Let's have 'em.....the Barca build up thread

[AFII]

Barca dont have money.

Barca is owned by their members and they have many very rich members who would be willing to pay the money Xabi would cost.

[Parm]

Iniesta is absolutely amazing. We should sign him

(Actually, that was only half joking)

lol, did actually see a story linking us with Ineista over the weekend!

[AFII]

Dutch legend Cruyff big fan of Liverpool's Crouch
tribalfooball.com - February 16, 2007

Dutch legend Johan Cruyff admits he's a big fan of Liverpool striker Peter Crouch.

Cruyff, who acts as an advisor to Barcelona president Joan Laporta, said: "Barcelona against Liverpool is the absolute top match in the Champions League and, normally speaking, it shouldn't be a problem for Barca.

"But the last times I saw Liverpool playing I have to say that, with Kuyt and Crouch up front, they played some excellent stuff.

"The two of them form an enormously good partnership.

"Crouch is technically better than folk think and Kuyt's positional play is very good - in the air nobody wins anything against them.

"If Barcelona are forced back, then every throw-in or set-piece will result in a problem.

"With English teams you have to make sure that you are as far away as possible from your own goal."

[dww]

Dutch legend Cruyff big fan of Liverpool's Crouch
tribalfooball.com - February 16, 2007

Dutch legend Johan Cruyff admits he's a big fan of Liverpool striker Peter Crouch.

Cruyff, who acts as an advisor to Barcelona president Joan Laporta, said: "Barcelona against Liverpool is the absolute top match in the Champions League and, normally speaking, it shouldn't be a problem for Barca.

"But the last times I saw Liverpool playing I have to say that, with Kuyt and Crouch up front, they played some excellent stuff.

"The two of them form an enormously good partnership.

"Crouch is technically better than folk think and Kuyt's positional play is very good - in the air nobody wins anything against them.

"If Barcelona are forced back, then every throw-in or set-piece will result in a problem.

"With English teams you have to make sure that you are as far away as possible from your own goal."

Who we play up front is actually a really interesting point imo. Against Puyol who seems to really like a high line I would normally think a quick player would be the answer and so would include Bellamy. But I suspect that Kuyt and Crouch would present Barca with problems they have never faced before.

Ultimately the fact that Bellamy gets caught offside (which seems unlikely to improve in Camp Nou) would have me siding with a Kuyt - Crouch front line.

[Parm]

only 2 days to go..!!!!

[AFII]

Rafa Benitez has vowed his side won't sit back in the first leg of their Champions League showdown with Barcelona.
The Spaniard insists the Reds are going to the Nou Camp in search of at least one away goal.

"We are not going there to draw 0-0. We are going there to try to win the game," he said. "We know it can be a big advantage going back to Anfield if we score a goal.

"Barcelona are a very attacking team and they will be confident they can score at Anfield, so it may be important for us to score away from home.

"Of course, if it ends 0-0 we will not be saying it's a bad score. This was the score we achieved away to Juventus and Chelsea when we won the competition, but we must not approach the game thinking this is our ambition.

"We must remember the Benfica game last season when the game was heading to 0-0 but then we made a mistake which changed everything. We must learn from this situation."

Benitez will be hoping the experience he and his Spanish players have of the Nou Camp will prove significant.

"It's true we have players and staff who are used to playing there. This experience can be useful for us," he said.

"We know how they play and we know what the stadium is like, so maybe this can be a good advantage for us.

"With this kind of game, everyone talks about them as favourites. They are top of the Spanish league, won the title last season and won the Champions League. We know they play good football, but we will go there with belief and confidence. The players are well prepared."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drill...70220-1325.htm

[Parm]

we must go there aiming for a win and to play positively. If we aim for a draw and invite all that pressure would be terrible for us.

[tomasjj]

Kyros Vassaras - Greece

The ref.
Experienced one.
Also reffed the game against barca away in 2002 or 2001?

