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Pennant yellow card. This is far from won. We're looking the better team but they're still getting chances.

Finnan just completely done by Young, good cross but cleared.

Kuyt had lots of possession dropping into midfield and looked dangerous. Torres really isn't going to have a problem with the physicality of the league, looks to be loving bashing into defenders. Good strength in the goal build-up.

It's the surfer boy thing that pisses me off. Probably just my latent anti-australian racism. They've had a couple of chances the last few of minutes. Not getting much of the ball but we're not looking hugely defensively solid imo. HT

Torres skips past a defender in the penalty box after getting the ball from a throw in. Bit of space, shot very wide, probably due to a recovery tackle. GOAL! Gerrard zipped ball to Torres on the edge of the box, gets past the defender, shot rebounds. Kuyt just keeps it in, squares it towards Torres, Laursen puts it into his own net. Riise past the right back! Great cross, Kuyt infront of keeper, missed it.

Great break. Initial flick by Torres gives Pennant the space, good cross looking destined for Torres, Mellberg at a stretch cuts it out.

Pennant moves infield into space, layed off to Gerrard, with an accurate shot to the far corner. Not enough power to beat the keeper.

Rubbish commentators. Bitty play at the moment.

Ball bobbles around and breaks to Pennant in their half. 3 on 2 for a moment, but either the runs aren't any good or Pennant can't pick anything out. Alonso sumptuous pass straight to the feet of Pennnant. Cross-field to Riise, comes to nothing.

I reckon that Aston Villa 433 looks pretty dangerous. Lots of pace on the wings, which might cause us problems without our usual 2 DMs. 1 min in incidentally, and the first long diagonal ball to Riise. First of many I should think.

I was hoping to see Babel up against whoever they stick at right-back. Rafa must think Riise's more of a goal threat. Attacking formation though.

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Unfortunately there's no appropriate (GCSE level) historical hook for the article. All the Dutch ever seem to do is sit around having a good time.

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Keeping the ball very well at the end. From the last ten minutes: Babel - a couple of good moments of skill, looks to be able to keep the ball very close under his feet. Looks greedy/selfish/confident. Benayoun - solid, made the right decisions Torres - some embryonic interplay with Kuyt. Two good chances - set up Kuyt for a parried shot, Torres followed up with the keeper saving, and secondly running onto a threaded ball, jinked the ball over the sliding keeper near the edge of the penalty box, close but wide.

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Recovery from injury as a metaphor for signing a new player. HK will be like a new signing if he doesn't break down. Someone says this every time Kewell comes back from injury. Every time. I'd believe it this time if he hadn't gone and played for Australia over the summer.

Personally, I was disappointed with the drop in standards (of ugliness) with the departure of Bellamy and arrival of Torres. Imagine a forward line of Kuyt, Crouch, Bellamy, Voronin and Benayoun. Though the latter two, when combined with Mascherano in January, are admirable additions I admit. It's a damn shame we missed out on Ribery.

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And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon that is dreaming. (with a nod to fyds)

Bellamy was our best player for a period of time earlier in the season. I think he's leaving mostly because of off the field behaviour, and possibly vulnerability to injuries, rather than a lack of ability.

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