The Carling Cup Final: Liverpool v. Chelsea [R]

[soccer365-old]

Predictions? Formation?

[royalstilton]

OK.

Now let me start by saying that I would like to see the Reds win this one.

Chelsea has not allowed a goal in like 10 matches.

That is just sick!

My hope is that Liverpool can gain a 0-0 draw in full and extra time and win on penalties.

In fact, I think that the Reds should field a defensive squad for the first 88 minutes, and bring on more offensive players at the end.

Where is Emile Heskey when you need him? He played as a forward/centre back in the UEFA Cup run three years back.

Benitez never listens to me, though, and I speak passable Spanish. ;)

[655321]

...let me start by saying that I would like to see the Reds win this one.

Whoa!! Don't get too crazy on us now!!! :D

[royalstilton]

Whoa!! Don't get too crazy on us now!!! :D
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yeah...rub it in, why dontcha!!! :cool:

so, Mr. No Four, what would your excellent strategy be, or do you prefer to defer to SC or Matty?

[655321]

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yeah...rub it in, why dontcha!!! :cool:

so, Mr. No Four, what would your excellent strategy be, or do you prefer to defer to SC or Matty?

I'd like to see us live forever or die trying...ie. let's attack and either win it with glory or go down fighting. But in reality, the defensive tactic is good. However, our counter attack isn't as hot as it used to be a few years back.

[royalstilton]

I'd like to see us live forever or die trying...ie. let's attack and either win it with glory or go down fighting. But in reality, the defensive tactic is good. However, our counter attack isn't as hot as it used to be a few years back.
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i know what you mean, 'mano. i think that is what Kewell is supposed to bring, that creativity on the wing. we saw Luis Garcia show some flair about 8 weeks ago, but he disappeared. Xabi would be able to help if he wasn't hamstrung. if the Reds want to attack and go down in a blaze of glory, i would put Riise on the wing, instead of fullback and try to exploit Bridge. make him do a lot of running.

if Drogba and Gudjohnsson both play, it's going to be hell for Carragher and Hyypia.

[Martyka21]

Chelsea do have to play Barcelona 4 days before this game. That's gonna be a real tough game for them. Not hopin for any injuries, but we can hope that they're pretty tired and if they lose a little dejected for the final. Course, the same could be said for us vs. Leverkusen.

I like seeing Rafa reading the riot act to the players though. I'm sure now that some players have to realize that they've either gotta play real hard or they won't be with the club next year!

[Red Bird]

I think that most teams meeting Chelski have tried to defend for 90 minutes and have got caught by the sucker puncher. I should like to see a bit more pressure put on them, such that applied on Makelele, albeit sporadically, by Wright-Phillips two weeks ago leading to Terry getting into a tangle and Fowler, with the goalkeeper nowhere to be seen, missed an open goal (I know that's nothing new). I feel that they are emminetly beatable and now that Rafa has dropped a flea in the ear of the players, I hope it is going to be a fighting Liverpool which will turn up on that day.

[655321]

I don't think our defense is strong enough to hold them off an entire 90 minutes and eventually they will score. If we don't do some good strong attacking, we will not win this match.

[Matt Clark]

I think we should play exactly like we did at Anfield just a few short weeks ago, when we were the better side and should have won.

[655321]

I think we should play exactly like we did at Anfield just a few short weeks ago, when we were the better side and should have won.


Ahhh...SNAP!!

[TruReds]

Liverpool usually play to an extraordinary level whenever in final. :cool: Remember we beat Man Utd 2-0 in Carling Cup finals two years ago. We also won all 5 cups finals in the treble year including European Super Cup and Charity Shield. Please tell me it's not all Houllier's credit. :p :o

[royalstilton]

Liverpool usually play to an extraordinary level whenever in final. :cool: Remember we beat Man Utd 2-0 in Carling Cup finals two years ago. We also won all 5 cups finals in the treble year including European Super Cup and Charity Shield. Please tell me it's not all Houllier's credit. :p :o
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i seem to recall one Swiss centre back partnered with a hulking Finn, and Sandor Vesterveld played a bit part, plus the Reds had that crazy midfield with Murphy careening around and shooting from 25 metres out, with Gerry McAlister providing a bit of drama, and good old Nicky Barmby. those were the days. oh. almost forgot. young Michael. did well.

