Jim D

and seven doubles

Time of kick off certainly added to the drab atmosphere.

Well every player on that pitch is expected to give that extra more in their game. Its just not happening for Morientes, what is worrying for me he doesn't even look like scoring. Hes not getting into a position to try and even score a goal. Unlike Crouch earlier on in the season who looked threatening despite the ball not falling for him to put it into the back of the net. Anyway, on an additional note that was on our 18th clean sheet in the League this season, superb record. I think our defence has unfairly recieved criticism in recent weeks. The goals we have conceded recently has been more due to the extra onus put on the defence to keep a clean sheet. The defence has been carrying this team all season, our attacking play in general is just toothless.

Thats it, same problem still exists, lack of cutting edge in front of goal...past 5 results... 1-0 0-1 1-0 1-0 1-0 OK we are winning, but it means the defence is under much more pressure because the forwards aren't doing their job. Have to start scoring alot more.

Rafa has settled for 1-0...... 3mins added

No they were booing Crouch coming off, a very questionable substitution. Crouch has looked threatening all game, Morientes has offered nothing as an attacking threat. How does he stay on?

Arsenal this season = Liverpool last season?? Excellent in Europe, Excellent home record in the League, Awful away record in the League. Struggling to get into the top 4. Could Spurs miss out on Champions League despite finishing 4th? Could lightning strike twice?

There is nothing wrong with the zonal marking system. Unfortunately our defence is carrying the team at the moment. The strikers aren't doing their job and so as a consequence magnifies any individual mistakes made in the back four particularly from set pieces. We have got an excellent defensive record, but if we can't score, its puts extra pressure on the defence and goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet. Most probably why we have been sloppy at set plays. Benfica are a poor side and quite frankly as an attacking thread we never turned up. We got sucker punched again, very similar to the Old Trafford game. I think we are going to have to score 3 goals in the return leg to get through......that at this moment in time is looking unlikely.

No complaints of the result, that was a poor performance. Benfica were there for the taking tonight and we blew it. Our forward play was awful and quite frankly its the defence that is carrying this team at the moment. As a consequence its magnifying the slip ups at set pieces because on the whole the defence has played well all season. Rafa is going to be livid. Our strikerforce is totally toothless, Benfica are an average team, let them off the hook. Additionally can't believe how many times we gave away the ball going forward.....Garcia and Kewell totally at guilt there.

Thought Wes Brown was worse, he got away with two clearances which nearly ended up in his own net. First one when he tried to whack it clear off his foot, totally spooned it and flew back over his own bar. Second one was the diving header at the Kop end from a cross.

Bobby Charlton is probably the only Man Utd past/present player I have the most respect for. That man is a living legend in the game of football. Just a shame alot of the glory hunting mancs don't see it that way. Cantona voted Manchester United greatest ever player, don't make laugh. Law, Charlton and Best in my opinion were greater legends for them than Cantona.

Apparently we top the League Table of corners in the League. We certainly don't make much of those opportunities.

3-1 Man City........how did we not beat Charlton? 3-2!! Bent.

Define "entertainment", Chelsea have scored the same number of goals as you and have a superior goal difference, aren't they more entertaining? Or is it because they can defend much better than you, so are labelled boring? I don't find Chelsea boring at all to be honest, its their ability to win matches consistently week in, week out is why they are top of the League. People throw the "boring" tag at them because they are winning. If they were doing exactly the same thing in their play but weren't winning matches and were midtable say, no one would call them "boring". A similar thing was thrown at Houllier's Liverpool, during the treble winning season, Liverpool scored an average of over 2 goals per game across 63 games that particular season (127 goals). But unfairly got labelled the "boring" tag because they were successful. If they weren't, no one would of mentioned it.

When did entertainment give you points? Also if you honestly believe we are "horrible to watch" then you don't watch alot of Premiership football. If we are that "horrible" to watch what does that make the other 17 teams below us in the Premiership? Seems to me you are throwing in this desperate attempt to mask your own team shortcomings and you are concerned of the progress we have made under Benitez. Thinks this point was further cemented when the majority of Utd fans wanted Chelsea to beat us. A few years ago you would of said the complete opposite because you would of had the belief in your own team to catch them. In essence you are looking over your shoulder now at us and not looking ahead towards Chelsea.

Have to say we have been the better side over the first 45mins. But again a set piece has let us down and all the hard work and good play has come to nothing. Just like the Manc game, controlling it, looking comfortable.

3-2!! Goals galore.

To be honest it is more important to beat the Mancs than Chelsea. I'd take a win over the mancs and lose to Chelsea anyday. Just so crucial in closing the gap and perhaps pulling away from the Mancs. We won't catch Chelsea, perhaps next season.

Mourinho v Rafa?? Whos the better manager? Lets try and give a partial view on this matter. The stats on what they have achieved: BENITEZ Honours: Liverpool 2004-05 UEFA Champions League Winners Valencia CF 2003-04 UEFA Cup Winners Spanish Primera Liga winners 2000-01 Spanish Primera Liga winners MOURINHO Honours: Chelsea 2004-05 Barclays Premiership Champions League Cup Winners FC Porto 2003-04 Portuguese League Champions UEFA Champions League Winners 2002-03 UEFA Cup Winners Portuguese Cup Winners Portuguese League Champions

How bad are Everton? If you take this calendar year in terms of results, in the League they have only amassed 37 points from 38 games (Full season). That is relegation form, makes you wonder whether last season's 4th place finish was a pure fluke (one-off)? Considering they finished 17th under Moyes the previous season. I think most Everton fans will just be happy that Sunderland, Birmingham City and Portsmouth are in this division!

17 points and goal difference gone up by +14

What made me laugh the most was the 20,000 replays they showed of Rooney's goal tonight (seemed to take up the entire highlights of that particular game), whereas we barely got two of them with Cisse's goal!

Interesting point. But how about this... I've heard more than one observer compare Owen to Rush, who of course was very successful in a 'pressing' team (they were very good on the counter attack but their play was not built around it). Of course Rushie was fortunate to play with Dalglish......could Owen forge a similar partnership with Morientes?

Yes Everton are so fortunate that there are actually 3 teams worse than them in the League. Its about time they went down.

With all the current controversy in the offside rule, I think they should go back to the old way. If an attacker is ahead of the backline despite not "being active" he is offside. Surely any striker who is standing ahead of the backline is clearly seeking to gain an advantage territorially. Rule change: Keeper is allowed to move along his goal line before the ball is struck during a penalty.