Leo No.8

Didn't Rushie play for years before he scored and we lost for the first time? I remember it was against Arsenal in the Littlewoods Cup Final (think that was the sponsor at the time) when that c*** Charlie Nicholas scored twice that it was broken.

Smith is a dope. I know a lad from Birmingham whose Dad used to play non-league with him before he went to Leicester. Smith still drinks in the same pub as his Dad and their mates, and apparently they all take the p1ss out of him constantly for being a boring dope. I can really imagine that - he's complete drip.

Got a contact in the press to look into this - and he reckons its a no-goer. Says he contacted the club, and Pearce was in Manchester all day yesterday. He also says he's seen the footage of those two players in the scandal... Hope he's wrong about Pearce - he's been wrong before.

Kewell has been a massive plus since Christmas, really getting back to where he was before he moved to us. He seems to have found his pace again miraculously, and I'd say that is down to Rafa's team. One player who thrived on playing on the left wing then cutting in and striking the ball with his right foot was Paul Merson - he used to score a lot of scorchers that way before his career went downhill. I'm sure Kewell could thrive the same way on the right, but I wouldn't want to mess with him now he's performing so well on the left.

I hate people who leave before the end - where's the point in going at all? Not only because you're letting the team down, but the best thing that can possibly happen in a game is a last-minute winner FFS, why risk missing it? What's so important? Even when you're getting beaten badly you should stay till the end. The only game in all the years I've been going from which I've ever left before the final whistle, was when I was in the Everton end for the derby at Goodison and 'Big Dunc' scored his first goal for them. With about a minute to go, Graeme Stuart scored their second, all the horrible bluenoses round me went bonkers and I exited stage left...

Is it just me, or has practically every betting site pulled the next manager bets?

Nice one for that Sean - fingers crossed eh. I think the Newcastle job has a lot of pull for managers within the game. I know they flatter to deceive time and again, but the club has a huge following and back their managers with big transfer budgets. There's no doubt they have a lot of talented players there, its finding a manager with the ability to pull them all together as a team. Myself, I couldn't think of anyone better and I'm sure Pearce will know Shearer well from his time there, and through England as well. He said he wasn't ready for England yet, but I would imagine many people would see the Newcastle job as a step up from City. It does make more sense the more you think about it. Certainly hope so anyway...

I don't like that kind of defeatist speak... But seriously yeah, its been a good bet already! That's the way you should look at gambling, enjoy a flutter but do it for the fun of it and any winnings are a bonus. Otherwise it can be a problem for some people...

Ranieri has basically said he'd like to manage Newcastle, which is hardly surprising as he's unemployed. I'd like to manage Newcastle too - doesn't make me a favourite for the job. I've got a good, good feeling about this Pearce thing... Before they suspended betting, Pearce had gone from 33-1 to 10-1 within about half an hour from the time I noticed it...

I like Yakubu a lot, a real handful. But I think possibly even better would be Darren Bent. Just posted this on the 'unfashionable player of the year awards' thread in the general football forum, but its more relevant here really... What's interesting about Bent is that he plays in a Charlton system not too dis-similar to ours, but its more cautious and tuned into players with less quality. Curbishley often plays with just the one up front, and has a few attacking midfielders to get up and support; although it often looks like he has two strikers in the line-up, he tends to play forwards like Marcus Bent and Euell starting from wide positions, the way Rafa does with Cisse. They have shipped a few goals in the last few games, but in general, like Rafa, Curbishley sets his team up to give little away. Consequently, the centre-forward can be a bit isolated at times. Despite this, Bent is one of the top scorers in the Premier League. He's fitted into a difficult system that doesn't suit centre forwards in a way several of our strikers have been unable to do. Even though they've been a mid-table side for years now, I can't remember the last time a Charlton forward scored more than 10 in a season, which he has done easily. He's young, English, very, very quick and a quality finisher. I think he's different to the strikers we have at present, and would be an excellent replacement if and when we move Cisse on. He offers what Cisse does in terms of pace, but the hard work, eye for goal and general suitability for English football Djibs seems to lack. We were interested in him when he left Ipswich apparently - shame we didn't grab him then...

Look on Ladbrokes - it says 'next manager to leave'. Nothing about being sacked!

Here's a question - couldn't you do Pearce on the Ladbrokes 'next manager to leave' at 33-1 instead. He would be leaving City wouldn't he...?

Definitely - I've thought exactly the same. What's interesting is that Charlton play a system not too dis-similar to ours, but its more cautious and tuned into players with less quality. He often plays with just the one up front, and has a few attacking midfielders with licence to get up and support; although it often looks like he has two strikers in the line-up, he tends to play forwards like Marcus Bent and Euell starting from wide positions, the way Rafa does with Cisse. They have shipped a few goals in the last few games, but in general, like Rafa, Curbishley sets his team up to give little away. Consequently, the centre-forward can be a bit isolated at times. Despite this, Bent is one of the top scorers in the Premier League. He's fitted into a difficult system in a way several of our strikers have been unable to do. He's young, English, very, very quick and a quality finisher. I think he's different to the strikers we have at present, and would be an excellent replacement if and when we move Cisse on. He offers what Cisse does in terms of pace, but the hard work and eye for goal Djibs seems to lack. We were interested in him when he left Ipswich apparently - shame we didn't grab him then...

