cArLiTo

a semi-final in Euro 2008 says they do.

No doubt Carra of all people is going to dig in and not fade away but neither of the other two was bought as back-up. and as prongsy was saying, Carra was already being shifted to right back at the end of last season

i concur. thats the pairing i'd pick if everyone was fit

thats the chance. reckon rafa sees the other two as his first choice centre backs.

him and skrtel ye mean?

what are they saying?

Essien is top class. Watch him play for Ghana and when he was at Lyon. He was worth every penny of the 23m price tag but he is a victim of his own versatility. Alonso is top class too but not as versatile imo. I don't post here much so I'm sure people couldn'y give a fooka bout my opinion, but Alonso is not our problem. Our problem is that we have too many second rate attackers and a manager who does not seem to be able to instil any attacking cohesion into our side. Whether that is because he hasn't got the quality of player he needs or not is debatable. Back to the point though. Anyone who thinks Essien is an inferior player to what we have (on the whole) in midfield, is biased or blind.

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No, I meant she must have had to crouch low to give Beardsley head.

could there be a lower blow?

we've got the best frontline in the world we've got torres and kuy-t babel and crouchie and voronin in the ho-ooooooo-ole

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with, though I would say that Mascherano has not been considered to challenge Xabi just yet this season because he played the Copa America to the final. Xabi is a world class player and he does all those things you mentioned. the reason I didn't mention it is because it goes with out saying as far as I'm concernced. I'm not basing it on one game either. His performances were not that consistent last year, in my humble opinion. This is another season and I'm not calling for his head, I'm very pleased with the way we are playing. Unlike some I think we have moved up a notch from last season already. They were nowhere near us really and we could have beaten them by more. Maybe if Xabi had kept his head on that shot and hit it true with his right foot we would have. I'll be perfectly happy to see him start against Toulouse and Sunderland and whoever else, as long as he works on the little things that have undoubtedly crept into his game.

Yeah, I can but read my post. I'm not saying that he's past it or he did nothing good. I'm saying he's making more mistakes than he used to, for whatever reason. I honestly don't think that you can disagree with that. But rest assured if someone does I won't respond with some one liner that implies the recipient is some sort of lobotomised pre pubescent prat. Of course the good stuff outweighs the bad. The bad stuff just seems to happening more often than I'd like anyway.

it's only by the high standards he's set for himself that I'm basing that on. He's still a brilliant player but the way he was caught in possession was very poor. Drogba had a shot after the first time I think and he really could have made more of the space he was in. That was at nil all. I'm sure he is being closed down quicker than he was wwhen he first arrived, so that is a factor but I really don't think that Xabi could have any complaints if he was replaced in the starting XI. After all he is vying for a place with Masch and you have to perform when you play. I really like him, as we all do I'm sure, but even that left footed shot he skewed well wide looked like it was from a player short on confidence. Whether it was on the day or in general, I don't know.

Redundant? Rubbish! He is good enough to play in any game. He is an Argentinean first teamer for God's sake. He can hold the fort in Old Trafford or he can keep possession against Derby in their place or ours. God be with the days when good players could just play regardless of the opposition. Very worried about Alonso, there is a real sloppiness that has crept into his play.

The Oscar Wilde is an alright pub for football, big screen at the back. Just get a train to Oranienburger Tor and, as cm00 says, its on Friederichstrasse, near the junction with Oranienburgerstrasse which is good place for nightlife, food and general debauchery

I don't know whats worse, his greed and disregard for your friendship or the fact that you let him give you a mouthful...he should be paying you..!! seriously though, its a disgrace, but don't stitch him up. what goes around etc etc....he'll probably get robbed in Athens.

"I'm your biggest fan Lionel Ritchie"

I think it would be ridiculous if we were to get rid of Pennant. Don't know how people cannot see what a neat player he is..

he has, paul doyle writes for the guardian and has written a book on African football too, I believe. His pieces are usually quite good actually ... not sure how many opinion pieces but I'm sure that is not the first just sayin is all

Fabregas ran past Zenden... collectively embarrassing

Zoiks!!

I know Richard Dunne is quick

Gonzalez looks a great player from what I've seen of him but if Ziggy is basing his opinion on the Ireland Chile game then I'll have to agree. He wasn't that pacey and was matched by Richie Dunne at one stage. Just cos he's small, his name is Gonzalez and he speaks funny doesn't mean he leaves a trail of smoke everywhere he goes

what sortta money are ye talking?