simon wrote:No one's got anything to say about the Rafa debacle....

Well i'm not a 'pool fan so i'm not qualified but i'd be miserable if i was. I mean as an Arsenal fan i should be concerned about Liverpool affecting our chances of winning the league or any cups but i can't say i've feared them for a number of years now and for a club of their 'stature' that is worrying, because if i say it then so do Chelsea and Man Utd fans. That leaves the pool aiming for a 4th place every year, with Everton, Villa, Portsmouth etc. getting stronger their position is shaky at best.
As for playing staff, i might get laughed at but i think they should play Crouchy with Torres every match, i'm not a massive fan of Crouch but he's not got a bad scoring record for them or England, (yes yes poor opposition and a dreadlock tug, but playing international football is tough and nerves or other factors could have got the better of him) and his goals are normally of high quality. The strike this weekend was a perfect example, just on the pitch, had to react quickly reach behind, get power, control and direction on the ball as well as keeping it down and shooting through a crowd of players. I thought it was a great goal, they all raved about Rooney's goal this weekend, ok it was cute but he dangled a foot at it and got the necessary touch to change the flight of the ball and sneak it in at the far post. Crouchs' was the better finish.
I also feel sorry for him because of Dirk Ku*t, who i thought was going to be class before he signed, i was seriously worried about him, but he's done nothing and keeps Crouch out and Crouch actually scores goals! If Crouch had a bit more conviction when heading the ball then i think he'd be an 'irreplaceable' on the team sheet, ok he hasn't got pace but he brings players into the game and has a great touch, give him the ball and let Torres do all the running.
I streamed the match so you never get as 'into' a game with poor picture quality or maybe it was pixelation but i couldn't see Gerard at all. He seemed to be playing somewhere between centre-mid and right wing and had no affect whatsoever on the game. Rafa should just stick him at the front of a diamond with Mascerano mopping up and all his probs will be solved. Especially with Babel (who looks good and scores goals) and Penant on the wings they should be far more attacking. A wasted talent.
I also thought Liverpool got every decision in the game, none of them seemingly to affect the outcome of the game but one of the many freekicks, throw-ins that should have been Villas went to Liverpool. Martine O'Neil was steaming up. A big shame, Villa should of finished them off, was it Young who should of passed when they had 2 against 1 when they were 1 nil up? Anyway a missed opportunity to take all 3 points and make Rafa's position a bit more precarious. Oh well there's always next week, who've they got........
quick google......COME ON HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE
I'll just go back and read your post now

Maureen???

Literally took me to type it to realise what you meant. Mourinho. There was some 'paper talk' but i don't know, apart from the fact his missus loved london i think he'd rather win the Spanish or Italian league after buying/
winning everything in England, ok he didn't win the CL with Chelsea, but what does he care, he can win it with Real, Barca, Milan or whoever.
After all that typing i'll leave someone else to speculate on his replacement and i've got to go and watch our kids knock the spuds out of the cup
