22 May 2018 15:11:13
Del Bosque, former Real Madrid manager, says that nobody in Liverpool's squad gets in Real Madrid's team.

Are they trying to fire us up deliberately?


1.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 15:22:41
What's he smoking MK😁.


2.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 15:24:26
Ronaldo Firmino Salah
Kroos Casemiro Modric
Marcelo VanDijk Ramos Carvajal
Navas

?


3.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 15:38:32
VakPa, I Don't even think it is that heavily in their favour to be honest. For me, Henderson is better than Casemeiro, Robertson is better than Marcelo, Arnold is at least as good as Carvajal, and Karius is better than Navas.

Casemeiro can't even get in the Madrid team let alone a combined XI. Marcelo is their biggest weak link defensively, Carvajal is just reliable without being spectacular, and Navas just isn't as good as Karius.

I'd say it is pretty fairly split to be honest. It'll be a good game, but Del Bosque says It'll be 4-1 to Real Madrid because they are miles better than us. Ha!


4.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 15:50:27
Sounds to me like they're the ones running scared!


5.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 16:09:41
GK: Karius gets in ahead of Navas, aka La Liga Migs.

RB: Carvajal is a decent player and has more experience than TAA.

CB: VVD and Ramos are both strong, quick centrebacks who are fantastic in the air and can be the best CBs in the world on their day. Both can lose their heads but Varane hasn't really developed much since he broke through under Mou and Lovren and Matip aren't really better than VVD or Ramos.

LB: One of the main questions of the final is whether Salah are Marcelo will put in more defensive work, and that really sums it up. Robertson might not be a world class fullback but at least he's usually around the defensive line to defend.

CDM: Casemiro is average and like the rest of the Real team, seems to have his mind on getting forward and scoring than actually defending. Henderson is superior in almost every aspect and his injury problems don't really come into a one-off match after two weeks' rest.

CMs: Modric is fantastic and needs no explanation as to why he's there. I've gone with Milner rather than Kroos which I expect will be controversial. But Milner works harder and every team needs a player like him. Also, he might not be a better passer than Kroos, but he's got a superior assists rate than Kroos so I trust him to get the ball to the forwards. He can also provide more cover on the left because I don't expect Ronaldo will do much defensively.

RW: The best winger in the world or an overhyped player who relies almost purely on pace?

LW: Ronaldo is without doubt one of the greatest goalscorers in our time and he will feed off Firmino's movement and passing.

FW: Firmino or a discount Firmino? Simple.

So, more like:

Karius
Carvajal van Dijk Ramos Robertson
Modric Henderson Milner
Salah Firmino Ronaldo.


6.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 16:21:18
That makes no sense MK, talk about bias. Robertson better than Marcelo. yeah right.


7.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 16:31:25
Pankaj, have you watched Marcelo play? He is a slightly better version of Moreno. He is never in place to defend, and he doesn't do enough offensively to make up for it unlike say, Dani Alves or Roberto Carlos. A truly awful player. It says it all that our best chance of winning is by targeting him!


8.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 16:36:43
How can you keep Kroos out of your team.


9.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 16:46:37
Zspecial, whilst I admire your commitment to Milner you're clearly drunk right now.


10.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 16:51:35
Is that a joke? Robertson is much better than marcelo.


11.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 16:59:15
I’d post these things up round the dressing room and tell the boys this is what they’re saying about us. That should fire them up.


12.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 17:21:58
Im not a a major hendo fan but after seeing whtat he did to Roma's best player in the middle of the park I would more then back him against Casemiro, Kroos or modric not so sure though.


13.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 17:31:01
VakPa do you honestly think that Navas is a better keeper than Karius? He’s not even a better keeper than Bogdan. The bloke would fumble the ball picking it out of the net.


14.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 17:32:37
Henderson just isn’t flashy. You can be sure that our midfield three will work their arses off in Kiev. If we get a few chances we will score. Navas is terrible and always prone to concede.


15.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 17:35:22
Karius
Carvajal Ramos VVD Marcelo
Kroos modric
Firmino
Salah Ronaldo mane.


