Damian_de

Looks like this appointment has the potential to help us medium to long term, but if the short term result is a slight relaxation on the debt repayment this summer then no extra investment = no transfer activity once again...

Seriously though, Rafa signed a massive contract didn't he? Why should he care how we play or if we win anything?

Haha! Two up, here come the moans! Damned either way isn't he, eh?

Is this some kind of joke match? I don't think the camera has even panned to the half way line this half.

Dempsey Was it him that had the amazing game in goal for Basel at Anfield?

Even working under the condition that we could sell players to raise funds to reshape the squad wouldn't be a total disaster, but if you're Rafa what do you do? Sell Yossi and cross your fingers that you get to see the money again? Let's face it, it hasn't really happened recently, has it?

Messi. Easy.

well played that man second half we blew them off the park with the pace of our game. interesting that we waited to hit top gear

Very difficult... torres with 2 goals, gerrard 2 assists, kuyt goial and assist... but the final result be: 1) Lucas - by virtue of scoring just edging out 2) Mascherano 3) Kuyt - yet another huge performance but really.... Torres, Gerrard delivered the goods when they had the chance, Agger excellent at LB (seemed to remember his range of passing, brilliant), Yossi failry quiet yet played a major role in goals 2&3, Greek - didn't notice their big lump except when he was over a dead ball, and finally RAFA - tactics absolutely spot on.

Happy days, half time. Greek doing a decent job on Cardoso, who looks utterly rubbish except when he's standing over an FK. Great goal from the little short haired Brazilian maestro What an annoying side these are - filthy as f***, and battlers too. I can't figure out why we are scared of these, but we are giving them plenty of respect. If the second half passes like the last couple of minutes of the first I'll be happy.

Lucas

ZZ. Brilliant last WC, on a different level to everyone else, and pretty much dragged a French team in disarray to the Final.

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Glass half-empty there?

Fulham will get through

Lol. Did you read the article at all?

Just checking, Rafa and players before Owners? Is that what you said there?

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Very unhappy. Not because I have anything against him personally, but because it means Rafa isn't he manager.

Now now, that was actually a case of developing an innovative system to best accommodate the players, slightly helped by Greaves getting injured so his preferred 11 could play without the media freaking out. Also some damn fine players, who proved they could play possession game in Mexico 4 years later. The rest I pretty much think you are right, except for Germany being a better side than England currently. I think Capello's England would stuff them, tbh.

I'm not sure playing Lucas and Mascherano in the same midfield is any good. Does anyone else have an opinion on this?

I'm with Maldini on this one. I think Rafa massively improved every aspect of Gerrard's game. Not only that, I think he was not overly upset about the idea of Chelsea signing him for big money.

Blimey, Arsenal just totally got away with that. Fortunately Barca probably won't need defenders for the second leg. I love the way that Barca do that retain possession thing around the half way line before a clipped pass over the defence for the midfield runner. You NEVER see that in the Premier League.