Newcastle v. Liverpool [R]

[liverbird]

Big game. We have to shake off our disappointment.
They are playing better football and this will be a critical result for us.

Lineup:

------Dudek
Finnan--SH--JC---Djimmy (if healthy)
Garcia---Hamann---SG---Riise
-------Baros--Moro

Carson
Kewell
Biscan
Pelegrino
Smicer

They can be scored upon but they are still dangerous in attack. Discuss --- so we can change the subject.

[quentinc]

I think we need to find some way to fit Kewell into the equation. Possibly use him like we did in the Leverkusen game. If we replace Baros (who hasn't played well) with Moro, we could use that same lineup. Obviously, Gerrard would be in there instead of Biscan or Didi.

[lackadaisical]

I think we should try this:

Dudek
Finnan-Hyypia-Carra-Traore
-----Biscan-Hamann------
Nunez-----Gerrard----Riise
---------Moro--------------

[liverbird]

I think we need to find some way to fit Kewell into the equation. Possibly use him like we did in the Leverkusen game. If we replace Baros (who hasn't played well) with Moro, we could use that same lineup. Obviously, Gerrard would be in there instead of Biscan or Didi.

It is not clear that 'Arry will be fit. Second, I think we can dominate their midfield and attack with two out and out strikers. I think this is the time to play a more traditional 4-4-2.

[Liverpool_SC]

It is not clear that 'Arry will be fit. Second, I think we can dominate their midfield and attack with two out and out strikers. I think this is the time to play a more traditional 4-4-2.

Newcastle's biggest weakness is in defense. To exploit that, we need our best strikers on the field. This will require our wide midfielders to play with a higher work-rate and take on slightly more responsibility, as there will not be the extra central midfielder who can sit back and help cover for the defense.

I would suggest Gerrard and Hamann with Riise and Garcia in midfield. Baros and Morientes in attack. If Baros remains dodgy, I would consider throwing Smicer on with Morientes. I wouldn't be surprised if Smicer works pretty well with Morientes from a withdrawn attacking role. But Baros has had pretty good success against Newcastle in the past.

I am glad that Kieron Dyer has been playing well lately, because that means Souness will likely stick with him. And everyone knows that Dyer cannot play more than two good matches in a row. He will reek and it will mean that Laurent Robert or Jermaine Jenas sits on the bench while Butt, Faye, Bowyer and Dyer play.

I am very glad that Bellamy is no longer with Newcastle. He has always been pretty dangerous against us, while I feel that our defenders match up much better against Shearer, Kluivert and Amoebi.

In our last five or six league matches with Newcastle, the results and Newcastle's goalscorers:

December 19 2005
Liverpool 3 Newcastle 1 (Kluivert from Bowyer and Dyer)

May 15, 2004
Liverpool 1 Newcastle 1 (Amoebi from Bowyer)

December 6 2003
Newcastle 1 Liverpool 1 (Shearer pk - won by Robert)

January 1 2003
Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0 (Laurent Robert from fk)

September 2, 2002
Liverpool 2 Newcastle 2 (Speed from Bellamy, Shearer from Robert)

In many cases, it was hard-driving runs from either Bellamy or Bowyer that gave trouble to Hyppia and company on the turn, leading to lay-backs and good goalscoring opportunities. We have been punished by Robert's service from crosses or free kicks that also result from fouls on those hard-driving runs.

I hope that we get very solid play from Finnan, Traore, Riise and Garcia to deny space to the wide midfielders, so that Hyppia, Hamann and Carragher can remain composed in the center of the field. If Newcastle's pacy, driving midfielders are not challenged early, they can beat our defenders on the turn and draw lots of dangerous (Robert and Shearer) free kicks and opportunities. They are less dangerous attacking through the center of the field with Faye and Butt than they are with Jenes, though Bowyer can be dangerous cutting inside.

Newcastle is in good form on defense, but they have not faced very many taxing strikers recently (Bolton, Charlton, Man City - post Anelka in their last three matches). In those three matches, it has been players similar to Garcia and Riise (coming from the edges) that have given the Magpies the most trouble - Giannakoupolis, Rommedahl and Shaun Wright-Phillips (pk drawn) are the last three scorers against them.

