abc

Crouch Mascherano Aurelio

IMO, he was our best player alongside Gerrard in last year's final, but only Stevie got the plaudits because he scored that goal. If anyone remembers, in extra time, Momo started cramping but got up just to put in a tackle and then went back down clutching his calf or something in agony. Now I've been very critical of Momo's performances of late, but the memory of that moment just reminded me of what an excellent player he was for us last season, and how he can continue to be so for us. I think Rafa has not done the best thing by putting him back in the team so quickly, taking into consideration Gerrard's excellent form in the middle, and replacing it with very poor passing from Momo.

He's a proper footballer with that little bit extra up his sleeve. Something that all our players who've played on the left, bar Garcia, don't have. We have cover in that position, but not enough talent. His intelligence on the ball and underrated passing and movement has been sorely missed this season.

That was the price quoted by Sociedad to Man Utd the season before we got him...

Against the better sides, such as Man Utd the other week, he was found out. They didn't need to pressure him much when he was on the ball, because he couldn't and didn't do much with it. Give him time on the ball to pick out a pass, and he's a liability. But maybe I'm being a little harsh considering he's just come back from injury. But my oh my, he stunk the place out yesterday. Me and my mate gave out a huge cheer when it was him and not Mascherano who was being hauled off. But more for the fact that we wanted to see Xabi and Mascherano play together, than disliking Momo. I like him, it's just that his limitations in this current form are stifling our play, and negating the best thing that came out of his injury - Stevie Gerrard's overall excellent performances from the middle of the park...

Momo Sissoko in his current form, playing in the middle of the park ahead of Gerrard, is what's causing the lack of drive. I am a Momo fan, but Stevie has been excellent in the middle when Momo's been out. And up until then, I've always believed that Gerrard was best on the right like last season. Not anymore, because Stevie's matured heaps, and has shown that understands the central midfield role very well now. Pennant was superb coming on in the last few 15 or so minutes, and brought more attacking verve to the game than any other player who was on the pitch for the whole match. Kuyt needs to get in the box more and not get involved with the build up play as often, because if Momo is playing it simply means we have no goal threat coming from the middle of the park. He also needs to sort out some of his decision making at key moments. Finally, I don't recall him taking a shot all game today. If/when Mascherano and Alonso play together in the middle, Xabi should be the one in the advanced role, not Javier. Who showed that he is a very competent player today. Tigerish in the tackle, and his passing was pretty decent too. Our left midfielders are not up to standard if we need to break teams down; we miss Garcia and Kewell very badly. We've played better than today, and still ended up losing this season.

Long balls and poor use of the ball from right back, one of the positions where attacks are built, and an unwillingness to get forward made him average. And he WAS a big problem, don't know if he was the biggest, but certainly a big contributor to the bad football we played under Houllier. At least until the leg break at Blackburn, which saw him come back a better full back. Even he admitted he had to take it up a notch. And then 04/05 happened. In short, colossus in the center of defence, average player across the rest of the park. The question to be asked is this - would he still be playing even half the amount of games he does if he were still a fullback? I can tell you it is a resounding NO. Not under Rafa Benitez, and definitely not ahead of Steve Finnan. Which points to why the poster said you were blowing your own trumpet, though I don't think you meant to come across as such.

I've always thought Carra was average at fullback, and still do to be honest. Solid defensively, but rubbish with the ball at right back in a four man defence, slightly better at left back. But stick him in the center of defence and he's different class. He has taken his game up a few levels since he was moved to the middle. Fair enough that you've always championed his cause, but it's nonsense to suggest his game was always this good. For the last two and a half seasons, he has been right up there with the best three or four defenders in the English game (probably Europe). Before that? Singled out by Henry as the weak link in our defence (very harsh, and I certainly didn't agree then - it was Riise/Traore!). My point in the original post was that everyone apart from McLaren recognizes that Carra is not an unsung hero for Liverpool - he is a huge presence in the team. The classic unsung hero in our team would be Finnan. Carra on the other hand, is widely acknowledged as one of the stars of our Liverpool team. And a small part of my outrage is because of all people, the England manager should be more in touch with the English game.

