Stoke game build up

[Kenneth]

Gotta say, even in the midst of the doom and gloom, there's always something to excite or intrigue - step forward Maxi (and please dont be ****!).

We need something to give us a confidence boost. A good performance by Maxi could certainly help give the players a bit more belief.

[Craig_H]

He's a good player no doubt, but his last year or so in Spain hasnt been great. The talent's there, but i think he lost his motivation a bit and a new challenge could be ideal for him.

Not ideal however, is the amount of pressure he'll be on. Same with Aquilani, who was unfairly hailed and looked upon as our saviour, which was never a realistic thing to expect.

Maxi's older and more experienced though, so hopefully he'll take it into his stride.

Cracking signing in any case, at 29 he's not finished by any means and someone of his age and quality would normally command a fee not far off £10m on the current market.

[Paul12]

One big plus ofthe injuries from Wednesday's game is that it means we will on Saturday play two fewer unfit players. Playing unfit players - especially when they are our two most attacking players - is no way to win games in the long-term.

Now what Rafa needs to do is to recognise that a system that works well when you have a fit Torres and a fit Gerrard is not necessarily the best system when that is not the case. It simply does not work for Ngog to lead the line on his own. We need to revert to 4-4-2, and that means playing Ngog and Kuyt together up front.

Against Stoke I also think we need to play with only one holding player, which means Lucas gets a well deserved rest and Mascherano and Aquilani play together. Maxi should start if fit, and I would also play Babel wide - not least so that Aurelio can play at left back to give Insua a well-earned rest. I would pick Degan over Darby because of experience and height.

That would mean we would have five fit first teamers playing in their correct positions (Reina, Carragher, Maxi, Mascherano and Kuyt) and three not quite fit first-teamers in their correct positions (Agger, Aurelio and Aquilani), no youngsters in exposed positions, and all our attacking players fit.

With that team and formation, I would expect a win. But if Rafa continues to pick the wrong players or wrong system, we will lose because the players are now thinking why should they fight if the manager handicaps them.

So:

Reina
Deggen, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio
Maxi, Mascherano, Aquilani, Babel
Kuyt, Ngog

Go the Red men!!

[Craig_H]

Reina
Deggen, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio
Maxi, Mascherano, Aquilani, Babel
Kuyt, Ngog

Go the Red men!!

See, now that XI there is easily capable of tearing Stoke a new one.

Problem has never been one of quality, the players for the most part ARE good enough, last season showed that.

It's a problem of mentality, belief and confidence.

[red g]

lwhen liverpool are playing this season they are usually **** games.

[S-RED]

thats some team we have there.

Reina
Darby
Carra
Agger
Insua
Maxi
Lucas
Masch
Aurelio
Kuyt
Ngog

CANT BELIEVE I FORGOT Aquilani...........

Maybe a rest for Lucas

[Craig_H]

On recent form, Lucas merits his place more than Aquilani. I guess it's hard to expect Aquilani to reach a good level this early though. Might not be til next season that we see the best of him.

Unless he's sold off in the summer, of course.

[S-RED]

Auqa needs games though

[Craig_H]

He does, but not at the detriment of results.

[red g]

On recent form, Lucas merits his place more than Aquilani. I guess it's hard to expect Aquilani to reach a good level this early though. Might not be til next season that we see the best of him.

Unless he's sold off in the summer, of course.

but then with lucas and masher playing its a win ugly scenario and a proper scrappy game. Hopefully Aquiliani can inhect that touch of class

or play both

Reina

Degen
Carra
Agger
Aurelio

Mash

Lucas
Aquiliani

the priest
babel/kuyt/riera

Ngog
l

[dww]

I'd keep Lucas and Aquilani in the middle. That said I can see that Aquilani ahead of Mascher and Lucas might be an attractive option. I would have thought Kuyt moving centrally off Ngog would allow us to keep the ball more though.

A lot depends on whether Maxi is fully ready to start. Babel has looked motivated and fit at least of late so I guess we have some options.

[BobTheCharmer]

He does, but not at the detriment of results.

where are these resukts we're getting with lucas?

I agree he's improved this season. But on Wednesday it was back to the bad old days. We can easily take the chance of benching Lucas for the Italian.

[Craig_H]

where are these resukts we're getting with lucas?

I agree he's improved this season. But on Wednesday it was back to the bad old days. We can easily take the chance of benching Lucas for the Italian.

That's a fair point. I guess it's a percentages thing, and the notion that our chances of getting a result are slightly improved with a player who's playing fairly well, as opposed to one who still looks to be struggling to come to terms with the tempo and physicality of the game. Most worryingly of all with Aquilani, was the frequency with which he was giving the ball away the other night.

[red g]

[QUOTE=Craig_H;1503887]That's a fair point. I guess it's a percentages thing, and the notion that our chances of getting a result are slightly improved with a player who's playing fairly well, as opposed to one who still looks to be struggling to come to terms with the tempo and physicality of the game. Most worryingly of all with Aquilani, was the frequency with which he was giving the ball away the other night.[/QUOTE]

he has now played what 5/6 games? Alonso was like that first game against bolton i think, but he quickly sorted it out.

That lad needs to get stronger and think quicker, he fedinitely has it in his locker some of his passing was first rate and i do love those first touch passes, its when he has time i worry

[BobTheCharmer]

That's a fair point. I guess it's a percentages thing, and the notion that our chances of getting a result are slightly improved with a player who's playing fairly well, as opposed to one who still looks to be struggling to come to terms with the tempo and physicality of the game. Most worryingly of all with Aquilani, was the frequency with which he was giving the ball away the other night.

he did give it away a lot but was it anymore than Agger or Carra though? I thought it was he best game yet for us.