Leo No.8

I disagreed with the sub but of course I didn't boo - totally agree that goes against everything we're supposed to stand for as Liverpool supporters. However, although Morientes did of course stick the ball in the net almost straight after, in all fairness he was woeful again last night. The lad is almost painful to watch he's that ponderous and short on confidence. He looks like someone has plucked him from a pub team at times when he labours to get to a ball just a few yards away from him. People talking about resting Fowler would also do well to remember, that at the time the sub was made Fulham were looking every inch like they were about to equalise, having just hit the post. We looked all over the place at the back at that time, so taking off by far our best striker on the night looked a big risk to me. I thought it was a poor decision at the time and I still do; Morientes banging one in from a couple of yards out and Fulham capitulating late on doesn't change that. Totally disagreed with the booing yes, but not with the sentiment.

My train was late and I didn't get into the ground until right before the kick off Finally made it to The Oakie last night before the game though, and met a few of the lads which was good. Sorry I missed out on meeting you NYR, Vlad told me a good time was had by all!

If this signing means we'll see the back of Champions League winner Djimi Traore, I think I may open that reserve bottle of red I've been keeping for a special occasion when its confirmed... Incidentally I think Aurelio is a talented footballer, but thats by the by...

'Lets keep the rumours under wraps' plead Ronaldo and Crouch... http://www.laurel-e-hardy.it/html/download...bs/foto-5-l.gif

He offers a great deal as a sub bringing something different and unsettling for defenders. I'd like to see him used in the same way for us in all honesty, but we'll have to buy two top-class strikers to make it happen...

I keep seeing people compare those two, but in all fairness although Morientes had a good record in Spain it's ludicrous to draw any comparisons there except for both have played for Madrid and are around the same age. For a start they are completely different players - one relying on pace, movement and a deadly finish, the other aerial ability, touch and football brain. Then there's the little fact of the stats having Ronaldo well ahead of any other player in the top leagues in the world for goals to games, and Morientes not even being close. One has been a well known international striker, the other the best in the world. Ronaldo may be fat, but he's (somehow) still fast as f*uk and that's why he'd still score hatfuls here in my opinion. I'd be ecstatic if we got him and one of Kuyt or Owen, but I would imagine money and location would be big hurdles to get over if we were to try and sign him.

Italian tanks - 1 gear forwards 5 for reverse. The way they behave backs that old adage up - Italian hooligans seem genuinely cowardly, attacking only en masse, in their own back yard and with weapons. And the police haven't even got the balls to deal with them when they kick off. Fking horrible - every team that goes over there in Europe gets the same yet they escape serious punishment again and again...

Yeah I stuck him in my fantasy team - and he's scoring loads of points already. His 3 points last night put me 71st in The Times FA Cup competition out of tens of thousands, which was nice. If Bolton keep a clean sheet tonight I might be in with a chance of winning it...

Looks very good to me - not sure about comparisons with Morientes though, for me he just looks like him and they are both good in the air. He's much quicker than Morientes, but doesn't have his technique. They are both good attacking balls into the box, but wheras Samaras comes across as being a bit unpredicatable, Morientes in his heyday I thought was more technical and less of a wildcard. I think Samaras will be one of those players who'll miss easy chances, but he'll get himself into a lot of positions and accordingly will get goals. He does actually bring other players into play very well also, which suggests he's got it up top as well; he played a few passes against Sunderland without looking, instinctively he knew where the forward-running midfielder would be, which is a good sign. He's only 20, settling into a new style of football and will get better - I've been very impressed so far...

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'When I look back on a lifetime of supporting Liverpool, I'd have to say winning the Champions League despite being 3-0 down to Milan at half-time was eclipsed only by Robbie Fowler's dribble down the left and cross against Leeds United...'

Cheers lads - excellent news!

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Decision today on whether that scheming t0sser Alex Hamilton's appeal is successful. Not sure if people know the story, but basically Hamilton owns a housing company, and bought Wrexham so he could deliberately ruin the club, allowing him to be able to build houses on the land and make a huge amount of money. It really is shocking - I know it'd never happen because of the size of Liverpool but can you imagine if that was our football club? When I went to our reserve games at The Racecourse, Wrexham fans were out with their buckets collecting to try and raise money and I felt terrible for them. Fingers crossed it remains in the hands of administrators who will then be able to press on with the sale of the club and it's recovery.

Inzaghi is quite possible the best s**** footballer I've ever seen. He can't finish, tackle, pass or head the ball, doesn't understand the offside rule and yet his goalscoring record is exceptional. I take my hat off to him to be honest, he takes 'making the most of what you've got' to a new level...

SiGN chUnk oFF ThE GOoNIes

Johnny H is the poster - he's been right much more often than he's been wrong. The only time I can remember him being wrong was over Owen, and to be fair it seemed like he was coming until the last minute. He's got an excellent source I think, but who it is I don't know...

According to a very reliable poster on one of the other sites, Rafa wants Yakubu this summer. I'd be delighted if we could get him; apparently, his goalscoring record since he came to England is actually second only to Henry, which is astounding. If he hasn't got a release clause in his contract though, I imagine Gibson won't be too keen to play ball with us after the whole Ziege affair and nicking Zenden off them for nothing last summer. He'd possibly have to kick up a stink to make the move happen. Apart from him I like Kuyt, and Dutch players tend to adapt well to playing in England. Berbatov is another who wouldn't be too pricey, and Bojinov is a great talent, but really I'd prefer a striker with a proven record in England - Bent has done really well this year, and of course Owen is an option if he does have a release clause in his contract. Our game is so much different to other leagues, strikers like Morientes with great records abroad, sometimes fail to adapt and we can't afford for that to happen again this time.

The pacey centre-half thing always made me laugh. What many didn't seem to realise when it was the in-thing to say we needed a 'pacey centre-half' was that if your centre half is having to use his pace then he's made a mistake with his positioning. All Newcastle's centre-halves are pacey, and they're all crap as well. Who are we playing Wednesday Mark I've not looked at the fixtures? I'll be going though defo - got some games to catch up!

We look no-where near as solid at the back without Hyypia. Even Carra looked lost the other night without him. As well as his defensive prowess, people underestimate Sami's organisational skills and general influence on the other players around him badly. Fingers crossed he goes on for another 4 years or so yet - I think he has the injury record and professionalism to do so. He's never had pace, so he's none to lose. His positioning and reading of the game mean he doesn't need to be quick.

All I could think last night was Michael Owen. Every time a game goes by when we miss chance after chance, it's always him who comes to mind. If his release is £12m we should pay it without a doubt. Still think we'd need another striker though, one to carry the ball or hold it up. Bojinov would be my first choice of the realistic options in terms of price, with Yakubu and Berbatov interesting alternatives...

The only player I've ever seen move slower around the football pitch was Pellegrino, who looked like he was wearing cement boots and running through treacle. If you're as slow as Morientes, you have to be unbelievably talented to get by. He has quality, but it's all happening too slowly for him to have any effect. He looks woefully low on confidence, and I think the sooner he leaves the better for both him and the club.

I agree - thought Rafa got things horribly wrong last night. I would have played Hamann from the start myself, as much as anything just because we look so much better when he plays at the moment. I'd have had Gerrard on the right personally and it isn't hindsight I said it before the game. I didn't think we went for it early enough either. I would have gone to 3 at the back at the very latest on the hour, but I wanted it to happen at half time. How Morientes stayed on as long as he did I'll never know either. There you go - Rafa's a genius and already a legend at this club, but even the greatest have off-days and I thought last night was one of them...