DJS

Martin Jol.

It might all be just words, but hasnt Pepe very recently been banging on and on about not wanting to go, about seeing out his contract and about how he's happy at Liverpool and not even thinking of leaving?

How you're hearing pronounciations via an entirely text-based media, is beyond me.

It'd be just our luck that some oil-rich sheik finally buys us, just as Uefa decide to actually forge ahead with implementing FFP.

Dont want Pepe to go, but if he does, Julio Cesar would be the best replacement IMO.

I'm not sure about that. Pepe's been emphatically saying that he wants to say. Maybe i'm being naive...but i believe him.

Time to dust off the banners?

I see, so he wants to experience pastures new. Fair enough i guess. Cheers.

Why does Valdes want out of Barcelona? Or if it's the other way round, why do Barca want rid of him?

You got a date and time?

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By his own standards, he's certainly improved. If you think he's been busting a gut however, then we might have different definitions.

I dont want to be having a go at anyone, but Henderson's determination and busting a gut to get forward for his goal, was in stark contrast to Downing's rather half-ar5ed jog, which is briefly visible in shot as Hendo starts charging forward. Two contrasting levels of determination and desire in one camera shot.....albeit briefly.

He's just had a new son this evening. Thiago Reina Ruiz. Congrats to Pep and his missus.

May 5th.

Still have faith in Reina and dont want him to go. If he does though, the one i'd go for is Julio Cesar when QPR go down.

The coaching issue, with keeper and defensive is crucial IMO. I'd use somebody like Mertesacker as another example of this. Mertesacker is someone who gets derided and mocked over here. And yes, he's not been good for Ar5enal. But this is a guy who has played 85 games for Germany. The Germans are no mugs, they dont cap someone that many times if the guy cant do his job. So the guy has played tonnes for a top quality international side and yet, has looked poor at Ar5enal. Consider how we hear so many times that Wenger doesnt do any defensive coaching or work whatsoever. And i can well believe it too. It doesnt account for everything of course, but i think it serves as a good example of how good coaching and proper organisation (compared to none by Wenger) can make the same player's level of performance so different.

Interesting point, this. Cech looked done. Now he's back to being good enough. Why cant Reina recover? I've said it about the defence and i think it's the same about the keeper. I dont think our defenders or goalkeeper arent good enough. I think they're working with coaches who dont really know how to drill them, organise them and generally get the best out of them. If we could get Valero back, Pepe would be fine. Likewise in fact with the defence and Steve Clarke (obviously he aint going to leave a manager job to be defensive coach though).

Vorm - one decent season in top flight, nothing else Begovic - going to mancs Krul - one good season in top flight Courtois - they'll never sell him to us

Yes, that's what i mean. It's disturbing how their 'sponsorship' deals are considered fair.

It's a bit disturbing that City and Chelsea have bigger revenues than us (when i say revenues, i dont mean gifts from owners). Unfortunately, the latter are being classed as the former. FFP my a*se.

Which available & affordable keeper should we get to take Pepe's place?

I do agree with you, but for me, it's the lesser of two evils. We were giving the ball away loads in our own third and frankly, if Jones had played a goalkick to a defender under pressure, who then lost it and we conceded from it - that'd wreck our heads far more

The problem for Jones and the short option, was that Chelsea were pressing us high up the park and in those situations, i'm happy for the keeper to not be taking risks on the edge of our own box.

Just a quick one, no idea how much credence this has, but on the radio earlier this evening, Alan Green said, with some authority, that Pepe Reina is fit and he's not being included, for reasons that Green doesnt know. It does seem weird that Pepe was deemed fit enough to be on the bench a couple of games ago - and now not included in the 18. Yet travels with the squad still. Am i being paranoid?