bit worried about our style of paly over the next few games

[Molby]

Spurs and Arsenal at home, Everton and Blackburn away - realistically, it could all be over if we have a bad run in these games

 

what worries me, and has always been at the back of my mind as Rafa has improved the squad gradually over the seasons, is making the transition from a team that tactically and through sheer determination, could win individual games and cup ties against supposedly superior teams - to a team that plays more expansive, attacking football

 

without Xabi AND Agger, I think we lose so much fluency, passing and rhythm that a change of tactics might be called for

 

we simply will not be able to replace like with like and therefore have nobody to carry the ball out of defence, nor keep the tempo and ball retention up in midfield - the players coming in have other attributes and I think we should maximise them

 

so, yes I'd like to see Torres and Crouch up front, Masch and Momo in the middle and Gerrard out wide

 

these are bruising encounters away and tricky games at home and I reckon win at all costs is the way to go here, not simply subbing like for (un) like and hoping all will be okay

[fred milne]

I think Blackburn and Everton away are the kind of games Rafa picks Sissoko for even when everyone is fit and Spurs look so fragile at the moment that we should be able to overcome them at Anfield even without Alonso and Agger.

 

The Arsenal game is the interesting one. Perhaps the two of them may be back by then. Its definitely a game for your keep-ball XI.

[yellow jumper]

The Arsenal game is the interesting one. Perhaps the two of them may be back by then. Its definitely a game for your keep-ball XI.

 

think in midfield you have to get in their faces too, don't think they often get beaten by sides who simply try to play them on their own terms. i'd be keen to have mascherano in there to watch their midfield runners, particularly fabregas.

[JohnnyH]

Yeah, but imagine we WIN those 4 games........

[Cooldude]

The way we're playing atm will just play into most of those side's hands, particularly the blues***es. I sincerely hope we don't just hoof the goddamn ball upfield to those c***s all the time, they'll beat us with the same game on sheer experience

 

The derby's the one I'm most worried about, I really can't cope any season of losing to those f***in' t***s

[Molby]

Yeah, but imagine we WIN those 4 games........

exactly

 

and I think we would win them all if we played a longer ball game at times (lets face it we will anyway without Xabi and Agger) with the personnel to receive the balls up front and win it back when moves break down in midfield

 

I would have no problem playing Kuyt at left mid btw, ahead of Riise or Babel - with Masch and Momo in the middle and Stevie right

[The_Adder]

Yeah, but imagine we WIN those 4 games........

 

Nice thought!

 

Sissoko vs Fabregas would be good for us, espesh as he picks the ball up from deep alot, get the man from Mali on his and don't let him breath!

[honourablegeorge]

Don't see anything in our form over the last few league games to suggest we'll win all four. I'd be amazed if we got eight points.

[Guest Lennon]

Don't see anything in our form over the last few league games to suggest we'll win all four. I'd be amazed if we got eight points.

 

That's the spirit.

[honourablegeorge]

Don't mean to be negative like, but you do get the sense it's not all running smoothly for us.

[Dan]

Don't mean to be negative like, but you do get the sense it's not all running smoothly for us.

 

Nor Chelsea or the Mancs. Its only Arsenal who are flying

[fred milne]

think in midfield you have to get in their faces too, don't think they often get beaten by sides who simply try to play them on their own terms. i'd be keen to have mascherano in there to watch their midfield runners, particularly fabregas.

Yes he and Alonso did well against the Arsenal midfield in the home game last season. However, judging by the form Fabregas and Flamini are currently in, I doubt they'll have it quite so easy this time around.

[Sion]

Don't mean to be negative like, but you do get the sense it's not all running smoothly for us.

 

We'll up our game when we play the better teams and Everton.

Edited October 2, 2007 by Sion

[Guest Lennon]

When does it ever run smoothly for anyone?

 

Winning the league is not just about sweeping teams aside with flowing football, you have to fight and work your b******s off, sometimes way below your best.

[Magic8Ball]

maybe against arsenal we'll be looking at a 4321 formation with Mash, Momo and Gerrard in midfield - then Benayoun. Voronin as the link to Torres

 

I have to say if we win those 4 games ......

[Ronnie Whelan]

Nice thought!

 

Sissoko vs Fabregas would be good for us, espesh as he picks the ball up from deep alot, get the man from Mali on his and don't let him breath!

 

 

No way, that encounter has Mascherano written all over it. His form is not great at the moment but he does tend to deliver on those occasions.

