Sunderland is in a mess and it is probably the best time to face them. The weather may be back, but we should have enough strength to win the game. Who Rafa will play up front would be interesting.
My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Gerrard
Sissoko
Hamann
Luis Garcia
Kewell
Morientes
Result: 2-0
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Monday, November 28, 2005
Match Report 051126 at Manchester City: 3 points from a bored game
1-0 and this is not the best of performance, but the result is most important. To win the title you really need to win this kind of game, especially away from home. And this is something we lacked in the past few seasons.
1H is almost a non event with only Stevie G's shot near the end worth mentioned. Cisse and Crouch are both invisible. At the back the defense is solid lead by Carra's 3 great tackles. In 2H Rafa substituted Cisse with Kewell and before the City knew what was going on Riise scored a classic goal. After that we cruise ahead and another cleansheet and another win.
Cisse may be unhappy about the change, but he didn't perform in 1H and in hindsight it worked. He need to work harder and wiser.
Player Rating:
Reina: 6.5 Another spectator performance thanks to Carra and fans.
Finnan: 6.5 Solid performance
Carragher: 7.5 3 great tackles in 1H says it all.
Hyypia: 7 Looking solid.
Warnock: 6.5 Good display.
Gerrard: 7.5 Provided the best chances to the team.
Sissoko: 7 The most fouled player on the pitch, and he played well too.
Hamann: 7 Hamann as usual.
Riise: 7 First goal since the league cup final. And it was a nice goal.
Cisse: 5.5 Very poor performance.
Crouch: 6 Poor performance, and some may argue it should be him instead of Cisse to be off.
Substitutions:
Kewell: 7 Provided an instant impact when he was on.
Luis Garcia/Morientes: Not enough time to perform.
Rafa: 7 Somehow his change work, although he still need to address the misfire at the front.
Manchester City: 6 Never provided any scarce to us.
Men of the Match: Carragher/Gerrard. Two nice scousers.
1H is almost a non event with only Stevie G's shot near the end worth mentioned. Cisse and Crouch are both invisible. At the back the defense is solid lead by Carra's 3 great tackles. In 2H Rafa substituted Cisse with Kewell and before the City knew what was going on Riise scored a classic goal. After that we cruise ahead and another cleansheet and another win.
Cisse may be unhappy about the change, but he didn't perform in 1H and in hindsight it worked. He need to work harder and wiser.
Player Rating:
Reina: 6.5 Another spectator performance thanks to Carra and fans.
Finnan: 6.5 Solid performance
Carragher: 7.5 3 great tackles in 1H says it all.
Hyypia: 7 Looking solid.
Warnock: 6.5 Good display.
Gerrard: 7.5 Provided the best chances to the team.
Sissoko: 7 The most fouled player on the pitch, and he played well too.
Hamann: 7 Hamann as usual.
Riise: 7 First goal since the league cup final. And it was a nice goal.
Cisse: 5.5 Very poor performance.
Crouch: 6 Poor performance, and some may argue it should be him instead of Cisse to be off.
Substitutions:
Kewell: 7 Provided an instant impact when he was on.
Luis Garcia/Morientes: Not enough time to perform.
Rafa: 7 Somehow his change work, although he still need to address the misfire at the front.
Manchester City: 6 Never provided any scarce to us.
Men of the Match: Carragher/Gerrard. Two nice scousers.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Bring on City
Manchester City away was not always an easy game, but with us on a high and City on a low, this is a good chance to win the game.
My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Gerrard
Sissoko
Hamann
Luis Garcia
Cisse
Morientes
Result: 2-0
My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Gerrard
Sissoko
Hamann
Luis Garcia
Cisse
Morientes
Result: 2-0
Match Report 051123 vs Real Betis: Mission accomplished
0-0 and we are through to the last 16 of the Champions League. Crouch tried very hard with 11 shots but still fail to score. It's getting too long now, something must be done. At the back Hyypia was as good as his best and made Reina a spectator. Now that we are through Rafa can rest some players and give the youngsters or back up player a chance.
