Topic: The Level 3 Thread

[Roger Federer]

not sure what would possibly have gone wrong under king kenny but he went to juve because they offered him four times as much as us in wages.

Oh, I meant Kenny as a player, not manager. Laudrup was about to sign for us as a teenager in the early 80's, when we already had Dalglish playing behind Rush. Not sure you could play both of them in the same team, and that probably would've hindered Laudrup's development. Didn't know about the wages, I guess that played a (huge) part in his decision.

[hassinator]

Oh, I meant Kenny as a player, not manager. Laudrup was about to sign for us as a teenager in the early 80's, when we already had Dalglish playing behind Rush. Not sure you could play both of them in the same team, and that probably would've hindered Laudrup's development. Didn't know about the wages, I guess that played a (huge) part in his decision.

we could have lined up with a 4-2-3-1 with laudrup as one of the three and kenny in the middle playing off rushie.  back to the future.

a class act and no mistake.

[scatman]

im sure the wages played a big part, was a genius on the ball, remember seeing him absolutely run riot against Barcelona for Real Madrid just after he moved between the clubs, even Cruyff could not say a bad word about him that night. Ahh the memories..

[Roger Federer]

Perhaps, but Laudrup was the sort of player you'd like in the middle of the pitch, and not restricted on the wing. Even if you have freedom to move inside, you'll still be limited in comparision to the free role behind the striker, the role Laudrup used to have for both club and country. And with Laudrup's extraordinary vision and playmaking abilities, you don't want to limit him in any way.

[hassinator]

Perhaps, but Laudrup was the sort of player you'd like in the middle of the pitch, and not restricted on the wing. Even if you have freedom to move inside, you'll still be limited in comparision to the free role behind the striker, the role Laudrup used to have for both club and country. And with Laudrup's extraordinary vision and playmaking abilities, you don't want to limit him in any way.

would you have dropped dalglish for laudrup?

[Roger Federer]

would you have dropped dalglish for laudrup?

No. Which is why I said from the beginning that Laudrup's move to Juve probably worked out best for him in the end.

[hassinator]

No. Which is why I said from the beginning that Laudrup's move to Juve probably worked out best for him in the end.

or - given that we clearly wanted to sign him - look at a formation that included them both.

i think laurdrup was one of the best players of his generation who knows what luster he could have added at anfield.

[Roger Federer]

or - given that we clearly wanted to sign him - look at a formation that included them both.

i think laurdrup was one of the best players of his generation who knows what luster he could have added at anfield.

So do I. I would've loved to see him at Anfield, but don't know if the timing would've been right, that is all.

Still don't think he was someone to be played on the wing, but if we - like Juve - had a deal to loan him out for a season or two, he could have taken over from Kenny when he gradually steped down in -85 onwards. Who knows, we might have talked today about Laudrup-Barnes-Aldridge instead of Beardsley then, but the trio we did end up with worked out pretty well anyway - to say the least.

[Varmenni]

Preben Elkjær Larsen, my all time favorite player.  Have to say that I see a bit of him in Torres.  Not the best dribbler but still quite skillful, full of self belief and determination.

[bigbear]

Didn't that Danish side beat Uruguay 6-1 in the 86 world cup and really look the part but then just go out quietly. Both Laudrups were quality.

[royhendo]

I've got happy memories of that Danish side cos they were in our group in 86 and Laudrup snr was on fire. Jesper Olsen, remember him?

Blackshuck, I've now got The Darkness rampaging through my mind, but regardless welcome aboard the good ship dude.

How are we feeling about Soonalan?

[royhendo]

would you have dropped dalglish for laudrup?

Never. Laudrup rotated in fir the Milk Cup games.

[blackshuck]

Cheers for the welcome Roy.     Allow the rampage to continue!  What a band they were!   

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm guessing you mean Sunderland?

Surely Agger has to play? After playing 2 x 90 minutes for Denmark.  He should be able to match it with Bent who has been in good form this season.Who would you drop out or Carra or Skrtel? 

And Aurelio to start as well?  Insua has to come back from duty with the Argies....was glad in a way he started against Peru...shows the amount of progress he has made under Rafa.

And now as we first feared Gerrard and/or Torres may not play!  Wouldn't mind seeing N'gog get a start if this is the case, so possibly a 4-4-2 with Riera and Benayoun out wide?

