Barcelona.......

[Parm]

I agree. We can't sit back and defend, hoping to hit them on break. Maybe GH might have tried that but I dont believe Rafa will.

An early goal will do nicely. I hope we can keep the ball a bit more than we did at the Nou camp, especially the first half.

[Parm]

I just think it'd be wrong to allow THEM to dictate OUR team and system.

Pick a team that suits LFC, rather than one to negate Barca.

I've got to say I do like the Wenger way of managing-not worry about the opp and play their own game.

[einar]

I think your pride is getting the better of you.

Rafa always chooses tactics according to the opponent.

We should still be able to control the tempo and the game.
And part of controlling the game is taking out their best options.

[Craig_H]

I think your pride is getting the better of you.

Rafa always chooses tactics according to the opponent.

We should still be able to control the tempo and the game.
And part of controlling the game is taking out their best options.

My memories of rafa picking a team and system according to the opponents, go back to goodison, salif diao and a ridiculous 1-0 defeat.

Obviously not the only example, but bolton away also springs to mind.

Nothing to do with pride, i just think we play our game better than someone else's.

[einar]

My memories of rafa picking a team and system according to the opponents, go back to goodison, salif diao and a ridiculous 1-0 defeat.

Obviously not the only example, but bolton away also springs to mind.

Nothing to do with pride, i just think we play our game better than someone else's.

Rafa has done this his whole carrier.

You dont go up against the best players in the world without a plan on how to stop them.

[Craig_H]

Rafa has done this his whole carrier.

You dont go up against the best players in the world without a plan on how to stop them.

We dont need to change our usual system or style to stop them though - that's what Momo and to a lesser extent, Alonso, are in the side for.

I just dont believe in dedicating your whole system to deal with the opposition. You end up playing the game in the manner that they want to play it, rather than in that which you want.

Setting up to stop them playing is the perfect example of this, because it encourages the players to think 'just sit back and concentrate on stopping them' which will result in a game where we invite them onto us.

Whereas playing our own normal style would demand that we put some onus on ourselves to give them bother. As has been mentioned, what they WANT is to swamp us and for us to try and soak it up - because they know that their ability will leave us unlikely to be able to withstand it for 90 mins.

What they DONT want is to have their attacking intentions interrupted with the need to defend.

All IMO of course.

[Harv]

one player i would like to see out there is Gonzalez. He has the pace to get in behind, and he has caused them trouble before.

we need to attack them and score an early goal like RC said. If we sit back and defend they will score 2, no doubt in my mind. They are too good a side to go down without a fight.

A forward 3 of Bellamy Kuyt & Gonzalez would cause them problems. Momo has to play, also it will be interesting to see if Masher gets a gig instead of Xabi. Xabi hasn't been at his best lately, and Masher put in a very good debut. That being said, Xabi's long ball ability could come in handy if Gonzalez were to play.

[Craig_H]

one player i would like to see out there is Gonzalez. He has the pace to get in behind, and he has caused them trouble before.

we need to attack them and score an early goal like RC said. If we sit back and defend they will score 2, no doubt in my mind. They are too good a side to go down without a fight.

A forward 3 of Bellamy Kuyt & Gonzalez would cause them problems. Momo has to play, also it will be interesting to see if Masher gets a gig instead of Xabi. Xabi hasn't been at his best lately, and Masher put in a very good debut. That being said, Xabi's long ball ability could come in handy if Gonzalez were to play.

Decent shout re Gonzalez. Him and Bellamy could be an excellent outlet for us.

As for Xabi, his ability to dictate the pace of the game is crucial against Barca. Wouldnt dream of dropping him.

[bazza76]

It could be dangerous playing to high with Eto back.

big time.
I think we wil play with a high tempo though and more confidence than the first leg. Mom will love the spotlight again an should do well. Id pick a similar team to the one that started against Barcelona except with Crouch playing up front with someone else.

[einar]

We dont need to change our usual system or style to stop them though - that's what Momo and to a lesser extent, Alonso, are in the side for.

I just dont believe in dedicating your whole system to deal with the opposition. You end up playing the game in the manner that they want to play it, rather than in that which you want.

Setting up to stop them playing is the perfect example of this, because it encourages the players to think 'just sit back and concentrate on stopping them' which will result in a game where we invite them onto us.

Whereas playing our own normal style would demand that we put some onus on ourselves to give them bother. As has been mentioned, what they WANT is to swamp us and for us to try and soak it up - because they know that their ability will leave us unlikely to be able to withstand it for 90 mins.

What they DONT want is to have their attacking intentions interrupted with the need to defend.

All IMO of course.

I would love to debate this further, but I´m going to sleep now.

The only thing I will say for now is it seems to me that we dont have a usual system since Rafa came.

Until tomorrow.

[Craig_H]

I think since he came, we always have looked to be the side that dictates the tempo and the balance of attack/defence.

Setting up to stop them instantly gives them the initiative and the upper hand mentally.

Each to their own though. Have a good night

[einar]

I think since he came, we always have looked to be the side that dictates the tempo and the balance of attack/defence.

Setting up to stop them instantly gives them the initiative and the upper hand mentally.

Each to their own though. Have a good night

[Harv]

Decent shout re Gonzalez. Him and Bellamy could be an excellent outlet for us.

As for Xabi, his ability to dictate the pace of the game is crucial against Barca. Wouldnt dream of dropping him.

i agree about Xabi...personally i wouldnt drop him.

The more i think about it, the more i think Gonzalez should be playing. The Barca fullbacks love to get forward, and if we have Bellamy and Speedy playing out wide we could really do some damage. If this happens though Gerrard must get in the box with Kuyt....otherwise we will struggle to score.

[Craig_H]

i agree about Xabi...personally i wouldnt drop him.

The more i think about it, the more i think Gonzalez should be playing. The Barca fullbacks love to get forward, and if we have Bellamy and Speedy playing out wide we could really do some damage. If this happens though Gerrard must get in the box with Kuyt....otherwise we will struggle to score.

Only problem with gonzalez is that while he'll get into areas of promise, his end product is usually woeful. Could be a frustrating one.

Wish we had Luis for this

[Harv]

Only problem with gonzalez is that while he'll get into areas of promise, his end product is usually woeful. Could be a frustrating one.

Wish we had Luis for this

it would have been made for him this game.

you can just see the type of goal that he would of scored to seal the victory