You we know and respect. I look forward to this fixture too. One thing we know is that the Arse won't hang ten bats on the goal bar and bunker. It'll be real football played with skill and verve -- both ways. That is a seldom thing anywhere around the world these days, so both sides should cherish it.
Didn't want to start a new thread on this but the media heat is on Benitez. Just been going through a few online editions of national newspapers, in one form or another, and one gets the feeling that now Jol and, to a lesser extent, Lee are gone, the sights are firmly fixed on Benitez now for the sack speculation. Headlines such as "Rafa Must Challenge for the Title", "Liverpool Tell Benitez Title Is a Must". SkySportsNews is apparently runningh a "Benitez Latest". And there has been some vitriol poured on Benitez of late as baying mobs join the casuists in the media and press. Unfortunately, a large number of so-called Liverpool fans seem not to have the wit to see through the "cut 'em down" agenda of the press. Expect a crescendo as Sunday approaches. On a more positive note, Torres could be ready Sunday but less so with Agger. Nothing was said of Arbeloa but I guess he is ready.
I saw an interview with Hicks last night on SSN, where he said Rafa ain't going no where. It makes sence that the papers will be going after Rafa given our recent form. But there's no way that he's going anywhere this season, as someone mentioned in another thread thats not how Liverpool opperate, and quite right to. It's been proven time and time again that if the owners of a football club don't back the manager through the rough times, things start to really brake down. Look at Chelsea the minute Abromavich started to question the special one, things started to go wrong. At the other end of the scale Arsenal have'nt done so well for the last few years, but no one questioned Arsne and now they're top of the league. IMO Rafa is the best manager that we could have at our football club.
I also read that he said (paraphrasing here) that depending on how things went that they would evaluate the situation at the end of the year and see what had gone wrong if the team didn't perform... He also said that this squad should be winning. I'd expect some fireworks if our current spate of form continues. Hicks is just going to wait until the end of the season. This is typical in American professional sports, very rarely is a head coach sacked in the middle of a season. To me this just indicates that Hicks and Gillette aren't going to make any rash moves either way, and doesn't really tell what the owners are thinking. To me the pointed statement is "this squad should be winning."
SuperElf made a good point in the other threads that when American owners give a vote of confidence to their coach/manager, they usually mean they have support. It's not the typical "vote of confidence" that usually leads to the demise of managers in the European game.
Pennents out for ten weeks. Shame, I think he's been one of the best players so far this year. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N157465071026-1855.htm
Only so long as they've played more games than Arsenal. I'm looking for some cracking pace to the game given the Gunners' form and what I expect to be Rafa's game plan. Hopefully we'll get to see Garrard in good form, as it always makes the game more entertaining. And I'm anxious to see our defenders against some A-list strikers such as Torres and Kuyt. Here's to a good one that represents the EPL well, and makes the TV folks very happy! Cheers
Well unless Kewell gets healthy soon it looks like our winger options have been cut down. Right Wing: Yossi, Babel, Gerrard Left Wing: Riise, Aurelio, Babel, Leto
i can't explain it, but i feel it in my blood -- a liverpool win!... the last time i felt it was the second leg of the chelsea CL match last year... everyone predicted chelsea to easily move on after they went up at home, but i just knew we would pull it out... that said: reina finnan... carra... sami... riise gerrard... masch... xabi... babel torres... kuyt if we go down, yossi in for xabi...
Here's hoping to an exciting game as well. Arsenal are a side which I have a lot of respect for. They have some class fans around BS. Shame about Pennant, I would think he is the type of player we would need in a game like this but thats been our luck unfortunately this season. Gerrard should do fine on the right. Will Alonso be back for this? Babel-Alonso-Masch-Gerrard would be the perfect midfield for this game, to support Kuyt and Torres up front. We've got to try and preasure Arsenal from the get go and not allow their fast players to have a go at our weak defense.....can't believe I'm actually saying weak defense when it comes to Liverpool....
You know, it's kind of scary, but while Pennant has had some strong performances when he is awful Rafa seems to be the last person on the planet to realize how ineffective he can be. So at least one thing we don't have to deal with.
good luck to you guys. it will be a fun match per the usual (sans that neil mellor fella and that crouch hatty).. but ya.. always look forward to matches up at anfield. i really do not know what to expect out of you all, cept that whomever plays will be up for it. we should score a goal or 2 i think, so the question is if we can keep it tight in the back. anyways, good luck.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N157457071026-1316.htm Agger out for sure, Alonso and Torres both in the squad but Rafa isn't sure how much they will feature because Alonso has been out for 4 weeks and Torres has been out of action for 2 weeks. With that being said. ----------------------Reina----------------------- Finnan--------Carra--------Arbeloa--------Riise Yossi---------Masch-------Gerrard--------Babel ---------------Kuyt---------Crouch--------------- Itandje Sami Alonso Torres Voronin
Who is that Crouch fellow??? Seriously, I think Rafa forgot Couch plays. Maybe he has been that bad in training as someone pointed out. Maybe it's the comments he has made to the media...I don't know, but it seems to me that Rafa will be sending him along in the window.
I agree with the personnel, but I'd like to see a formation more like this: ------------------------Reina------------------------ Finnan--------Carra-------Arbeloa---------Riise --------------------Mascherano-------------------- --------------Gerrard-------Benayoun------------ ---------Kuyt---------------------------Babel------- -------------------Crouch/Torres-----------------
With all our injuries from last week and from last year included...which team looks better. I reckon our summer signings have helped us not lose a game in EPL. 06/07 __________Reina__________ Finnan___Carra___Hyypia___Riise Gerrard__Sissoko__Masch___Zenden ________Kuyt____Crouch Bench: Dudek, Arbeloa, Gonzalez, Bellamy, Fowler 07/08 __________Reina__________ Finnan___Carra___Hyypia___Riise Gerrard__Masch___Xabi___Benayoun ________Kuyt____Torres Bench: Itandje, Arbeloa, Babel, Sissoko, Crouch
Reina Finnan - Carra - Hyppia - Riise Gerrard - Mascherano - Alonso - Babel Torres - Voronin We can have this lot, they're shit.