outstanding today..

[floyd the barber]

excellent performance, definetly one of our best this season..

 

hard to pick a man of the match when everyone put in such a great shift....

 

But lucas...think we finally saw what Rafa sees in him, he was superb today!! fantastic display and what a pass for gerrards 2nd goal!

[Benitez]

he was excellent, as was the team in general. Just a confident commanding performance. A game when you can really say we coulda hit double figures!

 

LOL at Sky's coverage trying their damnest to make it about that 'orrible Rafa leaving Robbie Keane on the bench, like it was a punishment?

 

It was a fecin compliment! He, Xabi and Bert where given a break. 2nd half of the season is going to be tough as heck, nice to protect some players when we can.

 

And the best thing was - how flawless the transition was. That's what Rafa is after, a way of playing and a group of players who understand it, and make it work so smoothly.

Edited December 28, 2008 by Benitez

[Dee]

wonderful!

babel could have performed better IMO - tended to pass it backwards and not take on the full back..

 

and fulham score!

[anfieldgaz]

What they said ^^^^^^^ He was emense today everyhting he did was class.Lets hope he keeps it going!! Welll done lad!

[Rory Fitzgerald]

He started off really well by competing for 40/60 balls and coming out the better for it. Its that kind of fire in his belly that these players need when they get their chance. It makes it 10 times easier for Rafa to call on him in the future when he knows there is that kind of performance in him.

[Benitez]

wonderful!

babel could have performed better IMO - tended to pass it backwards and not take on the full back..

 

and fulham score!

 

 

let's be honest, Babel could score a hattrick and you'd still slag him off

Edited December 28, 2008 by Benitez

[Bromage]

Is the performance from Lucas today a signal for Rafa to cash in on Alonso in the summer?

[Earl Hafler]

What Babel needs is a run of starts like Benayoun's had - just look what's happened to his game in the last 2 weeks - but it's going to be tough. His control was good today, trapped the ball brilliantly but he was disappointing when running at players. Provided a decent outlet though.

 

Lucas was very good.

 

Man Of The Match was Keys. Questioning if Gerrard would have taken the penalty !

[Benitez]

Is the performance from Lucas today a signal for Rafa to cash in on Alonso in the summer?

 

 

I'd hope not. Alonso has been one of our best players this season! Lucas is doing well now, but it's way to early to think about getting shot of Xabi (again!).

 

Xabi needs a new contract, not the boot.

[Earl Hafler]

I'd hope not. Alonso has been one of our best players this season! Lucas is doing well now, but it's way to early to think about getting shot of Xabi (again!).

 

Xabi needs a new contract, not the boot.

 

Alonso's been our best player. Even today when he came on and we're cruising he was hungry for the ball. Huge improvement this season and a return to the debut season form....probably better

[Dee]

let's be honest, Babel could score a hattrick and you'd still slag him off

no I wouldn't - I think he was good today - he competed, but tended to take the ball down and pass it backwards mostly or lose it. Probably needs more games as EH says..

 

i want to see him skin people, go around them, whip the ball in - just like Insua was doing

[Internationinteroperability]

Lucas was immense today!

 

It's worth praising Yossi as well. He is finding his form and really playing for the team. Newcastle were quick to put two players on him (and Babel) but still did very well I think.

 

It's gonna be the most exciting second half of the season for God knows how many years!

 

Well in you Reds!!

[Bromage]

I'd hope not. Alonso has been one of our best players this season! Lucas is doing well now, but it's way to early to think about getting shot of Xabi (again!).

 

Xabi needs a new contract, not the boot.

 

I agree completely but it does wory me when I hear of interest in Glen Johnson at £9m and I wonder where the money's coming from.

[Gerrardrules]

Is the performance from Lucas today a signal for Rafa to cash in on Alonso in the summer?

 

Why sell one of your best players of this season?

[alias75]

I agree completely but it does wory me when I hear of interest in Glen Johnson at £9m and I wonder where the money's coming from.

 

Probably by selling Dosenna and Pennant plus they still owe us a few quid for Crouch.

[anfieldgaz]

I'd hope not. Alonso has been one of our best players this season! Lucas is doing well now, but it's way to early to think about getting shot of Xabi (again!).

 

Xabi needs a new contract, not the boot.

Totally agree getting rid of Xabi would be suicide after his performance this season. Lucas has played well of late so no do not get rid of Xabi!

[Bromage]

Probably by selling Dosenna and Pennant plus they still owe us a few quid for Crouch.

 

Don't want to turn this into a transfer thread but would Rafa be prepared to admit a mistake in signing Dossena after such a short time?

[Swipe]

Also have to praise Lucas's mobility and adaptibility today.

 

Went out to the right when Xabi came on and still played well, even creating a goal with a great pass.

 

Well in lad

[alias75]

Don't want to turn this into a transfer thread but would Rafa be prepared to admit a mistake in signing Dossena after such a short time?

 

Hes done it before with other players maybe not this early but after 1 season. The way Insua has come in and played well we could sell Dosenna and not need to replace him with another left back given we have Aurellio, Insua and Arbeloa that can play there.

[David Hodgson]

Is the performance from Lucas today a signal for Rafa to cash in on Alonso in the summer?

 

Just back from the match: well, sitting in a boozer in Newcastle after the match - I can officially confirm Lucas was class, but Xabi was 'world' class when he came on.

 

It's 'on'.

[Benitez]

Don't want to turn this into a transfer thread but would Rafa be prepared to admit a mistake in signing Dossena after such a short time?

 

 

A mistake is kinda stretching it, cos he's not been here long enough or played anywhere near enough. The guy is a first choice Itialian international, I don't think he's that crap! He's just not settled - YET. But will he ever, who knows if he gets the chance? Cos I have no doubt Rafa would ship him out quick if he feels he needs to, he isn't a manager who cares about hanging onto players to prove a point.

 

And I really hope we don't sell players to sign the likes of Johnson for such stupid money. He isnt worth half of that sort of fee.

[yuriska]

Don't want to turn this into a transfer thread but would Rafa be prepared to admit a mistake in signing Dossena after such a short time?

Why not? He shipped Kromkamp out after only 6 months.

[floyd the barber]

Also have to praise Lucas's mobility and adaptibility today.

 

Went out to the right when Xabi came on and still played well, even creating a goal with a great pass.

 

Well in lad

 

 

Hes done a few times late in the game, or also when coming off the bench has has been pushed out wide..and generally done a good job..

 

I definetly see him more as an attacking midfielder....not the defensive midfielder many would believe..

He has a great eye for some killer through balls...

[CaptainXabi]

He's not a defensive midfielder, he's a box-to-box. He's just being let off the leash a bit more these days.

[Molby]

he's box to box - remember the hype when we signed him, and all the youtube footage?

 

box to box - and today he showed it, plus some great passes

 

a player like Lucas needs goals and he came close enough today to show there are plenty of goals in him

 

no use comparing him with Xabi though or linking him to rumours of Xabi being sold as they are entirely different CMs