Topic: Preview: West Bromwich Albion V Liverpool 26 September

[spider-neil]

We lost Lucas long term in the CC, I don't blame Rodgers one bit for resting key members of the squad.

[Chakan]

Think we'll put kids out and end up out of the competition

Dunno the kids did pretty well in the EL don't see why they can't replicate that performance here.

[stevejd63]

Feel free to have a look at the West Brom game again when Carra got done by Lukaka on at least 3 occasions & couldn't keep his hands off him. Forgive me for having aspirations to win the game.

But your not gonna win it with a full youth team, which is my argument.
I just don't understand why you would play a back four of kids and expect them to boss Lukuku
My opinion for what it is worth is the young lads will only gain first team experience by playing alongside senior players.

[edeyj]

Think we'll put kids out and end up out of the competition

Always the optimist Andy 

No doubt we will have to play youngsters as we well know that the league position is our priority ahead of anything else these days. But these young lads have something about them and they (at last) see a light at the end of the tunnel. So, we may well go out but it will be interesting to see who can push themselves forward.

[B0151?]

You mean like Everton?  (  not to jinx it) 

haha evertons youngest player out there is 20, couple of 22 year olds and the rest defo not kids, they are just shit

[ghost1359]

But your not gonna win it with a full youth team, which is my argument.
I just don't understand why you would play a back four of kids and expect them to boss Lukuku
My opinion for what it is worth is the young lads will only gain first team experience by playing alongside senior players.

I dunno, I reckon Wisdom will be buzzing after a great performance against Young boys, could throw Enrique in at lb if you're worried about experience & lets not forget Wilson's played a lot of first team football for both Scotland & Rangers despite his age, it's not his first rodeo. I'd rather us try & fail than try to play it safe.

[john_mac]

Look trying to stay out of this but someone telling us that we should try and fail when thousands of our fans will be travelling tomorrow, well that's absolutely disgraceful.

Jamie Carragher will lead the team tomorrow, end of really. We will put a weakened team out but virtually everybody who made up the 20 Saturday that did not play will start.

The manager will pick team from what he regards as his squad and development players and hopefully he will pick a team that he believes has the best chance to take us through rather than to experiment, for experimental sake. He's made it clear that a young player with the right attitude and ability will get an opportunity at some stage.

Those of us who remember a very young team winning at Spurs in the league cup to take us to Cardiff will remember that Stephan Henchoz played one of his final games that night supporting the same youngsters. West Brom aren't mugs but there is no reason why we cannot beat them and move towards Wembley.

[Earl of Dingleberry]

Gulaxi, Adorjean and Pelosi should start.

[bird_lfc]

Interesting side if true, would of perhaps preffered Wisdom and Carragher in the middle if possible. Theres no guarentee that Lukaku will play, anyway.

Will reserve any judgment until the proper squad is released, though! Come on you Reds ...

[Yorkykopite]

Superb OP Corky. Had me sniggering at your portrayal of Fat Ron. And, of course, getting teary-eyed over memories of Cunningham - socks down by his ankles, riding tackles like a 110 metre hurdler.  That West Brom attack was a dangerous thing. But I also remember being very concerned before the Paris final about what Cunningham might do to us.

Here's some footage of Laurie for West Brom, pasting Man Utd at Old Trafford as it turns out. Listen to the avalanche of racist jeering first time he touches the ball. 

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

PS - Sorry I couldn't summon up any energy to post my team selection for tomorrow, plus elaborately drawn formations with little arrows and things to say where players should run to.

[john_mac]

Actually got a photo of big Ron on holiday in Majorca mid80s in his speedos and gold chain. He was with the coaches wife he'd copped for in the photo, but she was hiding her grid. Gave the photo to the lads who did the End and they put it in the next edition with the header 'Big Ron- Club 18-30s New Rep', its in the re-issue book that came out last year.

Cunningham & Regis were both top class, Cunningham one of the most sought after in Europe at the time he went to Madrid, was also actually on the bench for Wimbledon when they beat us in the cup final.

Batson was shite though.

[Corkboy]

Here's some footage of Laurie for West Brom, pasting Man Utd at Old Trafford as it turns out. Listen to the avalanche of racist jeering first time he touches the ball. 

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

Fat Ron afterwards on his Man of the Match: "A toss up between one of the coloured front people".

Glorious.

[john_mac]

Fat Ron afterwards on his Man of the Match: "A toss up between one of the coloured front people".

