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[RichC]

To be honest I think it is the time we have to do it. If we go into that game as the disjointed rabble we have been so far this season we will have real problems. We need to get some sort of fluency. It is early in the season and other than players with injury problems we shouldn't be needing to rest many people.

I guess there is a case beyond what I posted above for giving Torres a rest as Roy has stated he worries about him getting through three games in a week.

It's a tough one isn't it - perhaps resting of Stevie and Nando wouldn't make a huge difference - we know what these two can offer to us.

I think against Manure if we play similar to how we have so far this season it's going to be a long day for us.

[dww]

Does Colin Murray still present their football coverage? Surely not now he does MOTD2.

In fact, I can't see how he'd have time given that he seems to present half the programmes on BBC TV and radio at the moment.

Their Europa league website lists their 'team' as: Pat Nevin, Stan Collymore and Dave Woods. That said they also have their main headline as "Liverpool to face Rabotnicki".

[Pablo]

To be honest I think it is the time we have to do it. If we go into that game as the disjointed rabble we have been so far this season we will have real problems. We need to get some sort of fluency. It is early in the season and other than players with injury problems we shouldn't be needing to rest many people.

I guess there is a case beyond what I posted above for giving Torres a rest as Roy has stated he worries about him getting through three games in a week.

I think our "disjointed rabble" will probably put on a good performance on Sunday (as for the result I don't know). I'd prefer to see them fresh and injury free than heavy legged from Thursdays game with United having not played since Tuesday.

[Muddled]

Their Europa league website lists their 'team' as: Pat Nevin, Stan Collymore and Dave Woods. That said they also have their main headline as "Liverpool to face Rabotnicki".

How on earth is Channel Five still broadcasting?

[Muddled]

Ideally a mixture of youth and experience.

In my opinion:

• Joe Cole needs a run out
• Brad Jones can get a full 90 minutes.
• Torres needs to find the goal and build an understanding with Cole.
• Gerrard needs to drop back and play alongside Meireles, to enable ...
• Lucas to watch how to play football.
• Kelly deserves a game ... hell, get spicy and try Johnson in RM.
• Gerrard and Torres to make way around the 60 minute mark.
• Give Skrtel and his 50p piece head a rest, get the Greek in.

Which makes a team of

Jones

Kelly
The Greek
Carragher
The Konck

Johnson
Gerrard
Meireles
A competent footballer

Cole
Torres

I guess LM is - as always - up for grabs:

Babel for pace but little end product
Jova for no pace, a strong core ... and little end product
Or stick Cole on the left, Poulsen to hold and Gerrard behind Torres.

[BigChief]

Jones
Kelly Skrtel Agger Konk
Lucas Miereles
Pacheco Cole Babel
Ngog

Last game for Lucas (hopefully ever). Pacheco NEEDS to start this game if we're serious about his ability and longevity at the club. Otherwise just sell him and get the money now, what's the point of wasting his career?

Ngog and Babel can cause them enough problems with pace and power, while Cole and Pach can offer the subtlety. Bring on Gerrard/Torres IF they're needed, which they shouldn't be. Even a 1-0 loss won't be a disaster (worst case).

[Reece]

I'd be happy with that team BigChief I especially agree about Pacheco starting.

[danperkins]

-----------Reina----------
Kelly--Carra--Agger--Konch
Johnson--Poulsen--Merieles--Cole
-----------Gerrard---------------
-----------Torres----------------

Rather play COel central but sure zero options there really so he's our best best IMO

[Lee]

Hmm not sure about this one. I guess play a weakened team and if we lose then we can always bring back our key players for the away leg.

One thing for me though is I'd like to see something different in the wide areas. Absolutely essential that we try and mix it up with the three behind our striker.

• Maxi - hasn't had a run but was shocking against Birmingham so do we stick with him on Thursday? Or do we bring in Pacheco?
• Jovanovic needs a rest as he's also offered little so far.
• Is Aurelio fit?
• Torres - play him for 45? Completely rest him?
• I'd start with Babel and Cole, see if we can get some creativity going prior to the United game.
• Is Ngog fit?
• I also wonder if Meireles will get a start.
• Agger for me should always, always be on the teamsheet before Skrtel but saying that we've kept a couple of clean sheets in a row now, plus Agger didn't play at the weekend so would he be rusty if we left him out of the Steaua game and brought him back for United?

