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...that now Watford have admitted themselves they're getting relegated they'll play with more freedom and gusto and actually score only their 2nd away win ever in the premiership (what a load of nonsense)...

Sorry, but that's rubbish. Neill was in the thick of a lot of good attacking moves for Blackburn during their recent good run. He put in a superb ball for one of their McCarthy a few weeks ago with his left (wrong) foot. And made some surging runs forward to set up one or two other goals. Carra is a log at full back. Keep him away from the flanks, unless it's for two or three matches a season filling in due to injury.

For someone who is a good crosser of the ball, I thought he didn't get enough balls into the box, let alone quality ones for the likes of Dirk and Crouchy to attack. But every other part of his game, especially the fierce tackling was very good.

Thought Redders was alright. Mentioned that Rafa changes the team a little too much, which every once in a while I tend to agree with. But then when Keys tried to stir up more nonsense, both Kenny and Redknapp shot him down with the fact that Rafa's track record is excellent.

For me, Stevie has proven without a doubt he is our best central midfield player. For the last season and a bit, even up until the Arsenal away match when Zenden played in the middle, I've always agreed with Rafa that Stevie's better position was starting from the right. Today's match just goes to show the tactical discipline, game awareness and intelligence and maturity that Stevie has learnt in his game. From his improving reading of the game to that sublime dinked pass to Kuyt in the 2nd half. He's been putting in some superb captain performances. We are definitely seeing the best of Gerrard in the middle.

2nd place would NOT have had to play qualifiers as far as I remember. I looked up during that time the qualifying stages the season after Real won it and there were 3 Spanish teams in the group stages automatically.

Bellamy, Kuyt and Crouch are three of the most hardworking forwards around I believe.

Here are what I think are key factors which affect our play when Gerrard plays in the center of the park. It allows Alonso to play his football alongside a partner who is as good/better a ball player than him. With Gerrard's ability, they have a better understanding and execution when it comes to keeping possession with more tricky passing in pressure situations. Gerrard can make early telling passes, not necessarily hollywood balls which Sissoko cannot spot or execute. Playing the right ball early during a counter-attack means that the opposition has less time to re-organize. Alonso has been able to get forward more often and exploit his excellent shooting. Using Gerrard as the holder when Xabi gets forward on occassion does not affect the team's offensive tempo when we pin teams back in their own half, as Stevie's range of passing is very good too. People say that the Stevie's form has picked up regardless of his position. Partially true, but i'd say his effectiveness in the center is mainly due to his better understanding of the position. Namely being more disciplined in his positioning and passing. I was advocating that his best position is on the right even up till the Arsenal match, but his improvement has been so marked that I don't think Sissoko should be walking back into the team even against the top opposition. I reckon Stevie and Xabi can finally be the excellent central partnership which we first imagined.

I don't know what some were watching here. We played well enough to win the game comfortably. Crouchy really needs to work on his heading. Disappointing result, a performance good enough to beat Blackburn had we taken at least one of the 4/5 open chances in the first half. Any remote dreams of the title have been well and truly put to bed.

Off the top of my head, Benfica 2-0.

He's Euro-cup tied isn't he? Unless they've changed the rules. Can see Rafa resting Finnan occasionally to save him for European matches like Pellegrino and Sami. Now to get a striker who's cuptied and no.6 is in the bag.

I think he said control the ball and possibly pass it with his right, but shoot with the left.

Watch Xabi Alonso and you'll spot that he often takes his first touch with his left foot to place the ball in striking zone for his right, in one swift motion.

I'm sorry but it just riles me when people say stupid things like that. You make space in your team for players like Henry, Ronaldinho and Kaka, forwards who can float around and influence play from anywhere around the middle third. It's not like we have any strikers who are undroppable.

The only problem I had with Gerrard in the middle was that he used to choose poor plays. The last few matches, he's played with more control. Choosing when to keep play ticking along, when to go for the occasional hollywood ball, which he pulls off because he's picking the right moment to. When we have Xabi and Stevie in the middle, we have two excellent passers of the ball who can see difficult plays and execute them. When Momo and Xabi play in the middle, there are less options when Momo is on the ball, mainly because of his limited ability (in comparison). I was strongly in the camp of Gerrard wide right being the best option for the team. Lately, I've been swayed. Mainly because of his improved tactical discipline. The understanding that Alonso and Gerrard have struck up has given us better shape and balance offensively, and it's not like we are getting overrun by teams.

Stevie has shown discipline, maturity and an understanding of his role as a central midfielder. For me personally, against all smaller teams, he has to play with Xabi in the middle. I'm reserving my final judgement until he actually plays a few matches in the tougher fixtures. But I think it's all to obvious that we're playing much better football with him in the center of the park.

fred milne, I think he's shown signs of discipline in his play recently, choosing the simple option of keeping play ticking along more often than in the past. I think he understands the role better now.

You make room for a player like Kaka in your team. I'd play him off the front man, or in one of the wide starting positions a la Stevie. But probably not both him and Stevie on both flanks. Although that might work with two attacking fullbacks providing attacking width.

Why can't we station Sami at the far post and Crouchy at the near post (or vice versa), and then either float it into the near, or ping it deep towards the far, for a flick on or a nod down? Whipped balls which never even get past the first man are shocking. Pennant's corners have been on the whole much better, and Stevie ought to be where he should be, in and around the box.

It looks to me like this season's league champions will have a points tally slightly lower than that of previous seasons. If we can go on another 10-12 match winning streak we will defo close the gap. Will it be enough? I reckon if we can match last season's points tally we will be close. It's going to be really tough though, considering we've dropped points against Blackburn at home, Sheff Utd (one of the newly promoted teams), Everton and Bolton away - that's an 8 points difference.

Lie to him and tell him that injuries will also aid him. I was absolutely disappointed with the decision. You always need a few old heads and he still had 25 solid performances for us in him this season I thought.

Exactly! I swear a few seasons ago everyone was criticising Riise for flying in too rashly. Now he stands off too much. The real problem against Arsenal will always be pace. Look at their team and you will see that all their players are athletic, good on the ball, and can run fast. That's the way Wenger has designed his team and the style of play. A combination of pace, movement and skill on the ball go a long way to changing the way your team play, and ultimately how teams play against you.

We need the all action Stevie of tail-end 03/04. The legs are still there, it's just a matter of switching the passion on and loosening the discipline a little for just the one match.

He puts an excellent cross in. His control is very good, and when receiving the ball in tight situations he uses a couple of touches to steady himself to find space and time very well.

Pennant took some pretty decent ones the other day. And Gerrard even got on the end of one of them (Zenden or Pennant's?). That is where he should be, in and around the box. Another point to note, I think we really missed Agger's ability to take the ball out and make runs with the ball and incisive passes from the back on Saturday. Reading just backed off us and gave our two center backs so much time and space. Agger would have had a field day. Mind you they might have played differently if Daniel was on the pitch.