Pre match, LFC - Sunderland

[Modo]

Benitez blew it against Man U last weekend. But some of the blame must be put on the players. Lucas is an easy target but to be honest I was expecting more from our captain.

Sunderland

Sunderland are on a 5 match unbeaten streak with two wins and three draws. Last defeat came against Arsenal at the Emirates. Arsenal were a bit lucky there.
Sunderland are without Kenwyn Jones while Andy Reid is doubtful.
Frazier Campbell is looking to increase his goal tally against us. He scored his third goal in four games against Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Probable Sunderland line up:

Gordon

Hutton Turner Ferdinand Mensah

Malbranque Henderson Cattermole Richardson

Campbell Bent


CL race

Tottenham play Portsmouth at home. That's surely 3 points for Spurs.
Villa play Chelsea away. Chelsea win.
City play Wigan at home. Wigan could manage a draw against and out of form City side.

LFC line up

I hope Benitez will get it right on Sunday by starting Aquilani and Babel. Another change would be to play Agger at left back instead Insua.

Reina

Johnson Carra Kyrgiakos Agger

Mascherano

Aquaman Gerrard
Kuyt Babel
Torres

Prediction

Tough game, considering Sunderland's unbeaten streak. Steve Bruce seems to have the upper hand against Benitez. Hopefully it'll turn out like the league cup game against his Birmingham side.
I'm going for a 3-1 win Torres to score 2, Babel 1. Assists by Aquilani and Johnson.

....PLEASE, DO NOT BRING ANY BEACH BALLS WITH YOU

 

[Buddha]

A good read and i agree with most, but has Agger ever played at left-back? I can't see Rafa dropping Insua now.

We simply have to be beating the likes of Sunderland (home or away) if we consider ourselves worthy of the 4th spot.

I'll go for 1-3 too.

 

[jexykrodic]

We'll wilt under the weight of Steve Bruce's, er , fat head.

Doesn't Bruce have a pretty good Managerial record against us?

Seriously though, we have to win.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

------------Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Insua
----------Aqua------Mascher
Kuyt---------Gerrard-----------Babel
---------------Torres

 

[the_khl]

[quote author=Gerry_A_Trick link=topic=39501.msg1076770#msg1076770 date=1269603203]
------------Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Insua
----------Aqua------Mascher
Kuyt---------Gerrard-----------Babel
---------------Torres
[/quote]
I'd probably pick The Maxi over Kuyt otherwise spot on.

 

[Friend no. 2]

[quote author=Gerry_A_Trick link=topic=39501.msg1076770#msg1076770 date=1269603203]
------------Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Insua
----------Aqua------Mascher
Kuyt---------Gerrard-----------Babel
---------------Torres
[/quote]

That...

 

[manwithnoname]

I can't even be arsed to do a full teamsheet, so I'll just repeat the following mantra:

No Insua
No fucking Lucas

Play Aquilani
Play Babel

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=39501.msg1076780#msg1076780 date=1269604690]
I can't even be arsed to do a full teamsheet, so I'll just repeat the following mantra:

No Insua
No fucking Lucas

Play Aquilani
Play Babel
[/quote]

Do we have any other options bar Insua at LB?

Otherwise, I agree.

 

[jan]

Same team as againt Pompey, just without Insua. Who's playing LB for the reserves?

 

[franklyfrank]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=39501.msg1076780#msg1076780 date=1269604690]
I can't even be arsed to do a full teamsheet, so I'll just repeat the following mantra:

No Insua
No fucking Lucas

Play Aquilani
Play Babel
[/quote]

Aye we could play Agger left back and put the Greek in beside Carra. Anything to get the embarrassing Insua outta the team.

 

[mark1975]

----------------Reina-------------
Johnson-Carra-Agger--Insua
--------------Masher-------------
--------Gerrard--Aquilani-------
-Kuyt---------------------Babel--
--------------Torres---------------

If that side doesn't win, I give up.

 

[localny]

I think we really are in with a good shout of forth.

But as someone said, quite frankly if we can't beat the likes of Sunderland, then we can't complain and don't deserve it.

I think we'll show up BIG TIME. I see a 3-0 win for us. Spurs will slip up somewhere...maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but some day soon. Keep winning and the clouds will break..

Rafa for Bells Manager of the Month in April!!

