Damian_de

It really is amazing that Rafa hasn't figured out how simple it all is yet. Stick that in your stats, Rafa!

Agger and Carra is still a great unit, even if neither has really hit peak form this season (although... I think Carra has had some excellent, and some useless performances, so maybe he has briefly got there). I think with Agger its form, several years with long term injuries, and I think, if he can stay basically fit, he'll get back to his best. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see Carra keep going for many more seasons to come also. Certainly Rafa doesn't seem to have any problems playing defenders well into their 30s if they are physically up to it.

HAHAHAHAHAHA. Of course they don't.

What does it say?

This takes me back to the days of Houllier, SHx2 at the back - I never used to worry when we were under pressure like this. Bit different today...

Brilliant! Maxi gets called by that lino

Dirk playing well in there.

Is this pressing, or is this cream Lucas everytime he touches the ball?

It's an obvious comparison but this guy is actually doing the business in a decent side, and playing in European competition...

He is a freak, absolutely - took that goal really well. His youth record was crazy, well over a goal a game against players 3-4 years older. <1.90m and 90+ kg - bet they sell him for a fortune.

Mascherano with goals, basically. Not bad for a bluenose who couldn't get picked for England...

"They were outraged because they said it shouldn't appear in sport. Well, we are all different." A fabulously Danish quote.

Somewhere out there, theres a Kev in Peter Reid heaven

Yeah, I agree, although theres the question of whether he is a £20M flop, or a £5m flop as we cant have paid any appearance money for him yet (or success, lol), and it seems to be genuinely accepted we didn't pay much down for him due to the injury etc. It will really depend on whether Rafa sees the game intelligence in him to get better I think.

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Anyone who thinks that the World's greatest teams don't go to tough venues and dog results is delusional.

Sopcast.

Pretty decent performance from us so far, just missing something a little bit special to pick the lock which we haven't quite seen yet. Easily created the better chances, though, and had the better of the start and end of the half. Or should I say 'we've been shyte. Dese're shyte, should be 6 up by now.'

Think we started well, and are still fairly comfortable, despite being pushed back in the last 20. Nothing much sticking up top for us - Stevie not finding any dangerous positions, and no central attacker to aim for for the midfield.

Dare I say it - good start. Amazed how deep they are set up at home.

Coming from a guy called Cisse I'll say 'once bitten....' (but, he might be, I don't know)

If they'd stop trying to kick the crap out of us and try to play football they might get somewhere

Looking forward to the match. Think we'll play well. Need a shift from whoever is left back for us I think. MoM will be Macherano.

Go have a look earlier in this thread to see the reaction when a rumour went round saying Aquilani wasn't going to start. Even THAT was epoch defining for a bit.