I'd probably go

Jones
Kelly Kyrgiakos Agger Aurelio (?)
Lucas Meireles
Pacheco Cole Babel
Ngog

I think?!

[DannyMan2006]

Hmm not sure about this one. I guess play a weakened team and if we lose then we can always bring back our key players for the away leg.

One thing for me though is I'd like to see something different in the wide areas. Absolutely essential that we try and mix it up with the three behind our striker.

Jones
Kelly Kyrgiakos Agger Aurelio (?)
Lucas Meireles
Pacheco Cole Babel
Ngog

I think?!

We're in the league format now. So it's all about points. Considering the other teams in our group we should be looking at 3 here to make it easier on us.

I think we have the squad to play a weakened side and still beat the Romanians. Most interesting for me will be where Meirelse and Cole play, as well as Babel.

Could give some pointers to how we may line up against the mancs. I expect changes to made from the Birmingham game for the Utd game, so where Cole and Meireles play and how they do could be very important.

[DannyMan2006]

Acyually, I'd try Babel off the striker against Steau. If he could play there to a high level he would solve many or our problems. He was a ****ing star for the Holland U21 teamback in 2007 and it was probably what prompted Benitez to buy him.

It kills me to think in all his time at the club he's never once played in the position where he was when he really came to the attention of the worlds media.

I mean, just think of a team like this (long term, not for Steau):

--------------Reina---------------
Johnson---Carra--Agger-----Konch
---------Gerrard--Meireles--------
Kuyt---------Babel-----------Cole
---------------Torres------------

We know babel can beat players and that he has a hammer shot. He can be too prdictable coming of the flanks, but put him in the center and makes him far more dangerous. We then also have industry on the flanks in Kuyt with the Skillfull Johnson behind him and Skill with Cole with the more industrious Konchesky behind him - a nice balance.

We then have two players in midfield who can pass a ball to a high standard, have the energy to get up and down and who are also known to be tough in the tackle, as well as capable of bagging goals.

We also have the never say die Carra at CB backed by the more classy Agger who can pick passes from range and move the ball into midfield in tight games.

I think we have a talented team. We just need to get them all on the pitch together.

[Rudo]

Rest all those who played sunday and who also played international football. Also rest Carra who needs the rest.

Make use of the others.

Gkp: Jones
Rb: Darby
Cb: Kyrgiakos
Cb: Skrtel
Lb: Kelly
Rm: Babel
Dm: Meireles
Dm: Spearing
Lm: Pacheco
Am: Cole
St: N'Gog

I'd take Cole and Meireles of early so I could consider them for the United game.

Aye something like that, although with Agger not playing last weekend i could see him playing, who knows.

Lets just ****ing go for it, attack attack attack!!

[banditos]

Acyually, I'd try Babel off the striker against Steau. If he could play there to a high level he would solve many or our problems. He was a ****ing star for the Holland U21 teamback in 2007 and it was probably what prompted Benitez to buy him.

It kills me to think in all his time at the club he's never once played in the position where he was when he really came to the attention of the worlds media.

I mean, just think of a team like this (long term, not for Steau):

--------------Reina---------------
Johnson---Carra--Agger-----Konch
---------Gerrard--Meireles--------
Kuyt---------Babel-----------Cole
---------------Torres------------

We know babel can beat players and that he has a hammer shot. He can be too prdictable coming of the flanks, but put him in the center and makes him far more dangerous. We then also have industry on the flanks in Kuyt with the Skillfull Johnson behind him and Skill with Cole with the more industrious Konchesky behind him - a nice balance.

We then have two players in midfield who can pass a ball to a high standard, have the energy to get up and down and who are also known to be tough in the tackle, as well as capable of bagging goals.

We also have the never say die Carra at CB backed by the more classy Agger who can pick passes from range and move the ball into midfield in tight games.

I think we have a talented team. We just need to get them all on the pitch together.

Babel is the wrong kind of player for that position. He doesn't have the close control or football brain. He's much more suited out wide or on the shoulder of the CBs.

[SB]

For all the Aussie boys and girls, the match is delayed on SBS1 on Friday morning at 705am straight after the live match which is Sevilla vs PSG at 445am.

[The Birdman]

Reina
Kelly Skrtel Agger konchescy/Aurellio
Lucas Meireles
Maxi Cole Pacheco
Ngog


Have Gerrard and Torres on the bench