[tomasjj]

As for the formation and tactics:

I see a 3-5-2.
Probably with
---------Reina
----Carra Sami Agger
Finnan Xabi Momo Aurelio
--------Gerrard
-----Crouch Bellamy

Why?

1) Three centrebacks needed since Barca play 3 attackers.

2) Left and right wingback will together with the lateral midfielders double up on Ronny and Messi. If the wingback (Riise f.i....) is skinned or pulled out of position and Carra/Agger have to cover Sami will still be in the middle.

3) The midfield triangle of Xabi Momo with SG in front will give us the necessary strength to dominate the midfield and to clear out in front of our defence, which is necessary as Barca have the skill and ability to push us back and put us under pressure.

4) The wingbacks pushing forward can hurt Barca down the flanks where they are weak, not only because their fullbacks are not the best, but also because they won't receive a lot of help from Ronny/Messi. Their other midfielders will help, but still, they are needed in the centre to protect the defence.

5) I see Crouch and Bellers up front, Crouch as the focal point and Bellers running about to get on the end of Crouch's flicks, but also into the channels.

6) Set pieces are key for us I think. Sami, Agger, Carra and Crouch will be important on corners and free kicks. Also, I hope Aurelio plays as he crosses well and has good free kicks. We need good corners and crosses!

What do you think?

[Shaggy]

I like the cut of your jib, Tomas.

I've been mulling this over for a while and still I'm not entirely sure, but I think I'd go with the same system and probably the same personnel.

As for point 1, you could also argue they play with one striker, as opposed to three attackers. I imagine Messi will be more disciplined in positional terms and will stick to the advanced inside right kind of area, whereas Ronaldinho will do as he always does and roam from his nominal 'left sided' position.

It's a real conundrum and I'm intrigued to see what Rafa goes with. He's had so long to prepare and focus on this game that you imagine he'll really have this one nailed. Can't wait to see the team.

[Shaggy]

PS: I just can't see Rafa leaving Kuyt out. If I was picking the team it'd be Crouch and Bellamy, but I cannot imagine Kuyt being left out of a game of this magnitude.

[anfieldanfield]

Did anyone watch Revista De La Liga ?

For some bizarre reason, Balague, Hunter and Gerry Francis all agreed that Arbloea (sp) will start tomorrow night.

Cant see it myself, I think we'll see..

-----------Crouch--Bellamy
---------------Gerrard
-----------Alonso--Sissoko
Aurelio----------------------Finnan
---------Agger--Sami--Carra
----------------Reina

[Shaggy]

Did anyone watch Revista De La Liga ?

For some bizarre reason, Balague, Hunter and Gerry Francis all agreed that Arbloea (sp) will start tomorrow night.

Cant see it myself, I think we'll see..

-----------Crouch--Bellamy
---------------Gerrard
-----------Alonso--Sissoko
Aurelio----------------------Finnan
---------Agger--Sami--Carra
----------------Reina

I can see that. Arbeloa could go into a centre back trio, or of course play at right back with Finnan ahead of him. He's a course and distance winner so to pitch him in there for his full debut wouldn't be as risky as it may first appear.

[tomasjj]

PS: I just can't see Rafa leaving Kuyt out. If I was picking the team it'd be Crouch and Bellamy, but I cannot imagine Kuyt being left out of a game of this magnitude.

I agree, maybe Crouch will sit, but still, we will probably be pushed back and in need of Crouch to be the target man holding up the ball until we get out.

As for you other reply, I refer to my point two. A 3-5-2 is weak if the opposing team can get behind the wingbacks, so we need 3 at the back when Agger has to cover for Riise getting dragged about...and this also gives us Sami to cover more centrally, which we need imo.

[leftpeg]

Just heard on Five Live that Barca have announced their squad. Eto'o isn't in it, as was pretty much expected, but Messi's back in the frame after recovering from a foot injury.