Pompey away

[psl]

really have to send a team?

 

I wonder what our starting 11 will be there. I know one game at a time etc but I just don't see how any of our team can even begin to focus on this.

[Cunny]

Dudek

Finnan Hyypia Carragher Riise

Pennant Sissoko Alonso Gonzalez

Fowler Bellamy

[psl]

Thing is, it would be good if Rafa could forget al about it. Spend every day until Tuesday concentrating solely on how to do Chelsea.

[alias75]

Maybe Insua will start this one?

 

We dont have many options on the left so cant really afford an injury to Riise this week.

 

Dudek

 

Arbeloa

Hyppia

Carragher

Insua

 

Gonzalez

Sissoko

Mascherano

Pennant

 

Bellamy

Fowler

[Nerik]

Realistically I think it will be:

 

Reina

Arbeloa Sami Carra/Agger Riise

Pennant Sissoko Zenden Gonzalez

Bellamy Fowler/Crouch

[Mike]

the fact that we have played our last 3 games like testimonials had a massive bearing on that first half performance IMO.

you can't suddenly just turn it on. Id rather we went down there and went for it properly.

[Ben 23]

an injury to Riise this week.

 

Please let this be true...

[Mondavi]

the fact that we have played our last 3 games like testimonials had a massive bearing on that first half performance IMO.

you can't suddenly just turn it on. Id rather we went down there and went for it properly.

 

 

Spot on. Play the team we expect to put out against chelsea. They are playing big games twice a week at the moment, and look sharper for it. We need to build up some momentum, and as everyone looks very fresh, 90 minutes agaisnt portsmouth, followed by 72 hours rest will set us up nicely. Take off the likes of stevie with 20 to go maybe, but other than that, play the guys into form.

 

Resting the team and spending the time preparing is fine, but you can't beat competitive games to get your game sharpened.

 

We'll do these next tuesday, but we may need 3 goals to do it.

[Boca]

Please let this be true...

 

I hope that's a joke.

[ManxRed]

How tired will the youth team be after tonight's FA Cup final 2nd leg?

 

Plus, we'd only pay half price fares for them on the train to Portsmouth!

[alias75]

Spot on. Play the team we expect to put out against chelsea. They are playing big games twice a week at the moment, and look sharper for it. We need to build up some momentum, and as everyone looks very fresh, 90 minutes agaisnt portsmouth, followed by 72 hours rest will set us up nicely. Take off the likes of stevie with 20 to go maybe, but other than that, play the guys into form.

 

Resting the team and spending the time preparing is fine, but you can't beat competitive games to get your game sharpened.

 

We'll do these next tuesday, but we may need 3 goals to do it.

 

If the players cant get up for Tuesday they may as well give up playing football. No point risking injuries to most of our key players in a pointless league game.

[Mondavi]

If the players cant get up for Tuesday they may as well give up playing football. No point risking injuries to most of our key players in a pointless league game.

 

 

not a case of just "being up for it", it's about being sharp. We looked rusty and off the pace in the first half compared to them. I said before the game that our "freshness" and their "tiredness" could go either way. being fresh can also mean being rusty, and I think that showed. Hopefully, a 1-0 win for us and we should have the edge fitness wise in extra time.

 

don't agree with resting them to avoid injury, they need games to keep sharp, think that was clear last night.

[alias75]

Guess we'll have to disagree i think at this stage of the season the players have had plenty of match sharpness, at the end of the season its much better to be fresh, these guys have been playing week in week out for months missing 1 game 3 days after a CL game wont lose them any sharpness.

 

I just think we started cautiously yesterday and Chelsea took the initiative, how stupid would it be if we lost 2 or 3 key players to niggles in a pointless league game. Theres only a short turnaround after Pompey for the CL game so even a small knock could rule someone out, we shouldn't start any of the players that will start on Tuesday if we can get away with it.

[Dan]

If the players cant get up for Tuesday they may as well give up playing football. No point risking injuries to most of our key players in a pointless league game.

 

Precisely.

 

Absolutle madness sending out the starting 11 for Tuesday.

 

Last night will be the kick up the ar*se some of them needed.

[Chili Palmer]

the fact that we have played our last 3 games like testimonials had a massive bearing on that first half performance IMO.

you can't suddenly just turn it on. Id rather we went down there and went for it properly.

