Davvo

Carragher to trip over Johnson's schlong in the warm up anyone ?

nothing like a rallying call before a big game , and that's...........

constructively nudged I'd imagine.

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That whole article has made me feel warm inside. Seriously, how lucky are we to have guys like Pepe and Torres come from another country and love our club as much as they clearly do, rather than all these badge kissing mercenaries around the league. Hopefully they take Aquilani under their wing and he becomes the same. Things on and off the pitch are decidedly shaky right now, but reading an article like that gives you a little perspective, and more than a little hope and belief.

I think he lost him aswell. He had a quick "arm out, and glance", then watched the corner, then looked to see Adebayor had stepped off a few yards. He went to challenge, realised he wouldn't get there, and then performed some kind of school yard, raised leg, embarrassing shape. At the point he lost him, he seemed intent on following Carra and getting into some pre-arranged position I thought, and perhaps was slow to see the kick taken. Whichever way you analyse it, was very poor really.

Amen to that, I wonder if we'll ever get that quartet in the side together for a few games in succession, would make a world of difference.

Rafa has been quoted saying that.

Not sure how what I said precludes him from putting in a man of the match performance, and I wouldn't argue he was our best player yesterday. I'm talking about the season as a whole, and I'd still rather we kept him in the side alongside Aquilani, with Lucas dropping out. That performance yesterday was the norm last season, it's been the exception so far this, but hopefully he continues at that level. I really don't think he's helped by having Lucas on his turf, he needs his partner in there to be someone who can use the ball better.

I'd rather see him in for Lucas to be honest. There might be an argument for moving Stevie to the right to give Derek a breather which he seems to need, but I think with Johnson back and Aquilani playing, we'll see a better Derek too.

It is puzzling me, but I'm sure there are reasons which we are unaware of, there must be. He has to be fit to a degree after a month or so of training fully,and to be worthy of a slot on the bench. To not start him, we can only assume he must just not be "match fit", but how is he going to get match fit ? 15/20 minute cameo's wont do that, to me there must be some other reason that he's not featuring more. maybe the doc's want his ankle stronger before he plays 45 minutes or more ? Perhaps he'll start in Debrecen ? Throwing him in for the Derby would be a helluva baptism, aswell as an obvious injury risk. Or maybe he's holding him back til that game's out the way, I have no idea, but I'm sure rafa's doing what's best.

Not known anything like this current injury situation. A settled back four is the first basic ingredient of a good side, and since the first game we've been f***ed. No wonder confidence is low, infact I'd say it's actually higher than could be expected. We needed something good to happen like that goal for skrtel yesterday, that could have been a turning point, then it goes down hill again. Signs are good from the players in general though, we'll pull out of this soon.

Going round in circles, so just one more response on this from me, I've bored myself with this argument so heaven knows what it's like for other's to have to read. If saying he is clearly very, very good from the snippets we've seen so far, is classed as overstating, then you live in a very dull world my friend. If I'd come out and said he's going to be Zidane, Beckenbauer etc all rolled into one, you'd have a point, but I haven't. You projected that thought onto "very, very good". I think it is you exaggerating, no ? It is as clear as day that his vision and composure on the ball will make an immediate difference to a midfield currently boasting 2 hardworking, efficient crabs.

I agree, I'd have liked to see him. Only Rafa can tell you if/when/how he planned to use him, but it's pretty clear to anyone that once he was forced into 2 early subs, the likelihood of him coming on at all got very small. I'd still have put him on instead of Aurelio.

You're right to call the poster out for a pile of s**** retort, as we are indeed suffering horrendous luck. I'd question as to whether Babel and Voronin are committed however. Infact I'd go as far as to say they most definitely are not. Babel couldn't get off the pitch quick enough yesterday, delighted to be free of the pressure to perform no doubt. Masch also seems to me to be forcing himself to play aswell as he can, inspite of a desire to be elsewhere. He's not the natural dynamo he has been. Like I say though, he is visibly putting in effort, just a little short of his full effort though I think.

De Jong is a good player, cost City about the same as we paid for Masch I think ? I agree we should be able to get a more than adequate replacement for about half the 30 million being touted for Masch. If the other half also went into Rafa's pot it would be a great deal. Big if though I guess. 30 million would be "selling high", as Wenger has often proved good at.

That's not what mm said is it ? I thought their point was that he would have had more of a chance to get on if Rafa had more than 1 tactical substitution available to him. I imagine(hope) he intended to give him half an hour at least, regardless of how the game was going, but the 2 forced early subs changed that plan.

You have, at least twice that I know of. One little dig questioning why he already has a banner, and another in response to someone querying why he hadn't come off the bench earlier, replying that "he's not actually that good anyway". As for not being able to spot if a player is very, very good ? I didn't need the Arsenal game for that, it was blatantly obvious from the 10 minutes or so he played in the reserves game. Seriously, I don't understand this view that you can't spot a top quality player instantly. He's stood out like a sore thumb in each cameo, his quality is like a bloody beacon in a midfield lacking vision and creativity. To refute that suggests questionable motives.

I think Agger was excused as being off injured, but your sentiment still probably stands scrutiny.

absolutely my feelings. The time for careful, considered actions is past, the time for using our not inconsiderable assets to their most flexible best is here. I'll be honest it was only when I saw masch there whilst Agger was off being treated I thought of it, but from that point of 5minutes gone and down to 10 men, Aquilani rather than Kyrgiakos would have been far too positive for the rafatollah. Can't blame him really, even I thought it was too early for that, but it's the kind of decision that's going to change our season around, I'm convinced of it. I just can't blame Rafa totally, i think the guy's shellshocked at the ridiculous injury situation, he as much as anyone needs some luck with a courageous decision.

Agreed, and this is the thing for me, football decisions like this seem instantly obvious when wrong from the first replay. They'd be sorted before the ball is back in play in 90%+ of cases, aslong as the video ref wasn't honour bound to wait to be asked, as seems to be the case in most sports. eg The Ngog dive vs Birmingham "Was that a pen or a dive ?" "hang on.1.2.3.4.5.6.dive mate" Henry handball "The Irish are going mental was there anything wrong there mate?" "Errmmm 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.cheating f***** handled it before laying it across, freekick ireland and yellow for terry henry." People need to stop focussing on examples of Rugby where they take 2 or 3 minutes and 15 different views to see between 8 bodies.

sorry mate just seen that. You're right about Glen Johnno aswell, he'd have torn Bridge a whole boxset of new one's. He also relieves the pressure on the front 4 when propped up by 2 holding mid's. Makes Dirk's effort's more worthwhile and useful too. Is there any argument for bringing Aquilani on for Agger ? Carra back to centre, Masch to RB. Probably too early in the game for that I guess, but we just really missed a progressive fulback, which Masch could be, and a progressive centre mid. If Agger's injury had been middle of second half that change may have had more merit.

Yes.

Quite simply a different approach and a different threat, something for City to think about. The lad is absolutely itching to get at it and show us what he can do, his enthusiasm allied to his ability COULD have made something happen. It's the "lets give it a go" option v "let's hold on". If there was any chance of Benny staying on (I'm assuming not otherwise Rafa would have left him on), then I'd have brought off Lucas. if benny had to come off (I guess they didnt expect he'd be needed so early and maybe he'd played as long or longer than than the medical staff/rafa wanted), then you put Kuyt on the left, Stevie on the right. Same shape, different personnel, different threat for the defence. Someone mentioned that Insua was struggling and needed help, who better than Kuyt to tackle back and help him out. Someone else mentioned Stevie was knackered. Let him stay out wide and put some crosses in, no need to play as a winger and try and beat people.