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Pre Match - Villareal (H) - Weds - CL Semi 20:00

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Brizzle

Brizzle

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Jeez this has come around fast. Huge game, a comfortable win would obviously take the pressure off but I don't think there is such a thing in the CL. Villareal have been in a real form in the CL but in La Liga they have lost two and drawn one of their last five - which shows where their focus lies. We will have most of the possession and need to be careful on the counter (like most games then!).

For me Konate comes back in, save Matip for the huge trip to St James', and Diaz starts. NFT in CM my preference but maybe Hendo will lead the team out. I'd definitely want NFT against Newcastle so perhaps it isn't a terrible game to rotate Hendo in to anyway.

------------------Ali-----------------
Trent--Konate--Virgil--Robbo
----------------Fabs----------------
---------Keita-------Thiago-------
Salah--------Mane----------Diaz
 
This is what I thought the team would be pre-Everton :

---------------Alisson-------------
Trent--Matip--Virgil--Tsimikas
----------------Fabs------------------
--------Keita -----Thiago-----------
Salah--------Mane--------Diaz

Clearly now Konate comes into the back 4 and Tsimikas replaces Robbo. Also likely Hendo now starts.

Villareal are going to be Everton Lite but with a bit more attacking nouse and probably aiming for more than 17% possession with a little less 'kick it out of the ground' or time-wasting from the first minute. They were very lucky vs Bayern who battered them for the whole 90 mins (2 shots on target and 2 goals over the 180 mins) but had one of those fluke nights where nothing went in. We won't be so lenient.

The only possible change I can see to the team below is Bobby in for Mane but that might come on 60 mins.

---------------Alisson-------------
Trent--Konate--Virgil--Tsimikas
----------------Fabs------------------
--------Hendo -----Thiago-----------
Salah--------Mane--------Diaz

Here are the stats from the Villareal vs Bayern matches :

At V. : VRL 11 shots 1 on target. BM 24 - 4. Poss 40 vs 60 %
At BM : Poss 65% to 35% Shots 24 (4) to 4 (1). Runs into attacking third (32-3), Runs into key play area (46-6), Runs into penalty area (14-4)
 
Last edited:
I agree with Froggy that Hendo and the most efficient CL goal scorer comes into the mix.

If we are more lethal than Bayern we’ll walk this.
 
I’m far more concerned about Trent. He was off his best on Sunday and is surely knackered!
 
I know we won 2-0 vs Everton but we could have been punished by Iwobi and Gordan if they were decent at striking. How do you stop the counter against a team that will put 10 men behind the ball and try to use the pace of their forwards to catch us out? I am weary of this squad
 
bluebell said:
I know we won 2-0 vs Everton but we could have been punished by Iwobi and Gordan if they were decent at striking. How do you stop the counter against a team that will put 10 men behind the ball and try to use the pace of their forwards to catch us out? I am weary of this squad
Click to expand...
It has been a long season
 
Assume Danjuma will be up against Trent. A lot more capable than that rat faced Bitter
 
Virgil and Konate start, I don’t want to see the back 4 which started against Benfica start for us again this season. Matip’s lack of pace is a big issue on the left side against Villarreal on the counter. Robbo and Trent start.
Hendo was rested for this game, comes in for Naby. Salah and Hendo have to do more of tracking back to fill in for Trent when required.
Front 3 of Diaz, Mane and Salah.
Going to be a tough game.
 
Dee said:
I’m far more concerned about Trent. He was off his best on Sunday and is surely knackered!
Click to expand...
Yep. And he had to put in a shift against Everton. I wouldn't be against Gomez coming in (Villareal mostly attacked from that side vs Bayern anyway).
 
Dee said:
Assume Danjuma will be up against Trent. A lot more capable than that rat faced Bitter
Click to expand...

Gordon's a weaselly, cheating little gobsh!te but he can play and looked dangerous at times. Not sure Danjuma will be that much more dangerous an opponent.
 
I have a fair idea what the answer is but does anyone know of an available pair of tickets together for this game.
I have a mate hoping to bring his lad to the game.
Or can anyone recommend a trustworthy site to buy tickets for the game off?
 
Judge Jules said:
Gordon's a weaselly, cheating little gobsh!te but he can play and looked dangerous at times. Not sure Danjuma will be that much more dangerous an opponent.
Click to expand...
He didn't look all that vs Bayern and the one chance he did get he hit it 5m wide from 10m out.
 
Ukrainian by marriage said:
I got a ticket for the Brighton game from livefootballtickets.com

Pricey, but all good.
Click to expand...

Good to hear that. I have considered that site before and am considering it again for the Spurs game but am always a bit worried that I will get there and the tickets will be fake or something
 
Richey said:
Good to hear that. I have considered that site before and am considering it again for the Spurs game but am always a bit worried that I will get there and the tickets will be fake or something
Click to expand...

