Liverpool 07/08 Season Thread

Today's lineup, per LFCTV:

--------------Itandje---------------------
--Arbeloa----------Hobbs---------Carragher---Aurelio--
--------Alonso-----Lucas------Sissoko
--------Babel----Voronin---------Crouch

Subs: Martin, Hyypia, Riise, El Zhar, Benayoun.

I like to see the 4-3-3, as that's Babel's preferred position. The Chavs should be lined up like this:


-----------------Cech---------------------
Belletti----Ben Haim----- Carvalho--------- Bridge
Essien------- Obi-------- Lampard------- Sinclair
------------Schevy------- Kalou--------------

Ballack, Joe Cole, Sidwell, Ferreira, Cudicini


Should be a fun one.
 
Won't Chelsea be in more of a 4-5-1 as well

Cech

Back 4

--------------Essien-----Obi-------------

-----Kalou-------Lampard-------Sinclair

---------------------Sheva----------------

I don't know if Sinclair is right or left sided.
 
I just threw that formation on there without putting any thought into it. Sinclair seems to be swapping sides a bit.

Essien seems to be playing a more advanced role, with Obi playing as the only real DM.

Itandje had a great save on Lampard, who only had the keeper to beat. Lucas, who's been my MOTM so far, had a great chance and took it pretty well, but Cech with a trademark save to keep the sheet clean.

Voronin, Crouch and Lucas seem to be linking up very well.
 
Here's my extremely long-winded analysis...


I've seen us play a worse half of football than our second half today, I think, but not very often.

Our midfield lost all composure when Xabi went off. He's not fully fit so I don't have a problem with taking him off, but Lucas was on an island when he left.

El Zhar is a decent enough player when surrounded by some talent, but he's not there tactically yet, and he probably lacks the confidence, particularly in a 3-man midfield.

Sissoko had the type of game which makes everyone think he's as good as gone in January. Chicken with his head cut off type stuff out there. Heavy first touches, marauding runs that go absolutely nowhere, except when he gives the ball up and our opposition gets a break the other way. I've always been a big fan of his, and held out hope that he was just a bit of polishing away from a world-class player, but he's clearly not cut out for our club. Not at the moment, anyway. Perhaps he can go somewhere and hone his skills and capitalize on his oozing potential. But that place ain't Melwood.

Babel disappeared in the second half and he really should have set up a goal, or taken it himself in the first. He's got such a powerful, compact shot, and he had beaten two defenders in the box and gotten the ball to his right foot, but he instead laid it off way too late for Lucas when he could have had a go himself. Oh well, he's still learning.

Crouchy was as much at fault as anyone for this loss. He had a good second half, with his typically great link-ups and lay-offs, but he let Obi get to him and deservedly saw red.

I had a tough time distinguishing Hobbs from Carra (again, I was watching on the ol' Slingbox), but aside from a few giveaways, he looked pretty good. Still getting his feet wet at this level, but he's clearly ready to step up his game and break into the first-team. We're buying a CB in the transfer window, so it'll be interesting to see what becomes of him. He's still very young, and will probably have an edge on whoever we bring in simply due to his familiarity with the club, so he should get some more chances, particularly if/when Sami leaves.

Aurelio was somewhat of a bright spot for us today. He's got a very cultured left foot (though was unable to show it off much today) and is good at getting forward, but what showed today was his good one v one defending. He had a couple chances against our main Chelsea nemesis, Joe Cole, and did well to shut him down. He's the best LB on our team at the moment.

Itandje did well to keep the scoreline what it was, though he probably could have saved Sheva's near-post shot at the end. The Lampard goal was unstoppable, as it deflected off Carra, and he made a couple great reflex saves. Not a bad keeper in the least to have backing up Pepe.

Can't really say I fault Rafa, either for his lineup or his tactics. We needed to get a few players on the pitch (Momo, Lucas, Itandje, Hobbs, Crouch, Voronin) and while we clearly would have liked to win it, I also don't want our A team running itself ragged. We fought for awhile, were a bit unlucky to go down a goal, then Crouch's sending off completely ended any chance we had.

Glad to see Babel get the start, simply b/c I wanted to see if he had a full 90 in him (he didn't; neither the tactical acumen, discipline, patience or fitness), but he needs these types of games. Kid's still wet behind the ears.

Ok, enough rambling.
 
wow. that tackle by Crouch was one of the worst I have ever seen.

Not necessarily in terms of violence but damn that was just funny. I can't even express it adequately

only crouch could make a tackle look like that
 
Geez, that was nothing. The worst, bizzare I've ever seen were Manc tackles. Cantona's kung-fu kick of the Crystal Palace fan and Roy Keane's retaliatory tackle on Citeh's Alfe Inge Haaland were pretty outragous. Haaland deserved something, and Keane delivered four years later. As for Cantona, hilarious post-kick press conference, "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown in to the sea."



