Lock the cars, bolt the doors, nail down......everything, the dippers are coming this weekend.

Well I've locked up in preparation.

Tubby is in trouble, that's the truth of it, tinkering with a squad that is not nearly as great as the scouse brigade like to think it is, in poor form and one senses constantly frustrated about the haphazard "in out and shake it all about" messings of their bearded one. The fuss about the owners have merely hidden the fact that tubby can't coach a premiership team to glory PERIOD. He could have £500 million to spend and he still couldn't do it!

Tubby is no messiah he is just a very naughty boy and I think Grant with the aid of Mr Cate/Clarke can put an end to the very brief revival that ensued against Sunderland at the weekend.

Due to Liverpool's dire form I have to admit a Grant win will not impress me as much as it might some as I no longer think of Liverpool as being one of our big main rivals.

Still we have some history between us so that will add frission to the proceedings and no doubt ensure the scousers try and play at least something approaching football, which makes a change from the diet they have been serving up to their fans recently.

Interesting to see if Grant gives Lampard a run out, if not then the team really almost picks itself, I don't see that Grant has got too many dilemmas - no Drogba, Sheva, JT, Essien etc - will Mikel be back by then? I will also be interested if Grant tries to approach the game any differently tactically to Mourinho, if all his attacking football repartee is worth anything you think he would try to put it into practice against the one team that has always in the past got the better of us (okay in the CL not so in the league that much).

A 2-0 win for us I smell.

 

--------Cech
-JB---Alex--RC---ACole-
--------Maka-------
----SWP-----Ballack
-JCole---------Maloda-
--------Anelka--------

bench - calro, TBH, Bridge, Mikel, Pizza

 

Maka to start, if the game is passing him by(which happens sometimes due the PL being the PL) Mikel can sub and the midfield as a whole bumps the tempo up quite a few notches.

 

I don't see why having Lamps back in the side would be any trouble at all. He'd slot right in to the position in which SWP has been playing, and unlike SWP he can actually finish. Even better, then we could move Sweepy back to the wing and get the useless Malouda off the field. Granted I'd rather see Sinclair on the right than SWP, but we all know that will never happen.

I'm hoping we'll see this lineup:

Belletti----Alex---Carvalho----Bridge
--------------Maka---------------
-------Ballack-------Lampard------
---SWP------Anelka--------Joey--

 

You heading up to the Mad Dog for this one? I think I promised to buy the first round a few months back. Nothing like a cold one at 8AM, I always say.

Oh, and 1-0 to us. We're due to score there eventually...

 

Not expecting this to be an easy game for us. Liverpoo might try and make a statement and what better way to do it at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.

 

My thoughts exactly. I just hope Maka is taking many naps this week because he looked tired and we need him at his best this weekend. If he fades, I am glad Mikel is back. Ballack, Belleti (if he plays) J Cole, et al all need to reassert themselves in this game. 2 -1 us though it will be TOUGH.

 

Until we score more goals than we have been, Lampard being back is a must.

 

Really tough game. They are at their full strength while we are well, you know.... I dont think bringing Lamps back in immediately will do much good. First of all he wont be match fit. Second why ruin the some semblance of chemistry we seem to be having now. Let him gradually come into the team. If we arent doing pretty good after about say 60 mins sub him in. Actually i would rather prefer removing malouda and bring mikel in the midfield. I think he can cope up pretty well in the attacking role

My line - up

-----------------------Cech---------------

--belletti-----alex-----carvalho-----bridge(pennant runs rings around ashley )

---------------maka--------------------

---------mikel---------ballack-----------
--swp--------------------------j.cole--

-------------Anelka---------------------

1 goal either way or a draw is my prediction. Cech and Maka need to be BIG in this game.

EDIT : Oh and Clan, kudos on the title

 

No need to justify the Bridge selection dude. He's better.....

 

Thanks for the heads up Allez. Lol.

Hey, you know what? I think our boys will be up for this one!

I actually fancy a Mikel start in this one, but who would he replace? I know the common opinion would be for him to replace Malouda, but that would force SWP out on the wing and I do not fancy that. Why fiddle with his solid run of form in the midfield?

Ahhh, wow I just realized. Mikel comes back and already we are having that "problem" that every team wants to have.

 

I doubt if Maka is talking any naps France are playing Spain tonight.

 

If fit Lamp plays, we are squeking by or drawing with 1 goal a game of late against so so teams, Lamps scored or took part in at least a third+ of our goals last year, he has scored or took part in at least 29% of our total goals this year despite missing 10 games, not to mention all the other big and little things he adds to the game and some of you lot have forgotten how good he is, I excuse the old git because of the obvious memory issues (dam I hope he is snowed in) but the rest of you....

I'd go with Lamp, Ballack in the Ess role and Mak, who the game has not passed by, dam I ran out of those rollyeye things, I'd use hundreds, he had one glaringly bad pass last match but otherwise did his job quite well, in the last 20 he should have been subbed has his job and forte is not to get creative and score at the edge of the box

No suprise I'd pick Bridge, and as Rafatation refuses to play leftfooted players of late and because we are at home I'd go with Belletti, with JT clearly explaining to him what will happen in private after the game if he refuses to keep his line.

This is actually a game where I would not start Sinclair, though he scarred them pretty good last he played the bindippers. I'd probably go wyth J. Cole on the left, where I think he is better and SWP on the right with Anelka in the 4-3-3 or keep Cole on the right with Malouda who is working well with Bridge.

Absolute must win if slim League hopes are to be kept alive so Mak comes off and we throw the kitchen sink at em in the end if need be

 

There is no doubt about that. I will take a fit Lampard in my starting 11 anyday of the week. Just a little cautious in this match as he is just back from injury. Mikel on the other hand is in his groove and thats why i would rather pick him here.

 

There really is no point in throwing Lampard back in to a game like this, Ballack has proven he can control the midfield.

If anything for these types of games we need Sinclair, but that will never happen.

 

Not that I wouldn't mind seeing another Lampard penalty against the dippers

 

SWP played very poorly against Portsmouth, and isn't the threat that Frank is to shoot from range. He also can't finish or pass. It's Frank's position, I say put him in if he's healthy.

 

That is in part where I am coming from, to me it is not a Ballack or Lamp issue, it is a Lamp vs one out of SWP or Malouda, perhaps Mikel I'll take a fresh if not match fit Lamps if he is fit to go