Tyler

Ronaldingo Messi and Eto'o Barcelona have never lost a game where all 3 started

not that quick from A to B except he doesn't start at A

is he eligible for next Wednesday?

wasn't it about this stage of the season when rafa was at valencia that they became known as the "crushing machine" and reeled in a ten or twelve point deficit to win La Liga just saying like

carrick seems to be doing a similar job for united as didi did for us any likely candidates to fill a similar role for us can momo grow into this role?

I agree but at the moment he is all we have. Any likely candidates out there for this role. Campo?

At the top level the difference between success and failure is inches. We remember Istanbul as being such a great night but only for Shevchenko?s chance being saved by Dudek in extra time it may have been a glorious failure. The semi final with garcia?s goal and Gudjonnsen?s miss at the very end also show this. Put last night in context We scored three goals, hit the crossbar, had a goal disallowed and still lost. Everything Arsenal touched turned to gold The pass to Baptista for the fifth goal was a fraction away from being intercepted They scored a goal that should have been offside etc etc I thought that when we kept all those clean sheets that we were not that great and got a bit of luck After last night I think we missed out on some luck but were not all that bad We were not played off the park. It was a naïve game from both sides ? free flowing football without any tactical nous. It could have finished up 8-5. Freak result in a competition that is now seriously devalued Hopefully players learn from this but remember the difference between success and failure is often inches. In football it is all about taking your chances. PS Does anybody think we badly need a defensive midfielder in the Didi mould When is Momo due back?

Liverpool have won more trophies than any other English team over the last five seasons and have won the big one - the Champions League - season before last. There seems to be a view that we should steamroll teams and while I am disappointed with our league form we need to get some perspective. Things are not going our way in the League right now but if that is going to change then the fans need to play a part and get behind the team. Is it a coincidence that our European form is so much better given that European nights at Anfield are "special". United have struggled in Europe in the same way as we have struggled in the league. Goals change games - we need to get a couple of scrappy one -nils (like Chelsea have done) to get us on a roll. At the moment that is not happening but I belive Rafa is the only man for the job. It is a let down not to be challenging for the title but I don't see anybody beating Chelsea to it for the forseeable future given their bottomless resources. United even with 70,000 home crowds cannot compete with Chelsea and I expect Chelsea will pull away after Christmas when the size and quality of their squad becomes an advantage. Imagine consternation here if Rafa signed Shevchenko and he performed the way he has for Chelsea. We would be up s*** creek. Chelsea can go and sign Villa or whoever. Unfortunately for the next few years we will be living on scraps but scraps like Istanbul, Cardiff etc are occasions that every other team and their fans would kill for. We need to remember why this is a great club. Internet discussions are great but sometimes we need to step back and get some perspective.

Didn't see the game. Does he look like he might make it for us? Sorry just same thread below. Please delete this one.

What I mean is more related to when we are attacking In Europe there is more chance to build and keep possession In the league it seems that teams can harry and hassle us out of our game particularly away from home where we take more physical punishment without getting frees etc Also we don't seem to be committing the players forward to break these teams down It also seems that we see Kuyt dropping deep/other forwards working the channels I think we need to be more cynical and more "professional" - complain to referees and put pressure on them stand up to the physical game that other teams play

any coincidence this concides with the new agger-carra partnership goalies and centre halves have a symbiotic relationship

Our game seems to be suited to European pace Not as hectic - our players have more time and more protection from the officials How do we play differently in the league Should we play three in central midfield United's all action style is costing them and has cost them in Europe

Looked like Alonso took a blow to his thigh and might have a dead leg. His foot was also pushed back in the tackle so possible ankle injury

garcia gerrard zenden aurelio/riise

Interesting how well we have done in Europe this season given our indifferent league form. Would be nice to win and top the group. A favourable draw for the knock out stages, build some momentum and who knows?

Reina Finnan Carra Agger Riise Alonso Pennant Gerrard Aurelio Garcia Crouch Bring on Kuyt/Gonzalez if need to freshen up attack

yeah - wasn't a Cole's missus done on an assault charge (not sure if race related) but it was brought into it then she married him which means that she is hardly racist i don't think somebody calling somebody a racist name means they are racist like calling somebody big ears etc often its all they can think of in the heat of the moment to say "whats that vanilla face"

Everybody clambouring for Gerrard in the middle will now get their wish. Its a blow but we have world class centre midfielders in Gerrard and Alonso to cover. Will be important to have Momo back for CL knock out stages but I think we can cope in the league with Gerrard and Alonso in the centre Rafa will have a plan and will have possibilities. Interesting to see how we line up against Arsenal. Arsenal game is a must not lose game as oppposed to a must win game.

cheers. must be all the "easy easy" chants

Anybody any views on why we have done so well at home this season but have been so poor away Is it simply we have played the top teams away or are we playing a different game at home

decisive action by the club was called for and thats what happened sack parry so that we can hire him

I think Crouch has to start. Has been scoring goals. Play him up front with Garcia in behind him and Gonzalez(if fit) out wide

Papers taking things out of context and distorting the facts is hardly a shock. Who reads these things and believes them. They are comics.

yes he was doing some persil ad and was interviewed said he was happy well as happy as he could be in a team that was 11th in the table but he was part of that team and they had to start doing their talking on the pitch said rumours about him leaving always come up but he has two years (after this year) left on his contract and he is staying

Unnamed source usually means the journalist is the source.