lawrie

Carra doesn't really just clear his lines though. He often receives the ball with lots of time to spare. He then put's his foot on the ball and looks around wondering what to do with it. By this time we have lost momentum and have opposing attackers bearing down on him. It is then that Carra becomes under pressure so he either hoofs it forward or passes it back to Reina to start the move all over again (waving his arms furiously in the process) I've only noticed this in the past few months, but of course now I'm aware of it, I'm looking out for it and its driving me absolutely bananas

He was dead stupid, but I still feel sorry for him. Maybe it's yet another lesson he will learn from

Didn't he smirk (again) though when someone suggested Liverpool could win the league this season?

Think someone said that the players were booed off as well

So glad to see you're happy to think you've been proved right

1. Kuyt 2. Hyypia 3. Dunno really (but I can't believe Carra is getting your votes, I thought he was well off the pace and his distribution was even worse than normal)

People are entitled to their opinions on the NOTW in what is, after all, a very sensitive issue. My problem lies with those who try to force their opinions on others. I have no doubt that there were some who berated Stevie for the serialisation of his book in the NOTW who had no connections whatsoever with Hillsborough, even though Stevie himself had actually lost a family member in the tragedy.

Of course it's a ridiculous notion, just like its ridiculous that those at the back still launch the ball forward to him at every opportunity after a full season of coaching (unless God forbid, this is what Rafa actually coaches) I admit it, I'm frustrated by the 'hoof it' type of football and really thought we'd evolved away from it.

Agree. If you take last season we went with Bellamy, Crouch and Kuyt and disregarding injury we would also have had Garcia. Fowler as our fourth striker hardly played at all.

Actually I don't think it's clear at all. IMO Torres and Kuyt is our best forward pairing (moreover I think Rafa thinks this also)

I'm sorry I don't agree that Crouch has been our most consistent forward under Rafa, for me that has got to be Kuyt even taking into account his mediocre spell towards the end of last season. Crouch has grabbed the headlines with some eye catching goals and a few good performances but for me today was indicative of too many similar performances since he's been with us. I suppose you could argue that Crouch is often ineffective because of the way the team simply launches it towards him when he's on the pitch, and if that's your argument, the solution is simple - you take Crouch off the pitch.

Good food for thought that, I've never really though of it from that angle before

I think we all need to admit at some point that today, Crouch's performance wasn't the exception but rather the rule.

Heskey had a good game and could very well have cemented his place against Russia on Wednesday ahead of Crouch.

ah but which X1? Let the futile guessing begin

Aye, that must have been one of his easiest games thus far

But this is always the problem with your argument. Pennant delivered quality into the box, it's hardly his fault the strikers didn't capitalize

But Young or Bentley are hardly prolific? Pennant took time to adapt to the bigger stage but he did it, will the other two be able to do the same quickly enough? - lets face it the under 21s, Blackburn and Aston Villa can hardly compare to Liverpool and Champions League competition It's seems mightily obvious to me but England need results and they need them now - playing someone with the relevant experience seems the sensible option to me. I know we say but hey that's better for us as Pennant will be fresh and wont get injured, but he is a confidence player and call up to the full England squad would have benefitted him and us immensely.

They are not really playing too well thus far, but as per normal are getting the rub of the green. I personally hope that the rumours are true and they do sign Ronny - the upheaval will be glorious

I disagree, I think he looks much more comfortable on the left. I don't think you can take the game v Sunderland in isolation as it was definately his quietest game for us so far (although I loved his double shimmy thingy towards the end of the first half)

1. Torres 2. Pennant 3. Momo

Of course the Chavs might still really really p*** us off and go out and buy Alves as well

Midfielders in the box against a team like Chelsea = no midfielders in midfield when they counter attack at pace. Yesterday I thought we got the balance about right

Much too early to tell as Tevez clearly isn't fit yet, although I wasn't too disappointed when we didn't go in for him