Make them walk alone…

By: Magnusson | October 2nd, 2007

The Last time we met.

During the 2003/2004 season, Marseille was having a lackluster season and our coach Alain Perrin was fired after less than ten games after having helped us qualify for the Champion’s League. We didn’t get very far in that competition but managed to get the third spot of our group, giving us the right to play in the second round of the UEFA Cup. José Anigo was then given the coaching job and we managed with much difficulties to qualify for the round of sixteenth by beating the very modest team of Dniepopetrovsk. We then drew the Reds.

Marseille went to Liverpool and managed to get a draw at Anfield on the first leg of our confrontation. On a Michael Owen service, Milan Baros scored at the 60th minute and Didier Drogba gave us hope by scoring fifteen minutes later. Fabien barthez’s extraordinary performance throughout the game helped us come home with the advantage.

Two weeks later, Emile Heskey scored after 18 minutes but that didn’t change anything, Marseille was superior by far and the public was survolted. It was a sight to see. Didier Drogba equalized again twenty minutes later and Abdoulaye Meïte scored our second goal with a powerful header. One of the better nights in my life as a supporter. Mayhem in the stadium. Madness in front of the telly, just great.
Marseille went on to beat Newcastle, Inter Milan and to the Final of the competition. Losing to Valence after Fabien Barthez got sent off by Pierluigi Colina at the 16th minute. The Valencians, then coached by somebody named Rafaël Benitez, scored twice and took the cup.

Things Done Changed

“Marseille can’t reallistically win tomorrow”, that’s what everybody’s thinking. Well who knows? Stranger things have happened concerning us. We’re a wounded team and we may be able to find somewhere deep the ressources to help us become the team that everybody was expecting to see this year at the Vélodrome. We’ll have to take a lesson in combativity and spirit from the rugby teams that have been squatting our installations during the first part of the IRB Rugby World Cup. We’ll have to go to Anfield and make them understand we don’t believe in that “You’ll never walk alone” crap. I’m trying to convince myself here because we will need our fans to be vocal supporters throughout the game tomorrow. How are we going to win? Well that’s Eric Gerets job and we can only have a glimpse of what’s gonna happen.

First of all we can count on Pennant, Agger, Kewell and Xabi Alonso not to be included in the bout. Second, Rafael Benitez who’s an adept of the rotation will make up to six changes. It has been rumoured that the Torres-Kuyt offense will be replaced by the less tested Voronin-Crouch one. Not that they underestimate us (because they do and they seem more focused on the kid Stevie Gerrard hit with his car than with tomorrow’s match) but marseille has not shown any kind of defensive maestria that would necessitate the big guns to come out of the bench. Rafael Benitez seems more worried about his sunday game against Tottenham than the match we’ll deliver. Crouch hasn’t scored since his match against Toulouse. Let’s hope he doesn’t like french squads too much. They will probably pay like this
Reina – Finnan, Carragher, Hyppia, Riise (or Arbeloa) – Benayoun, Gerrard, Sissoko, Babel (or Riise) – Crouch, Voronin (or Kuyt)

Our Group

Keepers: Mandanda, Hamel
Defenders: Bonnart, Givet, Rodriguez, Taiwo, Zubar
Midfielders: Gragnic, Cana, Oruma, Valbuena, Cheyrou, M’Bami, Ziani, Zenden
Strikers: Cissé, Arrache, Niang, Moussilou

Samir Nasri won’t be playing for us. We knew that the virus he’s been nursing since before the Besiktas game would keep him in the hospital until monday. He apparently ran today alone at the Commanderie. It was going to be hard with him. Let’s see how it works out without him. Jacques Faty’s not included in the group either, his harmstring injury still bothering him. That’s a blow for the only satisfaction of our defense so far alongsde Bonnard.
Heads were shaven during this break. Litterally. Maybe Lorik Cana, Vincent Gragnic, Mamadou Niang, Djibril Cissé and Gael Givet are hoping their new Army buzzcuts will help them overcome the collective shame they endured and beat the giant we’re about to confront. Maybe it’s to instill fear in the opponent. Maybe it’s just me reading WAY too much into it.
On a more serious note, let’s hope the spirit is somewhat found abroad and let’s give the fans something to cheer about. Djibril Cissé nor Bolo Zenden who were supposed to both be doing their big comebacks in Liverpool could be starting the game from the bench. Djibril Cissé is hurt (too much calcium in his leg after last year’s injury) and only trained on monday while Zenden was not in top shape before the 10 day break. Their motivation playing agaisnt ex-teammates won’t be the problem. Their impact on the match could.