Start of a new era

This game is the first game under the new owners, and is also our last chance to finish 3rd. With the international games in mid week and PSV game coming on Tuesday Rafa may be tempted to rest a few players. But let's start the new era with a convincing victory.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Agger
Riise
Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Gonzalez
Fowler
Kuyt

Result 2-0

Match Report 070317 at Aston Villa: zzz....

0-0 and this is as bored a game as I have watched over the years. The only real chance for both teams was the header by Fowler in the 90th minutes, and other than that both teams were just trying to play for a draw. Boring.

Players Rating:
Reina: 6.5 Nothing to do.
Finnan: 6 Poor game and should count himself lucky not to be judged to concede a penalty.
Carragher: 7.5 Solid as ever.
Agger: 7 Good in defense.
Aurelio: 6 Not effective as a defender.
Gerrard: 6 Performance was affected by the slight injury and also playing out of position.
Sissoko: 6 Missed too many passes.
Mascherano: 6 Played too deep and not really helping the attacks.
Riise: 6.5 Not going forward enough.
Bellamy: 6 Not effective.
Kuyt: 6 Also ineffective. And he should stay up front more.

Substitutions:
Alonso: 6.5 Played slightly better than Sissoko.
Pennant: 6.5 Tried hard to go pass the Villa players and provided a killer pass to Fowler.
Fowler: 7 Had the only chance of the game but was unfortunately saved.

Rafa: 6 A dull performance and I don't understand why Fowler did not start.

Aston Villa: 6 A draw is a good result for them although they must find themselves unlucky not to get a penalty.

Man of the Match: Carragher. Another good performance.

Fight for the third place

Rafa said top 4 is priority, and third and fourth is not really a big difference. But we still want to challenge for the third place. And Rafa should also use Fowler at some point of this time.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Agger
Riise
Pennant
Gerrard
Alonso
Gonzalez
Fowler
Kuyt

Result 2-0

Match Report 070306 vs Barcelona: A superb result

0-1 and we are through to last 8. It was a strange game that like the weekend game, we dominated but can't suck the ball into the net, thanks to some superb goalkeeping skills and the lack of luck. Strangely, rather we were one up or not actually does not mean much, and the fact that we were strong at the back make us through to the next round.

A tribute must be paid to David Moores who will probably be the Club chairman for the last time last night. Although he missed winning the league champions, he put the Club in safe hands, and #19 will arrive home soon.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7 Another nice display but were unable to prevent the goal.
Finnan: 7.5 Get stronger and stronger towards the end. One of his best performance in a Red shirt.
Carragher: 8.5 Another MoM performance. Reduced the Barca attack to minimal.
Agger: 7 A nice performance.
Arbeloa: 6.5 Did well apart from covered the offside position for the goal conceded.
Gerrard: 7.5 Drive the team to a famous "defeat" and eliminated Barca.
Alonso: 7 Another silent but effective performance.
Sissoko: 8 Almost opened his scoring account. We will miss him for the next match due to suspension.
Riise: 8 Could have get a hat trick.
Bellamy: 7 Created problems to the Barca back line.
Kuyt: 7 Another hard working performance but without many scoring opportunities.

Substitutions:
Pennant: 7 A good performance and almost provided an equaliser.
Aurelio: 6.5 A good performance.
Crouch: 6.5 Missed a glorious chance to equalise the score, although at the end it does not matter.

Rafa: 8 Great tactic win. The team now plays according to his tactics. Now we need to sharpen our scoring.

Barcelona: 6 Lose out in tactics. But they are really tough opponents.

Man of the Match: Carragher. Rock at the back.

Get the job done

With a tiny goal lead what we need to do is to avoid defeat and we will be through. But Rafa will not play for a draw. What we need to do is, tighten the defense, hit them at the back, and nick a famous win. Of course the Kop will be there full swing.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Agger
Arbeola
Gerrard
Alonso
Sissoko
Riise
Bellamy
Kuyt

Result 2-0

Match Report 070303 vs Manchester United: Absolutely Bad Luck

0-1 and even Ferguson said they are lucky to win the game. But we only have ourselves to blame. Once again, we only control the game but did not take any chances. Now they will be league winners, and we need to concentrate to get the job done against Barcelona. But the best thing is, if we play like this against Barcelona, we will qualify.

Players Rating:
Reina: 6.5 Should parried the ball away to a corners, but it was a tricky one.
Finnan: 6 A deadly mistake in fouling Giggs.
Carragher: 8.5 The rock at the defense. Cleared us from danger a few times.
Agger: 6.5 Had a well taken goal attempt from 40 yards, but at the end he was lucky not to concede a penalty.
Riise: 7 Almost scored again. So close.
Gerrard: 7.5 Did his best.
Alonso: 6.5 A bit subdued from his usually high standard.
Sissoko: 7.5 Controlled the midfield.
Gonzalez: 6.5 Flying high at first half but fatigued in 2H.
Bellamy: 7.5 Passed defenders again and again, but did not have the sense of where the teammates were. Had a goal correctly but cruelly ruled out.
Kuyt: 6 Worked hard but failed to create much impact.

Substitutions:
Aurelio: 6 Not much contribution.
Pennnat: 6 Responsible to the foul that lead to the goal conceded.
Crouch: 6.5 Had a golden opportunity but failed to convert.

Rafa: 7.5 Spot on tactics, but luck was not on our side and players did not contribute.

Manchester United: 6.5 Come for one point, should get none, but somehow take all three back home. They will be champions this season.

Man of the Match: Carragher. But the teammates let him down.

Defer their title

As Rafa and Stevie G said we will try our best to win the next two games. Rafa will try to use similar squad for both games but Fowler should start the United game. He showed us what he can do for the team, and if he really leave us next season, it will be a nice gift to him to score against United, and raise the hand with five fingers one more time, as he needs to raise both hand with six next time.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Agger
Riise
Pennant
Gerrard
Sissoko
Zenden
Fowler
Crouch

Result 2-0