If you were Rafa

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

assuming the worst & Torres & Arbeloa don't start, how would you play it?

 

I'd be tempted to play it like an away & hit them on the counter. Maybe even a 4-3-2-1 - dreaded Terry Venables Christmas Tree formation...

 

With Carra at RB, Sami in the middle & Doss at LB. 3 in front, Xabi, Masch & Aurelio - he can double-up with Doss to help out at LB.

 

Then Babel, Gerrard & Derek.

 

That way you go compact when defending - effectively 7 defence minded players plus Reina, but when attacking, Aurelio & Babel can hit the left & right flanks respectively. That means we don't get many bodies in the box though, so Xabi or Masch would have to push up to wait on any balls coming back out

 

f*** knows

[Woodsyla]

assuming the worst & Torres & Arbeloa don't start, how would you play it?

 

I'd be tempted to play it like an away & hit them on the counter. Maybe even a 4-3-2-1 - dreaded Terry Venables Christmas Tree formation...

 

With Carra at RB, Sami in the middle & Doss at LB. 3 in front, Xabi, Masch & Aurelio - he can double-up with Doss to help out at LB.

 

Then Babel, Gerrard & Derek.

 

That way you go compact when defending - effectively 7 defence minded players plus Reina, but when attacking, Aurelio & Babel can hit the left & right flanks respectively. That means we don't get many bodies in the box though, so Xabi or Masch would have to push up to wait on any balls coming back out

 

f*** knows

Carra Sami Skrtel Dossena

Xabi Masch

Babel Gerrard Aurelio

Kuyt

 

Is the only sane line-up I can see with those two plus Riera missing.

[Stevie H]

can't believe you didn't call this thread 'you are the rafa'.

[fred milne]

Carra Sami Skrtel Dossena

Xabi Masch

Babel Gerrard Aurelio

Kuyt

 

Is the only sane line-up I can see with those two plus Riera missing.

Dossena v Robben = Sanity?

[Hassony]

Pepe

Carra Sami Skrtel Aurellio

Lucas Masch

Xabi

Gerrard Babel

Kuyt

[Chili Palmer]

Pepe

Carra Sami Skrtel Aurellio

Lucas Masch

Xabi

Gerrard Babel

Kuyt

 

 

Thats what I would do if Torres and co aren't fit but I would swap where Xabi and Lucas play.

[Woodsyla]

Dossena v Robben = Sanity?

Dossena and Aurelio V Robben. Fabio isn't going to be charging down the line in this one. If anything Doss would probably be the one getting forward making the odd overlapping run.

[Chili Palmer]

Dossena and Aurelio V Robben. Fabio isn't going to be charging down the line in this one. If anything Doss would probably be the one getting forward making the odd overlapping run.

 

 

yep, if both play it would have to be Aurelio at left back and Doss ahead of him. having said that if Arbeloa isn't fit expect Robben to play down their left and attacking Carra

Edited March 10, 2009 by Chili Palmer

[Snakebite]

Be shocked if we didn't see Masch on the left of midfield to deal with Benjamin Button.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

can't believe you didn't call this thread 'you are the rafa'.

I can, if you like

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Any chance of Agger being fit?

 

Then again, he hasn't played since 1914

[Chili Palmer]

Any chance of Agger being fit?

 

Then again, he hasn't played since 1914

 

 

Rafa said yesterday that he is out.

[Woodsyla]

Any chance of Agger being fit?

 

Then again, he hasn't played since 1914

That's ok, it doesn't kick off till 1945

 

[Leo No.8]

Reina

 

Carragher Hyypia Skrtel Aurelio

 

Alonso Mascherano

 

Babel Gerrard Dossena

 

Kuyt

 

Don't trust Dossena not to get ripped by Robben; I do like him as a player but he's been made to look silly at times by pace even from the likes of Bernard Mendy, and it would be a dangerous move defensively. Aurelio has to play left back.

 

Also although not ideal I think Dossena might actually be quite useful at left midfield.

 

All this said though, I think both Torres and Arbeloa will end up playing. Rafa is playing the game with his comments. In which case shift Carra into the middle, Sami on the bench, Dirk out to the right and possibly Babel over to the left with Dossena dropping to the bench also, depending on whether you think Aurelio can handle Robben on his own.

[tomasjj]

We need to take advantage of the space behind their fullbacks when they push up, so I would prefer the 4231 to the Venables formation.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

....................Reina

 

............Carra Hyypia Skrtel

 

Masch............................Dossena

 

..........Alonso Lucas Aurelio

 

.................Gerrard...............

 

..................Kuyt....................

 

Edit: Actually, on reflection, I wouldnt

Edited March 10, 2009 by Rory Fitzgerald

[Flasher]

Reina

 

Carragher Hyypia Skrtel Aurelio

 

Alonso Mascherano

 

El Zhar Gerrard Kuyt

 

Babel

 

Kuyt can help Aurelio

 

or

 

 

..........Reina

 

Carragher Hyypia Skrtel

 

......Mascherano

 

Gerrard..............Aurelio

 

El Zhar.. Lucas.....Kuyt

 

...........Babel

Edited March 10, 2009 by Flasher

[Rory Fitzgerald]

El Zhar isnt in the squad Flasher

[Chili Palmer]

....................Reina

 

............Carra Hyypia Skrtel

 

Masch............................Dossena

 

..........Alonso Lucas Aurelio

 

.................Gerrard...............

 

..................Kuyt....................

 

Edit: Actually, on reflection, I wouldnt

 

Why not Rory? might be a good call, Rafa played a back three against Juve away when he wanted to hold on to a result.

[Flasher]

El Zhar isnt in the squad Flasher

 

 

SSssshhh. Nobody needs to know

 

Replace him with .....erm......christ we're short......erm....Pennant....erm.......help!

[surf]

That's ok, it doesn't kick off till 1945

 

 

and we all know the danes were pretty useless before 1945

[Alonso]

Whoever plays as our wingers are gonna need to watch their full backs as they'll both probably have licence to get forward as they're trailing and Ramos down the right and Marcelo down the both get forward well. Kuyt will be on the right and so it might not be a bad idea sticking Aulreio and Dossena as the left side as it'll give it a bit more solidity.

[surf]

Reina

 

Carragher Hyypia Skrtel Aurelio

 

Alonso Mascherano

 

Babel Gerrard Dossena

 

Kuyt

 

Don't trust Dossena not to get ripped by Robben; I do like him as a player but he's been made to look silly at times by pace even from the likes of Bernard Mendy, and it would be a dangerous move defensively. Aurelio has to play left back.

 

Also although not ideal I think Dossena might actually be quite useful at left midfield.

 

All this said though, I think both Torres and Arbeloa will end up playing. Rafa is playing the game with his comments. In which case shift Carra into the middle, Sami on the bench, Dirk out to the right and possibly Babel over to the left with Dossena dropping to the bench also, depending on whether you think Aurelio can handle Robben on his own.

 

That looks like the team, with the shape being more 4-4-1/4-5-1, i'd say:

 

Carragher Hyypia Skrtel Aurelio

 

Kuyt Alonso Mascherano Dossena

 

Gerrard

 

Babel

 

I expect Babel up front and Kuyt on the right rather than vice versa to help limit threat from the wings.