mercury

splitting my dummy when they said Carra can't read the game / positionally weak. Well, no problem, I'd love to keep him for ourselves but for the fact that he deserves more than anyone the recognition of the cap. But the England national team is so seldom well managed - think Hoddle in his hay days. This is probably the best post in that blog there: Overall, it doesn't really matter who plays for England they never look like winning anything. They certainly won't while McClaren is in charge,

2nd that We've taken the game to Barca both at home and in Nou Camp, if that's not brave, I do not know what is. It's just that we are so good that we never sacrifice our defensive cohesiveness. This fixation on how the game should be played is doing my head in. And the Gooners is being criticised as one dimensional today!!

We're tremendous in the 1st half. We over ran them, pure and simple. However in the second when they score, I was begining to feel really nervous but the lads were great. Everyone in Anfield was great: on the pitch, sideline, on the stand - the 12th man came across on the tv so loud and clear. A great tie to remember. Yes, we need to address our fininshing but let's enjoy it now.

Absolutely

Thirded this!

Exactly - he has relied on his athleticism and can offer so much more if he doesn't need to win the ball back again and contribute to more rhythm in our play.

Momo actually can spot a pass; execution is the problem - very little ball control. He has definitely improved and also now tends to keep the pass simple but consistency is still below par. His phenomenal athleticism and work rate however more than make it up for him. He is still only 22, if he can work out those weaknesses we'll have a heck of a player!!

No. Exactly. And the whole thing can have been exagerrated. We do not even know what the heck had actually happened. If Riise, the team and Rafa feel it sufficiently dealt with, that's it.

It is always difficult to play Barca but this is Anfield and the tie is ours to lose now.

Not that Riise is up to form but how can anyone blame him for the first goal? Two mistakes led to it: Gerrard missing Zambrotta and Arbeloa missing the clearing header. All things considered a good debut for Arbeloa, especially the second half.

must say I like Gillett's preseverence. that's a good trait.

Spot on Herbie. They delivered. As said, the "what ifs" are unlimited. It's like a marriage - you'll never know how it'll pan out without actually going through it. One thing for sure, if the good faith and hard work is not there, it will not succeed.

Mr Hicks for me. Mr Gillett is the smooth talker but genuine enough. Anyway, we still have the 21-day buyout and then let's see them walk the walk.

missed that, what happened?

This Mr Gillete is good, very good.

Feel very emotional right now. We need investment, glad it happens, trust Moores and Parry on getting the right deal. Still, YNWA is swirling in my head at the moment.

Feel very emotional right now. We need investment, glad it happens, trust Moores and Parry on getting the right deal. Still, YNWA is swirling in my head at the moment.

Guys, many thanks for your analysis and insight. Most useful!

Thanks - that's belated answer to my incoherent post then

utterly adored by the Kop, rightly so!!

Capitalist greed, my friend, with the hope that the same greed will drive DM and other shareholders into capitulation. It is obvious that the Premiership is prime for expansion. Vultures are circling. Argubly Liverpool has the largest "unlock value" - a prestige second to none, large GLOBAL following, but still relatively cheap when you think of our size. The new ground is the only millstone - but that is during the building period only. Once it is there the value of the Club will jump a few notches and the risk can be mitigated by, ha, groundshare. To Americans the venue is often something to be milked out of the city the team resided, all part of the business venture, anyway. Don't tell them the myth of Anfield (hell, a fan in my city named his kindergarten Anfield -he was sued of couse after the Club found out ), Nou Camp, Old Trafford, etc. Tell them "brand value". It is good that our club is run well enough to afford to be a bit selective with investment.

he'll come in handy but not a big loss anyway.

I like Gerrard on the right, especially after the recent run. Not that he has been bad - indeed much to my delight he has been very disciplined - but more that he can make best use of all his attributes on the right. Gerrard can play a host of positions to very high standard but so far it is RM he shines most brightly and gives us that world class performance most consistently. Alonso is more important in the centre for us, cos he knits the team best, dictate the tempo best not only of our players but arguably in PL. He has adapted his game to sit more deeply but recently has surged more. wonder what it would be like if he has some kind of a Makalele behind him with Gerrard on the right. That's why that Argentinean fellow is such an intriguing prospect for us. Momo is a force of nature. Criticism on his possession, final third penetration and how the flow of our game break down is fair. Does he bring more to our game or less? It really depends whether he has an "on" day on his passing which has improved but inconsistent and easy to collapse under pressure.

sh*t is the only word I can think of. Get well soon, Luis!

Do not have the opportunity to watch the game yesterday and can only do so tomorrow. Seemed we were bad. All the same, it is disappointing to see people here going for blood while the manager brought us no. 5 and a FA cup with display of some very good football and here for less than three seasons. Right now I'm more worry about the inconsistent display of the team. But let's see how the rest of the season pans out.