Damian_de

Kinell, well played the Greek!

Well said, that man. The main consolation in all this for me is that all the Rafa-snipers have jack to do with whether he stays or goes, so at least the massive missing of the greater issue is not causing any more trouble than we have to deal with already. It beggar's belief that the guy, who from day 1 has had the owners down to a tee with his statement about show us the money just after Athens, can be accused BY OUR OWN FANS of conning the fans, and trading on their sentimentality.

It doesn't seem like that long ago. The last time seemed like last season. Also, the corner might be turned.

Points 1-4 in my opinion are all pretty meaningless conjecture. Point 5 isn't bad.

Hard as it is to separate out the star turns... 1. The Greek 2. Reina 3. N'gog can't see how anyone else could even hope to get in there.

Let me guess. A bluenose told you he is a crack addict? Back on topic... shame we won't see Aquilani from the start, but let's face it - a more than able 'deputy'

The evidence that Rafa is a poor man manager is what, exactly? Pennant whinging? It is unbelievable how many people in the media and supporters just go along with that like it's some kind of received wisdom, where there has never been a shred of evidence for it as far as I can remember.

World Class stretching it rather a lot IMO. Decent.

Most difficult one of the season so far, with only Lucas and Insua not in the running for me, but in the end... *finger in the air* 1. The Greek 2. The Mash 3. The Derek (a mixed bag in front of goal despite being the only scorer) honourables: Carra (really deserved to get some points), Skirt (best of the season from him), Reina, Riera, N'Gog amazing cameo, Aqua, progressing nicely

It were.

He was excellent tonight.

Given the context... excellent effort from everyone. Thought Rafa got the subs absolutely spot on, especially N'gog.

well played Bert.

If Degen'd lashed that in he would have become a legend there

If that is the team it's surely 352 rather than 4231?

It's not Rafa who's poor at motivating the players, it's Carra. True. Rafa wanted him to fill people in after the match, a la Pellegrino, but he wouldn't. I know he tried it on the pitch at WHL, but we could do with him kicking some a*** right now.

I hope it is that team gibo posted, it'll be boss and we'll win. Can't wait! (seriously, I can't - more footie please!)

Looking forward to the match immensely, after all, the Reds are playing, and it's always a privilege.

I can't offer you any evidence that you would consider categorical, but genuinely i think yes.

See above.

What if it's a million down and 8 in clauses? Suddenly doesn't sound mad to refuse it. No one knows how the offer is structured, and therefore can't really have a reliable opinion on it.

In context it was Saachi talking about the individual trumping the collective, and was reactive because of the team dynamic with too many marquee players, quite the opposite of what you are intimating I think?

Good read as ever from him. The stuff about Saachi is taken straight from his book if I remember rightly, and is a bit of hyperbole for me - tactics have moved on, certainly in the UK, but also in response to rules changes. Saachi's Milan could pass back to the keeper, played a different offside rule, and could tackle from behind, for example. So at the very least we see tactical changes to accommodate those changes in the laws. Rafa is of course a big Saachi fan, and you can see that as has been pointed out already in his need for the individual to be subordinate to the collective, and it is interesting that Rafa has also spoken at length about the need for pace and power, and the need for skill, and that the players that are about both are the ones we can't afford (very often) - we bought Nando of course, players like Essien, Drogba, Rooney, Ronaldo, Eto'o and so on. In the 'Brilliant Orange' book there's a great section about a Dutch guy who does his football photography from up in the stands to get whole pitch shots - what he calls 'moment of tension' - not the close up of the scorer celebrating, but the moment where the story on the pitch suddenly changes. He really loathes newspaper editors who only want the picture of the hero rather than the real art of the game as a whole. Same thing with the tele. But yeah, I like to blame TV for a lot of what I don't like about footie these days, and there is a lot. I was recently watching a bunch of old world cup footage on youtube and the games just seemed more exciting some how. Holland - Brazil in 1974 WC was brilliant! It's true, you could clearly see that the skill levels were similar to now, but the physicality was a world away, although some of the tackling was absolutely brutal.

Rooney will be around for a while of course. I suppose you'd be looking for Micah Richards to get back on track, and players like Mancienne, Gosling and Daniel Sturridge to step up. Joe Cole and some others could easily play at WC2014.

He's alright and doing OK with Villa. Quite like him when BBC has him on for the world cup.