Wiseman

I think Rafa's support for Lucas really made a difference. It seems to have lit a fire. He was very good against PSV. He was good against Arsenal. I could see the effort he put in. However, while he did manage to break up play, it would seem he was always 1 step behind the play because rather than winning the ball, he was conceding free-kicks all over the place. Against Newcastle, he was excellent. Previously, he seemed afraid to try anything. He kept trying to 1-touch the ball to another team-mate or taking the safe option. In recent games, I observe that he is more willing to hold on to the ball and contribute to the overall play.

Kuyt was terrific at the start of the season and had to play every game. Subsequently, could not keep up his scoring form but put in consistently high performances. Additionally, we had Torres injured while Keane was not exactly playing very well. All these translated to Kuyt playing all the time.

Its such a nice feeling to be able to believe!

Please do not f*** off. Because it would be so boring to be posting in a forum with everyone agreeing with one another. Similiarly, I will challenge you whenever I disagree with you. But I guess I am more civilised? I release everyone has their viewpoints and I would not think that views that disagree with mine are s***. There you go, whatever that does not align to your narrow view on support is b****x.

You take things too seriously. I am on a discussion forum to discuss on various issues including mistakes that might have been made by the manager. I am not here to make a point. However, you are here to police everyone to say only nice things about everyone associated to the club. You have made your point.

I did not realise that discussions only involve whether Lucas should be sold or kept. Or are we allowed to make observations based on hindsight? jesus

Don't discuss which player should be sold. Don't discuss which player should be bought. Its all f***ing pointless.

Because he was not very good for a very long while and we paid 8mil for him? Because we might have sold a player that might have been worth more than 2.5mil and who would have performed just as well for us. At the same time, if Lucas can perform at this level whenever he plays and not just today, there would only be discussions on lengthening his contract.

There would not be such discussion about Lucas if he continues with this level of performance. Excellent. At the same time, its not an insult to compare him to Guthrie who while surrounded by sub-par players, gave a competent performace. Furthermore, Guthrie is English and would qualify for the Champions league squad without us having to sacrifice players like Hyppia.

Was it mentioned previously in this thread? Regardless, its quite a waste that we sold a home grown player who might actually have turned out to be the better player. We would get a closer look against Newcastle.

Is Lucas better than Guithre? If not, we wasted 5.5mil (difference between Lucas and Guithre's fee)

I still wish we will buy Barry and stick him at LB. He will be an instant improvement in that position.

If Kuyt scored,would the ball have rebounded to Torres to hit Keane?

We would not have needed that moment of genius from Gerrard is he had converted some of the easier chances that came his way.

Not well stocked? Dudek or Warnock leaving?

What's the point of banning him if he keeps coming back?

I was responding to exactly this statement made by you. Given that I am a auditor, I don't think I need you to explain any finance to me.

Its exactly what you said.... If Morgan wants money to go to the club....give it to the club. If Morgan wants to buy shares, the money goes to Moores. You said, Morgan wants shares, and money to go to the club. So what does that leave Moores with?

Your reasons are wrong. Why not sell me your house for pennies and I will renovate it for millions and you can admire it from outside?

Even before he started scoring... he was still contributing to the club. If scoring is used to judge Crouch... discount the 1st 20-25 games of the season when he was still finding his feet. After 1/2 season, not 1, he started to include scoring besides all the other things he brings to the side. Rafa probably has some personal..... contribution to team/price ratio for each player. And Crouch was his first choice. Not 17million Owen.... and not some other striker that would cost way too much.

I think Crouch did as what was expected of him. It was Moro and Cisse that did not perform as expected. Hence, we are off loading them, not Crouch and buying new strikers.

Crouch took a long time to find his feet at Liverpool. If he can maintain the scoring average he had in the 2nd half of the season, he is easily a 15-20 goal striker a season. Not prolific but certainly good enough.

I think he would pair up very well with Fowler too! 2 very intelligent footballers. He is what we would have expected from Moro.

Even with his present form, he is good enough. If he can reach his form at leeds, that's a bonus.

Now we know why Cisse doesn't track back. He just trust his team mates too much. Nothing realloy wrong there.