mean time, to temporarily fill a void (Benayoun/ Voronin etc?) Personally, I tend to prefer this policy, to getting 4 or 5 mid range players who have mid range qualities each summer and I think also suggests a more positive plan to all concerned.