Player Rating:
Reina: 6.5 A spectator iof the game.
Finnan: 6.5 Solid in defense.
Carragher: 6.5 Played well as well.
Hyypia: 7.5 His best game this season. As solid as he can be.
Riise: 6.5 After a rest he is best with a good performance.
Gerrard: 7 As usual.
Sissoko: 6.5 A solid game.
Hamann: 6.5 Hamann as usual.
Zenden: 6.5 Very lively.
Morientes: 7 Created lots of problem.
Crouch: 7 Still can't score although he worked very hard.
Subsitutions:
Cisse: 6.5 A bit sloopy.
Kewell/Potter: Not enough time to impress.
Rafa: 6.5 A job well done. We can see he tried to move the defensive line back to tackle Betis' counter attack.
Real Betis: 6 They should play better. Good luck in UEFA Cup and pick up in the Spanish league. And Joaquin to join us.
Man of the Match: Hyypia. Reminds us his best form.
Player Rating:
Reina: 6.5 A spectator iof the game.
Finnan: 6.5 Solid in defense.
Carragher: 6.5 Played well as well.
Hyypia: 7.5 His best game this season. As solid as he can be.
Riise: 6.5 After a rest he is best with a good performance.
Gerrard: 7 As usual.
Sissoko: 6.5 A solid game.
Hamann: 6.5 Hamann as usual.
Zenden: 6.5 Very lively.
Morientes: 7 Created lots of problem.
Crouch: 7 Still can't score although he worked very hard.
Subsitutions:
Cisse: 6.5 A bit sloopy.
Kewell/Potter: Not enough time to impress.
Rafa: 6.5 A job well done. We can see he tried to move the defensive line back to tackle Betis' counter attack.
Real Betis: 6 They should play better. Good luck in UEFA Cup and pick up in the Spanish league. And Joaquin to join us.
Man of the Match: Hyypia. Reminds us his best form.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Let's play for a win
Although we need only a win to qualify, we shall approach this game as if we are playing for a win. Betis seems to be playing quite well in Champions League and even beat Chelea last time, but we are on a good run and playing at home and the fans will help us through.
My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Sinama-Pongolle
Gerrard
Sissoko
Zenden
Cisse
Morientes
Result: 2-0
My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Sinama-Pongolle
Gerrard
Sissoko
Zenden
Cisse
Morientes
Result: 2-0
Monday, November 21, 2005
Match Report 051119 vs Portsmouth: A well deserved win
3-0 and it is 4 straight wins and clean sheets in a row. We were in control of the game and never looked back, but on the down side Crouch still yet to score one. He need to be more selfish as Rafa said. And Rafa even have the luxury to rest some key players before the big game vs Real Betis. Luis Garcia and Alsonso were injuried but should be able to recover for the Real Betis game.
Player Rating:
Reina: 7 Not much to do but when he needs to, he shows his composure in the area.
Finnan: 7 Solid in defense.
Carragher: 7 As good as usual.
Hyypia: 7 Good defensive work and causing trouble during set pieces.
Warnock: 7 A good display.
Luis Garcia: 6 Too bad he is injuried so early in the game.
Gerrard: 7.5 The driving force.
Hamann: 7 Solid in providing support to the back 4 and let Stevie G roars.
Zenden: 7 Get the penalty and scored a quick react goal from the penalty saved.
Cisse: 7 Scored a fluke goal.
Crouch: 6.5 Missed the tame penalty, tried very hard but still cannot score.
Substitutions:
Morientes: 7.5 Worked very hard and at the end scored the well deserved goal. Back to his best.
Alonso/Josemi: Not enough time to impress.
Rafa: 7 A good strategic plot and he is even able to rest some key players.
Portsmouth: 5.5 Never create any trouble. Would need to fight hard to avoid relegation.
Men of the Match: Gerrard/Morientes. Both played very well in driving the team to the well deserved victory.