Glorious.

Would have been different had he thought the mike was off!

[TepidT2O]

Fat Ron afterwards on his Man of the Match: "A toss up between one of the coloured front people".

Glorious.

A condundrum is BFR.....


He gave black players a chance when other managers wouldn't, but he spoke about them using the vocabulary of Bernard Manning.

In many ways he helped to change the way black players were perceived in football....  Im not sure how I feel about him overall...

[Corkboy]

That's all true. I still can't forgive him for what he said about Desailly. Not just because he used the N word but because he just tacked it on a string of insulting words, none of which were even remotely true. It was nasty, vicious, untrue stuff, and anyone who had seen Desailly in his pomp would instantly know it.

[TepidT2O]

That's all true. I still can't forgive him for what he said about Desailly. Not just because he used the N word but because he just tacked it on a string of insulting words, none of which were even remotely true. It was nasty, vicious, untrue stuff, and anyone who had seen Desailly in his pomp would instantly know it.

You're absolutely right, and it was lazy and vile....


But does this make him a kind of Oscar Schindler of football and racism?

Deeply flawed but what he did do well changed things for many?

[john_mac]

I thought both Regis & Cunningham were in the team before Atkinson arrived there, Cunningham I'm fairly sure.

Personally always thought he was a bit of a twat, in many ways re-inforced prejudice, couldn't stand him at West Brom and laughed me head off when he got the United job.

[Corkboy]

I thought both Regis & Cunningham were in the team before Atkinson arrived there, Cunningham I'm fairly sure.

Johnny Giles bought Cunningham.

[NorthamptonKopite]

Play the youth lads and players who need to gain form. Hopefully see the likes of Suso, Yesil and Wisdom

[TepidT2O]

I thought both Regis & Cunningham were in the team before Atkinson arrived there, Cunningham I'm fairly sure.

Personally always thought he was a bit of a twat, in many ways re-inforced prejudice, couldn't stand him at West Brom and laughed me head off when he got the United job.

I've got to be honest, I was a bit young to really remember all that, I'm at best looking back through an extremely misty memory.

[Corkboy]

That Man Utd WBA clip brought back a few memories for me. I was about seven and just getting to know English football properly and I still remember all the names from Derek Statham to Batson, and especially the United players. Ireland in the seventies held many Mancland fans, probably going all the way back to Billy Whelan so if there were two brothers on the street for a game, they were usually the Greenhoffs. Anyone blonde was Gordon McQueen, and anyone left footed was Liam Brady. If you could head the ball, you were either Frank Stapleton or John Toshack. One kid insisted on being called Sean Toshack, which he thought was an acceptable compromise with the foreign game, Sean being the Irish for John.

[john_mac]

That Man Utd WBA clip brought back a few memories for me. I was about seven and just getting to know English football properly and I still remember all the names from Derek Statham to Batson, and especially the United players. Ireland in the seventies held many Mancland fans, probably going all the way back to Billy Whelan so if there were two brothers on the street for a game, they were usually the Greenhoffs. Anyone blonde was Gordon McQueen, and anyone left footed was Liam Brady. If you could head the ball, you were either Frank Stapleton or John Toshack. One kid insisted on being called Sean Toshack, which he thought was an acceptable compromise with the foreign game, Sean being the Irish for John.

I remember the Jimmy Greenhoff goal, hated him, think it was a goal of the month. West Brom were a really good team, I think we tried to sign Statham and he failed a medical, everyone in our school was a Toshack or a Latchford (the shit ones).

[Dr_Evil]

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

What a game that was. That was from the era when you watched football for the love of it...watching The Big Match or Match of the day whoever was playing. Loved that WBA team....also liked the Arsenal team of the time...and still have a team sheet signed by that Arsenal team (obtained by Sammy Nelson!)

As for tomorrow's team, a bit of Suso and Samed would be nice....

[DanA]

                       Jones
Wisdom Carragher Coates Enrique
            Henderson   Sahin
      Downing   Suso     Assaidi
                      Yesil

Reina, Sama, Suarez, Gerrard,  Sterling, Robinson, Pacheco.

If we still in with a chance at the 65' mark hopefully we bring on Suarez, Gerrard & Sterling and twat them. It's only an hour and a half down the road so we can probably get away with having a few of the senior lads in the squad. Big chance for Henderson/Sahin along with Coates to prove themselves.

I think we'll win 2-1 with Downing scoring early and Gerrard late.

