Bromage

Isn't that the clearest statement of any "Action Group's" intentions yet? I support that 100%.

Sorry it's about 10 pages and 6 hours late but I saw this and wanted to express my opinion. I personally support and applaud the launch objectives of SOS. Their intelligence and tactical inspiration at the start of the campaign was brilliant and they scored some massive media sucesses in the early days, which seriously embarassed the intended targets. I think at that stage we all sat back and waited for the next event and the support was as its peak. However, over time it seems as though the initial objectives changed and whereas at the start we believed the goals were solely about providing a united fans voice against the US owners, now it seems that other issues have been added into the mix and some fans suddenly feel confused & excluded. I think the reference, "gang of aimless scall's with nothing better to do", which I know was a merry quip, is a stereotype which does no justice to their carefully crafted efforts. If anything, things have got a whole lot worse since the campaign started and what many don't understand is what action is in the pipeline to address the original SOS objectives? Isn't massive media coverage of united LFC fans in protest against the owners & causing maximum embarassment to H&G, the only way to move forward? Is anything else more important at this stage?

I think it's a fair question to ask of members on an independent website. Any group which holds itself up to represent the fans is entitled to be scrutinised by those same people. The poll won't make any difference to the actions of the SOS but it does at least let people here express an opinion. If however the criticism is of the options for voting then by all means list some alternatives and then Andy may decide to change them and rerun the poll. That's his free choice.........

I think there's always a tendency to follow the lazy media, criticising the team when if fact the reality was that they were a very good team. We're definitely struggling to get things working again, with Keane coming into the side, Babbel and Mascherano only recently returning from China and some players struggling to regain their form. IMHO I think Rafa is still working hard to bring in the players he believes he needs and offload those he needs to raise the money. Once the window closes I am sure there will be a better level of performance from a more settled bunch of players.

I just wanted to say what a great performance Liege and their fans put up over the two legs. They clearly played above their level in both games but deserve great credit. I heard all the "pundits" last night saying how bad we were but whilst I agree in part, I think it doesn't give them enough credit for a great tactical performance. They have some excellent players, particularly Defour and use their height and weight advantage well, although I think our performance cried out for width to counter this. How does a team like this fail to reach the group stages, compared to some of the dross which does?

1. Carra 2. Torres 3. Dossena

Looks like nothing is getting any clearer on this!! I still say that the game next Wednesday tells us who is staying and who isn't and of course, who might??? My favourites are still Pennant, Voronin & Finnan but I really can't see how Rafa can leave out Xabi, unless he risks Plessis with Gerrard. Even if Barry turns up on Monday, it's highly unlikely he'll be ready to play either Wednesday or Saturday.

Team for Sunderland REINA ARBELOA-CARRAGHER-AGGER-DOSSENA KUYT-GERRARD-ALONSO-BENAYOUN KEANE-TORRES

Call me gullible but I am still of the opinion that the club are still trying to bluff Villa into selling Barry at a lower price. I don't believe any of the parties involved are stupid and I think this will still drag on up to the end of the month if necessary. We've built up a reputation of "pleading poverty" over many years in order to keep prices down and I don't see this latest saga as any different. Manipulation of the press to put forward an advantageous slant for either side just seems to get more and more prevalent and of course many of the so-called senior journalists love the opportunity to slag us off with any excuse. Even the Echo seems to have allowed themselves to be manipulated by the club, Rafa and the Owners into promoting their various interests on the pretext of spouting the facts. I'm not saying I have any better idea of what's going on that anyone else but I'm quite sure that the club have the situation under control and as always, we'll only know the real truth when we read a clutch of memoirs in about 10 years time!

So on the assumption that Barry also joins this week, we now certainly have a number of players "surplus to requirements" and I'm therefore assuming that we'll start to see these players clearly identified over the next 10 days. I guess the squad for the CL qualifier will tell us if Xabi, Voronin and maybe Pennant will be staying and of course this assumes that Finnan really is the "makeweight" in the Barry deal. Also what about Babel, Arbeloa & even Benayoun?

I don't necessarily disagree with the point but I think the danger is to take the financial rewards into account. If players were on 500 a week, would the views be different? The money has been massive for about 15 years but if things changed, would opinions on this issue change as well?

