Benfica build-up

[cream]

Lucas started against Lille.

Portsmouth.

[cream]

Lucas will play, anyone who thinks otherwise is dreaming.

He's pretty much nailed on, as is a draw or defeat.

[Shaggy]

Portsmouth.

No, I said Lille.

He was sub against Portsmouth and Aquilani started.

[red g]

No, I said Lille.

He was sub against Portsmouth and Aquilani started.

depends.....on creams teamsheets he started

[Kenneth]

"- 250,000 EURO everytime the player reaches 35 appearancs, 70 appearances, 105 appeances and then 140 appearances."

I think our money is safe.

[cream]

No, I said Lille.

He was sub against Portsmouth and Aquilani started.

Yes, and I'm talking about the Portsmouth and Sunderland games, the ones Lucas did not start.

[Shaggy]

Yes, and I'm talking about the Portsmouth and Sunderland games, the ones Lucas did not start.

Well I'm talking about Lille, the one you and others conveniently ignore.

[cream]

Well I'm talking about Lille, the one you and others conveniently ignore.

Nothing to do with Lucas as a player, its the way we play when we set up that way. TBF, most fans would love to ignore or forget most of the games we've played this season, games where we've been dire, lacking in creativity and painful to watch. Playing that way hasn't really worked for us, has it?

[Shaggy]

Nothing to do with Lucas as a player, its the way we play when we set up that way. TBF, most fans would love to ignore or forget most of the games we've played this season, games where we've been dire, lacking in creativity and painful to watch. Playing that way hasn't really worked for us, has it?

We set up against Lille just as we did against Portsmouth & Sunderland.

You're forgetting all those games were at home and there's no way we're just gonna tear into Benfica at their place. 'Playing that way' has worked for us in Europe for years. It'll be Lucas and Mascherano holding and Gerrard off Nando. And quite right too.

[Rich]

Stop banging your head Shaggy

[the rev leeroy brown]

We set up against Lille just as we did against Portsmouth & Sunderland.

You're forgetting all those games were at home and there's no way we're just gonna tear into Benfica at their place. 'Playing that way' has worked for us in Europe for years. It'll be Lucas and Mascherano holding and Gerrard off Nando. And quite right too.

absoloutely no problem with that. as i've said of late, i'll hold my hands up and admit lucas has become a better player this year. put in some good performances and if it him and mash then fine. i'd just rather ( even though loser league i aint fussed with ) we stick with same side who played and destroyed sunderland although without maxi ( again no big deal cause he isnt that good a player ) i'd just replace with like for like in yossi.

[dww]

I think a lot of people under rate Maxi and that the idea that the same line up we played against say Sunderland (or if it had been available Portsmouth) especially without him would have a lot more problems against what seems to be a genuinely good side in Benfica.

I think a lot of the problems for Lucas this season have been to do with a lack of width and pace on the wings. I think playing Babel will actually really help him. I think it would be a mistake to play Lucas in the middle with Kuyt and Benayoun on the wings.

I'd expect Kuyt to start but there is a sound argument for Benayoun and Babel in the wide positions I think and I wouldn't be that surprised to see it actually.

[The Birdman]

Well I'm talking about Lille, the one you and others conveniently ignore.

That wasn't the Lille game where he was our best player, won the penalty for the all important 1st goal and showed people that he is actually a box to box midfielder playing in a restricted role was it Shaggs??

[Chazza]

Saviola been ruled out for them

[Shanks]

I really hope Johnson doesn't get exposed tonight by Di Maria.
That lad is a quality winger.