Tonights game

[Trucker Paddy]

Justintv will have it.

[Red Phoenix]

Fuckin' hell mate see that big bridge? There's a whole other world at the end of it.

 

Ah I hardly ever watch telly at all, so am never really using it to check freeview.

[The Special One]

Streams for the game if you don't have e-season:

 

MyP2P.eu :: International Friendly Matches - SK Rapid Wien vs. Liverpool FC

 

Game is on repeat on LFCtv right after though I think if you're OK missing out on it live.

[Ted]

Ok but hear me out for a second here-

 

Hes fast and strong, probably one of our fastest players over 1km

 

Hes direct, he doesnt even like turning

 

Hes one of the top 5 finishers in the world, look how he lobbed VDS

 

Hes starting left back for the best team in the world and champions of all time

 

Hes Italian so hes passionate and strong and fast

 

All the ingredients of the next Ronaldo!!

 

For a minute there I thought you were on a wind up.

[The Dude Abides]

Pre-season friendlies are one of the things I find a little unsatisfying about Rafa's management.

 

It's only a small niggle, but I always feel we should be using them to try out the formation and players we want to play most of the season with, and getting them used to each other and firing on all cylinders, smashing their opponents in these games and starting the season on fire.

 

I know we have to give the kids and fringe players a chance, but surely bring them on later in the games, and use at least the first half to actually maximise our first team's cohesion?

 

Instead we seem to get a mish-mash and our first competitive game, always so important, is the one where the team have to try to remember how to play together.

 

The same also applies to those CC games imo. Think it's unfair, and a missed opportunity to see how the young lads would get on in a strong Liverpool side instead of, like you say, the complete mish mash of randomness.

[Kevin D]

The type of game that you've got to win if you're going to be champions. Chance to send out a clear message to our rivals.

[The Special One]

I hope a lot of you are joking. If you ever tried to tell Shanks or Paisley how important pre-season games were I think they'd laugh you out of their office.

[Kurt]

I hope a lot of you are joking. If you ever tried to tell Shanks or Paisley how important pre-season games were I think they'd laugh you out of their office.

 

In 06/07 we went into the season with three straight loss in pre season friendles. We carried that form into the season winning only once in our opening 4 matches.

 

Just saying...

[llego]

For a minute there I thought you were on a wind up.

 

Haha cheers.

[bobhorse]

it will be the same as the last one with two teams playing either half as its about getting all of your squad game time to bring on their match fitness it wont be until they come back from the far east tour that you will see performances where the result is more important than the game time for your squad players

[Thants]

I hope Rafa doesnt get into trouble again by getting his Johnson out for the second half.

[zigackly]

I hope a lot of you are joking. If you ever tried to tell Shanks or Paisley how important pre-season games were I think they'd laugh you out of their office.

 

Like I said it's just a small niggle. But how often do we start a season flying? The start of a season was much less important in Shanks and Paisley's time, as the bar wasn't raised so high. Now you really have to maximise your points as early as possible. So I do think it's important to start as well as you can. I agree with bobhorse that the first few pre-season games are not as important as the later ones, but I still think you should work on your team game as early as you can. And if some players are at different levels of fitness to others you can always stagger your substitutions accordingly.

[Kevin D]

Like I said it's just a small niggle. But how often do we start a season flying? The start of a season was much less important in Shanks and Paisley's time, as the bar wasn't raised so high. Now you really have to maximise your points as early as possible. So I do think it's important to start as well as you can. I agree with bobhorse that the first few pre-season games are not as important as the later ones, but I still think you should work on your team game as early as you can. And if some players are at different levels of fitness to others you can always stagger your substitutions accordingly.

 

Agreed. If Benitez can't do that then perhaps we need to look elsewhere. Mourinho's pre-season record is outstanding...

[Ted]

Anyone know any team news?

[The Special One]

17th Jul 16:02

The Reds are still without Spanish aces Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa and Albert Riera because of their Confederations Cup involvement

17th Jul 16:02

Javier Mascherano could make his first appearance of pre-season against the Austrian side

17th Jul 16:02

Glen Johnson will feature again for the Reds against Rapid Vienna

 

I got that off e-season.

[Red Phoenix]

it will be the same as the last one with two teams playing either half as its about getting all of your squad game time to bring on their match fitness it wont be until they come back from the far east tour that you will see performances where the result is more important than the game time for your squad players

 

Guess this is probably right. The Atletico match will more than likely be the first proper one. Johnson might even get to play right back instead of left back too. (joking!)

[Ted]

Itandje at centre half I reckon.

[MokTheAfflicted]

Itandje right outside would be more preferable

[StevieH]

The Reds XI in full is: Cavalieri, Degen, Insua, Carragher, Ayala, Gerrard, Plessis, Babel, El Zhar, Nemeth, Voronin. Subs: Martin, Gulacsi, Kelly, San Jose, Pacheco, Benayoun, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Ngog, Spearing, Skrtel.

[StevieH]

No Johnson?

[The Special One]

In 06/07 we went into the season with three straight loss in pre season friendles. We carried that form into the season winning only once in our opening 4 matches.

 

Just saying...

 

Are you saying we used the exact same team in the pre-season that we did in the opening 4 matches? I don't remember our pre-season that year but I would reckon we didn't. Not to mention it was a World Cup summer meaning there would have been other reasons affecting play.

 

A lot of the teams under Shankly and Paisley had some pretty pathetic pre-seasons only to go on and achieve some major things the following May.

 

Pre-season is only about getting your fitness levels up in my opinion and giving the younger ones a bit of a chance to play with the first team. Other than that it's pointless and I don't really give a crap about results.

[The Special One]

Just watching highlights from yesterday's game and post match interviews... Johnson doesn't say much. I like that.

[The Special One]

Whoever wrote that tag, you're so smart and brave, take me now. What a man.

[StevieH]

Darby out injured.

[Red Phoenix]

The Reds XI in full is: Cavalieri, Degen, Insua, Carragher, Ayala, Gerrard, Plessis, Babel, El Zhar, Nemeth, Voronin. Subs: Martin, Gulacsi, Kelly, San Jose, Pacheco, Benayoun, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Ngog, Spearing, Skrtel.

 

Damn, was hoping that wouldn't happen again. Nemeth will probably just get the first half again and unless Gerrard pushes up and finds him with passes he's not got enough experience around to supply him. Voronin would more than likely attack himself and might not be good at getting to him with good passes, same with Babel.

 

Hopefully he can still get one.