Sunderland Build Up

[Shaggy]

Dreading this one to be honest, if we fail to win it's all over for another year and back to being out of it by October.

[kingfunk]

Its going to be five games in a row im afraid.

[CincyRed]

Even if not every one that has been mentioned as carrying injuries is not out, we have real problems. Central midfield is a big worry.

-----------Reina
Johnson Carra Skrtel Dossena
-------Aurelio Lucas
----Babel Benayoun Reira
-----------Ngog


It's gonna be rough.

[pondus]

Dirk Kuyt has declared himself fit for the match

From liverpool.no

[RedReet]

Brilliant news. Just hope he doesn’t aggravate the injury even further.

[cream]

Even if not every one that has been mentioned as carrying injuries is not out, we have real problems. Central midfield is a big worry.

-----------Reina
Johnson Carra Skrtel Aurelio
--------- Lucas
----Babel Benayoun Reira
--------Kuyt Ngog


It's gonna be rough.

We should try this sometime.

[Slim]

I am not looking forwward to this one. Sunderland is a tough place to go so we need our top players, but at the same time I don't want to see us take any unnecessary risks with Champions League matches and the Scum on the horizon. I'm assuming Stevie is out, but if Nando makes it we can slot Yossi in behind him and I'd be happy with that.

I notice a few people have mentioned Aurelio for a central midfield birth. I have to say that IMO I don't want to see him in there again, unless in the Carling Cup. A decent left-sided player but too slow and too one-footed for CM, especially an away game where we might not see as much of the ball. Sunderland will be physical and I am not sure Fabio could handle that.

[cream]

I am not looking forwward to this one. Sunderland is a tough place to go so we need our top players, but at the same time I don't want to see us take any unnecessary risks with Champions League matches and the Scum on the horizon. I'm assuming Stevie is out, but if Nando makes it we can slot Yossi in behind him and I'd be happy with that.

I notice a few people have mentioned Aurelio for a central midfield birth. I have to say that IMO I don't want to see him in there again, unless in the Carling Cup. A decent left-sided player but too slow and too one-footed for CM, especially an away game where we might not see as much of the ball. Sunderland will be physical and I am not sure Fabio could handle that.

If we lose any of our next three games, the best we can hope for is the Carling cup. The season would become too dififcult.

[dww]

My Guess is simply playing 3 centre backs, as Rafa likes to contain rather than attack away from home, like at Chelsea. With Jones and Bent, power and pace and aerial ability, I would go for a 3 man set-up, especially as Agger played well against the 'ibra' on saturday.

Rafa very rarely (I'd suggest never bar the first season actually) uses three at the back as a defensive formation. He has often used to to allow him to use less than ideally suited players in midfield as wingbacks when we have had limited wide players or to employ a 3-4-3 in which more players are allowed to attack on the assumption that the opposition are a/ a long ball team and/or b/ don't use width well in attack.

I don't like the formation as it is one based more on possession than penetration and I can't see us using it against the likes of Sunderland.

[Slim]

And the FA Cup. I also think we could go through in the Champions League even if we lost to Lyon but it would be hard, although we've done it before. We were bottom after 3 games a couple of seasons ago, albeit in an easier group.

As for the league, well defeat tomorrow and v the Mancs and we're probably ****ed unfortunately.

[Slim]

Rafa very rarely (I'd suggest never bar the first season actually) uses three at the back as a defensive formation. He has often used to to allow him to use less than ideally suited players in midfield as wingbacks when we have had limited wide players or to employ a 3-4-3 in which more players are allowed to attack on the assumption that the opposition are a/ a long ball team and/or b/ don't use width well in attack.

I don't like the formation as it is one based more on possession than penetration and I can't see us using it against the likes of Sunderland.

Agreed. I can't see us playing 3 at the back tomorrow. I hope not anyway.

[dww]

I'm amazed at how many people are defeatist about this game actually. In fact it's not so much the defeatism that surprises as the fact that people think we should set the team up to go for a draw. If Rafa said or even hinted at any such thing he would be pilloried on here.

[Slim]

I'm amazed at how many people are defeatist about this game actually. In fact it's not so much the defeatism that surprises as the fact that people think we should set the team up to go for a draw. If Rafa said or even hinted at any such thing he would be pilloried on here.

I agree about setting us up for a draw. As I said before, I don't want to see 3 at the back for starters.

As for the defeatism, I'm just a natural worrier. The potential injury situation hasn't helped, but I still believe we have the players to win it.

[Roboklopp]

Very depressing that my preseason pessimism is proving accurate.

Elephant Man always upsets the apple cart (7-0 FA Cup win vs. Brum excpeted).

[-V-]

Total Bull****.

Man for man we are better than them in every position on the park. A couple of guys may have knocks but they will still play. Dossena comes into left back if Insua out, Gerrard-Aurelio in the middle or even lucas. Torres up top with Benni behind him.

We win, sunderland cry and you all feel like fools for even doubting it