Davvo

I've got eyes. Players with that rare level of ability stand out a mile in any company in an instant. Of course there's a chance he may not adapt to the English game, or click with his teammates, I haven't said anywhere that he's going to be Premier League player of year every season. I'd be amazed if he didn't settle right in though. If you can't see that from the cameo's so far, then I don't know what you're watching to be honest. If these were trials, and players are routinely selected on the basis of a few minutes action in trials, he'd be off the pitch, in the showers, and through to the next stage. I can't wait til he's considered fit enough to start. I'd bet as much money as I dare risk, that Gerrard and Torres are absolutely itching to play with this guy from what they've seen in training.

wrong, not surprising given your name, although I note you didn't have a dig at Aquilani himself this time. Must be growing on you. There's nothing wrong with being able to see what's infront of your eyes either, he's quite clearly a very, very good player. You don't need to see a guy for a whole season to tell when he's got something special. Fitness is the only issue.

Now that's just childish. Well done that man, when faced with constructive ideas that you have no idea how to argue against, resort to the old "if you don't blindly agree with every decision, you're a hater" line. Seriously, well done you.

Gung Ho ? Gung f***ing Ho ?? We're not talking Martin Jol 4 strikers with no shape here, we're talking about putting on a midfielder or forward to replace a midfielder, rather than putting on a fullback. Jesus, are you telling me Kuyt can't play on the left ? benayoun and Babel can, Gerrard has for England, Rooney has for the Mancs, what is it about Kuyt that he can't do exactly the same job on the left as he does on the right ? I really do wonder sometimes. Rip up the shape ? Dear oh dear what a pile of melodramatic nonsense. Variety is what was called for, that's all.

poor response that. if he's not fit enough to out run players who've been running for 80 minutes then I agree he shouldn't have come on, infact he shouldn't even have been on the bench. Worth pointing out too, that if you haven't seen enough in the few minutes he's add, to believe he's going to be a positive influence on this side, then I really do wonder. Rafa obviously thinks he can or he wouldn't have been on the bench. The point here is that he would have almost certainly used him had it not been for the earlier injuries, and with his 3rd sub he chose to be negative. Aquilani on for anyone at 80 minutes would have been a positive move, if for no other reason than it would have resulted in a different approach, an injection of enthusiasm, impetus. I'm sorry but for anyone to think Aurelio coming on at that point is anything other than negative is difficult to understand. I know you didn't say that Aquilani would have been no more positive than Aurelio, but that's how easy it is to twist someone's point, like you did with the original poster's point.

Aquilani for Bennayoun or Kuyt would not have been negative. Gerrard to the right generates more drive and goal threat than Kuyt, Aquilani's eye for a pass, cracking shot, and desire to impress, would have filled the gap left by Stevie in behind Ngog. For you to say bringing Aqualani on wouldn't have been more positive than Aurelio is bizarre.

I'm not going to say this again, because I feel like I'm repeating myself at every opportunity, but...... I agree, both played well, they did their jobs admirably. However, they are both doing the same job, and we simply haven't got enough class/creativity in the other 4 midfield/forward spots to afford such luxury of 2 holding midfielders. Add Carra at fullback, and today more than most we were crying out for either Aquilani or Gerrard to be played instead of Lucas. I'm not saying we can't win with 2 holding mid's, of course we can, and indeed have done, but we're not going to pull away from 7th without a little more creativity from the middle.

I'm not a Rafa basher by any means, but that really stinks of "Rafa apologism". Quite clearly the comments about the sub being negative were in relation to bringing Aurelio on for Benny. Bringing Aqua on for Benny/Kuyt, or anyone other than Gerrard/Ngog would have been a more positive sub, and I'm sure you know that. He valued the protection of a point over the possibility of 3. It worked, we got the point, so his sub is justified in that respect. Had he been more positive we could have lost a goal at the end and lost the game, but when you're as far behind the 8 ball as we are, you have to gamble a little surely ?

