Epic Swindle

Luckily he's got age on his side and he can't get any worse.

That was coming. The substitution completely ruined any momentum we'd built up. El Zhar on? One game nearer to the end of the season.

Agreed. We struggle with the basics. Everything is rushed and geared to nulifying the opposition.

He was worse against Wigan. It's baffling why he has to play every minute of every game, even when it's clear he's out of sorts. Babel, who deserved to stay on, and Riera left would have showed far more intent.

He's taking Babel off, unreal.

We really are a defensive team. These are here for the taking and there's just no attacking intent or quality.

Not sure what Torres is whinging about, he needs to stay on his feet.

He's put a good shift in and is our most likely threat for a goal.

Riera there, haven't seen him for a while. He's got to be worth a shout ahead of Kuyt who is just not in the game in any sense.

Decent half and gradually got a grip of the game.

This system is so ineffective without width and someone in midfield pulling the strings and picking out Gerrard, who tends to drop further back leaving Torres isolated. Liven up Lucas.

To be fair to Babel, even when he's not playing well he gives us something different, just that bit of extra pace and drive that puts defenders under pressure. With our lack of attacking options I'd always have him starting.

Great move. Should have scored.

Playing ok, still not a lot of quality and the service from midfield is poor.

Good play.

Mindless from Kuyt. He really is out of sorts and limiting our attacking options so much.

Decent tempo but not much quality yet. Insua is getting ripped to shreds.

I'd say a good 9, especially after reading Rafa's recent comments about match fitness. Tonight is the ideal opportunity to get him integrated into the side.

We'll batter these.

Just seen this on Sky. Why do they keep refering to Rafa talking about Blackburn's over physical style, when it was Allardyce who ignited it all in the build up to the game by criticising our approach.

I agree about his body language at times but it can't be easy constantly trying to lift yourself when there's so much responsibility on his shoulders, and when the lack of quality and adventure is glaring. He was poor against Wigan but there's countless other examples where he just hasn't had any type of service. I don't think Rafa wants him shouting and bawling anyway. He prefers him to conserve his energy.

I'm struggling to remember one instance of him acting like a spoilt child. Is he immune from being frustrated with poor players who aren't fit to wear the same shirt, rubbish football and bad results just because he's the captain? If anything I wish he'd lay into some of them a bit more and we might see a reaction, but I doubt it. Too many are content to disappear when Gerrard is not at his best.

I've never subscribed to this notion to be honest. He's a good, hard working manager who is obsessed with details and finding weakness in the opposition but that doesn't make him a genius. He's in his element in Europe where caution is an effective tactic, but a lot our of success has also been down to good players rising to the occasion and playing with an intensity that they struggle to re-create in the bread and butter of the league. Whether that's down to attitude, motivation or approach I'm still not sure.

I read that Tompkins piece and thought it was a rather tasteless hatchet job on two of our most loyal servants, both of whom have given everything under Rafa and are probably hurting like the rest of us. Their form has been iffy but I doubt it's got anything to do with any tabloid style conspiracy. Tompkins has found his niche and good luck to him, but the lack of objectivity make his views pretty redundant.