Player Rating:
Reina: 7 Not much to do but when he needs to, he shows his composure in the area.
Finnan: 7 Solid in defense.
Carragher: 7 As good as usual.
Hyypia: 7 Good defensive work and causing trouble during set pieces.
Warnock: 7 A good display.
Luis Garcia: 6 Too bad he is injuried so early in the game.
Gerrard: 7.5 The driving force.
Hamann: 7 Solid in providing support to the back 4 and let Stevie G roars.
Zenden: 7 Get the penalty and scored a quick react goal from the penalty saved.
Cisse: 7 Scored a fluke goal.
Crouch: 6.5 Missed the tame penalty, tried very hard but still cannot score.
Substitutions:
Morientes: 7.5 Worked very hard and at the end scored the well deserved goal. Back to his best.
Alonso/Josemi: Not enough time to impress.
Rafa: 7 A good strategic plot and he is even able to rest some key players.
Portsmouth: 5.5 Never create any trouble. Would need to fight hard to avoid relegation.
Men of the Match: Gerrard/Morientes. Both played very well in driving the team to the well deserved victory.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Keep it up
It has been a nice international weekend with lots of positive results from current and former Liverpool players (apart from Riise...) and no fresh injuries, and morale would be high especially for Luis Garcia. Portsmouth is a team in deep trouble and it is probably a good time to face them. Let's make it 4 clean sheet wins in a row.
My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Luis Garcia
Cisse
Morientes
Result: 3-0
My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Luis Garcia
Cisse
Morientes
Result: 3-0
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Rafa revealed his speech
'Don't let your heads drop. We're Liverpool. You're playing for Liverpool. Don't forget that. You have to hold your heads high for the supporters. You have to do it for them.
'You can't call yourselves Liverpool players if you have your heads down. If we create a few chances we have the possibility of getting back into this. Believe you can do it and you will. Give yourself the chance to be heroes'
Even today when I read this tears still come out from my eyes. Purely genius.
----------------
RAFAEL BENITEZ has finally revealed the chaos and confusion from which he conjured Liverpool's greatest triumph out of impending disaster.
Giving the first in-depth account of what really happened in the dressing room as his side faced up to the mountain they had to climb from a 3-0 half-time Champions League Final deficit against AC Milan, Benitez admitted he did not know if he could find the words to bring his team back from the dead.
The Liverpool manager also confessed that at one stage he was sending out a 10-man team for the second half in Istanbul as his plans verged on bedlam.
While his players were reeling, Benitez strode from the dug-out and down the tunnel at Attaturk Stadium to find a Liverpool dressing room in a state of shock and knowing he had a brief window of opportunity to get across the most important message of his career.
"I walked into the dressing room rehearsing what I was going to say to them but also how I was going to say it," he said. "It's really difficult to come up with all the things you want to say in a foreign language. I was trying to find the right English words.
We talked about what we were going to change. It's tough enough motivating a team which is losing 3-0 in Spanish. In English, it is much, much tougher.
"But the words came more easily than I could ever have hoped. The important aspect was to lift their spirits.
"I started with a motivational speech to get them fired up. I demanded they start working again and emphasised there were 45 minutes left and we had to come off the pitch proud of ourselves because we'd done everything in our power.
"So I reminded them it had been a hard battle to reach such a massive game and that we owed something important to all the Liverpool people. I said if we scored we would totally change the course of the game. I emphasised it was the most important challenge.
"I said: 'Don't let your heads drop. We're Liverpool. You're playing for Liverpool. Don't forget that. You have to hold your heads high for the supporters. You have to do it for them.
'You can't call yourselves Liverpool players if you have your heads down. If we create a few chances we have the possibility of getting back into this. Believe you can do it and you will. Give yourself the chance to be heroes'."
It was a chance that was gloriously, unforgettably taken and Benitez broke open the secrets of his finest moment in A Season On The Brink, a new authorised account of his first term at Anfield, by distinguished Spanish journalist Guillem Balague.
