BookableOffense

...oh. I thought it was cos we're the industry-standard of excellence, and they're the blueshite.

If an old gypsy woman got out her crystal ball today and told me that Rafa wouldn't win the league within the next three seasons, I still would not hesitate to keep him around for the next ten years at least. (Disclaimer: not hoping that's the case by a long shot, merely pointing out that the task was a formidable one; no doubt I'll catch a bit of flak for this, but continuity is an important element of longterm success.) If we look at the kind of bite we've added to the squad since he's been around, and we look at the type of football we're starting to play, it's easy to feel hopeful. With Rafa, each year has been progressively sharper than the last, and I'm certain that Rafa's got it in him to win it all. The Mancs and Chavs have considerable resources, however, they're also woefully wasteful, and even with the ownership difficulties, we're not that far behind them. Arsenal look to be having a make or break summer, so we'll see what they look like once the season starts again, but they don't look to have as much steel to them as the run to the top of the table demands. While Tottenham look to be on the right track, I think it must be said they're not up to par yet. The Shite will always be the Shite. Therefore, let us take heart regardless of which Swiss RB's we're linked with (and who knows, maybe Rafa can get something out of him after all). We're not far off, and we don't even need David Villa to do it--though certainly I wouldn't turn him away if he showed up on the doorstep. I'm looking forward to next season.

My hat's off to Coop--maybe it was a bit patronizing as was said, but I think it was a fine, and necessary post. I've oft been criticized (and called a Blueshite) for stating my preference is toward the work rather than the flair--if there need be a choice. But I think that the strength of Liverpool throughout our successes was the kind of total team effort that could flatten the opposition's very will to live, not with our impressive array of 42-goal scoring Portuguese wingers that we trotted out, but with some grit as well. The game has certainly changed over the years, it's true, but I think it goes without saying that our "gritty" players have a good bit of skill--as Coop was quick to point out, especially about Kuyt. As well, we were pleasantly surprised by Torres' ability to muscle with defenders, to really hold his own against the type of play many of us (myself included) feared would make the transition difficult on him last summer. To me, that's the ultimate signing. Torres has the right attitude, an unbelievable bit of skill, and some toughness to back it all up. More to the point: I can say I wholeheartedly agree with the title of the post based on Luis Garcia's attitude. Frustrating player at times, but there are very few players in the world who don't frustrate on a fairly regular basis. I think I'd take him back today if the chips fell right--but that's most likely just the sort of revisionist sentimentality that necessarily comes with following football. Everyone is no doubt better to my memory than their actual record would attest, but I don't think that bothers me in the least. I think it's going to feel very good when we win the PL and the CL next year, and I think it's going to feel even better next summer as I look back on it in the midst of all the idiocy of silly season.

Regarding the "Istanbul-esque" comments: being as I watched in the lovely college town, errr...tourist trap of Williamsburg, I tuned in to the good old ESPN2 (they don't even play it on the main channel) where I was delighted to hear the familiar voice of the only man who would've said the following when the Czechs scored their second: "Ghame seht ahnd mah-tch"

Am committing the great sin of having not read the entire thread, but I'm at work and haven't got all day. So at the risk of repeating someone else's words: how about two assists against Italy? Among them a rather pretty one.

The side looks like it has little to offer in terms of distribution, patient and purposeful possession from the back when Aurelio leaves the game--that's not really to slate Skrtel who doesn't always look half bad himself, but they say this guy's clever going forward, anybody know how true it is?

I don't know about that, given Domenech's choices. Remember, Coupet and Landreau sat during the World Cup for one of the all-time great adventures, shall we say, in goal. Abidal over Clichy too, doesn't really say that much, I'm not sure. But I do know If I was a hotdog and I was starving, I'd eat myself (so as not to have my ear bitten off).

Or others who watch Lyon regularly enough Hatem Ben Arfa. What's the book on him? The last time I saw Lyon play was in the CL, and I believe he played that day, but to be honest I can't remember much about him. I know Rashid has said on a number of occasions between him and Benzema, he's the legit prospect for best in the world, and here I am unsure where he even plays. Does he play wide or not--one friend of mine says he's kind of a target man, the other says he's more a winger, and I feel like if he's so legit, I ought to get a few of these things straight.

