lets lay down a marker

[Elvoz]

playing the scum a week saturday

everyone already written us off
no stevie
no nando

we beat the scum and imagine the boost around the whole place fans and players alike

they have been **** all themselves up til now and if we can steam into them from the first minute they will ****e themselves


win it and number 19 will be more than a dream

[Dessy]

We've got to go out to win it though. Its all about frame of mind. Play not to lose and were ****ed.

The players are capable.....let them play.

[-V-]

Funny thing is that 2 weeks ago we were looking at that game as a win for sure. Stevie and Nando were in our team and they were missing Ronaldo.

Now we have lost our 2 best players and they have signed a £30m striker. I was really looking forward to it but not anymore

I just hope Rafa goes with Keane and Babel up top against them 442

[tsb]

Been in this position so many times and we've been let down repeatedly.

Still, the longer this nightmare run continues, the closer we are to the end!

Would love to see us fluke it with a goal off Keane's arse

[bobbyfallon]

nevile og in front of the kop or a carra header in the last minute would do me

[Bari]

Its at Anfield. We shouldn't be thinking about not losing. (nudge - Rafa)

[Scratch]

4-4-2 won't work with the players we have...i would love Rafa to go back to the formation we used at the end of last season, the 4-2-3-1, cos we have the players to make that work.

My pick for the United game

------------Reina-----------
Carra-Skrtel-Hyypia-Dossena
------Alonso-Mascher-------
---Kuyt----Benni----Riera---
-----------Keane-----------

Personally, not sure about Benni in that role, but with Gerrard injured and Torres out, unless Lucas or Babel are chosen, or Keane in behind N'Gog/Babel, then i can't see any other option.

[Tee]

I am not too concerned about this game in allhonesty because Utd have struggled as well in their opeing 2 games. They were very ordinary against Newcastle and laboured to a pretty lucky win over Pompey.

We are long overdue a decent performance and if our players are given instructions to go at them I think we can win this.

[Harv]

the main factor is if i watch the game at my mates place or not (scum fanboy)

We have won everytime i watch the game at his house. We have made plans for the game this time, after losing touch over the past few years...and us continually losing to them, i sent him a message to see what he was doing for the game

[-V-]

...............Reina
Carra....Skrtle....Agger....Dossena
Kuyt......Alonso..Mascher....Riera
...........Keane.......Babel

That would be my team

[Tee]

...............Reina
Carra....Skrtle....Agger....Dossena
Kuyt......Alonso..Mascher....Riera
...........Keane.......Babel

That would be my team

I would go with that but put Aurelio in for Dossena.

[Harv]

I would go with that but put Aurelio in for Dossena.

[memzey]

------------Reina-----------
Arbeloa-Skrtel-Carra-Dossena
------Alonso-Mascher-------
---Kuyt----Keane----Riera---
-----------Babel-----------

That's the one for me.

[El Jefecito]

------------Reina-----------
Arbeloa-Skrtel-Carra-Dossena
------Alonso-Mascher-------
---Kuyt----Keane----Riera---
-----------Babel-----------

That's the one for me.

---------Reina-------

Arbeloa---Carra---Agger/Skrtel----Dossena

---------Lucas------El Jefecito-------

Kuyt---------SG----------Riera/Babel

---------------Keane----------------

I think this team would do well.

Robbie has underperformed so far because he has not worked out how to play alongside Torres. Too often they make the same runs and reduce the options for the passers of the ball. That won't be a problem this time so he can play the way he is used to and I think this will be easier for him in the short-term. I expect him to be more effective in this game.

No secrets, I want SG in the final 3rd as much as possible. I'd rather he was passing 10yds to Keane than 40 yds from the center circle. I'd rather he was winning the ball on the edge of the box than in the center circle. I'd rather he was shooting from 18 yds than 30 yds. Work out the percentages and you can see the chances of goals and hence wins are better when he is in the 3.

Lucas and El Jefecito provide a more solid platform than with Xabi IMO. I'd rather be solid in CM and free up the front four to do whatever they want than bet on Xabi being able to change the game from CM. I also think Lucas, being more mobile and better able to cover the FBs will help encourage the width from the FBs.

This is definitely a winnable game, I think however it's going to come down to a) how well we have gelled and b) how El Jefecito and others who have had long haul internationals to contend with recover before the game.

[badpiggy]

while i really hope that keane plays an actual centre forward position, does anyone know if he's ever scored against scum (or arsenal or chelsea or even ourselves for that matter)?