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Gerrard and Barcelona

Figaro

By Figaro
in Liverpool FC

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honourablegeorge

honourablegeorge

Posted
Posted (edited)

Was in Seville a few days ago, and got to see the Betis-Barca game. Was really surprised with Barca, they lookd incredibly ineffective without Eto'o. Betis really got a them in the wide areas too, I think Gerrard could hurt them. And all their play seemed to come through the centre (where Saviola was totally ineffective) so I can see the sense of two holding players to block them - Betis doubled and tripled up on Ronaldinho every time he got the ball.

 

I didn't see much for us to worry about. Of course, Eto'o is another matter altogether.

Edited by honourablegeorge
Philby

Philby

Posted
Posted

Rafa play him on the right.

 

What would be your main reason for this mate?

 

1. To capitalise on weakness on Barca's left side? (Can't see Zambrotta being a weak link but perhaps he doesn't get enough protection?)

 

2. To beef up centre midfield (Gerrard may start on the right but tends to drift infield)

 

3. To neutralize Ronaldinho (Not an enviable job but he's capable of doing it along with Steve Finnan)

 

4. You've got a sneaky ?50 on Momo for first goal :-)

 

5. None or all of the above....

Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

They'll be up for the game alright.

 

I just think that Gerrard is not as good as he himself thinks he is playing in the middle.

 

Get him out wide and we can win the game there.

 

Pennant could also do a job out wide - there's enough space for him to run at defenders - but I'm afraid the occasion will get to him.

alias75

alias75

Posted
Posted

Ronaldinho never tracks back so the Barcelona left back is always exposed i was listening to the Danny Kelly podcast from near the beginning of the season and Ballague was making this exact point to van Bronkhurst who conceded it was very tough sometimes being the fullback in front of Ronaldinho and that particular week Valenica exposed that space well.

 

Think its a smart move you have Alonso and Momo or Mascherano in the middle and Stevie able to exploit that space on the right and also help contain Ronaldinho. The other key when playing Barcelona i think is stopping their central midfielders we have to press them and not give them the time and space to dictate things, Deco and Xabi are excellent with time to play but they arent the most athletic players we need to hassle them and get in their faces for 90min.

Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

Ronaldinho will be given a roving role - he'll be told to move as much as he can with the ball between our midfield and defence -

 

I think it will give us more options - I just don't think Gerrard is as good as he can be playing centre midfield.

Huyton_Red

Huyton_Red

Posted
Posted (edited)

I would always play gerrard wide right if we have sissoko and alonso fit this offers us far more balance in midfield and we need sissoko against a team like barcelona. He may go one up front over there and play all three in the middle

 

Big decision for me is up front, if we play two who should it be, for me definately bellamy and kuyt over there

 

Left wing and left back (due to riises form) is now the crucial area of the team we need to improve in the summer

Edited by Huyton_Sissoko
honourablegeorge

honourablegeorge

Posted
Posted (edited)

Left wing and left back (due to riises form) is now the crucial area of the team we need to improve in the summer

 

 

Nonsense. Kewell will be fit soon. It'll be like having a new player.

 

*tries to keep straight face*

Edited by honourablegeorge
Stevie H

Stevie H

Posted
Posted

Reina

 

Finnan Carra Agger Aurelio

 

Momo Maschy

 

Gerrard Alonso Gonzalez

 

Kuyt/Crouch

 

Anyone?

 

why would you play alonso in a role completely alien to him?

Rory Fitzgerald

Rory Fitzgerald

Posted
Posted

I have been thinking about this one alot

 

Reina

 

Finnan Carra Hyypia Agger Riise

 

...Gerrard Sissoko Alonso....

 

........Kuyt Bellamy................

