Hyypia

[Jachob]

Maybe it's just me but after the first leg I can't help but think that Drogba seem to have a big advantage over Agger.
In the air he seem to have a big problem with Drogba as well when it comes to physical strength.
I know Hyppia would lose out in pace but looking at last game it wasn't that much about pace. For the goal okay, but most of chelseas attacking play came throufh long balls against drogba and even though I think Agger is actually a better player than Hyypia at the moment in the air neither Agger or Carragher are even close to Hyypia. It was quite easy to see against portsmouth even though Hyypia hadn't played first team football for quite a while in the air he's better than any other player in our team by a mile.
Also against Chelsea we got quite a few corners and I would love to have hyypia in the team for that. Even if he wouldn't score it would still mean that Chelsea had to put their best player in the air to mark him, which would give greater possibilities to other players.
Other than Hyypia I would also change mascherano for sissoko so we don't get outmuscled in the midfield. Zenden also got to go, although here I don't got any good suggestions if we don't play stevie to the right then pennant could be on the left.
The only problem is Stevie on the right, he cuts inside to much and exposes arbeloa too much which we saw in the last game....

If we weren't 1-0 down I would play 451 with steve sissoko and alonso in the middle and pennant and bellamy on the wings with crouch in front. But since we are one down I'm not sure about the one striker option......

So enough of a drunk guys ramblings......

[Nicey]

pennant on the left ...... you must be ******ed .....


Sami may be a good shout though

[El Jefecito]

You wait and see Agger will own Drogba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[redlancer]

Drogba got a dubious free kick against Agger very early on, from then on Agger always looked like he was trying to avoid giving away a similar free kick. If Agger can learn from this he'll be much better prepared.

Sami against bluenoses a few years back up again duncan tampon, lost the 1st header on the edge of the box and they nearly scored, so every other header he stayed on the ground and picked up the pieces, thought it was very clever. He nulled the arial threat outside the box. Tonight will see if Agger can alter his game after last week.

Sami would be able to stop Drogba in the air but not on the floor and would get turned too easily with the likes of Cole.
we;ll have Crouch for the corners.
They'll be playing counter attacking aswell which will suit Agger better.

Carra and Agger for me.

[Rich]

Agger has shown he's a great defender, albeit one still learning. I'd imagine they've been working on Agger's game this past week to try and combat the aggression and power running of Drogba.

[CJ]

understand what you mean but maybe if we bring in Sami it would become more about drogbas pace.

one weakness for another.

[cobain]

If Hyypia had a pace to compete with Drogba's, he would be a menace. But he's too slow though and I don't think he will play tonight...

[Taffy]

There was a good shout from someone yeserday saying we might go with 3 at the back, using Sami's aerial ability with Carra and Agger either side, as well as using Finnan and Riise as wingbacks.

Not a bad idea I suppose, but it may well be tinkering too much with the system for this massive game tonight, I don't know. I trust Rafa though as he seems to have done well against them in cup competitions of late.

Our biggest problem of playing three at the back would be us being one man short in the attacking side of things, and that's where we need to be at our best tonight if we have hopes of going through. Saying that, our full backs would be able to play further up the pitch as wingbacks with three at the back, so it may be the way to go, but let's see what Rafa does eh!

[Finnish_Red]

Chelsea are going to play counterattack, and they have the pace to expose Sami. Stick with Agger, he'll do the job

[jpamboris]

There was a good shout from someone yeserday saying we might go with 3 at the back, using Sami's aerial ability with Carra and Agger either side, as well as using Finnan and Riise as wingbacks.

Not a bad idea I suppose, but it may well be tinkering too much with the system for this massive game tonight, I don't know. I trust Rafa though as he seems to have done well against them in cup competitions of late.

Our biggest problem of playing three at the back would be us being one man short in the attacking side of things, and that's where we need to be at our best tonight if we have hopes of going through. Saying that, our full backs would be able to play further up the pitch as wingbacks with three at the back, so it may be the way to go, but let's see what Rafa does eh!

I can see that as an option during the game depending on how things are going. Personally, i think we are probably more suited to that system.

[cobain]

Chelsea are going to play counterattack, and they have the pace to expose Sami. Stick with Agger, he'll do the job

Agger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFX-Sk-YJxc



Hope he does better today

[Fierce]

Agger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFX-Sk-YJxc



Hope he does better today

Not sure what more he could have done to be honest

Drogba is quick and strong, Agger was with him all the way and prevented a shot, which when the centre forward you're defending against is in your penalty area, is the right thing to do. He could have potentially attempted the tackle as soon as the ball reached Drogba, but he would have undoubtedly given away a foul and as the last man could've had serious consequences

Carragher and Arbeloa were at fault for not picking up Joe Cole. Its almost as if Carragher gave Drogba too much credit and was there as backup in case he got PAST Agger.

[Rich]

I think sometimes you have to hold your hand up and say it was great play by the striker - Agger did everything he could do - he'd have potentially given a penalty away by sliding in, afterall, Drogba was running with the ball on his right, Agger on his left. Agger would have had to have tackled around Drogba to take the ball - not easy.

[leftpeg]

Drogba is quick and strong, Agger was with him all the way and prevented a shot, which when the centre forward you're defending against is in your penalty area, is the right thing to do. He could have potentially attempted the tackle as soon as the ball reached Drogba, but he would have undoubtedly given away a foul and as the last man could've had serious consequences.

You're right, the only other thing he could have done was to have tackled Drogba within his first couple of strides. If you watch the video closely you will see that Carra was actually the last man at the time, so at most it would have been a yellow if he hadn't gotten the ball.

Anyway, it's academic now, and I'm sure Rafa's gone over it at length and he will have learned.