Left-Back: Liverpool's Achilles Heel

Once again, it was a lucky comeback, and an unlucky Wigan go home pointless. I wonder how much longer we can ride our luck? One thing is for sure, with Chelsea playing us on the weekend it is time to get rid of our slow starts once and for all, for if there has been any more impressive team than them in all of Europe so far this season, I have yet to see them play.

If I were Scolari, I'd be telling Bosingwa to get forward as much as he can to take advantage of the weakness of Dossena/Aurelio. The latter has had time and it is probably fair to call him a failure, but Dossena has just arrived and I will suspend judgement on him till later in the season. Unfortunately, Liverpool do not have other options to utilise in the meantime. Thus far, Rafa has shown that he is aware of his frailties by not playing Dossena in the 'bigger' matches but it's not like Aurelio has cut it against the top sides as well. Teams are scoring from our weak left flank-Middlesbrough, Wigan, Man Utd spring to mind very easily.

This is a major conundrum and I have no suggestions to offer as to how we can fix it up against Chelsea. One thing is for sure, I'll be a religious man for 90 minutes when we visit Stamford Bridge!

My, My, Our Year Is It...?

Coming from two goals down to beat the new powerhouse to be (Man City), and one hears of the 'spirit of Istanbul....' It's a good result, but what can one make of it?

One thing is for sure-bar the MU match, the team has yet to play particularly well, yet has won 5 and drawn 2 matches thus far. A team that can pick up so many points while playing at less than their full capabilities is more than just a lucky team. Class teams do it, and if this carries on, then despite playing at less than its best, the team can probably be deemed a 'class' team rather than being a team with some 'class' players.

Scoring last minute goals a la MU is also telling. The team can heap huge pressure on the opposition, forcing them deeper and deeper into defense and yielding the ball back to players in red jerseys. More often than not, this results in late goals.

The self-belief is there as well now, and there is consistency in the line-up and tactics, though Rafa the Faka did alter it against Man City and it nearly killed us.

I don't know if I care to say 'this is our season' as I gave up on that a few years ago-as well, it is still early days and MU and Arsenal will get over their hiccups while Chelsea look super impressive, despite all their injuries. It is their title to lose, quite frankly. As well, our left-back spot looks so very weak and it is only a matter of time before it is cracked open for good, as Middlesbrough and Man City showed in flashes. A January signing there is imperative.

Has The Fat Spanish Waiter Learnt His Lesson?

A cracking start to Liverpool's season, at least results-wise, if not quite performance-wise. One thing that became clear last season and one which has carried on this season is that Liverpool is well nigh tough to beat. They have now lost only 2 of their last 30 games (to MU & Chelsea) and lost less games than eventual champions MU last season.

This is of course, no reason to cheer, for this does not mean that the team will win anything just yet. Being tough to beat may just indicate a defensive mindset that leads to too many draws, and a serious aversion to risk, catapulting the fear of defeat ahead of the search for glory. Nevertheless, there does seem to be reason for optimism.

First, the central spine of the team is as good as any in the premiership. 4 very good central defenders (Carragher, Agger, Skrtel, Hyppia) and two top notch defensive midfielders (Alonso, Mascherano) ably assiated by two promising youngsters (Lucas, Plessis) even if Lucas is a headless chicken at times. Defensively then, the squad is as well equipped as Chelsea, MU and Arsenal, if not more so. And if one does not concede goals, one always has a chance of winning matches.

Second, which I consider vitally important, the massive rotation seems to have stopped. No more 5 changes a match and no more resting the big name match winners. Gerrard and Torres play pretty much every match, and Agger and Hyppia have to bide their time. Really only Alonso and Mascherano swap around among the big names. Keane starts with Torres, and Riera and Kuyt play out-wide with Arbeloa at right back, while Dossena and Aurelio are battling it out for the left-back slot. So minimal changes. Whether Riera should be selected ahead of Babel/Benayoun, or whether Dossena should be allowed near a red shirt, or whether Pennant should be given a look-in are secondary to the fact that the team now plays with cohesion.

Third, we have depth now, as noted with the central spine of the team. But also up front where once he gets going, Keane will show he knows where the back of the net is. Ngog looks promising and Kuyt can play up-front as well, as can Babel. It's not great, and it is an attack which cannot compete with Arsenal and MU, but one which matches Chelsea for depth. Out-wide, as long as he has the full-backs overlapping our weakness is minimised but even then Pennant can't get a game and Babel makes cameo appearences, while Benayoun continues to flitter in and out of the side.