An excellent evaluation. I think Barry benefits the club greatly whether or not Alonso is here.

1) I wouldn't waste my banjo on a cow's arse 2) Working as hard as he does IS a particular talent. I think we'd all work hard if given the chance like him, but to be able to sustain the kind of effort he does is particularly impressive. He outworks the rest of the squad, possible exception being only the Mascher. While we'd like to see a little more touch, don't discount what he brings to the side--at the very least, don't write it off as sentimentality, because Riise showed us recently what tiredness does to a player's mental faculties by letting Anelka by and that godawful inexplicable diving header that still gives me nightmares. 3) Important to say, he is better than Voronin. 3)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Terry's predictable (and laughable) posturing at a hard man is what got Drogba sent off. Tevez is alone by the touchline shouting to no one in particular and who should come and try to stand in his face?? No surprise there. I'm glad both he and Ronaldo missed penalties. Next best thing to both teams losing.

Fantastic pun. As for Benayoun, I think he's been a good buy. A bad buy would be Cisse, a great buy would be Torres. As Benayoun's been somewhere in between, I think it's okay to call him a good buy. This Malouda business is a strange idea though. I'd take him, give him a go, but not for much...the Barry idea at first seemed a bit off, but it really grew on me the more I thought about it. This one just seems a bit off the wall.

Comparing our league place now and four years ago is not an entirely simple thing to do. You must as well acknowledge that other teams have made progress. Look at the money Utd. has put into their side. Arsenal were this season undoubtedly stronger than they were a few years ago, and so too have the teams below us. The shite, City, Villa...they all seem to have their shit a bit more together, and so we've managed to really turn the squad over and rebuild with a solid foundation in the midst of it all. Utd. have had Ronaldo and Rooney a while now, they've had Ferdinand, they've had their core all this while, and so have been free to spend millions on say Anderson and Nani, Carrick and then Hargreaves, Tevez perhaps (they still haven't paid for him in full right?). We don't have the luxuries of such spending, but we've made some good signings recently, the squad looks to be playing a better overall game--Babel makes occasional good runs down the wing, as does Pennant sometimes, and also indicative of the quality of the squad JAR is on the way out finally. So to say we haven't progressed is to ignore some pretty significant factors. So, perhaps another striker, perhaps a link player, a wide player, fullback or two. 3-5 signings away from dominance. That's closer than we ever were under GH.

After a day of reflection, I'm going to say I'm much more pleased with the progress we've made this season than last season. I feel like that's a strange thing to think, but it's dawning on me that last season we were over-achieving. This season, it's fairly evident that Riise is out--though I'll say he's been a fantastic Red--Hyypia and Carra are still playing at a high level, but we've also got two mean looking young ones up and coming. I really have liked the look of Skretl. However, I'm most pleased with our midfield. If Xabi is on the way out, I'll be sad to see him go, but agree generally that he's a little slow on the ball sometimes. The Mascher is a fantastic asset, and his play has looked inspiring this season. I'm not sure how I feel about the idea of bringing in Gareth Barry, but I like the looks of things in the midfield--especially playing Kuyt wide instead of a striker. With him, Pennant, Babel and Benayoun, we seem be building a team that is a little more dangerous. Suffice to say, if we brought in another good link player or a dangerous wide player, I think our midfield is looking very promising. With Torres, perhaps another big striker might be nice, but to be honest, I'm not as worried about that. So if this season was a rough one, at least we laid positive foundations that look to be deeper and stronger than last seasons. I realize there's still been a gap in quality between us and the rest of the teams sitting atop the table this season, BUT, I feel like we're a good summer away from surpassing those teams. Arsenal can be toothless and gutless, Chelsea look on the downhill and well, let's just say I've never been too impressed with the Mancs, and whether they go out and spend another 8 billion this summer or not, I'm convinced that if we can build on the progress we've started making, they'll be left in our dust. We have a fantastic and dangerous striker. We have without the best pairing of centre-backs in the world, no matter who Rafa chooses on any given day, and we've also seen now that Rafa's learning what to look for in players...the past few additions to the squad have impressed me. So, with that, I say simply that I expect this team to be looking very sharp next year. Let us put to shame the entire world next season.