Were it not for the use of a such a highly emotive and insulting term, which due probably more to another bout of verbal incontinence than any desire to insult, the issue of players as slaves argument doesn’t seem to had a fair hearing. But if the issue is to be debated fairly then in my opinion there are some genuine points to be aired. Firstly starting with the Ronaldo issue, I've actually started to have some sympathy with him. I guess there’s a tinge of joy that he may not be around next season, which might have a detrimental effect on our near neighbours but actually more than that there’s the view that he has the right to achieve all the goals he set himself during his short career. It’s probably fair to say that he’s “repaid” his club’s investment in him and will net them a massive transfer fee. If his ambition has been to play for Real then surely he’s free to do this. Whatever the significance of the contract, which is designed in the interests of both parties and certainly enhances the fee for the club’s benefit, these days there is no real significance or commitment on either side to fulfil the terms. It’s significant that even the manager has kept quiet on the issue, despite all the press assertions of his “anger” but again, it’s only my opinion, the role of Ronaldo as a main striker last season was surely an accident and therefore the prospect of getting a substantial budget to invest in a proven front man must be very attractive. Turning to Barry, the contrast between the behaviour of the two managers couldn’t be more pronounced and having met them both I can’t believe I’m saying this!! Villa have been fighting for at least 3 years to hang on to Barry, with promises of success and more money but this is someone who wants to test himself at a level where there is an opportunity to compete in the major competitions; it is surely likely that had he played for a higher profile team during this time his England appearances would undoubtedly have been more frequent. So finally he has decided to wait no longer and react positively to our club’s advances. He’s been prepared to listen to Villa for the last 3 years, of course with all the usual inducements but on the basis that despite the promises nothing has changed, he wants to move. So despite MON’s knowledge of the situation he has decided to make things as difficult as possible, which does him little credit and is a sure sign of “sour grapes”. The impression is that he is deliberately playing out this debacle in the press and therefore ensuring that there is a massive negative attitude towards him from Villa fans and others in general. Lastly contrast this with the actions of our manager; Crouch was thanked for his time and contribution and based on Rafa’s appreciation of his wish to play more, he let him go with his blessing. Xabi has been given every opportunity to move given that he may play less frequently for the team. I’m certainly not naive about this whole theatre and that at the root of it all is money but however much the wages are these days shouldn’t alter the fact that players should have the right to make a choice about where they work. But what does strike me is that on the basis that managers and players all have the same motives, some are good at bit and some are bloody useless and MON certainly falls into the latter category. Whatever the outcome of the Barry case, he will almost certainly be booed at most grounds with little justification. Where are the FA, PL and PFA in situations like these? Does it really have to come down to the ramblings of FIFA’s resident nutcase to highlight what’s actually going on here?

Can I just say how proud I feel about today's action and I feel privileged to have been a part of this protest. Well done everyone!!

As the above is the principal "call to action", please confirm the email and let's all get behind this action.

No change there then!

You need to be aware that when Sky televise games they use a microphone right by the visiting fans to "equalise the volume", apparently in the interest of balance! So what you might think is more volume from the Away Fans, is really contrived by Sky. Having said that, even when we're away we sing far more than at home and I think it's the same for most clubs.

I went to the game so I haven't seen anything of the TV coverage so far. What really annoyed me is; 1. The Liverpool fans who decided to leave after Chelsea's 3rd goal. My consolation was that they missed Babel's cracker!! 2. The Chelsea fans who even after we applauded their team and supporters after the 3rd goal, they still sung about our "crap support" and "murderers". Just shows you how bitter they still are about the two previous semis. 3. People criticising Rafa on here today. His tactics in the 2nd half were magnificent and almost won us the game. There were so many "if onlys" last night but I came away feeling proud of my team and utter contempt for the Chelsea fans, who mistakenly believe this will last for ever.

I think Babel is a far more talented player than Gonzales and the ability will increase with experience; I think someone already said, just like with Henry.

1. Mascherano 2. Lucas 3. Reina

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Don't you just love irony.............

Did you also notice the mention that Kuyt and the referee were both dutch. in respect of the disallowed penalty. On the credit side however, have Sky bowed to our fans pressure and relieved JR of his duties, at least for our games.

I've watched him in most of his reserve games and it's no surprise he got this opportunity. It shows how much Rafa thinks of him to give him this chance to debut. Maybe he's the player that we all that Momo was promising to be.

1. Skrtel 2. Kuyt 3. Gerrard

Just three IMHO points; 1. Apart from two attacks I can remember in the first half, passing by Alonso & Lucas amongst other was worse than Sunday League. 2. Fantastic pace from Babel but isn't it about time he learnt to control a ball? 3. Interesting to note the use of the word "class" in another thread; didn't see much of that, in the abuse towards Neville or the t*** who kept throwing the ball away.