 

[vantage]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=39501.msg1076780#msg1076780 date=1269604690]
I can't even be arsed to do a full teamsheet, so I'll just repeat the following mantra:


No fucking Lucas


[/quote]

I wasn't intending to.

 

[manwithnoname]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=39501.msg1076816#msg1076816 date=1269611177]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=39501.msg1076780#msg1076780 date=1269604690]
I can't even be arsed to do a full teamsheet, so I'll just repeat the following mantra:

No Insua
No fucking Lucas

Play Aquilani
Play Babel
[/quote]

Do we have any other options bar Insua at LB?

Otherwise, I agree.
[/quote]

Agger.

Other than him. Nope.

 

[Buddha]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=39501.msg1076849#msg1076849 date=1269616437]
[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=39501.msg1076816#msg1076816 date=1269611177]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=39501.msg1076780#msg1076780 date=1269604690]
I can't even be arsed to do a full teamsheet, so I'll just repeat the following mantra:

No Insua
No fucking Lucas

Play Aquilani
Play Babel
[/quote]

Do we have any other options bar Insua at LB?

Otherwise, I agree.
[/quote]

Agger.

Other than him. Nope.
[/quote]

Kelly's an excellent young prospect (the equal, if not better than Insua). He also played much of last season on loan as a left-back, even though he's better suited to the right side (and will end up as a centre back). He's quick, strong and should be getting a chance ahead of Brendan's love-child.

 

[peterhague]

[quote author=localny link=topic=39501.msg1076835#msg1076835 date=1269613286]
I think we really are in with a good shout of forth.

But as someone said, quite frankly if we can't beat the likes of Sunderland, then we can't complain and don't deserve it.

I think we'll show up BIG TIME. I see a 3-0 win for us.Spurs will slip up somewhere...maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but some day soon . Keep winning and the clouds will break..

Rafa for Bells Manager of the Month in April!!
[/quote]

and for the rest of their lives? reminds me of that dippy sky commentator i keep hear saying, as the clock ticks down and the long balls start coming in, 'once more into the mixer dear friends!' definitely so-bad-it's-good commentary, that.

 

[localny]

Our problems don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy debt ridden world... 😉

Forth is there for us, Rafa, unleash the hounds, throw off the shackles...

 

[keniget]

Sunderland have quite a combative midfield, so I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Lucas start. It'd be nice to see Aquilani given another go though.

 

[Wilko7]

Hopefully Rafa can finally get a win over that fat bastard, Bruce, today.

That beachball is a symbol of a ridiculously shit season and I'd like to think the players have revenge on their minds today.

 

[spider-Neil]

play insua? because he's good? no, because he is in my fantasy team (he's dirt cheap).

 

[Hansern]

Any team news?

 

[monsieurdantes]

[quote author=Hansern link=topic=39501.msg1077330#msg1077330 date=1269780579]
Any team news?
[/quote]

I know what you're thinking, you're hopeful to see a simlar team to one you would pick yourself, with babel and aquilani. But by now you should know the team news will just depress you. It's better if you just watch the game, then who knows insua and lucas might be that anonymously shit, you may not notice that they even played

 

[Fabio]

[quote author=monsieurdantes link=topic=39501.msg1077331#msg1077331 date=1269780902]
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=39501.msg1077330#msg1077330 date=1269780579]
Any team news?
[/quote]

I know what you're thinking, you're hopeful to see a simlar team to one you would pick yourself, with babel and aquilani. But by now you should know the team news will just depress you. It's better if you just watch the game, then who knows insua and lucas might be that anonymously shit, you may not notice that they even played
[/quote]

i like your bleakness 😀

 

[monsieurdantes]

can you blame me

 

[Hansern]

You're probably right Dantes, but there is usually a team out by now. And that at least gives us something to compain about.

 

[monsieurdantes]

reina
johnson carragher agger insua
mascherano lucas
kuyt gerrard maxi
torres

subs: cavalieri krygiakos kelly aquilani benayoun babel ngog

if that's not the team, i'll start looking for a communal grave

 

[Modo]

That's not the team...

 

[monsieurdantes]

im looking at you

 

[livvy145]

God is in the studio

 

[livvy145]

Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua, Mascherano, Gerrard, Kuyt, Babel, Rodriguez, Torres.

Subs: Cavalieri, El Zhar, Ngog, Benayoun, Lucas, Aquilani, Kyrgiakos