But the Liverpool chief told how even after he had given the exhortation that changed everything, his plans were enmeshed in a few minutes of sheer chaos.
Benitez wanted to introduce Didi Hamann and told Djimi Traore he was coming off - but then learned Steve Finnan's injury was too bad for him to continue.
Benitez added: "I started to write the new formation on the board. I told Traore to get changed and that Hamann was coming on for him. The idea was for Hamann to make Kaka's life much tougher.
"I took Didi up to the whiteboard so he understood what I wanted and explained the tactical changes to the rest of the side. Then I was told Finnan was injured.
"Finnan was unhappy. He believed he could keep going. But I reckoned if he told me midway through the second half I'd have to make a change beyond my control.
"It was a total mess for a while. I was reckoning on Djibril Cisse on the right but someone pointed out I'd have no more substitutions.
"So I took Cisse out but also deleted Luis Garcia from the board because I wanted to move him. Now I only had 10 players in the team. The system was changed several times on the board and it created havoc.
"The idea was to play 3-4-2-1 with John Arne Riise tucked in. But with the realisation Finnan wasn't fit to stay on, the logical thing was to tell Traore he wasn't being taken off. By this time he had his boots off and was on his way to the shower."
Somehow, despite the flurry of thoughts and the situation, the seeds of glory were being sown.
Benitez added: "In the first half we weren't threatening around their box. We wanted to change the pattern by using two players in the hole between midfield and Milan Baros.
"The task was to produce terrific movement and also put massive pressure on Milan building out of defence through Pirlo. We felt we could slam the brakes on the damaging work which Gatuso, Seedorf and most of all Kaka were doing.
"Using three centre-halves would make us more secure by staying tight on the runs of their strikers. You can try anything tactically if you've worked hard on such ideas in training. We had."
In that instant, a voice cried out, reminding the players of the second half comeback against Greek side Olympiakos that had brought the Reds back from the brink in their final group game.
Outside, the stunned Liverpool fans were singing the roof off the stadium, not even dreaming of what would follow in front of their disbelieving eyes.
Benitez said: "Normally it's Xabi or Carra or Gerrard who shouts 'Come on boys' when it's needed. In the first few minutes there wasn't any of that.
"But in the last couple of minutes before going back out, the animation and noise hit a normal level.
"We needed to attack and they let us. We scored and started to look confident all over the pitch. When a team loses control of a match, it can take 15 minutes to get it back. While they are recharging their batteries, anything can happen.
"I didn't hear the fans singing You'll Never Walk Alone from the dressing room. On the way out I did hear it but I was lost in my thoughts."
The thoughts had changed everything. What followed is now legendary.
'You can't call yourselves Liverpool players if you have your heads down. If we create a few chances we have the possibility of getting back into this. Believe you can do it and you will. Give yourself the chance to be heroes'
Even today when I read this tears still come out from my eyes. Purely genius.
----------------
RAFAEL BENITEZ has finally revealed the chaos and confusion from which he conjured Liverpool's greatest triumph out of impending disaster.
Giving the first in-depth account of what really happened in the dressing room as his side faced up to the mountain they had to climb from a 3-0 half-time Champions League Final deficit against AC Milan, Benitez admitted he did not know if he could find the words to bring his team back from the dead.
The Liverpool manager also confessed that at one stage he was sending out a 10-man team for the second half in Istanbul as his plans verged on bedlam.
While his players were reeling, Benitez strode from the dug-out and down the tunnel at Attaturk Stadium to find a Liverpool dressing room in a state of shock and knowing he had a brief window of opportunity to get across the most important message of his career.
"I walked into the dressing room rehearsing what I was going to say to them but also how I was going to say it," he said. "It's really difficult to come up with all the things you want to say in a foreign language. I was trying to find the right English words.
We talked about what we were going to change. It's tough enough motivating a team which is losing 3-0 in Spanish. In English, it is much, much tougher.
"But the words came more easily than I could ever have hoped. The important aspect was to lift their spirits.
