Guz

Crouch was as awful as anyone else in the first half and didn't seem to fit in with Torres at all. Good goal though and nearly had a brilliant 2nd. Far removed from the s**** he displayed against Havant though. Hope he starts next week

Reckon there are a few fans who would say the same but I got the impression Macca doesn't quite know what they were protesting about and I have to admit at the end they made it look like the fans were there to get rid of Rafa instead of the owners

We don't. It's about variation and balance. If we're going to persist with Yossi on the right then we need someone quick and explosive on the left. Midfield in 05/06 worked so well because you can balance between Kewell on the left who was good in posession of the ball and held his position out wide and Gerrard who would roam and try and go beyond the strikers.

Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Mascherano, Gerrard, Kewell, Benayoun, Torres and Kuyt have played a lot of games together this season - especially since the Reading game where our fortunes (bar Marseille) went down the pan. I expect changes against Luton, Derby or even in the Carling cup and that set of players have regularly been given a chance over the 6 weeks yet, apart from Sami and I guess Torres, failed to stand up and deliver for their manager or themselves.

s***house performance on Wednesday. Thought he was absolute s**** and looked clueless as well. He did well in 05/06 but since then has been gash.

How big is the PTS waiting list? Is that about 5k? I'd say if everyone on that was offered PTS almost all would take it up which is different to a lot of people on the seasie waiting list who are probably duplicate applications, moved away, go regularly anyway, have been passed down a ST, just ticked the box while getting the fancard etc.

Think that sums up the feelings of a lot of people. I'd say the majority still have faith in Rafa's ability to deliver the title, some are very annoyed at some of the football on display but still think Rafa should be allowed to continue to go for it and there's a few people who have lost all faith and want him sacked. Fans in the first two groups will moan and debate the failures of the manager and squad all day long in the boozers but come to the crunch probably don't want him sacked which is why there's still such vocal support for the manager in the ground.

Tom Hicks can sleep with Big ears for all I care, if we win it. But of course, it's only the champions league and would keep rafa in a job. Cup competition. Lucky to win it. Not even champions of our league blah blah blah

Sound draw that. Nice one.

People always moan and if we're not winning will moan about rotation, team selection, transfers etc. Wanting him sacked at a time when the owners also want him sacked is not the same as just moaning in the pubs. There are people who have lost faith, I just don't think it's as many as you make out to be. Yet.

You're right, it was obviously a bog standard trained PR interview which makes some answers even more interesting. He was pretty damn emphatic with his statements about Rafa's future and that is quite interesting because he will surely have known the feeling over the last 3 months regarding sacking the manager. Comments like expecting him to be here for 2+ years don't allow for much room for manouevre in May and are very different from "Well I can't predict the future" regarding DIC and other future investors.

Anything but a***, Chelsea and Mancs away from home will do for me.

I don't think there was any chatter about Rafa going to Madrid around October/November time. Before yes but I don't recall anything this year, maybe I'm wrong. And even if that was the case a) Why would the owners go on hearsay and rumours yet Hicks is always quick to point out how s*** the newspapers are and we shouldn't trust them? b) In the interview with the Echo re Klinsmann why does Hicks need to mention that weren't playing well and looking like going out of the CL - if talks were held simply for the reason they were scared they would lose Rafa why mention on field performances at all? c) Why would the owners need to offer a contract to a potential new owners "in case our communication spiralled out of control for some reason.” What sort of a reason is that? Ok, just incase we stop talking in a few months time we are going to write up this nice little contract for our mate Jurgen. We don't intend to use it - it's just an insurance policy incase the newspapers are telling the truth and our saviour Rafa, who we talk to every single day is off to Spain. Maybe if they weren't sat half way across the world and communicating with the most important man at the football club via email then nothing would spiral out of control. And the comparison with Rafa/Ged would be relevant if we had looked to replace Ged about 6 months after the treble season maybe. By the time the board decided that Houllier's time was up Houllier had finished 5th, we were scratching around for 4th place again and the only cup competition we were doing anything in was the Worthington Cup. After Leverkusen in 2002 we were nowhere near the top echelons of the european game as Basle and Marseille so painfully made it obvious to us. If you think that's comparable with sacking the manager 6 months after reaching a 2nd european cup final in 3 years, 3 months into the season, is acceptable then that's upto you. I find it unacceptable and so did a f*** load of our fanbase, as shown by the support that was galvanised for the manager before and after the Porto game. I have no problems with the owners being pro-active if the situation warranted it - but it didn't.

