kop205

If that was Xabi having a 'good game' then I must have dreamt all those performances where he was run the show and looked like the best player at the club, bar none. He is, by hisn own standards, playing very, very poorly at the moment - where is the problem saying that? He isn't the only one but he is so good that it is more noticeable with him. The stuff people have posted about Xabi has hardly been rabid criticism - more concern and surprise at his lack of form. Carragher's mistake yesterday was a shocker and just one of those things - other than that he did his job. Xabi didn't, apart form creating one chance for Gerrard. Nobody gets more stick than local lads - Gerrard at times in the last couple of years, Carra pre his move to centre back, Owen, Fowler from certain posters now. I don't particulalrly have a problem with that, it has always been the way - ask Sammy Lee - but it certainly demolosihes the ridiculous notion that Xabi is getting it in the neck because he is Spanish. Stop being such a drama queen. Like with Xabi, I'm confident enough in Rafa's ability to be able to admit when I think he may have got it wrong without it shaking my basic faith in him. Of course, if you want to delude yourself that I therefore must want Allardyce in then feel free. We've not been playing well for a little while, there were one or two puzzling selections yesterday, we lost, we move one. I think it is out of our system now and expect to see a good reaction from us - Xabi included.

No he didn't. I'm confident enough in Xabi's quality to not have to defend him when he is struggling, and at the moment he is struggling. He'll come through it, but he is far better than he has shown this season. The 'if Carragher was Spanish' comment is just ridiculous to be honest. Yeah, because people don't normally rave over Pepe and Xabi, do they? Very few people played well yesterday on either side. 3 - 0 was, frankly, a freak result. I still felt they were there for the taking at half-time but in all honesty, a result like this has been coming for a little while. We conceded a few goals at the end of last season, were woeful pre-season ans have looked shaky so far this season. Hopefully it is now out of our systems. The season starts now and I'm confident in how we'll do. Last time we lost the Goodison derby, we finished the season as European Champions and we are a stronger team now than we were then. Get a grip. I'm not going to bother reminding you of the fantastic contribution he has made in games where he has started because they are so well-documented that everyone knows them. Yes, he is frustrating, but you've gone way too far there. Momo was one of our better players I thought. Cahill didn't really influence the game beyond his goal, which was hardly down to Hamann not playing.

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Just don't see why Parry was brought into it to be honest when you admit yourself that we have a good summer in the transer market - all our major targets bar one were secured. We have spent a fair amount this summer, particulalrly when compared to Utd and Arsenal. And potentially getting two players who Rafa rates for a combined price of 8.7m (with 2m of that offset by Kromkamp leaving) has obvious advantages on spending over 11m+ on one player before any further funfds had been brought in - particulalrly when that would have meant almost certainly not getting Kuyt who, as others have pointed out, was arguably the real number 1 target. Given the amount we are in debt I just don't think the 'over cautious' criticism stands up to scrutiny. The lack of investment is another issue and they probably aren't beyond criticism on that one (though there is always the argument of better the devil you know), but that is a seperate issue. Given our current financial position, I think Rafa has recieved all the backing that it is prudent to give. No ofence meant by the 'dig', I just think that Parry deserves nothing but a pat on the back for this summer and your reference to him certainly fell short of doing that even if it wasn't a stick to beat him with.

So, in summary, you think it is Parry's fault. How unlike you. I agree that we've probably missed the boat on him now though we'll see, but given what we spent this transfer window (far more than just the £12m for getting into the Champions League) I don't think there is any way we could afford him at this time. Maybe Parry is to blame for us not being able to afford him, I don't know enough about him, but to blame him for not buying him even though we can't afford him is harsh. And to say that if we got Alves we wouldn't need to strengthen in the next two windows doesn't wash with me. Fowler, Sami, Zenden to name just three are people who, this time next year, we could arguably do with either replacing or brining in quality to challenge them. You strengthen while you are already strong.

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Get a grip. There have been many more deserving of hatred than him.save it for someone worthwhile. This is being discussed at length elsewhere but the fault lies with the people who sanctioned such a huge pay packet for such a staggeringly out of his depth player. To expect Diao to bale us out is nonesense.

Callaghan made his debut in place of Liddell - though of course they may have played together after that. Cally certainly played with Ronnie Moran I'd think, so that would take us back to 1952.

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Read again the post of yours he was referring to. It does come across as a tad agressive. Must admit I'm curious as to the suggestion that 2/3 people could be on their way out before the end of the transfer window but would be amazed if Alves came in now. Think we may have missed the boat on him actually as if he impresses this season one of the big Spanish clubs may be in for him - I think he read recently he was muttering something about staying in Spain. We'll see.

Carra.

I agree totally that his positioning wasn't to blame for either goal and the one in the Cup Final was unreachable. I'm not as convinced he mightn't have done a bit better with the one on Saturday, what with getting two hands on it, but I'm far from cetrtain thayt he was to blame. in any case, as I've said elsewhere I'm no goalkeeper and I'm sure that if it was partly an error from him then he'll be honest enough to admit it. He seems to be his own biggest critic so he doesn't me telling me where he may have gone wrong. And I as also said elswhere, he can punch the ball past halfway!

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Spot on (though the bit about if it had been a Liverpool player is stating the obvious! ) The notion that a three game should be the maximum punishment for violent conduct is absurd when the level of violence displayed is as bad as it was in the Thatcher 'challenge'. Set a precedent, shift the goalposts, I don't give a f*** - just throw the book at the c***.