Grasshopper Club Zurich v Liverpool

[Mattshark]

Yeah Cavalieri's always looked pretty solid and reliable to me.

Yep, and he was on the bench at Palmeiras too, he is solid enough when used I don't understand Maxiedge's concerns.

[Maxiedge]

It just seems a bit strange bringing in someone from a totally different habitat who is not there to realise any potential but to just sit on the bench. Would have thought there would have been similar options closer to home.

Yeah, if he was on the bench for Palmeiras we should have signed him at a bargain rate really.

[Exiled_red]

Interesting 42% of all Premier league goals come from set pieces (source) we have 23% of our goals conceded (with the 3rd best defence in the league) come from set pieces, stevesless, surely you can see that in fact, that is actually very good. You need to stop paying attention to Andy Gray's ignorance mate.

Thanks, I couldn't be bothered looking up the facts myself

[DannyMan2006]

I think every team needs three top keepers and with Reina, Cavalieri and Gulacsi we seem well set.

When another is ready to step up we can then think about letting Cavalieri go.

[dww]

Yeah Cavalieri's always looked pretty solid and reliable to me.

He is also as similar a keeper in style to Reina as I have seen around. Obviously he isn't in the same class but when he has come in we haven't had to reorganise (which was a problem in the past when we replaced our first choice keeper with the likes of Carson and Kirkland who were very English shot stopper only types which was a problem even before Reina arrived ).

[BigChief]

He is also as similar a keeper in style to Reina as I have seen around. Obviously he isn't in the same class but when he has come in we haven't had to reorganise (which was a problem in the past when we replaced our first choice keeper with the likes of Carson and Kirkland who were very English shot stopper only types which was a problem even before Reina arrived ).

Yep, Gulacsi is learning EVERYTHING from Reina which is a great basis to start from. I commented on this earlier last season. No doubt I'll be digging up my reserves thread in a minute. :-)

[el matador]

i saw the whole game from 9pm onwards last night and a couple of things struck me straight away.

Firstly, we knocked fewer long balls from the keeper to the front man. Usually, that's our number one tactic but im glad to say that we saw it sparingly yesterday.

The pace on the flanks really impressed me. Both amoo and ecclestone looked to get at their marker every time although amoo had a fair bit of success ecclestone too worked hard constantly and showed a lot of grit.

The ball wasnt kept / dominated by the central midfielders and the defence tried to pass the ball out wide quickly to the wingers. Amoo and ecclestone both showed well inside and came short to receive the ball. When the midfielers did have it they looked to get it out wide or forward really quickly. Definitely a sign of things to come.

We pressed much higher up the pitch with 4 players pretty much pressing the goalies distribution to the defenders which shows that instead of waiting for things to happen they were trying to make them them happen.

Although the game itself wasnt great, the fact that so many young players got a decent run out was a real bonus. Amoo and ecclestone really impressed me, but Ayala was outstanding at centre back. Kelly was a rock and jay spearing didnt stop running. Ngog up front looked lively. Funnily the experienced players didnt contribute too much and the best stuff came from the younger lads. Gulasci too was very composed and looked a real talent.

Ive seen enough to see that we will play a different style of football to last season with the emphasis on attacking teams rather than playing counter attack. However, i dont think it will suit torres.

[BigChief]

Good comments el matador. Some eye opening ones, yes you are quite right we are playing through our wingers more than central midfield and it seems rehearsed. I believe this is exactly how Fulham played last season.

Two things this opens up: first we might be a leeeetle exposed against better teams (but Roy may change things for those games) however the flip side is we should finally muller the 'easier' teams - no more predictable through the middle stuff all the time.

This brings us to the second point, I think Torres will actually thrive with this tactic in that two players will have to go out to mark Cole and Glen Johnson leaving space for Gerrard and Torres. When we've (Rafa's) predictably played through the middle 'easier' teams have easily kept it tight against us. Now we will be tearing them new ar*eholes all over the pitch. We know how good Torrard are in finding half a yard in the box, they're not bad at heading in crosses either so I've heard. No more aimless balls for Torres to chase and do his hamstrings again...hurrah!!

I believe us fans have been crying out for this for 11 years.

[Mattshark]

I'm pretty our no.1 tactic isn't long ball to the striker, nor has it been.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/chalkboards

This should vindicate that as a ridiculous statement to make.

[CJ]

it must be hard to get a good back up keeper.

Pepe is as good as there is, and is young and doesnt miss many games, so who do you get as back up?

[RedReet]

Wasn't that the game when we lost 5-0 to the mighty Mainz?

Turns out it was Kaiserslautern in 2006.

Is the match against them on Saturday another delayed KO on LFC.tv?

[Maxiedge]

it must be hard to get a good back up keeper.

Pepe is as good as there is, and is young and doesnt miss many games, so who do you get as back up?

I couldn't give you any names right now (for legal reasons ) but I think, as back-up, someone with previous Premiership experience.

I just find the signing a bit strange paying 3m for Palmeiras second choice. Did we really need to go so afar for this one? I was wrong to say yesterday 'he's not very good', he is good, but I think if you're going to go through the trouble of bringing someone in from SA, they need to be really good especially if they're going to be bossing the likes of Carra et al...

As for the SA scouts, well...they need to be sacked. From the pool of talent there, they've managed to land us the slowest defender in the world, the only Brazilian footballer who's uncomfortable with the ball and a dozy cunt on the wings. It's ****in ridiculous.

[Exiled_red]

I couldn't give you any names right now (for legal reasons ) but I think, as back-up, someone with previous Premiership experience.

I just find the signing a bit strange paying 3m for Palmeiras second choice. Did we really need to go so afar for this one? I was wrong to say yesterday 'he's not very good', he is good, but I think if you're going to go through the trouble of bringing someone in from SA, they need to be really good especially if they're going to be bossing the likes of Carra et al...

As for the SA scouts, well...they need to be sacked. From the pool of talent there, they've managed to land us the slowest defender in the world, the only Brazilian footballer who's uncomfortable with the ball and a dozy cunt on the wings. It's ****in ridiculous.

The problem with the Premiership and looking at South American players is that you are limited to those who qualify for European passports or for a work permit. Those who qualify for work permits are usually old and if they are any good have usually been snapped up by other European clubs in leagues where the restrictions aren't so tight.

[Maxiedge]

The problem with the Premiership and looking at South American players is that you are limited to those who qualify for European passports or for a work permit. Those who qualify for work permits are usually old and if they are any good have usually been snapped up by other European clubs in leagues where the restrictions aren't so tight.

Don't the International players qualify for work permits automatically? I think if we're going to sign SA players we need to get end product as we're not very good at norturing them here. If we can't afford the good ones then just leave it be.

[Exiled_red]

Don't the International players qualify for work permits automatically? I think if we're going to sign SA players we need to get end product as we're not very good at norturing them here. If we can't afford the good ones then just leave it be.

No the regulations are quite strict (Or at least were I'm not sure if they've been updated recently). I know a few years ago (Around the time we signed Mark Gonzalez - because we had problems getting him a work permit) used to be something like you had to have played for 75%+ of your countries international games in the last two years and the country had to be in the top some many countries (50??) in the FIFA rankings for you to be eligable. Or you had to be regarded as an outstanding prospect (but the FA had to agree with that assessment).

This criteria makes it difficult to sign you players as they are unlikely to have been playing international football for two years. And the chances are anyone who has been playing international football for Brazil or Argentina enough to qualify, probably is already playing in Europe