Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

PiE · 05-02-2009 03:18PM

onemorechance wrote: »

I think that rushing a return from a hamstring injury could lead to longer absence.

What I was alluding to is that if there was no international game coming up, the report would probably have said "out for up to a week".

MementoMori · 05-02-2009 03:19PM

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

I think you missed something

Ha I meant Pennant - I just got my Jermaine's mixed up.

Actually speaking of JP, I presume he cant play against us as he is on loan?

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

I would not be underestimating them away from home, ever. They still have some quality players littered throughout the team that boast caps and experience. Their fans tend to be fantastic for games against the big teams. And the very fact that they will not be expected to win could be liberating for them mentally.

And then on our side of the equation, we are missing Gerrard and have just come out of a hard fought 120 mins which brought a deflating end result.

Gonna be a tough encounter.

Not really underestimating them - just that they have been weakened with transfers and that their form has been pretty poor the last few games. Saw some of the Fulham game and thought they looked poor. Their main goal threat recently seems to have been balls from Pennant into the box [Quelle surprise that he's playing well :rolleyes: ] which will be missing. I can see it being a gritty encounter but would hope we would have enough to take care of them.

Spud83 · 05-02-2009 03:19PM

PiE wrote: »

What I was alluding to is that if there was no international game coming up, the report would probably have said "out for up to a week".

I always thought anything with a hamstring is minimum three weeks.

MementoMori · 05-02-2009 03:22PM

PHB wrote: »

Is there any news on Torres? He seemed very worn out against Everton, and got a hell of a kicking out there.

News on Torres

Rafa douses Torres injury fears

Rafa Benitez has dispelled fears that Fernando Torres was injured during Wednesday’s FA Cup exit to Everton.

Torres was withdrawn during extra time as Liverpool threw on Ryan Babel in an attempt to freshen up their striking options.

The live match coverage persistently claimed Torres was injured, yet the Spaniard was merely suffering from exhaustion due to his new training regime.

The Reds have put Torres on an intense strength-training programme to improve his hamstrings, meaning his physical levels have dropped in the short term.

"Torres was really tired and that's why I took him off,” Benitez confirmed after the match.

"He needs to keep playing games and keep training because his match fitness is not the best but that will come."

http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2009/02/05/Prem-Benitez-explains-Torres-substitution/gnid-38780/

jesus_thats_gre · 05-02-2009 03:24PM

PHB wrote: »

Is there any news on Torres? He seemed very worn out against Everton, and got a hell of a kicking out there.

He seems to take that bit longer than most to regain full match fitness. Th is season he seems to be constantly running at following the 2 or 3 injury setbacks that he has had. IIRC, the same was case when he got injured at one point last season..

Lacking match fitness is one thing but I am getting very frustrated with his repeated attempts to try the impossible. He seems to enjoy the challenge of taking on 4 players and running straight at them.

~Rebel~ · 05-02-2009 03:26PM

Id like to see Babel start up top against Pompy, with Yossi playing off him. Both have shown a change in attitude of late which id like to see rewarded.

Torres really looked like he could use a bit of a break, could also be an excuse to call him injured for the break. He put in a serious shift against Chelsea and it showed last night. Really dont want him pushed too hard while still recovering full fitness.

mayordenis · 05-02-2009 03:29PM

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

Lacking match fitness is one thing but I am getting very frustrated with his repeated attempts to try the impossible. He seems to enjoy the challenge of taking on 4 players and running straight at them.

I can understand that frustration but he's just trying things he would knows he's capable of when fully fit - I think it's way OTT to be critical of fernando.

mayordenis · 05-02-2009 03:31PM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Id like to see Babel start up top against Pompy, with Yossi playing off him. Both have shown a change in attitude of late which id like to see rewarded.

Torres really looked like he could use a bit of a break, could also be an excuse to call him injured for the break. He put in a serious shift against Chelsea and it showed last night. Really dont want him pushed too hard while still recovering full fitness.

I'd tend to agree with this, he's had over 180 grueling minutes in the last 2 games and they've come in quick succession. Then again the knives will be out for rafa if he leaves him out.
I would love to see him just give Nando and Babel 60 minutes together from the start - the pace would make people cry.

SlickRic · 05-02-2009 03:41PM

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163152090205-1153.htm

interesting enough piece.

nice to see he's grounded in reality about how we've done so far, and also our chances for the rest of the season, while also acknowledging it could be better.

wouldn't expect anything less from someone whose obviously been there and done everything in years gone by.

