Sunderland Vs. Liverpool

[SoMuch4Gravity]

I agree that Keane might target him but for me it really depends how good the lad is. The only thing I've seen of him was in Rotterdam and I never form opinions based on friendlies but what I do know is that any combination of Masch, Xabi and Momo offers us no goal threat in the centre of midfield and we should be taking the game to these.

 

If Gerrard is unable to play and the lad is good enough and you would certainly hope he is then I'd play him with a disciplined player like Masch or Xabi.

 

do you think we could see a line up like this?:

 

Reian

Same back line

Pennant - Masch - Riise

Yossi - Torres - Vovo'

 

Highly doubtful in my opinion, but it's a way to make sure we have enough attacking creativity with Gerrard out.

[The Party Boy]

Play the same team as Villa and Chelsea.

 

Spot on, Toulouse are wank, we can beat them at home with a weaker team,

[Thants]

I think he'll go for a team that nullifies the wings as that the way Sunderland play. We should win it with whatever team we put out of our 2 teams.

[mht1892]

Playing Sissoko in games that we reckon "might be a bit physical" is always a disaster. Look at last season's evidence (esp Everton and Bolton).

 

He's only useful when the opposition deffo aren't "a bit physical" and don't really expect a six foot tall wrecking ball chasing them all over the pitch booting them into the air (cf Barcelona).

 

I think Sunderland should be taken on with our best, most technically gifted players, not just slightly better versions of their cloggers.

 

Alonso's no pansy, and Gerrard/ Masher love a scrap anyway.

 

Plus they'll be well used to playing slow, tall strikers in the Championship. They won't be so used to taking on quicksilver superstars.

 

-----------------------------Reina----------------------------

 

Finnan--------Carragher------------------Agger-----------Riise

 

 

Tennants------Gerrard-------------------Alonso----------Babel

 

---------------Kuyt---------------------Torres-------------

 

That is deffo the team I think, sunderland away will be tough and that game against them is as bigf a game as there will be all season, we cant afford to drop points and take them lightly and if we turn them over its more pressure on the scum to beat Spurs. :laugh:

[Red Nick]

A game we just must win, same team again please

[coop]

These are the games that Sunderland got promoted for and will always try that extra bit harder against teams like Liverpool.

 

It will take hard work from all the team on Saturday but if we do approach this game correctly then we should win them.

 

Player for player we are far stronger and as long as we stay focused and keep our passing to a high standard then this should be 3 points in the bag but you know they are going to chase every ball with the silly fat geordies screaming for every decision.

 

I would play the strongest eleven available. Not bothered about resting players as they can be brought off once the game is won.

[Red Nick]

These are the games that Sunderland got promoted for and will always try that extra bit harder against teams like Liverpool.

 

It will take hard work from all the team on Saturday but if we do approach this game correctly then we should win them.

 

Player for player we are far stronger and as long as we stay focused and keep our passing to a high standard then this should be 3 points in the bag but you know they are going to chase every ball with the silly fat geordies screaming for every decision.

 

I would play the strongest eleven available. Not bothered about resting players as they can be brought off once the game is won.

 

If we dont take 3 points there are absolutely no excuses whatsoever

 

If we want to win the title this is a must win game

[Turkish Delight]

do you think we could see a line up like this?:

 

Reian

Same back line

Pennant - Masch - Riise

Yossi - Torres - Vovo'

 

Highly doubtful in my opinion, but it's a way to make sure we have enough attacking creativity with Gerrard out.

 

I'd be surprised if Rafa went for something like that and I prefer to see us go 4-4-2 to be honest. I'd expect Sunderland to sit deep on us like they did with Spurs and challenge us to break them down.

 

My only concern is that if our central midfielders aren't getting into the attacking positions then there's the potential for a frustrating match like we suffered on several occasions last season. Having said that in Torres and maybe Babel there are 2 players in other areas who can win a match in an instant that weren't here then.

 

If Lucas is the hard working attacking midfielder I've read about then I would play him in Gerrard's absence. If he's not or just isn't ready then I I'd go for Xabi and Momo in the middle as at least with Momo he won't sit too deep even if he isn't the most skillful.

 

As for the wide positions and up front there are now so many 'possibilities' that I can't make my mind up who'd be best to go with.

