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All I hear on this forum is we have problems at full backs! But what is the answer? considering our limited budget?

Except Xabi...who I think had we sold him in the summer could have been Rafa's biggest mistake...he was class when he came on

He is a great player, but that will still improve him. Great news for him and genunily think it will be good news for us as well.

Since Rafa took over, we have been great finishers (i.e. that last 3-4 months of the season). There are 3 reasons why I am really hopeful and optimistic this year is our year: 1. As highlighted in a previous post, most of our stars and world class players (Torres, Masch, even Keane) have yet to hit top form and surely they will sooner or later 2. With Rafa we either have had bad start or faltered in September or October and this year we have kept the momentum going so far 3. The ability to take points of the other 3 teams namely Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea and this season we have shown that we can and we did So I don't understand why there is still scepticims that our chances are not that good of winning the PL this year. My only concern, and that Chelsea have been very very good and do not look like droping any points soon whether home or away. I am not a statistics person, but I wonder with our start this season and our points tally, how far we would have been ahead of the second team compared to last season and the season before....and that in my opinion is the only concern...i.e. Chelsea are setting the bar so high....but I am sure they can't sustain that all season. I belive this is our year and we will do it.

Same here

1. Alonso 2. Carragher 3. Gerrard

No Romario! one of the best strikers of all time in my mind and on achievement still ahead of C Ronaldo and possibly Zidane. I would also include on that list: Yashin, Rivaldo, Luther Mattaus and Rumminge

DOSSENA ALONSO ARBELOA

I can't say that I am not nervous....but I do have a feeling that is a special year and if you check all of my contributions on this forum, I remain to belive that Rafa will bring us the title....and it seems sooner rather than later.

My concern (and I know this is our first defeat this season, and I should not be very critical), but this season is like many other seasons before, I always worry about our killer instinct and clinical finishing. With Utd and Chelsea, you always get the feeling that they take 1 in 3 (not excat science, just a gust feel) and with us it is more like 1 in 10. I remeber games when we dominate 60% possession, have 15-20 shots and win 1-0. That remains my biggest worry, with us I never go to a match expecting a 3 or 4 nil drubbing regardless of who the opposition is

Best player ever 100%. He also got Napoli to lift the UEFA cup. On his day, no other player technically (and lets leave the morality issues out) got near him. Pele, Cruyff, Platini, Zidane, Best, Beckanbur...they all achieved fantastic greatness due to others who supported them and they were in not just good teams, but great teams. Maradonna single handedly won the world cup in 86 and got Argentina to the final in 90 and except for him (and may be Valdano) they were an average team. And did the same with Napoli. He had amazing grace when dribbling and an amazing left foot. No one will ever get near him.

Reina: Not doubting he is a class keeper, but was hardly troubled today...did you mean Reira? rather than Pepe?

I think even when fit, given the chance I would have Cliche, Cole and Evra in that order ahead of him as much as I hate them all

1. Mascharano 2. Alonso 3. Carragher But they were very closely followed by Riera, Gerrardm Fabio and Agger,,, very difficult choice today

It was good to beat them without Torres today. Shows that we have some kind of strength in depth and interchangable attacking force. Still can't wait till he is back, but really hope we don't rush him this time and wait till he is fully fit

where is Morest1?!

I am itching for man of the game thread... can someone else not start the thread please? Mine woulde be: tooo difficult..

He was really good but.... The myth about him and being a good free kick taker! he has an awful record and scored once out of probably about 50 he has taken. But what surprises me that others, e.g. Gerrard, Xabi etc. always let him have a go...he must be great in training.

Having leaked some "soft goals" in the past couple of PL games, it was really good to take the lead, defend and get a clean sheet against a really quality side who were reduced to almost nothing in the game

He gives me confidence when ever he is given the ball, you are never worried that he will lose the ball unnecessarily, his crosses are usually well measured, he fights if he losses the ball and for lost causes.....all in all, a really good acquistion that has added balance, strength and another dimesnion to our game for a bargain price. And with Xabi's for, some of the credit must go for Martin O'Neill though.

I know I should not be effected by stupid jokers like him or Claridge, but they really get on my nerve and on such a fantastic day I should reallly ignore his comments, but why do the BBC waste our licence money on stupid twits (and Gareth Crooks as well)! Come May, I just hope that they all eat their words.

Alonso Pepe Masch And well done Dossena for a very good performance

Let's hope its Chelsea next week

Five games this year the opposition took the lead and then we came from behind to snatch a win. Middlesborugh Marseille Man U Man City Wigan Obviously it show character, but is their a bigger problem that we should be aware of?! Although they have been very enjoyable games, I feel like I aged about 20 years in the past few weeks. Some say this is the sign of champions, but personally I would rather be playing and winning like Chelsea are at the moment. I really don't know the answer and looking for the wise men on this forum to tell me if our luck will run out soon or that although we have not hit top gear this season, at least we are wining. PS. Can't wait for the game next week as I think it will prove a real test and will show If Benetiz can out-think the third Chelsea manager in a row and if there is a real gap between us and Chelsea like the sky and setanta pundits claim......oh sorry, it does not really matter, if they win they are class anyway and if we draw or win, the Benetiz is just a lucky manager

SAME AND SAME Also special mention to Pennant who showed that he can still play a role at the club.