Topic: Birmingham vs Liverpool - Sunday 4pm KickOff - Half-Time chat

[lafuriaroja]

If he was given license to roam and swap with the front 3 then I think he'd do a decent job there, he certainly hasn't got the vision to pick out the little gaps for people to run into, but IMO he has got the trickery and an eye for goal to cause a lot of problems for defenders, plus with his pace, he could easily pull defenders out of position, and with defenders marking Babel and Torres, it gives Gerrard, Jovanovic and Rodriguez the space to play there own games without having to worry to much about the defence pressuring them.

Honestly would love to see it tried at home atleast for one game if not for the Brum game.

I just don't think he'd work well in the hole with someone like Torres, who moves around himself. If it were someone like Heskey or Crouch, who are relatively stationary, that would be a different story. That's not to say I don't think he does well up top, as he'd likely do fine in a 433 as part of a fluid front 3, but he's just not the type of player to play over the striker in a 4231.

Edit: I still think his best position for us would be on the right: he's clearly more comfortable on his right foot, and has a decent cross. He'd be more threating using his pace to the line to cross on his right, rather than trying to dance around from the left to come inside on his right.

[xabi-and-rafas-lost-son]

I honestly doubt that  torres will start this game

[Didi_ram]

The last time babel played on the right,he set up the winner for nando against West ham.He HAS to start this one.We could possibly use him on the right,Maxi on the left,and Gerrard behind torres,with lucas and meireles sitting.Babel s best position is on the right,and he would be wasted in the hole.

[jaffod]

I honestly doubt that  torres will start this game

For any particular reason?

[rocco]

For any particular reason?

I'm sure he will.... even after been away in Argentina sitting on the bench ..

[Gus 1855]

I honestly doubt that  torres will start this game

I will eat my hat if he doesn't. 9 days relative rest and a game like Brum away he is a must.

[Roy of the rovers]

I will eat my hat if he doesn't. 9 days relative rest and a game like Brum away he is a must.

Agreed. Why would he not play? B'ham on the 12th and Manure on the 19th are the games he should play. If he needs a rest, then home against Steua is the one to rest/bench him for.

[Roy of the rovers]

Agree with most of that.

Pace is vital. Personally I'd like to see Johnson to the right since Kuyt is not playing. Put Kelly or Derby or Carragher at right back. Maxi is too slow, almost as slow as Kuyt.

Lucas with Gerrard and Meireles in the middle of the park.

Why is pace vital in this game?

[Roy of the rovers]

I would play a straight 4-3-3 against them:

                         REINA
JOHNSON   CARRA      AGGER    KONCHESKY
                        POULSEN
       GERRARD                 MEIRELES

       BABEL      TORRES     JOVANOVIC

With Torres, it's always going to be more of a 4-3-2-1. But I agree with you, this is a very promising line-up. It gives Gerrard a bit more license without leaving us defensively vulnerable. And given our fullbacks, we ought to be able to get the width. Given Gerrard's defensive frailty, and Johnson's tendency to forge forward, I think Babel on the right is high risk (unless Lucas/Poulsen is really further right). Might want to swap babel and Jova.... or use Kuyt when fit

Having had the international break, maybe Roy's had time to get them in shape for this.

[Caffeine]

I am excited about seeing our new signings start in a red shirt.

I assume Cole is still suspended? Real shame if so. Nevertheless we still look like a side capable of beating Birmingham, with Meireles, Poulsen and Gerrard across the middle.

[Art Vandelay]

Draw looks favourite, but could see us losing by a single goal considering our record there.  Mind you, if Torres finds a bit of form he is the one player who could drag us through to a win.  I certainly can't see it being a great game for the purists though.....defensive, dogged, dour and doughty are words that spring to mind.

[danbylfc]

After seeing the stats on our official website im not so confident now than i first was. Weve got a dog record against birmingham and theyve strengthed there squad now with some quality players so if we couldnt beat them back in the day when they were a "yo-yo" side as you could say , i hate to see what were like against a team with quality. But everyone is expecting a draw as most of the results have ended up as draws between the two clubs. Hope we are all proved wrong and its about time we performed away from home bar burnley last season. optimistic prediction 1-3 'pool , pessimist prediction 1-1 again.

[Grobbelrevell]

Draw looks favourite, but could see us losing by a single goal considering our record there.

Or our record anywhere away from home the last 18 months or so.

I was feeling quite positive about this one at the start of the week. As the game gets closer though that good feeling is slowly dying. Frankly, as is the case with us away from home, I just dont know what to expect. Will we look hungry when we take to the field? Will there be an urgency about our play? A desire to move the ball quickly and pressure the Brummies? If there is then id be confident.

Im not convinced though and that draw or single goal defeat you mentioned is looking more and more likely in my mind.

Still looking forward to this though I must say.

[sattapaartridge]

Draw looks favourite, but could see us losing by a single goal considering our record there.  Mind you, if Torres finds a bit of form he is the one player who could drag us through to a win.  I certainly can't see it being a great game for the purists though.....defensive, dogged, dour and doughty are words that spring to mind.

seeing as dirk and aurelio are out, i cannot see this myself. one of maxi or babel will play. which would increase our attacking ability in my opinion. just depends who plays in central midfield really.

[sattapaartridge]

Still looking forward to this though I must say.

me too! its probably because of the decisions roy is forced to make across the whole midfield due to injuries.

