JRC

I like Webb normally, just thought he was a bit inconsistent yesterday - letting some tackles from behind go (Brown on Riera), whilst pulling almost identical ones up (Carragher on Berbatov); Ferdinand had a terrible elbow into Kuyt's head waved on, other innocuous aerial challenges pulled up. I don't doubt that Utd fans could highlight similar inconsistencies, but I am unashamedly one-eyed on these matters. What is true is that he bottled the Vidic decisions, both were Red Cardable, especially the assault on Xabi; and (as ever), perisistent fouling is not a yellow card offence for forwards apparently - I agree with charlie clown, I was shouting at the Ref and holding up 5,6 and 7 fingers - how many fouls can you give against one player (Berbatov) without warning and booking him? No way would a defender get away with that. But at the end of the day - it don't matter, we won.

That's easy for you to say

But it is xenophobic to identify a group of 'others' and blame them (along with the authorities who have made it too easy) for the problems or difficulties of those who are not 'others' (whether that is Carras family, scousers, English, British, EU nationals, catholics, whites etc); rationally discussing a complex and shifting labour market - including migrant workers, mobility, wage expectations, benefits, cost of living, demand etc. - is one thing. Saying (with no real analysis, or appeal to anything mre than anecdotal evidence) that blame can be apportioned because 'they' are 'taking our jobs' is another, and undeniably pandering to - or more likely in Carra's case, just going along with - a xenophobic agenda. And you don't need to get all DH and reference 30's Germany, right though I think he is; the way identical sentiments, casually and widely expressed, ultimately fuelled and validated the lethal attacks on Turkish Gastarbeiten in Germany in recent times ought give us pause

..and whilst desperately avoiding the 'X-box and PS3 playing' stereotype, I seriously doubt that any immediate member of Carraghers family would have genuine cost of living concerns when it came down to accepting or applying for a job. I'm afraid it's virtually textbook Xenophobia, however much grounded in casual ignorance and simplistic populism. The notion of an 'other' doing harm to 'us' by virtue of their actions (it's the 'taking' of 'our' jobs that pinpoints), mediated by an equally scorned authority - 'they' who are making it too easy - is pretty much par for the course throughout our history, or certainly that of the Daily Hate Mail. DH - keep up the good work, you're righteous, justified and undimmed indignation in the face of apologists, deniers and backtrackers is a pleasure to follow.

tbh, I can't imagine why the brothers of a very wealthy footballer couldn't manage to compete succesfully for work that is being taken by people prepared to work long hours in hard, dirty or uncomfortable jobs for low wages; those d*mn foreigners, eh?

Great stuff that. Although the stuff about the fan'sbacking the players in the shirt whatever etc..... I'm glad the players still see it that way, because it's getting less and less true in the ground imo.

Although it's difficult to compare, as Masch doesn't seem to do set pieces. Didi can at least point to the Fulham goal - and the last ever goal at Old Wembley, of course

I read the Neil bit as a joke - unfortunately Bascombe can't write jokes, it seems. When the proposed attack is described as 'impromptu' it took it as clearly neither a serious suggestion by his mates, nor was Carragher's response not to do it because Thomson was there a serious explanation; I don't really believe that, if Thomson wasn't there, he would have said 'Go on then..". The anecdote is just trying to make light of some chat between mates - but can, unfortunately, be read like he's trying to be a gangster. The Song bit? He doesn't really say how he did him does he? There's a big difference between a tough challenge and a cynical leg-breaker. If he'd really gone after him in an over-the-top way, I suspect the club would have dealt with it. The England stuff I love, even more that it has riled so many execrable tw*ts. Maybe if Stan Collymore (whio is otherwise turning into a decent pundit) had applied himself with one-tenth of Carra's determination, he'd have more than 3 of his oh-so-precious England caps for himself. No excuse for the foreigners stuff, though, other than him failing to meet a standard of discourse and analysis that many of us would (maybe overoptimistically) wish for in our heroes, whilst really not saying anything that millions in this country wouldn't unthinkingly concur with, deeply depressing though I find that fact to be.

Did played further up for Germany (and Newcastle) at times, and looked pretty good there with more creative responsibility. Very little wrong with his passing - just not afraid to keep it simple and short when shielding the back 4. If Didi had Masch's pace and energy, he would be an all-time world-class great; without those elements, Masch would - as of now - be a much lesser player; but he has time on his hands to acquire the all-round game quality and intelligence of Didi

No-one will ever convince me that, as the ball curved and slowed down to the perfect pace, setting itself directly into Rush's stride, that it didn't position itself with a little arrow on the top of it pointing towards the corner of the goal where Rushie was supposed to (and did) hit it. It's not just that it was so immaculate in conception and execution - it's that the King could not have had any real opportunity to weigh up the positions of the other players, or the available angles, until the moment he turned the defender and played the pass. It was that ability to have such a detailed, wide-ranging and accurate vision of the positions and possibilities in an instant that marked him as a true genius.

Wasn't there a story earlier this pre-season that they were tightening up on the tickets given to the Development Association because some were finding their way into touts/'Event Management' hands?

Barretts position is that Rafa himself advised them of the value/anticipated price for Barry - at 10-15M. When it came in at 18M, and Xabi wasn't going for the right price either, they started to question the deal.

The number of times we've lost 3 on the run is fairly limited (awaits statto rebuttal) If that is what we do in the next 3 games, we're all entitled to complain. For now, we have a 100% record this season.

