Stoke Away - D-day for Rafa

[Guest]

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.

If you could be arsed enough to point me on where I'm contradicting myself I'll be grateful.

You do have a point that I'm on here far too much though. That's maybe why I do seem to be 'ramming down' everyone's throat. Must be my own frustrations at our team's current deficiencies possibly.

[badpiggy]

in this thread i put them in bold when i quoted you

we're all frustrated pete. seems like the internet doesn't make it any better.

[Guest]

in this thread i put them in bold when i quoted you

we're all frustrated pete. seems like the internet doesn't make it any better.

I see, but that was to make a point on his alleged 'pep talk' rather than contradicting myself no?

**** the internet, I'm out to apply the same blueprint in a local pub, starting from now.

[anfieldanfield]

I think the Spurs game will be more significant. The reaction of the home crowd, particularly if we contrive to lose against Stoke, could be the clincher.

Lose both games, and lose the backing of the Kop, which has so far stood by him in general, and his position will surely be untenable.

Agree with this.

Even if we win at Stoke, I think the Spurs game will be the true indicator of the fan's patience.

[Exiled_red]

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.

One of the problems with Babel for me is that he thinks he's a striker but he isn't, I really don't think he has a strikers composure or instinct when it comes to putting away chances.

Ngog wasn't great last night but his record this season is good.

[Armchairkopite]

One of the problems with Babel for me is that he thinks he's a striker but he isn't, I really don't think he has a strikers composure or instinct when it comes to putting away chances.

Ngog wasn't great last night but his record this season is good.

I cant say I disagree with that to be honest but i just feel that Babel would play better off his country man Dirk. I was thinking of the physical aspect too with Babel being the stronger player.

[Exiled_red]

I cant say I disagree with that to be honest but i just feel that Babel would play better off his country man Dirk. I was thinking of the physical aspect too with Babel being the stronger player.

I have to admit I'm not exactly Babel's biggest fan but I think we need him in the team at the moment. The team is slow and static, he has the pace that has a chance to make something happen, yes he frustrates me, but I'd rather see us give the ball away running directly at people and attempting to create something than loose it through a stray sideways pass.

It may be a strange thing to say but I feel we value the possession of the ball too much to be creative. We will play sideways pass and backwards passes continually in an attempt to keep the ball rather than play a risky pass that might create a chance.

[Redspin]

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

We won't play 4-4-2. Almost nobody plays that outmoded system anymore. As for Babel on the left, anyone who saw his abject performance in the second half last night should have been finally disabused of the notion that he should get anywhere near the first team

[the rev leeroy brown]

given babels 2nd half performance and obvious better attitude in last nights game, babel is a MUST for starting the stoke game.

[Exiled_red]

We won't play 4-4-2. Almost nobody plays that outmoded system anymore. As for Babel on the left, anyone who saw his abject performance in the second half last night should have been finally disabused of the notion that he should get anywhere near the first team

As I said in my post above I'm not Babel's biggest fan but looking at the moment I'd have him in the team ahead of the alternatives, he has pace, and we are a very static team at the moment he's a player that can make things happen (he doesn't do it enough but that's another issue) and we are short of such players at the moment. And although I rate Benayoun I feel we lose alot of width and space when he plays on the left (yesterday he was playing as a left sided centre mid), and playing Aurelio there is too defensive and lacking in creativity. Riera will make a difference when he comes back, but that won't be for a while.