16.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 17:36:28
Marcelo is tosh, he disappears quicker than a magician's rabbit when asked to defend. Robertson isn't top class but at least he'll actually put a tackle in when required.

Also re Kroos, Milner has 9 assists in the CL this season whereas Kroos has 1. Milner is also much better defensively and has a higher work rate. Sure, Kroos is a lovely passer of the ball but football is all about the team rather than eleven individuals. So if I want to play high pressing football with Ronaldo on the left, I'm going with Milner to do the job.


17.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 17:50:16
I have to say, I'd take Robertson any day of the week over Marcelo - it's not even close for me.
Robertson has been a revelation!

Especially playing against a fast, counter attacking team like ours.

Marcelo suits the Spanish league, but personally, I think he'd be ripped apart in many Prem matches if he ever moved there.


18.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 18:22:37
Totally agree OK 1.


19.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 18:53:14
Marcelo's role in the team isn't to defend. His primary role is to provide width and pace, along with quality in attacking positions. I'd expect it would be Casemeiro man marking Salah and doubling up as cover for Marcelo when he is around to defend.
My point is, given the system he plays in, he shouldn't be underrated because of his poor defence. Going forward he is maybe the best in the world and he will most definitely be a threat in this Final.

I'll still take Robbo because I bloody love him.


20.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 18:56:10
I literally would even take Marcelo in a swap deal for Mignolet, if he had Asensio in his back pocket. Most over rated player in Europe. Not even in the top 20 left backs, in an era where great wing backs are few and far between. I can't fully express how low I rate him.


21.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 19:02:34
Karius isn't better than Navas yet.
Marcelo is better offensively than Robertson yes he growth a lot this season but he is not there yet.
Carvajal is better than A. Arnold for now.
Ramos Is better than Matip, Lovren, Klavan, Gomez.
VanDijk proved us he is one of the best defenders.
Casemiro do a better job defensively than Henderson.
Modric is a better CM than Milner, Lallana, Ox, Gini.
Kroos is better too and if you can swap Kroos for any of them you would.
Salah is the king.
Ronaldo you know why.
Firmino better than w/ e left in the madrid team.


22.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 19:30:03
Karius is miles better than Navas. Navas is an accident waiting to happen and has been at fault for Madrid’s league woes by his inability to deal with basics. You can’t have been watching Navas these last few years as he’s worse than Mignolet.


23.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 19:33:47
Vakpa, I'm with MK on this one. Navas is not better than Karius and he is EIGHT YEARS his senior at 32 vs 24 for Karius. Casemiro is not a patch on Hendo as he is woeful in possession, a poor tackler, lacks positional awareness and lacks the passing range Hendo possesses. None of their CB's are a patch on VVD while Marcelo is as poor a defender at LB as you will ever find. Robbo is not the finished article BUT I'll take him over Marcelo any day. Salah and Mane over Bale and Vazquez while Bobbie over Benzema. CR7 needs no introduction. I think I just about covered it.

As for Del Bosque's statement, well as they say, having an opinion is like having an arse. Everyone's got one.

{Ed025's Note - so it looks like a very easy win for liverpool then brover?..


24.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 19:40:50
Agree about Marcelo, MKS. For someone who actually likes the defensive side of things, I find watching Marcelo almost painful.


25.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 19:44:20
Not easy ed025. But we’re not the walkover they’re expecting!

{Ed025's Note - i dont think they expect that at all FMS, my money is on liverpool though in what i hope is an exciting game with both teams looking to score from the start mate..


26.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 19:58:59
I have no words 🙄.

{Ed025's Note - why,s that mate?..


27.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 20:06:29
Agreed zpecialone. It is like a cheese grater on my retinas watching Marcelo.

Ed025, I think they have a few players who'd get in our side and vice versa. I'd say Karius, Virgil, Robbo, Salah and Firmino all get in their team. But, Ramos, Modric, Kroos, Isco and Ronaldo all get in our team. That is 5:5. At right back, Trent and Carvajal are evenly matched for me.

Player for player, I think we are evenly split. It will be about who plays better as a team on the day. I just hope that is us.

They are very over confident though. Apparently their players, coaches and manager all think we are their worst final opponents in recent history and they're all calm and confident of a comfortable win. And that is the club president who said That!