Anyone posted this on the Sunderland sites? Worth sharing.

There's been talk of 'Winning ugly' or 'Winning when you don't play well', but there's more to it than that. In terms of attitude and approach, I was highly encouraged on Saturday. Sunderland - who will have a better Home record this year than last, which wasn't awful either - came out of the blocks, and we were sloppy and a bit nervy..BUT despite not playing well - in a slick, attractive kind of way - we managed to effectively impose ourselves on them bit by bit. Torres and Keane weren't really getting a sniff, but we didn't panic, and the rest of the team went about their jobs and from half an hour in made sure that they didn't do much (all their chances came from broken play that fell nicely for them), and that we gradually got more and more on top. That we have the kind of matchwinner in Torres who can take advantage of that control is the icing on the cake, but that's what top players at top teams do. It's not that we didn't play well but fluked a winner against the run of play, it's that we went about the situation in a professional and patient and effective manner. We will play worse - or uglier - and win, and we will play better and not win. But if every time we are in a similar game situation as on Saturday we work our way round to pushing the other team backwards and creating some chances, we will do alright, and maybe convert more of those pesky draws into wins.

Is right - and moreover, I'd warrant that the other players rate and value him as well - he always makes himself available, and contrary to popular legend, loses possession less often than most - our central midfielders and defenders look for him - probably because they trust him as a receiver, and Gerrard in particular looks to make runs into the Inside Right channel for Dirk to find. My gut feel is that his obvious football intelligence and ability to play his role exactly as Rafa requires (and his team mates expect and understand) means he is well appreciated by all - never mind his unquestioned work rate. His European Championship and later CL performances suggest the dismissal of his contribution is overstating it.

He's clearly bulked up, which he needed to. Did alright, didn't show much creatively but maintained his position and did the hard work, as required at that stage.

They're a much better team than last year - Malbranque, a fit Richardson, Chimbonda - and already had a decent home record last year; bound to be up for the first game, against a top 4. We were without Masch, some new boys in, nervous after Wednesday's horror show. Yet we effectively ran it from half an hour in. Good call for the old head (Sammi) coming in, got some great headers in when they tried to bombard us. We were a bit sloppy at times, but after that first rush, their only sniffs of chances came from mistakes or balls breaking luckily. With Dossena, we may have to accept a little less defensive solidity for more attacking intent, not something we're used to. Keane and Torres struggled, Gerrard effective in spurts. Again, after 30 minutes, I thought Kuyt and Bennayoun were really effective - might go as far as calling Dirk our best player, alongside Xabi. Torres is just a living God. Took him a while to get his first away last year. Today is exactly how a World Class striker, even if off form, turns 1 into 3 points - twas ever thus, and something Chelsea and ManU have perfected. We can play better, but this was fully deserved, and in it's own way, highly encouraging.

Sadly, that appears to be becoming the case. Of course we must fight against it, even to the very gates, but I fear that it is a forlorn cause. It is not hard to imagine (reading forums such as this) that 20 years hence, no-one will question that usage, despite it not making sense. 'Journeyman' I have less of an issue with, tbh.

As someone very clever once said, the meaning of a word is its use in the language

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...Conspiracy alert - Al Qaeda use football supporters forum to send secret messages to launch next terror attack...

By the same token, we should bear in mind international obligations when we buy players - I don't recall much sympathy on here when a good proportion of the Chelsea team were tied up with African Nations duty earlier this year But this truth remains self-evident. Give up your place and you have no God-given right to get it back if the incumbent is doing the business.

In all this, O'Neil has shown a bizarre - or if you prefer, calculated - penchant for ambiguous or misinterpretable statements:- The initial rant when the offer made public referred to a disputed conversation with Rafa, but slipped easily between one 3 weeks earlier (which Rafa had spoken about) and one in the immediate aftermath of the full offer - muddying the watres as to whether he had actually encouraged the bid or not whilst pointing a finger at Rafa The original statement about the 'agreed' deadline missed out that it , erm, wasn't agreed (we were only an 'aware' party) - as soon became evident The latest statement included the reference that 'it wasn't about 15 minutes, they've had 4 months to do this deal' which, tbh, doesn't make sense - it just meant he avoided the question as to whether, as reported, we had agreed the fee anyway. AV also want their cake and eat it in complaining that we spent c20M on Robbie Keane, whilst suggesting we started negotiations for Barry but didn't have the money It may well be - not being aware of the nature of the deal, and none of us probably ever being party to the exact terms - that AV have got exactly what they wanted, financially (although the 'loyalty bonus' question now appears moot). But there's nothing to say that they wouldn't have got this same deal if they had kept quiet and not got into the silly business of patently unworkable deadlines and self-congratulatory proclamations. They have now managed to disrupt their own preparations, needing to strengthen the squad (even more) so close to the start of the season and end of the window, and potentially - despite the General and the claims of the friendly local journalist Mr Dick (sic) - discommoded their fans over the 'he's staying' statement. Hope to God we stuff them at Villa Park in a few weeks.

Of course everyone is entitled to an opinion, and free to express it, and there can be no gainsaying of an expression of personal preferences; but too often on here (and forums of this ilk), the relativism is promoted that any opinion is as valid as any other - whether or not it is supported by any significant insight, awareness, argument or fact, or indeed whether the very foundation on which the opinion is predicated has been clearly and demonstrably refuted. Respecting someone's right to an opinion doesn't entail not arguing against it, or pointing out that it's ill-founded - in fact it's important that that is what happens.