CaptainXabi

Sure the original post was over the top, but I do wish he would stand in the f***ing box for more than 3 minutes a game though. One of Rafa's DVDs on Trezeguet or Inzaghi wouldn't hurt.

I still think Parry just says that so the locals don't go Zidane on him. I'd be shocked if it actually couldn't ever, ever be expanded.

I just saw Ricky's tie. He didn't disappoint on teh big occassion.

I'm loving all the American jokes. Do we Americans on the board get upgraded to Owners now

Vice-captain in leading team out while captain is injured shocker

I need to sit down. What is going on this January?

1. Arbeola is world class 2. Sign Alves. We need a character around these parts.

Can they buy him now? That would be appreciated.

We'd better get rid then

No. 6 is coming home!!

You know what I mean. Never = not often in interweb speak.

It is a bit strange that Crouch never finishes a match...

This content is not viewable to guests.

Whatever Reina is on, double it.

Manficent

Every time we play a decent side in domestic competition, we s*** ourselves. It's like the whole team is worried about making a mistake and afraid to go for it. What happened to playing hard and getting a dodgy Danny Murphy penalty to beat the Mancs? What happened to Steven Gerrard putting in a barely legal tackle on the opposition player of his choice in the first 30 seconds? These big matchups are about passion and who has belief on the night, not about wearing the opposition into submission as we would do against a West Brom or Charlton. We need to believe more and we need to man up FFS! This is unacceptable.

The best thing for us is for the Mancs to make a good Champions League run (before a 5-0 aggregate thrashing in the Semis at the hands of Milan, for instance) to provide a distraction. Hopefully the thought of a possible double will go to their heads and they'll lose some league form.

The only correct answer is the one that includes the Mancs not winning the tittle. C'mon Chelsea!

That's a fair point. And it's not as if he exactly has to exert himself to be worshipped at Atletico does he? He's too comfortable. A move may see the best of him, but I'm not sure how much of that risk we should be willing to take on.

I think if he could transfer his form from La Liga to the Premiership, he would be just about there (Keep in mind he just turned 25). However, that's a big if, especially since he's not that big and any speed advantage he had in La Liga will be greatly reduced. On the other hand, Rafa has been tracking him down for a long, long time. And when Rafa spends big and buys his first choice player, we have yet to be let down.

Either/both, although Porto employ him on the left more often. I think he could give to us what Placcy gives to the Mancs, which is the ability to run at people at speed and carry the ball 60 yards to start attacks (something we desperately need). He's got a slightly lower strike rate than Ronaldo, but definitely better end product in terms of crosses and assists. I think he'd be a very good signing.

Word. We should sign that up.

Brilliant

I'm sorry, I know our strikers aren't too good right now but this Fowler madness has to stop. I realize he is a Liverpool legend and has brought us many good times, but he's simply past it now. He doesn't have the quickness or sharpness anymore - and there's nothing wrong with that it happens to all players as they age. Sure he would have put away today's chances...if he was even in the position to take the chance in the first place. And therein lies the problem, he often can't get into those positions anymore. He was playing well last year on the excitement and adrenaline of returning. And while I'm sure he's still delighted to be at the club, you just can't re-invent the way he felt in Feb, March, April - he's only human. That has tailed off and so have his performances. Fowler is not the solution in the least. I for one am happy Rafa has recognized that.

I didn't give up in Istanbul and I'm not about to give up now. We can do this. Our hard-headed refusal to accept facts will see us through. I still believe.