Just the football from yesterday (now the heat had died down a bit).

[Paul]

I've started a new thread for this, as most of the others got bogged down in the Rooney incident and general bickering after a shitty defeat. I felt yesterday was decisive in a number of ways for our future. Clearly, the debut for Morientes is obvious, but there were a number of other issues that should precipitate action from Rafa.

Firstly, it's ridiculous that they should win with their only shot on target, which was from distance and in clear view of the keeper. For me, Jerzy has made his final howler. It's sad to see, but he is quite clearly not the keeper he was pre-2002 World Cup. Ever since the early word coming out of the club was that Rafa didn't rate any of the keepers at the club, it has looked dicey for him, but I think this should force a bid for Van der Saar before the window closes. I know we're being linked with bids for young keepers like Carson (who I know nothing about), but we are desperate for some confident and consistent experience between the posts. I'd find the £1m it'd probably take to get him now, rather than wait until the summer when he's free. Maybe Rafa has another keeper in mind, but I would definitely go for someone proven in The Premiership, and the Dutchman is the cheapest option of the three I see as suitable (Niemi and Cuddicinni being the other two).

I also felt yesterday was a watershed for Didi. Hamann has to be one of the cleverest players at the club and I've lost count of the times he's made vital interceptions based on brilliant positioning, or taken the heat out the game at a crucial moment by either winning a free kick or conceding one. However, whilst he's never been the most mobile of players (and he was exposed by the fact that they had an extra man in the middle), I felt he looked lost yesterday.

I'd much rather have had Danny Murphy in there than Didi, and his departure is the only one I would question of Rafa's sales (although there was probably a degree of pragmatism about it as he needed to bring in some money). Didi offers virtually nothing going forward and I don't think we can afford to have a player like that any more; certainly not if he is also slow. I would not extend his contract beyond this season. We should bring in a much better "third choice" player; someone with the mobility and versatility to offer more to the team higher up the pitch, whilst not being exposed on the back foot.

We've already got the players at the club, in Welsh, Potter and Igor, to act as further back-up. If Rafa wants a disciplined player who is more mobile, Owen Hargreaves could do Didi's job much more effectively. I'd prefer someone a little less prosaic, but keeping Hamann is not an option as far as I'm concerned. Sad to say, as he has been a great player for us, but it's time for him to move on.

Didi was not the only problem in our midfield yesterday, which was where the game was ultimately conceded. Gerrard was utterly anonymous - although reports of an injury explain that, if they are true. However, Luis Garcia was a liability. He clearly is a player with superb touch and he also has great vision, but he has had huge problems adapting to the pace of English football. He is now pretty much guaranteed to give the ball away at least five times per match. It seems he either thinks he has more time than he really does or misjudges the other way, making hurried mistakes when he actually could be a little more composed.

People also say he's light-weight, and I agree he's not the toughest player, but that would not really be an issue if his timing was better and if he played in what I think is his best position, the hole behind the strikers. That now looks unlikely after Morientes' arrival, so I have to say I'm not sure where he will ultimately fit into the side. If Gerrard is still here, I'd say three of the four midfield positions for next season are already sewn up for him, Alonso and Kewell. That only leaves the right side, and I really don't see Garcia making a consistent contribution from there. We really need a proper right-winger. Wright-Phillips and Joaquin, the two best potentially available players, are out of our price-range, so I'd go for Figo; preferably now for a small fee, but definitely in the summer when he's on a free. Whatever happens, I think Garcia is going to find himself on the fringes of the team if he doesn't adapt to the pace of our game soon.

My final observation about yesterday regards the back four. I think we were very lucky United didn't push Rooney higher up the pitch off their left flank, because our collective lack of pace could have been horribly exposed. I'm still feeling a bit bemused that they didn't. They had us beaten in the middle of the pitch and could have turned it into a much more humiliating defeat if they'd gone with two up front after they went ahead. Pellegrino, obviously lacking fitness and never a player with pace, was lucky not to be exposed on a couple of occasions, and Sami is also looking ever more ponderous.

The acquisition of a pacey centre-half has to be our biggest priority, now Morientes is here (and assuming we get a keeper on a free). It's certainly where I would target the bulk of any available funds this summer and I'd be prepared to pay stupid money for the right man, as there simply aren't huge numbers of players out there with the requisite talent and speed. Ledley King is the best available player I can think of, although hopefully Rafa will know of someone cheaper as Spurs will push for a massive fee. He's not quite as good as I'd ideally like on the ball, but with Gerrard and Alonso in the middle, that's not such a pressing issue; particularly if Gerrard learns a little more discipline in terms of his positioning and allows Alonso to take it off the defence, rather than trying to do everything himself.

