Saintslfc13

Count me in. You think they'll let us roast some marshmallows while the fire gets going? you know before it starts to cook us like. Oh and we're good enough to win it this season, the thing is we've never got out of second gear and seem to have been pushed back to third recently. I think that loss to spurs really f*cked our confidence more than anything. We dominated that game and I believe had we won, we'd have went on a tear right there. We need an equally impressive showing against Chelsea this weekend, and a win of course, and I think we'll be right back into it. We always do things the hard way and that's why you can't count us out yet.

I must admit when I saw the challenge i thought to myself "WHAT the f*ck was that about?" Maybe Koumas shagged lucas mom, aunt and sister or something, because it was NO reason for him to tackle him like that at all.

I said it in the match thread and I'll say it again. Too many times this season have we gone 1-0 up only for our players to decide thats all we need and stop playing. We've seen many a game where we completely dominate the opposition for the first 20-45 minutes then completely change and look disinterested. I don't think you can necessarily blame Rafa for the sudden change in attitude of the team in those games. That lineup he put out today was good enough to beat Wigan and an on form Torres would have put us ahead early on. We created and controlled the game for the opening period, only to go soft in the second half and invite pressure on ourselves. Now I don't know if Rafa tells our players to stop attacking, but it would be pretty daft giving our current record of giving away dodgy set pieces (and for today a peno) in the last ten minutes, therefore I'm willing to bet he doesn't. We sent an unchanged side out there for the second half, but the attitude and attacking intent was MASSIVELY different. It comes a point when the bottle, and desire of the players has to be called into question. I will admit though that Rafa's sub of Gerrard for Keane was daft. The only thing I can think is maybe he was trying to show confidence in Keane by having him come on for our best player. Gerrard is the one player who KNOWS he's good regardless of if he's rested after scoring a hat trick or not, therefore it's a low risk move to take him off because the guy doesn't lose confidence in himself. If we had more players with Gerrard's attitude we'd have converted a good portion of those draws into wins. Torres is another one like him, but hasn't been able to really go this season, because of the injury woes. The reason we have Sammy Lee is to motivate the players to give it their all for the club, the reason we have Rafa is to place our players in the best position to win football matches.

While I agree Rafa has made some baffling decisions, and his subs left a lot to be desired (I was at work and nearly broke my Iphone when I read Gerrard had been taken off.), the same team dominated the first half today by all accounts and should've scored more goals. Whether our manager tells us to stop attacking or not I don't know as I'm not a player but for f*cks sake we should be able to carry on attacking an opponent for more than one half of football, regardless of who is out on the pitch. Too many times have we taken the lead only for our players to decide one goal is enough and start looking uninterested in attacking anymore. I can't believe Rafa would simply tell us to stop venturing forward because it's been our achilles heel all season. Surely if we can see that then so can he, and the man doesn't get paid to draw/lose games. When it comes to Keane-gate, the man has done little to impress when called upon besides Arsenal and Bolton. He needs to stop being so fragile mentally and just act like he knows he's the best. I think our side could do with an arrogant c*nt of a player who has quality, not sure who really fits the bill though.

To be fair, Keane hasn't capitalised on much has he? The man has class, that's without question but does he have the mental ability to adapt his game to suit our style? That's the real question and it seems as if Rafa's magic 8 ball has given him the All signs point to No answer in recent times. I think he will come good and I agree he needs chances but you can't compare him to Kuyt. Though off form, Kuyt still retains the ball when it comes to him (unless his first touch f*cks it up) and puts in challenges and work for the team. When Keane is on the pitch but off form, he does f*ck all but moan. That's not the attitude Rafa likes, it's very Cisse-esque and we all know how quickly Cisse got f*cked off not don't we?

Thought he did well today. Didn't have much to do defensively but put in a lot of effort and did what he had to do. Offensively he was our best defender going forward and put in some better crosses than Babel certainly. Still think Insua is going to be our left back of the future. Seen him play for Argentina the other day and he was one of their best players in my opinion. Created a great chance for them as well, had it been Torres he passed it too instead of the young argie it would have been a certain goal.

I agree, I wasn't to worried about him but leave it to that bent c*nt for waiting until the cameras are off him for him to show his true colors.

Carra booked for Dissent according to Setanta for complaining about Tim Howard's time wasting.

To be fair, while I rate Kuyt his goal return hasn't exactly been prolific either. Granted he does score more than Pennant, who had only 1 goal for us if I remember correctly. I think where Pennant f*cked up was pissing Rafa off with his off field antics and crap attitude, and not being the most enthusiastic when it came to tracking back. Those points, obvious disagreements with Rafa and his tactics, mean we needed to get rid so in that case it's a great sale. Still wish him well at Portsmouth though, and he was our best crosser outside Gerrard. Never understood the pure hatred many seem to have for him to be honest.

I disagree. What people mean is that we've gotten this far without the guy. Now I think everyone is in agreement that he is by far our best finisher and top scoring threat for any given game. What this will do (hopefully) is open other players up to score goals as the defense will be distracted by Torres. That alone will get us goals, then Torres himself will score goals for us as well. So if we play as good as we have up until now OR better, we will be in with a decent shout at winning the league come may.

I really think this whole situation with Rafa calling out "Mr. Ferguson" is really a case of us making a mountain out of a molehill. What Rafa said was true? Did it influence our team any? I doubt that very much. Did it influence them any? I also doubt that very much. The only thing we could've done to put them off for that Chelsea match was beat Stoke. When we failed to do that you just knew they were going to win their games in hand.

