Parky

Kept Fulham in the Prem. Got them to 7th place in the league. Got them to Europa Cup final. Signed quite a lot good players for them. Apart from that not a lot. Thing is has he worked under the immense pressure a manager at anfield is perpetually under? I know he did well at Inter when they had no money, but that was a while back.

He's a good steady coach with a solid knowledge of the game and has been around and picked up a lot of ideas, but I'm not sure he's the talismanic figure Liverpool need, especailly with the difficult times ahead regarding cash.

Not looking good, getting completely outplayed.

Agreed team spirit and work ethic was the best I've seen in a long time.

I'd like to add that today was the beginning of the beginning. Well done CH.

He's a 10m rated striker on the strength of what I saw today. Really haven't seen anything like that in a long time from a rookie 21yr old English striker. An ablsolute masterclass in lone man forward play, made Carew at the other end look very very average. Think he'll be called up for Eng very soon. The real beauty for me was the last goal where he was so casual and showed so much composure it was unreal - just gliding the ball in with his left like was Mario Kempes or summink. The really exciting part is that he will improve, there is another 20% to come in all areas of his play. If he stays fit and confident I dare say a top 12 finish isn't beyond this side with Cheick yet to come in and probably one other.

Believeable??? Who knows.

Perch was excellent today and also has that extra gear pace wise.

Can't fault him. The side look prepared and played short passes calmly in key areas (most of the time). He has also stuck by Carroll and has been rewarded in spades today. Make no mistake Villa are a good side, perhaps a little disorganised due to no MON, but still a very good side who will finish top 10. Superb day.

Still think I'm going to wake up and it's Sunday morning.

Bloody fantastic. Newcastle enter space race.

BARTOOOOOON!!!!!!!!!1

Guti still fuking about with the ball in silly areas.

I think he's off. Off where? Marseille. hee hee

And yet we beat them in the relegation season, but only beat them once in the six home games before that. Slightly over-dramatised but a draw at the very minimum is needed. They've got players out and the managers left. Aiming for wins just against the bottom 6 won't be enough, we have to get them against mid/high table sides whenever the opp arises and this is as good an opp as any.

These are the kinds of games we have to win.

I think Carroll has the determination, tenacity and first touch to lead the line well. I'd be satisfied with a striker or a Ben Arfa 'trequartista' sort. But i completely agree, him and Lovenkrands won't score enough goals in this division. Tiote is 50% of the problem solved - another forward is absolutely imperative. Cant wait to see this Tiote, didnt pay any attention to him in the world cup but if he is true to his description then it does give us a few options. As you said earlier, allowing Barton to get forward or play with a bit more freedom might get the best out of him. We're going to need a bit more quality up front though. If Hughton's lucky then a judicious use of Shola, Best, Lovenkrands and even Ranger might get him (in total) 15 goals over the season. If Carroll gets somewhere near that we might be ok. Canny big if in my eyes though, we have to hope that they find some surprising form. We need a roaming tricky forward who can come deep/ attacking midfielder type. AND a proper striker to shoulder some of the responsability, it really is asking too much for Carroll to carry the whole season.

2 games in and I was looking at their relegation odds.

I'm still in shock that we;ve actually signed a good player in one of the postions we really needed. 2 more please.

Early signs are Wham, Blackpool, Wigan and WBA are shakier than us. Who knows 2/3 signs and mid table beckons. [/Optramistictastic]

Clearly been reading this thread.

No idea. But he's one game short of int qualification he's played 8 and earlier in the thread someone said 9. But it should be alright regarding his age and that he is a regular (of late).

What harm could it have possibly done if other clubs looking to sign him were made aware of our interest? Anything confirmed on this? I thought we weren't spending any money. I think it's more likely he was scared of getting one of those letters. As far as confirmation goes, nowt really. But it was reported in detail and in a very 'matter of fact' fashion on the local Twente newspaper's website last night so I reckon it's a goer. I think the deal is definitely done. I hope there are no issues with the work permit.

I agree, there really isn't much between them.