Liverpool v. Monaco [R]

[liverbird]

Lineup


--------Dudek
Josemi----Sami --Carra--JAR
Finnan---SG--Alonso---Harry
-----Garcia
-----------Cisse

Kirkland
D-jimmy
Hamann
Baros
Diao
FSP

[SuperElf]

Lineup


--------Dudek
Josemi----Sami --Carra--JAR
Finnan---SG--Alonso---Harry
-----Garcia
-----------Cisse

Kirkland
D-jimmy
Hamann
Baros
Diao
FSPCan't argue with that. I know we haven't gotten the results yet from pairing Stevie and Xabi, but it's inevitable. Wouldn't want to tinker any farther with today's lineup, but Rafa's likely a braver man than me.

[K-Liverpool]

Can't argue with that. I know we haven't gotten the results yet from pairing Stevie and Xabi, but it's inevitable. Wouldn't want to tinker any farther with today's lineup, but Rafa's likely a braver man than me.


i'd like to see baros in there for cisse.

[usscouse]

i'd like to see baros in there for cisse.Pretty funny post for first time out...!

[lackadaisical]

I say keep Hamann in. He is under rated. Although, an offensive minded team might be wanted for a home match.
I say,
Dudek
Riise-Hyypia-Carragher-Josemi
Kewell-Gerrard-Hamann-Finnan
Garcia
Baros

[usscouse]

Lineup


--------Dudek
Josemi----Sami --Carra--JAR
Finnan---SG--Alonso---Harry
-----Garcia
-----------Cisse

Kirkland
D-jimmy
Hamann
Baros
Diao
FSPI like this line up, I think Baros is good only in the odd match, He'll make a better sub.

I want to be at this one, got to work on my cousins. Me mum thinks I'm just going to see her...... Well I am but not 24/7.

[SportBoy333]

Saviola will miss the game due to suspension. Another top goal scorer Javier Chevanton is already out injured. Two more top injured offensive guys Nonda and Plasil will not be activated for this game. Probably Monaco lineup could be:

------------------------------Roma

Maicon------------Squillaci--------Rodriguez---------Evra

---------------Perez----------Zikos---------Modesto(or Farnerud)

----------------------------Farnerud(or Lacombe)

---------------------Kallon---------------Adebayor

Not exactly something that should scare you due to all the missing players. The back 4 is clearly the strength. 3 of the 4 were on last years successfull team and played key roles. Maicon the Brazilian is new. The midfield is very weak. The best guy, Plasil is out injured. They didnt get adequate replacements for Rothen and Giuly. They spent most their money on goal scorers, Saviola, Chevanton, Kallon. Dechamps could also go with a 5-3-2 formation. I think with all the good players out he may go defenisve thinking he cant win and try to steal a point.

[usscouse]

Saviola will miss the game due to suspension. Another top goal scorer Javier Chevanton is already out injured. Two more top injured offensive guys Nonda and Plasil will not be activated for this game. Probably Monaco lineup could be:

------------------------------Roma

Maicon------------Squillaci--------Rodriguez---------Evra

---------------Perez----------Zikos---------Modesto(or Farnerud)

----------------------------Farnerud(or Lacombe)

---------------------Kallon---------------Adebayor

Not exactly something that should scare you due to all the missing players. The back 4 is clearly the strength. 3 of the 4 were on last years successfull team and played key roles. Maicon the Brazilian is new. The midfield is very weak. The best guy, Plasil is out injured. They didnt get adequate replacements for Rothen and Giuly. They spent most their money on goal scorers, Saviola, Chevanton, Kallon. Dechamps could also go with a 5-3-2 formation. I think with all the good players out he may go defenisve thinking he cant win and try to steal a point.Pretty sound thinking thanks for the input. If you have injuries play defence and try for the away goal. Then work like hell on your star goalscorers.

How's Dechamps doing so far?

[nicephoras]

Saviola will miss the game due to suspension. Another top goal scorer Javier Chevanton is already out injured. Two more top injured offensive guys Nonda and Plasil will not be activated for this game. Probably Monaco lineup could be:

------------------------------Roma

Maicon------------Squillaci--------Rodriguez---------Evra

---------------Perez----------Zikos---------Modesto(or Farnerud)

----------------------------Farnerud(or Lacombe)

---------------------Kallon---------------Adebayor

Not exactly something that should scare you due to all the missing players. The back 4 is clearly the strength. 3 of the 4 were on last years successfull team and played key roles. Maicon the Brazilian is new. The midfield is very weak. The best guy, Plasil is out injured. They didnt get adequate replacements for Rothen and Giuly. They spent most their money on goal scorers, Saviola, Chevanton, Kallon. Dechamps could also go with a 5-3-2 formation. I think with all the good players out he may go defenisve thinking he cant win and try to steal a point.