[Suss]

I think we should play exactly like we did at Anfield just a few short weeks ago, when we were the better side and should have won.

Thats what I was going to say. And somebody keep an eye on Joe Cole when defending set pieces. Chelsea have really struggled to score goals without Robben. If we play like we did against Chelsea at Anfield, we will lift the trophy.

[royalstilton]

Thats what I was going to say. And somebody keep an eye on Joe Cole when defending set pieces. Chelsea have really struggled to score goals without Robben. If we play like we did against Chelsea at Anfield, we will lift the trophy.
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This is the team that played against Chelsea:

Jerzy Dudek, Djimi Traore, Sami Hyypia, Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Dietmar Hamann, Luis Garcia, John Arne Riise (Neil Mellor 86), Xabi Alonso (Antonio Nunez 27), Florent Sinama Pongolle

Obviously Alonso nor FSP cannot play, neither Mellor. Baros should be fit and Morientes, but that is a very different configuration of players. Luis Garcia hasn't looked like a world beater for several weeks.

If you are going to try to pressure Makelele, do you do that with Gerrard, or with Garcia?

[Suss]

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This is the team that played against Chelsea:

Jerzy Dudek, Djimi Traore, Sami Hyypia, Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Dietmar Hamann, Luis Garcia, John Arne Riise (Neil Mellor 86), Xabi Alonso (Antonio Nunez 27), Florent Sinama Pongolle

Obviously Alonso nor FSP cannot play, neither Mellor. Baros should be fit and Morientes, but that is a very different configuration of players. Luis Garcia hasn't looked like a world beater for several weeks.

If you are going to try to pressure Makelele, do you do that with Gerrard, or with Garcia?

Of that list, Alonso is the only one we are really missing, and he was injured early in the game. Plus add Morientes. So I don't really see your point. We played the majority of the game without Alonso, and its not like Pongolle or Mellor would be playing if they were fit. There is no reason we can't have another good performance against Chelski.

If Rafa uses the 4-5-1 again, it will be Baros out on the right side. Riise on the left. Gerrard and Hamann in the middle. Then Rafa could either use Biscan (and play Gerrard in an advanced role) or use an attacking player (Garcia, Smicer, Kewell) to play in a central position behind Morientes.

[royalstilton]

Of that list, Alonso is the only one we are really missing, and he was injured early in the game. Plus add Morientes. So I don't really see your point.
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my point was simply that we would be fielding a different group of players. not a debatable point. better group? probably. but thinking that a different group of players would play together the same way as the last side fielded against chelsea isn't that reasonable to me.

do i think that the Reds can beat Chelsea? yes.

i won't be making a wager on that result, unless i get very favorable odds.

to win you have to score. no one has been able to score on Chelsea in 15 hours of football. do the math.

on the other hand, Arsenal and ManU are not among the teams Chelsea has cleansheeted these past 10 matches. the goal differential for the teams they have beaten is -33.

[nicephoras]

on the other hand, Arsenal and ManU are not among the teams Chelsea has cleansheeted these past 10 matches.

You mean like in the, I don't know, Carling Cup semi? ;) ManUtd are averaging a splendid one goal every three games against us, and you're averaging zero. So I don't think our defense is only good against poor competition. We've allowed Bolton, Norwich and Soton to score against us this year, after all.

[TruReds]

I'd like to repeat,

"Liverpool can usually play football to an extraordinary level whenever in final." :cool: :cool:

[royalstilton]

You mean like in the, I don't know, Carling Cup semi? ;) ManUtd are averaging a splendid one goal every three games against us, and you're averaging zero. So I don't think our defense is only good against poor competition. We've allowed Bolton, Norwich and Soton to score against us this year, after all.
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i was referring only to regular EPL matches, not cup matches, but thanks for pointing out the discrepancy.

when you say "us" does that mean that you share a proprietary interest in CFC? how nice for you.