vreitti

I am glad CC and Clark aren't in the lineup. CC isn't good enough with the ball at his feet and young Clark just needs to be patient and keep learning. Collins will be a beast today and Dunne will score a header. Just Ashley is back on the wing. Gabby & Bent to lead the line upfront. UTV!

Perhaps GH has a clause in his contract that it'll be automatically terminated and without compensation, if we get relegated. Wishful thinking, I know.

Me too probably, but I don't see how that would be any different from now!?

What makes you think we'd be after him and furthermore why would he wanna join us when he's been less than year at Fulham? 1) Because he was Randies first choice to replace Oneil, if Oneil went. 2) Even reported that Randy had met with Hughes in America before Oneil quit 3) And dispite our current problems, we are a step up from Fulham. 4) And hes refusing to sign an extension to his contract. There, four reasons Well, points 1,2 are heresay at best. I agree with point 3. So are you telling me he signed a one year contract with Fulham? Maybe it's just me but I'd like to think that a manager upon joining a new club would want time to stabilize things and make his mark on the team and ultimately achieve something. Managers seldom seem to ditch a challenge for better money somewhere else. They usually only leave when sacked. But I guess it's not all that uncommon that a manager would leave after less than one year i charge, but it sure isn't common either.

What makes you think we'd be after him and furthermore why would he wanna join us when he's been less than year at Fulham?

Get out. I am not entirely convinced about Allardyce either. His football has mostly been overly physical, dire hoofball, but one has to take into account what kind of players he's had at his disposal. If you think about it, would you really try to play clever possession football with what he had at both Bolton and Blackburn? His tenure at Newcastle was ultimately a failure, because Ashley wasn't patient enough. He was given even less time than Houllier has had. I think he could do something with our squad, but there are risks involved obviously. Still he'd almost certainly do better than GH has.

Absolutely. Read through some past articles from his time at Liverpool and you'll soon realize just how "liked and respected" he actually was. To me both him and Houllier have the same old-school attitude to players, where respect is implied, e.g. something they take for granted, as opposed to earning it. They don't seem to understand that football has changed and more importantly players have changed. Managers like Redknapp, Wenger and SAF seem to understand this and know how to handle 'modern day footballers'.

The problem with Rafa are not his achievements, which may or may not be partially due to previous managers. This is at the end of the day irrelevant. The problem however is that his football is not that much different from Houllier's. Add to that his cold and distant way of handling players etc. we are most likely faced with the same problems as now. What we really need now is a hardass, someone who'll instantly get results and gain the player's respect without question, but at the same time has enough humility to be able to handle all our lazy, underachieving primadonnas. I hate to say it but we need someone like MON again.

Benitez is actually worse than Houllier at man-management, if that's possible. I remember reading somewhere he never even talks to his players. Really hope that this is bullshit, wouldn't wanna see anymore ex-liverpool scumbag managers at our fine club. Would take Allardyce though, don't know why, just think he'd do quite well with the squad we have.

Agree. But more specifically, Hughton in the short term. Completely agree. Had totally forgotten him. He'd be a perfect short-term solution. Think he did a decent job at Newcastle this season and was unfairly sacked.

I'd like to see we get a young and upcoming manager in, preferrably someone with some fresh ideas. Someone who is equally passionate about winning as they are about playing good, entertaining football. We really need a new rebuildning process now, based on a sustainable business model and one that incorporates the aspects of the modern game and TBH I can't see any of these old-timers achieving that, regardless of their long and prestigious resumes.

Surely it does matter, if the 'good deeds' result in goals for us? Honestly I couldn't care less if his inexperience and bad positioning costs us goals, as long as we win football matches. However you do have a solid point, because I too believe it's more likely he'll cost us more in the end, playing out-of-position and all, than the potential gain that might come from his passing and forward bursts.

I think BB tried hard last night, perhaps a little more than others. At times he was all over the place and you certainly cannot fault his effort. However, a lot of his passes where wayward. In part this might be down to poor movement from others, but at times he was also a bit too clever for his own good (very similiar to Young for most of the season). Either way its too soon to tell if he is 'gonna make it'. He has a bunch of talent and will probably improve by playing more. I think he should be given a chance to show his worth alongside 'our best 11', e.g. with NRC behind him and Young infront. And preferrably against teams that are harder to break down, teams that don't enjoy possession.

ffs Bent.

Le Coq would be my choice.

I would firmly say he did a little more than make 'a couple of decent passes' today. He rarely looses possession and almost every time he makes a pass it's a forward pass, unlike Petrov who only passes sideways and backwards. Our goal for instance came to be because of Makoun fantastic one-touch pass to DJ. We must have watched a different game, because although I do not have the statistics to back this up, I'd say he didn't give away the ball more than 3-5 times, and I can't remember any of them being in a defensively critical situation. Whereas Young, Gabby, Bent and others gave away the ball much more. I'll agree on the tackling, he wasn't at his best with that today. Think he was a bit tired still after OT and probably should have been subbed after 60-65 minutes. Obviously he's still trying to get to grips with the pace and intensity of the Premier League. However, considering he's come from France, I am highly impressed, because he's already shown he has what it takes, and he'll still improve hugely, there's no question about that. btw, I was drinking a Finnish beer called Sandels, it's quite good, I highly recommend it, that is if you can find it wherever you are .

Don't like GH's team selection or tactics for that matter. Why does he persist with playing people out of position? It's MON all over again. Some poor defending yet again, and not enough force or creativity going forward. Bent should be getting more balls, but Gabby is useless on the wing, whereas Young just isn't working out in the hole. All in all too much back-passing, and too many poor decisions in critical situations. Petrov shouldn't play more than 45 minutes anymore. I'd try out Bradley asap, and wouldn't mind seeing more of Delph and Delfouneso in the not too distant future. I still think we need a new manager, a few better performances haven't really yet convinced me that GH is the man to bring us silverware and European football, irrespective of some good purchases. I guess we will know more come May.

Goddam Petrov. He should be taken off, right now! He has some qualities but his legs have sadly given up...

**** BRILLIANT WALKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do we not practice crossing anymore? Looking at Walker'sabsolutely horrific crossing, you wouldn't think so.

Not a good first half. We are lucky to be ahead. Thought we look absolutely clueless going forward. Clark is as usual all too aggressive defending, and Gabby is useless on the wing, his work-rate is way below par and has been for a while. I'd say Makoun and DJ are our only positives atm. Dunne & Collins, look very shaky again.

Makoun outstanding. Friedel kept us in the game. One can never expect to get even a point from OT. Nevertheless, I am impressed with some of the passing and football that we played tonight. Dunne & Collins where not at their best, but these things happen. With a little more concentration and a bit more luck we might have gotten something from this game. UTV!

Why does Young take does? He's 'lost' the finesse to get them even inside the woodwork.

What's up with Petrov? He seems out of steam already...

Dunne seems shaky, he's got to up his game, pronto! But it was never a penalty, not in a million years.