MementoMori · 05-02-2009 03:45PM

mayordenis wrote: »

I'd tend to agree with this, he's had over 180 grueling minutes in the last 2 games and they've come in quick succession. Then again the knives will be out for rafa if he leaves him out.
I would love to see him just give Nando and Babel 60 minutes together from the start - the pace would make people cry.

Team for the Portsmouth game

Reina
Arbeloa Carra Skrtel Aurelio
Masch Alonso
Babel Benayoun Riera
Torres

Reina
Arbeloa Carra Skrtel Aurelio
Benayoun Masch Alonso Riera
Babel Torres

Has the advantage of either being 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 depending on how things go

Lucas is suspended - reds are automatic for one game
Alonso aint suspended until the Man City game, so would imagine it will be Lucas and Masch as CMs in that.
I think after Kuyt's performance last night he needs to be benched. Also I wouldn't expect Torres to last longer than sixty minutes, if that. He can then come off with a knock and miss travelling for the international week. Either Kuyt, El Zhar or Ngog can come on for him depending on the how things are developing.

Subs : Cavailieri, Agger, Hyypia, Ngog, El Zhar, Plessis, Kuyt

I wonder if we might see Hyypia to mark Crouch ? He did a good job of keeping him quite at Anfield if I remember correctly and would allow Skrtel presumably a rest.

Chardee MacDennis · 05-02-2009 03:53PM

i expect to see a back four of

Carra--Hyypia--Agger--Aurielo

~Rebel~ · 05-02-2009 03:54PM

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

Lacking match fitness is one thing but I am getting very frustrated with his repeated attempts to try the impossible. He seems to enjoy the challenge of taking on 4 players and running straight at them.

i've been watching this a bit more closely of late and i think there may be method to it. Particularly against chelsea, he'd almost perfectly turn himself into trouble and then try a quick shift and shot. I think it might be his effort at causing a bit of confusion between the defenders all being so close to each other and unsure as to who should take responsibilty, opening up a bit of space for a shot. Was kind of coming off, except for Alex almost always getting something in the way

jesus_thats_gre · 05-02-2009 04:50PM

mayordenis wrote: »

I can understand that frustration but he's just trying things he would knows he's capable of when fully fit - I think it's way OTT to be critical of fernando.

Hmmm I am not being overly critical in fairness.. I actually enjoy him trying different things as the expression of the defenders face is worth it's weight in gold. Saying that, I think he has been doing it a little too much lately and has been overly wasteful.

jesus_thats_gre · 05-02-2009 04:57PM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

i've been watching this a bit more closely of late and i think there may be method to it. Particularly against chelsea, he'd almost perfectly turn himself into trouble and then try a quick shift and shot. I think it might be his effort at causing a bit of confusion between the defenders all being so close to each other and unsure as to who should take responsibilty, opening up a bit of space for a shot. Was kind of coming off, except for Alex almost always getting something in the way

He was effective enough against Chelsea alright. Tis just something I have noticed since he was come back.

Dub13 · 06-02-2009 01:10AM

Scousers terrorise the horny manc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRkim2nbuN8

Mgoraf · 06-02-2009 01:16AM

lmao thats brilliant.

Melion · 06-02-2009 01:19AM

Thats fúckin great

mayordenis · 06-02-2009 01:25AM

That's as brilliant as it is bastardy.

Dub13 · 06-02-2009 01:27AM

mayordenis wrote: »

That's as brilliant as it is bastardy.

Its sure is,I have a list of people I would love to do that two.

redout · 06-02-2009 01:28AM

Dub13 wrote: »

Scousers terrorise the horny manc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRkim2nbuN8

Haha....

C*nts.

Guy:Incognito · 06-02-2009 01:32AM

mayordenis wrote: »

I can understand that frustration but he's just trying things he would knows he's capable of when fully fit - I think it's way OTT to be critical of fernando.

He's been doing it since the start of the season. It was annoying me before the injury issues.

PiE · 06-02-2009 09:14AM

Yea lets neuter him.

Strong words from Xabi:

Alonso - RAFA WILL WIN WAR
Liverpool star Xabi Alonso has backed Rafa Benitez to come through the 'tug of war' at the club.

Benitez is yet to sign a new contract at Anfield as the behind-the-scenes battle for control at the club rumbles on.

The Spaniard wants a more hands-on approach when it comes to transfer dealings and the running of the club in general, but thus far the club's American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks - who themselves remain at loggerheads - are yet to agree to Benitez's demands.

But Alonso is fully confident that Benitez will be given the deal he wants to stay.

"The owners and Rafa seem to be involved in a tug of war," Alonso told The Sun.

