Alonso on the bench today

[Dule]

Was this a tactical thing? Did Rafa want Gerrards impact in the middle today? Or was Xabi carrying a knock?

 

You could come up with theory's all day i think, but i personally think that it was the kick up the a*** that has been coming for a long time. I think that Rafa was not happy with his performance against Pompey, and it was a message to Xabi that he has to pull his finger out.

 

Now i know we have been harsh on him, and he has still played reasonably well. But we all know how good the guy is, and how much of an influence he should be having on the game.

 

Thoughts?

Edited May 2, 2007 by Dule

[Maldini]

Horses for courses

[downunder]

Horses for courses

 

What amazed me was no Dudek on the bench, was he injured - apologies if covered elsewhere? Yes he has been uselss this season, but had Reina got injured/sent off it was a big match to bring someone in for their debut.

[San Diego Red]

What amazed me was no Dudek on the bench, was he injured - apologies if covered elsewhere? Yes he has been uselss this season, but had Reina got injured/sent off it was a big match to bring someone in for their debut.

Arbeloa seems to have good handling skills

[Guest Scot]

What amazed me was no Dudek on the bench, was he injured - apologies if covered elsewhere? Yes he has been uselss this season, but had Reina got injured/sent off it was a big match to bring someone in for their debut.

 

His outburst means he's done

[KD07]

It's cos he's black and Polish.

[kacangpool]

xabi didn't play from the start just so that the game would be more fair to chelsea. we even played the slow and aging zenden and a west ham reject at the onset. we played a spanish goalie who's nowhere near the top of the pecking order in the spanish team. we had long term injuries to luis and kewell. and still we fecking beat them.