Help Needed!!!!

This blog has somehow a screw up date? anyone know what is the problem? It seams as if it is over 30 days off!!! please leave comment at the commment box! cheers1

Barcelona 1 liverpool 2

The Belated Post

Sorry for the late post but What a game it was and what a great nite too. Again Rafa has shown to the world why he is regarded the as the Master tactician of the new generation. Capello of Madrid was once regarded like this too but he is of Fergie’s generation. Ferguson currently rely heavily on his no.2 Queroz in this aspect of the game.

The Pundit

Before the game everyone was belittling Liverpool chance with their best hope of achieving a goalless draw. Jamie Redknapp even think Liverpool will be lucky to have an away goal? Lucky one? Well Rafa gave you two and a win too!

The Build up

The build up between Barca and Liverpool was relatively quiet. The only thing that seam to make news was the non-playing/non-singing events. There were no argument and heat between both of the club. Earlier Edilmison of Barca said that Liverpool were bigger than Mourinho’s Men. Indeed Liverpool are the true giant of Europe.

The Strategy

Barcelona overall strategy was simple. Keep the majority of ball, move the ball around the pitch quickly and attack. Don’t overextend,keep the pace up and attack from all angle.. left, right and center too.Constantly wear and tire the Liverpool player.

Liverpool strategy was to maintain compact formation all the time and to overpower them. Wait for the right time and hit them on the counter or by attacking from the air.

The Barca Tactic

Barca employ their basic tactic with a little adjustment. First Messi was restored to the left midfield even if he was fit for only 40 minutes. secondly Saviola nimbleness and quickness was preferred over the well known former Chelsea player Gudjohnson. Then the introduction Of Motta instead of Edmilson as a Defensive Midfielder to counter against Peter Crouch second ball. Barca had prepare a special play to foil Crouch.

The Liverpool Tactic

Double up the wing with Gerrard playing as a right Midfielder and Risse as a left Midfielder in a flat 4-4-2 formation with no wingers. The introduction of a athletic and fast left-defender even if he is a right back in the newly purchase  Arbeloa because mobility and quickness is more vital than power and strength in this part of the field.

The use of two striker instead of one as a measure to pin the opposing central defenders instead of the need to control the center. The use of Bellamy pace instead of what Rijkaard prepare for Peter Crouch height! This was the shocker that made Rijkaard in disbelief. The size of the pitch factor was the other reason why Crouch was deem unsuited for and even with the Karaoke incident Bellamy pace was chosen ahead of Crouch.

to be continue…

Great Win

what great win!

sorry for the late update…

detail comming soon!

bye

4-4-2 or 4-5-1 (4-2-3-1)

Liverpool have play basically play a 4-4-2 system this season. Sometimes against weaker team Rafa employs a 3-4-3 system. Last season we generally play a 4-2-3-1 formation which transpose to a 4-5-1 when defending. The difference in the latter against a 4-4-2 system is that you sacrifice one striker for a central midfield.

Last season we had only three striker. Initially we had Morientas, Crouch and Cisse. Cisse then was made into a right winger and Morientas was deem ineffective and dropped. That leave Crouch as our main striker and latter we brought Fowler but he was use against weaker team only.

This season we have 3 main striker in Kyuut, Belamy and Crouch plus 1 Fowler! For strategic reason we need to play two of them all the time. No point in having so many striker but to play only one. But against Barca at Barcelona is a special occasion! So Rafa can play just one but will he play just one?

In the midfield last year we had 4 strong center midfielder in Didi, Xabi, Gerrard and Momo. Rafa usually play with three of them at the same time. A strong central triangle is form in the middle will and make it a very hard team to beat or dominate. This system will score less but dominate or neutralize more.

This season we initial had only three strong midfield in Momo, xabi and Gerrard. Gerrard was shifted at the right wing leaving only 2 central midield. So we use 2 central midfield with two flank midfield. and then Momo got injured so Gerrard play in the center again. standard 4-4-2 system.

So for 3 month Gerrard and Xabi played the central midfield. But now Momo is fit again and we suddenly had loan a brilliant player in Masecherano. So who will play in the middle and how many cental midfield, 2 or 3?

Barca will play a 4-2-3-1 one system for a balance formation and use a 4-2-2-2 if Barca will be more adventuress.Against Barca rafa can not allowed Barca with too much of the ball and dominate.

Rafa needs to nullified Barca midfield. One way is too shift Gerrard to the right wing and mark Ronaldinho. the Other system is to use a strong triangle trio in the midfield which can control all aspect o the midfield. So my prediction for is bellow.

