Liverpool Vs Milan the champions league final thread

Tweedle wrote:I woudln't be so sure - Benitez might prefer to use Bellamy's pace verses Maldini

i implied the same yesterday and was told no way. i think bellamy has a role to play in the game with his pace, he is the one genuinely quick player they have

The-Frank-Tavern wrote:

Tweedle wrote:I woudln't be so sure - Benitez might prefer to use Bellamy's pace verses Maldini

i implied the same yesterday and was told no way. i think bellamy has a role to play in the game with his pace, he is the one genuinely quick player they have

it's 50/50 between him and crouch to start

http://www.football365.com/gazzetta/0,17033,9404_2141806,00.html

It's all very well, but how much can mascherano actually do...
He can't stop both kaka and pirlo at the same time.
I'd imagine Benitez will play Gerrard in an advanced role and tell him to get close Pirlo whilst Mascherano tracks kaka.

Kevin mk 2 wrote:http://www.football365.com/gazzetta/0,17033,9404_2141806,00.html

It's all very well, but how much can mascherano actually do...
He can't stop both kaka and pirlo at the same time.
I'd imagine Benitez will play Gerrard in an advanced role and tell him to get close Pirlo whilst Mascherano tracks kaka.

If we play 4-4-2 I would expect kuyt to track pirlo. with alonso and mascha protecting the defence and gerrard and kewell doing the attacking

I just can't see alonso not starting

COTR wrote:

Kevin mk 2 wrote:http://www.football365.com/gazzetta/0,17033,9404_2141806,00.html

It's all very well, but how much can mascherano actually do...
He can't stop both kaka and pirlo at the same time.
I'd imagine Benitez will play Gerrard in an advanced role and tell him to get close Pirlo whilst Mascherano tracks kaka.

If we play 4-4-2 I would expect kuyt to track pirlo. with alonso and mascha protecting the defence and gerrard and kewell doing the attacking

I just can't see alonso not starting

My guess is on 4-5-1 with gerrad behing the striker (crouch). Rafa has sais he plans to still improve his squad so that could be interpreted as meaning that he may not play Alonso and now prefers Mascherano to him...

Kevin mk 2 wrote:

COTR wrote:

Kevin mk 2 wrote:http://www.football365.com/gazzetta/0,17033,9404_2141806,00.html

It's all very well, but how much can mascherano actually do...
He can't stop both kaka and pirlo at the same time.
I'd imagine Benitez will play Gerrard in an advanced role and tell him to get close Pirlo whilst Mascherano tracks kaka.

If we play 4-4-2 I would expect kuyt to track pirlo. with alonso and mascha protecting the defence and gerrard and kewell doing the attacking

I just can't see alonso not starting

My guess is on 4-5-1 with gerrad behing the striker (crouch). Rafa has sais he plans to still improve his squad so that could be interpreted as meaning that he may not play Alonso and now prefers Mascherano to him...

I think it's more to do with bellamy, hyypia, dudek, fowler etc etc than alonso. no idea how you arrived at that theory kevin

Kuyt will almost certainly start. he simply works too hard not to. his energy will be vital at the start of the game

Does anyone get the feeling that Sissoko may actually start now? Benitez may use both him and Mashcerano to stop Kaka from getting forward

Luis wrote:Does anyone get the feeling that Sissoko may actually start now? Benitez may use both him and Mashcerano to stop Kaka from getting forward

And you complain when people call you boring...
Also, its never worked in any other game you've played.

Kevin mk 2 wrote:

Luis wrote:Does anyone get the feeling that Sissoko may actually start now? Benitez may use both him and Mashcerano to stop Kaka from getting forward

And you complain when people call you boring...
Also, its never worked in any other game you've played.

Just a suggestion dear, He could play:

.......................Sissoko........................

................Masch............Alonso..............

............Gerrard........................Kewell.........

i think if he played all those you´d see masch behind sissoko and alonso

If he plays Mascherano and Sissoko, then he should be banned from football.

Luis wrote:

Kevin mk 2 wrote:

Luis wrote:Does anyone get the feeling that Sissoko may actually start now? Benitez may use both him and Mashcerano to stop Kaka from getting forward

And you complain when people call you boring...
Also, its never worked in any other game you've played.

Just a suggestion dear, He could play:

.......................Sissoko........................

................Masch............Alonso..............

............Gerrard........................Kewell.........

Im sure he could. You could also play this formation:

----Sissoke---------Mascherano--------
----------Zenden---------Riise

But i do try and enjoy football...

The midfield that most fans want to see is this:

Pennant.........Gerrard..........Masch..............kewell.........

