Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Plenty Of Names Involved

Besiktas JK 0 FC Porto 1
A very important win for the Portuguese side with both Lucho GONZALEZ and Lisandro LOPEZ were starters. Mariano GONZALEZ was on the bench but did not see any action.

On the other hand, Besiktas had Matias DELGADO in the starting line up Federico HIGUAIN coming in as a second half substitute.

Liverpool 0 Olympique de Marseille 1

The good news is that Javier MASCHERANO was on the bench and not involved in all so, perhaps by now Rafa BENITEZ should know who is the best player to partner GERRARD in the center.

SS Lazio 2 Real Madrid 2


Christian LEDESMA of LAZIO and Gabriel HEINZE of Real were both starters. Lionel SCALONI (Lazio) and Javier SAVIOLA and Gonzalo HIGUAIN (both Real Madrid) all came in as second half substitute.

Werder Bremen 1 Olympiacos 3

A wonderful away result for the Greek side, with both Christian Raul LEDESMA and Luciano GALETTI pulling the string in midfield. Leonel NUNEZ was on the bench and did not see any action.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

RAFA the dick has done it again, tinkering his way to absurdity. LETO did get playing time but if he keeps doing this, they will be alot of unhappy players, fans and the board, not good for MASCHERANO at all...

Anonymous said...

Hi Guys and Good Luck to the PUMAS!!

The Power of Rugby in Argentina, taken from:- http://www.rugbyworldcup.com


A nation unites behind the Pumas
--------------------------------
Tuesday 2 October 2007
By Mick Reid
From Paris

The Argentinian football fans will be dividing their loyalties on SundayPARIS, 2 October - Imagine shifting Wimbledon fortnight to December or running the Melbourne Cup on a Wednesday.

That's how big a deal it is rescheduling the kick-off time for Sunday's championship match between Argentina's biggest football teams, Boca Juniors and River Plate.

A change that's all down to the groundswell of support for the country's rugby team en route to the world cup quarter-finals.

The football-mad country has embraced the Pumas like never before.

So much so, that the bitter rivals from Buenos Aires and the Argentine football association have responded to public pressure to bring the match forward by two hours to 2pm.

The change means there will be no clash with the Argentina v Scotland quarter-final at Paris' Saint-Denis.

The Boca Juniors-River Plate match is an almost sacred fixture on the Argentine sporting calendar and has been moved only twice before; once to allow the people to watch Juan Manuel Fangio clinch the Formula One world championship, and again when Carlos Alberto Reutemann narrowly missed out on the same title.

Argentina Football Association president Julio Grondona said: "Most of the people in Argentina wanted the change of kick-off time."

Meanwhile, Pumas coach Marcelo Loffredo said: "It's really important for Argentinean sport, the fact the football fans are now thinking about rugby. It's really nice to know that these guys are creating such huge interest."

johnny said...

Alwin-"tinkering" is the perfect word ! What's the deal with Rafa ? He brings over Torres and has him in, and then not. Constantly fooling around with the midfield, not to mention Crouch's situation. I have always thought he got his players to play hard, but he is difficult to figure out. His messing around could lead to Liverpool being knocked out of the Champions League competition.

John said...

The departure of Fernando TORRES saw the arrival of Diego FORLAN, Simao SABROSA and Luis GARCIA to help boost Atlético Madrid attack. Yet the only thing that matters right now for them is Kun AGUERRO.

Kun was on target twice in their UEFA Cup tie against Erciyesspor, as Atlético trashed the Turkish side to win 5-0 away and 9-0 on aggregate. Maxi RODRIGUEZ also got himself on the score sheet courtesy from a penalty in the 52nd minute.

Fernando CAVENAGHI was also in action for Bordeaux in their 1-1 draw Tampere United that saw the French side winning 4-3 on aggregate.

Bayern Munich won 2-0 against Belenenses with Martin DEMICHELIS in their starting eleven.

Things are kind of difference these days at Getafe after departure of Bernd SCHUSTER. Last season they were one of Europe’s best defensive team but yesterday against Twente Enschede teymatched through the next stage on the skin of their teeth after 3-2. They won the tie on away goal rule after aggregate 3-3.

Pato ABBONDIANZIERI and Cata DIAZ was in the starting eleven while Oscar USTARI was the substitute goalkeeper.

Anonymous said...

Johnny- To be honest with you, i dont really care about RAFA, its just MASCHARANO's situation, but its good if he doesn't start against MAN UTD and TEVEZ scores, then RAFA will be BLAMED for not starting him and TEVEZ will be PRAISED for scoring...Killing two birds with 1 stone :)

johnny said...

Perfect ! Good thinking !

Rio said...

Mascherano started the season on Liverpool's CL team. As CL progressed into group stage, he had been moved onto the premiership team. Which IMO is an upgrade and a good thing.
It's impractical to expect box-to-box player like Mascher to do it twice a week every week.

Gerrard is the only creative force in Liverpool's midfield. Especially since Alonso hasn't stepped up. Benitez has 4 CMs and only 2 spots. One of which is permanently occupied by the old woman face. So there are 3 CM/DM competing for 1 spot. Compared to the other 2, Mascherano seemed in favor.

For the past one and half month, Mascher had started 4 EPL games, 3 CL and 2 internationals. That's 9 matches in a little over 6 weeks. I don't know how much more pitch time could Benitez had given him.

johnny said...

A report out of Atl Madrid today indicates KUN might not play against Barca, with a mild injury. Too bad if it happens that way.

johnny said...

No contest between Barca and Atl Madrid today. Barca 3-0, with goals from Deco, Messi (of course) and Xavi. KUN played, but was not at full speed and came out early in the second half with a slight hitch in his giddy up. Maxi R. with a missile that VV blocked.

Rio said...

local player list for qualifier confirmed.

Carrizo, Belluschi, Montenegro, Denis, Ibarra.

so Ibarra is again our great hope for fullback. WTF Basile!

BTW, what a shitty week for liverpool. With mascher they still got tied by spurs. So much for Rafa's double title promises.

johnny said...

I don't think Coco is making any statements with the local players. Most of them won't see much action unless there is a blow out. Denis certainly not the caliber of Messi, Tevez and other forwards, but hot as a firecracker of late. Montenegro is his trigger man. Belluschi has also played well recently and Carrizo has a decent resume. As for Ibarra, he is older, slower and not a threat to be anything other than Coco's boy. He is smart and a team player however. He is no hope for a prime time fullback. He knows that, and Coco knows that.

Rio said...

Exactly what i said in comments of the post about foreign list.

I guess he's at least trying to get the right winger setup, but his reluctance to experiment with potential fullbacks is fu*king annoying.

johnny said...

Gutierrez is hurt and won't play Saturday.