"I started with a motivational speech to get them fired up. I demanded they start working again and emphasised there were 45 minutes left and we had to come off the pitch proud of ourselves because we'd done everything in our power.
"So I reminded them it had been a hard battle to reach such a massive game and that we owed something important to all the Liverpool people. I said if we scored we would totally change the course of the game. I emphasised it was the most important challenge.
"I said: 'Don't let your heads drop. We're Liverpool. You're playing for Liverpool. Don't forget that. You have to hold your heads high for the supporters. You have to do it for them.
'You can't call yourselves Liverpool players if you have your heads down. If we create a few chances we have the possibility of getting back into this. Believe you can do it and you will. Give yourself the chance to be heroes'."
It was a chance that was gloriously, unforgettably taken and Benitez broke open the secrets of his finest moment in A Season On The Brink, a new authorised account of his first term at Anfield, by distinguished Spanish journalist Guillem Balague.
But the Liverpool chief told how even after he had given the exhortation that changed everything, his plans were enmeshed in a few minutes of sheer chaos.
Benitez wanted to introduce Didi Hamann and told Djimi Traore he was coming off - but then learned Steve Finnan's injury was too bad for him to continue.
Benitez added: "I started to write the new formation on the board. I told Traore to get changed and that Hamann was coming on for him. The idea was for Hamann to make Kaka's life much tougher.
"I took Didi up to the whiteboard so he understood what I wanted and explained the tactical changes to the rest of the side. Then I was told Finnan was injured.
"Finnan was unhappy. He believed he could keep going. But I reckoned if he told me midway through the second half I'd have to make a change beyond my control.
"It was a total mess for a while. I was reckoning on Djibril Cisse on the right but someone pointed out I'd have no more substitutions.
"So I took Cisse out but also deleted Luis Garcia from the board because I wanted to move him. Now I only had 10 players in the team. The system was changed several times on the board and it created havoc.
"The idea was to play 3-4-2-1 with John Arne Riise tucked in. But with the realisation Finnan wasn't fit to stay on, the logical thing was to tell Traore he wasn't being taken off. By this time he had his boots off and was on his way to the shower."
Somehow, despite the flurry of thoughts and the situation, the seeds of glory were being sown.
Benitez added: "In the first half we weren't threatening around their box. We wanted to change the pattern by using two players in the hole between midfield and Milan Baros.
"The task was to produce terrific movement and also put massive pressure on Milan building out of defence through Pirlo. We felt we could slam the brakes on the damaging work which Gatuso, Seedorf and most of all Kaka were doing.
"Using three centre-halves would make us more secure by staying tight on the runs of their strikers. You can try anything tactically if you've worked hard on such ideas in training. We had."
In that instant, a voice cried out, reminding the players of the second half comeback against Greek side Olympiakos that had brought the Reds back from the brink in their final group game.
Outside, the stunned Liverpool fans were singing the roof off the stadium, not even dreaming of what would follow in front of their disbelieving eyes.
Benitez said: "Normally it's Xabi or Carra or Gerrard who shouts 'Come on boys' when it's needed. In the first few minutes there wasn't any of that.
"But in the last couple of minutes before going back out, the animation and noise hit a normal level.
"We needed to attack and they let us. We scored and started to look confident all over the pitch. When a team loses control of a match, it can take 15 minutes to get it back. While they are recharging their batteries, anything can happen.
"I didn't hear the fans singing You'll Never Walk Alone from the dressing room. On the way out I did hear it but I was lost in my thoughts."
The thoughts had changed everything. What followed is now legendary.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Match Report 051105 at Aston Villa: A nice result, although we should win it more comfortably
2-0 and this is our first away league win since Portsmouth in mid April, and our first win after an European game since beating Arsenal about a year ago. We controlled the game very well but it was not until Rafa made some changes before we win the game.
At the back Carra had at least 3 crucial tackles that keep the cleansheet. This is purely class and now that he is rested for the friendly game it should be good for the team. Crouch was very lively although he did not score, but his time will come.