Nail that to the wall in the dressing room and Don't bother with a team talk.

{Ed025's Note - if that is the case MKS then it makes my case even stronger mate..


28.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 20:15:02
Nice one, Ed25.


29.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 20:20:25
Im all for suporting your own players, but common guys. other than maybe Firmino and Salah it would be Real players only.


30.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 20:32:47
Well, reluctantly I think Liverpool may well blow Madrid away in the first half hour but if I’m picking a combined eleven then I’m nit sure Liverpool dominate it. If they do then kill me now.


31.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 20:33:11
People do realise Marcelo was voted as left back in the world team of the year for 2017.


32.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 20:42:09
Salah, Firmino, VVD and Hendo. Those are the 4 that might get in their team. But football isn't played based on comparing positions.
Madrid have the advantage - their experience and Ronaldo.


33.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 20:43:00
Pretty sure Migs would get in over Navas 😉.


34.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 21:10:43
Holy Ravioli. The sly old Del Bosque starts his mind games, and the LFC page erupts with volcanic ash going higher than Mt. Kilauea. 🤣

I'm staying out of this one because it's an endless discussion. It's how a team's players play together within a predefined style or system that matters, for me. Far more than their individual value. Otherwise we have no business being in that final. 😉.


35.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 21:14:56
Football is not about individuals. To my memory there has only been one player close to a “one man team” and that was Diego Maradonna. He made rank average teams into champions and on his day was utterly unplayable.

This is about a team. I don’t care who gets into the best XI, I’m telling you Liverpool has the best TEAM and as a result we will win this match 👍🏆.


36.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 21:43:39
If I were say psg and had to chose between signing Ronaldo or mane today, now, I would sign mane. Ronaldo is finished now. One of the best players ever, maybe the best but he is a shadow of his former self. I love the way real seem to be underestimating mane and focusing on salah and Firmino. I'm backing mane to score at least once, I could see him getting a hat trick.

{Ed0333's Note - Ronaldo finished? That’s a controversial statement. Not as great as he was yes but he isn’t by any stretch of the imagination finished.


37.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 22:32:16
If none are good enough why have Real been chasing Salah all season?


38.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 23:10:05
Biggest game of the season. Personally I think they’re not as good a team as City, but they’re still tough. Can we beat them? Yes. If we bring our A game we can. A first half blitz like Roma and Porto kills the game.


39.) 23 May 2018
23 May 2018 00:46:00
I think marcelos positioning and our exploitation of it will decide the result. He will definitely be seen as a weakness with lots of diagonal runs from Salah.

Either way I've booked in for a heart transplant.


40.) 23 May 2018
22 May 2018 23:29:35
Fair enough ed0333 but his balon d'or days are over and I stand by my statement of taking mane over cr7 today.

It's easy to say real have the better players and not many liverpool players would get in their team. I'm not so sure but, but we have the better manager and the best player on the park. Zz has done well but he has been at the best club with the best players blah blah, I would not swap him for klopp, no way.


41.) 23 May 2018
23 May 2018 01:56:25
Karius
Trent - Lovren - VVD - Robertson
Gini - Hendo - Milner
Salah - Firmino - Mane

Ronaldo is still one of the greatest ever players, but he doesn’t tackle back like Firmino which is so important to our structure and I doubt we’d be nearly as effective in our overall attacking system with him upfront.

Their midfield is better than ours in many respects but can they play the Liverpool way for more than 60mins? I doubt it, they don’t have the pace and energy required to keep up that sort of intensity IMO.

Marcelo is clearly a better and more experienced player vs Robbo but we’d be torn a new one with him so high all the time.

Ramos may be better than Lovren but would I want him in our dressing room? Not so sure.

We clearly aren’t the best man for man in every position, but we have the best players available to play Klopps system right now. You can’t swap a player in here and there and expect the team to play like a well oiled machine.

Besides, these are all our lads. Not just any players, but Reds who have given their all to get here. Biased yes, but right now I wouldn’t change a thing.

Let’s go smash them with a three musketeers hatrick (one each from Mane, Firmino and Salah) . Allez Allez Allez!