Red

Maybe we'll actually benefit from a meaningless friendly after all. Backing up a great performance for us with a goal for England, Crouch is bound to be even more confident for Charlton. Wouldn't be at all surprised if he bags a brace.

If you're one of those who doesn't think he's any good, fair enough that's your opinion, but to oppose the signing of a world class player on the basis that his wife is a 'slapper' is ludicrous.... funny, but ludicrous Great posts Leo.

Ever since I saw Gerrard hugging Schevchenko in the final I've had this dream we might sign him. Back in reality-ville however, I think we need a proven goalscorer, not gamble on a young up-and-comer. Owen would be OK, but I still have bad memories of Owen's long spells without goals while we waited 'til he found his 'form' or got injured again. I'd like to think we could find even better...

If Rafa aspires to manage Real Madrid one day, considering the amount of coach's Real Madrid go through, he'd have to feel pretty confident he'd get plenty of opportunities and wouldn't necessarily have to jump at the first chance he gets. If you're worried about him going, you're really questioning his loyalty. I genuinely believe that, until he achieves his goal of winning a premiership title, he will remain loyal to us.

Apart from the odd lapse/misunderstanding Kromkamp had a decent game, although a winger, he isn't. At the moment Aggy and Krompy are very useful second string players. Carra, Sami and Finnan are still way ahead in playing ability, but you would expect that given the huge gap in experience. From what I've seen of Kromkamp so far, which admittedly is not that much, he doesn't strike me as a player who will ever be a regular starter, but I think he has enough talent to be a worthy member of the squad.

We won't need them, goals can and will come from elsewhere.

Not bothered, we'll feckin' annihilate them at Anfield, lookin' forward to it already.

I dont think you can attribute Smiths injury to Webb's incompetence. Smith was too close, but the impact of the ball hitting his right leg was not the cause of the injury to his left leg. It was a clear case of Smith goin' one way nd his left leg staying put and folding under him... just very bad luck on Smiths part.

Leporidist

I'm gutted and need sleep... I know there're some positives in there somewhere, maybe I'll see them when I've had a kip. Cya when the dust settles...

Fair call on both points Kev

P.S. The Skysports Australia commentary is awful, they're having orgasms every time the ball comes near Lampstand

Very disappointing to be a goal down, but we've been the better side - Chelsea looked 'rattled' before the goal. What was happening with the defence? Everyone seemed to push up to get the offside, but Finnan and Warnock stayed glued to the goalposts, leaving 3-4 of theirs onside! Warnock off for Garcia in the second..

If it weren't for his sizeable fee and his broken leg, Cisse would be gone by now. Love the guy. Sell him.

At the moment I'm wearing a red t-shirt that has, amongst other things, the YNWA logo on the front and the word "carnage" on the back... all my other t-shirts are in the wash.

He made 3-4 chances for himself and other players, and put a lovely ball thru to Cisse, which Cisse should've scored from. I think he tired quickly however, as did most of the team.

I thought Xabi did OK. Gerrard had a great first half, but seemed shattered in the 2nd. Cisse is not good enough, full stop, point, period. Crouch moves slower than a sloth on vallium. Harry looked like he was wading in mud. Momo ran around a lot as usual, but his best 'moment' of the game was the Abel Xavier-esque 'chalk goatee'. Bar the c*ck-up at the end, I thought all the defenders played well, Finnan inparticular. Generally feeling gutted at the mo', but on the positive side, we were the better team for large periods of this match and deserved to get something out of it. Let's make up for it by twa**ing the a*** and Chelsea.

Well we have our most difficult run of matches of the season coming up, so I hope you're right David. The Luton win will help enormously, of course. Had we lost, the tiredness we're suffering would seem ten-fold. I think this 'boot up the backside' may have come just at the right time.