CaptainMarvel

Again - if I was looking for a reaction I'd go into it, but I'm not going to. So end of. Again.

No....if I was looking for a reaction I'd go into it but I'm not going to. End of.

Doesn't let you until group is 'members'. Like Tommy Cockles said, best left alone, its a username and if anyone has a problem don't make issue with it in the Alonso thread, message a mod, it'll be changed, end of.

I meant my username not your post. Can't be easily changed by me because I'm in the new member group, but if a mod wants to change it because its deemed offensive is all I meant.

Can be easily edited.

Wasn't aimed at you mate no, skim reading the thread it just seems Xabi can't win. I can see your point and sometimes its easy to get frustrated when the ball goes carra-xabi-carra-mascher-xabi etc but my point being in summary that he's asked to do a job by Rafa and he does it, usually well. The defence splitting passes often come in the oppositions final third where I'd guess Xabi spends the least of his time, and all I'm saying is I don't think the reason for that is that he is incapable I just think its because he's not asked to do that. (note that is in no way a criticism of Rafa).

I'd like all the people who insist on abusing Kuyt at the match to remain seated and in silence when he scores or provides for winning goals. At the end of the day Kuyt is a target for the boo boys and a scapegoat for bad performances a la garcia, murphy etc etc and I don't see this ever changing. Seems that some people are incapable of actually supporting the team and prefer to sigh and abuse our own players regardess of the performance, willing them to fail before they've received the ball. Even when we win you can't get away from the "I still don't think x y and z are good enough though".

Agreed, as I said obviously sometimes he gets caught in posession or doesn't pick a pass quick enough hence some valid criticism. If he didn't we wouldn't have had a problem selling him for £18m, all I'm saying is unfair to critisize him on form for doing his job.

I can't stand the sky sports style fans who come on here and critisize Xabi for simply doing his job. If he has a bad game then fine, but don't critisize him for "just finding 2 yard passes". You don't have to canter around the pitch like a show pony splitting defences with every pass to be a quality midfilder. Xabi is asked to sit in front of the back four, pick the ball up and give it simple. And he does. Obviously sometimes Xabi has his off days where he might not pick passes quick enough or is caught in posession but when he's a had a good game you can't critisize him for finding a red shirt just because its not a 40 yard raking, defence splitting pass. Xabi will frequently pick the ball up in our 3rd in a congested area, turn with no panic and give it simple and we're back in possession. I also think Rafa's reasoning for going after Barry was that if he could get Barry for the same fee as Alonso he'd have a more versatile player with more experience of the premiership than Alonso who delivers a better dead ball. As it turns out he couldn't so he didn't. Doesn't mean Xabi is a poor player. Its no suprise that Xabi is rated higher by people that actually go the match. Xabi's work off the ball tracking and positionally is excellent. Of course you don't get any plaudits for winning the second ball and laying it off because as a footballer it shouldn't be difficult...and for Xabi it isn't. In the Euro's Xabi proved that he can also be effective in their final 3rd but that's not the job he is asked to do.

I'd love to know how many people out of the thousands that professed "I still believed, I knew we could do it" at half time on 'that' night, as well as the thousands that admit they found it impossible to believe are already dismissing thoughts of number 19, even if it is against the odds. Its about time we genuinly did start to believe if not just for the hope and mentality. Make us dream.

Correct. Last season I was having regular wet dreams about the Torres / Gerrard combinations. The goal against Newcastle is still in the w*nk bank. All the talk in the pubs comparing them to some of the legendry Liverpool front pairings. If it's not broke.....

I've been in many states before/during/after watching the match.

Kuyt

Four is May 09

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