From Camp Nou to Anfield(When Football picth are not create equal!)

Football is what you call the more democrat-ed sport. It is the peoples’ sport. A simple sports that can be easily played by the poor and rich citizens of the world. Basically you just need the people, a ball and a field.

But unlike other sport the field size and dimension are not the exact same. They have a Maximum and Minimum range in both length and width instead of exact measurement. The Nou Camp is one of the biggest while the old Highbury was one of the smaller one. Anfield is the on more average size but it is a bit narrow.

In Britain the three biggest pitch are the Millennium stadium, Old Trafford and The New emirates Stadium. Rafa’s Liverpool recent record in competitive games in these stadium this past year is not good. Liverpool drew against west Ham 3-3(Fa Cup) at Millennium, lost to Man U 2-0 at O.T. and Arsenal 3-0 at the emirates.

Statistic shows that we struggle at lengthy picth with this current squad. One of the reason is because we don’t really have a pacy and atheletic back four. If Barca can expolit this and stretch Liverpool defence it will spell trouble. The key would be to stretch, pass and penetrate.

If Liverpool’s midfield and full back are to be stretch by both Messi and Ronaldinho, then Eto will provide the penetration and goals. Liverpool will need to defend deeper. The Midfield will then drop deeper too leaving us to just play on the counter. But crouch isn’t a counter attacking player. Can Liverpool play an open game? an Liverpool play gung ho? Is Liverpool brave enough?

The good news is that the speed and athletic Eto is not starting. And maybe Messi too. So Liverpool can play a balance style instead of a more defensive style.

But will the pitch ultimately be a factor of Liverpool downfall? Or Liverpool will just finish off the job at Anfield?

Barcelona Vs Liverpool I(Tactic vs Strategy)

In Rafa, Liverpool is blessed with the most tactical manager/Coach of them all. Rafa is the ultimate chess manager always adopting, shifting and changing both his personnel, style and formation. Many have try to tinker like Rafa, but only Rafa is successful.

In Spain his team Valencia was known as the well oil-Machine! Put any player they’ll know their part and their function. The ultimate balance between defence and attack that made the Galactico of Madrid and Rijkaard’s Barca Crumble twice in the hand of the tubby one. He even humiliated Houllier’s Liverpool when we were top of our game(just after the treble).

Indeed it is a EPL gain and La liga Lost when Rafa switch to the Red. Sudenly with Rafas Red and Mourinho Blue addition to the Preimership has now eslips the La Liga! In Rafa And Jose we have the new generation of thinking coach in the world football.

Barca on the other side have Frank Rijkaard the legendary Dutchman of the holy Milan trio of Rijkaard,Van Basten and Gullit. Winner of the 1988 European Cup for both his Country and club Ac Milan. A superb player indeed!

Rijkaard is the more natural flowing coach who is a strategist which involves mainly of free flowing attacking using optimal width and the use of individual brilliance skills and expression. His team is the balance between individual and team attack. Allowing individual brilliance without sacrificing the team play.

They have the best attacking team in the world! Barca always use the most of the pitch with free flowing passing and moving with fast inter-switching the width. Barca usually always play the with same style. With the player that they possesses it is probably the best strategic reason to play like this way.

There is no need for them to constantly change the formation and style of play to suit their opponent. The only tactically consensus that Barcelona need to make is a play to stop Crouch from punishing them! everything else is the same.

So can Liverpool beat Barcelona? If Barcelona was in optimal condition with a fit Messi and Eto vs. a fully optimal Liverpool, Liverpool will srtruggle to draw let alone win at Barcelona. But that is not the case!
Eto is not ready and Mesi are not fully fit. some hope!

Tomorrow in-dept analysis before match game!

Dont wanna Play! Don’t wanna Sing!

The anticipation is building, alleged rift and argument spreading on both sides is a sign that the game is getting closer. Who will emerge the stronger of the two? But even after this there is still there is round 2!

Barca’s Samuael Eto had refuse to play in a game as the last 8 min as a substitute. Eto claim his knee was feeling funny! Later Ronaldinho publicly criticize him for not thinking of the betterment of the team. Eto responded to Ronaldinho if he care about the betterment of the team, he should not publicly criticized him.

Later as the always do in Spain, both Ronaldinho and Eto publicly kiss and each other. To add some spice to this is Rafa suggested that Barcelona were too quickly to rush their long injured player into getting fit. Thus he is putting the blame not on the individual player but the coach!