Linky 'Jamie is one of those unsung heroes every team needs,' said McClaren after naming his squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier. 'He is very professional and very conscientious, someone who quietly gets on with his job and is probably only missed when he is not in the side. 'His performances against Manchester United and Barcelona were fantastic and I am really delighted with his form.' I've read it over a few times and I'm pretty sure he means what I think he said; unsung hero? You've got to be f*ckin kidding me... Even neutrals acknowledge that he is right up there in the top bracket of central defenders, and deservedly lauded his recent performances. Will be hilarious to see England struggle to make it to the Euro's and this numpty sacked before the campaign is over...

did you even stop to think that because even with a leap, the cross would still have gone over his head...?

Watch the cross again and you'll see that Crouchy was backing away because of the flight of the ball. Was a difficult ball to put power into and direct, esp so close to the goal, while backtracking.

We're getting Chelsea. And if we beat them again, then put all your money on no.6.

I believe that the display against Spurs at Anfield that season, his 2nd match back after the broken ankle, was another step up from that performance vs Norwich. Highlight of that match: 75 yard pass from right back to left wing, straight into the path of a running Riise.

I think it's a stupid notion that certain managers don't like to spend big money. The amount of money you spend on each player is correlated to the level your team is at (with the transfer chest considered). Obviously the better it is, the more difficult it is to improve it. Therefore, I await the time when we only need 2 new players each season, and they will each cost 15-20million. That would mean we were so good that only such players could help us sustain or make us that 3% better as a team.

Brilliant idea for the free kick. Looked like they planned for it 'cause Saha/Vidic ran across Reina right before the ball got to him, which unsighted Pepe. Probably needed someone at the post. Something to look at for Rafa perhaps.

Problem with that chance he had; if he was a better header of the ball he would have tried to head it in. But he had enough time to take it down, which he did well, but after that he should have clobbered it. Hindsight maybe, but I thought it was a very head-able chance. Still love the fella though. I'm assuming Bellamy was pulled off because he was tiring too much that he might not have had too much left in the tank for Tuesday?

Thought he let the game flow, a couple of dodgy decisions but overall he was pretty good I thought. Pity one of the dodgy calls led to the goal.

There was some tough, tough tackling from him too. Quite impressed to be honest.

I think if you watch the first half again, and then pick out any match that Xabi plays at home, you'll find the stark difference in the initiative to get on the ball between both players. Could be wrong, but there were many times when Sami played aimless balls forward because JM didn't take on positions that Alonso would. A previous poster mentioned that he did try to create space for the centerbacks to push up into and I agree with that. But when you watch Alonso play the holding role, he gets on the ball a whole lot more than Mascherano did in the first half. The second saw him get into the game more, and confidence breeds confidence I guess.

Alonso is class on the ball, whether closer to his own backline or the strikers. His 10 minute cameo showed some good touches and very underrated ball winning ability. One thing that really stood out in the game was that Mascherano never showed for the ball enough. He did improve a lot in the 2nd half mind, but I think considering selling Alonso is just crazy.

I think the idea of playing with a back 3/back 5 against Barca is good. Crouch/Kuyt and Bellamy up front would give variety in our play, while allowing Gerrard to play with freedom, getting ahead of the forwards and going into wide positions, knowing that Xabi and Momo are behind him. Think he handled Crouchy pretty well in the internationals last week.

I would imagine so. And if you clear the ball in the direction of two bodies in such close proximity, it will NEVER go in the stands 9/10 times. It was a stupid play (kicking it that direction). But he'll learn from it.

According to a friend who's Portuguese, Kaka is a nickname for Carlos. But if spelt with the c, caca actually means cack in Portuguese...

If my count is correct isn't this his 10th season at Anfield? Testimonial?

Weren't Man Utd after Gamst last season? I think he's a very good player personally. Would be happy to see him at the club.