The semi-final build-up thread

[brikkis]

If he does i'm not watching it.

i'd cry if he did. Hope he's not even on the bench! Offers nothing.

Hope not but he's just got on the team bus. (according to the Glove - our man at the ground).

IF he does he'll get my full support.



Last week he was arguably MotM. IMO he's a lot better than people make out.

He would have been MOM if he had have done something with the ball

[loco_law]

thanks cobain. in fact I ... err.... ahhh.....

Night all.

[RedWolverine]

"I say lets get out there and **** em!" Dave Lister - Red Drawf

[RedJedi]

I'm surprised no one suggested him to have a wank yet...

so...

Have a wank mate

Was just about to suggest that, better than night nurse.

Even better if you can get a night nurse to do it for ya

[Kloppster]

Ah that most versatile of words......F*CK

Very apt here, well done that man

[Shaggy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6610499.stm

I texted the Beeb ten minutes or so ago and they've published it (12.04) - although I forgot to sign the ******* so it's "anonymous". I was responding to "Dunc1981" who texted in at 11.42.

[loco_law]

Night nurse is a new one to me...

[cobain]

1204: "Yep, if Liverpool make it the final is guaranteed to be dull - just like last time in Istanbul. We're heading for our SEVENTH final."
Via text on 81111

This one?

[Neil Young]

Night nurse is a new one to me...

I don't think you're serious about wanting to go to sleep.

[jonesie]

My attempt at motivating us all tonight - 'Our crowd can score goals'

I've got a column on shanklygates.co.uk as well now. Feel free to tell me how crap this is...

http://liverpool.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=890&p=2&stid=8445627

Our crowd can score goals
written by Mark Jones on 01/05/2007

Last Wednesday at Stamford Bridge, in attempt to create an intimidating atmosphere for their Champions League semi-final first leg tie with Liverpool, Chelsea organised a sing-along to recorded tunes, and issued free flags to all fans.

In a way it worked. The Reds, perhaps distracted by what appeared to be a bizarre political rally taking place in the stands, were bullied into submission by Didier Drogba and co. The Ivorian setting up Joe Cole to give the Blues a deserved 1-0 lead at half time in the tie.

But will that be enough? Particularly bearing in mind that tomorrow’s second leg will see Chelsea’s 11 take on Liverpool’s 40,000+.

Much has been said and written about the Anfield atmosphere on the famed ‘big European nights.’ I could try and add to it here, but probably wouldn’t do it justice. Perhaps the safest thing to say is that tomorrow, there won’t be a free flag awaiting me as I take my seat. If you’re a Liverpool fan, you’ll know that you are expected to work a lot harder than that.

If the Reds are to triumph, make no mistake, every fan on the Kop and indeed the other three stands (who rarely get any credit) will feel as though they have earned it. Just as the player’s limbs will be aching and their minds shattered, so the fans’ throats will be raw and their emotions drained.

Let’s get one thing right first, Chelsea are massive favourites. A rough estimate would place the odds at around 75-25 in their favour, possibly more. The Blues always score don’t they? If they do Liverpool need three. A tough ask. But I’ll bet my bottom dollar that every Reds fan reading this has just decided to increase their volume by 10% tomorrow in a bid to make it happen.

The Anfield Factor was dismissed by Chelsea in the semi-final two years ago. Mateja Kezman famously declaring that, having played there before, he wasn’t too impressed with what he saw and heard. The Serb neglected to mention that his previous Anfield experience came in an early kick off on New Years Day, a time when most fans were too hungover to even remember their own names, never mind the words to any songs.

Of course Chelsea are a better side now, perhaps because they haven’t got Kezman any more, but have they fallen into that trap again?

Undoubtedly the Blues’ best chance of winning the tie came at Stamford Bridge, and Mourinho’s negative tactics once his side had gone 1-0 up may come back to haunt him. Liverpool were there for the taking after Cole’s goal, but ultimately Chelsea had to rely on a world class save from Petr Cech to deny Steven Gerrard a crucial away strike.

Chelsea will be confident. Rightly so. They are a quality side with great players and a great manager (I draw the line at ‘Special’). They’ll miss Carvalho and Ballack, but it’s not as though they’re short of top quality replacements. Sure they’ve all but lost the league now, but the way they kept plugging away and reducing Manchester United’s lead was hugely impressive, and something that they didn’t get enough credit for.

But returning to Anfield, the scene of the infamous 2005 ‘ghost goal’ that Mourinho still harps on about, will give the Portuguese something to think about.

Rafa Benitez, whose dislike of Mourinho appears to growing with every game (Tuesday will be the fifteenth meeting between the two in the three years they’ve been in England) last week made a cheeky reference to that famous Luis Garcia strike by declaring ‘our crowd can score goals.’

So how does Mourinho play it? Should Chelsea get the first goal then surely they will sit back, stifle Liverpool and eventually go through. Liverpool probably need to score in the first half, but they can’t risk a gung-ho approach from the kick off, knowing that the Blues will, in typical style, probably capitalise on the first Reds mistake and score.

It’s a delicate equation, and one that both managers are probably working on as you read this. Ultimately it could come down to just how Chelsea cope with the wall of noise that will greet them tomorrow. If they stand up and be counted, then they’ll fully deserve their place in the final. But 40-odd thousand Scousers have got a thing or two to say about that…

[Mattshark]

I feel crappy, but I think that is more to do with my developmental biology exam I have in 2 hours.

[RedJedi]

Night nurse is a new one to me...

Sleeping medicine

[The incredible igor]

I feel fine

Looking forward to the game, not freaking out like i was last week.
Its ours for the taking

YNWA

[Shaggy]

This one?

[Red_hot]

For gods sake will people stop starting up threads about how they feel and use the existing one!!!!!!!!!