rikf

I think its more of a 4-3-3 that Rafa has "Stumbled" Upon When we are defending the midfield looks like this... -------Mascherano-----Alonso--------- ---------------Gerrard---------------- And when attacking Alonso can push further up alongside Gerrard. Like so ----------Mascherano------------ ---Gerrard------------Alonso----

Is the game on tv anywhere?

I was in Estonia this weekend and after watching the mighty Springboks crash admittedly brave and tenacious England team anyways I got chatting to a Norwegian bloke he reckons he us mates with Riise says it is likely although not a dead cert that Riise will be moving to villa, admittedly he didn't say it was a dead cert but they where in negotiations. I for one would be happy I think that although he has some very good qualities, stamina power etc he is just technically limited for the kind of football Rafa wants to play. Anyways just passing on a bit of a tidbit.

fockers

Anyone know if this is on TV anywhere? on sat football it says it will be on Setanta sports, but when I look at the guide on my tv i cant see anything. Is setanta sports the same as setanta sports 1 ??

Was actually very impressed with him tonight, didnt do anything spectacular but some very nice clean crisp passing.

Agree re Alonso, His first touch is always into space, sign of a class player

Yes but was the agent aware that he was being recorded? If not then surely that evidence is void?

I hope we see .............Reina................ Finnan Carara Agger Arbeloa .......Alonso...Mascherano.... ............Gerrard............... Pennant...................Babel ..............Torres..............

I would love to see us play 4-3-3 lining up something like this... When attacking. The back 5 ------Mascherano ----Gerrard ----Alonso Pennant-------------Babbel ----------Torres When defending. The back 5 ---Mascherano Alonso ----------Gerrard Pennant----------Babbel ----------Torres Think that team could tear most teams apart while still remaining pretty solid.

With Riise I think its an issue of will the team score more goals with the added goal threat that he provides, or will the score more with a better footballer playing at left wing/left back. Its a fine balance personally I am of the opinion the whole team would play much better if we could play a more symmetrical game. I feel at the moment some players may be reluctant to pass to the left and would rather try and send the ball right even if the left is the better option. I also feel it makes us easier to defend against,

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The thing with Riise is he remind me of Cisse in a way, both excellent athletes, but with somewhat limited footballing abilities. Now admittedly Riise does add a goal threat down the left hand side, but the question is would the team provide a great goal threat with someone down the left hand side who was more intelligent with the ball, and who could maybe go past his man using a bit of guile rather then the classis Riise/Cisse technique of punt it past them and try to race past which rarely if ever works. I Also think sometime he may be trying to hard to do something special all the time, like he is trying to seek approval from the rest of the team/the fans /who knows. Iv lost count of the number of times iv seen Riise receive the ball at lb/lm and seen someone screaming for him to play them in with a quick pass and he just dithers on the ball and the opportunity for some nice incisive attacking play is lost. Now im not tactical genius but I feel with him in the team maybe opposition teams can concentrate there defense more to our right hand side. I don't think he is a bad player to have in the squad as he does provider a goal threat, but I do believe the team would play better with a better "footballer" in that position.

Ill never forget a pass he made when I just thought what is he doing and Murphy I think it was suddenly found himself in acres of space, class class player, probably one of the most talented players ever to play up front for liverpool

how cisse isnt on everyones list is unreal

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OK Seeing as no one paid attention, in the videio at about 36 seconds there is a quote from one Ryan Babel it goes something like this "Before a match I always go to the WC to do some things who are top secret" also a quote from van Basten likening him to the new Henry

about 36 seconds in

but have we improved enough

I thought thats why we where linked with Henry

I read somewhere that Reyes is educationally sub normal, not a rafa player me thinks

100 pages woohoo

I demand a Sunday signing

So have we signed any big names?

speaking of Makaay iv always rated him, think he could do a job