Looking ahead to the Blackburn Game

[Kilteragh]

However, with all of our injuries I just can’t see us winning there.

They'll be missing Savage for definite. Mokoena and Bentley looking dodgy as well.

All good. All good.

[Morph]

Blackburn have won 8 on the spin including last nights win at pompey which is impressive in anyones book.

The odds have to favour a win for them.

seeing as we're unbeaten I wouldn't really have said so, haven't looked at the odds mind, i'd imagine they favour a draw

[Marky]

If he starts Voronin and Kuyt I can assure you we won't win. Crouch must start as must Yossi and Babel.

If he start Voronin and Kuyt i actually think i might have a good cry before kick off









Then if either or both score i'll claim it was a masterstroke by Rafa to start them together

[shadow]

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------------

?????

[Shanks65]

Rafa on Kewell and Blackburn.
(not sure if its been posted brfore so apologies if so)

November 02, 2007
LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez says Harry Kewell can still earn himself a new contract at Anfield.

The Socceroos winger has had a torrid time since moving to Anfield from Leeds in 2003, with injuries wrecking his spell with the Reds.

“He can win himself a new contract by working hard and playing well consistently. No one has any doubt about the quality of Harry,” Benitez said.

“He's a fantastic player. I see him as a very good player with options for being here.

“He knows how important this time is. I'm not thinking about which kind of contract we might be talking about. I am thinking about him being fit and seeing him play well.

“I don't have any doubt about his quality. I just want to see him on the pitch, playing well and scoring goals and we will decide.”

The fact that Benitez has used Kewell, despite concerns over his fitness, in both of Liverpool's recent Champions League finals, shows the level of the Spaniard's respect for the 29-year-old's ability.

But continued concerns over the long-term conditioning of Kewell have left the winger's future unclear, with his current contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The midfielder returned from a thigh problem in Liverpool's 2-1 win over Cardiff in midweek and Benitez has not ruled out offering him a new deal.

Benitez, whose team have won just twice in their last six Premiership matches, meets Blackburn at Ewood Park tonight, where Rovers will be looking for an eighth straight win.

The Spaniard has revealed that stopping Rovers' strike-force of South African star Benni McCarthy and Paraguayan forward Roque Santa Cruz will be key to picking up a positive result.

He added: “It's more difficult to play against them because Blackburn are not only a very physical team but they are also playing well.

“Mark Hughes is doing a very good job and the understanding between the players and the strikers is very good. They are playing nice, good football and winning games.”

Hughes believes the victories against Liverpool and then in the following game against Manchester United, could fill the already buoyant Rovers camp with a genuine belief that they can break the stranglehold of the top four and play Champions League football next season.

But he insists Blackburn are already receiving more recognition for their impressive start to the campaign.

Hughes said: “If we go into the games and we lose the games it's not going to be doom and gloom because we're coming up against some of the best sides in the country.

“But for our own benefit and our own confidence as a group, it would be really important if we can get some positive results from these two games.

“We keep talking about making a statement and in some games in previous seasons we lacked a little bit of belief in understanding how good a player and how good a group we actually are.

“That's the difference this year. There's real belief and confidence in each other and in their own individual play.

“This year there's probably a sense that more people are paying attention to what we're doing rather than us being an afterthought. That's something we're going to have to deal with because we probably haven't had that before.”

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22690718-2722,00.html

[Shaggy]

Can’t wait for this tomorrow. Another huge league game, and a win will see us absolutely bouncing going into the Fulham game next week. How ace would it be to into the next international break still unbeaten?

As has been covered, given the circumstances Rafa is almost bound to “go solid” and pick the usual workhorses who lack a goal threat. We looked lively when Yossi and Kewell came on the other night and it makes a difference having skilful ball players in our front 6 rather than hard working hackers.

I’d love to see:

Reina

Finnan
Carra
Sami
Arbeloa

Yossi
Mascherano
Lucas
Gerrard
Kewell

Crouch

But there’s absolutely no chance. I think I might cry if I see the teamsheet and it’s Dirk & Andriy up front again.

[Zapater]

Can’t wait for this tomorrow. Another huge league game, and a win will see us absolutely bouncing going into the Fulham game next week. How ace would it be to into the next international break still unbeaten?

As has been covered, given the circumstances Rafa is almost bound to “go solid” and pick the usual workhorses who lack a goal threat. We looked lively when Yossi and Kewell came on the other night and it makes a difference having skilful ball players in our front 6 rather than hard working hackers.

I’d love to see:

Reina

Finnan
Carra
Sami
Arbeloa

Yossi
Mascherano
Lucas
Gerrard
Kewell

Crouch

But there’s absolutely no chance. I think I might cry if I see the teamsheet and it’s Dirk & Andriy up front again.

I'd like to see that too, too bad we'll see Voronin and Kuyt starting. No doubt Yossi will be on the bench again too.

[AFII]

I'd like to see that too, too bad we'll see Voronin and Kuyt starting. No doubt Yossi will be on the bench again too.

Probably. Rafa knows how **** the ref is and that will influence on the starting XI.

[red g]

is sissoko still ill?

[AFII]

is sissoko still ill?

I don't know but I doubt that Rafa would play him even if he is available because he has been out for around a week.

[zimbo]

My chief concern is how I'm going to prise the remote from my wife's vice-like grip and get her to forego Strictly Come Dancing without sustaining any lasting head injuries.

[Shaggy]

My chief concern is how I'm going to prise the remote from my wife's vice-like grip and get her to forego Strictly Come Dancing without sustaining any lasting head injuries.

I’m afraid I’ve been sucked in to that. I was attracted to it anyway by Digger’s large presence on the show this year and Kelly Brook’s……..well, just Kelly Brook. Good God she’s attractive.

Can’t believe Gaby went last week, mind. She was excellent.

Er……

It’s on at 17:45-19:15 – in my house it will be Sky+’d, along with X-Factor.

[Pacman]

My chief concern is how I'm going to prise the remote from my wife's vice-like grip and get her to forego Strictly Come Dancing without sustaining any lasting head injuries.

May I suggest a public house? I have been banished to the pub as the thought of my missus missing x-factor or strictly come dancing isn't worth thinking about.

My life would be hell.

[red g]

I’m afraid I’ve been sucked in to that. I was attracted to it anyway by Digger’s large presence on the show this year and Kelly Brook’s……..well, just Kelly Brook. Good God she’s attractive.

Can’t believe Gaby went last week, mind. She was excellent.

Er……

It’s on at 17:45-19:15 – in my house it will be Sky+’d, along with X-Factor.

its worth it just for a wankfest over hope

[red g]

May I suggest a public house? I have been banished to the pub as the thought of my missus missing x-factor or strictly come dancing isn't worth thinking about.

My life would be hell.

what a nightmare for you