Metro

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Frankly, I make Rafa responsible for Alonso leaving in the first instance. If we'd not had that shenanigans over Barry the previous season, don't think Xabi would have pushed to go last season, imo. But we will never know for sure now anyway. Apart from injuries, his absence is a major reason why we are where we are now.

No they are not. They beat us quite easily.

Yeh, and since then he has sold Alonso. 'Nuf said.

Think that match is a cert draw, meself. Unless there is another last minute goal.

As I've said in another thread, I wouldn't be surprised to see in the close season that he has gone back to Roma.

I strongly suspect we won't see much of him for the rest of the season. Wouldn't surprise me to read next summer that he has gone back to Roma.

Here's something else for you to worry about. On current play, we haven't a prayer of even qualifying for the Europa Cup at the end of the season.

and you haven't even mentioned another major reason - Alonso.

Hasn't anyone noticed that a lot of the goals we are letting in are coming from the flanks? Johnson is a suspect defender and Insua hasn't exactly set the place alight. On top of this I remember early in the season Johnson was making foray after foray down the wing and creating all kinds of confusion. Now you see him doing it just once or twice a match, if that. Is he playing to orders? We have no threat up front. Quite often we play with one striker with the result that the ball rebounds back via the opposition and our defence gets under pressure again. I found it incomprehensible this afternoon how a defence who has let in so many goals was able to cope with Torres quite comfortably most of the time. The nearest we came to a goal was via a fluke. And now it will get worse. Mascherano is out for four matches so who have we got for midfield to cover the centre backs? Lucas and no other.

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I've already placed my bet with the bookies for a draw.

I would have thought by now that it was obvious we need Benayoun to play at the centre behind Torres. And before anyone mentions Aquafresh, I am not at all convinced he will be able to do the business. in any case, no good having anyone decent in midfield if the defence simply hoik the ball up the field and bypass them which is what happened in the second half.

You don't think we will find AA in Gerrard's role and Gerrard put back in midfield then?

What makes you think there will be a transfer fee for Voronin? Didn't we get him on a Bosman?

Aquilani on the bench, Lucas to start.

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Picking a top five is fairly easy - Billy Liddell, Gerrard, Dalgleish, Keegan and Barnes. In what order, aah that's different. Twist my arm and I'd probably say Liddell, Gerrard and Dalgleish in no particular order. Having said that, Keegan was a particular favourite of mine, gave 110 percent.

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I read somewhere that Blackburn have won five on the bounce.

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