"Even if they are trying to resolve it for the better of the club, there is no question in my mind when you have the right man for the job, securing his continuity is important.

"We've been through our bad moments but constant change, or change for the sake of it, isn't a good thing at a club like this.

"It's a subject between Rafa and the owners and the team must not let it affect us at any cost, but my personal bet is Rafa will stay with Liverpool.

"When he came here, Liverpool had a massive history but they had lost competitiveness compared to the other European greats - and had spent a long time without winning major trophies.

"From his arrival to now, you can feel the progress and that he's put Liverpool back where they once were - amongst Europe's greats and aspiring to win everything we enter."
Gerrard fears

The Spanish international also played down fears that Liverpool's season could be set to come off the rails after they were dumped out of FA Cup by Everton and Steven Gerrard was ruled out for at least three weeks with a hamstring injury.

"He is an important player for us. It is always more difficult to play without him," Alonso said of Gerrard.

"But you can't change things so it is better to concentrate on the next game.

"The fact is right now we probably aren't playing as well as we were a month ago when we were a bit fresher and our level of play was much more fluid.

"These are the normal ups and downs of a season - no way are we in bad shape. Maybe what is concerning us a bit is when teams just line up in massed defence against us.

"It's costing us a bit more to unlock them and we have to make sure such games aren't as complicated as we seem to be making them.

"Since I moved to Liverpool this is still, without question, our best chance to win the league title. This squad has the necessary players for the task, there's a good feeling in the club. And I still believe things are looking good.

"We know who our key rivals are, with United and Chelsea being the stand-out opponents.

"Okay, we need to start playing better and winning but the three points against Chelsea were very important. Rafa has made us into a team which stays compact and firm and which moves the ball with quick intelligence.

"We've got quick-moving and quick-thinking players throughout our side and when we play good football our speed is our key."

Reds future

Alonso's own future was in some doubt over the summer when it seemed he would be sold to Juventus or Arsenal to make way for Aston Villa's Gareth Barry.

But the 27-year-old Spaniard insists he does not want to leave Liverpool before his contract expires in three years.

"I don't like it when people seem to think contracts count for nothing," he admitted.

"I've got three years more with Liverpool and so do most of the key players around me. If you love football, then Liverpool is the club for you. This is football at its absolute, its purest - the people, the club, the stadium, the tradition.

"I know that when, eventually, I return to Spain it will be with Liverpool in my blood and as an out-and-out Reds fan.

"But I insist this - I've got three more years here and I expect to fulfil them."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4900107,00.html

I think more of the players should be publically backing Rafa.

kippy · 06-02-2009 09:16AM

PiE wrote: »

Yea lets neuter him.

Strong words from Xabi:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4900107,00.html

I think more of the players should be publically backing Rafa.

I think they should worry more about winning matches and not get caught up in the politics.....

re the video clip, priceless

PiE · 06-02-2009 09:23AM

Yea I guess you're right because, clearly, dropping a couple of lines about Rafa into an interview means Alonso won't play anywhere near his top level for the rest of the season.

kippy · 06-02-2009 09:33AM

It obviously a factor.....
All the **** that is going on between Rafa and the owners who whoever else is defo going to have a psychological effect on the players (the boss isnt responsible for transfers, whats the point or something to that effect)
Coming out "in support" of the manager (even the players that werent brought in by him?) does absolutely nothing apart from stoke the fire. These guys are paid to play football, do it-theres been too much "Talk" and excuses and not enough "Action" by various people at LFC in the past few months. The team need to be getting results not preoccupied with politics.

mike65 · 06-02-2009 10:45AM

Its good to talk (on and on and on) at Anfield

zAbbo · 06-02-2009 10:47AM

Xabi give an interview to The Sun, I doubt it

PiE · 06-02-2009 10:50AM

Touché - didn't spot that bit.

Although if it was made up by the Sun, you'd expect the headline to be "Xabi batters Rafa".

mark renton · 06-02-2009 12:35PM

mayordenis wrote: »

I think it's way OTT to be critical of fernando.

OTT?? Its actualy bordering on sacrilege

noodler · 06-02-2009 12:45PM

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

Hmmm I am not being overly critical in fairness.. I actually enjoy him trying different things as the expression of the defenders face is worth it's weight in gold. Saying that, I think he has been doing it a little too much lately and has been overly wasteful.

For the games he has played this season, even taking his injuries into account, I would defo have expected more from him.

Jesus it is not OTT to recognize that. We know he will be banging them in at a more regular rate soon.

Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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