Team news & match thread.

[tomasjj]

Crosses for Kuyt and Crouch from Pennant and Aurelio, with Ferreira and Essien in the middle.... should be able to get a couple from that.

[kurtangle01]

Rafa has gone for physical presence up front with PC & DK. We'll beat the chavs.

It looks that way doesn't it. I think we're in a no win situation today. If we beat the chavs we've beaten a weakened side and wont get the credit we deserve. If we lose or draw we'll have messed up a big opportunity to close the gap and the press will be on our backs.

Hopefully the physical presence of Crouch and Kuyt will be enough to unsettle the chavs at the back.

[Eth]

I hope crouch levels cech nice and early and we really rattle them - Finnan needs to keep Robben quiet and we should be ok - I expect Gerrard to tear this midfield apart

[kurtangle01]

It will be interesting to so how good Mikel really is.

Big test for him today. I hope we give him a torrid time.

[REDSCOUSER]

It looks that way doesn't it. I think we're in a no win situation today. If we beat the chavs we've beaten a weakened side and wont get the credit we deserve. If we lose or draw we'll have messed up a big opportunity to close the gap and the press will be on our backs.

Hopefully the physical presence of Crouch and Kuyt will be enough to unsettle the chavs at the back.

how many times have we played a depleted Manure side in the past 2-3 years & yet failed to win.
Hopefully today it will be different.

[Bob]

I hope crouch levels cech nice and early

Me to, unlikely as it is.

He looks like a scrum-half..

[PerUlv]

I think its a big mistake not to play Bellamy. He runs non stop and can take with him a couple of defenders. He`s crosses are almost best in the team. Don`t like this line up at all.......

[ningnangnong]

I'm a bit worried with how Riise will deal with Robben, assuming of course the wingers switch during the game sometime.

[kurtangle01]

how many times have we played a depleted Manure side in the past 2-3 years & yet failed to win.
Hopefully today it will be different.

Those matches still stick in my mind. Lets hope today is different.

[Bob]

Crosses for Kuyt and Crouch from Pennant and Aurelio, with Ferreira and Essien in the middle.... should be able to get a couple from that.

They'll be vunerable through the centre i think, what with Makalele.

We're not great at putting centres in for the big fellas.

[REDSCOUSER]

Those matches still stick in my mind. Lets hope today is different.

mine too

positive thoughts..positive thoughts

[Bob]

I think its a big mistake not to play Bellamy. He runs non stop and can take with him a couple of defenders. He`s crosses are almost best in the team. Don`t like this line up at all.......

No get those big fellas up against Cech. A good call from Rafa IMO.

Plus Bellamy can impact from the bench.

[Guest]

They'll be vunerable through the centre i think, what with Makalele.

We're not great at putting centres in for the big fellas.

Good point and with Crouch's ability to head the ball.

Anyway, how are you gonna watch the match today Bob, via a feed from the office ?

[Kopite_Colin]

I want to see the following today:

1) Gerrard tear-arsing around from minute 1 - strong tackle on Essien in the 1st 5 mins
2) Crouch and Kuyt to hit Cech hard in the first 5 mins
3) Aurelio, Riise, Finnan and Pennant deliver good crosses into the box whenever the opportunity arises
4) Enough bodies in the box to cause a problem
5) Agger to bring the ball out from the back and draw a man out of position
6) Oh, and JAR to score a special in the 1st 5 mins as he did in Cardiff!

[livvy145]

mine too

positive thoughts..positive thoughts

I'm trying. I am wearing my lucky shirt.