If it was your choice would you start up front tonight?

[Romario]

Obviously Rafa has been planning for this game for quite some time but sometimes football is more simple than that.

Perhaps Crouch will start but the fact I'm even asking this question suggests that like before that's not always the case.

 

Crouch is probably feeling as confident as is possible right now and a couple of away goals and we're laughing. As a manager do you go with your

inform players and let them do the talking or do you stick to older plans that might not take into account a terrific hatrick just scored?

[honourablegeorge]

I think that without Alex, they might be vulnerable to a bit of the Crouch magic.

 

And Bellamy alongside him, to give them a whole other problem.

[Falconhoof]

Crouch and any other from Kuyt, Bellamy or Gerrard supporting.

[sutty]

I'd play the same team as Saturday save for Riise in for David.

[fellafeen]

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.

[Hassony]

I'd play the same team as Saturday save for Riise in for David.

no finnan?

 

On the question, i'd go with bellamy and kuyt, spring crouch from the bench if needed.

Crouch has never been that good coming of the bench, would rather start with the man in form

[Mikey]

I'd play Bellamy and Crouch up front.

 

I don't think Rafa will though.

[Guest Prongsy]

Crouch and Kuyt.

 

Easily our best two front men, Kuyt upfront for a change with the big man sitting back linking play.

[Buzz]

Crouch and Bellamy leading the line, Kuyt behind, mid three of Alonso, Mascherano and Gerrard if fully fit.

Edited April 3, 2007 by Buzz

[Benitez]

I'd love to see Crouchygol and Bellamy play

 

 

but it's gonna be Kuyt and Bellamy

[Romario]

I'd love to see Crouchygol and Bellamy play

but it's gonna be Kuyt and Bellamy

This is something that bothers me a little I have to say. Granted we have players all fresh but regarding the league they are currently fresh for 3rd or 4th spot.

 

How many games has C Ronaldo been rest for? Would Drogba be rested if he'd just scored a hatrick going into an away CL game where goals are gold?

[abc]

Gotta be Crouchy and Bellamy or Gerrard for me.

[Bailo]

Would Drogba be rested if he'd just scored a hatrick going into an away CL game where goals are gold?

Crouch, if he doesn't play, won't be dropped for fatigue reasons. It'll be because he doesn't fit into Rafa's gameplan for this specific game.

[Kahnee]

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.

 

I think he drills the whole team, so everyone knows what each position should be doing. That way, he can pick whoever after watching the warm ups.

 

Oh, and to answer the question, Crouch will be on the bench

Edited April 3, 2007 by Kahnee

[bazz]

Should be Crouch and Bellamy - but I think Kuyt will make he way into the team for some reason.

[JonShar]

This is something that bothers me a little I have to say. Granted we have players all fresh but regarding the league they are currently fresh for 3rd or 4th spot.

 

How many games has C Ronaldo been rest for? Would Drogba be rested if he'd just scored a hatrick going into an away CL game where goals are gold?

 

You can't compare Crouch to Drogba - us without Crouch and Chelsea without Drogba are entirely different propositions. And if Crouch doesn't play tonight it won't be because he's rested, it'll be because Rafa thinks Bellamy and Kuyt will have more chances of scoring.

 

FWIW I think Crouch will start.

[psl]

Crouch and Bellamy for me.

 

Think it'll be Kuyt and not Crouch though.

[sutty]

Oops.. Yes, Finnan for Arbeloa

[fabfive]

Same line up as Saturday..Just Crouch.

 

Give the players a chance to bed that system in to make it more effective.

[Stevie H]

Same line up as Saturday..Just Crouch.

 

Give the players a chance to bed that system in to make it more effective.

bit harsh on finnan no?

 

i think he'll put arbeloa across to left-back and bring finnan back in.

 

midfield almost picks itself.

 

kuyt and bellamy up top.

[matlfc]

Kuyt and Bellamy.

Can i also add that the wait for tonight is killing me. Not helped by a very slow day in work.

[Bootle Buck]

I would put Crouch and Bellamy upfront. I think the combination of Bellamy's speed and Crouch's size would cause them all kind of trouble. I think Rafa will keep it tight in midfield and Kuyt may congest it even further. Crouch deserves a chance to play right away after Saturdays's perfrormance and a few weeks of rest.

[Stevie H]

crouch in the absence of alex for them would make sense, not least from dead balls.

 

this is a really nice dilemma to have by the way, considering that in the CL winning season in '05 we were going into games with the huckerbyesque baros, sinama-pongolle and neil mellor.

[Jay M]

Crouch, with Gerrard playing off him.

 

Same team as Saturday except Finnan instead of Arbeloa.

[McBain]

If you'd asked me saturday morning i'd have said Kuyt and Bellamy. And that's almost certainly what rafa would have been thinking. I dont see any change of mind from the boss because of one game and i would probably agree with that.

 

We need mobility and workrate tonight. Crouch can be an option from the bench