Chelsea (h) build up

[captainfog]

Maybe, like you say, we were much better without Gerrard last night. When he came on he just kept giving the ball away with stupid Hollywood balls.

[BobTheCharmer]

Maybe, like you say, we were much better without Gerrard last night. When he came on he just kept giving the ball away with stupid Hollywood balls.

Was it not a case of him coming on to try and create something for us, which by definition means will be riskier than passing sideways. No point bringing him on to retain the ball and go nowhere, he was trying to hit raking balls for players making runs into the area. It easier to sit and stifle than to make things happen. Gerrard is easily our best midfielder.

[-V-]

............Mignolet
Lovren Skrtel Toure Moreno
Gerrard Can Henderson
...........Sterling
.......Balotelli....Borini

Skrtel and Toure were decent together last night. I would try Lovren at right back as Manquillo and Johnson will both get dominated at set pieces and for me its more important to defend well and keep it solid at the back

[captainfog]

Was it not a case of him coming on to try and create something for us, which by definition means will be riskier than passing sideways. No point bringing him on to retain the ball and go nowhere, he was trying to hit raking balls for players making runs into the area. It easier to sit and stifle than to make things happen. Gerrard is easily our best midfielder.

I disagree, I think Gerrard has been our worst (regular) midfielder this season. Utterly hopeless.

[BobTheCharmer]

I disagree, I think Gerrard has been our worst (regular) midfielder this season. Utterly hopeless.

Ok, you are wrong but its all about opinions.

[baitman]

Birdman says Johnson's more reliable positionally as Manquillo goes bombing forward. I didn't know what to say...I still don't. Everything's just turned purple.

[frank the tank]

I disagree, I think Gerrard has been our worst (regular) midfielder this season. Utterly hopeless.

The truth is somewhere in the middle......

[danperkins]

The truth is somewhere in the middle......

[frank the tank]

I dont think it will happen but i would like to see...

--------------------------------------the mig--------------------------------

The manq---------kolo pops-------The Skrt--------Moreno

---------------hendo--------luke ass-------Can----------------------

----------------------------------Gerrard-----------------------------------

--------------Sterling--------------------Balotelli--------------------

Solid midfield with loads of energy.

Gerrard could probably help sterling and balotelli further up the pitch......plus his position in the number 10 role would help brendog in game tactical flexibility as well
Sterling couls effectively have a free role.....and go out there and play his natural game.....

And we would have good options on the bench as well...

[G]

I'm amazed people keep picking Johnson! He has zero discipline or positional sense, is incapable of stopping crosses and offers little going forward. The sooner he's ****ed off the better.

[Fernandinho]

I would be so disappointed if I was Lucas and got dropped here. He pressed and harried
to win the ball so well and was so composed in key areas when we needed to keep the ball.

[Trippendicular]

Was it not a case of him coming on to try and create something for us, which by definition means will be riskier than passing sideways. No point bringing him on to retain the ball and go nowhere, he was trying to hit raking balls for players making runs into the area. It easier to sit and stifle than to make things happen. Gerrard is easily our best midfielder.

I don't remember him creating anything. I do remember some of his Hollywood passes wasting possession in good positions though.

[topscorer]

I dont think it will happen but i would like to see...

--------------------------------------the mig--------------------------------

The manq---------kolo pops-------The Skrt--------Moreno

---------------hendo--------luke ass-------Can----------------------

----------------------------------Gerrard-----------------------------------

--------------Sterling--------------------Balotelli--------------------

Solid midfield with loads of energy.

Gerrard could probably help sterling and balotelli further up the pitch......plus his position in the number 10 role would help brendog in game tactical flexibility as well
Sterling couls effectively have a free role.....and go out there and play his natural game.....

And we would have good options on the bench as well...

Interesting, personally I don't see the point in playing Mario, I'd rather have Borini and at least have some energy. It's also a former club for him so maybe we'll benefit from that 'scoring against former club' syndrome.

Also not sure about Sterling, I think he needs a rest. Can't Lallana play in that role?

[frank the tank]

Interesting, personally I don't see the point in playing Mario, I'd rather have Borini and at least have some energy. It's also a former club for him so maybe we'll benefit from that 'scoring against former club' syndrome.

Also not sure about Sterling, I think he needs a rest. Can't Lallana play in that role?

actually i agree about Sterling.......swap him for Borini and we have energy up top - plus Borini will drift out wide as well and create space that hopefully the likes of Gerrard and Henderson can drift into.......

it will be interesting to see how Brendan approaches the game but for me we want to do the classic Rafa v Chelsea approach - really ****in blitz them in the first 10 minutes and try to get a goal. If we do that, then we should try to do what they did to us last season - sit deep, keep the ball, and be very solid. For me that team (at least that midfield) does that - or at least offers that as well as any LFC team at the moment could (we will never really be super solid with our defense.....so need our midfield to offer as much protection as possible)......

this for me is our biggest game of the season. Beat them and it could provide the confidence to go out and go on a good run and get our season going. Co-inciding with Sturridges return should also give the whole team a boost....

Also it coincides with United v Arsenal - so dropped points by our main rivals as well (hopefully they will draw nd both drop two points).....

[frank the tank]

i would play balotelli though..... would love it if he scored v Mourinho as well......