Insurance policy on what exactly?! If it was solely because they thought Rafa was leaving why did Hicks have to talk about our results and CL qualification when he talked to Barrett. If it was about football results and they intended to sack him what exactly happened between 25 October (where he backed Rafa in public) and when they spoke to Klinsmann which pushed them over the edge? Or was he just lying through his teeth when he spoke of his admiration for Rafa and was privately sharpening his knife to stick in Rafa's back?? I'm sorry things don't add up.

Mascherano is excellent at what he does. He can't do everything - no one can and he has his weak points - everyone does. Carragher can't pass the ball very well but his plus points are f***ing brilliant. He's a winner, he is a consistent performer and he makes up for his lack of ability on the ball with some amazing defending. Both Jamie and Masch are brilliant players who by some are described as "limited". As far as I'm concerned we need more players like them.

They (Hicks) publically backed Rafa in the english press a month before they reportedly spoke to Klinsmann about becoming our new manager. Telling everyone about it was one point but the timing of it - 6 months after a european cup final, 3 months into a new season where we were doing 'ok' and then just a few weeks after saying "We back Rafa - he's the right manager,". All I can say is - what the f***?! Hicks claims it was because of rumours of Rafa's departure but in the same breath tells everyone to not believe the press?! Deciding a manager's time is up in October/November is what Newcastle do - not us - not when we're still in a title race and reached a second CL final in 3 years just a few months later. Not when we've just spent a lot of money on new players. People keep talking about Barret getting Hicks to admit to talks as the big thing. It made me quite sick to read that article but thinking about the timing of the talks makes the whole thing utterly baffling. If it was for footballing reasons (lack of results) then I question their ability to assess that current situation. If it was because Rafa repeatedly questioned/distrusted them and didn't just "quit talking" and "concentrate on coaching....etc." then that to me is bloody WORRYING.

I'd rather have Carson (than Charlie) but in our situation there's no point in a young, slightly experienced but highly rated english goalkeeper sitting on the bench behind Pepe.

Rick wearing a conventional shirt/tie combo. Something's obviously up.

It really is the latter only to be honest. Yes a lot of people want change at the very top (G+H) but a winning, succesful football club is a happy football club. We need to win our next 2 games to start up a bit of momentum and lift some of the negative vibes. Being down about our financial situation is one thing but matters are being compounded by the fact that we are amongst Everton, Villa and Man City in chasing 4th spot. I have full sympathy for Rafa and at the moment he has my total support (I don't want to see him sacked) but he and the players need to start delivering some victories. It's a tough situation, everyone can see that but there's no point feeling sorry for ourselves and allowing it to get worse by the week. 3 points on wednesday night please boys, however ugly it may be.

All their subs seemed to be applauded off too and there were lots at the end to clap them off. f***ing jealous of those plumbers, binmen etc What an unbelievable experience to say they played, scored and led twice at Anfield.

We were f***ing s**** and it was verging on embarassing when we couldn't produce anything but long shot after long shot. But I'm not that arsed to be honest. All credit to the minnows. Their fearless play (like Luton) was a credit to the game and brought a bit of magic back to the cup. Cannot wait for the draw on Monday.

Crazy what ties like this can do. Luton in the first leg and now these part timers have had more of a go at us than probably any other team we've faced all season.

4 years on and we're still looking for a decent winger and a striker. Oh, and probably a left back and MAYBE a right back. We're close but not that close that it can be turned around overnight. But Rafa needs the time and backing to get it right or he may as well leave the day after the season is officialy over in May.

The physios/medical staff have enough on their hands with Aurelio and Kewell.

Parry will do and say what he is told to do. Expecting anymore from him is completely unrealistic. Gillet is the one that I am curious about and I do not understand the perceived sympathy that seems to be going his way just because Hicks does all the talking in public.