Mikey

Alright, I will do this afternoon! I just don't get the Dirk Kuyt lovefest mate. And how him allegedly playing a central midfielder out of the game is a plus point for a £10M striker is way beyond me, I'd have been far more impressed if he's had an effect on Ferdinand and Neville.

How anyone can think Dirk was 'Excellent' against United is beyond me, his 1st touch, close control and running with the ball was appalling. Most times his 2nd touch was either a tackle or he didn't get one because Scholes had taken the ball off him. I'm not saying he won't come good, although I doubt it, but if you take his phenomenal workrate away and look at his attributes as either a striker or support player, he is behind both Bellamy and Crouch. Bellamy tore Vidic a new @ss all game, Gerrard battered Evra so badly that he was replaced by Silvestre, and Carra - Agger made you forget that Rooney and Larsson were even on the pitch. Kuyt ran around a lot, miscontrolled the ball a lot, and along with Momo agve every other ball away.

This is the best I've ever felt after losing to them to be honest, we outplayed their 1st choice 11 easily, dominated them physically all over the pitch, kept Rooney and Ronaldo as quiet as I've ever seen them and lost to a freekick in the 92nd minute. The goal was not Reina's fault, Sissoko was crap today, Kuyt's 1st touch is still appalling, Pennant did well when he came on, Carragher, Agger, Finnan, even JAR had their easiest Saturday for a long time. Thought Bellamy looked really good, obviously being saved for Tuesday, Gerrard did well, and Xabi was good.

Thats as bad as I ever remember him being, looked nothing like a footballer out there today.

Thuram was great, hope he plays on Tuesday though!

Souness is one of the best CM of ANY era, a more creative version of Keane in his pomp, a truly outstanding football player who would get in any team in the world, almost of any time. Rush was the best of his generation alongside Van Basten, but in partnership with Kenny was brilliant, as of course was Kenny. Nicol would get in any of the top PL or European teams today at either LB or RB, massively underrated player. Hansen was the best defender of his type of his generation, FAR superior to Baresi. Hughes was colossal, I only caught the last few years of his time with us but he could play both fullbacks, CB or CM to World class. Owen was European footballer of the year in his early 20's ahead of Henry, Shevchenko, Zidane, Figo, Rivaldo etc. We have been extremely lucky as fans to have so many bloody wonderful players! And I know I've missed some out but I'm cooking in 15 mins!

Maybe, but Keane was a Manc!

No info whatsoever of course but I've wondered exactly why we've signed him all along. Yes he is a great player, but CM has been our strongest area even without him and there is no way we will keep the 4 of them all happy. Xabi for Eto'o would be difficult but there are more midfielders around than top strikers.

Vieira was the best player in the world in his position for 5 or 6 years, along with Keane the best 2 midfielders bar none, to compare Momo to him at present is ridiculous. And as already pointed out in this thread, PV was a monster at a very early age.

Eto'o is one of the very best strikers in World football, along with Henry, RVN, Drogba and Villa this season. Torres appeal is that he has a significantly lower buy out clause than either Eto'o or Villa, and has massive potential to succeed at a bigger club than Athletico. Personally I'd jump at either of the three of them.

I'm sure it's all tied up in his loan contract, they get him early with a guaranteed price already agreed?

Utter s****, Anelka is a far better footballer than Djibs will ever be and he works harder and 'better' than him as well. I'm convinced Anelka could still do it for a top team.

Who for?

So you think we'll have 5 strikers next season? As well as Garcia, HK, Gerrard, Gonzales who can all play off the main forward?

20 years ago it wasn't as important.

And you'd be wrong mate.

Carra is slow by modern standards, and he is not quicker than Terry at all. He's a great Liverpool defender and legend, don't try and make him something he isn't.

The answer's in your reply mate, You think he's been great since he arrived I don't agree, and how your opinion makes me fickle I'm interested in? I never said that I think Kuyt will go, try reading before jumping on your 'Kuyt is great' high horse eh? And for what it's worth, he misses more than a few chances, his control and 1st touch is 'unpredictable' at best. We all used to laugh at Emile because his 2nd touch was usually a tackle, the same is true about Kuyt to some extent.

Apart from the fairly obvious ones - Dudek, Fowler, Zenden - you need to look at where we will strengthen to see who will be going. The need for a better, more reliable LB is obvious, JAR ain't going to get any better and Aurelio is made of glass. Long term replacement/cover for Finnan is needed, he has been outstanding for us but its better to cover while he's still strong. Another CB, younger/faster but may be Arbeloa I suppose. RM replacement for Pennant, probably not this summer but next year, he just doesn't look like he's going to make it to me. Top quality LW/LM, HK could come back good for a season or two, I believe that Gonzales will ultimately prove good enough but a genuine game breaker is needed, the issue is who? Striker, proper quality striker(not Voronin!) with one of our 3 to go. Probably Crouch but as stated previously if it was up to me I'd ship Kuyt out. So it'll be JAR/Aurelio, Sami, HK, Crouch/Bellamy, and a surprise who like someone mentioned on here I can see being either Garcia or Alonso. By the way this is who I think will go, not who I think should go.

Regarding HK, hopefully when he returns to full fitness he won't have to play every game, will recover better and keep a higher level of fitness anyway. Anyone doubting what he's got watch the Premiership years on Sky, he was ****ing brilliant in his prime.

Is that not Mascherano? And every left footed player we've got is better at LM than Zenden.

Arbeloa playing LB for the 1st time, new defenders unsure of how his colleagues are going to defend and a natural CB drifting a little bit too central, all contributed to the goal. Yes Stevie could have cleaned up Zambrotta as well as the ball, and yes JAR should have been able to catch Deco, and also the little diving runt should never score with a header. Personally, I thought newbie looked pretty good.

Indeed he was, injuries permitting I wouldn't let him near LB again for us. At least in midfield his lack of pace and agression isn't so detrimental and he can always pop up with a goal!

Him and Angulo were the best players on the pitch last night, until Messi came on at least.

Its obvious Riise leaked the details isnt it? Don't like the point about a deliberate attempt being made to finish Bellamy at Liverpool, why would JAR be up to that?