honourablegeorge

Apolgoies for the lack of question mark. Read it on another forum, chap says it's a whisper he got from Melwood. It worryingly ties in with all the talk of youngsters on the bench.

Anyone confirm if Riise & Hyppia are both out, with Anderson & Barragan on the bench?

That Rafa can win things with the effective but unspectacular style that we're seeign right now, but also that he can and will develop things further and bring more goals to the side.

And if I'm not mistaken, the year of their second title win under Rafa, they scored more goals than every other team except Real Madrid.

As soon as the porspect of Gerrard being injured/rested is mentioned, you notice how dependent on him we've become for the right side, there really is nobody else. Garcia, much as I liek him, ain't the man. Especially with Benfica's wingers.

Loads of stoppage time? Manchester United? How odd....

I think you're mixing him up with Bernie Mandic.

West Brom, aye, them's the fella. Kewell's work rate hs been pretty good too, despite his hair.

I don't think work rate has ever been an issue with Morientes, he does try hard in that department, but he's just 10% too weak, 10% too slow, 10% too close to the keeper, just 10% not enough, basically. Kewell crossed for Crouch's goal at Newcastle, and the week before against...em....forgotten who.

I reckon there's six or seven players I'd rather see at left back before I'd have Traore in there.

Seems generous. You should have heard what I called him in his last year.

Much as I like Reina, he's no Cech as yet. And much as I hate Drogba (and boy, do i hate him), he'd still be a better candidate than Cisse.

I think it looks great, mate. Something different.

It's one huge difference between us now and the Houiller era - GH tended to sign players who were athletes first, and technical ability was second. Rafa works the other way around - which to me is the onyl way that makes sense - you can put Luis Garcia in a weights room for six months and he'll get stronger, but you can't put a Heskey in a room for six months and expect him to emerge with a first touch. As for the difference between here and Spain, i suspect it's half cultural - the pace and way the game in general is played here, and half coaching - too much emphasis on strength and size and too many young lads playing on full pitches, instead of skill-based small pitch/indoor games where touch and control are prized above all else.