But they are troubles of course. In the centre of midfield we have only one attack minded player in the indefatigable Steven Gerrard but no one else. Babel can probably fit in there if need be, as can Benayoun (and at a stretch Keane) but really there is no concrete fall-back option. Compare that to Chelsea and Arsenal and the team falls flat.

The full-back positions are the most problematic. Aurelio has never really convinced and Dossena needs to start playing like a defender. Arbeloa I don't mind, but why oh why force Finnan away? Ok, to get Riera in but even then...Deggen I have no idea about, but we'll see when he is fit. The fullbacks do not even begin to approximate the quality possessed by MU, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Still, more reason to be optimistic than not. It's certainly not our year seeing we don't do too well going behind opposing defences and the fullback weakness will eventually come to the fore, but bloody hell, at least the team should be right up there with the best come the end of April!

Does Liverpool Need to Dip into the Transfer market Again?

I thought the fat Spanish waiter said the squad was strong enough already, then when both Hyppia and Carragher get crocked (leaving Agger on his own), we apparently do not have a 4th central defender!!! Wassup with that Rafa? If indeed Palletta was so poor then why sell him without getting a replacement? As we saw with Chelsea last season a 4th CD is essential, even if he's not a specialist but one that has, and does occasionally, play there. Not just Chelsea but MU were crocked against Milan last season when they had Vidic, Ferdinand, Brown (?!) and Silvestre all out - ok, that was really BAD luck to have all 4 out...

We see now that Mourinho has ensured that bar a disaster they have able back-ups in CD. At this stage of the season, if Rafa does decide he needs back-up where does he plan to find one who good enough and happy enough to warm the bench without paying a fortune, since everyone knows we need a CD?

Not very smart of the newly goateed one-if we don't get one who's the 4th choice CD? Sissoko slotted in there against Sunderland but he's too much of a psycho to be trusted in that role. Mascherano maybe but he does not seem the tallest. Arbeloa and Risse at a stretch but that's what Chelsea had to do with Essien and/or Ferreira last season and MU with Heinze and O'Shea-it just won't do!!

Here's hoping they'll be no gaping holes in the middle of defence this season...I just got the sinking feeling however that we'll be well and truly roasted there...

BTW, WTF is Wenger thinking loaning Djorou to Birmingham? Now Gallas is out till October and Senderos got injured so poor old Gilberto has to slot in there, yet again. Not very smart either.

Premier league is Back!!

And so are my half-arsed opinions, foregone the last few months due to a combination of work, laziness, and no English football....

Looks like a good start to the season vis-a-vis attacking football. Judging after 1 round, at least both Liverpool and Chelsea will attack this season, making the top 4 very watchable sides. Spurs will continue to infuriate, and the battle at the bottom will be very watachable I think, because Keano led Sunderland can play a bit, Derby look like a side that can pass the ball around (if Giles Barnes stays put and fit with Howard winning the high balls in the opposition box), and Steve Bruce would have learnt a lot about Birmingham's last relegation. They already look like they can score. Fulham's strengthened, but is it a strong Championship side? Boro always look to struggle but eventually stay up. Interesting to see how Wigan goes but their demise is probably set in stone given that they got good old Titus Bramble signed.

My predictions:

1. MU
2. Chelsea (African Nations Cup will kill them)
3. Liverpool (but only just behind the other 2 clowns)
4. Arsenal (also running very close)
5. Spurs (a distant 5th)
6. Newcastle (fit Owen and Fat Sam will propel them to a UEFA Cup spot)
7. Blackburn (very solid, I'm assuming they get knocked out early in the UEFA Cup)
8. Villa
9. Everton (good UEFA Cup run will take its toll)
10. Man City (Eriksson's no goose)
11. Portsmouth (can't defend as well as they did last season surely)
12. West Ham (after Curbishley gets sacked they'll get on a fine run)
13. Bolton (difficult season ahead)
14. Reading (can't buy players)
15. Sunderland (Keano's a bastard, but looking the goods)
16. Boro (Gibson bails them out yet again with his dosh)
17. Fulham (Healy and McBride with Niemi in goals will keep them up)
18. Birmingham (should be Boro but I think they'll stay up, by hook or by crook)
19. Derby (Steve Howard to keep them going till the bitter end)
20. Wigan (time's up with Heskey up front and Bramble at the back)