Bit ironic innit? Drogba holding the flag up? Or maybe just expedient--has the touch judge gone and just made a deal that he can put the flag up himself?

I think Senderos has done some great work for us. Just watch Sami's recent goald if you don't believe me.

Yes, either ref looks up sees the whistle's about due, or our two defenders--rather not name names since i don't remember exactly who was there for it--might've prevented the cross into the box, or riise gives it a go with the right foot... But. We know we were the better team tonight regardless. Disappointment aside, there are some strong positives to take into next week. What concerns me though is the blatancy with which Chelsea flaunts the laws of the game. Cashley's tackle on Kuyt (fantastic seeing Cole skinned like that, disappointed a rather wreckless and typical challenge was rewarded like that), just about every other move Mongo made he was hacking somebody down, and Drogba's normal antics come to mind, as well I recall a significant handball in the box that really never looked so innocent. For Riise, I'll say there was one strong positive. He let Drogba whine and fall and do his normal dance without getting careless. Just wish he'd had that one last clearance in him.

I'm not sure what to say. That was shocking and a bit disappointing.

Many ancient peoples would inspect the entrails of animals for omens before leading their tribes into battles...indeed the insides of animals is a powerful sign. Let us build a proper alter and sacrifice a player that we might please the gods. It is only proper to give the fattest cow--Voronin anyone?

Strange that--considering your name says right beside it, "Don't believe the hype."

Even as painful as last weekend was, I'm glad to see us not get complacent against that lot. That he has proven he will not tolerate abuse being heaped on the Kid is wonderful. Mess with El Nino, draw the ire of the Mascher. Skrtel can get in on this too, and Agger when he comes back. There will be no complacency. I think we should brainwash Gerrard--dope him up and let him spend the summer in the wilderness with the Mashcer, learning to kill large [fearsome] prey with his bare hands at first, and then his pure fury, as channeled through his eyes. Then we will re-release him into the Premier League. No longer will the likes of Lampard, Terry et al call him "pal." This is the message we want to send opponents, regardless of petty 3-match bans and cowardly yellow cards: http://www.msu.edu/~willso11/images/Random%20Pictures/badger.jpg

He did a job on Ronaldo last time.

0-0 scorelines? With a team more vicious than 11 rabid hounds, it'd only take the first ten, maybe twenty minutes to tear the opposition limb from limb. After that, they could walk it into the goal as much as they liked. World Domination.

A team of Carra's, I've already once weighed in on (a definite yes). A couple more Stevie G's, fine by me. Cloning Torres would be wonderful. But, if somebody told me I could put Mascherano in 11 places on the field at once, I think it's the offer I couldn't refuse. There is no team in the world that they wouldn't chew to pieces. As for Henry, it'd look awful good to have Gerrard supporting Torres with Babel and Henry making those runs down the wings...but, I'll agree with Rash's point that we could find a different player (younger, perhaps) to satisfy that need.

So, even among those that don't rate Pennant, the consensus seems to be this: There are far too many weaknesses elsewhere in the team to justify replacing him first. We'd all like to see someone else up front who can start regularly alongside Torres. We'd like to see a new left back come into the picture (hopefully Arbeloa steps in where Finnan leaves off and continues to get better). We'd like to see a left winger who can play regularly enough to find good form. Depending on how things work out in the summer, we might even be looking to bring in another central midfielder (hopefully there's absolutely nothing to all the ridiculous Alonso rumors, and hopefully Mascherano is wearing red again next season). There is a class of wingers out there clearly above Pennant. We would all like to see one of them playing out on the right for us. However, given the ridiculous price it'd cost to bring a winger of established quality, it makes more sense to keep Pennant around for the next couple of years, provided he continues to make positive steps in his game, which he seems to have been doing. That's time we can use to look into securing and developing young talent. Or maybe some wonder deal comes along and we manage to sign a world beater for next to nothing--maybe they'll have some sort of New Age religious awakening and decide that Anfield's the only place for them. Anybody know a good Shaman?