Stoke Away - D-day for Rafa

[Exiled_red]

We need to change things, Maxi has to start on the wing, we need to use the wide areas of the pitch and use diagonal cross field balls to change the point of attack and create space. I'd try Babel on the left as well for and tell him to stay wide-ish. We need something different and the pace and creativity of these two could be the changes we need. Also with more width I'd be tempted to go 4-4-2 particularly if Torres is out. I also think we need to take Insua out of the firing line.

Assuming Gerrard and Torres are out I'd go:

Reina
Degen Carragher Agger Aurelio
Rodrigez Aquilani Mascherano Babel
Kuyt Ngog

[zimbo]

So the Stoke game is probably more significant then.

Hmm, good point.

What I meant was, I don't think he'll go if we do lose to Stoke. But add the Spurs game and the potential crowd reaction if it's another defeat and it'd be difficult for him to continue.

Anyway, we're going to win both games comfortably in a blizzard of devastating, one-touch attacking football so, hey - what's to worry about?

[Guest]

Were Man. Utd at the same crossroads whilst Ferguson was in charge back then? I can recall chants of 'Sack Ferguson' or things of the sort ... Then the rest is history.

[red g]

i dont think stoke is d-day.......but spurs will be.

massive week, if that shower of ****e are really behind there manager they better start showing it!!

[Armchairkopite]

i dont think stoke is d-day.......but spurs will be.

massive week, if that shower of ****e are really behind there manager they better start showing it!!

Spurs are at home to Hull this weekend if they win and we dont the game at Anfield takes on a different perspective.

[Spanishfly]

Pete i've read various posts from yourself in various threads... 100% agree with your mind!

[SK]

Stoke away
Spurs home
Wolves away
Bolton home

these 4 games a crucial for rafa, if we don't get at least 9 or 10 points from these 4 games, then we're truly ****ed and we can forget about 4th spot, although it's still very much achievable.

i agree with exiled red about the line up:
Reina
Degen Carragher Agger Aurelio
Rodrigez Aquilani Mascherano Babel
Kuyt Ngog

Maxi HAS to start, as we badly need a player who can actually do something in the match. and i hope gerrad does not start, as he has to get it through his head, that he's not untouchable, and will be droped if he's in such poor form as he is now.

[calvoboy]

We need to change things, Maxi has to start on the wing, we need to use the wide areas of the pitch and use diagonal cross field balls to change the point of attack and create space. I'd try Babel on the left as well for and tell him to stay wide-ish. We need something different and the pace and creativity of these two could be the changes we need. Also with more width I'd be tempted to go 4-4-2 particularly if Torres is out. I also think we need to take Insua out of the firing line.

Assuming Gerrard and Torres are out I'd go:

Reina
Degen Carragher Agger Aurelio
Rodrigez Aquilani Mascherano Babel
Kuyt Ngog

Agree totally - we need WIDTH. Teams have learned that all you need to do against us is put two banks of four on the edge of the box, wait for us to run out of ideas and hit a loose pass, then hit us on the break at pace. That or hope for a set-piece.

It's not all Rafa's fault. Johnson was bought to change this on the right, but has been injured or out of form for most of the season. Riera does a steady job on the left but has been out for most of the season. Aurelio makes a difference in front of Insua both defensively and in an attacking sense, but he's been out most of the season too. You'd also hope that he was looking to sign a wide attacking player when Purslow surprisingly told him we were spent up in the summer.

Where Rafa may be at fault is the lack of tempo though. The players have been playing recently as if they've been told "be patient, keep the ball, don't panic". The result is that we look pedestrian and predictable. When we go at teams with pace we rip teams apart. We only seem to do it in 5 minute patches in each half though. Whether this is Rafa's tactics or the team's lack of confidence, we need to play at pace against Stoke.

[badpiggy]

'Pep talk'? Do you need a 'pep talk' often when you're not doing well? If you were a child then I'd understand it, but you're an adult right?

The same 'pep talk' seem to have served us well at half time in Istanbul right?

If you think that we are just a 'pep talk' away from turning things around then you're deluding yourself mate. No offence, but you see my point.

you're losing the run of yourself man. you're just ranting at this stage and contradicting yourself in every thread and in this case in the same post. and then claiming sarcasm/irony when questioned. sorry if this sounds patronising but you're just reacting to other posters rather than actually saying anything clear and i think you're starting to piss people off on a day when most fans are a bit ****in lost. not saying to stop posting, just ****in slow down.

[Armchairkopite]

Stoke away
Spurs home
Wolves away
Bolton home

these 4 games a crucial for rafa, if we don't get at least 9 or 10 points from these 4 games, then we're truly ****ed and we can forget about 4th spot, although it's still very much achievable.

i agree with exiled red about the line up:
Reina
Degen Carragher Agger Aurelio
Rodrigez Aquilani Mascherano Babel
Kuyt Ngog

Maxi HAS to start, as we badly need a player who can actually do something in the match. and i hope gerrad does not start, as he has to get it through his head, that he's not untouchable, and will be droped if he's in such poor form as he is now.

Riera on the left and Babel up font in place of Ngog would be more preferable assuming that Babel can play the way he did last night.

[Armchairkopite]

you're losing the run of yourself man. you're just ranting at this stage and contradicting yourself in every thread and in this case in the same post. and then claiming sarcasm/irony when questioned. sorry if this sounds patronising but you're just reacting to other posters rather than actually saying anything clear and i think you're starting to piss people off on a day when most fans are a bit ****in lost. not saying to stop posting, just ****in slow down.

Good advise in there.

[badpiggy]

it's amazing how the tone of this thread seems to basically be accepting defeat at stoke and reserving judgement for the "big one" at home to ****ing spurs. probably realistic but realism is starting to suck massive hairy testicles at lfc at the moment.

[Armchairkopite]

it's amazing how the tone of this thread seems to basically be accepting defeat at stoke and reserving judgement for the "big one" at home to ****ing spurs. probably realistic but realism is starting to suck massive hairy testicles at lfc at the moment.

I dont think anyones happy about it.

We didn't create one single decent chance in the second half of extra time.

[the rev leeroy brown]

reina

carra skrtel agger

degen aurelio

lucas aqua

gerard (if fit )
babel torres (if fit )

[badpiggy]

i'm the same. and the lack of chances and any sense of urgency was ****in soul-destroying. the more i thnk about it, the worse the manner the defeat seems. ffs. aquilani looked really good for 15 mins of the second half though but you can imagine the treatment that "eyetie faggot" will get from stoke. if rafa plays him. aaaaghh!!! enough!!!