Best Players This Season By Club:
MU-Hardgreaves is all class-Canadians can play too!!!
Chelsea-Malouda/Essien
Liverpool-Gerrard in the centre will be hard to stop
Arsenal-Adebayor will step up to the plate
Spurs-Lennon's injury already shows how important he is to the team
Newcastle-a fit Owen
Blackburn-Ryan Nelson at the back
Villa-Agbonlahor to take the step up
Everton-Arteta, as usual....
Man City-tough one, don't know half of them but that Elano looks real class
Portsmouth-finally consistent, David James will edge out Gary O'Neil
West Ham-huge season for Scott Parker and Dean Ashton. The former will succeed.
Bolton-Anelka if he does not sulk, who else?
Reading-Kevin Doyle must step up once again. Lita's strikes me as an idiot.
Sunderland-big season for Craig Brown
Boro-Downing cares and will do well.
Fulham-if he's fit-Antti Niemi
Birmingham-after watching just 1 match, Olivier Kapo looks the goods.
Derby-Steve Howard
Wigan-a very busy Chris Kirkland

Final Here We Come!!

So Benitez isn't as stubborn as he looks-he actually came to the conclusion that he needed to set the team out to attack against Chelsea; a traditional 4-4-2 with two (pretty poor on the day) wingers but at least the idea was there. I never did believe he would actually dare put Gerrard in as a CM; of course the end result was Alonso on the bench to allow a deep lying CM to protect the defense.

My initial surprise was deepened when Zenden kept his spot as I assumed Risse would play LM with Arbeloa at LB but there you go. A turgid match, where both sides played not too lose, rather than win once Liverpool levelled the tie (despite Mourinho's post-match comments). The neutrals must have fallen asleep watching it, but I was on the edge of my seat.

Perhaps more could have been done out wide given the poor service Crouch received but at the end of the day, we won the lottery. Chelsea were much better in the first leg and I thought Liverpool were slightly better at Anfield in a pretty even match. Mourinho says the best team lost, but surely they were only marginally better. A far superior team would surely have won it over the 210 minutes.

Still, Chelsea have a wonderful side with a fighting spirit that was encapsulted by their pre-penalty huddle. What they have done this year with all the injuries and off-pitch rumblings was almost magnificent, but they still have the FA Cup to play. Hopefully Mourinho will leave and the price of oil takes a huge tumble so Abramovich will follow him out the exits!!!

Liverpool must learn to match them and MU over an entire season, not over 90 minutes. It's nice to do well in the CL, but the bread and butter is domestic football, and it's about time Benitez gets that right after 3 years in charge-not winning the league is one thing, but not even challenging is just unacceptable.

Chance at Redemption

In a few hours we'll know if Liverpool or Chelsea make the CL final. It's redemption time for both. The FA Cup is not a measure of success for Mourinho surely. He sets his sights high, and when you've won 2 league titles already, the 2 League Cup successes are nice accompaniments, as surely the FA Cup will be. But for him, it must be about the league and CL. But the league must surely be gone now, partially due to his decision to rest too many regular starters against Bolton to save them for the Liverpool game. He's put all his eggs in one basket-has he risked too much?

Liverpool will grab FA Cup success with 2 grateful hands, but we're not in it. The league has not been seriously threatened by us either in many years. CL glory is now the only target now re-qualification is guaranteed (3rd round anyway). So it's all or nothing for both. It'll be a hell of a tie.

The news is that apart from Ballack, Schevchenko & Carvalho are also out. Can't always tell with Mourinho's tricks but if so, that's a good sign. Carvalho's a hell of a CB and set up the only goal so far. Schevchenko is still a top striker & surely he'll come good sometime (though Morientes did not...).

Benitez must take the game to them. If indeed Carvalho is out I expect Mourinho to be more adventurous as he might expect Liverpool to score so it might well be an open game. But if he sets the stall out to defend, it'll be a chess game, and a very tight affair. Chelsea should attack, even without Carvalho, will Liverpool score 3? I doubt it.

Will Benitez be more attacking to begin with? Surely now that Finnan's back, Arbeloa can start at LF with Risse at LM but almost certainly Gerrard will be at RM. Mascherano and Alonso at CM with Crouch and Kuyt as strikers. Or perhaps he'll spring a surprise, play Pennant at RM, pushing Gerrard in as the 2nd striker and starting with either Crouch or Kuyt.