Newcastle's central defenders are most vulnerable to attackers who are good with the ball at their feet or are very powerful. In their last ten matches - including two against Arsenal - in addition to the wing players listed above, it has been Heskey, Bergkamp, Peter Crouch, etc (not Henry, Reyes, Morrison, Earnshaw, etc) that have beat them. Boumsong and Bramble are fleet enough to compensate for speedy, direct strikers. That being said, if Baros keeps his head up as he is carrying the ball, he can take advantage of Bramble's tendency to freeze or ball watch and slip Mori or Garcia through on goal.

Our strikers need to take advantage of the rich vein of form that Riise is in right now. As teams necessarily pay more attention to him, it should open up a bit of space on his side, as well as provide a slightly off-form StevieG or Hamann with a bit more room in situations when they are following up plays (without the ball) in the middle of the field.

[royalstilton]

Newcastle is in good form on defense, but they have not faced very many taxing strikers recently (Bolton, Charlton, Man City - post Anelka in their last three matches). In those three matches, it has been players similar to Garcia and Riise (coming from the edges) that have given the Magpies the most trouble - Giannakoupolis, Rommedahl and Shaun Wright-Phillips (pk drawn) are the last three scorers against them.
---
i quite agree. the Maggies haven't had but one clean sheet in last 9 matches, but they have not been defeated since Arsenal ( Bergkamp ) scored early and held. in fact, the Reds have the best result ( 3-1 ) since the Chelsea drubbing 3 December.

i looked over the selections from many of the matches, and it looks like Newcastle's midfield has been pretty stable for some time. the change in their lineup has been largely up front, with Shearer coming back and Kluivert nicked up here and there. Kluivert is iffy for this match, which is a good thing, in my book. i fear him more than Ameobi.

gerrard may have been off form recently, but i don't see that as a good predicter of this next match.

[Suss]

I think we need to find some way to fit Kewell into the equation. Possibly use him like we did in the Leverkusen game. If we replace Baros (who hasn't played well) with Moro, we could use that same lineup. Obviously, Gerrard would be in there instead of Biscan or Didi.

Harry's ankle is still not fixed and he said he may still need surgery. He should just have the surgery now and be ready for next season. If Harry asks to be taken out of a Cup Final, I don't think there is any point in him playing hurt. If your not going to suck it up in a Cup Final, then you should just have surgery and get your ankle fixed. I'm tired of seeing Kewell as 50% of the player he used to be.

I agree with Liverbird's lineup. The only questions in the lineup would be Hamann vs. Biscan and Garcia vs. Nunez. LB got it right in my opinion.

Newcastle will have trouble dealing with Baros and Morientes. We should also play some crosses to Titus Shambles, because he has scored as many goals for Liverpool as Hyppia has this season.

[bjb7223]

I like the 4-5-1 formation, we defend better

[ULL NEVER WALK ALONE]

I like the 4-5-1 formation, we defend better
yeap,but we created very few chances!!A draw is not good enough,so we have to go out there and win!

YNWA

[~eM~]

were gona give everything and take all three points..
althou i rekon u guys rnt doin bad..
just a little unlucky up against chelsea and not to win the c.cup..
but are u guys sure to put on full strength lineup..
consdiering ur champs league few days after..
leadgin 3-1
a 2-1 win by leverkusen would just be enough...

[lackadaisical]

I think Biscan should play. The 4-5-1 is effective at controlling play. If you want two strikers, take Gerrard or Hamann off and put Biscan in because in the last two matches, Biscan has played far better and he deserves to play.

[hubbabubba]

yeap,but we created very few chances!!A draw is not good enough,so we have to go out there and win!

YNWA

Much as I dislike giving props to the side, not many teams are of the quality of Chelsea...

Also, we won't (or we shouldn't) play most league games with the same defensive mindset that we did in the Cup final when we went up 1-0. This said, when Kewell is in the lineup with Garcia both end up looking enormously better...

There's something to that, and the 4-5-1 formation, when it's played with the right type of flanking attackers...

[Mel B]

Big game. We have to shake off our disappointment.
They are playing better football and this will be a critical result for us.