[TheRealJA]

Most of the capable youngsters have played. Hope Yesil gets some game time and pacheco is played further wide or attacking mid, not out of position. Thats it really, copy what Arsenal used to do, field literally a B team

[Filler.]

Here's some footage of Laurie for West Brom, pasting Man Utd at Old Trafford as it turns out. Listen to the avalanche of racist jeering first time he touches the ball. 

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

With Big Ron at the end saying 'well, it has to be one of the coloured players up front.' after being asked who was MoTM. It's not fair is it, but... bloody hell.

[Road End Sikh]

Cyrille Regis used to live in a tower block on the council estate opposite our school in Smethwick. Can you imagine a top-flight player and England international doing that now??
He had the hardest shot in football at that time and that WBA team was quality with Cunningham, Cantello and Bomber Brown. Tragic what happened to Cunningham. Apparently, they are going to put a statue up of the Three Degrees in West Bromwich to mark their influence on black players that followed them.

Bit of a local derby for me, this one, hopefully a better result that the last couple of games.

 

 

[PaulF]

Those of us who remember a very young team winning at Spurs in the league cup to take us to Cardiff will remember that Stephan Henchoz played one of his final games that night supporting the same youngsters. West Brom aren't mugs but there is no reason why we cannot beat them and move towards Wembley.

Is that the game they played us off the park for 90mins, someone (Riise?) had a nasty accident with the hoarding, and somehow we nipped a goal (ngog?) in ET?

[John C]

Some Liverpool fans will never be accused of alacrity when it come to the League Cup, but like it or not our love-affair with winning trophy's distinguishes us from other clubs, its adds to our mantra as a successful club. It elevates us above most other clubs irrespective of their league position and current form.

Already, many fans dreams of witnessing silverware hanging off the back of a coach or a trip to Wembley have been culled. Even a meretricious semi-final visit on an early Spring afternoon would be sincerely welcome to thousands of fans who have seen their team squander league places over the festive period. For most, English football represents entry and exit of three cup competitions, for Liverpool it represents entry, progress and a likelihood of a win of any of four competitions.

It won't be doomsday if we lose tomorrow, but it will be a missed opportunity for fans, the youth in our squad and more pertinently for Brendan Rodgers who will be keen to add to the clubs shiny haul and write his name in our history.

WBA haven't caused a threat to us since I was a kid, so every effort and every ounce of energy should be placed by every member of the club to ensure they don't prevent us from being in that draw tomorrow night.

We are, by association with the number that rests over the silhouette of each available trophy, a club that prides itself with every cup win, they sustain our existence as one of the great clubs in the world. Enjoy every single one as if ions will pass before the next without sympathy for the clubs who use ribbons in hair rather than in cabinets.

[Filler.]

Used to love Cyrille Regis. I was about 8 to 10 and that whole Specials thing was going on and I shaved my head and cried. Ha.

[bigbear]

Personally, I'm looking forward to the game. It's always nice to see new young players get a chance and tomorrow we get the opportunity to add some more quality kids into the first team match day squad.

Can Jack Robbo step up, Andre, Yesil ? Will Pacheco finally come good, what's Assaidi like, can Danny Wilson save his career here with a great performance ? How will the one area we look strong centre mid work with Sahin/Hendo and maybe Assaidi in there or Downing ?

Plus night match at the Hawthorns should have a great atmosphere, can't wait, hope we get our first bit of luck of the season.

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

rumoured team:

Jones; Wisdom, Carragher, Wilson, Robinson; Assaidi, Henderson, Sahin, Downing; Pacheco, Yesil

If that's the team then most likely it will be

Jones; Wisdom, Carragher, Wilson, Robinson; Henderson, Sahin, Pacheco; Assaidi, Downing, Yesil

[idontknow]

Cyrille Regis used to live in a tower block on the council estate opposite our school in Smethwick. Can you imagine a top-flight player and England international doing that now??
He had the hardest shot in football at that time and that WBA team was quality with Cunningham, Cantello and Bomber Brown. Tragic what happened to Cunningham. Apparently, they are going to put a statue up of the Three Degrees in West Bromwich to mark their influence on black players that followed them.

Bit of a local derby for me, this one, hopefully a better result that the last couple of games.