Pearce has gone from 16-1 to 3-1 today on Ladbrokes. There's certainly something going on...

Absolutely - Cisse's performance at Old Trafford was one of the worst displays I've ever seen from a footballer at the top level.

Agree with many of the names mentioned in Nolan, McBride, Yakubu, Given, our own Steve Finnan of course etc Two young players I feel have done particularly well this season for smaller clubs, and haven't been heralded as much as perhaps they should and haven't been mentioned: Darren Bent at Charlton is the first - he has impressed me this year for a young lad in his first year in the top flight. Well up on the list of top scorers, he's got quality but has to work as hard as everyone else in Curbishley's team (I don't think he dived for that pen, even though it wasn't a pen). Nigel Reo-Coker at West Ham is the other one - all action at the heart of a West Ham side which is level with Arsenal on points (plus he crippled Essien which only endeared me too him more). He's got pace, power, aggression and attitude. Reminds me a bit of Ince.

I'd be interested to hear the resident United fans view on this, but I'd find the whole 'The Theatre of Dreams' thing a bit embarassing. It's seriously cheesy - imagine Glazer had decided to call it that, wonder what the reaction would be... Can't say I could bring myself to dislike Charlton myself. He's always come across as a fairly nice bloke, and was a true great as a footballer. Of course he represents the enemy, but some opposing generals should be respected and I'd say he is one who merits falling into that category.

I know his football knowledge is far more limited than he'd have you believe, but I just can't bring myself to hate him as much as many do that's all. Pleat is more creepy than a recipiant of my hate as well. It's frightening how little he knows about football, but there are a few commentators like that, in particular Ron Atkinson. I genuinly think I would have proved to be a better football manager than Ron Atkinson.

Morientes' general game was excellent last night. His movement, work rate and link play were top class. What baffles me though, is his inability to stick simple chances away. Of all the things you'd think a player couldn't lose it'd be his finishing ability, but Morientes has probably missed as many easy chances as any player I've ever seen play for Liverpool on a regular basis. It really is that serious. He has transformed from one of the finest finishers in European football, to a nervous wreck in front of goal. I've seen some People say he isn't getting the service - I think that's selective memory being quite honest. How many times have you seen him rise for one of those trademark headers of his and miss the way he did in the second half last night since he arrived here. Countless times - the run and leap are great, but over and again he either heads it weakly at the keeper or directs the ball wide. Also, how many times have you seen him fluff what could be only be described as an absolute sitter? Again, you have to say when you think back he must have missed 10 chances you'd mark down as the type you take 100 times out of 100. The chance towards the end when the ball was crossed perfectly to him 3 yards out, he only had to get a thigh, shin, whatever on, and he couldn't even manage it. It gets forgotten in the light of our late goal, but another day its the difference between 3 points and 1 point. He is desperately, desperately short on confidence in front of goal. His overall performance last night actually got me to thinking he could still have a future here, but he needs a goal, and when he gets it, he needs a few more unlike when he got a couple against Boro then didn't go on from there. Genuinely, I think Rafa needs to sit Morientes down and make him watch some videos of himself at Madrid, to remember how good he used to be in front of goal. Otherwise he'll be out come the summer.

Garcia's instinct is second to none - you often find him first to rebounds in the area even when he isn't playing up front, as with last night. Remember Everton at home last season as well, first in to nod the ball home after Morientes' volley had been saved? A midfielder who can score goals regularly in big games is priceless. Long live King Luis!

The area for him to work on is certainly his distribution, but I thought he kept it simple last night, which is what he should do. For me he was MOM. He was an absolute colossus IMO, single-handedly stopped Arsenal from playing at times, pressing the ball from one side of the pitch to the other - I've never seen an engine like his, maybe Gattuso but that's about it. He has massive potential, absolutely massive. He can run with the ball at pace, and actually has a few tricks, turns and skills which surprise opponents. Wenger must have been reminded of a certain individual he let go in the summer...

After a fairly slow start, he was just starting to really impress when he got injured. Wonder what the odds are for him to score a penalty in the CL final shootout...

Was that the season he scored a hat-trick against Newcastle? What a player choccy was...

Aye, I certainly understand the logic behind it Elisha - if you were to rate the players every week Gerrard would almost certainly have more points than anyone; but I don't think Finnan would be that far behind. Gerrard has been magnificent this season, no-one can argue with that; I suppose it's just Finnan never gets a song, is vastly under-rated in the media in general, and I'd love to see him get some recognition for how consistantly well he has performed both this season and last, with so little fuss.

He's quite clearly a complete c*nt, I can't stand him, but would I have him at Anfield? Absolutely - add him to the list with Cantona...