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Adam was closer to the halfway line than the 18 yard line (might not be true but that was my impression)... Enrique was wrong side as well which didn't help.

Rooney at the toilet, who scored from the rebound anyway. Off the top of my head saved one more at Portsmouth 07/08 before that. Possibly another. Of course there was the FA Cup and also the CL semi. Apart from that, nowhere near the 7 in 9 form he had for Villareal...

I forgot we paid 17m for Johnson. I was a sceptical before he signed, but have been a huge fan ever since he joined. If only we had him in the team the season before - I think he would have helped us turn at least two of those home draws into the wins required to get closer/win the title... Also, wasn't Rafa told he had X amount of money to spend and chose to strengthen at right back considering Arbeloa was gone as well? And then shortly after he had the rug pulled from under him...

When Gerrard plays like he did at times last weekend - constantly sitting deep and picking up the ball 5 yards from the defence who are capable of playing it out themselves, causing the team to be static and disrupting the attacking shape/flow - we are actually a better team without him.

Scary, given we are not even remotely closed to being classed as a defensively setup team.

We've won 4 out of 12 home matches this season, which is a 1 in 3 win ratio. You have us down as 3 wins in 3 - that's really optimistic!

Gerrard is trying to pick out the right pass all the time. Right in his mind, instead of just moving the ball around and acknowledging he can play off it and help the team advance.

Don't forget that the media got Rafa the sack, and got Hodgson a job at Liverpool. They are powerful, make no mistake. For every thoughtful and reasonable fan, there are about 500 who are ignorant (probably through no fault of their own) and rely on what the media say to "educate" them about the game.

The club's official website linking to news articles about transfer rumours is just silly... Agree that there needs to be a better way of handling the media though. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer...?

Someone made a point about him stepping down when he felt he's done his bit...kinda stuck in my mind I guess...

Pep Guardiola. I think he'll have no problems understanding and embracing what the club, and its values means to the fans. Saw this quote floating around about how LFC of the 70s/80s were one of the original pass and move teams. Plus he has also acknowledged that our youth setup is best placed to challenge La Masia's production (mainly because of Borrell and Segura?). He's still on a year to year contract isn't he? Only question is, will he be able to produce the same kind of football without the immensely talented players he currently has? Hopefully this will be in about 3 years, after Kenny brings the title back home.

I remember that Riera was actually pretty decent at beating his man though, with some little tricks and shifting of the ball. I seem to recall Downing being described as a Beckham-like wide player who could deliver a good ball without requiring too much space. He looked like a proper player in his first few games. Nothing is coming off for him, but equally he's just not beating players or committing to (intelligent) runs often enough.

I felt the intelligence he showed in some of his movements should have shut up those people who dismiss suggestions that he can/should play further up the pitch.

Does Maxi have some sort of fitness issue? Why is he being used so sparingly when he is one of the solutions? One of the big changes which we saw last season when Kenny came back was getting bodies in the box. Agger's absence is not helping with the doom and gloom too - anyone knows what happened with him?

Some have mentioned that Stevie and Carra have been very quiet about the support of Suarez. I suspect our doubts will be erased once he puts in a tackle on evra near the corner flag, in front of the Kop, like he did against Phil Neville in the 05/06 derby...

He allegedly only said it once so it's probably 4 matches, if not 6. But they won't even dare take it up if he's found not guilty. Imagine the outcry of the public - driven on by the press - saying "if the courts have found him not guilty how dare the FA think they can punish him?". But the media will rejoice that their national hero (of the highest moral standards) is not racist, unlike the dirty foreigner who was found 'probably guilty' who thinks he can use certain words in our country just because it's OK in his backwards home. And most importantly they will cover up the fact that both cases were judged using completely different standards. [edit: like it or not the media feed into the ignorance of the public (myself included but I try to look for other sources of info) and you could almost say that they run the country (e.g. phone hacking) ] Anyways, I'm hoping that in the next couple of weeks this thread will wind down and fall away from page 1. It's been an unpleasant few weeks as an LFC supporter, and very weird too given that the source of discomfort has nothing to do with the football. But I do have to say also that it's been very educational.

I'd have thought a proper organisation would have Legal / Press / any offical business reps all on stand by on match days given how the club was supposedly very well run nowadays... Not a criticism, just a thought...

LOL you really believe that??? We're up against Ferguson.

OK, so are you saying, just appeal for the sake of it? To make a statement?

Problem solved. Can we do that for away games?

Yup, I remember being very impressed with his ability on the ball when he first joined us. His link up play with Gerrard in particular was very good. Always saw him as someone who could link with the intelligent footballers. Ironic that he can't really head the ball well...

I think Comolli and Kuyt putting in their statements that Luis said something to the effect of "you are black" is key. With Comolli spelling it out for the referee to include in his report as well. I think that was the angle all along, the FA thought they've got enough to trap him. That Luis then claimed he only said "porque, negro?" nailed in their case - he's changed his version to fit in with the rest of the story. If it is true that Evra had two opportunities to give evidence/statements, with the aid of video, whilst Luis only had one and without the same opportunity to view footage then I'd like to find out whether this is normal legal procedure, and how it's fair. Either both have no access to the footage, or they do...

Simple. Gerrard sees, and loves playing the early cross in. That and he's pretty f*cking good at it. Adam and Henderson probably have less confidence in their ability to do so, and more importantly, in Carroll's ability to convert any such crosses...

Four or five in about 150-odd games? Or has he played more matches for us?

Agree that Kelly gave very good account of himself when Jonno was out. And for the record I am a big fan. But Johnson is the superior footballer. What he offers in attack significantly outweighs any shortcomings in his defending. And his defending has been of acceptable standard lately. I suspect many get excited about Kelly because he can defend, and is decent in attack. And he's local, young, and has heaps of potential. But again, Johnson is the superior footballer. And as long as he's putting in acceptable defensive performances, his ability to produce a match-winning piece of play is ultimately what's getting him in the side. If there are any doubts, let me bring up two scenarios. Johnson's winner at Stamford Bridge. And his screamer for Portsmouth the season before he joined us. Does Kelly have that in him?