SMD

Did he take the jam out of your doughnut?

How quickly they forget the days of Enckelman, Potsma and Sorensen.

That'd be 7-times-in-a-row champions Lyon? The ones who can afford to piss about in the league and still win it comfortably? That Lyon? I remember at the time many people saying that Houllier would not come back the same manager but like many others, we shrugged it off and welcomed him back with open arms.

Well we definitely shouldn't be interested with the other player in that quote.

Of course and I agree. My point was that too many people seem to think that our lack of title challenges is because we don't have enough quality up front. While that might be the case to some extent, I'd argue that it's more to do with the fact the manager doesn't have exactly the players he wants in the system he's always wanted. It's funny, a lot of people claim that Benitez is unflexible and can't adapt to the Premiership, yet he changed from his beloved 4-2-3-1 formation to 4-4-2 and perservered with it until he decided it just wasn't going to work with the players he has. Now we have Torres, we can afford to have one up front and now we just need to focus on the style of the team. It's probably one of the reasons he had Alves in mind, so he could switch from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1.

Heh, those were actually the two I had in mind. If we kept the same system as the second half of this season, then Alves and Lahm would be more beneficial. There'd be less pressure on the likes of Alonso to get forward, plus more of an outlet for him. Mascherano could focus more on the central areas while Babel and Kuyt would have the option of the overlap. Aurelio did this pretty well but unfortunately the right hand side hadn't been as impressive as in previous seasons. Gerrard and Torres would have more service and overall we'd have more drive. And I'd s*** myself less in the last ten minutes of games.

Closer to the title isn't the same as winning it. We're getting closer every year, while maintaining an impressive presence in Europe.

I'd actually argue we'd be better off spending the money on two high quality, young full backs.

I think the more pertinent question is, why do so many people think we're just two players away from winning the league?

Yeah, I was flicking through the channels looking for the UEFA Cup and saw that fat f*** grinning, ascending to his throne in the stadium. I can't stand watching Arab football because I get so frustrated when they don't do the basics. Of course I can't help myself and I'll watch the Gulf Cup and the Asian Cup but it's too much, really. It drives me round the bend seeing such talented footballers consistently avoiding playing it simple just because they think they're f***ing Ronaldinho. It's even worse when you just want a kick about. It becomes a real life version of FIFA Street.

All he needs to do is score a bicycle kick in a top match and he'll be set.

Not really, the only thing the Qatari league has is technique going for it. I swear, they ought to make matches in Arab leagues last for 60 minutes, cos that's when they all run out of puff and just knock it around the back for the rest of the game.

Not really, the only thing the Qatari league has is technique going for it. I swear, they ought to make matches in Arab leagues last for 60 minutes, cos that's when they all run out of puff and just knock it around the back for the rest of the game.

Was 2001/2002 the season where we played Owen up front on his own against Middlesborough?

Bellion was poached from Sunderland, was he not?

He was.

No, he's not. He's got nothing on the likes of Bergkamp, Zidane, Beardsley, Zola, even the likes of Cantona or Sheringham when it comes to vision and creativity. He could've been a powerful traditional number 9 but he's neither here nor there now in terms of his role.

We never learn. At least we'll look like league champions in the friendlies.

Yes but what was the question?

Well, Atletico have the richer history and it's only been in the last few years that Valencia really returned to the forefront of European football.

By what measure?

Joaquin was so s*** for Real Madrid, he kept passing to the opposition.

Parry could easily manage that.

Pot-ay-to, pot-ah-to.

Hassony, your post runs beautifully into your sig.