What happened to Chevanton? When did he get injured?

[SportBoy333]

He got injured a few weeks ago supposed to be out 6-8 weeks. Too bad because he was off to a great start.

[SportBoy333]

3 of their players Squillaci, Evra and Givet(all defensive minded players) all played for France in their most recent World Cup qualifying game vs. The Faroe Islands.

[Kewell7]

Hey, (I'm a new member)

Personally, I agree with the team that you guys out to face Monaco in the Champions League. Except I'd rather have Xabi Alonso starting in the place of Hamann. With the exception of his last week blunder playing for the Spanish national team, Alonso isn't as prone to making silly mistakes and losing possesion as Hamann is. Plus, I think that his pace [which isn't very significant] is a lot better than Hamanns, from what I remember seeing him do when he was playing in his Real Sociedad days...

[liverbird]

Hey, (I'm a new member)

Personally, I agree with the team that you guys out to face Monaco in the Champions League. Except I'd rather have Xabi Alonso starting in the place of Hamann. With the exception of his last week blunder playing for the Spanish national team, Alonso isn't as prone to making silly mistakes and losing possesion as Hamann is. Plus, I think that his pace [which isn't very significant] is a lot better than Hamanns, from what I remember seeing him do when he was playing in his Real Sociedad days...

Welcome to our little world. I think that I had Alonso starting and Hamann as an available sub, because I agree with you.

[Anomaly385]

Kinda silly question, but this is a home game right? if so, bring on Alonso to heap the offensive pressure on Monaco. As has been said, they are weak due to injuries, and with our rousing victory over WBA, there is no reason why we cannot continue our run and defeat them... methinks 2-0 with Gerrard adding to what will become his season total of 20 goals :), and Kewell (Kewell, what the heck has he done in the last month) tacking on the second.

[Liverpool_SC]

Time to re-establish Fortress Anfield! Let's impose our will on the weakened side from the Principality!

Actually, I think that Benitez needs to play his best lineup (as opposed to using this map for any further experimentation) and encourage the players to use this match as a test for the big match on Monday. If Benitez is thinking of using Hamann on Monday, I would prefer to see him start here as well. The non-starter from among Hamann and Alonso can always get in the game later in the match - perhaps even to spell Gerrard so that he is not over-used heading into some very important matches (@ManUtd then @Chelsea in two weeks).

Like all of us, Benitez has been happy with StevieG. But there have been many comments that he still needs to improve his teamwork and decision-making both with the ball and in his movement off the ball. Now that we don't have Danny Murphy on our side, we probably cannot beat Manchester United unless we have a tip-top match from Gerrard. Therefore, lets use this Monaco match to get him comfortable with the shape of his role and whoever the best partner is to complement/encourage Gerrard in that role. I am still not perfectly sure what nuances Benitez is trying to impress upon Gerrard, so I am content to let him make the decision vis-a-vis his partner. But I don't want to see him fiddling with the lineups and different flavors of tactics too much until our side is more comfortable in the basic framework of his system.

The WBA match was great, but there were still some pretty rough areas at times.

Thankfully we will be playing Man Utd away at a time when they are less than their best (i.e. w/o Rooney, GNeville:), a rusty Van Nistelrooy, a very Rusty Ferdinand, a dodgy Tim Howard, etc).

We can use the home fixture against Norwich to blood Nunez, give Alonso or Hamann more work, provide Baros with a start, etc. Though we should be "wary of the Canary", because Norwich have shown themselves to be the "defensively-resilient early-season promotion team" along the lines of Leicester in 03/04, WBA in 02/03 and Bolton in 01/02.

[lackadaisical]

I predict a bitter 0-0 draw or 1-0 defeat.

[TruReds]

I predict a bitter 0-0 draw or 1-0 defeat.

Hey, be careful of what you are saying in page two, Mr Bean is watching you!!! :D

[liverbird]

I hate to make predictions but I think 2-1 will be the result, in our favor. Remember this is a round robin so its quite different from a two-leg engagement. Away goals are meaningless. We need simply to win at home and draw away and we'll be playing in the knockout round. I think we will play well and get a victory.

I'll not think about or discuss the Scum game until this game is over. As Rafa has said, you need to think about winning the next game and medals will follow but if you think about medals first you will be tripped up early ( or some Spanglish approximation there of). :D

[Bjornebye]

Just make sure you've made the proper appointment for tomorrow, LB. Stig's all set. :)

Stig

[NC RED]

3-1. Ill be bold enough to say that Monaco had a cinderella run last year and were not close to being the best in France let alone Europe. With some key players gone they are not even as good as last year. I think we will be given a solid game but will prevail. Our team I believe is set up pretty well for CL but will sometimes struggle in the EPL.

Scoresheet 3-1 Hyppia, Baros, Kewell