Oh and how nice of the drunkard to send Defour a get well note... ...what a kind, caring manager.  If only Rafa was such a good man manager 

Also that feature on the 80's Denmark side was brilliant.  Made for good reading on the train trip home.

[b_joseph]

Dont know what it is but when International break comes around, I can never seem to muster any energy to talk about Football.....oh well.

Its going to be amazing to see how the guys deal with some pretty big adversity this weekend. Must win game and probably without their 2 stars...ouch.

[Yorkykopite]

Be lovely to see Babel start on the right wouldn't it? (And Benayoun on the left)

[b_joseph]

^ I was more thinking of playing Ryan as the lone striker. Giving him that ultimate chance to say to everyone that he can perform when given the chance to play where he wants to play.

Kuyt behind him to be the workhorse and Yossi right, Riera left. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

[Yorkykopite]

^ I was more thinking of playing Ryan as the lone striker. Giving him that ultimate chance to say to everyone that he can perform when given the chance to play where he wants to play.

Kuyt behind him to be the workhorse and Yossi right, Riera left. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Forget the workhorse thing.

[No666]

How was Babel in the Australia-Holland match? Did anyone see it?

[Roger Federer]

Be lovely to see Babel start on the right wouldn't it? (And Benayoun on the left)

If Torres and Gerrard are fit, I would like to see that as well. Kuyt is out of form at the moment, while Babel has improved and made an impact every game, when coming off the bench. That should be rewarded with a start.

[Yorkykopite]

If Torres and Gerrard are fit, I would like to see that as well. Kuyt is out of form at the moment, while Babel has improved and made an impact every game, when coming off the bench. That should be rewarded with a start.

That's right. Let's get a team of footballers out there. (Sorry, memory just been jogged by the McManaman thread when our right winger wasn't in the team to stop the opposition playing)

[Hank Scorpio]

It's a great test for us this weekend.  Two major players out.

Time for the fringe players to show us what they are about.  Babel, Ngog in particular.

Agree with Babel on the right.  In addition to Riera on the left with Benayoun pulling the strings in between.  Those two on the flanks should make the pitch big enough when we are in possession.  Kuyt can be the battering ram up front.

[Roger Federer]

That's right. Let's get a team of footballers out there. (Sorry, memory just been jogged by the McManaman thread when our right winger wasn't in the team to stop the opposition playing)

Yeah, I've been on youtube the last hour looking at clips of McManaman thanks to that thread. Fantastic player, and a dream to have someone like him on the right (or left).

[Joe_Singh]

It's a great test for us this weekend.  Two major players out.

Time for the fringe players to show us what they are about.  Babel, Ngog in particular.

Agree with Babel on the right.  In addition to Riera on the left with Benayoun pulling the strings in between.  Those two on the flanks should make the pitch big enough when we are in possession.  Kuyt can be the battering ram up front.

Although there is a lot of doom and gloom over our main 2 players, there is something in my gut saying we're gonna be OK. I just think that the fringe players like Babel will deliver. I just hope I haven't jinxed it.

[scatman]

we'll be fine, its time for the young lads up front to step up, im sure they can

[No666]

Although there is a lot of doom and gloom over our main 2 players, there is something in my gut saying we're gonna be OK. I just think that the fringe players like Babel will deliver. I just hope I haven't jinxed it.

Well, if it goes tits up we're going to blame you Joe.

[hassinator]

Be lovely to see Babel start on the right wouldn't it? (And Benayoun on the left)

will he start after a long trip back from oz?  i think n'gog will be up front on his own with perhaps benny in behind him - personally i think its his natural position.

whatever the team we've beaten bigger sides than sunderland without nando and stevie g though that twat bruce has an annoyingly good record against us.

[Slave]

That's right. Let's get a team of footballers out there. (Sorry, memory just been jogged by the McManaman thread when our right winger wasn't in the team to stop the opposition playing)

How long is this myth going to perpetuate and what does Kuyt have to do to get given some credit?

If you compare his goals and assists with any other right-sided player in the league from last season, he comes out favourably. Only Ronaldo tops him and he was deployed as a striker a lot of the time and was you know the Ballon d'Or winner.

In his career at Liverpool he's scored only 4 less goals than Lampard, a man who takes Chelsea's penalties and the majority of their free-kicks and who quite rightly is considered a great goal getter. He has achieved that while also being, as you say, a workhorse, someone who never shirks his defensive responsibilities. He never gets injured, never gets booked, is decent in possession, has great stamina and considering he rarely gets dropped, must carry out Rafa's orders to a tee.