Time for me to sacrifice a chicken in the hope that Drogba breaks his legs...

Liverpool V Chelsea - Lucky Reds

I breathed a sigh of relief at the end of the match-only a 1-0 loss is a good result when one considers the gulf in class evident today. It should be all over by now, but somehow or other the tie is still alive, but perhaps only to delay the inevitable?

The line-ups had me worried sick. As well as Arbeloa has done so far, Finnan's the first choice right back and the decision to play Bolo Zenden had me almost having a cardiac arrest. I think he's pretty good, but having hardly played any football for 2 years with injuries, and now being reduced to a bit part player, it was shocking to see his name on the team sheet, at left midfield to boot, a position he has barely played for some years now. Bellamy for Crouch was a 50-50 proposition, and Gerrard on the right no longer makes me mad; I have accepted that he is the fifth choice central midfielder at the club. Chelsea's line-up was full of attacking intent, and suddenly, much to my dissapointment, Carvalho was back at CB, and Ashley Cole at right back; plus Boulahrouz and Geremi (and Bridge?) were on the bench. Of course Ferreira played like it was 2005 again when he was fantastic.

It was too defensive a line-up but so be it; surely we can keep the ball then...yeah right. For all the criticism of English players' poor technique, Arbeloa and Mascherano kept giving the ball away and then gave stupid fouls to make up for it. Mascherano in particular seemed incapable of passing the ball 5 yards to a man in red, and Risse at times was also guilty of this. Chelsea were superb though the goal came from poor defending. Not quite Agger (Drogba was maginificent) but Arbeloa who started 5 yards ahead of Joe Cole but ended up 3 yards behind him leaving Cole to blast the ball in.

It was about time Arbeloa had a poor match; he's been very good-unfortunately it had to be this one. He wasn't the only one though. Risse, Mascherano, Gerrard and Bellamy were quite poor too though I'll defend Gerrard given he was on the right but never getting the ball (partially due to Arbeloa being so poor). Reina kept us in it, and Zenden was very useful indeed, surprisingly.

We were only as good as Chelsea let us be, and it surprised me that at 1-0 Chelsea didn't go for the kill while Liverpool did not make more of an effort going forwards. This in part is due to both coaches being too concerned about safety. Mourinho backs him team to win 1-0 and rarely concede. As far as he's concerned 1-0 is much better than risking losing one by pressing too much to kill the game off. Benitez also feels it's better to lose 1-0 than press to hard for an equalizer and risk losing 2-0. I think that's more Chelsea's loss though; at home, when so superior, Mourinho could have been more daring.

Still an open tie, but advantage Chelsea-a second chance for Liverpool really, will we take it?

The Long Limp Home to Success....

Which one of the defensively diseased evil empires - Chelsea or MU - will limp home to win the league title?

Methinks MU because they have decided to outscore the opposition in the face of having to play Wes Brown, Fletcher and occasionally Kieran Richardson. More often than not, it's enough in the league (bet Milan cannot wait to kill Wes Brown though...).

Chelsea's poor showing against Newcastle suggests to me a team that struggles to get out of a safety first mentality. The attacking players are all there, but Mourinho's tactics in the face of a crippled (central) defence is to protect it, not attack the opposition and keep the ball in their half of the field. Against Newcastle, when they knew a win would take them to within a point of MU, Mourinho attacked too late and they dropped 2 points. A safe tactic might well work if Chelsea were 3 points ahead, but at this juncture a few more risk taking decisions might be in order. Did Mourinho get it wrong or is he confident MU is going to drop more points along the way?

He might well be over-confident what with Chelsea still to play Arsenal. A Chelsea win over MU might still then not be enough. The Newcastle match was a huge opportunity gone begging-I really couldn't believe Chelsea's performance...

The Sweet Smell of Failure...

So off we go marching into the final four of the Champions League. Dreams of glory begin to sweep into our minds as we sleep. But when we wake, fear seems to have taken over both myself and other Liverpool fans I know-the fear of reaching the final and losing to the now 'not-so evil' empire-the dastardly Manchester United....

Don't get me wrong-I want the team to win, but should we lose let us get knocked out in the semis, even if it is to the new evil empire. Finishing 2nd is always a lot worse than losing a semi. Yet, one must be prepared for it if one desires to win.

