Whitey

GET IN THERE YOU BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!!!!! TORRESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS - great set up from BENNI.....finally a decent cross. We are very very very lucky here....now stand the 28 defenders on the goal line

DIRKY KUYT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even Torres tried to f*ck that one up ...

FFS...can we not mark people on set pieces? Totally free header again...

Game on....

I'm just back in wathcing 2nd half...trying to work out our formation/team? Arby, Agger, Skrtel, Carra, Dossena, Aurelio all playing?? Oh crap.......f*ckin Bluenose Nugent!

The new miss of the year that...my Mum could have put that in - even if it was going to be called offside...

Or Murph(y)'s law ....

What a fun thread to read - very good banter. IMHO Gerrard's injury is exquisitely bad timing, given the Keane debacle - and I'm struggling to see who is going to step into superman's outfit... However, it's often the case that in times of challenge, and when you lose a star man, the whole team can get closer, and step up together.... Yeah I know I'm clutching at straws...but let's hope Babel, Benni, Alonso, Riera and even Masch turn it up a notch.

Added - I just read on the Beeb that it's 'FIFA Law' that stops the FA from being able to look into this further. Ridiculous.

Some of the racist theory in this thread is very concerning, and extremely small minded. Get a grip. As are the FA 'rules' if that is what they are, that mean that a decision cannot be overturned if the Ref or Linesman 'saw it'. So what? If the player has done something wrong, it's still wrong, and he should be called out. It sends out a cr@p message that you can still get away with it. I don't think there are many other sports left in the world where this could happen - over here in Ice Hockey, and the N. American sports, if a player 'misbehaves' shall we say, they know that they can be called out during the game, and/or afterwards by video replay. It tends to mean that the players have to be much better behaved, and play to the rules. Maybe at some point the FA will be dragged kicking and screaming into the 20th century even...

Seems about right. For sure he's given us some of the balance and width we were lacking, although that probably highlights the lack of width we have on the right

So we 'returned' Keane today in the 'January sales' but did not get a full refund. We also didn't want to use the credit to get a replacement. Chelsea pick up Quaresma on loan a day after Maureen announces he's not happy with him. Summary: Last 2 windows it's all been last minute, and never seem to be paying attention. We're not good at this really are we.

I'm stunned at this. What message are they trying to send here?

Despite the Keane bashing bandwagon, IMHO this is a sad day for the club & the player (who is a fan too remember). He seems to have got caught in the middle of a power struggle, and although he did not hit form - there are not that many players who jump straight into a new team and do great. If it is handbags between Rafa and Parry that have cost us a player and also cost us 5M...then that's very very poor. Especially with no replacement or plan B.............

Was thinking about this today - seeing Keane in the stand, hearing about the rumours,and also that Lennon could be part of a deal. Whatever the situation with Keane, which I still don't get - remember how long Rafa stuck with Crouchy while he was in a rut? And having Ngog on the bench again today instead, something is up. My thinking was that there seems little point in keeping a 20M player who will just fill a seat in the stand. If we could get Lennon, I'd imagine he would get more playing time, and being a possible impact player? Sorry situation though, and the sooner something gets sorted the better. A 20M waste right now, and that a lot to waste.

Torres (has to be for the goals) Gerrard Aurelio (great delivery for goal, and looked much more positive today)

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I'd go for (not especially inspired) Reina Arbeloa Carra Skrtel Aurelio Masch Kuyt Alonso Riera Gerrard Torres With Benni to come on at 65 mins (no more no less), Babel at 70 mins (no more no less) Would love to find a way to get Keane in but feels like flogging a dead horse for this game.

Can anyone seriously see anything happening this window for us? Not much chance IMHO - given Rafa's comments, the economic downturn, the ownership issues, the Parry general inability etc etc. I know we have a track record of leaving it to the last minute every window, but just can't see it this time.

I had totally forgotten we had him. Wish I could say the same for some of the other players right now... And we say Aurelio is made of glass...

Nearly missed this with the other classic post....but Bent? One striker lacking confidence for another with even less? Bit surprised at that...

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Obviously not - as Rafa said when we signed him ""He's a player with character who works hard, can play in the holding midfield role and also get in the box to score goals. His mentality is a winning one and that's what we want here; a team of winners."

Just watching the replay over here in Canada...I have no idea how we drew this game. Although we nearly lost it with the Rodallega free kick at the death. So much possession, and so many chances. The subs were really baffling though - taking off Torres our main goal threat, and leaving Babel up as 1 up top?? Taking Benni off when he had them scared to death every time he touched it (although he did look like he hit his head or something)? Taking Gerrard off at the time they scored????? Very very weird. Found myself comparing to Bruce's subs - taking off midfielder and bringing on striker. Result was depressing, but not as bad as watching first time round, although maybe a blessing in disguise as we really have to go for it now.

In Lucas' defence - if you remember when we signed him, he was a goal-scoring attacking midfielder. At the start of this season he was also quoted as saying he wanted to be more attacking this year. We've turned him into a defensive/holding midfielder - of which we already have one of the best in the world. Thinking about it - why do we need 2 holding midfielders? Does anyone else do that?