They really putting up a statue? That is superb. They were a hell of a good team then, 77-80. Were we not in for Derek Statham at one point, before we got Alan 'Multi European Cup Final Winning Goal Scoring Legend' Kennedy? About 4 caps between the 2 of them, and almost 100 for Kenny Sansom. Oh well.
A three man statue is some tribute, hard to get the postures right I would think, but well deserved, and I would like to see it when they do it. Good move.

Meanwhile, hope we take some worthwhile revenge, and since Kelly is now injured for the rest of the season, it is time for more of our defenders to make their mark in these games. Resting the older first teamers is good, and keeping the younger first teamers fresh is important, so these are the games for players like Wisdom, Robinson, Yesil perhaps to show how close they can be to the first team, and for players like Downing to show they have something to offer a club as big as we still want, and intend, to be.

[eLToRo]

I'd be very pleased with that.

Pacheco would get a chance to start in his favoured position out wide. Playing Wilson in the middle would suggest Coates will be playing on the weekend. Another chance for Assaidi and Sahin to get match fitness and a bit of form. Robinson at left back is what we have been waiting to see for a while. Yesil has goals. Not overally exciting, but plenty of positives to take from that line up if we get a good result.

I think it is an 'exciting' team but I wouldnt be overly confident we will win.

What I mean is it looks like a team you would see in a friendly and would be excited to see how the young lads get on and as if the result is meaningless.Im not sure if that worries me that we dont really care about the competition but whatever rodgers thinks is best is best.

If it means by getting knocked out of league cup and focusing on league that we can challenge for 4th then Im all for it.And alng the way the young lads will get hgue experience and may even get far with a bit of luck.

Will the game be streamed online ?

[Didi_ram]

If that's the team then most likely it will be

Jones; Wisdom, Carragher, Wilson, Robinson; Henderson, Sahin, Pacheco; Assaidi, Downing, Yesil

Decent eleven. Just keep Gerrard Sterling and Suarez on the bench.
We need to win this one.

[memoriesgone]

I think it is an 'exciting' team but I wouldnt be overly confident we will win.

What I mean is it looks like a team you would see in a friendly and would be excited to see how the young lads get on and as if the result is meaningless.Im not sure if that worries me that we dont really care about the competition but whatever rodgers thinks is best is best.

If it means by getting knocked out of league cup and focusing on league that we can challenge for 4th then Im all for it.And alng the way the young lads will get hgue experience and may even get far with a bit of luck.

Will the game be streamed online ?

I think the game should be available on a stream. It is one of the matches being broadcast  I think.

I agree with you that this seems like a friendly. I hope the team performs well. Is there still no team news?

[Discipline]

Decent eleven. Just keep Gerrard Sterling and Suarez on the bench.
We need to win this one.

I'll be delighted if the likes of Gerrard and Suarez sit inside Melwood to watch the game.

[Tookathered]

If that's the team then most likely it will be

Jones; Wisdom, Carragher, Wilson, Robinson; Henderson, Sahin, Pacheco; Assaidi, Downing, Yesil

good team, though i'll put Sama in place of Wilson, bcos Wilson hasn't played for us even in the u21 in a long time, on another note him and Carra are lightweight to handle Lukaku. If Coates is to be reserve for the first team then my prefer partner to Carra in the central defends will be Sama, my prefer back line will be Jones, Wisdom, Sama, Carra, and Robinson. I will also like to see Ngoo on bench, in all you've put out a good team. Y.N.W.A!!!!   

[ScottyBoy_21]

Can see us snatching a narrow win here. It's funny how I'm more confident about our youth/second team than I am about the first team at the moment. (The first team just seems cursed and ridiculously unlucky).

Going to miss Shelvey's influence though. He and Borini made all the difference against Young Boys.

For me, it's important that we go far in this competition and in the FA Cup. Even if just to make our final league position a bit more bearable to see at the end of the season.

Then again, if West Brom take it seriously and pick a near-first 11 side, we could easily lose.

[LondonRedMan]

Can see us snatching a narrow win here. It's funny how I'm more confident about our youth/second team than I am about the first team at the moment. (The first team just seems cursed and ridiculously unlucky).

Going to miss Shelvey's influence though. He and Borini made all the difference against Young Boys.

For me, it's important that we go far in this competition and in the FA Cup. Even if just to make our final league position a bit more bearable to see at the end of the season.

Then again, if West Brom take it seriously and pick a near-first 11 side, we could easily lose.

West Brom will take it seriously. We need to have a strong side out there. The media are waiting for us to lose this one so they can crank up the pressure.