 

Rationale

 

Defence

 

I would go with 5 at the back. Given the way Barca can move the ball at speed with fast players, a tight back line could reduce the spaces between the channels of our defenders to slip players in. Carra can move out to right back if Finnan moves up the pitch when we attack likewise we have that flexibility with the left, though I dont anticipate that much attacking from our wing backs. Also Barca have good attacking wide players, Finnan and Carra double up on the right leaving

Hyypia Agger and Riise to man the rest of the box.

Alternatively we have Agger and Riise to double up on the left side leaving Carra & Hyypia in the center and Finnan at the back post.

 

Midfield

 

I think our strongest midfield consists of Gerrard, Alonso and Sissoko. I dont think Gonzalez and Pennant would have much input into the game if we played 4 across midfield as I would anticipate that we will be the team without the ball for most of the match and would prefer to have added protection at the back. Gerrard on the right side of that 3 enables him to get back at Ronaldinho whilst also positioned to attack from that side of the field knowing that Sissoko and Alonso will be disciplined enough to hold if he breaks on a counter to support the attack

 

Attack

 

Kuyt and Bellamy. I would not play Crouch. I understand that he can hold the ball up but in order for that to work to the maximum, he would need support to get to him quick. Given that my personal choice of the team has no wingers and 2 holding midfielders, the only support would come from Gerrard and the running of Bellamy so he could get isolated. I would go for Kuyt because of his work ethic to support midfield and the options he can provide with his running and also Bellamy. If we are to get the ball deep, the pace and work rate and willingness of Kuyt and Bellamy to work the channels will be good outlets for Alonso and Gerrard. Those two can make something happen on their own whereas we would have to play higher up the pitch to get the best out of Crouch in my opinion.

 

 

 

I basically see the game in the Nou Camp as an effort to choke Barca, whilst having pace upfront in Bellamy Kuyt and possibly Gerrard to get forward aswell whilst knowing that we will not see ourselves naked at the back. I would not play Pennant nor Gonzalez as I think we would receive better support/protection by playing the additional center back and I would not play Crouch as I fell we will not get the best out of him.

 

As for Anfield, I think Crouch could be a potent weapon as our mindset will change and our attacking impetus will kick in - support should be plentiful and he could cause real problems for Barca at the back.

 

All in my humble opinion :unsure:

Huyton_Red

Huyton_Red

Posted
Posted

It is a lot easier to defend with a 4-4-2 than a 5-3-2 strangely

 

When you play 4-4-2 it is easy to sit with two banks of four and this is extremely hard to break down

 

Playing 5-3-2 often turns into 3-5-2 and leaves you exposed in wide positions, something barcelona would expose with the likes of rohnaldhino drifting wide all the time

Guest Red & Green

Guest Red & Green

Posted
Posted

Andy Gray will be outraged if Rafa plays Gerrard on the right.

 

 

Reason enough on its own!

Romario

Romario

Posted
Posted (edited)

Please just don't play Kuyt out on the left Rafa. It's all I ask.

 

P.S. Looking at the different formation threads here it's really gutting for us and Garcia that he's not available to face his old team. You just know he'd be good for a goal either home or away. Infact the worse he played the more stunning the goal would have been.

Edited by Romario
Rory Fitzgerald

Rory Fitzgerald

Posted
Posted

It is a lot easier to defend with a 4-4-2 than a 5-3-2 strangely

 

When you play 4-4-2 it is easy to sit with two banks of four and this is extremely hard to break down

 

Playing 5-3-2 often turns into 3-5-2 and leaves you exposed in wide positions, something barcelona would expose with the likes of rohnaldhino drifting wide all the time

 

I just dont think we have a solid wide player to use e.g. Pennant and Gonzalez - I think they are weak when we are up against it away from home. Their strenghts are attacking and I cant see us doing too much of that so I think we may get extra comfort playing someone in their natural role a bit deeper.

Romario

Romario

Posted
Posted

Kewell's fitness and Gerrard's form will be key in this.

Agreed.

 

Gerrard--Sissoko--Alonso--Kewell

-----------Kuyt--Crouch/Bellamy

 

That's a boss set up!

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