Lineup:

------Dudek
Finnan--SH--JC---Djimmy (if healthy)
Garcia---Hamann---SG---Riise
-------Baros--Moro

Carson
Kewell
Biscan
Pelegrino
Smicer

They can be scored upon but they are still dangerous in attack. Discuss --- so we can change the subject.


Laa Laa Laa Laa Laa Laa Laa Laa Laa Geordies.
Laa Laa Laa Laa Laa Laa Laa Laa Laa Geordies.

Ps. May the best NUFC win.

[usscouse]

were gona give everything and take all three points..
althou i rekon u guys rnt doin bad..
just a little unlucky up against chelsea and not to win the c.cup..
but are u guys sure to put on full strength lineup..
consdiering ur champs league few days after..
leadgin 3-1
a 2-1 win by leverkusen would just be enough...Geezus! I didn't realize you geordies write the same way as you talk.

I think what you said was a (fairly) good thing. Lets hope it's one of those 4-3 classics again.


With us getting the 4.... :cool:

[bjb7223]

we had chances. they were just not coverted.

Gerrard missing an easy goal.

and Cezch making a brilliant save to Rob Didi.

[Mel B]

Geezus! I didn't realize you geordies write the same way as you talk.




He's not a Geordie. He's from Hong Kong and has not got the hang of my language yet.

[usscouse]

He's not a Geordie. He's from Hong Kong and has not got the hang of my language yet.Really!!! He sounds like a Geordie.

I like Hong Kong, I was there in December. Come to think of it, they all sound like Geordie's there as well......... :D

[usscouse]

It's 12:40 and I can't sleep, so what the hell:......

Souness was looking to sign some new players to help
Newcastle stay in the prem, so he sent his chief scout to Iraq to search
for some new talent.
Sure enough, the scout finds an outstanding 18 year old striker
and immediately signs him on a 3 year deal. On getting back to
England, Souness takes one look at him in training and immediately puts
him in the starting line up for the big home game against Arsenal. The new
lad is fantastic, he scores a hat trick and creates four more as Newcastle
romp it 7-0. Ecstatic after the game the young lad phones his mum to
tell her the good news. "Mum" he says "I've just made my debut and had a
great game. The team loves me, the fans love me and the press loves me.
Life is great!" "Well," says his mum, "I'm glad life is great for you.
Shall I tell you what happened to us today? Your Dad's been murdered in
the street, your sister and I were raped and beaten in broad daylight,
and your brother's joined a vicious gang of killers". "Mum, I don't know
what to say. I'm so sorry" "Sorry?", She yells down the phone, "You're
f************ing sorry? It's YOUR f************ing fault we moved to
Newcastle in the first place!!"

[Mel B]

It's 12:40 and I can't sleep, so what the hell:......

Souness was looking to sign some new players to help
Newcastle stay in the prem, so he sent his chief scout to Iraq to search
for some new talent.
Sure enough, the scout finds an outstanding 18 year old striker
and immediately signs him on a 3 year deal. On getting back to
England, Souness takes one look at him in training and immediately puts
him in the starting line up for the big home game against Arsenal. The new
lad is fantastic, he scores a hat trick and creates four more as Newcastle
romp it 7-0. Ecstatic after the game the young lad phones his mum to
tell her the good news. "Mum" he says "I've just made my debut and had a
great game. The team loves me, the fans love me and the press loves me.
Life is great!" "Well," says his mum, "I'm glad life is great for you.
Shall I tell you what happened to us today? Your Dad's been murdered in
the street, your sister and I were raped and beaten in broad daylight,
and your brother's joined a vicious gang of killers". "Mum, I don't know
what to say. I'm so sorry" "Sorry?", She yells down the phone, "You're
f************ing sorry? It's YOUR f************ing fault we moved to
Newcastle in the first place!!"

Doh. Taxi for you.

[Suss]

Traore, Kewell, and Dudek are all injury worries for this weekend.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N148005050302-1319.htm

I expect Dudek will play, but if not Carson gets a chance. Kewell is going to be an injury doubt for every game this season. He might as well shut it down and get his injury fixed for next year. Traore is the player we would really miss. I would hate to see Riise taken out of the midfield, especially since Kewell isn't fit. For this reason Warnock should start at left back if Traore is unavailable.