Team for PSV

[dww]

I don't know if it's underestimating PSV or prioritising the match against City as a must have 3 points. Maybe some feel a draw at PSV is acceptable as lons as we get the three on sunday. What do you think

I think we have to start building an every match is a must win mentality. In order to do that I think we are best off playing our best team as often as possible to avoid giving the opposition any hope even that we will under estimate them. Purely for psychological reasons I would be tempted to make as few changes as possible at the minute. I also think we are only slowly building good parts to our game, we have been getting points but not excelling. The more games we play with a more or less settled team the quicker I think players will gel.

I can see the logic of prioritising the league in terms of the fact that, for example, last year we made a complete hash of the early CL group games and still came through but this year I think the group is stronger. In previous seasons we have decoupled our form in the two competitions I think the most successful teams (such as United last year) use form in one competition to keep momentum in all competitions.

I don't think at this stage we need to make any compromises in the CL games to still be fit and ready for a PL one unless players are carrying injuries. If we start strongly we can always bring on the likes of Agger to get some game time.

[cled the red]

Originally Posted by cled the red
We're at home mate, so 3 points is a minimum requirement and I think we'll get them!!

I knew that

[SB]

I think we have to start building an every match is a must win mentality. In order to do that I think we are best off playing our best team as often as possible to avoid giving the opposition any hope even that we will under estimate them. Purely for psychological reasons I would be tempted to make as few changes as possible at the minute. I also think we are only slowly building good parts to our game, we have been getting points but not excelling. The more games we play with a more or less settled team the quicker I think players will gel.

I can see the logic of prioritising the league in terms of the fact that, for example, last year we made a complete hash of the early CL group games and still came through but this year I think the group is stronger. In previous seasons we have decoupled our form in the two competitions I think the most successful teams (such as United last year) use form in one competition to keep momentum in all competitions.

I don't think at this stage we need to make any compromises in the CL games to still be fit and ready for a PL one unless players are carrying injuries. If we start strongly we can always bring on the likes of Agger to get some game time.

I totally agree that Rafa should play his best side for the cohesion aspect but I still feel he will rest players when there are bigger fish to fry. This sundays match is a must win as far as I'm concerned. This 'test' will go some way towards shaping our season and should we win it we will gain immense confidence as a result.

I'm not talking about wholesale changes but agger should start for me, if fit I'd play Aurelio but Dossena will prob get the job. Babel should start and we'll probably play a 5 man midfield so torres on his own IMO.

[dww]

I think Keane/Torres have to start as the Everton game was the first they showed any signs of understanding IMO. It has to be built on and this is an ideal opportunity.

I can see the argument for starting Agger but I wouldn't do it.

[pondus]

--------------------reina--------------------
arbeloa------skrtel-------agger------dossena
kyut--------masher------gerard-------babel
-------------keane------torres-----------

it's psv and we can afford to rest carra for citeh game against robinho and co. if masher fit again in for alonso and keep dossena in to give aurelio more time to get fit for citeh game too.

Wow, compare this team to the team we had the last time we met PSV :

Pepe Reina, Álvaro Arbeloa, Sami Hyypiä, Daniel Agger (Gabriel Paletta), John Arne Riise, Jermaine Pennant, Xabi Alonso (Mark González), Mohamed Sissoko, Boudewijn Zenden, Craig Bellamy (Robbie Fowler), Peter Crouch.

I'd say we have improved

[pondus]

Nicked from a site called Anfieldred (so was the last post):

Felix Brych will be making his Champion's league debut as a referee in the tie between Liverpool and PSV at Anfield tomorrow, for those of you who have never heard of him here is a bit of info on the German ref.

Felix Brych was awarded his FIFA badge in 2007. A financial lawyer for a bank in his home city, Brych began refereeing in Germany's amateur leagues in 1999, stepping up to the 2. Bundesliga two years later and reaching the top flight in 2004.

From 2002 he enjoyed regular appointments as a fourth official in the UEFA Champions League group stage and UEFA Cup, and
also filled that role at the Belarus-Croatia game in the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament.

Brych ended the 2006/07 campaign as the fourth official at the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg between
Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC before taking charge of two Elite round fixtures in that season's UEFA European
Under-19 Championship.

At the start of the next campaign he was given his first refereeing assignments in UEFA
club competition, and was also entrusted with the Round of 32 second leg between Panathinaikos FC and eventual
runners-up Rangers FC in the UEFA Cup.

In October 2007 Brych made his bow as a referee in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying as Romania won 2-0 in Luxembourg
to book their place in the finals.

[Kenneth]

Nicked from a site called Anfieldred (so was the last post):

Felix Brych will be making his Champion's league debut as a referee in the tie between Liverpool and PSV at Anfield tomorrow, for those of you who have never heard of him here is a bit of info on the German ref.

Felix Brych was awarded his FIFA badge in 2007. A financial lawyer for a bank in his home city, Brych began refereeing in Germany's amateur leagues in 1999, stepping up to the 2. Bundesliga two years later and reaching the top flight in 2004.

From 2002 he enjoyed regular appointments as a fourth official in the UEFA Champions League group stage and UEFA Cup, and
also filled that role at the Belarus-Croatia game in the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament.

Brych ended the 2006/07 campaign as the fourth official at the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg between
Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC before taking charge of two Elite round fixtures in that season's UEFA European
Under-19 Championship.

At the start of the next campaign he was given his first refereeing assignments in UEFA
club competition, and was also entrusted with the Round of 32 second leg between Panathinaikos FC and eventual
runners-up Rangers FC in the UEFA Cup.

In October 2007 Brych made his bow as a referee in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying as Romania won 2-0 in Luxembourg
to book their place in the finals.

Fascinating stuff

[pondus]

Fascinating stuff

Why, what's so special about DJ Syd?

[Kenneth]

Why, what's so special about DJ Syd?

I'd forgotten that was there.

[SB]

Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano has passed a fitness test and is available for tonight's clash against PSV Eindhoven.

The Argentine international has been out of the side with a niggling calf problem but rest appears to have done the trick and he is now ready to take his place in the side.

"I am fit, I can play if the manager wants I have had a short rest with the injury which coming after the Olympics and my busy schedule was good. Now I feel ready to play."

Having recorded one win at Marseille already in Group D, Rafa Benitez will not be rushed into rushing the Argentinian back. The Spanish supremo may opt to put him on the bench just to give him that extra bit of rest and then start with him against Manchester City away on Sunday.

Yossi Benayoun is fit again after a knock and he too could come into contention for Benitez.