Liverpool on the other-hand have a different kind of problem. The problem is not because a player refuse to play rather a player had refuse to sing!

A drunken Bellamy was so upset and felt humiliated at a late dinner function when Riise repeatably refuse to sing! What a passionate guy who can’t take a No for answer. On the way back, Belamy is reported to use a golf club to swing at Risse. No injury just some macho kind of thing happening. Dudek, Fowler and Pennant were also reported to be drunk too.

What is it with player who like to intoxicate himself? Rafa is a thinking coach, he values thinking player who use their brain. There is a place for passion and a place for brain. Drinking until one is drunk is a no no for professional footballer. If you can’t stay insane don’t drink at all except maybe the wine with the food.

Dudek and Fowler will be both leaving at the end of this season. Looks like this season bad boys both Pennant and Belamy will have to reconsider their future carefully.

So Belamy, Pennant and Eto would most likely have sit on the bench. The remaining fixture would see a win for The English team will win their game, Valencia can beatthe italian and Lyon has a good chance to the next stage.

From Portagal To the Land of Catalonia

Liverpool had been training in the warm climate in Algarve Portugal for the sole reason to accommodate themselves to the condition of warm Mediterranean weather for the rainy cold of Liverpool. Also this is a chance for team building exercise and for Rafa’s team to spy closer on our rival Barcelona. This match is on this Wednesday. Let us look at our rival, Barcelona a bit closer.

Barcelona is the biggest club in the world. They have a 100,000 seated stadium call Camp Nou (Nou Camp). A city of 10 million citizen who are also supporters. Inside a region call Catalonia which is a nation inside a nation on it is own. With their own language distinct to Spanish. For the people of Catalan, Barcelona is not just a football club. It is a symbol of national pride but of a different colour to Spain! A symbol of opposition against the oppressor their Spanish conqueror which is represented by the white colour of Real Madrid!

For me personally I have always supported Barcelona FC over Real-Madrid FC. Not just because of political reason alone. The only time I despise them a bit was when they choose the orange colour of Holland(Van Gaal). Now they still have a dutch coach in Rijkaard but at least it is not infested with Ajax style player and football. They play with the true style of passionate Latin flair not some second rate dutch total football. Barcelona is a true passionate club with real success, tradition and history. One of the finest club in the world.

This is a Biggest clash among the Giant clubs in a huge and magnificent tournament. The biggest and most anticipated match among the other Champ League fixture. Barcelona vs Liverpool, 2006 champion vs 2005 champion and the beloved Latin club vs the beloved Anglo Club! Both team need to win. For Barcelona is to revive their great but fracture side for Liverpool to continue process of rebuilding a potentially great side. Only one team will prevail! Who will it be? Barcelona or Liverpool?

Next: Can we beat them?

The Day of Dependence

So it had finally been confirm. The Dubai deal had been canceled and the Americans one had been accepted. I have been feeling down this whole time and was hoping for a miracle to happen but alas things came to a conclusion that the inevitable had to happen. We had been sold, hopefully not sold out. Sorry for the belated update.

What made me question the decision from a business prospective is not who will Liverpool fc be sold to but why do Liverpool fc need to be sold? Was Liverpool Fc that poor? Was we that bad in debt? Were we worst than we were 5 years ago? The answer actually is No !

We were only had a debt as reported of around 80 million but a revenue of around 122 million pound. This year we are the 10 world richest football club with our English rival Manutd being No.4 with of annual revenue of 167 million. But their debt is around a whopping 600 million due to refinancing of Mr. Glacier debt(when purchasing ManUtd) by retransferring(restructuring) his personal account to his personal club account!

So why is this dependency on foreign money? The only financial decision were because we needed money to finance a new stadium. Nothing else! We didn’t have the money nor the guts to borrow more money. A new stadium is needed for the long term success both on and of the field. Any delay in building it, will not only be a loss of future increase of ticket revenue but also the cost of building a stadium later, will rise much more due to the rising of oil, steel and inflation.

Still they were many question that needed to be answered. Like how much extra money do we really need? It was reported that Mr. Parry initially was searching for just only a 50 million pound extra investment? And what about the future extra potential revenue come the new season? Was there any other alternative? We will look into this with another post.

Suffice to say the first good thing that comes from this historical event is our new owner first official speech. “We are custodians, not owners of the franchise,”

Leaving the word franchis, what a great talk for a starter. Just hope they can walk the walk and also walk our walk! You’ll Never Walk alone!