Skillz

Can't really seeing it working in real life either TBH.

Sorry about that, this is what i meant. You are right. Chances are it would be very temporary but I would like to show you my team ____________Reina___________ ________Carra___Agger_______ Arbeloa_______________Aurelio _________Mascherano________ Gerrard_____Alonso_____Kewell ________Kuyt________________ _______________Torres_______ Fragile, perhaps. Class everywhere. If fit this team would touch up any team on its day.

You are right. Chances are it would be very temporary but I would like to show you my team Reina Carra Agger Arbeloa Aurelio Mascherano Gerrard Alonso Kewell Kuyt Torres Fragile, perhaps. Class everywhere. If fit this team would touch up any team on its day.

That was the real problem though was it not? Surely the players selected should of performed a lot better.

Actually my point was that his condition was most relevant. He's not injured as far as I know.

Well we will have to agree to disagree. For me, if Gerrard had a weeks rest after the Russia game he would be playing with out a doubt.

Wind up Merchant

Just an idiot then

Because a) he was not fresh as a daisy b) if we got the lead (or performed as well as we should have), he could have had the night off! Rafa felt the less time Gerrard had on the pitch the better. It didn't work out for Rafa this time and that is a shame. It isnt deserving of this thread though!

Except he wasn't. If Gerrard was fresh as a daisy (eg 1 week without a game), do you really think Rafa would not of played him?

At the end of the day i feel some of our players played well below par today. Benayoun, Crouch, Alonso, Momo, Crow and even Pennant was not up to scratch. Not gonna have a go at Rafa when he is let down by so many players.

I know what you are saying but both of these players should of been well up for it today, they were fresh and it represented the opportunity for them to state their case for selection. Crouch did start well but soon lost it and Benayoun was very poor. Privately i expect Rafa to be extremely hard on those players, as well as Xabi who was crap today. I am actually happy cos we got a point but i feel Rafa truely understands his squad now. As much as i like Xabi, Mascherano deserves to start with Stevie now and Torres and Kuyt are our best front 2.

1. Reina 2. Finnan 3. ummm.....Carra

As far as i am concerned it was a fair result. Still disappointed but i feel Rafa had to play Crouch and Benayoun at some point and they were relatively fresh. Unfortunately they did not take their chance as well as we would of hoped. Crouch started really well but then was disappointing, Benayoun had a terrible game. Alonso had one of his worst games for us IMO and Mascherano now deserves to start (hard to say that, i really rate Alonso). On top of that Voronin is a good 4th striker, not the second coming and Pepe was MOM for an outstanding exhibition of keeper domination. He is Rafa's best buy so far for me. At the end of the day the most startling thing to come out of the day was Rafa playing counter attack after the subs!

I am not having a go but i get sick of reading this. Maybe i have to go back and watch that game again but as far as i remember Drogba got the better of Agger once and made him pay. No way was he "bashed up" in the 1st leg IMO.

I agree with most of you in that he is playing very well. His game against Derby was excellent and he definitely deserved a goal. I am sure they will come, particularly when Stevie returns IMO. If Kewell returns soon that would help as well IMO because even if HK is not 100% he can hold it up which would allow time for Kuyt to get into better scoring positions before the ball comes in. Having said all that he has had plenty of chances and has been a little unlucky. That can (and i believe will) change quite quickly. For me the important thing is Dirk and Torres look to be forming an exciting partnership which can only get better. I think they will be our starting strikers in the league for at least the next 3-5 games.

This content is not viewable to guests.

As far as Tevez goes i suspect it will be a bidding war between Chelsea and Real Madrid. I would love him here and have not given up hope, but if i am honest i expect him to be at Real Madrid. Only way we get him is if he comes out and declares us and i cannot see that going by his previous comments.

He's definately a Rafa signing. THis guy is going to succeed, for sure. Maybe not fully next season but long term he is going to be integral to our success. Cant wait!

LOL at the .tv impersonations. Spot on fellas. "You've obviously dreamt of scoring in front of the Kop. Just how ecstatic will you feel?

Reminds me of Tiger Woods chip on the 16th at the masters. That was for real, under immense pressure, and quite possibly the most perfect shot ever filmed. Especially when the Nike "swoosh" appeared perfectly as the ball sat on the edge of the cup. I remember thinking "how f****** good is this bloke". Then i noticed the "swoosh" was upside down. I mean how careless is that!!!!

Agree with the bit in bold. I dont dislike Cisse but he will never make it in one of Rafa's teams. Having said that I believe he would of thrived in Gerards set up and felt he was bought to replace owen who was obviously leaving. I wish him luck as he hasnt had much in his career so far but in the right team that plays to his strengths he will do very well IMO.

His pace is fine although he had the benefit of coming on after an hour in opressive conditions. His control of the ball and ability to make space was their though so he didnt need his pace as much. Need to seem him in competitive games as this was a very slowly fought out match due to conditions and the fact the Aussies werent to keen to get stuck in avoiding injury IMO. Really cant take much out of it other than the fact Harry did everything you would and then some. Once again for Australia his introduction changed the game. Singapore went on the back foot and the rest of Australia visibly lifted. At the end of Asian cuo we will no more and all i really want is for Harry to get match fit and STAY FIT, please

Played very well last night, albeit against a lowly team in Singapore. Singapore to their credit were up for it and unlucky not to have 2 goals by half time. Australia were just having a run out in what was a lacklustre match. Then Harry came on and showed he is a class above. Should of scored twice before finishing well 1st time with his right foot. Then topped it off with a quality cross from the left to tee up Viduka. Having said that what pleased me most was Harry's ability to walk off without a limp. He's looking good but at the end of the day i couldnt care less how he plays as long as he comes back not only fit but match fit.

Too right. He could tap up Messi while he's there