Jonas

That's not how people, used to, base who the better football is. Otherwise it wouldn't even be a question or debate. You'd just say unequivocally X scored the most goals, Y had the most goals and assists so must have been better. A lot of players of the year, best players in world cups, players of the season wont have had the best fantasy football goals and assists stats. Cant be a massive coincidence his career was a lot better than any of the players he's being compared to unfavourably. More caps than Ben Arfa/Robert, bigger clubs, better teams, 3rd in the PFA awards in 96, 1st in 99 the others wouldn't have been considered. Robert was anything but consistent btw. Was talked about openly by people at the club at the time (Shearer, Sir Bobby) nevermind the fans.

Sir Bobby didn't think so. And he wasn't.

Saying Given was 'elite' and 'miles' better than any other keeper we've had justifies why people brought him up as being overrated really. He definitely wasn't miles better than Pope, if at all, and Harper and maybe others. Was little between him and Harper in my humble opinion, Sir Bobby's esteemed opinion and for what its worth Ruud Gullits who dropped him for Harper and we didn't miss a beat for it. Miles better than Pope is Donnaruma/Schmeichel/Buffon levels

Was the best player in the country as voted for by his fellow pros two seasons after he left us.

Great question. Aside from PSR being thrown out or something fairer being brought in (ie not a pecking order of who can spend what starting with who already has spent the most). Personally I cant see it happening in a sustained way because of those rules, which is demoralising as I dreamt of that in our darkest days, so will be interesting to see others thoughts.

One of the times he wandered out of position in the second half was to provide an outlet and option in an attack as there weren't many other forward so we could move forward and cause danger rather than holding possession so others could get upfield and everyone can get back in their defensive shape. Its a risk reward thing that's almost certainly either deferred to the players judgement or instruction from the manager. Someone covering for that is standard stuff.

Just want to say he was brilliant last night and is a bloody good and clever player and all round good egg. He's the sort of player that would be a cult/hero legend for service and attitude alone at a club (like a John Anderson), before you even factor in the success and a cup final winning goal

Most predictable goal of the day, Killie equaliser at Rangers

Happy for and all in on Coventry and Hearts, soft spot for both - both have a penchant for snatching unlikely defeat from the jaws of victory though which makes it doubly interesting.

Was just about to say can't say that I care for Brighton or their owner and the desperation to be a perma farm club so fuck them even against Man United.

Don't think I've ever seen a good home game against Fulham. That 1-4 that should have been 4-1 the other way probably the one that rose above bread and butter/job done. