Looking ahead to the Blackburn Game

[AFII]

I would play Hobbs instead of Hyypia.

[Pacman]

We will win.

Yossi has to play as does Crouch.

I think we'll see something like this as out starting line up.

------------------Reina
--Finnan------Carra--Sami--------Arbeloa
------------Mascher--Lucas
--Kuyt---------Gerrard-----------Yossi
---------------Big Pete----------------

[AFII]

---------------Reina
Finnan-----Carra---Hobbs----Aurelio
-------Mascherano---Lucas--------
----Gerrard----Benayoun---Babel---
---------------Crouch--------------

[Imy]

I would play Hobbs instead of Hyypia.

[kewellnthegang]

i think henry will grab a hat trick

[jonesie]

Hobbs can't be thrown into Prem action yet. He did well last night but that was mainly down to the fact that God and Hasselbaink seemed to be playing in slow motion.

I'd definately play Lucas in the middle with Mascher, tell Gerrard to roam about wherever he wants, have Kuyt and Benayoun wide with Crouchie up top. Kewell deserves to be in the squad after last night's performance.

[SB]

I would play Hobbs instead of Hyypia.

Agree that he should make his full prem debut in an away game and why not this one when his confidence will be high after last nights win.

[Parm]

It's a tricky one in terms of what players to play up front and where.
Can't see Kewell playing from the start just yet. Really really want Crouch and Benayoun to start though.
Maybe Babel and Yossi wide of Crouch and a three man midfield(Lucas, Gerrard and Masher)??
Decisions, decisions.

I think we do lack a lot of mobility and speed without Torres, Harry (or Babel) could provide that, but there are some issues as to whether Harry will be fit or if Babel is too raw for upfront.

[AFII]

Anyone remember the Reading game in the CC?

The same ref against Blackburn.

Hughes must be pleased. His players will be allowed to kick the **** out of our players

[breffniboy]

If that's so you can be sure rafa has noticed as well and will therefore send out the workhorses.

Momo will sit deep with Masher, Gerrard ahead of them, Kuyt down the right and probably Voronin on the left and Crouch up front for the option to hoof ball forward.

Caution-first Rafa will simply not risk playing skilful footballers away at Blackburn and you won't see benayoun/babel/Kewell etc until we're a chasing the game late on and hopefully not a goal down. Blackburn are a very decent side.

[keniget]

Hahahaha, someone wants to see Kuyt on the RW again after last his display there last weekend.

-------------- Reina
Finnan --- Carra -- Hyypia --- Riise
-------------- Masher
-------- Gerrard --- Lucas
Yossi -------------------- Babel --
------------- Voronin

Hopefully Momo is still sick.

[dww]

Hahahaha, someone wants to see Kuyt on the RW again after last his display there last weekend.

-------------- Reina
Finnan --- Carra -- Hyypia --- Riise
-------------- Masher
-------- Gerrard --- Lucas
Yossi -------------------- Babel --
------------- Voronin

Hopefully Momo is still sick.

I thought Kuyt did a good defensive job at right wing last week. However I really hope we don't do anything like that against Blackburn. I think the key will be getting a bit of invention into our play so I would hope to see both Lucas and Benayoun starting.

I think Crouch deserves a bit of a run in the team. I have a sneaking feeling we might start with Kuyt upfront though. If he plays it will be important for him to stay upfront as we have looked to lack a focal point in attack of late and I think it is in that role that he does best.

[Joe King]

I do see Kuyt playing up front so we can 'tire out their defence'. IMO, if thats what Rafa thinks, then I think he has gone a wee bit loco. He needs to play a striker who will beat them with pace so we can string up a counter. I fully expect them to launch balls into our defensive third whenever they get the oppurtunity so we have to be ready to win the second balls and try and pass the ball with purpose down the wings especially so we can stretch their defence. Their defence of Emerton, Samba, Nelsen and Warnock aren't the quickest however are quite powerful so it is really essential we take our chances .

Babel would be a good option however watching how Rafa has been working this season, doubt it to happen since he played yesterday. This is the sort of game Torres would have loved to have played in. Very similar to what he would have been used to in Spain. Slow, sluggish, ugly football but when the opportunity comes, he has to take it. I don't see the strikers we have at the moment providing that which is a serious problem. Its up to the midfield to get the goals then.

When I was talking about counter attacks, we should have bodies flying all over the joint. If Rafa's rotation policy is about keeping bodies fresh, surely players like Benoyoun and Voronin should be busting a gut to get into the attacking third so they should. Its lack of bodies in the penalty box that costs us games. We have the delivery but not enough men to trouble them. Even making yourself a nuisance in the box or being in the box can cause hesistance.

IMO, the form Blackburn are in, playing at home, beating us last season, they will be trying to blow us apart with attacking football and defenders at the half way line trying to squeeze us in but its all about the counter. We know we can defend, we seen that against Arsenal until some sloppy work by the defence ten minutes from time got all our hard work undone, but Rafa needs to get his personell right in the right positions.

Team that should play

-----------Reina
Finnan Carragher Hyypia Arbeloa
------- Jefe Lucas-----------
Benayoun Gerrard Babel
-----------Crouch------------

[Pacman]

Hahahaha, someone wants to see Kuyt on the RW again after last his display there last weekend.

-------------- Reina
Finnan --- Carra -- Hyypia --- Riise
-------------- Masher
-------- Gerrard --- Lucas
Yossi -------------------- Babel --
------------- Voronin

Hopefully Momo is still sick.

Ha ha ha ha NO it's the team I think Rafa will play

[Jayesh87]

Hope we start:

---------------Reina---------------
Finnan--Carragher--Hyypia--Arbeloa
Babel--Macsherano--Gerrard--Riise
-----------Crouch--Kuyt-----------

Subs:

Itandje, Aurelio, Benayoun, Kewell and Voronin