His substitution hardly cost us the game. What cost us the game was a sh*t attempt at a tackle from Benayoun and poor defending on the following free kick. Nevermind our missed chances from earlier. The foul was far before the one that ultimately led to their equaliser. Imo we f*cked up bringing on Yossi in the first place, it should have been Babel or even Lucas at that point. Babel to make something happen himself and provide Torres with a slightly more willing partner, or Lucas to help move the ball through the midfield.

My point was that one of the few times we know for sure Rafa got his man, he was the cheaper option of the two and therefore the board followed his decision because they didn't see the need to spend the extra millions on the man Parry wanted when our manager didn't. Had Downing been cheaper and Riera been more expensive then it would have been more telling as to who actually influences our owners more.

Unless of course, Riera came that much cheaper then Downing would have and the board went with the cheaper players that Rafa preferred to the more expensive player he didn't want.

I understand your frustration, really I do, but Stoke we're more than capable of stealing a late goal just as we were. Had we thrown on that extra striker and sacrificed a defender then lost the game people would be calling for Rafa's head. The only result that satisfies anyone is a win. We need wins but we also need to let the manager do his f*cking job every now and then, without acting like we as fans know it all. He saw a threat from Stoke and knows that a loss means a Chelsea win sees them go top, where as now, we're one point ahead at worst tomorrow. (Although to be honest I'd prefer a Chelsea win in that game so I'm hoping we're only one point ahead.) I can't remember you ever leading anyone to the title, so why bother criticising the man who brought us our 5th champions league cup, a had guided a team to victory in arguably the second hardest league in the world? I think he knows a bit more than you about the subject to be fair. Another thing that kills us more than draws ever will, is losses. We had chances and we didn't take them. Sorensen doesn't make that save from Kuyt and we win, Gerrard sprints a tenth of a second faster or Torres knocks the ball with a little less pace/more accuracy and we win. Keane didn't come on because Rafa didn't think he would change the game, and to be honest I don't see how you can assume he would have either. He's hardly been prolific in his time here and he isn't the physical presence that would have been ideal. This was a game for a Crouch/Heskey type of player at the end. I also think you would do well to forget Keane's price tag because it's apparent to everyone not harping on the subject that Rafa gives f*ck all what you cost. If Torres and Keane had swapped positions (Torres playing like Keane and Keane playing like Torres) then he would have been left there as well, regardless if he was our "Record Transfer"

Spot on that at first I thought chunk but after review it's definitely a fatter sloth.

Babel has the worst attitude of any young player I've ever seen play for liverpool. He moans about not playing upfront and does f*ck all with his chances on the left. If he doesn't show a desire to play his role and "force Rafa's hand" in playing him where he wants to be, then we need to get shot before he creates problems. Lucas while not having the goal scoring super sub appearances has progressed far better than Babel in his 18 months here.

It wasn't so much the lack of special treatment, thats great really, so much as it is I just don't like police officers. Maybe it's different over there I have no idea how UK police work or act, but here in Long Beach, California the police have two types, laid back and relaxed only worrying about the real hard crimes, or arrogant c*nts who will pull you over just for having two different raced people in your car. Sadly, there's more of the second type. As far as this goes though I still think it all blows over, theres still loads of questioning and testimony needing to be heard etc. nevermind what a good lawyer can do for you.

I really think (and hope) that this will all blow over and the worst thing to come from this will be songs from the mancs and bitters about our captain being a criminal. Of course to them we're all thieves and murderers anyway so who really gives a f*ck what they think. I don't know UK law but after a bit of research I found Section 20 is simple assault without a weapon. That can't be a highly punishable offense especially for a first offender. I think it's down to the Police just being the typical c*nts they are.

That also says we're trying to bring Adriano in, can't say I don't like him as a player when he's on form but I also can't see it being true as I don't think he's a Rafa player in the least. He'd be exactly what we need in terms of power and ability up front and a compliment for Torres but could he really change his attitude and work rate to suit Rafa? Wouldn't mind "Kuba" but not for 15m euro.

1.) Lucas - Did everything but score and would've if not for Given's heroics 2.) Gerrard - Did very well leading our attack and got two for it. 3.) Benayoun - One of his best games for us by far, more of the same from yossi please.

I have to say he's really impressed me lately as well. I've been one of his biggest critics but I'm glad he's come through for the side lately, thought he drifted inside a bit too much at times but that's his game so I can't really fault him for that as long as he keeps producing.

I agree about Cisse and Bellamy being able to thrive in a game like this, but they both see themselves as starters and are for other clubs. I think N'Gog could potentially have made an impact if he was brought on when Babel was, but thats not how it worked out. Kind of depressing how we played them off the park up until the sending off you'd have thought it was us who had just gone down after that.

Above average is what we bought though really, I don't think many ever though of him as a great, world beater when he played for spurs. He would have had an assist today had Stevie put that shot past Almunia, I really couldn't believe he didn't score, that was the perfect ball for him.

He's above average for his age, and when you consider he's in a new country at one of the best clubs in the world in the hardest league in the world, he's progressing quite well for barely getting any starts. It amazes me how public opinion on Babel is that he needs starts and will get undoubtedly get better when he's done f*ck all since Man Utd at home and Arsenal CL home game before that, but Lucas is just horrible and doesn't have a prayer to come good. Also does it offend you that Rafa, our manager, rates him then? Personally I hope they both succeed as it's better for Liverpool but I'm growing tired of the apparent double standard when it comes to them.