 

The match is too close for that Mike, I do agree that not having to play a match with great meaning since PSV away had an impact on our 1st half performance but they picked it up in the 2nd half and we are only 6 days away now. IMO we should rest everyone who is going to be involved against Chelsea. Hell I would even let Paco take the team and let Rafa get his game plan sorted.

[pipnasty]

the fact that we have played our last 3 games like testimonials had a massive bearing on that first half performance IMO.

you can't suddenly just turn it on. Id rather we went down there and went for it properly.

 

 

Agreed - a good victory at Pompey would do everybody good. Rotation of players throughout the season and the last 3 games means that the players should be rested enough already.

 

You can't legislate for injuries especially at this part of the season.

[alias75]

Exactly you just have to have faith that the atmosphere will have the boys adrenaline pumping and they'll start much faster than yesterday. Im sure Chelsea will be cautious from the start so that should hand the initiative to us. risking anyone that will start on Tuesday would be stupid.

 

Agreed - a good victory at Pompey would do everybody good. Rotation of players throughout the season and the last 3 games means that the players should be rested enough already.

 

You can't legislate for injuries especially at this part of the season.

 

It wouldnt necessarily have to be a bad injury though, the game against Chelsea is only 3 days after Pompey even a slight knock or muscle strain would rule somebody out. Let chelsea bust a gut on Saturday while all our starters rest and get ready for Tuesday.

[pipnasty]

It wouldnt necessarily have to be a bad injury though, the game against Chelsea is only 3 days after Pompey even a slight knock or muscle strain would rule somebody out. Let chelsea bust a gut on Saturday while all our starters rest and get ready for Tuesday.

 

It's a difficult call and there are convincing argument either way - I just think it took us too long to get going last night and that would be my main concern for Tuesday. Maybe the players could do with getting last night out of their system.

[alias75]

It's a difficult call and there are convincing argument either way - I just think it took us too long to get going last night and that would be my main concern for Tuesday. Maybe the players could do with getting last night out of their system.

 

I just think the atmosphere will be such that the players will come out firing i think having our strongest side available and being nice and fresh is far more important than 3 points against Portsmouth. Chelsea will be killing themselves for 3 points against Bolton we have the luxury of not having to do that this week, we should use that to our advantage.

[Bootle Buck]

the fact that we have played our last 3 games like testimonials had a massive bearing on that first half performance IMO.

you can't suddenly just turn it on. Id rather we went down there and went for it properly.

 

Spot on mate! We have played in first gear in our last 5 games and carried it over in the first half last night. We looked sluggish and not up for the challenge and much of it is from players being rested when they were finding good form. I still believe Good young players can run on adrenilan at this time of the season and why rest players as they are hitting good form. Point in being Crouch, he nets 4 goals in 2 games and then is rested. Why not let him keep playing and scoring.

 

The core of the Chelsea team in their latest run of form has largely been the same. They tend not to rotate as much as others., even when they won the league comfortbaly in the past two seasons.

Edited April 26, 2007 by Bootle Buck

[anny road]

he'll mix and match it

 

ther eis no way someone like Gerrard will start imo, nor will Finnan

 

Reina

 

Arbeloa Hyypia Agger Riise

 

Pennant Zenden Alonso Gonzalez

 

Fowler Bellamy

 

or something

[alias75]

Rafa quoted in the Echo that a few of the young lads could be in the squad for Portsmouth, think that gives us a good indication of how he'll approach this game. Im expecting all our fringe 1st teamers to start and maybe even 1 or 2 young players.

[Alonso]

Rafa quoted in the Echo that a few of the young lads could be in the squad for Portsmouth, think that gives us a good indication of how he'll approach this game. Im expecting all our fringe 1st teamers to start and maybe even 1 or 2 young players.

Padelli

 

Arbeloa Paletta Hyypia Riise

 

Pennant Sissoko Zenden Gonzalez

 

Bellamy Fowler

 

Subs: Dudek Finnan Mascherano Crouch Lindfield

[alias75]

If form for the reserves is anything to go by Hobbs should be in there ahead of Paletta but Paletta seems to be ahead of him. Thats pretty much the team i was thinking maybe Insua on the bench or even starting if we're short of left sided players we cant afford an injury to Riise.

[Alonso]

If form for the reserves is anything to go by Hobbs should be in there ahead of Paletta but Paletta seems to be ahead of him. Thats pretty much the team i was thinking maybe Insua on the bench or even starting if we're short of left sided players we cant afford an injury to Riise.

Maybe Threlfall will get a place on the bench as cover for LB after his MOTM display last night?