[CarraLegend]

We'll t*** Arsenal and Spurs, the s***e at 12.45 on a Saturday is the hardest game with Alonso probably still out, Mascherano having a midweek game in Venezuela and Gerrard playing in Russia on the Wednesday night.

[CarraLegend]

Don't mean to be negative like, but you do get the sense it's not all running smoothly for us.

 

We've had a few patchy games, we're not exactly in a disaster zone, we're still unbeaten this season.

[owenthomas]

That's the spirit.

[abc]

Toure is 5'10".

Gallas is not much taller.

Senderos by admission of some Arsenal fans is very inconsistent.

Their stand in centreback Gilberto is about Toure's height as well.

 

Last year Peter Crouch was excellent against Arsenal at Anfield.

He scored a hattrick.

Peter Crouch is 6'7".

Therefore Peter Crouch will start against Arsenal.

I think.

 

Hopefully with Torres.

Mascherano and Alonso in the middle.

Gerrard and someone else (Babel) out wide.

Edited October 2, 2007 by abc

[Rimbeux]

exactly

 

and I think we would win them all if we played a longer ball game at times (lets face it we will anyway without Xabi and Agger) with the personnel to receive the balls up front and win it back when moves break down in midfield

 

I would have no problem playing Kuyt at left mid btw, ahead of Riise or Babel - with Masch and Momo in the middle and Stevie right

 

I dont really follow your logic. We're hardly conceding chances, let alone goals. We are having a few issues scoring, making chances and getting people into dangerpous positions, so we should therefore play tactics that will make us stronger defensively, but weaker going forward?

 

 

 

The way we're playing atm will just play into most of those side's hands, particularly the blues***es. I sincerely hope we don't just hoof the goddamn ball upfield to those c***s all the time, they'll beat us with the same game on sheer experience

 

The derby's the one I'm most worried about, I really can't cope any season of losing to those f***in' t***s

 

All these sides will be happy if we went long for different reasons. Everton and Blackburn as you say, on sheer experience of the game and wanting to reduce it to a mainly physical dual. Spurs because they are having real trouble with tracking midfield runners and covering the space in front of the back four, and Arsenal because it will give them loads of possession away from home, and not require a big defensive stint from their midfield. It may cause Arsenal some jip if (long shot) they have both Gallas and Toure out for example. Sometimes you have to be brave enough to play your football

[Cooldude]

Everton has a good physical defence that will deal with anything long. What they won't be comfortable with is being run at with pace. Hence the likes of Gerrard, Torres, Pennant or even Babel will be important. I'm worried about Sami going up against Yakubu. Too much pace for Sami

 

We can't just give away possession too easily to Arsenal, coz we either won't get it back for a while or they'll just run at us and destroy us.

 

If Robinson starts for Spurs I won't even be worried how we play

 

While the Derby's the one I least wanna lose, the one match I'm most worried about is Blackburn. They're bloody in form and Santa Cruz and Bentley might prove to be a real handful for our defence

Edited October 3, 2007 by Cooldude

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Arsenal are in great form but we should be looking to beat them at Anfield. abc makes some good points about our strikers vs. their defence and our midfield really should have the upper hand on theirs. Not saying theirs isn't good, but they shouldn't be able to match us physically or defensively. If there's anyone who can curb Fabregas (whom I'd say is still too easily dominated against top opposition) Mascherano is it. All in all, I'd even say that the way our team is composed and set up contra Arsenal's - ours is almost ideally suited to dealing with them, as top team encounters go.

[RP]

Toure is 5'10".

Gallas is not much taller.

Senderos by admission of some Arsenal fans is very inconsistent.

Their stand in centreback Gilberto is about Toure's height as well.

 

Last year Peter Crouch was excellent against Arsenal at Anfield.

He scored a hattrick.

Peter Crouch is 6'7".

Therefore Peter Crouch will start against Arsenal.

I think.

 

Hopefully with Torres.

Mascherano and Alonso in the middle.

Gerrard and someone else (Babel) out wide.

 

 

 

You only needed to add "STOP" at the end and I would have been convinced you are using a telex machine.

[cymrococh]

Toure is 5'10".

Gallas is not much taller.

Senderos by admission of some Arsenal fans is very inconsistent.

Their stand in centreback Gilberto is about Toure's height as well.

 

Last year Peter Crouch was excellent against Arsenal at Anfield.

He scored a hattrick.

Peter Crouch is 6'7".

Therefore Peter Crouch will start against Arsenal.

I think.

 

Hopefully with Torres.

Mascherano and Alonso in the middle.

Gerrard and someone else (Babel) out wide.

Doesn't scan.