One other noteworthy point from yesterday is how wasteful we are with corners. As against Olympiacos, we had a seemingly endless number of them, none of which troubled the opposing defence once. We've got some massive players these days, particularly with the two new lads in the side, yet we couldn't get a half-decent ball into their box. Set pieces should be a key strength of the team, in light of their height and the ability of Gerrard and Alonso to deliver. Obviously there's some more training ground work needed on that one.

Overall, I was mightily pissed off after the final whistle. However, I'm feeling more positive again today. Despite some shitty results (and performances, on occasion), the club has a real sense of direction about it as Rafa keeps tweaking and adding to the team. Even though they were largely anonymous yesterday, I think the Baros/Morientes partnership could prove to be the most feared in the league and, along with Gerrard, Alonso and Carragher, that is starting to look like quite a spine to the team. Add a keeper and a pacey partner for JC and we'll be well on our way.

I just hope Rafa has a few more surprises lined up in the transfer market over the next couple of weeks, as an Everton win today would make fourth look a tall order. Having said that, I always felt the second half of the season was the time to judge the pace of the Rafalution. Let's hope yesterday was just an aberation.

[mooks]

Originally Posted by Paul

I also felt yesterday was a watershed for Didi. Hamann has to be one of the cleverest players at the club and I've lost count of the times he's made vital interceptions based on brilliant positioning, or taken the heat out the game at a crucial moment by either winning a free kick or conceding one. However, whilst he's never been the most mobile of players (and he was exposed by the fact that they had an extra man in the middle), I felt he looked lost yesterday.

I'd much rather have had Danny Murphy in there than Didi, and his departure is the only one I would question of Rafa's sales (although there was probably a degree of pragmatism about it as he needed to bring in some money). Didi offers virtually nothing going forward and I don't think we can afford to have a player like that any more; certainly not if he is also slow. I would not extend his contract beyond this season. We should bring in a much better "third choice" player; someone with the mobility and versatility to offer more to the team higher up the pitch, whilst not being exposed on the back foot.

Agree 100%. Great analysis overall.

[Hoddy]

Yep. Couldn't disagree with any of that and haven't got anything else to add. We got beaten in midfield yesterday. When Hamann's on the pitch it's one less person for our defence to pass to. It seems he puts all his exertion into his defensive work and uses our time on the ball to take a breather. He's been awesome these past few years, probably the most instrumental to Houllier's style of play, but it's time to go. I agree Paul, I wouldn't mind Hargreaves either.

[Nunavut Patrick]

Another well written analysis, Paul (oo-eer I'm being cliquey). I think Didi still has a role to lay this season in Europe, his experience is vital and we'll need him for Leverkusen. But beyond this season, I think he'll only get slower. Owen 'turncoat' Hargreaves (who could turn their back on Canada and play for Ingerlund) would be a good replacement, and if his England aspirations are to be fully met he'd be angling a move back to his adopted country.

I can't ever remember two Liverpool-ManU matches this year that were as unentertaining, sloppy, and just dull. The mancs are definately on their last legs, and Rooney is a time bomb waiting to go off. Because he's so stupid, he's uncoachable. Mr Burns and Slur haven't been able to settle him, and he'll always be a red ard waiting to happen.

[MLB]

I think we were beaten by tactics more than anything else. The midfield didn't perform because it wasn't really allowed to. We weren't allowed any time and space in possession, so we resorted to aimless long balls from the back. That's why our best outlet was Riise - he was the only one who was managing to control the ball and take on his man. Garcia wasn't direct enough, and we'd have been better having Nunez on the pitch, as poor as he is.

[BatChainPuller]

Good analysis as usual Paul (and thats not a bid to join you and NPs clique btw ;-) ). I'm just not looking forward to going into work tomorrow, especially as I had been taunting mancs all week I felt so confident... its true that we usually beat them when we think we have no chance and lose when they're there for the taking.

I would say that the Rafalution is 'fragile functioning', as they say in psycho -babble - when the confidence is there we are capable of taking on anyone but change a few factors and we are back in ged-world. We're still very dependant on a few individuals in terms of creativity. Alonso is proving to be a big loss, probably more than SG was when injured. Have to admit also (being one of his critics) that Kewell (the one we saw in his last three or four games) is also a loss in terms of creativity or at least making space for others.

I think Garcia needs a bit of bench-time but will come good - rather see FSP or even Nunez on the right at the moment.

From all accounts Didi isn't one to mentor the youngsters - shame because the man has huge experience and could have been the new Gary Mac - really must be time for Welsh to get a few run-outs in Xabi's absence.

The Rafalution has taken casualties but surely our noble new comrade Commandante Fernando will take his revenge when the objective revolutionary conditions are right. Let the young Rafalutionaries step forward to slaughter our foes in the mud-bath that will be Burnley !

[Stormbringer]

I agree with all you said.

I believe we also need right back cover. Whilst JC can do it we lose the dynamics of this position going forward which Finnan gives us. He is outstanding at centre half and we need his pace there.