[MLB]

Let's not overrate them. We can definitely afford to rest a couple of players for this one. I'd have no qualms about drafting in the likes of Sami, Babel, Mascherano and Voronin, for example.

[bobhorse]

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

 

Finnan----Carra---Agger----Arbeloa

 

Pennant---Javi----Alonso----Babbel

 

---------Kyut-----Torres----------

 

Keeper

Sami

Riise

Crouch

Sissoko

[Jose Jones]

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

 

Finnan----Carra---Agger----Arbeloa

 

Pennant---Javi----Alonso----Babbel

 

---------Kyut-----Torres----------

 

Keeper

Sami

Riise

Crouch

Sissoko

 

I like that, but I reckon it will be Riise instead of Babel.

Depends on how all the lads have come back from international action though.

[bobhorse]

I'll go with 2-0 to Liverpool and wait until the off team to name a scorer but if it was the team as i predict then value will be with Babbel based on the little we have seen so far

He shoots on sight and has a good dig on him should get decent odds on the double worth a £5 punt to pay for the weekend

[RedinSweden]

If we dont take 3 points there are absolutely no excuses whatsoever

 

If we want to win the title this is a must win game

 

Are you going to say that every single time we play away to weaker opposition? You said that loads of time ahead of Villa. Or have you hand picked a selection of teams that we absolutely have to beat? Are there any teams we don't have to beat? If there are, can't we trade off a lack of victory away to Sunderland against, say, a win at Stamford Bridge or Emirates. I need answers.

[wiiksie]

Are you going to say that every single time we play away to weaker opposition? You said that loads of time ahead of Villa. Or have you hand picked a selection of teams that we absolutely have to beat? Are there any teams we don't have to beat? If there are, can't we trade off a lack of victory away to Sunderland against, say, a win at Stamford Bridge or Emirates. I need answers.

Come on Jim you know the score. Every game is a must win game, and if we want to win the league then we have to beat the Mackams or heads will roll.

 

Like the mancs, I would imagine they have completely given up on winning the league after losing to Citeh and drawing against Reading.

[Newport]

Any injuries from the internationals reported?

[Jose Jones]

Any injuries from the internationals reported?

 

Gav has a sore head resulting from the Denmark-Ireland game.

[RedinSweden]

Gav has a sore head resulting from the Denmark-Ireland game.

 

his bank account was also reported to have sustained damage during the match.

[Newport]

I see liverpool.no mentioning Torres took a knock to the his ribs, but not a serious injury. Other than that El Zhar got a minor head injury.

 

On the other hand Dirk injured Van der Sar during training earlier this week.

 

Oh and, get well soon Gav.

[Paco]

------------------------------Reina--------------------------------

 

Finnan-----------Carragher-------------Agger------------------Riise

 

 

Pennant---------Gerrard---------------Mascherano------------Babel

 

 

-----------------Torres----------------Crouch----------------------

 

------------------------------Reina--------------------------------

 

Finnan-----------Carragher-------------Agger------------------Riise

 

 

Pennant---------Alonso---------------Mascherano------------Babel

 

 

-----------------Torres----------------Crouch----------------------

[RedinSweden]

------------------------------Reina--------------------------------

 

Finnan-----------Carragher-------------Agger------------------Riise

 

 

Pennant---------Alonso---------------Mascherano------------Babel

 

 

-----------------Torres----------------Crouch----------------------

 

 

Cheat!

[Paco]

Cheat!

 

how dare you

[SoMuch4Gravity]

change of mind: if that yossi story hadn't come out i could see he and the mascher in the middle. also, it would be cool to see Babel paired with Torres or Voro', but i think it will be Torres/Kuyt up top.

[Captain]

I'd go with:

 

Pepe

Finnan-Carra-Agger-Arbeloa

Pennant-Momo-Alonso-Riise

Torres-Voronin

[James Dean]

I think Alonso will be benched

 

Finnan - Carra - Agger - Arbeloa

Pennant - Masch - Sissoko - Riise

---------Torres-Voronin----------

[BENIRL]

Pepe

Finnan Agger Carragher Arbeloa

Pennant The Chief Alonso Babel

Tores Crouch

 

Has anyone ever got the starting line up right?