Sami Hyypia

[Howard_lfc]

Must play at Barcelona.

And I don't want to hear that he's too slow - and that Eto'o will waltz past him with his blistering pace (if selected). Sami's experience and big game mentality will be vital for us.

I don't care how good Agger is - or is gonna be. Carra and Sami is our best central defensive partnership.

[ronan]

id play 3 at the back at their place
5 4 1

[Doc_Piptorious]

Given Riise lack of form at lb, I would have Sami in the centre and Agger at LB. Then choose between Riise or Speedy for the LW spot. That is assuming Fabio is still out.

[Marky]

I agree.

[Doc_Piptorious]

id play 3 at the back at their place
5 4 1

I would only play with three CB's if Fabio was fit to play LWB.

[The Wolfman]

nah, id play crouch and kuyt upfront.

Keep bombing the ball up there in an old-skool style english game.

Plenty of crosses etc...

I think thats the only way we will get a result from them, i.e. by rattling them at the back with our height and physical presence.

[AFII]

Hyypia against the best passing team in the World, yeah right

[Doc_Piptorious]

Hyypia against the best passing team in the World, yeah right

Yeah, because it is not as though he has ever played well against a passing team before! :whatever:

[Howard_lfc]

Hyypia against the best passing team in the World, yeah right

It's all about partnerships - not individuals.

I take it by your sarcastic response that if Rafa selects him - then you think Rafa will have ****ed up and you know better than Rafa?

yeah right.

[AFII]

Yeah, because it is not as though he has ever played well against a passing team before! :whatever:

He isn't exactly that fast anymore. Imagine him against Messi, Ronaldinho or Eto'o. That can only end in one way and that isn't a good way.

We will play a very defensive game and that means that we must have defenders who can turn around very quickly against Barca's short passing game.

Messi would just need to put the ball a few yards past Hyypia and sprint past him. Hyypia would never have a chance to turn around quick enough. That would end in either a very dangerous chance for them or a dangerous free kick/penalty.

I can't imagine that Hyypia would be able to avoid a red card if he plays against Barca.

[AFII]

It's all about partnerships - not individuals.

I take it by your sarcastic response that if Rafa selects him - then you think Rafa will have ****ed up and you know better than Rafa?

yeah right.

I know that it's about partnership but from what I have seen this season Hyypia has had big problems against quick players. When Hyypia have played our other defenders covers a lot of ground that Hyypia should cover. That won't work at Nou Camp because the pitch is to big.

[Doc_Piptorious]

He isn't exactly that fast anymore. Imagine him against Messi, Ronaldinho or Eto'o. That can only end in one way and that isn't a good way.

We will play a very defensive game and that means that we must have defenders who can turn around very quickly against Barca's short passing game.

Messi would just need to put the ball a few yards past Hyypia and sprint past him. Hyypia would never have a chance to turn around quick enough. That would end in either a very dangerous chance for them or a dangerous free kick/penalty.

I can't imagine that Hyypia would be able to avoid a red card if he plays against Barca.

Sami has never been fast. It must have been a different Finnish cb that I have seen written off many times in the past as being too slow to defend against passing teams with fast players, who has proven those doubters wrong many times over.

[Kopite_Colin]

Barca don't have big strikers, but they are nippy. Messi, Ronnie, Eto'o (if he plays), with Deco, Iniesta and Guily means we needs defenders who can play on the turn. I actually agree with AF, Sami isn't the man to play against these type of players at this stage of his career. I also worry about Carra, when somebody with the ability to twist and turn (a la Henry) runs at him.

[Howard_lfc]

Barca don't have big strikers, but they are nippy. Messi, Ronnie, Eto'o (if he plays), with Deco, Iniesta and Guily means we needs defenders who can play on the turn. I actually agree with AF, Sami isn't the man to play against these type of players at this stage of his career. I also worry about Carra, when somebody with the ability to twist and turn (a la Henry) runs at him.

Henry plays for Arsenal Col. We said as much about Carra before the Arsenal game didn't we Col.

If the defence is shielded well enough then Sami will be fine.

Sometimes I despair how people forget what Sami has done for us. He has been nothing short of magnificent for us and from what I've seen of him this year nothing has changed. People will hark on about his lack of pace but that has never stopped him before and he's dealt with it admirably all of his career. Sami and Carra are our #1 centre half partnership - let there be no doubt about that.

[AFII]

It looks like Rafa doesn't agree with you. Hyypia is now only playing when we play with three central defenders.

Carra and Agger is our first choice now.