If we get through it's either MU or Milan-now Milan will be thirsting for revenge for that day in Istanbul when the cosmic forces of nature (and Didi Hamann)conspired to rip the trophy from them. It was the collective praying from all Liverpool fans that day to God/Satan/[add religious figure here] that took the trophy from the Milanese. We all swore to never ask for another CL victory ever again-yet here we are, too greedy for our own good. Has the proverbial god got the best punishment for us greedy souls...?

Losing to Milan will not be a just punishment; just a reward for Milan. No, the best punishment would be to lose to the evil MU much akin to that day at Anfield not so long ago when we contrived not to score then let John O'Shea (see, I told you there's an evil power up there somewhere) score the winner at the death. The clouds are getting darker; the thunder is rumbling....all we wait for now is for Cristiano Ronaldo to dive in the box in injury time to win the CL...

Is Chelsea that bad by comparison...?

Maddening Benitez

A useless 0-0 draw against Aston Villa-few players seemed to care, even the Villa players oddly enough. Never have I seen a home team in England play so defensively. 1 real chance for both sides in the 89th minute for substitute Robbie Fowler and 1 penalty not given to Stilian Petrov in 1st half injury time-I wish it was given; might have made for an interesting game...

Benitez is maddening because he says the league matters, because he says he wants to catch Chelsea (what a joke). Fact is he only cares now about finishing 4th, so why lie? His team selection proved it-Fabio Aurelio and Mascherano in and Alonso out. Clearly he wants to give Mascherano every chance to get his match fitness-his performance suggests he needs it, and quick. He also needs to use his players where they are better suited-moving Gerrard to the centre was good, but not when it meant Kuyt going to the right. When Pennant came on, he took Bellamy off reducing us to 1 real striker. Hardly teh signs of a coach going for a win.

Tinker by all means in the league if finishing 4th is the real target while the main aim remains the CL. Just don't continue talking bullshit.

The Liverpool CL Post-Mortem

Well, lahdeedah....a win (of sorts). Never quite seen a happier set of home supporters celebrating a 1-0 loss but hey, I'll take it!

It was actually quite a good performance, and really, how Liverpool lost I just don't know. Back-to back defeats at home against world class opposition (Barca and MU) whom we outplayed - I find myself rather pleased despite the results because surely this is the way forward. Play well and the goals will eventually come (play Fowler please...).

Arbeloa has played twice against Barca now and has been fabulous. Sissoko still can't pass to a player in a red shirt but has been quite outstanding in the tackle though he needs to cool it somewhat. Pennant is starting to look like a footballer and Bellamy is playing as well as he has ever been. Carragher and Agger are really looking like a unit and Finnan is also playing at his best. Now we need Gerrard and especially Alonso to fire.

PSV looks like the easiest tie, but all sides left in the QFs deserve respect-this time, the favourite tag (noose?) lie with the mighty Liverpool Reds-lets see how the team handles it. We just haven't handled the favourites tag well in the recent past. Also, let's start scoring again.

Gazing into the crystal ball, I foresee Liverpool getting past PSV (just), Bayern edging a toothless AC Milan, MU over an overly-exuberant Roma and a real 50-50 between Chelsea and Valencia. A lot will depend on Terry's fitness, Valencia suspensions after the Inter brawl, and probably a huge dose of luck to one side. I'd rather meet Chelsea in the SF if we get there rather than Valencia-I can just see Morientes scoring the winner deep in injury time to take them through....

Liverpool v. Barca Preview

After a weird first leg, I simply cannot wait for this match-hopefully Barca's indifferent form continues and we can bounce back against them after the MU sucker punch. It'll be a fantastic match I'm sure and a real 50-50 battle.

Being my pessimistic self, I still have Barca as slight favourites, even if only because they have to go for it, and that is when they are at their best. We lack pace at the back, and surely that is what Barca will attempt to take advantage of. I expect Giuly to play at least some part in the match out on the right to get behind what would surely be two blocks of defensive lines.

No Mascherano and Arbeloa for the MU match suggests that they have some role to play in this match. Arbeloa I thought performed brilliantly against Barca at the Nou Camp and Mascherano, match fitness aside, is a very good player who can hold up the ball well. I think the former will start and the latter will come off the bench.

