Shays Given Tim Flowers

Brazil look like a bunch of players who can't be fucked to run around a lot.

All the non-footballing stuff about Ashley Cole really has overshadowed his monumental contribution to the England team for years. One of the most consistent performers we have had and one of the few to show his class on the biggest stages.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballon_d%27Or_2001 One winner since 1956.

Hatem wouldn't want to go to Liverpool. He wants to win the Ballon D'Or man.

Watching him eat up turf on cole before running round him reminded me of Martin Offiah. Big bloke, doesn't look like he runs quickly but he really does cover the ground.

Aye Jonas was certainly coddling him on saturday in arguably his best ever performance. Defensively, can you name me a game where he's played well without Jonas on the pitch? Champions league vs Real Madrid. Seriously though it becomes pretty hard to remember specific games and who played etc. Particularly when talking about 2 of our sides most ever-present players. I'd rather just go off what I have seen recently of Davide irrespective of who is playing in front of him. Kudos to you if you can remember his specific performances without Jonas in front of him, but any comparison you may wish to embark upon is ultimately going to need to address who was actually playing in front of him as well as who was he up against. At times he is a good defender. At times he doesn't concentrate enough and can be a little lazy getting back. At times he is a bad defender. At the moment he is playing well and has considerable potential. EDIT: What I can say without a shadow of a doubt is I have seen some very good defensive play from him that is entirely independent of whether or not Jonas is on the pitch.

He has said that with the arrival of Debuchy he will dedicate time to improving his crossing with his left foot as he knows now he will be on the left side for the foreseeable future. He did ping across one very good ball into the box with his left in the second half against Chelsea. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

Irrespective of what the letter of the law says common sense prevailed on Saturday with Colo. Also, fuck Chelsea.

That stuff with his wife could be anything. Not worth reading anything into it, she may have said it entirely off the cuff.

What you really notice today I think is the fact that this wasn't just a 10 men behind the ball, frustrate the opposition and try to smash and grab a 1-0. We really took the game to them and went toe to toe with a very good side. Thats incredibly promising in itself.

involving one of the "elite clubs" nope its assault Colo should be locked up tbh The only reason Benitez mentioned it was to take the heat off his players.

The fuck is that a penalty kick. Ba has his header, Colo can't see him. He has to go for the ball. Jesus wept can you not have accidents anymore in football.

Finishing wasn't there today but his turn and pass for Gouffran for our second was vital. He played the lone striker role very well today and is actually pretty effective with his back to goal. Works hard too.

Yes, it gets silly at times but emotions run high in matches.

dived in two-footed on gutierrez, looked like he rolled his studs too so he didn't go studs in. I actually didn't think it was at all bad and Jonas, made a fair bit out of it. Would have been devastated had a player of ours had been sent of for similar. Not even much force in the tackle.

How can you say anything about that game other than that it was a great game?

words fail me.

Ameobi looks smaller...

That counter. Gouffran is what we have needed for years.

Santon Left Footed Cross btw.

sometimes I think Birtles is actually Sam from Quantum Leap and that only when he makes my blood pressure reach a certain level will he be allowed to leap again.

pretty classless.

Jonas

better get your skates on.