I think that actually help's the point that was being made about the bad sub. The lack of willingness to try something to get a win is the issue. El Zhar can play on the left, as can Reira, or Kuyt could have switched and play either El Zhar or Gerrard(Aquilani middle) right. The sub had, "we're happy to protect a point" written all over it. If we want to change our luck and improve, we have to be more positive. Shame really, as apart from the period after we scored, I thought we did well. First half particularly we started with purpose, the injuries spoiled that.

I'd be worried at why neither masch nor lucas was tracking back with Ireland too.

he looked dead level with the ball, if not slightly behind it. Possibly slightly ahead of the defender but not with daylight for me. Then again, it's so difficult to see when he's running onto it at pace and the defenders almost stood still, plus you're relying on the sky crew pausing at the exact moment the ball's played. All in all, no way it was sufficiently clear offside to give it in my opinion.

certainly the first one, must admit I was focussing on the possible offside so didn't see where he was for the 2nd. Having said that, he seemed convinced he was doing what he was supposed to be doing. Can't believe for a minute though that his instructions are to stay put and leave their centre forward with a free header. If those are his instructions he ignored them anyway, just didn't make a decent enough effort, bit embarrassing for him really when you see the replay. Shame, that goal could have helped rebuild his confidence which he seemed to have left at White Hart Lane in August.

Evading the yard dog's leg breakers would certainly improve his match sharpness. If that's his first start I'll be watching through my fingers to be honest. Just bad timing though I guess, I think we need him as soon as he's able.

is correct, excellently timed run from the little t***.

And if you can't do that with two holding midfielders, who seemingly have few other responsibilities, other than keep the ball and pass sideways, then there's a problem. We badly need Aquailani, if he's not fit to start then so be it we need to wait, but there will be a huge difference to our game assuming he starts in the middle alongside one of the two water carriers. You can see that from the tiny cameo's we've had so far, we desperately need someone in the middle who can keep possesion, AND dictate the pace of the game, AND move us forward.

Babel looked lively early on, not that there's any guarantee he'd have taken advantage of the fact he seemed to have the beating of Zabaleta.

there's an argument to say there was no daylight when ball played, and I'm not convinced he was ahead of the ball either. I wouldn't have been happy if it'd have been given offside up the other end. Was a good goal, they carved us open nicely and got midfielders into the box.

The ref'd never get a good enough signal in Burnley. Challenges AND the ref admitting to being unsighted are the only answer. A video ref could have the correct answer almost before the ref/coach had asked for it if they're on the ball enough, certainly for the likes of hand ball decisions. Diving, ball over line, foul in penalty area may take slightly longer, but no longer than it takes to get a ball back in play at a goal kick/corner etc. You could even allow the video ref to overrule. The Henry incident for instance, the video ref could have called handball in the ref's ear almost before he's pointed to the centre spot. I think people are overcomplicating it, presumably based on the time it often takes in Rugby, where you have a mass of players often hiding the ball from view of one or more cameras. There are very few controversial decisions in football that can't be solved on camera quickly, the Garcia goal being one such exception, but if a camera angle can't overrule a ref then the ref's decision sticks.

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I'm not sure there's a place for that kind of perspective in the British media. Do they have a union, or club of some sort ? He'll be blackballed talking like that.

Where does positivity suddenly become spoilt expectations. You're losing the plot a bit there mate. Arsenal and the Mancs quite clearly don't need much of a nosedive in form, I suggest you have a look at the table. It's these exaggerated terms such as "nose dive" and "major slip up" and "need to win 15+ games in a row" that make the negative gang so laughable. By all means be disappointed with our start to the season, I certainly am, but wallowing in it, and fearing a fall into the bottom half before the end of the month ? I just don't get that, I really don't.

Do you not think the Manc's and Arsenal are in that same scrap ? I don't doubt for a moment that City at least will scrap for 4th, maybe villa and spurs if they can stay the course, I just don't exclude the Manc's or Arsenal from the same scrap. I'd say it's highly unlikely Chelsea will get dragged in to it, but equally unlikely is them continuing at 2.5 pts per game til the end of the season. 12 games is nothing at all, take another look after 19 and the landscape will be different. Yes, it could get worse, but I prefer to believe it will get better. Any other line of thought just seems pointless, you may aswell spend your weekends shopping and gardening if there's no hope for your football team.