[Higgins79]

think it will be two deep midfielders for away days like this. would rather see us going for it but away from home its just not roys style.

                    Reina
Johnson  Carra  Agger  Konchesky
               Raul  Lucas
      Babel  Gerrard  Jovanovic
                  Torres

subs: jones, skrtl, kelly, poulsen, ngog, pacheco, aurelio

[Jay012345]

Come on Babel, time to get your confidence back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5aGcpvVVhQ

[phonic]

I am excited about seeing our new signings start in a red shirt.

I assume Cole is still suspended? Real shame if so. Nevertheless we still look like a side capable of beating Birmingham, with Meireles, Poulsen and Gerrard across the middle.

Last game of his suspension, feels like he's not played a league game for fucking ages. Shame really, I was hoping him, Stevie and Torres would be working well together by now, just in time for Joe to score against the Mancs.

[Carlito Roberto]

DJ Phal been on?

[Fordy]

Why is pace vital in this game?

Cause they're not the quickest of sides but play as a defensive unit.

[Jorgen]

Why is pace vital in this game?

Pace is vital in every game. I just think that vs some teams, like Birmingham, it is crucial if you have the ambition to control the game. Put wide players with pace against their relatively slow full-backs and you'll get their wide men to spend more time covering / supporting, effectively reducing their ability to put pressure on us.

Birmingham are a good team - will be a tough game. I look forward to it.

[adwhite40]

Want to see Merieles play some part in this! . . .Have hope he is going to be a top signing for us!

[Borninbethlehem]

Want to see Meireles play some part in this! . . .Have hope he is going to be a top signing for us!

Me too! I'm really excited about this match. Looking forward to seeing the new signings. Feel deprived after 2 weeks without the PL.

[robbie96]

Draw looks favourite, but could see us losing by a single goal considering our record there.  Mind you, if Torres finds a bit of form he is the one player who could drag us through to a win.I certainly can't see it being a great game for the purists though.....defensive, dogged, dour and doughty are words that spring to mind.

Way to kill my optimism.....

Come on Redmen, I believe!

[MidwestWool]

Reina

Johnson
Carragher
Agger
Konchesky

Meireles
Lucas

Maxi
Gerrard
Jovanovic

Torres

is what I'd like to start against Brum.

[No666]

I don't know why you guys think Roy will play Lucas, whom he was not unwilling to trade for a striker, instead of Poulsen, the man he brought in and with whom he has an established relationship?

[MidwestWool]

I don't know why you guys think Roy will play Lucas, whom he was not unwilling to trade for a striker, instead of Poulsen, the man he brought in and with whom he has an established relationship?

That's the team I want to see. I don't rate Poulsen at the moment, which is why I'd like to see Lucas start instead of him.

[Bavaria]

That's the team I want to see. I don't rate Poulsen at the moment, which is why I'd like to see Lucas start instead of him.

Not being funny but your saying you rate Lucas? I would poulsen ahead of Lucas any day, I'm not a Lucas hater just think the guy is wank and we need to play our strongest team:
---------------Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Konch
----------Poulsen Raul
Babel---- Gerrard------ Jova
-------------Torres

Though admittedly an entirely new partnership in Raul and Poulsen is risky.

[sinnermichael]

blimey, lawro's got us to win 2-0. we're doomed.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

blimey, lawro's got us to win 2-0. we're doomed.

0-3 Brum then. Damn you Lawro!

Think the biggest question is who is going to fill those wide slots - I'd like to see Maxi and Babel personally.

[The G in Gerrard]

I would poulsen ahead of Lucas any day, I'm not a Lucas hater just think the guy is wank

Way to contradict yourself

[Yorkykopite]

If Skrtel plays he is guaranteed to give away a penalty by tugging a Birmingham shirt.

[Bavaria]

Way to contradict yourself

I don't hate the guy, Im sure on a human level his bloody lovely but on a football level in an LFC shirt the guy is, well, wank 

[The G in Gerrard]

I don't hate the guy, Im sure on a human level his bloody lovely but on a football level in an LFC shirt the guy is, well, wank 

Is Poulsen mobile enough to be the sole defensive midfielder?

[G1 Jockey 4(betfair)]

blimey, lawro's got us to win 2-0. we're doomed.

think he is a bit deluded.
think we will struggle there.

[RyanBabel19]

blimey, lawro's got us to win 2-0. we're doomed.

Same scoreline im predicting.

I know these are our 'bogey team' but some positivity would be nice. We will win this game, it wont be a walkover but we'll win

[It's Jimmy Corkhill]

If Skrtel plays he is guaranteed to give away a penalty by tugging a Birmingham shirt.

Whether its Sunday or not, someone needs to get a grip of him doing that, he's going to cost us doing this this season.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Whether its Sunday or not, someone needs to get a grip of him

 

Give him some of his own medicine!

[The Finn]

Is Poulsen mobile enough to be the sole defensive midfielder?

Don't think so at all based on what we've seen so far

[lionel_messias]

                          Pepe

Johnson   Carragher   Agger   Konchesky

              Poulsen   Meireles
                     
    Maxi          Gerrard               Babel
                     
                      Torres

damn that is a really good team you have picked there, Babel's pace on the break would be really useful.
I agree with you that Roy won't go in for Raul and Gerrard in central midfield but none of us know I guess

2-1 redmen