Cantona kick

Keane Haaland
 
I wouldn't classify Cantona's kung fu kick as a tackle.

Keane's was certainly one of the most vicious but completely lacked the comedic value provided by Crouch's effort.
 
Not sure I agree about Aurelio's defending. It seemed like we were getting skinned down the left pretty regularly.

If you watched the match, our greatest flaw was aptly demonstrated. Our FBs produced ZERO offensive problems for Chelsea, while theirs were continually overlapping, getting to the lines, and generally causing problems. Combine this with the fact that we really don't have any wingers who can beat defenders off the ball, you see why we have a problem.

Not good enough for LFC (sell them all):
Kuyt (maybe as a squad player)
Voronin
Pennant
Sissoko
Aurelio
Riise
 
Couldn't get a tougher draw. Inter is probably the best team in the world right now. That said, great opportunity as well to beat the best. I'm sure Inter is pissed as well.

Can't say I am happy with Lyon. I wanted Schalke, Celtic or Olympiacos.

Some very tasty matchups though overall.
 
Liverpool 4, Pompey 1

Just what we needed - a right solid thumping of a top side.

Torres is just ridiculous. Passes it into the net more often than not. It appears Rafa has learned his lesson and FT will be picked whenever fit (excluding Carling Cup of course).

When, Oh when will we see Babel and Torres together up front? This pairing could absolutely torture defenses for pace, skill, and power.
 
Liverpool 1, Wigan 1

Right, that will just about do it. I can't even construct a realistic scenario for us getting back in the race now. I'm officially cheering for Arsenal (anyone but the scum).

You CAN NOT drop points at home to relegation candidates - second time this year (Birmingham). Inexcusable. I beginning to believe the Rafa has to go. I don't quite see the logic of going with 1 striker against a side that kept 11 behind the ball at all times.
 
I would not be surprised to see Rafa sent on his way if Liverpool crash out of the CL in the next round.

He wasn't hired by the new owners and there is quite a bit of tension in their relationship.

Also, his claims that Liverpool don't spend as much as the other big clubs is beginning to fall on deaf ears.

Look at this for PL spending link PL Spending Spreadsheet

During Rafa's tenure, Liverpool is second only to Chel$ea in net spending.
 
Those figures are laughable. Torres was 20M + Luis Garcia, yet they list him as 26M, as well as including Garcia in the "out" category. Djibril Cisse (who was LFC transfer record at the time @ 14M pounds) was a Houllier purchase. Case-in-point of their accounting goofs - Javi Mascherano is listed as "18M to complete", which is what's being widely reported in the rags, but in actuality that figure will be 10M pounds + 7M pounds in wages over his contract.

Tevez listed as a 10M pound transfer? I thought he was yet to complete a permanent transfer? And isn't the fee going to be much closer to 20M?

Another misleading (though factually correct) figure on that site is the John Obi Mikel transfer, which resulted in ManU getting paid 12M pounds, despite the player never spending a minute with the Scum (the threatening phone calls he received doesn't count).

Benitez has spent a lot rebuilding the squad, and has been forced more often than not to go for quantity over quality. Under Moores, he wasn't really able to splash the pot. The biggest name we signed prior to Torres was Fernando Morientes, who obviously didn't pan out. Most of our spending has been guys like Momo Sissoko, Jermaine Pennant, Fabio Aurelio, Arbeloa, Agger, etc, which is understandable considering the squad Rafa took over. When you inherit someone else's team, you need to buy lots of players. SAF has been at Old Trafford forever - he doesn't need to completely remake a squad, but rather can cherry-pick a couple 15-20M pound players.

But we haven't signed any big names until this summer - Rafa's never been able to snag guys like Alves, Simao, etc, because he's had many positions to fill.

We've also invested heavily in youth signings - Jordy Brouwer, Dani Pacheco, Lucas, Hobbs, etc.

It's really mind-blowing the amount of money Chelsea has spent.
 
Torres' fee could rise to 26.5 based on appearances and accomplishments.

They credit the Garcia sale as a 4 million reduction in the Torres price, so you are arguing about 2.5 million pounds.

Here is an interesting quote from a Liverpool psoter regarding your wage argument on Masch:

"anyone who believes the 17 million fee includes wages is absolutely ******* insane"

Tevez will cost when when we pick him up, no question.

How is the Mikel deal misleading? United were paid the cash.

Wait until Chelsea hit this window. Villa and Anelka plus others.
 
Now I'm reading that if Rafa moves out from the club (growing speculation) that Jose Mourinho is interested in the job

Ugh....
 
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