Puskas

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We're six points behind Man U and less behind Arsenal, and we still have to play them both twice. Our fate is in our own hands. Let's not forget that the three teams mentioned still have to play each other - Chelsea in particular have to play both of the others twice, on top of coming to play us at Anfield.

Well, I think Unclebob is badly wrong about Finnan's crossing - it's very good. But there are two points in this thread I agree with - Finnan is not showing his top form this season, and it could partly be down to lack of competition for his place. As for mistakes that Finnan has made this season - he let the cross come in for Gala's first, it should have been a routine block and he certainly should have made the player work for it harder. Gala's second was an unmarked player between him and Carra and was behind Carra so he should have been Finnan's man. He gave the ball away in a daft position against Spurs and was only bailed out by Jenas and his banjo. And he failed to physically challenge Campo for the ball for Bolton's second. (Having said that Riise should have cut out the cross for Campo's goal (piss poor he was that game), and arguably Carra shouldn't have lost his man for the second of Gala's goals - so it's not only Finnan who's struggling.) Finnan's been good going forward, but his bread and butter defending as not been up to his usual high standards so far.

I knew Rafa's time was up as soon I heard the words "we're selling Traore"

I always thought we were going to have a slow start this season (too many new faces), and a glance at the fixtures shows all our difficult away games in the first third of the season. If we are around 8 points off the top (or less) at Christmas I think we will mount a very strong challenge for the title.

But Bolton play quite a high line (until they go 2 in front). And Crouch is not quick. And the Bolton back 4 must collectively be tallest in the prem, negating one of Crouch's main assets. And Crouch didn't exactly set the place on fire when he came on, did he? How many times were we wrongly ruled offside? I counted at least 5. In many ways the ridiculous offside decisions cost us just as much as the handball that never was.

The best midfield we've ever had: 28 37 9 45 Apparently

He should be no. 2, in my opinion

I think Bellamy will be fine. He's getting closer and closer to scoring in the prem for us, just like Kuyt did before getting his first. He's getting into positions to score through clever movement, and has been denied by some good saves and the woodwork. Now that Kuyt has started scoring it takes a bit of the pressure off as well.

It's a mockery of a sham. And I agree that Carra - good as he is - should be behind Hansen, Thommo and Lawrensen (at least). Lawro is 35th! Another bizarre placing is McDermott at 37th. WTF?

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Alan Kennedy

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I thought we looked like a team with two new strikers who haven't quite good used to playing with each other and their midfielders yet. Strange that. Apart from that I was hugely encouraged with our best away performance (although not result) at Stamford Bridge for years.

All this after missing most of the pre-season as well.

I was saying the same thing after the first couple of hoofs, and then Sami produced a peach of a long ball for Riise (the one he got injured from)

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It's got to be Agger. He's been playing well, arguably the pick of our centre backs in the last few games.

One or two sensible souls did suggest that patience would be required at the start of the season, as it's going to take a while for the new players to gel. And the new players need to play games to do that. Any points we gain in the first half dozen league games are a bonus as far as I'm concerned, and always will be when we've got six new players to bed in. We need time for strike parterships to form, we need time for the defenders to start working as a unit (especially now as we've got two first choice defenders out for a couple of weeks). We need time for the midfielders to start picking out the strikers' runs, especially when some of the midfielders and strikers are new to the team. I'm certain we'll be playing better in a half dozen games or so.

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