Leo No.8

Most of them wouldn't have been able to finish another game...except Momo, who could have run home to Liverpool at the final whistle, and arrived slightly ahead of those who drove home on the M4. At which point he would have gone to the gym for a 10 mile warm-down...

Sissoko was an absolutely collossal presence in the centre of midfield on Saturday. The longer the game went on, the more influence he exerted as others tired and dropped out of the game; his stamina really is almost freakish. He looked fresher and stronger than players on both sides who had been on for 70 minutes less. There were two incidents in particular I remember from high up in the stands, both in extra time. Firstly when he managed to cripple Harewood and win the ball back literally 3 or 4 times times within a minute or so, and the second when he chased that long ball down into the corner against Scaloni who had a head-start on Momo, wrestled him out of the way, and put a fine ball in for Morientes who failed to connect properly. It's laughable the number of journos who can't seem to notice Sissoko. If Makalele played the way he had on Saturday they'd all be raving about him being the 'most under-rated player in the world' etc, but instead they are giving him 3/10; in fact I've not seen him get over 6/10 anywhere. Well if you're talking about in the press, Sissoko has well and truly taken the mantle of most under-rated off the Frenchman, as well as the title of most powerful defensive midfielder in the Premier League. All that said, how could you not give Gerrard man of the match? To suggest it could be anyone else is ridiculous; his goals and that pass to Cisse alone make him deserve it, even if he hadn't touched the ball for the rest of the game...

It genuinely amazes me when people say 'Pennant is average' or 'Pennant isn't good enough'. I tend to wonder if we're talking about the same Pennant. He's clearly a very talented footballer with fantastic technique. I can understand people saying his personality is a risk, but I just don't get saying he's average as a footballer, it just doesn't make sense to me when I've seen him play quite a few times. He hasn't had anywhere near the success as a footballer his talent deserves so far, but that has surely been down to off-the-field reasons more than anything...

In truth Royle's departure is purely down to the fact that the Championship don't have the facilities for him any more. Apparently with Birmingham going down, there was only room for one grotesquely fat head in dugouts, changing rooms etc...

He missed a few chances against us, but still looked a very good footballer to me.

Winter is one of the best journos around IMO, and does by all accounts have a soft spot for us. Agree on the manager list though - it's ridiculous not to have Benitez on the list. How many of those managers increased their points tally by over 20 and reached an FA Cup final? Very unlike him to write something so stupid as that list...

Hope Milan nick the title off them this week as well, although it's pretty unlikely...

It was a poor game, but that's because Arsenal controlled it from start to finish - and lost! As someone who's going, I hope it's baking hot!

Think Fig has said before they are after something in the region of £10m for Alves. That price may, of course, have risen after his performance in last night's game...

I might have been, but I've just got my ticket now! My good old Dad got one through his work, what a f*ckin star!

I like the cut of Alves' jib myself. Really quick, never stops running, skilful and his ball in for the first goal was absolutely superb last night. I really don't agree with the assertion that he's too lightweight, I think his style would actually be really well suited to our league. He could potentially be fantastic on the right wing for us, and provide top quality back-up at right-back as well, although I'm not too sure on the defensive side of his game. He's not all that different to Mancini at Roma who we're also supposed to be interested in.

I rate him very highly myself - think he'd be ideal for us and the English league. £10.7m is more than I thought he'd cost though. Figures that were being bandied round before were closer to the £6m mark, which would be a great deal...

No it isn't fair enough. King and Dawson in the squad ahead of Carra and Hyypia is just downright stupid, whether you're a red or not. You could also make strong arguments for Alonso, Reina, Finnan and Riise but the centre-half one is ridiculous. Now Finnan hasn't been in one single 'team of the year' we can all go back to calling him 'under-rated' again. He was starting to edge towards being correctly rated...

I always liked Paddy myself...

Not so much a moment, but I find the fact that Wolfsburg's manager was called Wolfgang Wolf most amusing...

The article about it the other day said it's been going since 2002. To be honest, I've only been conscious of it at the match for about 2 years now. First time I really remember it being sung with gusto was away at Fulham when we came back and Igor scored a screamer last season...

Don't forget £1.3m in sugar cubes...

Kudos to him indeed - although I think extensive plastic surgery would be far more useful...

He was injured for quite a bit of his time at West Brom I think, which is why he didn't show more than he did...

I'm quite happy for Leeds to come back up. I don't really like any set of fans, and they are small-time, but on the positive side they hate United even more than we do.

He was heard to say 'Pah - its got nothing on The Charlston...' PS Hasn't he been banned yet?

He's a real footballer, great technique with a lethal left-foot from set-pieces. Slightly suspect defensively, but I think the key to this being a great signing is our manager. Rafa is so methodical and analytical when it comes to positioning etc, he's perfect to make Aurelio a really top-class left back. Look at what he's done with Riise - Aurelio could be even better...

I think it'd be fair to say that as a player Souness was idolised by Liverpool supporters the same way Keane is by United supporters, despite being an equally aggressive, anti-social individual who'd make you cringe with some of his challenges. He's disliked largely now because he went and did that bit for The Sun and made a complete a*** of managing the club, not because he used to put the same kind of over the top, leg-breaking tackles in that Keane does. I've got nothing but respect for Keane - he's an aggressive c***, but he's never pretended to be anything different to what he is. He's dished it out and taken it through his career, which in my eyes is fair enough. I'd rather Keane than someone like that diving little pansy Robben for example. And well done to him on giving the proceeds to charity; yes, they certainly should give it to a good cause, but it should still be applauded. One of Keane's former team mates Ryan Giggs bought a yacht with the proceeds of his instead - what a tosser.

I agree - the kid will be the only player in our squad who can just go out and play. No expectations, no fear he can't lose...

Damn straight - sign all the f*ckers and have them selling programmes on match day and everything!