Bolo out for final?

[Boca]

BOLO ZENDEN?S Champions League dreams could be shattered after he picked up an ankle injury at Liverpool?s training camp in La Manga.

 

The Dutch midfielder, who had been earmarked to start against AC Milan next week, was on crutches last night and was today rated very doubtful for the final.

 

Manager Rafa Benitez has stopped short of declaring Zenden out of the running and says he?ll give the player as much time as possible to recover.

 

But it now looks like the boss must reassess his selection plans.

 

?Bolo injured his ankle in training yesterday,? said Benitez today.

 

 

?He?s been treated by the doctor and the good news is the swelling is not that bad. We will need to see how it is after more checks today.

 

 

?It will be difficult to say he will be fit for the final now, but I won?t say no yet.

 

 

?He is strong and determined and it may recover quickly. I still hope he will be okay.

 

 

?It will be a big disappointment for him and for us if it?s not possible. Bolo can bring character, experience and tactical knowledge to the team.

 

 

?He is one of the good options for the left side, but now we must see how he recovers and decide what to do.?

 

Echo

[Hieronymus Bosch]

Best not risk him

[Case]

Bad news. He'd have been important for us down that side.

[Benitez]

Mark Gonzalez probably kicked him, it's the only way he'll get in the squad

 

Shame for Bolo if he isnt able to make the squad.

[honourablegeorge]

Shame, he worked as hard as anyone to get us to the final, deserved an appearance, especially considering it's most likely his last game for the club.

[Stevie H]

mind games. to deflect from the kewell recovery.

[Rich Gobey]

Best not risk him

 

 

Nice sentiment.

[Phil236849]

mind games. to deflect from the kewell recovery.

 

 

more subtle than glender's "pretend you're injured, limp a bit" approach to the media

[The Hitman]

Shame for Bolo,I think he'd be a handy option to come off the bench.

[magneto]

Riise at left wing, Arbeloa at left back.

[Guest Greasy Belcher]

I think Rafa will start with Riise on the wing and drop him back for Kewell to come on after 60 minutes.

 

Rafa knows that this will be taken as mind games so he's doing a double mind game. Talk about Bolo / Kewell and all the while its Riise on the wing to start.

Edited May 18, 2007 by Greasy Belcher

[IgPig]

I think Rafa will start with Riise on the wing and drop him back for Kewell to come on after 60 minutes.

 

Rafa knows that this will be taken as mind games so he's doing a double mind game. Talk about Bolo / Kewell and all the while its Riise on the wing to start.

 

Or it could be a single mind game with a double bluff?

[Rimbeux]

Shame for Bolo,I think he'd be a handy option to come off the bench.

 

 

Think he was starting

[mm2259]

mind games. to deflect from the kewell recovery.

 

Another epic from Robert Ludlum...

[Gomez]

Didn't really want to see him starting, however anything that gives Rafa less options, is a bad thing.

[McBain]

A Kewell/Riise pairing hopefully

[mm2259]

Don't forget that in China it is the "Year of the Pig Footed Bandiocoot".... Kewell will start and with an omen like that backing him we can't fail.....

[Guest Finnan3]

Best not risk him

[Dan]

Think he was starting

 

I reckon thats spin.

 

Obvious alternative now would be to play Riise left with Arbeloa LB.

 

Reckon Kewell will start though and was always going to after Charlton

Edited May 18, 2007 by DS77

[fred]

I reckon that Rafa has not made his mind up at this point and that Zenden's injury limits his possibilities - he hates that, does Rafa

[Behind Enemy Lines]

smoke screen

[Zoob]

Riise at left wing, Arbeloa at left back.

 

I'd rather Riise at left back. Our standard back 4 hold a much better line. I think Arbeloa's a good player but we've conceeded a couple of goals where he's been a yard behind our other 3 defenders and he's played people on-side.

[magneto]