Or we could buy Nani, he's a proper footballer he is, step overs and everything.

[Yorkykopite]

will he start after a long trip back from oz?  i think n'gog will be up front on his own with perhaps benny in behind him - personally i think its his natural position.

That's a fair point - although it might not be enough to rule Kuyt out (presuming he made the same trip). If N'Gog plays it will be the biggest game of his career.

How long is this myth going to perpetuate and what does Kuyt have to do to get given some credit?

To be fair he gets loads of credit - although, it's true, I rarely give him any  .

[hassinator]

That's a fair point - although it might not be enough to rule Kuyt out (presuming he made the same trip). If N'Gog plays it will be the biggest game of his career.
To be fair he gets loads of credit - although, it's true, I rarely give him any  .

they played a half each.  given injuries to torres and gerrard we might see both babel and kuyt play but i can't imagine them both starting more likely babel getting 20 minutes at the end.

it will indeed be a biggy for n'gog but we didn't buy another striker this summer and he's had the least to do in the international break.  he can score, he's mobile and i think he has rafa's faith.

still will it surprise any of us if dirk does play up front on his own?  not his forte as far as i'm concerned though i do have a bit more love for the big man than yorky.

i fucking hate steve bruce though.  like real seething hatred.  probably more than any other ex-manc so please let us stuff them back into their mackem hole.

[Bob Loblaw]

will he start after a long trip back from oz?  i think n'gog will be up front on his own with perhaps benny in behind him - personally i think its his natural position.

Shouldn't be an issue really youd think. They've been back a good while now.

I'd like to see Yossi used there too, but Rafa always seems very reluctant to play him there, so I'm expecting Babel and Dirk up top, with Riera and Yossi on the wings.

[Juan Loco]

We're not using the V word 'round these parts then?

What was it, about two years ago? The Fathead manc twat took Birmingham to Anfield and it was Kuyt and Voronin up front.

I am fucking miserable about this game already.

[blackshuck]

It'd be interesting to see if the Voronator does get a start Juan.

Babel didn't set the world alight in the game against us Aussies.  He only played the second half.  He didn't give the ball away too much, which is one of my biggest gripes with him actually. A couple of good runs/crosses but nothing we haven't really seen before.  He did seem to have a bit more confidence in his ability they we are used to.

I'm liking the call of Benny in behind either N'gog or Kuyt.  Actually I would love to see N'gog start and bag a brace....

[Degs]

Spearing and Babel for me but Voronin's cameos this season do deserve a call up. He's always made something different happen.

[No666]

Sorry that my posts atm read a bit like 'Dad, dad, how do you spell such-and-such?' 'Look it up in the dictionary,' being the expected reply. However, just read in the Telegraph that l'il Lucas was - and I quote - 'outstanding' for Brazil in mid-week. So, Dad, dad - did any of you see the match? (Or even better, anyone know a place to catch the highlights?)

[scatman]

not sure triple6 i didnt actually even look for any international results this week or any of our players performances

[Degs]

Spearing and Babel for me but Voronin's cameos this season do deserve a call up. He's always made something different happen.

The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Johnson, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Lucas, Spearing, Benayoun, Babel, Kuyt. Subs: Cavalieri, Voronin, Riera, Mascherano, Insua, Ngog, Kelly.

Time for these 2 to do the business, hope Babel is upfront and Kuyt is on the right.

-------------Skrtel----Carra----Agger------------
Johnson------------------------------------Aurelio

---------------Spearing----------Lucas------------
---------------------Benayoun---------------------

-----------------Kuyt---------Babel----------------


Perhaps?

[liverbnz]

Call Degs!

[Degs]

I wanted Babel to start to see if he could rise ot the challenge of filling in Torres' boots.

His Liverpool career:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/IkJqKOb0ZhY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/IkJqKOb0ZhY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;</a>

He was stuck on the left again but couldn't even be arsed running.

[scatman]

was a shoddy performance from the team, last 5 minutes they decided to play, only johnson looked alright, the referees performance also irked me, im getting generally pissed off the with the level of officiating in the league now, it is getting fucking annoying to the point of wanting to murder them.

[killer-heels]

Not sure about level 3, because today we looked like we play in Division 3.

Absolutely awful. The defence looked shit. The midfield looked shit. The attackers looked shit. Everyone in our team was just shit.