Fitz

I think both goal ends were supposed to have about 13000 capacity in the original plan and now Hicks has said that the new Kop will have a capacity of 18000. That would almost explain the increased capacity alone.

Nou Camp had a huge space between the pitch and the stands and that's why they were able to lower the pitch and increase the capacity.

No he is not but his passing has been absolutely abysmal.

Maybe he meant Alonso? Alonso is 25 by the way.

Rijkaard seems to be right because Ronaldinho took his shirt off on sunday after Bilbao game and he didn't look fat at all.

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Absolutely. Crouch is an intelligent player and has scored a lot lately. Kuyt seems to be an explosive striker and also very intelligent and strong. Keep them together for a while, please.

Did I not say that I want to give Rafa more time to build his squad? This season has been really bad so far and Rafa must improve. That is all I'm saying. Last season waslast season and we must play well right now and stop living in the past (last season or Istanbul or whatever).

Because some tool used caps in his reply to me. Do you have anything else to say or is that the best you can do?

Yes but Rafa has probably not had enough money to buy his number one targets. I'd give him this season and the season after that to sign the players he wants.

Then we have to see if there are top managers available. If there are suitable managers available, replace Rafa.

No. Give him time to build his own team. Then see if it looks like we can win the league. I'm not setting any deadlines. I'm just saying that he should be given time to build his own team and get his ideas through. Then his position should under constant review - and if it looks like his team is not progressing the way it was ecpected to, then some questions need to be asked.

It doesn't have to be like that. Nobody wants us to become like Real Madrid who sack about three managers per year. In my opinion Rafa should be given maybe four or possibly five years to build his own team and if after that it doesn't look like we'll win the league in the near future, then we should try something else. It really is not that dramatic. And please remember that I support Benitez and don't want him to leave. I just dont want him to be above criticism, that's all.

Because no manager in the world should be given "as long as he wants" but instead as long as it looks like he can realistically reach his target and our target should be winning the league. Ok, not totally clueless but not good enough either.

Sure it's mathematically possible to win the title, but come on, in reality it's gone already. Champions league is important but winning the league has to be the number one priority.

Last season is last season. This season should have been even better because Rafa signed some interesting new players. It's October now and the title is practically out of our reach and that is seriously f***ing bad!!! HE NEEDS TO IMPROVE AGAIN AND SERIOUSLY CHALLENGE FOR THE TITLE NEXT SEASON BECAUSE NOBODY GIVES A s*** IF WE GOT 82 POINT S IN 2005/2006 IF WE LOOK TOTALLY CLUELESS IN 2006/2007 AND ARE OUT OF THE TITLE RACE IN OCTOBER. HE MUST IMPROVE NEXT YEAR. Ok?

In Ged we trust! No, wait a minute, he was sacked. This kind of blind faith attitude is the best way to take the club to mediocrity. Yes, Rafa has won fa cup and champion's league but he just has to improve his team's performances in the league and if he cannot do that in the next couple of years, it shouldn't matter how much time Rafa wants. I don't want to get rid of Rafa and I think he will improve, but I expect him to do so next season. If he cannot do that, some serious questions need to be made about his position.

You could say the same thing about Glenn Roeder and Newcastle or Gerard Houllier's Liverpool. I'm not comparing Benitez to Roeder or Houllier because in my opinion Rafa is much better than those two. But the point is that it is manager's duty to not let this kind of thing happen. This is Rafa's team and if his team lacks character, I'm afraid it is Rafa that we should blame.

One season after this one.

No, it was Waldstadion in Fraknfurt.

I don't like Emirates Stadium at all. It looks flat and there is too much space between the upper tier and the roof in the corners.

Great post. I think Rafa made a mistake not playing any pace up front.

YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!