Secret weapon: Carew

 

BIG game, can't afford to lose it.

Lyon are in much better physical shape having played a few more competitive matches than us, but tactically we are much stronger than we were when we lost 3-0 here last season. There's no way Lyon can run through our midfield, but I also think we'll focus too much on defending and give a lot of energy to closing spaces which will mean limited creative ideas as a result.

I expect a 0-0 draw.

 

Lyon to get a narrow win, as you say they are up and running already.

 

I'd love Capello to grow some balls and drop Raul for this game, clearly he will not perform and I'd much rather have Robinho or Reyes take his place, they have more speed and direction.

We'll play counter-attacking so tactically it makes sense as well.

 

RVN VS CRIS

 

Ruud likes to score v Lyon, he got 3 goals v them in 04/05 season, wouldn't back against him scoring again.

 

I like the fact that there are options on the bench if things do not go to plan. I mean it's either bench Raúl and have the starter have a crap game and have Raúl come on or vica-versa. I think to want Reyes to start already is a little hastily, he has only just joined us. He needs time to adjust back to Spain. But I am sure he will come on if Capello's plan A fails.

 

Don't forget to predict

 

If ity was up to me i would go with

----------------casillas
cicinho----ramos----cannavaro----carlos
-------------guti/emrson--diarra
----robinho/raul/becks----cassano----reyes
-----------------rvn


i really wanna see cassano and reyes play together

 

I expect to lose, as Lyon are simply better than us, just like I said they'd beat us last year and people disagreed.

 

I expect to lose, as Lyon are simply better than us, just like I said they'd beat us last year and people disagreed.

Rather pessimistic, but understandably so since we have lost against them twice whilst playing away, so our away record in Lyon is rather abysmal. On the more positive side, at least we have a different team and hopefully we don't get humiliated like the last 2 occasions.

*crosses fingers*

 

Here's what I expect

Ramos-Cannavaro-Bravo-R.Carlos

I think this might be the first match we see Ramos on the right...

 

I expect Cicinho for Salgado on the right. The others will be the same as yesterday.

I'll go for a 0-1, Ruud.

 

If we play Cicinho at RB this game, we're going to get eaten alive by Malouda + Abidal + Juninho.

 

I expect a 0-0 draw. We are still not as fluid & direct as Lyon are. They move around the ball much better than us at the moment, and that's natural since they have been playing for a longer time.

I hope Capello will bench Raul & Beckham for Reyes & Robinho. I can't wait to see Reyes-Cassano-Robinho tearing up the opposition defence..:lick:

 

No chance one of the Champions' League best all-time players is benched for this game while he's healthy. Same goes for Beckham as well.

It'll be an identical line-up to yesterday with the only difference being Cicinho plays for Salgado or Ramos plays for Salgado and one of the clowns is brought in to play alongside Canna.

 

No chance one of the Champions' League best all-time players is benched for this game while he's healthy. Same goes for Beckham as well.

I know that's not gonna happen, that's why I said I was 'hoping'.

:moan:

 

Just another thought, a player like Guti would do wonders for us in a game like this.

I'd drop Beckham and play Guti instead for ball possession, composure on the pitch, and more defensive awareness altogether. Of course it won't happen, but perhaps a half-time substitution for Raul like we saw Capello do yesterday.

Guti's exactly the type of player that Lyon has abundance, and we could definitely use him out there on our side Wednesday.

 

I hope Capello will bench Raul & Beckham for Reyes & Robinho. I can't wait to see Reyes-Cassano-Robinho tearing up the opposition defence..:lick:

Well you will probably disappointed as Capello will probably go for the same line-up. No point fixing something when you win 1-4 away.

And I don't know why you would want that trio so quickly, as those players don't really know each other well. They need time to understand one another before they get close to being fixtures in the starting 11. And out of all those, Cassano probably deserves a start. But Robinho got a chance to prove himself in the second half, but I wasn't seriously impressed by him. Reyes on the other hand did make a minor impact on the team.

 

Hello, Figo.
Should be a very tight game realistically. Most neutrals are predicting a draw, so it seems; on other websites too.

Should be mighty close. :strong:

 

Well you will probably disappointed as Capello will probably go for the same line-up. No point fixing something when you win 1-4 away.

Levante is not Lyon, sunshine.

And I don't know why you would want that trio so quickly, as those players don't really know each other well. They need time to understand one another before they get close to being fixtures in the starting 11. And out of all those, Cassano probably deserves a start. But Robinho got a chance to prove himself in the second half, but I wasn't seriously impressed by him. Reyes on the other hand did make a minor impact on the team.

Cassano 'probably deserves a start? What the ****!? What did Beckham do? Raul?

Oh wait, I am talking to Corazon...Please continue..

 

Hello, Figo.
Should be a very tight game realistically. Most neutrals are predicting a draw, so it seems; on other websites too.

Should be mighty close. :strong:

Hello, my friend.

I don't really care for what websites or newspapers predict for games, otherwise the favourite would always win.

As you know, I watch nearly every Lyon game and I'm convinced they'll beat us on Wednesday.

 

Hello, my friend.

I don't really care for what websites or newspapers predict for games, otherwise the favourite would always win.

As you know, I watch nearly every Lyon game and I'm convinced they'll beat us on Wednesday.

I don't see them beating us really. I can see us playing out a dull draw but can't see them winning. We have a defence now & I don't see them breaching it. They will be the better team but this is Capello's team & the only thing he knows perfectly well is to shut out the back & grind out results. I think he'll probably be looking for a draw as well...

 

Don't underestimate Lyon.

For me, they're the third best team in the world behind Barcelona and Chelsea.

Everybody last year said they wouldn't beat us, and yeah we've improved, but so have they. They lost Diarra and added Kallstrom, Toulalan, and Squillaci. They're better than us.

 

I'd love Capello to grow some balls and drop Raul for this game, clearly he will not perform and I'd much rather have Robinho or Reyes take his place, they have more speed and direction.

We'll play counter-attacking so tactically it makes sense as well.

The usual will happen. Raul will come off at half time once Capello sees he just wasted 45 minutes having him on the field.