Millwall vs Liverpool

Once again I think Rafa will take a win but not complain if we lose. Etiquette calls for a [R]. I like most of the lineup. I also expect David Raven to play in place of Finnan. We shall see.

 

I'm not sure just how adventurous Benitez will be in an away game at the first hurdle. I actually think he would appreciate advancing into the next round in this, his first cup competition at Anfield. I think we will see a number of first-teamers being asked to actually do a job against what is certain to be a full-strenght Millwall side at a packed-out New Den.

Dudek

Finnan - Hyypia - Henchoz - Riise

Kewell - Hamann - Biscan - Warnock

FSP - Cisse

Bear in mind that a number of players in the current Premiership/Europe first 11 would not be there were it not for injuries or other lack of cover. Finnan and Hamann being the most obvious examples, but Traore also, by extension. So we can reasonably expect them to play in the "minor" games as well in order to have given them a run. Certainly, I expect Kewell to play against Millwall as his continual struggle for form has already seen him benched by Rafa. This would be the sort of occasion where he is

a) given the chance to play his way back into form and
b) expected to deliver on that chance.

 

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A midtable Championship side at home will be a danger. If Benitez wants to win this game, he will need to play a better stiker duo than FSP and Mellor. So I agree with MC that at least one of his top two forwards will be on the pitch at the opening whistle. I also question the choice of Potter and Biscan together on the same side of midfield. Are they accustomed to playing together on the reserve squad? If so, then not a bad move, but if not, I think it begs for trouble, especially playing Traore at centre back on the same side.

Finnan has been very active in the matches I have seen, overlapping the winger, making Liverpool very susceptible to counterattack on that side, I should venture.

It comes down to Benitez' tactic in managing his resources. Blackburn should be a relatively easy fixture and three points earned, which will factor into the plan, allowing him to field a side that does not feature the XI that played against the Addicks. A win against Deportivo is virtually a must, and a huge challenge away from Anfield. The question arises whether Benitez will test performance of the "second string" against Millwall with a look ahead to the Blackburn match: if Warnock or Henchoz plays well against Millwall, does he play either at Rovers? My take is that he has to keep Alonso and Garcia sharp, because he is going to count heavily on their play against Deportivo.

I look to his playing the first XI for 60 minutes against Millwall, minus a player or two, probably one or more of the Spaniards.

 

Provisional squad for Milwall: Dudek, Finnan, Josemi, Carragher, Traore,
Kewell, Riise, Baros, Pongolle, Henchoz, Diao, Warnock, Biscan, Mellor,
Potter, Whitbread, Kirkland.

No Cisse, Alonso, Garcia or Hyypia. But it looks like I was there or thereabouts on the idea that there will be number of "first-teamers" starting tomorrow.

 

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assuming the correctness of this august assemblage, i would marshal my forces thus:

Duds​

Fins Hench Djimi Riise​

QL Biscuit Diao Warnock​

Pong Baros​

What language will they speak on the pitch?

BTW, one should never stop listening to The Beta Band. The more Scots in the playlist, the better. Pull out a Del Amitri disc for good measure. And if you want a good laff, Belle and Sebastian.

 

The language is Scouse. All new signings are issued the book "Lern Yerself Scouse" by Fritz Spiegel. For more information go here.
http://www.mikekemble.com/mside/scouse1.html

 

Oh good. I shall now be spending the rest of the day trying to get my head around the concept of liking the Beta Band and yet still somehow managing to admit Del A-bloody-mitri into one's life. In the process, my head will likely explode and I never will find out whether the Rafalution is ultimately successful.

I'm going to need a new sig ...

 

Actually, I think that might have to be an entry requirement to these boards from now on. You and I could set an exam.

 

I've got my copy of the book but was never really adept at languages. Perhaps we could establish a simple English language test though.

 

Scouse is easy really. Just call everyone "la", abbreviate words randomly and swear a lot.

 

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while an appealing project, especially to Merseyside drudges, teaching Scouse by book sounds like a lost cause. i am hard pressed to imagine that a Pole, a French Swiss, two Frogs, a bleedin' Irishman, a Czech, a Senegalese (even if he speaks french), an Aussie, a Viking, a Yugo, and a midget from Ormskirk are going to sort out what's happening on the pitch.

 

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I'm completely gutted that you don't embrace Del Amitri's version of American roots rock. I should have known you are a true sophisticate, though you must forgive me for having parsed the fact that you are a Liverpool supporter into the equation. Sorry.

I suppose you detest Belle and Sebastian, too.

 

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By the name, I suspect he was a Dane. Well, listen to this:

In 851, the Danes invaded North Umbria and imposed upon the locals a figurehead king, name of Egbert. And later, they imposed Danish Modern furniture on an unsuspecting world.

Is that what you want, sir? Danes infiltrating England again?

 

Okay, so I'm a big B&S fan, but I'm having the same problem associating their work with Del Amitri, have I been missing something (Aside from the title of this tread.) ?