It'll be interesting to see how the team shapes up-I couldn't decipher the shape in the Nou Camp match-just where was Arbeloa, Risse and Bellamy playing? Seemed like 3 on the left to me!! I think we won't be too defensive but will be cautious enough and in that sense it'll be a 4-4-1-1 probably. I'm not guessing the line-up because I can see Arbeloa playing but not where he will play. Will Finnan or Gerrard start on the right? If the former then will Gerrard play in the hole with Bellamy on the bench or the left?

We'll soon find out.

Liverpool v. MU - I just knew it!!!

Call me pessimistic but I just knew we would lose 1-0 to an injury time goal. I suppose low expectations reduce disappointment levels but the fact is, till we get a 20 goal a season striker we're not going to challenge for the league much less win the bloody thing!! A good performance; one of the best of the season, and to a certain extent we were unlucky but the ball must be put away, pure and simple.

Chances need to be taken and we don't do it often enough. Not since Owen have we had a 20 goal a season striker. Kuyt is too profligate, Bellamy's no finisher, Crouch is nuisance value and only Le God can score efficiently, as long as we have Beckham crossing the ball to his feet in the 6 yard box. Now we have signed a Ukrainian striker for next season-in Rafa we trust? Nunez, Josemi, Pellegrino, Palletta suggests he is a real 50-50 proposition; no more than that.

Congrats to MU-lucky sure, but over the season they've earned it-if only they didn't do it at Anfield!! At least this may piss Abramovich enough to pack his bags and go on home.

Liverpool v Newcastle: Squad Limitations

A dissapointing 2-1 defeat against an injury ravaged Newcastle is very hard to swallow indeed, especially when we were all over them in the first half and should have had it all wrapped up by then. The two problems that hampered the team was squad limitation and Benitez's continuing incomprehensible substitutions.

First, as poor as he has been this season, I must re-evaluate my criticism of Xabi Alonso. We dearly missed his quality passing, especially given the very wet pitch that almost caused the game to be called off. We had to play both Sissoko and Zenden for their first matches in quite a while and with Zenden playing out wide on the left he was never going to last 90 minutes. Sissoko also looked just a touch slower than usual and it's a wonder he escaped a booking from a very lenient Mark Clattenburg.

We were 2-1 down when Benitez decided to apply his black magic. Removing Zenden was no real surprise given his lack of match fitness but our limitations were exposed when 19 year old Danny Guthrie came on for him. First time I've seen him, but it seems a case of him getting a run due to injuries (Kewell, Garcia, Aurelio, Gonzalez) rather than forcing his way through the squad. The big surprise was removing Pennant for our new right back Arbeola when we're chasing the game!! Befitting his inconsistent season, Pennant's been up and down all season but in this match was quite good, repeatedly taking Babayaro to the cleaners and setting up Bellamy's goal. Removing him to push Finnan up was flabbergasting as Finnan does not beat players-he's a fine overlapping right back and an adequate right sided midfielder when need be, not when we need to score a goal.

Then, lo and behold, we bring on Crouch for Finnan with a few minutes left. So no more crosses from the right for the big man to win, epecially with Gerrard playing all over the park by this point and Guthrie totally annonymous on the left. Truly a breath-taking range of substitutions from a man who continues to frustrate me.

Overall, this reminded me of our last defeat away to Blackburn when we totally dominated the 1st half and should have cantered home. Then, as now, we wasted too many chances. We need a 20 goal a season striker, and that we don't have. Perhaps Kuyt maybe, but he was a hell of a culprit too. Agger finally had a poor game, but that's part of the learning curve, and hopefully he'll learn well from this experience.

It was frustrating, but as with the Blackburn game, stil very promising. We simply must be more clinical in front of goal and maximise Bellamy's pace. Love him or hate him, Kewell's impending return cannot come soon enough-we're stretched to the limit on the left.

Finally, kudos for Babayaro playing despite his brother dying the night before-not just that, but it was his first game back from injury suffered in December. He might well have been their weak link all night, but didn't he show some guts and determination?

Yankeepool!!!

So no more calling MU ManUSA then....

Still, the newly renamed Liverpool Reds 'franchise' will now have $$$ to move into a new stadium, probably named after some multinational fast food joint...the KFC stadium anyone?

The Derby-Shit Game, Shit Management

Luis Garcia might be the most frustrating player on our books, but Benitez must be the most frustrating manager in our history. Just when it looks like he's got no clue he pulls a rabbit out of his arse and just when it seems he's on the right track, he pulls a turnip out of the same orifice.

