Skillz

Round 26 Fixtures: Saturday, 11 February 2006 Arsenal 2-1 Bolton, Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle, Everton 1-1 Blackburn, Fulham 0-0 West Brom, Middlesbrough 1-3 Chelsea, Portsmouth 0-1 Man Utd, Wigan 0-1 Liverpool, Sunday, 12 February 2006 Man City 2-0 Charlton, Sunderland 0-2 Tottenham, Monday, 13 February 2006 West Ham 2-0 Birmingham

I think Cisse should play the next two games. both away should be to his advantage and he would be as fresh as anyone. I have been as disappointed in him as anyone but tell him he's getting 180 minutes up front and go with it eg last chance stuff if you know what i mean.

Christ on a bike, it's Bernie Mandic himself. I assume this is your pessimistic view. Personally i doubt that. He may leave with 1 year left, as he did with Leeds which will reduce the fee we get but as long as his form is sound we will get our 5mill back at least. Personally i think he will stay as long as Rafa is here and he is in favour. Its not like he is a journeyman. He was very loyal to leeds when he could of gone anywhere he wanted and only left when it was obvious they were stuffed. He almost single handed kept them up that year and due to having run his contract down to one year ensured we could afford him thereby realising his lifelong dream. It's a great story that has taken a twist or two but i for one am hoping for the fairy tale ending where he plays a significant role in our 06-07 EPL title win, FA Cup win and of course his hattrick in the CL final redeeming himself for his tragic final in Instanbal. Hell, they might even make a movie about it. Sheree can even get her career back on track by playing herself .

After his game last night the bench is as close as he should get. Carra and Terry are stand outs on form.

I didnt see the game last night but it sounds like we took the foot of the pedal a bit too much last night after the goal. to me if this is the case i suspect the coaches are to blame. Now before you start flaming i would have Rafa'a babies if he was so inclined, but he is a stickler for preparation and i suspect he felt we wouldnt concede regardless once we had the lead and advised players to shore up a win after the goal. it should of paid off apparantly and we would be in good shape for the tough run ahead.

That is a short summation, but one i agree with. I haven't seen last nights save but he has made a few very good saves over the last 6-8 weeks but i still here commentators and even the odd fan saying he hasn't been tested. Well i agree he hasnt been tested a lot (thankfully) but when he has he has shown amazing reflexes. His effort to save Ferdinands header was world class and a veruy good example of his reactions and judgement as i doubt many others would of moved. Having said that Van der Sar's save today was out of this world. Even better when he missed the follow up

No doubt. If form and fitness continues he will get his contract offer. What i am saying is Harry will wait at least till the end of the world cup and wait for the options cause he will back himself to play well. Bernie will certainly be advising this course of action anyway . It is a very good thread IMO and deserves some thought as it will be interesting how it plays out.

We have had to defend him for 18 months of crap footy, but believing anyway. Some of the stuff was unjustified, as you know and tbh i could not watch as most Ozzies i expect. Unfortunately it seems your post derailed the thread off topic temporarily, totally unintended i know. So what are your thoughts on how HK's contract negotiations will go?

Hey don't worry, i agree. Still think it will 12months b4 he gets that contract though just to see how he goes injury and form wise. Unless Rafa feels they can sign him cheaper b4 the world cup but i doubt Harry would. He will wait till after the World cup and see what his options are after that IMO.

At the end of this season he will have 2 years left, if my memory serves me right (he signed a 5 year deal). If his form continues through to the end of the year we may try to extend but we may also wait till after the world cup as we may get some big offers. Personally i think Rafa will want to see how Gonzales settles in and how Harry's form/fitness is next year and make a decision next january. If he is still fit and in form i can see Harry getting a new contract regardless of Gonzales form as I believe Harry will be used at times as the second striker (eg last season at leeds) where his intelligence can be devastating. But i'm an Ozzie to so this is biased as well. Thats probably a better choice of wording AussieRed, reads a little better. Remember he still has more to do to convince some (not us biased Ozzie's though )

Harry will play in this role in certain games without doubt IMO (assuming the injury curse does not return).

Kewell scored 14-15 goals in his last season at Leeds playing off Viduka. He also had an injury for 3 weeks at Christmas/New Year (actually found out Leeds were trying to sell him or Woodgate in the window and therefore took time out to sort out his dream move!). If Crouch reminds me of any other striker it is Viduka, particularly in the build up play.

I would not be surprised if when he arrives, after a settling in period he becomes the LM and Harry gets to play the second striker (Aimar) role. Harry is one of the most intelligent footballers i have seen when fit and on form and i get the feeling Rafa will try this. He also has Garcia to play the role when the RM arrives (?).

Thanks for posting that. It must of been hard at times when being injured for so long and noone really understanding the full details of his injury. As i understand it the sports hernia was not discovered until the groin operation hence the second operation. The hernia injury is what caused the shifting pain he was complaining about. I think this is what caused a lot of angst among us fans and maybe Rafa. Good to see it sorted and it looks as though we will get 90% Harry (at least). That will do me and if can return to 100% then we are laughing.

I'm lost for words

I cant download but my favourite is the one he nonchanatley chips the keeper with a sublime shot with the outside of his boot, ball hits the underside of the cross bar. Makes it look easy and his confidence must of been sky high to try it. Pure class.

It is a combination of both but IMO Rafa is the driving force. Ask yourself these questions; 1) Has Rafa demanded we buy Walcott and Parry/Moores said no. 2) We offered to match Arsenals record price and Theo told us he wanted Arsenal. 3) Rafa has decided not to bid because he has other priorities than spending his limited funds on a player who he could of got for 2.5mill if he "wanted to play for Liverpool" Personally i pick 3). Owen and Walcott did not want us enough. To me RB sees this as the most important attribute to a signing, he has certainly said it enough (practicularly at every signing's press conference).

He chose Arsenal.

It's called alcohol.

Spot on. It is becoming very clear that we will not pay more than our valuation for a player. This has been recurring since Rafa took over. I would suggest it is also obvious it is Rafa who sets the price we are prepared to pay for any particular player. I love him. We are telling everyone we will only pay the true value, if not we will look elsewhere. I have absolutely no problem with this while Rafa is in charge ( and i hope that is for the 15 years he mentioned last year). Dreaming of winning number 19 without spending a fortune.

GOD is coming!!!!

0-2 Kewell and Gerrard Kewell will score a header (most likely from a corner, hard inside near post). Liverpool to play 4-5-1 from start and dominate midfield for 60mins and then just show off.

We dominate the midfield area and in alot of games have had our opponents stuck in their own half for large parts of the game. This leaves our defence just behind the half way line and us sending in crosses left right and centre. We also slow games down a lot particularly away from home meaning less passes.

Saturday, 21 January 2006 Birmingham 2-0 Portsmouth, Bolton 1-1 Man City, Everton 1-1 Arsenal, Middlesbrough 1-1 Wigan, Newcastle 1-0 Blackburn, Tottenham 2-0 Aston Villa, West Brom 2-0 Sunderland, Sunday, 22 January 2006 Chelsea 2-0 Charlton, Man Utd 0-2 Liverpool, Monday, 23 January 2006 West Ham 1-1 Fulham,

Round 22 fixtures: Saturday, 14 January 2006 Arsenal 2-0 Middlesbrough, Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham, Blackburn 2-2 Bolton, Charlton 2-0 Birmingham, Fulham 1-1 Newcastle, Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham, Man City 1-3 Man Utd, Portsmouth 1-1 Everton, Sunday, 15 January 2006 Sunderland 0-3 Chelsea, Wigan 2-0 West Brom,