Leo No.8

I read on Sky Sports he's climbing the Himalayas. For some reason that merely makes me hate him more - perhaps its because he's such a pretentious ****...

Oh I agree we're all entitled to our own views mate - but I really think you should watch more of Hamann. His game is a lesson in the art of defensive midfield play.

What exactly is the thinking behind getting rid of Crouch?

What you need for that role is anticipation and reading of the game. Close behind that are distribution and tackling. Anything else is a bonus - but Hamann ticks all those boxes. You don't need to be quick if you're in the right place at the right time. As a purely defensive midfielder, Hamann is as good as any and he's proved that consistently against the very best opposition at home and in Europe. Its when he has to do something going forward he's useless.

...during the football close-season apparently. Bloody hell, that'd be a laugh - like Homer trying to climb the 'Murderhorn' fuelled by Powersauce Bars. He'd need oxygen by the time they got to base camp. Fingers crossed he'll fall off a very high cliff onto some very sharp rocks...

Dear oh dear All I can say, is you clearly haven't watched much of Dietmar Hamann and don't seem to know as much as you think you do about the game. There are plenty of people who don't think Hamann contributes enough going forward, and I've agreed with that myself; I actually wouldn't ever have played him at home against teams which come to defend because he's practically a wasted player in that situation. But when it comes to 'covering gaps' to use your own words he is absolutely second-to-none in the world game, truly exceptional. That is why he would have been so good in the Makelele role - he wouldn't need to get forward at Madrid just win it back and give it to a 'Galactico'. Do you really think that kind of role requires pace? Is Makelele himself quick? Is Gattuso? Holding midfielders are rarely fast so to count him out for a lack of pace makes me think you're either on a wind-up, or just a bit ignorant...

'All not well at Madrid'...and in slightly more surprising news 'Bear goes for crap in woods' Raul would be a disaster here. The last striker on earth I'd want us to sign; I'd rather have Heskey back...

Ideally I'd like to see two top class strikers and a top class right winger, but thats ideally of course. Striker is the priority though - I don't think you'll find a single poster who disagrees with that to be honest. Personally I'd make a second striker priority ahead of a right midfielder! We're already awesome in midfield, but seriously lacking up front. Yes, a thrilling winger for the right would be nice, but we already have Gerrard, Garcia and soon Gonzales who can play there...

He finished behind Gago? That makes me sick...

If I was a top player I wouldn't want to play in Italy at the moment. The football isn't that great and the fans are nutters. Spain or England any day of the week...

Totally agree we need at least one forward with genuine pace and quality this summer, probably two. But does anyone else read into this that Rafa is going to let Robbie go at the end of the season? He's being very guarded with his comments regarding Fowler. I've got a feeling he might. I think he may like to have Robbie as a backup, but knows as soon as whoever he brings in goes a couple of games without scoring its pressure on from the locals to put Fowler back in. I actually think people booing the Fowler substitution against Fulham has made Rafa think twice about whether he needs the hassle. Myself I'd love to see Fowler and Crouch joined by two top class strikers with pace and skill and who know where the net is, but I'm worried Rafa may be ruthless over Robbie - he can be when he feels its the right thing to do...

I much prefer Gerrard on the right. I don't understand this seemingly unwritten rule that your best players must play in the centre of the pitch - why? He's devastating when he gets space to run into - something which happens far more when he plays wide. And if he doesn't enjoy his far more attack-minded role out there, it's beyond me as to why that is. I also like him behind the front man, where again he can run at defences in advanced positions. I totally agree we look a better side when Momo is in it; when he's in the centre, its like the opposition are permanently under pressure. You'll frequently see him close someone down, the player under pressure will pass it across to the other side, and Momo'll be the first to close down the player on the opposite side of the pitch - he's incredible. Sissoko's work rate and leggy running with the ball are phenomenally effective on the team as a whole; he creates room and space for the other players, hurries the opposition, wins the ball back, and generally makes the game easier for his colleagues. Some people have talked about us bringing in 2 right sided midfielders this summer; I think at the very most one may come in, as I myself want to see Gerrard spending more of his time out there than in the middle. Momo has been a revelation this season, he really has. People outside the club are finally beginning to notice as well; the normally gormless Trevor Francis made special mention to him before our game yesterday...