In the Villa team Milan was doing well but there was just not enough support to him and Carra simply one class above everyone. We now keep 3 cleansheets and win 3 straight games. We will soon catch up with first 4.
Player Rating:
Reina: 7 Well protected by the back 4 and he did have a good punch early on.
Finnan: 7 Very nice defending in the defense unit but not much in attack.
Carragher: 9 Player of the year peformance.
Hyypia: 7 He is much better than a few months ago. No wonder he is Finnish Footballer of the Year again.
Riise: 7 Doing well in defense but not much in attack.
Gerrard: 7.5 Not as influential as he should be, but he is still brave enough to take the penalty.
Alonso: 7.5 Scored a beauty, but one mistake almost need to Milan scoring but thanks to the perfect interception of Carra it was not a issue.
Sissoko: 6.5 Solid performance.
Luis Garcia: 6 Not effective this time.
Cisse: 6 Wasted too many chances and was not confident enough.
Morientes: 6 Very invisible. Maybe he is still carrying the injury?
Substitutions:
Zenden: 7 Doing well from the left with a few good crosses. One of it lead to the second goal that sealed the game.
Crouch: 7 Provided lots of troubles for Villa. Although he did not score but he earned the penalty for the first goal and it was his continuous challenging the Villa defenders that lead to the second goal.
Kewell: 7 Doing well from the right wing.
Rafa: 7.5 Most people would think the game will end up to be a disappointing draw again, but his substitutes changed the story. Well tactical changes.
Aston Villa: 6 Sorensen is probably robbed a good result by his defenders, and Milan was lively but simply run in a wall with Carra and Hyypia.
Man of the Match: Carragher. Excellent defensive display.
At the back Carra had at least 3 crucial tackles that keep the cleansheet. This is purely class and now that he is rested for the friendly game it should be good for the team. Crouch was very lively although he did not score, but his time will come.
In the Villa team Milan was doing well but there was just not enough support to him and Carra simply one class above everyone. We now keep 3 cleansheets and win 3 straight games. We will soon catch up with first 4.
Player Rating:
Reina: 7 Well protected by the back 4 and he did have a good punch early on.
Finnan: 7 Very nice defending in the defense unit but not much in attack.
Carragher: 9 Player of the year peformance.
Hyypia: 7 He is much better than a few months ago. No wonder he is Finnish Footballer of the Year again.
Riise: 7 Doing well in defense but not much in attack.
Gerrard: 7.5 Not as influential as he should be, but he is still brave enough to take the penalty.
Alonso: 7.5 Scored a beauty, but one mistake almost need to Milan scoring but thanks to the perfect interception of Carra it was not a issue.
Sissoko: 6.5 Solid performance.
Luis Garcia: 6 Not effective this time.
Cisse: 6 Wasted too many chances and was not confident enough.
Morientes: 6 Very invisible. Maybe he is still carrying the injury?
Substitutions:
Zenden: 7 Doing well from the left with a few good crosses. One of it lead to the second goal that sealed the game.
Crouch: 7 Provided lots of troubles for Villa. Although he did not score but he earned the penalty for the first goal and it was his continuous challenging the Villa defenders that lead to the second goal.
Kewell: 7 Doing well from the right wing.
Rafa: 7.5 Most people would think the game will end up to be a disappointing draw again, but his substitutes changed the story. Well tactical changes.
Aston Villa: 6 Sorensen is probably robbed a good result by his defenders, and Milan was lively but simply run in a wall with Carra and Hyypia.
Man of the Match: Carragher. Excellent defensive display.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Stick with the winning formation
Another tricky away game, and this is time to starting winning away and get a result after an European game. Baros will be fired up this game so Carra and Hyypia need to be at their best, and Rafa will stick with the winning formation.
