One thing I have realised today

[baja the hut]

If Torres is fit, pick him, he is miles ahead of the other strikers we have and there's no arguing with that.

[Guest Snorky]

Can't argue with that.

 

I've also realised that Pot Noodles are s***

[Guz]

Dont think its just Torres. Our best attacking players , atleast in theory, are Gerrard, Torres, Pennant, Kuyt (imo), Babel and Alonso when he's played alongside Mascherano.

 

Now Masch was never going to play today so Xabi was always going to play deep. But then when only 1 of the above list plays, how can we expect to win a tough away game? How many results did the Mancs get last season without Scholes, Giggs, Rooney and Ronaldo? Not many I would guess. It's a tough ask.

 

That being said though, not many teams will win at Pompey this season and a point is not the worst result in the world but wish we'd turned in a better performance.

[Nebraska Red]

LET IT GO LADS, LET IT GO.

[baja the hut]

Can't argue with that.

 

I've also realised that Pot Noodles are s***

 

 

pot noodles in the medical opposite of Prozac.

[Magic8Ball]

If Torres is fit, pick him, he is miles ahead of the other strikers we have and there's no arguing with that.

Yeah its very clear our best forward pair are Voronin and Torres -- this is great but it makes me think we need better cover for Torres when he's resting

[Nebraska Red]

Yeah its very clear our best forward pair are Voronin and Torres -- this is great but it makes me think we need better cover for Torres when he's resting

 

we have cover in Crouch and Kuyt. It's up to them to show the skills and talent we know they have.

 

maybe Rafa had an idea Torres would have been kicked all over the pitch had he played today.

[lawrie]

Yeah its very clear our best forward pair are Voronin and Torres -- this is great but it makes me think we need better cover for Torres when he's resting

 

Actually I don't think it's clear at all. IMO Torres and Kuyt is our best forward pairing (moreover I think Rafa thinks this also)

[oran]

i am not sure who is better (kuyt or voronin) but i have made my mind about crouch.he is not good enough for the team.

when i saw the line up i thought we might have problems scoring (not only because crouch).i dont understand what is he adding to the team.he is a very poor target man,and when he plays we play we are using him as a target man which hurts our play significantly (sp) esp when playing away.

we need better.

[Magic8Ball]

i am not sure who is better (kuyt or voronin) but i have made my mind about crouch.he is not good enough for the team.

when i saw the line up i thought we might have problems scoring (not only because crouch).i dont understand what is he adding to the team.he is a very poor target man,and when he plays we play we are using him as a target man which hurts our play significantly (sp) esp when playing away.

we need better.

I'll go along with this, I think the team is outgrowing Crouch and needs a striker with more movement to his game as well as anything Crouch could add

[Tommy Cockles]

No Torres = No Chance.

[Conor]

You know what would be really good to see. If Crouch played like Kanu. Similar type of players. Kanu really outshone Crouch over the weekend and to be honest I don't find that good enough.

[sean]

Ah leave Crouch alone ffs! He's been excellent for us, so now all of a sudden it's popular to get on his case because he isn't Fernando Torres. Kneejerking in the extreme.

[Hassony]

Ah leave Crouch alone ffs! He's been excellent for us, so now all of a sudden it's popular to get on his case because he isn't Fernando Torres. Kneejerking in the extreme.

its keeping people of Riise's back for a change

[Leo No.8]

Personally, I think you have to look around the team and question whether we can actually afford to leave out certain individuals for any game which looks on paper to be tricky, and in so doing lower the general overall quality of the team.

 

I think if we don't pick Gerrard or Torres then the team is clearly weakened - they are the two players who in their positions are irreplaceable / significantly better than anyone who plays in their position. Each is so much more dynamic than any of their replacements their non-inclusion has an effect on the entire team.

 

I honestly feel our squad is that strong every other outfield player can be rotated. Even some of our finest like Carragher, Pennant and Mascherano can be replaced by the likes of Hyypia, Benayoun and Alonso or vice versa and the overall quality of the team is still high.

 

But I can't see for the life of me that Torres and Gerrard were so physically exhausted Rafa had to leave them out of the starting line-up on Saturday, and in so doing risk giving our advantage away. Those two should play practically every league game this season, with the odd rest against the likes of Birmingham at home.

 

I hope Rafa learns from that mistake on Saturday. With all due respect to the boss, legend that he is, he needs to stop moaning about international football and start dealing with it. It's not gong anywhere and these guys are capable of playing several games on the bounce.