His 4-4-2 line-up with Bellamy on the left (or as shown by the commentary team) looked like a risk worth taking but the countless aimless balls in the air that landed on the heads of very content and competent blue heads for 93 minutes was a classic example of why I feel Benitez isn't they guy for the job. Unlike Mourinho, Wenger or Ferguson who don't die wondering, this frustrating man continued to twiddle his thumbs when it was obvious to all and sundry that the problem was that (a)there was no width on the left and (b) the crosses weren't working. He signed Gonzalez who was on the bench; use him then!!! He backs him through the whole transfer saga but what kind of vote of confidence is this for them young man? No, he takes Bellamy (our best player) out for Fowler. We already lacked pace, and he decides to pretty much reduce the Everton workload in the last few minutes with that substitution.

Useless management was at the fore today; this probably means he'll pull that rabbit out next match-hopefully without that lumbering jackass Alonso. Well, I'm being harsh on Alonso, but what has he done this season really? He needs a break, it'll do him good. Title challenge my arse.

The Failed DIC Bid

Well, well, well, Moores decides against it, and Rick Parry probably choked on his cereal when he heard. I'm glad, very glad, as DIC owes better to its real investors, the people of Dubai. Football fans they might be, but they've no right IMO to spend hundreds of millions on a football team-just what sort of return were they expecting?

But what about Liverpool now? Looks like it's this Gillett guy but will he stick to his offer (I think it's there on the table in some more or less concrete form). The thing is we'll need to have the funding for Stanley Park in place by March or the city council will withdraw their share of the funding (if I believe right-haven't really been following the story too much). The stadium is very important; the extra bums on seats eases the pressure financially and allows more fans entry.

A decision is needed sooner rather than later. I just hope Moores called it off because there's something better out there, not because he can't let go of the umbilical cord.

West Ham V Liverpool

A 2-1 win...comfortable most of the time but for the last 15 minutes. The highlight of a forgettable first 45 minutes was Benitez's fall on the mud but the 2nd half was quite entertaining with 2 fabulous strikes from Kuyt and Crouch. Pennant continues to frustrate though...

A 3-4-3 as in the game against Watford. I'm unsure what to make of it. It's hardly ever used and I'm ignorant as to how teams approach it or indeed, use it. Benitez seems to play it safely from what I saw anyway. Finnan on the right is competent but hardly an attacking option and Risse is still more useful rushing up from left back than left midfield. Gerrard seemed to be deployed as a more defending force alongside Alonso pretty much leaving the front three to their own devices. If I'm right then its a case of everyone more defensive than offensive bar the front three. Then again perhaps Gerrard just had a quiet game, or perhaps I'm not giving West Ham enough credit.

Pennant's the worry though the goal conceded was hardly his fault alone-mind you, he lost the ball too easy in the lead up to their goal then spends his little time arguing with an admittedly crazy Boa Morte. He needs to toughen up mentally.

Oh well, it's a win-why can't I ever be happy with the team?

Liverpool V Chelsea - well, well, well!!!!

After a month's holiday, I get to finally watch a full match without interruption-and well, it's a happy return for me!!! I really don't know how good we were because Chelsea was so poor but surely we did more right than wrong. The line-up was as I expected, with Agger finally being preferred to Hyppia for games against tough opposition due to his and Carragher's collective lack of pace. My only query was Bellamy's pace being kept on the bench in favour of two players while not slow, aren't quick either. But they combined well throughout, Kuyt and Crouch.

This piece is really more about Chelsea than Liverpool because their performance was so out of character. Any team can have a bad match, but Chelsea's lack of fight and low morale was so unlike them. It was almost as if they were resigned to defeat. At 2-0 down they played to keep the score down rather than go for a draw or win, and that says it all really. They really have big problems, and Mourinho can finally show what he's made of now he's facing a problem he has never had before; a crisis at a top club. Ballack and Lampard were truly awful and only Drogba showed his true spirit. still, I was never confident until Drogba nutmegged Ballack for that atrocious set-piece move!

It's always dangerous having a sugar-daddy running a club. if indeed Abramovich has been playing Championship Manager and now thinks he knows better than Mourinho then Chelsea will be in some strife. I always thought they should forget the league anyway and go for the Champions League and if MU win tonight I won't be surprised to see Mourinho do just that.

Interesting times for the evil empire...