Red

".. always the last to be picked in training". :D

If he'd been clever, he could've given a typically innane 'sub-head sized' quote which everyone would have forgotten about 2.3 seconds after he'd finished saying it. Instead, he broke the 'golden rule' and actually said what he was really thinking. But then, Michael's always had a suspicious, defensive attitude in interviews, he handles every question like a grenade with the pin pulled out.

Viduka may be a good, but for mine, we only need one experienced back-up striker and Viduka and Fowler are too similar... If we're talking old(er) strikers, I'd much rather we went for someone like Anelka, as he'd offer something a bit different. Alas, from what I can gather from reading the posts here, Nico seems to have 'burnt his bridges' with the club and won't be returning. Anyone, please correct me if I'm wrong.

I still believe Gerrard was 'drawing' the foul, which is dfferent to diving in my books. The player only just missed him and if he'd made contact Gerrard would've prob' collapsed in much the same way. And as Anny Road pointed out, the attempted tackle was reckless enough to warrant a pen' anyway.

Almost spilt mee schooner! Great news, we luv luis.

I haven't seen enough of all the players mentioned, but at the moment I'd go for Owen.

Jeez, are Bellamy, Bent, Defoe and Kuyt are only options?

I agree Sammya and I seriously would love to see him at the club.

A baggage handler friend of mine has an estate agent brother in-law who says that Liverpool are buying a house for a player, and his best mate who's the lawyer in the deal, has told him that he knows someone working in a national tabloid who swears he saw him having dinner at a local restaurant.

This isn't really a post about Rafa's genius is it? You just wanted to say how great you think Robbie Fowler is..

Ok I admit it too... in the last month he's really made me sit up and take notice. He's been succeeding despite his obvious weaknesses, which is something you have to admire. I also think he's shown a degree of maturity and intelligence which he hasn't in the past, and has responded well to good coaching and instruction. To be honest, I wouldn't swap Cisse for Defoe, Bent or Kuyt at the moment, so if Rafa' decides Cisse is worth perservering with I'd be happy with that.

Whoever it is, he will certainly be the new zidane maradonna messi Viera signing

You can understand peoples frustrations with him though David. He's the last (barring Traore), of Houllier's ill-conceived purchases who still hasn't been sold off or moved on, and to be fair, if he hadn't broke his leg he'd probably have been long gone by now. Maybe we should have a thread entitled "What the bloody hell Houllier ever saw in him!"

They cut to a close-up of the linesman just after the decision. It showed him looking a bit disgruntled and giving a little rueful shake of the head. At the time I took this as to mean he'd realised he'd just fecked up, but now I think it was more a reaction to some of the stick he was getting from the sidelines.

When was the last time we made an 'unforced' sub at half time? We weren't chasing the game, we hadn't already won the game and we never had a problem with injury... quite a surprising time to sub by Rafa and a clear indication of his frustration with Cisse. How many different ways can you write "simply not good enough"?

Gotta agree with Macca. What he offers to the side far outweighs what we'll have to pay him in wages. As the Americans say "it's a no-brainer".. another season for God please Rafa. p.s. and in answer to Kev's initial question.. Although I'd like him to stay, I wouldn't be that upset if Rafa chose not to give Robbie another contract. Hopefully this would mean we were making way for two quality strikers instead.

I always say the same..

In one of recent games the ball came to Luis and he flicked the ball in totally the opposite direction to where everyone was expecting, for a split second he even had the camera going the wrong way! Nothing came of the flick and he lost out to the 3 defenders surrounding him if memory serves, but that's always stuck in my mind as a little reminder of why he's such a valuable player to have. He has the nous to try things in a game very few players would think of, or expect and this together with a genuine ability to change a game in an instant.

Still think he looks like he's eating too many pies, but it's great to see him back playing well. "Class is permanent... ", as the ol'cliche goes.

I'm sure the idiot that was Phil Dowd, went for the card early in time-honoured fashion, as a means of stamping his authority on the game. Unfortunately for everyone involved, his "Napoleon Card" spectacularly backfired. I agree, the players didn't help themselves, but with so many inconsistent and questionable decisions littered throughout the entire game, I could understand the players' frustrations. Derby games and poor ref's do not mix! The clips of Rafa, jumping to his feet at a another bad decision and stomping off down the touchline, really made me smile. Not the antics you'd normally associate with such a reserved character and just another example of what Dowd's refereeing can do to people!

... because he continually beat our best defenders to get crosses in. He not only stood out in a bad team, he looked good enough to be in ours. However, for all his skills, I really have no idea where is head is at and if his presence were to have a negative affect on team spirit, I'd rather not have him.

Cheers Leo, good t'hear. The more I read about Bent the more I like him. Thanks Jay. Defoe strikes me as someone who'll mature into a better player and stay at the top level for a while.. of course, now I've said that, he'll suffer a sudden downturn in form, lose his 'first touch' and forget where the goal is!

Funny. Craig Bellamy and Eto'o being mentioned in the same thread. I think I'd rather speculate on buying a striker with skill and class, than one with skill and no class, even if the vulgar one is more feasible than the other. So what if we can't get Eto'o. The longer idle speculation keeps Craig Bellamy's name off these forums, the better. Speaking of "attitudes" and the other names mentioned, I've never seen or read Bent or Defoe being interviewed and was wondering what their attitudes are like? I'd hate for us to get a "show-pony" like Bellamy, thankfully, I wouldn't have thought Rafa does either (then again, nothing would surprise me with Rafa these days ). As a player, I've been very impressed by Defoe, and I haven't seen enough of Bent to judge but I have enjoyed reading the thread. Gives me a good sense of what's-what, in my far flung corner of the globe.

Great News! Re-sign Parry!

The last memory I have of Crouch and Cisse playing together is the two of 'em bumping into each other on the edge of the penalty area, fighting over the same ball.