fellafeen

I think Arbeloa has to play on sunday, maybe even alongside Carra so we can push up a bit. I'd go with Pepe Finnan Carra Arbeloa Riise Gerrard Alonso Masch Benayoun Torres Kuyt

--------------------------REINA-------------------------- FINNAN----CARRAGHER-----AGGER------------RIISE ------------MASCHERANO---ALONSO------------------ PENNANT-------------GERRARD---------------KEWELL ---------------------------KUYT-------------------------- I'd like to see this 11 too, it matches them where they are strongest (midfield) yet there's plenty of attack there too. If that 11 does start what'll the bench be, reckon robbie will be squeezed out Dudek Arbeloa Hyypia Sissoko Gonzales(Zenden if he makes it) Crouch Bellamy

Tim Vickery was just on Newstalk in Ireland, he's the beeb's south american football corr. Was raving about Lucas, top top player. Said he sees a midfield of masch and lucas in the future, said he's an all energy player likes to bomb forward, scores. Reckons he's the business. Also doesnt think Paletta will ever make it.

This is something i have always wondered about rafa. We all know he puts a lot of tactical work into games like this. How does he do this if the players dont know where/if they are playing up until an hour before kick off. Take for example arbeloa against messi, he only found out an hour before kick off he was playing left full. How had he worked on defensive lines and positioning etc. This is not a criticism, just curious. On the question, i'd go with bellamy and kuyt, spring crouch from the bench if needed.

Kuyt will definitely play, he's dutch, for this reason i'm fearful he might play zenden on the left. Hoping he goes for this, tough on crouch but he's a great possibility from the bench Finnan Carra Agger Arbeloa Gerrard Alsonso Masch Riise Kuyt Bellamy

We gave away possesion a lot due to the strict gameplan we had in place in the second half. To keep possession ala arsenal and other fancy dan teams, its all about pass and move. The midfield were (rightly imho) instructed to hold their positions and to just hit the channels to bellamy or later on pennant. Yeah we gave away possession but holding barca is all about not giving away space. It was purely tactical and maybe what giles (ignore dunphy) was saying that the moral courage wasnt there to take barca on a pure football basis which might have been daft given the current respective resources. However there is a bit of me that does think that barca werent at the races and if we did take them on we could have beaten them quite easily but I think Rafa probably toyed with this and thought the wiser of it. Who cares, we're through. Also give me giles, brady and the dunph any day over fake laughter and stupid jokes about not remembering the era when certain pundits played cos it was so long ago...christ on a bike!!!

Finnan Carra Kuyt

george hamilton was just on rte news, live from anfield there, right down by the barca fans, they seemed well up for it, singing their one song, that barca barca one, seemed to be a nice sprinkling of fans inside already.

pepe, finnan, carra, agger, arbeloa, gerrard, sissoko, alonso, riise, kuyt, bellamy Just confirmed on SSN, ronaldihno, eto'o and messi up front too

Pepe's really on fire at the moment, its frightening to think he's only 26 too, years off his prime.

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Chelsea are on RTE, liverpool are on free setanta

3-1 bikey

Gone now for debut for guthrie

Sissoko is still on

Crewe 1-1 against the others

I remember hearing some talk at the end of last season that the powers that be were thinking of increasing the number that can be named as subs. Dont want any disharmony in the ranks and not being part of the match day squad at the very least could be demoralising for some.

Is sinama coming back?

Eddie Jordan is a big celtic fan i think.

Lawro was on the last word (radio show in ireland) last night and said he heard of a big meeting today that will involve a massive investment in the club.

Who do people think it will be, not who they would prefer it to be. Who's Rafa gonna pick

Pardew has mentioned that his tactics will be dependent on alonso's availabilty which might just be counteracting perceived mind games, so maybe rafa's just counteracting the counteraction.

Alonso's fitness fight Xabi Alonso's chances of featuring in Saturday's FA Cup final appear to be receding despite the Spanish midfielder's anguished acceptance that missing the game against West Ham would be the most painful experience of his career. The 24-year-old landed awkwardly against Portsmouth on Sunday straining ligaments in his right ankle and has yet to resume training. Adding to his concern is his desire to be fit to represent Spain at the World Cup. Rafael Benítez said: "I'll have a clearer idea today but it all depends on what the doctor says." link

Lawro FA CUP SEMI-FINAL Chelsea v Liverpool (1715 BST) I can see this one being 0-0 after 90 minutes, 0-0 after extra-time and I have a sneaky suspicion Liverpool will edge it on penalties. There is such a fine line between these two teams and Liverpool are very good at stopping Chelsea playing, in fact they are excellent at it. Apart from the league game at Anfield this season, it is something they have done well at. With it being a semi-final and a nervy, tense affair at Old Trafford, I think Liverpool will get through, but I don't expect any goals to be scored. Match preview Prediction: 0-0, 0-0 after extra time, Liverpool to win on penalties.

formation anyone, reckon its nailed on to be -------------CR------------- SF------JC-------SH-----JAR ---------MS------XA--------- ---SG-------LG-------HK---- -------------PC--------------