I've used similar sites 3 or 4 times with no problem - sensible to pay via credit card all the same ! 🙂
 
125 for Weds. I had no idea that you could get tickets this "cheap".

Cant make weds but gives me hope for next season to get to a match. Id given up tbh...

Im guessing the credit card advice is for insurance? Would you get your money back if they werent legit?
 
Frogfish said:
This is what I thought the team would be pre-Everton :

---------------Alisson-------------
Trent--Matip--Virgil--Tsimikas
----------------Fabs------------------
--------Keita -----Thiago-----------
Salah--------Mane--------Diaz

Clearly now Konate comes into the back 4 and Tsimikas replaces Robbo. Also likely Hendo now starts.

Villareal are going to be Everton Lite but with a bit more attacking nouse and probably aiming for more than 17% possession with a little less 'kick it out of the ground' or time-wasting from the first minute. They were very lucky vs Bayern who battered them for the whole 90 mins (2 shots on target and 2 goals over the 180 mins) but had one of those fluke nights where nothing went in. We won't be so lenient.
Click to expand...

Trent was poor against Everton. Made me think that he was carrying some sort of knock/injury. I would play Gomez at RB instead
 
Villareal's Coquelin's comments pre-game:

Thiago
"The best player of our ’91 generation with Eden Hazard. We had many battles and it will be another one on Wednesday with Thiago Alcântara. He and Hazard were the standout players of my generation and you see his career with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool. He’s settling in, playing really well.
“There’s something in the Spanish culture, the genetics: small players who have to adapt, tricky little midfielders with that the culture, the philosophy of keeping possession, playing out. Then there’s his family [genetics]: his father and brother, a family of footballers.”

“Liverpool are probably the team that press best. I can’t really see where their weaknesses are. They attack so well and now they have [Ibrahima] Konaté competing with [Joël] Matip. The left-back and the right-back are like strikers basically. They have two players who fight for Ballon d’Or, [Mohamed] Salah and [Sadio] Mané. Now they’ve signed Luis Díaz and he settles in like he has been there five years.
“They’re the best team in Europe but, as a footballer, what do you want? To play this sort of game, travel round Europe. We have a dream in the back of our heads to play a Champions League final. We know it’s tough but the whole team, the whole town, is excited. It’s difficult but we’ve got confidence: we knocked out Bayern Munich and Juventus and we’re going there to compete. We’re not going there just to look at Anfield.”
 
rubans said:
Villareal's Coquelin's comments pre-game:

Thiago
"The best player of our ’91 generation with Eden Hazard. We had many battles and it will be another one on Wednesday with Thiago Alcântara. He and Hazard were the standout players of my generation and you see his career with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool. He’s settling in, playing really well.
“There’s something in the Spanish culture, the genetics: small players who have to adapt, tricky little midfielders with that the culture, the philosophy of keeping possession, playing out. Then there’s his family [genetics]: his father and brother, a family of footballers.”

“Liverpool are probably the team that press best. I can’t really see where their weaknesses are. They attack so well and now they have [Ibrahima] Konaté competing with [Joël] Matip. The left-back and the right-back are like strikers basically. They have two players who fight for Ballon d’Or, [Mohamed] Salah and [Sadio] Mané. Now they’ve signed Luis Díaz and he settles in like he has been there five years.
“They’re the best team in Europe but, as a footballer, what do you want? To play this sort of game, travel round Europe. We have a dream in the back of our heads to play a Champions League final. We know it’s tough but the whole team, the whole town, is excited. It’s difficult but we’ve got confidence: we knocked out Bayern Munich and Juventus and we’re going there to compete. We’re not going there just to look at Anfield.”
Click to expand...

That’s nice and respectful, exactly how it should be.
 
rurikbird said:
That’s nice and respectful, exactly how it should be.
Click to expand...
Yep. I've just read and was about to post the same. Very nice. He also said :

He insists that Anfield is genuinely “different”, “the atmosphere between team and fans something you don’t really come across in football”. You go to the Allianz and it’s still difficult, you know. Especially when you miss so many chances in the first leg. I was a little bit … not scared, because I was convinced we would have chances, but you do think: ‘I hope we don’t regret this.’ Luckily, that wasn’t the case, but we have to learn from that because I think Liverpool are stronger than Bayern. We have to take our chances because in two minutes they can punish you. They’re in a massive moment.”
 
Benzema's not particularly quick but his movement allied to Modric's distribution is a real (no pun intended) danger. Losing Walker's pace will hurt them there.
 
Laporte and dias, with rodri in front should be enough. The fullbacks Will need help from The lateral midfielders though.
 
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