Leo No.8

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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Every time I see this lad he looks quality. Rafa was apparently gutted when he got that long-term injury, and he's spoken of him in absolutely glowing terms by his own cautious standards. I think what I see with my own eyes coupled with Rafa's high opinion of this lad is fair justification for getting a bit excited about his arrival...

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I wouldn't swap Pepe for Casillas, or any other keeper for that matter. The problem is though, its tricky for keepers to dislodge the number one unless they make a series of mistakes or get injured. That's why Pepe won't start the world cup unless one of those happen. When he gets his chance though, I bet Casillas will have a hard time getting his place back...

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I don't think there's a problem having a favoured team abroad. I tend to hold an affection for teams we've met on big occasions. I like Milan as they kind of have links with us (singing YNWA etc) and moreso now since the great memories of Istanbul; also I grew up with their great sides of the 90s. In Spain I can't help but like Alaves after our incredible UEFA Final with them, and their fans were brilliant unlike many continental sets of supporters. The Betis fans were very passionate as well. Being born and bred in Liverpool I don't have a second English team, but if I lived in a different part of the country I'm sure there would be a local side I'd take an interest in...

Stubbs has the IQ of a woodlouse, so I wouldn't worry too much about anything he has to say. He struggles to string sentences together; they probably had to translate these comments from his neanderthal grunting...

'Beni'. Does he get chased round the training pitch by half-naked women?..

McManaman I find irritating for two reasons: 1) He left on a bosman (petty I know - but who cares) 2) He thinks he's cleverer than he is He's like the Scouse Graeme Le Saux - revels in this tag of being smarter than the average footballer because he reads the broadsheets now and again, when in actual fact he's not at all. I just don't like McManaman, regardless of these comments. He annoys me.

Than crossing with a defender pressurising you? I don't agree mate - I think a lot of top footballers make an absolute meal of set-pieces. I know lads at Amateur standard who can hit the right spot practically every time - Gerrard is a great example of how some top players make it look harder than it really is...

Practically every newspaper report about the game I've read has been terrible. 'Yob Culture' etc, practically every one referring to how the match having so many cards besmirched the good game of Liverpool ahead of the capital of culture in 2008, and choosing to ignore a fantastic display by a Liverpool side without their best player and one less for most of the game. Talk about ridiculous - The Sunday Mirror actually coined the phrase 'there was nothing for the football purist to see in this game'. Obviously that particular reporter went for a pie when we scored our second and third goals then - it doesn't get much purer than Kewell's goal in particular. Some anti-Liverpool feeling being expressed all-round I think...

Stevie, for whatever reason, delivers the ball far better when he's on the run. It's odd as that is the more difficult skill of the two, but I think given more time to decide what he's going to do with the ball, he often tries too much and fails to put the ball in the right area. When he has no time to think about his cross, he hits the area between the keeper and back-four more often than not and its a nightmare to defend against. From set-pieces Stevie's actually not that great - I'd certainly prefer to see Alonso on the dead-balls in future...

Ireland's betting scam machine rumbles into motion again...