Leo No.8

Anelka - he got a lot of support whilst he was here. Opinions are still divided on him of course, but he got fantastic backing from the stands, which he's always said was one of the big reasons he wishes he could have stayed. How about Markus Babbel as well - he's a great example...

I believe Figaro was bitten by a left-winger as a child. This explains his un-natural hatred for the likes of Kewell and Zenden...

Who would people give their votes to? Probably Fabregas I suppose, but our Momo should be in with a shout...

Stick to posting about Kronkamp in future, you can't go wrong with his name... As for Sami - I've always been a big fan of his; when it became fashionable to blame all the team's woes on Hyypia and demand a 'pacey centre half' (got f*cking sick of hearing that phrase), I always said it was ridiculous and we'd be worse off without him. I was at Hillsborough the day he made his full debut, and I remember telling people 'we've got a proper centre-half this time' after years of Babb, Ruddock et al. Since the big man arrived, we've almost always been solid defensively. It's not just his aerial strength, reading of the game and defensive qualities even though they are what stand out; it's his organisation skills and steadying influence on the players around him which will be missed most I believe when he hangs up his boots. Fortunately, like I've said, I believe Sami will be around for a few years yet. He's got no pace to lose, and he's playing as well as ever this season. If Martin Keown can still have been performing at the top level into his late 30s, I don't see why a consummate professional and far better footballer in Sami Hyypia shouldn't. Absolute legend - delighted to see him performing so well in a team holding a high line, which is what all the divvies said he couldn't do. Sami past it? My a***...

I've got a lot of time for Shearer. Turned down the lure of Old Toilet and trophies galore to play for his home town club; a tough bloke who has done his fair share of fouling and dishing it out, but he's taken it as well as any - you wouldn't see him diving or feigning injury. As a player - well during his time at Blackburn he was one of the best strikers I've seen. Fantastic technique, has scored tremendous goals throughout his career as well as being in the right place at the right time as well. Totally agree he's gone on at least one year too many, but plenty do; Rushie went on a year or two too many as well - it's probably hard for professionals like those two to give it up I would imagine, after being as good as they had been. I could see myself being talked into an extra year or two, even if part of me knew I was a bit past it. Shearer has been one of the finest strikers of his generation, and a solid, decent bloke as far as I can see. total respect for him.

Absolutely - a n0bhead of the highest order.

If everyone doesn't stop saying Camara, I'm really going to snap. The players of that name don't deserve this kind of exposure, they are all just a flash in the pan. They are only young thought of course, so may still develop...

In keeping with Newcastle's general level of professionalism, I confidently predict Mr Blobby will be named the next captain...

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Mo money Mo problems...

From what I've seen of him, he's OK at centre-half, where we have plenty of cover now. When he plays at full-back he looks totally out of place and apt to be skinned by a half-decent wide man - it's like sticking Sami at right-back. I see absolutely no reason whatsover we'd want to sign him now. Every right-back and centre-half at our club is better than him (Traore excepted).

So Viera is suddenly crap then. One reasonably poor game last night negates 6 years as one of the top performers and most influential footballers in the English game. How quickly people forget! Sissoko is quite a talent, and has the potential to be every bit as good as Viera. Over Viera he has his incredible engine; the ex-Arsenal man has always got up and down the pitch, but Momo is a freak, he never stops. Viera though is far more assured in possession; if Momo can learn to distribute the ball simply and effectively the way Viera always has done he really could be even better than him.

He's always been highly rated in Italy, and I think Juve paid Roma a fair old sum for his services; perhaps the pace of the game over there suits his way of playing - he just seems to get completely bypassed by the opposition midfield whenever I see him.

Emerson must be one of the most over-rated players in the history of football. He's absolute garbage every time I see him. Very impressed with Arsenal - apart from the obviously outstanding Henry and Fabregas, that Eboue looks quite a talent...

You're absolutely right - its not always his first touch, but often his second or third...

The red-faced old kerb crawler is hilarious. At one stage when Arsenal knocked the ball about nicely for a bit, Pleat came out with; 'Well, that little passage of play, it was just like a jolly Friday morning game of 5-a-side'. He's bordering on senile.

I was shaking my fist and waving my stick as I typed it. Coming soon - if it wasn't for that pesky Real Madrid...

'Jigsaw' Carra goes to pieces in the box. He schits himself whenever he gets a chance (Chelsea away this season perfect example) and misses the ball or scuffs it or something. Funny I was there on his debut when he actually scored with a header from a corner, but he certainly hasn't looked like repeating the feat! I agree I'd have Finnan taking with Stevie attacking the cross, Xabi on the edge and Carra, our best defender, back for if the opposition break out.

The amazing thing is we could quite conceivably get 82 points, not even finish second and be way off the top team. There was a time not that long ago 82 points would have been enough to win the title fairly comfortably!

If I remember rightly it was Jupp Heynces who was given the boot by Madrid the same season as winning the CL. I think Del Bosque won it the season before, but 'only' won La Liga the season he got the push. Seem to recall they lost to Juve in the semis in the year Del Bosque went, who then went on to lose to Milan in the final at Old Trafford.

I actually agree with people who've said Finnan. I'd prefer him on the set-pieces ahead of both Stevie and Xabi. I'd go as far as to say I think he's one of the most consistant crossers of the ball from both set-pieces and open play in the game. His technique is absolutely superb - you could count on one hand the number of times he's totally wasted a crossing opportunity this season and he gets into positions a lot. What I like about Finnan's delivery is the flight he gets on the ball - its like a drift through the air rather than whipped in at pace, and is perfect for good headers of the ball to attack. I think that kind of cross suits the big men we have at our disposal, and we've profited a number of times from it this season. I also like a right-footer on a right-sided corner sometimes as well, rather than just bending the ball inwards all the time. It's good to change the angle of attack to make it more awkward for defenders. I'd have Finnan taking most of them, with Xabi on the odd one and Kewell when a left-footer is required. If Aurelio and Gonzales arrive next summer, they'd certainly rival Harry for those duties...

Solari is about the last player in the game of football we need to sign. Our left side is already looking ridiculously over-crowded for next season; Riise, Aurelio, Warnock, Traore, Kewell, Gonzales, Zenden...obviously one or two of them will be moving on, but regardless this is just paper talk and not very well-thought out paper talk either. It really is the last position we need to strengthen, and anyway although he's a good footballer I wouldn't say Solari is all that fantastic. Also not exactly Rafa's style to go back for a player who turned us down (as I think he did) when he was available for nothing...

Really professional as ever - naming a load of coaches at other clubs as being on your shortlist. Why is it they think they can carry on in a manner no other club does? I'm not even slightly worried about Rafa going there anymore, I think all that has been sorted. But regardless I hate them with an absolute passion - how dare they draw up their official shortlist of coaches and name ours on it, how f*cking dare they. Remember Del Bosque - down to earth, steady bloke who got the best out of their 'Galacticos'. Sacked for not being a big enough name and replaced with that plant pot Quieroz. Years of service trampled on as he was ignominiously booted out despite winning La Liga. Loyalty, dignity, respect - all the most important things Liverpool Football Club is famous for, are all the things which are lacking at Madrid. They can stick their galacticos up their pompous arses...

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