My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Luis Garcia
Cisse
Crouch
Result: 2-0
My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Luis Garcia
Cisse
Crouch
Result: 2-0
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Match Report 051101 vs Anderlecht: Best performance this season
3-0 and this is easily our best performance this season. Rafa seems to have found the best lineup for the team and it is now up to him to stick with this formation for a longer time. Stevie G did well on the right and moving as a free role and is everywhere. It just make the opponents more difficult to mark him. Morientes scored a nice goal that will make him confident, and Luis Garcia... what a header! Love him or hate him, he is King of Europe.
The only down point is really Chelsea not winning, so we need to get at least a draw vs Betis to secure qualification.
One thing worth noting is that the referee Mr Nielsen has done a great job in sending off the guy who racially abused Sissoko. These things are just not tolerable.
Player Rating:
Reina: 7 Nothing to do but is commanding.
Finnan: 7 Do well and his crossing are beautiful. Benefited the most with Stevie G moving right.
Carragher: 7 Commanding as usual.
Hyypia: 7 He is retiring from international football and it should be good for the team. Not seriously challenged.
Riise: 7 He feels comfortable back to left back and the defense looks more solid.
Gerrard: 7.5 A nice assist, and he is everywhere.
Alonso: 7 Pulling the strings in the midfield as usual.
Sissoko: 7 Commanding in the midfield, earned a yellow card and get the opponent sent off when he was abused.
Luis Garcia: 8 Simply on fire and contributed a lot to the attack.
Crouch: 6 Yet to score and pressure is now on him.
Morientes: 7.5 Scored a goal that bring his confidence back.
Substitutions:
Zenden: 6.5 Created a lot of opportunities.
Cisse: 7 Scored another great goal from assist of Kewell.
Kewell: 7 Created a very good goal for Cisse. His intellegince was shown in passing the ball such that Cisse is not offside.
Rafa: 8 Now that we have our best formation and lineup found, it's up to Rafa to stick with it as often as he can.
Anderlecht: 6 11 straight loss in Champions League, hope they can stop the count now and at least draw Chelsea.
Man of the Match: Luis Garcia. Great European player.
The only down point is really Chelsea not winning, so we need to get at least a draw vs Betis to secure qualification.
One thing worth noting is that the referee Mr Nielsen has done a great job in sending off the guy who racially abused Sissoko. These things are just not tolerable.
Player Rating:
Reina: 7 Nothing to do but is commanding.
Finnan: 7 Do well and his crossing are beautiful. Benefited the most with Stevie G moving right.
Carragher: 7 Commanding as usual.
Hyypia: 7 He is retiring from international football and it should be good for the team. Not seriously challenged.
Riise: 7 He feels comfortable back to left back and the defense looks more solid.
Gerrard: 7.5 A nice assist, and he is everywhere.
Alonso: 7 Pulling the strings in the midfield as usual.
Sissoko: 7 Commanding in the midfield, earned a yellow card and get the opponent sent off when he was abused.
Luis Garcia: 8 Simply on fire and contributed a lot to the attack.
Crouch: 6 Yet to score and pressure is now on him.
Morientes: 7.5 Scored a goal that bring his confidence back.
Substitutions:
Zenden: 6.5 Created a lot of opportunities.
Cisse: 7 Scored another great goal from assist of Kewell.
Kewell: 7 Created a very good goal for Cisse. His intellegince was shown in passing the ball such that Cisse is not offside.
Rafa: 8 Now that we have our best formation and lineup found, it's up to Rafa to stick with it as often as he can.
Anderlecht: 6 11 straight loss in Champions League, hope they can stop the count now and at least draw Chelsea.
Man of the Match: Luis Garcia. Great European player.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Win it and cheer for Chelsea as well!
Should both Chelsea and us win tonight we will both qualify, and Rafa can spare the next 2 games testing some other formation and let some fringe players to have a taste of Champions League football. Anderlecht is still without Kompany and let's roll them over tonight.
My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Zenden
Luis Garcia
Cisse
Result: 2-0
My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Zenden
Luis Garcia
Cisse
Result: 2-0
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