Archangel

I dont agee with the last line, I think thats hoplessly optimistic but the rest is sound enough You wont find a better manager than Benitez, he has his idiosyncracies, but we can win the title with him of that I have no doubt at all. Mourinho has his qualities and his own reputation, but nothing greater than Rafa's. The press will play their games but they do so for their own agenda not as any special favour or concern for Liverpool The whispering campaign against Benitez should stop

cant be bothered pointless arguing

I'm sorry but Benitez really doesn't deserve this Wait till the end of the season, then we'll know better

YNWA heresy no 1

If we are simply talking Clubs rather than fans it has to be MIDDLESBOROUGH The definitive waste of space always clinging onto mid table obscurity Though Everton admittedly run a very close 2nd For reasons which will seem utterly unfathomable to most I actually have alot of respect for Man Utd and what they've done under Ferguson

I'm really quite surprised at this, maybe his value has been over-egged in some quarters but its not fair to compare him at this stage with Hamann in his prime. Not second guessing Benitez but I'm not entirely convinced that ball retention would be the primary reason why he is played there as important as it may be, nor would I contend that his retention skills are necessarily worse than any others in midfield excepting Alonso who is probably the most adept at it. For me Masherano has been mostly effective at breaking up the play and doesnt have a tendancy to over elaborate or ping ambitious 30 yarders. He tends to keep it short and quick which is okay by me for a defensive player and he is disciplined enough to realise the limitations of that role which might be what probably appeals to Benitez most of all I'm not having a pop at any of our players and I certainly don't think its fair to pull the lad up on this one for now. Time will of course tell but I am a big fan of the lad and I do rate him for what I reckon he will prove to be for us as well as for Argentina

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Sack Benitez? and replace him with who exactly? I think Glenn Roeder may still be available

Arsenal are going to walk this - we had our warning last year. They lost Henry and have greatly improved as a unit United are stuttering but still picking up points - we need to do the same but are not, thats the uncomfortable difference Chelsea now could do anything, who knows, but with so much s*** flying around that club at the moment and an absolute joke of a set up at the top end its difficult to see them finishing in the top two For us, at the moment? we don't look like contenders. Whatever is said about rotation good bad or indifferent its seems key to Benitez's philosophy but I'm not sure the players are as confident in it Perhaps things will completely change, football is crazy enough and we have the strongest squad I can remember but confidence has to be restored quick and the benefits of rotation shown to be paying off. Its becoming an issue whether you like it or not and if we continue to struggle it'll get worse We could have a top two finish edging out United and Chelsea, but frankly unless we rapidly get over rotation or get with it we could just as easily finish fifth. I reckon this is a very big season for the boss

I take issue with that Pathetic facile speculation obviously I forgot YNWA rule no 1 - don't challenge the cognescenti

Your entitled to that opinion as I am mine. I think people are splitting hairs when denying or playing down the relationship. There is a strong link between the two and it would be better if players avoided both such is the continuing sensitivity of that day. I happen to still feel strong about it, (I'm sure alot do) it doesn't consume my every existence but when it emerges I find it deppressing all over again. I respect the HJC, I respect the focus remains on that other paper but the linkage is uncomfortably close and I personally feel uneasy when guys who are such powerful icons of our traditions and club are linked to that discredited stable and mindset. I've read your comments and a few others but I can't change how I feel about this all the same. I'm not out to prove anything to anyone but on this matter things are a bit different

also sums it up for me no its not technically part of the boycott but it is the sister paper and as such it is dissappointing jamie has not crossed the literal line but he's a player whose credentials you have to admire and without understanding why he should agree to this its tarnished it a bit. No call for a burning but not a great day

Someone who understands the bigger picture. Thank you for that.

Like its our song like

In practically every football ground you go to....

For the record Bently pulled out of the England squad claiming he was ''too tired'' the squad had already been registered and as a result the u21 side went into the tournament one man down

Well I'm backing blighty to whup johnny foreigner in both chukka's

but the FA have deemed him fit to own the club says all you need to know about the FA !!!

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Agreed - Liverpool have no obligation to England whatsoever.

Basically I cant remember a bad tackle let alone a bad game, has a look of beckenbauer always efficient makes the game look simple and will control the play around him, very very few players around who do that convincingly. I'd pay anything to keep him. I think these players are rare, I rate him very highly and would be reasonably confident that he's going to be a very influential player as he becomes more established in the squad. Could captain his country one day maybe

I predict that he may become available around mayish next year