Spanish Fan - you are totally hung up on 'technical' defenders. What a load of old c**k. Know what I think central defenders should do - stop the other team scoring and give the ball to the midfielders. There we f*cking go, simple as that. I don't want my centre-halves posing on the ball or running into midfield - most centre-halves who try to do that end up getting caught and costing their side goals. At full-back, fair enough, you need players who are decent on the ball and can get forward. In this area, although Riise has limitations he has been courted by Barca on two ocassions; no, he isn't as good technically as many, but his all-action style, strength, willingess and rocket shot would mean he'd be welcome in most squads in the world game. As for Steve Finnan - well he is 'technically' as good as any full back in Spain or anywhere else. If you'd bothered to take any notice, you'd have realised Finnan's technique when it comes to passing and crossing with both feet and carrying the ball stands up to just about any other defender you can name. He's a far superior full-back to Oleguer, Curro Torres and Salgado now he's getting on, as he matches them technically and is a far more solid defender. You can stick your snooty 'Spanish football is that much better than English football' attitude where the sun doesn't shine as far as I'm concerned - talk about pompous...

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I think Van Persie is one of those 'talented but flatters to deceive' type players. You see him on his day he looks great, but his days are too rare. Rooney - now he's f*cking good I'm afraid...

This is the same poster who thinks all our defenders are crap Kev, and that they can't pass the ball. Spanish Fan, it astonishes me you can't see any great potential in Gonzales. Fine, he may not be a huge success as you can't tell how he'll adapt to the English game etc, but what is completely clear from watching him a few times is he's very quick, very good on the ball and has a cracking left foot. I'm not sure how that equates to him being only of average potential...

Unbelievably well drilled! Agger was superb at Newcastle - but apparently he's injured. If we can tie up 3rd place as soon as possible, it would be good to give him (fitness permitting) a few run-outs before the end of the season, get him acclimatised.

How f*cking good is it. When you watch our games on Sky, the endless replays of the offside decisions make you realise just how good our defensive line is. I don't think I've ever seen a defence so well drilled in stepping up as one to catch opposing players. There was one occasion when Finnan was a touch behind the rest yesterday leaving Davies to run through,and Reina had to come out and block, but in general the co-ordination is truly something to behold. I'd be interested to know who 'calls the line', or whether all the players have to be on the ball for it all the time. In amateur games you can all hear each other, but I'd imagine it'd be that much harder to be heard over the crowd at that level. One of our problems under Gerard was how deep our defensive line was. Rafa has cured that and then some - its not surprising our defensive record is so good...

This really is the most feeble media / club unsettling campaign in the history of the game. Give it up losers.

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And Kevin Davies wouldn't last 5 minutes in an international game. He uses his elbows more than his feet or head, they must be worn down from connecting with opposing players - a genuinely unpleasant journeyman footballer. If fat Sam would call him up, that says it all for his England claims...

Thing is Paul - its what you pick up on. Sami did give the ball away badly on two ocassions and I knew some people would say he had a bad game because of that. But if you were really paying attention you'd have noticed Bolton's only form of attack is launching free-kicks, throw-ins, corners, boiling oil and catapault attacks at the opposition from distance, and again and again it was Sami's big blonde mane rising up to head the ball away. In other words, the big man basically thwarted their only form of attack, so despite a couple of lapses deserves his 7. Reina 7 Finnan 7 Riise 6 Hyypia 7 Carragher 7 Kewell 7 Gerrard 6 Alonso 7 (MOM) Cisse 5 Fowler 7 Crouch 6 Sub on long enough to rate: Garcia 6 Overall a pretty average game, but after a few losses Bolton were in bullish mood and can be tricky opponents. The game was won by an instinctive striker seizing on his one real opportunity - God knows I never thought I'd be saying that before Mr Fowler returned...

In all fairness, he'd been crap up front loads of times before Rafa shoved him out on the right wing. People seem to conveniently forget that when they try to defend his ineptitude. It amazes me though - the moment he puts himself back in with an outside chance of staying here with a couple of decent game he decides he decides he can't be arsed again...

The ball went exactly where Fowler intended it to go - which is why calling it a mis-hit is f*cking ridiculous. Cisse's cross which went in against Portsmouth was a good example of a 'mis-hit' you'd feel unlucky to lose to. He never intended it as a shot let alone for it to go into the top corner. Fowler's wasn't struck perfectly, but it was directed perfectly and very deliberately. It was a great finish in my book. Perhaps if the fat t*** had a striker who could get into double figures for a season, he might understand their art...

I hate Jabba the Hut with a passion - he's such a fat plonker. All I can think is he was obstructed for the Fowler shot by Princess Leia who was chained to his leg...