UCL Final - Milan vs. Liverpool... Athens, May 23rd

I dont think Zenden is going to make it.

Originally Posted by rome1977

zlat and the other MODs spend far too much time trying to rationalise with you, and make you see sense. imho

Grow up or get chucked out.

And NO, you don't have any God given right to post what you want. Some kind soul/s actually constructed this website and are paying for the server/host. You are merely a guest. Now show some respect or go sling your hook elsewhere.

LOLZ... thank you Liverpool fan... LOLZ...

me grow up? try to practise what you preach please... LOLZ...

anyway... when will i get my ban? waited almost 4 months for it to happen... Rezag & Debs... has either of you made up your mind?

and don't bother with a temporary ban... because when i get back... it will start all over again...

I think rafa will play one of the foolowing formations, depending on what players he will have available and what he will come up with in the last day or two before the game:
1) 4-4-2
Reina
Finnan, Carraghar, Agger, Riise
Gerrard, Alonso, Msacherano, Zenden/Pennant/Kewell
Kuyt Crouch

or 2) 4-5-1
Reina
Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise
---------Alonso------------
Pennat----------Mascherano---Zenden/Kewell
---------Gerrard-----------
----------------Kuyt/Crouch

Personally, if everything is going well and the players are in top shape, I would expect to see the 4-4-2 but if there are some problems, a 4-5-1 would be a natural choice also because he would probably try to match Milan's midfield of 5 players in it, so that Pool don't get outpossessed in the middle of the park, which is quite often the key to Milan imposing their game on the opponent and winning the game.

That's whatI think Benitez will try to - knock off Milan from their "possession thing" and then wear us down physically taking the chances that come along the way ... the good old italian phylosophy of winning important games

If I had to guess the left side Arbeloa will start at left back and Riise at left mid. Arbeloa will go off in the 2nd half for Kewell with Riise dropping to defense.

3 reasons:

it's more conservative until the game settles
Riise can have a crack at Dida
Kewell's not match fit but can give 30 mins against tired legs

as I said before though, I haven't a clue

sorry 4 reasons - Zenden's injured now

Originally Posted by redconn

If I had to guess the left side Arbeloa will start at left back and Riise at left mid. Arbeloa will go off in the 2nd half for Kewell with Riise dropping to defense.

3 reasons:

it's more conservative until the game settles
Riise can have a crack at Dida
Kewell's not match fit but can give 30 mins against tired legs

as I said before though, I haven't a clue

sorry 4 reasons - Zenden's injured now

I am not sure whether Rafa will be willing to start with Arbeloa at the back when he will have to deal with someone like Kaka, Seedorf, Pirlo ... not sure how high Arbeloa is on the "trust" meter at Pool right now but I would expect to see Riise start, provided that one of Zenden or Kewell or even Gonzalez is fit enought to start, namely beacuse until the team settles, solid defense is your #1 priority and usually younger or less experienced defenders are usually dropped in such cases.

Of course, If both Zenden and Kewell aren't starting options, Rafa may well not have a choice and start Arbeloa at LB with Riise at LM ... although, maybe Pennat could play on the left and Gerrard on the right.

Originally Posted by zZ[-_-]Zz

LOLZ... thank you Liverpool fan... LOLZ...
and don't bother with a temporary ban... because when i get back... it will start all over again...

were you a bullfighter in a previous life?

you keep waving a red flag.

If it were me, you'd have been long gone.

>>not sure how high Arbeloa is on the "trust" meter

Rafa put him (out if position) on Messi for both barca legs - that's trust as far as I'm concerned

but then he didn't for Chelsea

this is the point I was trying to make about our lineups

Originally Posted by rome1977

were you a bullfighter in a previous life?

you keep waving a red flag.

If it were me, you'd have been long gone.

thanks for trying, rome, but there is really no need to pay anymore attention on this ... it simply won't make a difference.
anyway, I guess the case will be closed soon enough so let's go back to the final and try to read rafa's mind

Originally Posted by zlatanov

I am not sure whether Rafa will be willing to start with Arbeloa at the back when he will have to deal with someone like Kaka, Seedorf, Pirlo ... not sure how high Arbeloa is on the "trust" meter at Pool right now but I would expect to see Riise start, provided that one of Zenden or Kewell or even Gonzalez is fit enought to start, namely beacuse until the team settles, solid defense is your #1 priority and usually younger or less experienced defenders are usually dropped in such cases.

Of course, If both Zenden and Kewell aren't starting options, Rafa may well not have a choice and start Arbeloa at LB with Riise at LM ... although, maybe Pennat could play on the left and Gerrard on the right.

interesting line-ups redconn and zlat.

i don't like risse in defence at all......never have.

and i;d be inclined to go with redconn's line-up.

But as zlat has said, arbeloa has looked terribly weak in recent weeks.

We don't know the zenden situation. But kewell may well play some part in proceedings late-on. He's not fit enough to start and last 90 mins.

the alternative line-up that i do like - and I have been saying this in another forum for a few weeks - is gerrard on the right, pennant on the left. Gerrard woudl be given scope to roam and back up the attack.

Originally Posted by zlatanov

thanks for trying, rome, but there is really no need to pay anymore attention on this ... it simply won't make a difference.
anyway, I guess the case will be closed soon enough so let's go back to the final and try to read rafa's mind

true, mate....it is usually pointless with such peeps.

Yes, back to trying to read Sir Rafa's mind

Originally Posted by zZ[-_-]Zz

LOLZ... thank you Liverpool fan... LOLZ...

me grow up? try to practise what you preach please... LOLZ...

anyway... when will i get my ban? waited almost 4 months for it to happen... Rezag & Debs... has either of you made up your mind?

and don't bother with a temporary ban... because when i get back... it will start all over again...

So you're requesting a ban? If so I'll fulfill the request immediately. You want a permanent one right, seeing as you've said not to bother with a temp one

Dev, I cant believe you didnt just ignore that post

I thought I'd have a go at our starting XI for Wednesday. It's pretty predictable. The X-mas tree will go to Athens...I hope we can put something shiny and big eared at the top...no not Capitano (although his ears are big and shiny enough )

Dida
Oddo-Nesta-Maldini/Kaladze-Jankulovski
Gattuso-Pirlo-Ambrosini
Kaka-Seedorf
Inzaghi

I predict Pippo to start over Gila and will fall of my chair if Carlito picks the Buzz-cut Wonder.

Why do the Liverpool fans have no trust in Zenden? they are always moaning about him saying why does he have to be in the starting line up, he had a good game against chelsea if you ask me.

Originally Posted by Milancelotti

Why do the Liverpool fans have no trust in Zenden? they are always moaning about him saying why does he have to be in the starting line up, he had a good game against chelsea if you ask me.

he had an OK match in the second leg but nothing great
the first leg vs Chelsea he wasn't very good

he's 5th choice at best for centre mid and/or left mid and I just think some are frustrated we've had to drop that low in the pecking order to field a left side.

he's better than he gets credit for but isn't who we'd hope to play especially in the CL