deacon

He was very poor today, easily the team's worst performer. The pen wasn't harsh, it was a stonewall pen. He struggles when up against physical forwards like Carlton Cole, who I thought had a very good game today. It's far too early to be saying he should be dropped, as he usually starts the season a bit slowly. But given how ruthless Rafa is, he won't tolerate many poor performances before Carra sits on the bench. Also, what the hell he doing for that chance he gave to Hines early on?

This content is not viewable to guests.

I think I understand the 'joke', but it's a pretty poor one and Des is right, such a poor one deserves explanation. I don't think it's racist, but Carralegend, you come across as a bit of an idiot in this thread.

Apparently a Valencia fans forum has said that we've agreed a deal to sign Silva. Anyone else heard this?

Towards the end of last season, Rafa seemed to pair Agger with Carra for home matches and Skrtel with Carra for away matches, which seems to make sense.

A lot of people here are talking proper rubbish regarding Spearing and Lucas. How can anyone say that Spearing is better than Lucas? Spearing has hardly played a first team matche and, without checking, Lucas has probably played near 50. You're basing your opinion on what? Reserve matches? They mean little. It's one thing for people on here to say Spearing has the potential to be better than Lucas, but saying such ridiuclous things as Spearing being able to impose himself on a game more than Lucas. If I remember correctly, Lucas played in the middle when Liverpool dominated the middle of the park at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford last season - no mean feat.

This content is not viewable to guests.

I can understand why Alonso wants to go. There's the reasons already mentioned about Rafa trying to sell him before and that Xabi's been away from home for 5 years, but maybe Alonso wants to leave because playing football for Rafa isn't fun for him anymore. Alonso is one of the most intelligent players in the world and it must get on his nerves when Rafa is constantly barking instructions at him, to the extent that he's telling him whether to take a short or a long free kick. I was sat in the Hull section at our away game there this season as a mate has 2 season tickets there. We were sat right behind Rafa and in the first half, when Liverpool were pretty poor, Alonso was the main focus of Rafa's instructions, even though the team as a whole was playing poorly. At one point in the middle of a Hull counter attack, Rafa was going mental at Xabi. When the ball was dead, Xabi looked at Rafa like he was a total c***.

I have heard this third hand, but apparently we're signing Silva for 22m and are talking to Owen. This has come from someone who has been right before about transfers, but then again he also told me that Barry was a done deal at 12m, so he's not always right.

Wasn't it more to do with the fact that Pako didn't think he was right for the left side, which is the position Rafa signed him for? I know he gets slated here, but I think he's an example of Rafa's failure to nurture through young talent. He looked a great prospect when he arrived, but has just regressed since. In a side like Arsenal's, Babel would have prospered I reckon. Van Basten advised Babel against going to Liverpool, and he clearly was correct.

This content is not viewable to guests.

John Terry?

This content is not viewable to guests.

Liverpool were just totally overrun in the middle of the park by a far more mobile and physical midfield. They were pretty much first to every tackle and outpressed us everywhere. Essien and Lampard were outstanding.

Kuyt's been our best player

Chelsea are playing through the midfield with such ease. Lucas and Alonso are being overrun so much that this is the first game I can member against Chelsea when Lampard looks dangerous and isn't completely anonymous. God we're missing Mascherano. Essien has shut Gerrard out of the game too. It'll be very interesting to see how we start the second half.

Yossi Mascherano Gerrard Rieira was one of the side's worst performers. His dip in form is worrying, he hasn't played well for a long while now.

This content is not viewable to guests.

The money received for winning a trophy is secondary to the glory of the trophy itself. The FA Cup is still a trophy worth winning, some of my favourite memories as a fan come from success in the FA Cup.

I can't access it. Does he say anything interesting?

John Barnes in his pomp. I'm old enough to only remember when he played in the middle of the park and was a different player to the attacking midfielder he once was.

It's complete folly to write Keane off already. I agree that him and Torres will work well together as a pair if they get some time. He didn't play well last night but Everton defended well, they pressed well all over the pitch and their central defenders played well, in particular Jagielka.

This content is not viewable to guests.

This content is not viewable to guests.

This content is not viewable to guests.