Villareal Home Wed April 27th KO 8pm
This topic contains 88 replies, has 13 voices, and was last updated by MrMakaveli 1 year, 11 months ago.
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April 25, 2022 at 6:42 pm #2087597
Well, we’re here again. Yet another semi-final!
Our visitors, Villareal, head into this game nice and fresh having not played since April 19th when the beat Valencia 2-0 at home in the league.
Villareal knocked out Bayern in the quarter finals after winning 1-0 at home then drawing 1-1 in Germany. Incredible result. They also battered Juventus too in the quarters. Remember too, it took Chelsea penalties to beat them in the Super Cup last August. These guys are NOT to be underestimated. They may be 7th in La Liga but they’ve played really well (and conservatively) in the Champions League and seeing as they got this far, they’ll want to go further.
Villareal usually deploy a 442 or 4411 with Danjuma up top and he is their danger man. Gerard Moreno too, who usually is Danjuma’s partner in crime in attack, will also need to be guarded closely. They have Spurs old boys too in their squad, fruitcake Aurier and Lo Celso.
We’ve only met these chaps twice before, ever, and that was in the semi-finals of the Europa 6 years before we capitulated in the Final v Sevilla. We lost 1-0 at their place but smashed them 3-0 at Anfield. Starting XI that night in that second leg:
Mignolet, Clyne, Touré, Lovren, Moreno, Milner, Coutinho, Lallana, Can, Firmino and Sturridge
Who will start this for us?
I’m going for:
Alisson, Trent, Konate, VVD, Robbo, Henderson, Thiago, Fabinho, Diaz, Mane and Mo.
Gonna be an interesting game, a game we should win, but head into this like we did first half v Everton and they’ll take full advantage.
I’m going 3-1 for us.
April 25, 2022 at 6:57 pm #2087601Rob>> They’ve got 4 ex-Spurs players in their team/squad. Apart from the 2 that you mentioned, there’s Foyth and Capoue. Let’s face it, this will be the nearest that Spurs get to any achievement this season and hopefully it will all be snuffed out by Wednesday at 9:45pm (ish).
April 25, 2022 at 7:33 pm #2087613LOL RH, way to slam Spurs.
It’s worth noting that Lo Celso fits into Villarreal very well and they absorb play and hit on the break a lot better than Everton. Gerard Moreno is the man to watch IMO, I’m not writing off Danjuma but I think all, of our current front 3 are better than him (even if he seems to think otherwise).
I’d go with that team Rob, but I would have one eye on Thiago. I don’t think our CM options are good enough to make sure that we look after him. I don’t know how many times I can say that Keita just isnt good enough, even this usually fit version of him but are we going to have to at least take Thiago off after 60? If so, I hope we’re a few goals to the good by then and bring on Milner instead.
In an ideal world, I’d be resting both Matip and Thiago though. We’ve got to have this in mind when heading into the summer. It’s the one area on the pitch where we need recruitment. I think besides the age/contract issues, the rest of the team is absolutely perfect.
April 25, 2022 at 7:53 pm #2087618I think Moreno is out injured for this game but still not a reason to underestimate Villareal.
We need to blow these away at Anfield and snuff out any hope they may have of doing us at theirs.
We know how they’re gonna play.
They’ll sit back deep behind the ball and try to hit us on the break, pretty much like Everton yesterday. We’ve encountered this kinda tactic many many times and are now well versed in getting by it. It still requires work rate and focus tho.Team is suspect will be selected is….
Allison
TAA, Konate, VVD, Robbo
Kieta, Fabinho, Thiago
Salah, Mané, DiazApril 25, 2022 at 8:08 pm #2087627Oh wow, I didn’t know that. Moreno is such an important player for them but ya, best not to get ahead of ourselves.
April 25, 2022 at 10:20 pm #20876683-0 win for us
April 26, 2022 at 7:01 am #2087689This game could be unpredictable, but if we can end the tie here, I say we take the chance with both hands, don’t wait for the second leg.
Strongest team to start, but with three changes from Sunday, and as always we use all our 5 subs for maximum impact. I expect the fresh Diaz to have a big effect on this game, and hopefully another goal for Konate.
Alisson
Trent Konate Van Dijk Robbo
Henderson Fabinho Thiago
Salah Mané DiazApril 26, 2022 at 7:38 am #2087700I’d go with that team songman, maybe Keita instead of Hendo as against a defensive low block team his ability to take it past his marker could be very useful. Not sure if he can play again so soon we all know his fragility, but I feel Hendo will be more suited for the Newcastle game. The other two midfielders just have to start whenever possible now we are in the buisness end of the season.
April 26, 2022 at 11:24 am #2087800They will target right hand side with danjuma space.3-0 be perfects reds but can’t see that happening. These will be very tough to break down. We need to take a decent lead there. Tough game. Anfiejd be rocking. Early goal would be perfect
Strongest team for me. Another huge week for us
April 26, 2022 at 12:34 pm #2087839Sean they got aurier at right back up against Diaz. I think they’ll make it difficult for 30-35 mins but once we get that 1st goal…
April 26, 2022 at 12:42 pm #2087841Danjuma could be playing up front with Lo Celso instead because Moreno likely to be out.
City this evening should be interesting with both Stones and Walker out but Real may be without Casemiro and Alaba.
April 26, 2022 at 1:01 pm #2087848If aurier starts then great but utd usually foyth is at right full but I’m nearly sure he’s a cb
Aurier is a proper hot head. Mane just needs to be careful he doesnt get wound up
April 26, 2022 at 1:05 pm #2087849Mane and Jota both carrying enough yellows which would mean another one and they miss the next game.
Both need to be very careful.
April 26, 2022 at 2:21 pm #2087887Ideal world get a comfortable first leg lead and bench them both for the return. Assuming yellows carry onto the final also?
April 26, 2022 at 2:44 pm #2087905Threeps, it is my understanding that yellow cards are wiped out after the quarter finals. The only way a player can miss the Final is via a red.
April 26, 2022 at 3:36 pm #2087923I wasn’t too sure about that myself Sean.
I really hope that’s the case.April 26, 2022 at 3:37 pm #2087924Sorry, should said Rob
April 26, 2022 at 3:39 pm #2087926Yes just double checked there Rob.
After the QFs.
Happy days!April 26, 2022 at 5:48 pm #2087968I have changed my mind regards what line-up I’d go with. All the same except the front 3.
Although I think that given how Villarreal play, it might be best for us to throw Jota in the centre and bomb a few early crosses in onto his head, because Villa are going SIT BACK. mane has been amazing in the centre and is only getting better with Diaz out there scaring the knickers off the back-lines but in this case, I’d start with Jota.
You’ve got to bring that other dimension, if the opposition aren’t going to give you the space to play in behind them. Now, look, Mane could start there and we might blow them away. I watched both their matches against Bayern and they fluffed their lines even when they had chances. Also… Villa didnt just sit back, they had a go. I feel if they do the same to us and don’t score, they will be punished for it when we come back out at them.
April 26, 2022 at 5:50 pm #2087973“Threeps, it is my understanding that yellow cards are wiped out after the quarter finals. The only way a player can miss the Final is via a red. ”
You had to fuckin say it….. You HAD TO FUCKIN SAY IT, YOU PIECE OF!!… thanks for the information. I’m so glad that they got away with the usually unjust situation of players missing finals.
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