smurfinaus

If anything our corners are worse than our set pieces (long time). SG seems to take most of them and a lot of the time they dont get past the first player. I never understood why not let someone else, say Finnan or Aurelio or Kewell take the corners.

I definitely wouldnt mind us bringing him back OR Someone else who can be rotated in if Torres is injured. We have neither much pace, movement or mobility with when the other 3 play ....each make a great foil for a torres type player (Anelka has the quickness and movement we really need up front)but when they play without Torres??. Im sure a lot of fans can see this. Does Rafa?

Leto missed a good chance Im wondering if he is overawed when he gets a chance in the first team

El Zahar, leto lively, few missed headed chances though. Babel after a strong start a bit quiet...Hobbs tidy

The main problem with Kuyt is the fact he is either being asked to drop back to midfield too much, or he is dropping into midfield way too much. He needs to play and stay upfront and its where Rafa should be playing him. Its where Kuyt excels even if he can play outwide or act as a 5th midfielder.

We definitely need at least a backup CB for the short term AND another striker in a similar mould to Torres. When he isnt playing (and Babel isnt up front)we arent putting the opposition on the back foot with our pedestrian Kuyt/Voronin/Crouch strikeforce. Out of interest,anyone seen if any of our younger strikers in reserves or under 18's might be able to take the step up , at least cameo roles???

well for what its worth, Kuyt,Voronin & Crouch - should never be paired together. Kuyt despite his workrate needs to be told to stay up front, preferably either with Torres or Babel. If not Babel we probably need to have another striker who is either nippy or has similar pace to Torres - why?. When torres is left out or injured our attack is slow as a ...whatever and we cant stretch the opposition and when we do out wide the slooowww strikers are too slow into the box.... Sure it doesnt help our midfield isnt functioning as it should. We should have ideally Alonso/Mascherano/Lucas in the middle, Stevie G on the right. The left is a bit of a problem... can be hope Kewell will fix that? . The lack of CB cover is killing us. Sami cant keep playing every game

He seems to be a lot better as an impact sub?

Torres just shading Xabi. Fact is we have no pace in our attack with exception of Torres and Babel (and the fact Kuyt for all his workrate still acts like a 5th CM)..- and the latter isnt clinical enough at this stage of his career. Xabi because we are sputtering with our passing and we seem to be allover the place with that right now.

Riise is a good squad player but, He is neither positionally (defensively - ive been amazed in some of the games ive seen where he has been caught out a number of times to be saved by Carra or Sami in the past) sound enough for a starting LB nor has enough going forward for a LM aside from his rocket left foot strikes (which do admittedly go in at times..) & his workrate. As someone else said we need a left footed Finnan, but Arbeloa will do for the time being:).I think Insua will do fine in the future

I dunno about the rest of you, but Lucas (he is more attacking than Alonso and co)out of all the CM's we have seems to be the only one that is likely to get into the box to support the strikers like Gerrard does.

How anyone can say this is worse than some of the previous kits is beyond my understanding. Its ace compared to the previous yellows and whites we have had before.....do clubs actually have a close look at what their away strips honestly?.

Insua needs to be blooded to be genuine competition for Riise. Aurelio is too injury prone to be relied on....... Anyone know if we have a genuine decent RB in reserves or youth sides that might be a good prospect to backup Finnan?. Rafa needs to look at the fullback positions at some stage..

I like the fact he seems to be able to play on the right or the left and cross (could be a bit better though) and shoot with both feet...

Anyone know how Le Tallec did at Sochaux?. How long has he remaining on his contract?.

anyone care to list what attributes he has as a striker we would want, compared to what he is lacking?.Was thinking about this guy the other guy.....is he really any good and is he what we need?.

Hope he turns out to be good.We havent had any talismatic Scottish player (with exception of Gary Mac)we seem to always happen to have when we win big (especially the Premiership!!) He's the final final piece of the jigsaw;) We already have the irishman in finnan;)

I guess everyone has their own wishlist... but who would Rafa target aside from Alves and possibly Villa?. Its about time we got a decent LB imho.......

Where does it say he is a left winger?.Articles ive read mention either attacking midfielder or counter attacking winger but not which wing. Anyone have more info?.Is he left or right footed etc?. Kewell can play on the right as well as far as i know

People need to remember although Traore isnt as good as we had hoped, the dude is a CB who has been a makeshift LB for much of his time with us.Anyone have any stats on % of games he played at CB vs LB?.

Zapater is excellent in FM2006

Maybe thats why Rafa has brought in keepers,defenders and next on the list are some young forwards?.Whats the situation with forwards reserves or youth sides?.

Im starting to wonder if we practice set pieces especially corners?.If so surely Rafa must have see the types of deliveries...or woeful deliveries for corners?.

The thing *is*.*if* we did actually make a bid for Defoe... what does that say for Cisse's future with us?.

Having read all the Walcott threads on different forums.It got me wondering.It doesnt bother me we didnt get him. I guess *if* he loved liverpool he would have waited but balance that against the huge fee from Arsenal and promise not to screw Southampton out of a decent fee (good luck to him but im wondering if we are missing out on next potential great winger).I appreciate fact Rafa seems to try to find best value for current signings and youth for the future, but im sure others are wondering if we are actually skint or budget shopping?.Would the board sanction right fee for the right players he wants & let him compete if other clubs come in for targetted player