With Liverpool's attack I'd start Fazio, the stronger we are at the back the better. Martin O'Neill didn't put a foot wrong in the early part of his season with Sunderland and he had them buzzing but look what happened. If we are top two at Christmas or three I'll be happy.
Barring last minute injuries, he almost certainly won't start Fazio. Firstly, he has to be assimilated into the squad - get familiar with what Pochettino expects, etc. Secondly, against Liverpool, we need the paciest defenders we have. I expect them to attack us at speed. I'm not sure that Fazio fits the bill.
I could never believe that athletes would be affected by a crowd. I saw an article claiming the home field advantage is mostly or completely a result of the officials giving the home team the benefit of the calls. But I do see athletes affected by crowds. Pitchers who can't throw a strike, football players who make terrible decisions they wouldn't make in less intimidating circumstances, basketball players who miss free throws. It doesn't make sense to me, but fans do seem to be, as they have been called, the twelfth man. The sound of a crowd can put players off their game it seems, just as much as the players they oppose. The first time I saw Sturridge I was really impressed. then I thought he was crap because he was too selfish. Then I realized he was good enough that the selfishness amounted to a strength. He really was likelier to score than others. I stand by my third opinion. For now.
I fear the Referee more than the Mouser players, we shall know within a few minutes of kick off whether we have another referee who favours Pool.
I think we have to accept it as red [sic - and pun fully intended] that if there is a decision that can be made in 'Pool's favour, deserved or (most usually, not), that has the possibility of assisting the media's favourite to win, it will be given.
Phil Dowd isn't so bad. He's just as likely to send Pools players off as ours. He might even like to wear the badge of being the first ref to send Balotelli off.
His odds on getting a card are the same as everyone else's. Vertonghen, Rose and Capoue all have ever so slightly shorter odds. Pick another market
He is overhyped. He's a top goalscorer but not a top player imo. Put him in the right team with the wind behind them and he'll be excellent but put him up against it and he doesn't do as well. A bit like Costa too, very good at what they do but the difference between them and an Aguero is huge.
£ity humiliated 'Pool last week, and this week £ity were made to look like complete dummies by Stoke! How great a hiding will Stoke give 'Pool when they meet? If we don't absolutely muller 'Pool tomorrow, I will be extremely disappointed.
Given that we pretty much rested our entire "first" team on Thursday and we played at home there are no excuses for tiredness. My only concern is I expect Kaboul to start and given all his injuries over the last year or so will he be able to handle 2 games in 4 days. Another thing does anyone know how much longer Walker is expected to be out for?
I'd love to have Walker back as he offers us such a threat going forward from right back. Dier has started well but I think it's too early to say he's a shoe in at right back after one match at home to QPR (he was centre back v West Ham) I know he made a few mistakes last year but then so did all of our defence. But he's young and I reckon with the right coaching he can work on the defensive side of his game and cut out the errors.
Walker has such potential. I think under a good coach and in a settled back four he could be an amazing right back. Last year was difficult for him with injuries and change of manager etc but for me when fit he is still by far the best right back we have.
Lets not forget that in his breakthrough season with us a couple of years ago Walker was arguably the best RB in the league, certainly the best English one at any rate. If he can get back to his peak fitness and form levels, and cut out the inconsistencies and poor decision making that have marred his time at the club since his breakthrough season, then we're laughing. I think he can do it under Pochettino - Rose was saying earlier this week that working on his concentration and decision making was a big part of Pochettino's training and was helping him to improve, so if the new manager can do that with Walker too then that'd be excellent.
Apparently Pocket has been boasting that he is the new special one and that Liverpool could be facing the next PL champions later on today and that we are good enough to pip them and anybody else for that matter. Somebody please tell me that he hasn't said this, please.
