Puskas

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If we sign more than one or two new players for the starting line-up then we will have a slow start to the season - again. It always takes time for new players to adjust to a new league (in some cases), a new set of team mates, possibly a new system and a new manager. It also takes time for the existing players to build up an understanding with the new players. If we're within a half dozen points of the top by Christmas then we can talk about tilts at the title... until (unless!) that happens I'm going to keep my expectations low.

I think Mascherano is an excellent passer of the ball and he has good vision, although he has shown the occasional lapse in concentration (mind you, so has Alonso). That pass to put Pennant clear for the 4th against Arsenal was exquisite, just for example. What he lacks compared to Alonso is the range of pass - I think Mascherano is very nearly as good up to 40 yards, but few players have the 70 yards pinpoint range of Alonso. When Alonso doesn't play I think we need Gerrard in the middle, because he's the only other player we have who can fairly reliably hit one 70 yards (although not as reliably as Alonso). Given that we are quite often playing with two wingers you do need someone in the middle of the park who can spray it about and spread the play from one side to the other. So for games against weak opposition at home I'd like to see Mascherano and Gerrard playing together (or Alonso and Gerrard), centrally in a 442. For tough away assignments it should probably be Mascherano and Alonso in the middle, with Gerrard wide right in a 442, or right side of a three in a 4231. Sissoko has been relegated to injury cover at the moment (and possibly a man marking job on Kaka in the final...).

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Wouldn't that be nice, just for a change? Just a routine 2:0 win, inside regular time. No conceding 3 goals. No incredible come-backs. No manic fingernail chewing. No extra time. No miracle saves with just seconds left on the clock. No heart failure. No penalties.

I'll post this again. He was fantastic last night, man of the match for me. The ! We were standing on the Kop late one night When our eyes beheld a thrilling sight For our monster from West Ham began to rise And suddenly to our surprise (It was the Masch) It was the Monster Masch (The Monster Masch) He was an Anfield smash (It was the Masch) It caught on in a flash (It was the Masch) It was the Monster Masch

Reina has saved 5 out of 7 penalties faced in penalty shoot outs for us... Sensational.

Zenden through ball to Gerrard Pennant or Finnan to cross for Crouch Chelsea to hit the woodwork at least once Kuyt to wrap things up with a late third

We always struggle to get any continuity in our passing without Xabi playing...

I thought the same at half time against Milan...

Concede a goal and we'll need three. We've scored three when we've needed to before, more than once. He won't be as effective in the next match, he'll be walking on eggshells hoping not to get booked for the final - which he won't be in anyway as Chelsea are going to lose.

We rode our luck a bit in the first half, we were lucky to be only one down at half time - lucky and very grateful to Reina. Personally I thought we missed Momo, they were getting far too much time on the ball. Second half was much closer. Chelsea have a must-win game against Bolton at the weekend, we can send the youth team to Portsmouth. We are still very much in this.

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One of the mercies of living abroad is that I can pretend Mourinho doesn't exist for most of the year. It's only when Liverpool/Chelsea matches come around that I have to put up with listening to or reading his drivel.

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I think we have a much better squad than two years ago. Although there is one little Spanish genius currently missing, who made a huge difference in that campaign...

Pennant cross, Kuyt header

Sloppy play so far. Carra (!) has been guilty a couple of times, been booked too. Riise fired a shot across goal, one of the Wigan centre backs made an excellent last ditch tackle on Crouch.