But it's just not a Benitez midfield, he likes Gerrard on the right

imho you will need more solidity in CM to combat a 3 man CM essentially of Milan with Kaka dropping off the forward into the space that mascha will cover hence milan will have 2 v 1 and gerrard would then have little on no license to roam and if he does there´ll be huge spaces to exploit

Luis wrote:The midfield that most fans want to see is this:

Pennant.........Gerrard..........Masch..............kewell.........

But it's just not a Benitez midfield, he likes Gerrard on the right

Bugger off would I rather have Pennant in my team than Alonso!

----Gerrard-------Mascherano--------Alonso--------Kewell----

Much better

CT wrote:

Luis wrote:The midfield that most fans want to see is this:

Pennant.........Gerrard..........Masch..............kewell.........

But it's just not a Benitez midfield, he likes Gerrard on the right

Bugger off would I rather have Pennant in my team than Alonso!

----Gerrard-------Mascherano--------Alonso--------Kewell----

Much better

Why is Alonso considered as God to everyone? he's been shite this season

Rafa's ideal team:

-------------Pepe

Finnan-----Carra---Agger---Riise

------Momo---Mash---Alonso

Gerrard----------------------Zenden













----------------Crouch

ct is closer imho although still think bells could play wide right or left depending upon fitness of kewell as his pace could be a major asset v milan

Luis wrote:

CT wrote:

Luis wrote:The midfield that most fans want to see is this:

Pennant.........Gerrard..........Masch..............kewell.........

But it's just not a Benitez midfield, he likes Gerrard on the right

Bugger off would I rather have Pennant in my team than Alonso!

----Gerrard-------Mascherano--------Alonso--------Kewell----

Much better

Why is Alonso considered as God to everyone? he's been shite this season

He hasn't had a fantastic season, but far from shite. He's excellent at retaining and keeping possession, which is key against a team like Milan.

He wont get that much time on the ball which he needs, Pennant can cause some real damage against some aging Milan defenders, if Crouch starts then Pennant definately starts

ct hits nail on head agin its why utd lost cos depsite what idiot hansen always says carrick is not outstanding at retaining possssion

Carrick is not the reason we lost that game Frank, despite not playing well.

parky not the only reason but i´ve seen on here in the last few days the reasons rooney and cr were poor against milan away was lack of decent quality ball that is very much down to carrick. yes you had a few big defensive mistakes but this was aprtly caused by the continued onslaught as you never got your offensive game going.

Luis wrote:He wont get that much time on the ball which he needs, Pennant can cause some real damage against some aging Milan defenders, if Crouch starts then Pennant definately starts

I'll only be happy with Pennant starting if he's in a 5 man midfield. He's been decent recently, and is on good form, but he's NEVER a champions league final player. I'd be worried if we started with Pennant on the right in a 4 man midfield, because it effectively means we only have one midfielder with any consistent defensive ability. Gerrards defensive work is sporadic, but if you add Alonso to the equation we have MUCH more strength.

CT wrote:

Luis wrote:He wont get that much time on the ball which he needs, Pennant can cause some real damage against some aging Milan defenders, if Crouch starts then Pennant definately starts

I'll only be happy with Pennant starting if he's in a 5 man midfield. He's been decent recently, and is on good form, but he's NEVER a champions league final player. I'd be worried if we started with Pennant on the right in a 4 man midfield, because it effectively means we only have one midfielder with any consistent defensive ability. Gerrards defensive work is sporadic, but if you add Alonso to the equation we have MUCH more strength.

Neither is Djimi fucking Traore

no luis but you can´t rely on milan compitulations forever

The-Frank-Tavern wrote:no luis but you can´t rely on milan compitulations forever

You're right...We conceded 3 goals that game, and I don't suppose we can pull off another miracle.

Gerrard on the right also helps Finnan much more. Another argument in my formations favour.

The-Frank-Tavern wrote:parky not the only reason but i´ve seen on here in the last few days the reasons rooney and cr were poor against milan away was lack of decent quality ball that is very much down to carrick. yes you had a few big defensive mistakes but this was aprtly caused by the continued onslaught as you never got your offensive game going.

We started to slowly, the defence was diabolical, we had no real target man meaning Rooney was out of position and Ronaldo, Giggs plus Carrick we're $h!t.

^ I like the avatar >_<.

Some stats for the anoraks >>>

The route to Athens:

Won - AC Milan (6) - Liverpool FC (
Drawn - AC Milan (3) - Liverpool FC (1)
Lost - AC Milan (3) - Liverpool FC (3)
Goals for - AC Milan (18) - Liverpool FC (22)
Goals against - AC Milan (9) - Liverpool FC (9)
Clean sheets - AC Milan (7) - Liverpool FC (7)