Sigmahill

We're taking on the other Big 4 members and winning, without our full squad and with recovering players still trying to get the kinks out. All in all a brilliant win for all involved. Reina didn't have a lot to do but he looked like he was the fucking boss back there. Confident in every situation where he decided to act every ball he went for was his no questions asked. The defense was spectacular. Agger seems to have gained a bit of his match sense about him and had an excellent game. That was the best game I've seen Carra play in a long time which says something. No flailing tackles, he was a heat seeking scouser fucking obliterating everything he targeted. The heart of the midfield we had our shaky moments, but Deco, Fat Frank or that dirty fucking prick Mikel were all non factors so that's job done for me. The wings were ours. Riera is working out better than any of us could've imagined when we nabbed him in August. I don't give a shit how much pace he has, he does not get knocked off the ball and gets the ball in. This is the English Prem, most fullbacks just try to physically boss the winger off the ball and Riera (nor Kuyt) can be taken off that ball. It's going to mean a shitload of scoring opportunities generated. Keane I'll give the benefit of the doubt, he's got injury concerns and he is not the type of guy who is going to excel in the solo striker role. But he played okay. Benitez was spot on today. Reading the back comments, you all felt like I did. As Chelsea chased the game I figured we needed Babel out there to exploit the space at the back and Rafa obliged. Even when we went full defensive with two more astute subs, we still looked more likely to score. The other stark thing that stunned me is that I realize they have some injuries (Cole, Drogba and Ballack stand out) but even with that they should be able to cope. But look at their bench! I mean fuck me that was a weak bench. It warms my heart when even with injuries of our own we have a squad with enough options sitting on the bench to change a match (like last week) I'm thrilled....I'm glad it was us that ended that run. I'm willing to bet it's worth 3 to 4 extra points dropped at the Bridge now that the mystique is gone. We have 6 points against the other Big three when last season we took 3 total.... ...And I don't think we've played our best football yet...that's the scary thing. We have a 5 or 6 nil dominant 25 shot thrashing in us...and the fact we're still winning without it should keep our rivals up at night. Fuck yeah.

Sounds like Sour grapes...."Liverpool wouldn't give us Alonso for cheap so we didn't want him anyways". Alonso would be THE SHIT on the continent where you get an hour on the ball.

I think any interested party would be foolish to attempt to move in until it's clear the Americans can't keep the club afloat and won't get continuing financing. As long as the financing remains in place, the Americans can still hold out for a premium. Once it becomes clear what RBS and other debt holders are going to do about the situation then you'll see movement on the sale front. At least that's my impression of the whole thing. Why give Hicks and Gillett a 100 million pound premium when the club can probably be picked up for quite less in a few months?

I'm a foreign fan with a strong tie to the traditions of the club within my family and as much as I love seeing the Reds live this is still a ghastly idea. I could understand 1 or 2 matches, preferably between teams that could use commerical exposure (think UEFA Cup Level) in other markets and who were compensated from travelling and giving up a home date (which happens in North American leagues all the time) as a once a year thing. But even then, there's something to be said about tradition, why fuck with it when Exhibition matches between European teams sell out some of the largest stadiums outside of Europe on a regular basis?

I figured he'd be good...maybe take a season to bed in, haul 10-15 goals at most...never the amount he did bag. If I was being honest, put side by side last summer and given a choice between signing Tevez and signing Torres I would've said Tevez hands down. I love(d) the guy's passion and combative nature. Any Argie that would leave the conforts of home to go play in Brazil and do enough not only to win over the home supporters but with Player of the Year is a winner and the type of player I'd want playing for me. I still think in our set up he'd be scoring more than he does with the Scum. But in hindsight I'm glad we have Torres.

What's funny is, prior to his injury and Skrtel's emergence the talk was that Agger was going to be our generation's Alan Hansen...which is a pretty impressive comparison. Our future is Skrtel and Agger and we have to try to find some way when everybody is healthy to accomodate 3 top class central backs while Carra still has his legs. I'd hate to give up Agger, who has proven that he can handle the Prem and hope that somebody else comes good in the next few years to replace Carra when his heart can no longer carry his legs 40+ matches each season. The answer might ultimately lie in shifting Carragher out to the right for 10 to 15 matches next season to give Agger and Skrtel the playing time both are going to demand. As much as Carra claims to hate it out on the right, the guy looks brilliant bombing up the wings the few times he did play out there last season. At the end of the day, you can't expect any player with the talent the 3 of them possess to be happy sitting on the bench.

Not sure how the deluded fools saw any sort of bias in that match. Robinho will learn like Torres has that on the Isle the defender is allowed to get physical with you and the referee won't blow the foul* * Okay, unless you're Cristiano Ronaldo.

The difference this year over the past 2 years comes down to two things: First: Our squad is stronger. You just look at how far the squad has come even in the last couple of seasons. Hell, look back just 2 seasons ago at the approximate corresponding fixture in the 06/07 campaign and you'll see a 2-0 loss @ Bolton to see how far the squad has come. Second: Results that in the past few years haven't fallen our way consistently seem to be falling. I think you can chalk some of that up to luck, but you also have to give credit to the fact that nobody on the team seems to give up regardless of the situation or how well/poor we've played. You have to be good to be lucky.

Torres Riera Kuyt (not only for the goal, but for the way he tracked back)

Once the lads realize what a guy who brings true width to the side can do, they will be in the right positions to bury his crosses and the assists will come. It was a joy to see honest to goodness width today.

If the league is serious about stopping that sort of challenge there has to be a few matches tacked onto the end of that suspension one would think.

Even with Owen out it's really tough to argue his striking picks based on performances over the last few weeks. Beckham in the squad is a joke.

The only thing that scares me is that over the last few years we've been stronger in the stretch run because Rafa did give his players rest. Arsenal crashed and burned last year because guys like Fabregas ran out of uh..gas by the end of the season. I'm hoping we do rotate a little through November/December/January to make that real push for the title.

Reina Mascherano Gerrard Torres My list is similar to most others, but I'd argue that Mascherano has to be considered close to the top. We looked a little suspect while he was off in China. With him covering the back 4 we look a whole lot more dangerous. And we beat United without Gerrard or Torres based on Mascherano's will alone at some points.

The litmus test is The Bridge in a few weeks...Get out of there with a point...or hell even 3 then it might be time to get excited. It's the strongest squad we've had in a long time.