[Conor]

I am not getting on Crouch's back. I think he is outstanding on his day. A real asset for us and he has been a good servant to the club. There is no doubting the fact though that he was ineffective at the weekend. Simple as that. I expected him to get a goal or two at the weekend to prove something to Rafa. Unfortunately it didn't happen.

[Huyton_Red]

Personally, I think you have to look around the team and question whether we can actually afford to leave out certain individuals for any game which looks on paper to be tricky, and in so doing lower the general overall quality of the team.

 

I think if we don't pick Gerrard or Torres then the team is clearly weakened - they are the two players who in their positions are irreplaceable / significantly better than anyone who plays in their position. Each is so much more dynamic than any of their replacements their non-inclusion has an effect on the entire team.

 

I honestly feel our squad is that strong every other outfield player can be rotated. Even some of our finest like Carragher, Pennant and Mascherano can be replaced by the likes of Hyypia, Benayoun and Alonso or vice versa and the overall quality of the team is still high.

 

But I can't see for the life of me that Torres and Gerrard were so physically exhausted Rafa had to leave them out of the starting line-up on Saturday, and in so doing risk giving our advantage away. Those two should play practically every league game this season, with the odd rest against the likes of Birmingham at home.

 

I hope Rafa learns from that mistake on Saturday. With all due respect to the boss, legend that he is, he needs to stop moaning about international football and start dealing with it. It's not gong anywhere and these guys are capable of playing several games on the bounce.

 

I would disagree with that

 

We can manage a lot better without gerrard than we can without torres. We desperately, IMO, need to cash in on crouch and buy another dynamic, fast striker. I have always thought this team would be brilliant with a world class striker and when torres plays this shows, we need another one with pace for when he is rested or injured

[Mr_Shane]

I am guessing he wants to keep them ready for Porto. I can't believe he would have not utilized them from them from the getgo otherwise.

[Alonso]

I would disagree with that

 

We can manage a lot better without gerrard than we can without torres. We desperately, IMO, need to cash in on crouch and buy another dynamic, fast striker. I have always thought this team would be brilliant with a world class striker and when torres plays this shows, we need another one with pace for when he is rested or injured

Agree with that but could we not use Babel for that role?

[Swipe]

Starting against Pompey away without Stevie, Torres, Babel and Kuyt was a very poor decision, IMO.

 

Hopefully, it was just a reaction against the international week, cos if Rafa makes wholesale changes at tough away grounds then we won't win the league.

 

Our best 11 is easily good enough to take the title.

[Alonso]

Starting against Pompey away without Stevie, Torres, Babel and Kuyt was a very poor decision, IMO.

 

Hopefully, it was just a reaction against the international week, cos if Rafa makes wholesale changes at tough away grounds then we won't win the league.

 

Our best 11 is easily good enough to take the title.

And may I add that it's good/strong enough to impose ourselves on any opposition, home or away. We shouldn't be worried about how the other team is gonna play, but they should be worried about what we're gonna do to them.

[Swipe]

And may I add that it's good/strong enough to impose ourselves on any opposition, home or away. We shouldn't be worried about how the other team is gonna play, but they should be worried about what we're gonna do to them.

 

Exactly - and I think we have done that so far this season. Saturday was the first real disappointment. We've a great squad but not even ours can expect to rest the four i mentioned and expect to win tough games.

 

Hopefully we'll beat Porto and Brum and get back to winning ways (and hopefully top of the table)

Edited September 17, 2007 by Swipe

[Guest Kaizer]

Exactly - and I think we have done that so far this season. Saturday was the first real disappointment. We've a great squad but not even ours can expect to rest the four i mentioned and expect to win tough games.

 

Hopefully we'll beat Porto and Brum and get back to winning ways (and hopefully top of the table)

 

Why not, neither Babel or Kuyt belongs in our strongest starting 11.

[Earl Hafler]

Why not, neither Babel or Kuyt belongs in our strongest starting 11.

 

What's your opinion of our strongest XI ?

[fabfive]

No Torres = No Chance.

 

 

So we have an England International who was our top goal scorer last season in all competitions and this = no chance if Torres doesn't play.

 

First off, Torres will be rested.

 

Second, what happens if Torres gets injured at some point in this season either playing for us or Spain? ( of coruse fingers crossed he doesn't)

 

I doubt Rafa will pay Fernando 60 matches this season so there better be plan B and plan C.

Edited September 17, 2007 by fabfive