Leo No.8

Oh aye!

Gerrard is actually a decent aerial threat as well - he'd be better in the box.

Just as I finished posting I actually thought about that; personally I would leave the left-back, whoever that may be, and Carragher on the half-way line. Carra is a magnificent defender and I love the guy, but lets face it since he scored on his debut from a corner, he's very unthreatening indeed. Ideally he'd still go up, but I'd rather have quality from set-pieces and him not in there. There are plenty of players who carry a much greater threat, and the added bonus is our best defender is back in case the opposition break out. Of course a lot of teams these days defend with all 11 men, in which case Carra could still go...

Souness has an unsurpassed record of failure. He did well at Rangers and somehow has managed to maintain a career in the top flight on the basis of that - it beggers belief. He's a throwback to the days of shouting, tactically inept British managers. Newcastle fans who were calling for his head should be looking at their chairman instead for his decision to appoint Souness in the first place. He probably would have been sacked by Blackburn when Newcastle moved in for him - they were really struggling. I said at the time it was a ridiculous appointment, and so it has proved to be; in fitting with everything they do at that club...

I believe Steve Finnan should be taking them. I actually think he's good enough to take them with either foot, swinging it in from both sides. Gerrard and Alonso both put the ocassional great dead ball in, but also a lot of crap considering how well both players pass the ball in open play. Finnan for me is far and away the best crosser of a ball in the squad. He crosses consistently well with both feet, and his dead balls from deep are spot-on. Watch the goals we've scored this season from crosses into the area, and more often than not its his delivery. We've got plenty of height, to me it's important we make the most of our set-pieces and at present we aren't.

MacKay is Djimi's Traore agent as well isn't he. Wish he'd do as good a job of unsettling Champions League winner Djimi as he is everyone else...

Grudging praise from Mike is equlivalent to extravagent praise from anyone else...

Absolutely - Romario is a legend in his own right, and give him a chance I'm sure it'll still end up in the net. But you look at Brazil's choice of strikers, and there's simply no way he'll be in the squad...

Our record of buying strikers over the last 15 years or so is appalling. £11m for Heskey, £10m for Diouf, £8.5m for Collymore who was brilliant but completely bonkers, £14m for Cisse. It really is unbelievable how poor we've been in the transfer market when it comes to forwards. The only decent ones we've had have come through the youth system. Riedle was one who was quality but was coming to the end of his career...

Talk about blowing your own trumpet...

See I agree Rafa preaches a team mentality and doesn't necessarily demand 20 goals each from his strikers. But in getting caught up in the goals debate people really are missing the point, and that is the rest of his game isn't up to scratch at the moment either! He isn't holding the ball up, or really winning a great deal in the air. It begs the question of those who say he's doing well - what exactly is it he's doing?

I'd love to see a striker at Anfield who can actually run at players. I thought Cisse would do that, but boy was I wrong there. Cisse can run, but not really 'at players' and only in a straight line. Morientes can run, but very, very slowly. Crouch can run across a busy road without actually getting touched by the traffic, but not at players. Robbie - of course that isn't his game. I know its asking a lot, but a Rooney or Henry 'type' player of at least somewhere in the same stratosphere as those two would complete our side...

Oh you big tease... Thats quality mate - remember how good Crouch was against us last season? When someone plays as well as Pennant did last night against you, and you're already interested in them, its got to make a deal more likely. My mate in the know with Birmingham says Bruce has told Pennant if he plays to his best for the rest of the season and does his best to help them stay up, he won't stand in the way of his 'dream move' to us come the end of the season. Apparently they tried to sign Routlege on a loan with a view to permanent to cover for losing Pennant in the summer, so they are already looking at it happening. Feckin hope so...

this thread is going to be a classic...

Makes today's OOTs seem damn good compared to the old days. We may ocassionally complain about their jester hats and lack of song knowledge, but at least they aren't genocidal...

...from Heskey's point-blank header last night was one of the best I've seen 'live'. He had moved to come for the cross, but as it swung away and the ball came to Heskey just 5 yards out, he had to adjust his footing and fling himself across the goal to push it wide. Even then he had to have strong hands to get enough purchase on it to divert the ball round the post, and Heskey had plenty of power in the header. Only topped for me by Schmeichel's save for City from Diouf in his last season. Brilliant Pepe lad - forgotten a bit now because of what happened after, but by all rights should have been a match-winning save. 23 years old? What a keeper he is going to be if he's this good at such a young age for his position.

Yeah I'd give my MOM to Harry. Practically every time we threatened he was involved, and he worked hard as well.

Putting aside all the greats (I mean its obvious we 'miss' them but I didn't think that was what the question was asking) I miss Igor, just for his being Igor. I miss his Igoricicty...

I'll tell you exactly why Souness is still there, and it isn't Freddie Shepard's new found sense of loyalty. I'll give you a clue - it starts with '£5m', and ends with 'severance package'...

I actually changed him from 8 to 7, but when I think about it I'm not really sure why. You are absolutely right, he didn't put a foot wrong last night, won some towering headers and was brave in the face of flying feet a couple of times. Sami deserves his 8...

For me... Reina 8: Didn't have too much to do, but what he did he did well. I give him 8 for that save at the end - it was absolutely unbelievable, still don't know how he got it. Finnan 7: Excellent until he got caught trying to push on at the end, which eventually led to the goal. I believe he should take corners as his delivery is far better than anyone else's in the side. Riise 6: Difficult game against Pennant, but got forward well at times. Hyypia 7: Solid as ever, storming run down the right was a sight to behold! Agger 6: Some nervy moments early on, but looked classy and composed as the game progressed. Kewell 8: Another excellent performance by Harry, showed frightening pace and strength and was our main threat throughout. Gerrard 8: Typical strong performance from Stevie capped with the goal. I wouldn't have taken him off myself in all honesty. Hamann 5: Poor game by Didi's standards; gave the ball away more than usual and struggled to deal with Sutton aerially. Kept finding himself under the ball from goal-kicks and either letting the ball drop in dangerous areas or fouling to give Pennant the chance to put us under pressure with his delivery. Garcia 5: Dreadful in the first half, and despite a couple of really bright moments in the second overall disappointing. Crouch 6: Some nice touches and link play as ever, but not enough goal threat. Moreintes 5: Too much time spent on the floor, gave the ball away too often, not enough goal threat either. Like Garcia, every now and again in the second half he'd do something brilliant, but the overall contribution just isn't enough. Subs: Fowler, some great movement just needs fitness. Xabi, what were you thinking mate?! Nearly made up for it with the free-kick though - these things happen.

I think the sum quoted, which is about the same amount we paid for a young player who has increased his profile massively since coming here, should tell you enough about how much credibility this story should be given. If they'd said £20m, I might be slightly worried...

He reminds me of Beckham when he used to play on the right for United, in that although he is capable of going past his man, he doesn't actually need to his delivery is that good. He can bend the ball round the full-back and right into the danger area without actually having to get to the byeline. Crouchy must have been watching the balls he was putting into the area with some admiration. Not suprised of Rafa's view on the lad - I think we all feel the same way, worried about if we signed him would he go off the rails again. I think the boss would have to meet him, talk things through and be convinced, but last night he must have been very impressed indeed...

I actually thought he would, so I say the above whilst fully accepting I was wrong. The main thing for me is I thought he was much stronger than he actually is. I suppose that's just the difference between playing in Spain and England.

Yeah - I was thinking exactly the same thing! Fortunately he is a dyed-in-the-wool Red, so hopefully it won't make too much difference.