***The Derby build up thread**

[Armchairkopite]

After our super win over Pompey on Saturday i think its fair to say we'll be a bit nervous until the team is announced at 2:00 on boxing day with Rafas rotation policy under so much scrutiny this season will Rafa swallow his pride and stick with at least 8 of the players that played on Saturday surely now he must recognise to play Voronon and Crouch up front would be too big of a gamble against what has been the weakest team in the league but they have been buoyed lately by their new manager. With all these games played over a short time span i'm a bit nervous Rafa might make a balls of it, he will also be thinking about away to Citeh only three days later.

Imo we can rotate certain players and bring in others but the core must remain the same. Keeping in mind Rafas rotation policy heres who i think he should go with-

-------Reina------
Arbeola-Carra-Hobbs-Riise

Babel-Gerrard-Alonso-Aurellio

Voronin---Torres

All going well haul Stevie and Torres off on 70 for Lucas and Kuyt respectively.C'mon the pool

[sonsofthedesert]

After our super win over Pompey on Saturday i think its fair to say we'll be a bit nervous until the team is announced at 2:00 on boxing day with Rafas rotation policy under so much scrutiny this season will Rafa swallow his pride and stick with at least 8 of the players that played on Saturday surely now he must recognise to play Voronon and Crouch up front would be too big of a gamble against what has been the weakest team in the league but they have been buoyed lately by their new manager. With all these games played over a short time span i'm a bit nervous Rafa might make a balls of it, he will also be thinking about away to Citeh only three days later.

Imo we can rotate certain players and bring in others but the core must remain the same. Keeping in mind Rafas rotation policy heres who i think he should go with-

-------Reina------
Arbeola-Carra-Hobbs-Riise

Babel-Gerrard-Alonso-Aurellio

Crouch---Torres

All going well haul Stevie and Torres off on 70 for Lucas and Voronin respectively.C'mon the pool

After his red card will Crouch be allowed to play?

[Armchairkopite]

If hes banned for this game i guess its 50/50.

[AFII]

After his red card will Crouch be allowed to play?

No, he is banned for two more games.

----------------------Reina
Arbeloa----------Carra------Hyypia----------Riise
-------------Alonso---------Gerrard-------------
------Babel----------Voronin------Kewell--------
---------------------Torres--------------------

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Should be a straight forward win.

But why do I get the feeling that Rafa will bring in the squad players and make it difficult for ourselves?

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Would really love to see Babel start up front.

Surely it's the ideal team to do it against.

[REDSCOUSER]

Jewell never managed to beat LFC even in his Wigan days and it wont start on Boxing day. Another 6-0 win for the REDS or close to it.
I remember in 04/05 we went to the Midlands and battered WBA 5-0 on Boxing day. They too were bottom of the league and had no hope.
Riise & Pongolle hit some corkers that day.

[Matt]

Reina

Arbeloa Hobbs Carra Aurelio

Gerrard Alonso Lucas Riise

Babel Voronin

[AFII]

Jewell never managed to beat LFC even in his Wigan days and it wont start on Boxing day. Another 6-0 win for the REDS or close to it.
I remember in 04/05 we went to the Midlands and battered WBA 5-0 on Boxing day. They too were bottom of the league and had no hope.
Riise & Pongolle hit some corkers that day.

Derby will also only have two days rest and we three. Makes a big difference.

Torres and Babel will have a field day.

[fowlen]

I think Rafa more or less has his winning formula, and i cannot see him making wholesale changes.

Think it will be more or less the same team as Pompey

[Revo]

Derby will also only have two days rest and we three. Makes a big difference.

Torres and Babel will have a field day.

hopefully their pitch is in good shape

[magicalbarnes]

Should be a straight forward win.

But why do I get the feeling that Rafa will bring in the squad players and make it difficult for ourselves?

Less of the over-confidence it makes us sound like idiot manc fans from london.

Although we should get 3 points its no forgone conclusion the game wont be easy. The fact is we are playing a team fighting to avoid relegation - away from home.

[Jaymo]

we need to pick up 12 points from our next 4 games, these should be bankers, and must be a win for liverpool

[Pablo]

As long as Torres and Gerrard starts we should win this one at a canter.

[Howard_lfc]

Reina

Arbeloa Hobbs Carra Aurelio

Gerrard Alonso Lucas Riise

Babel Voronin

He isn't ready IMO.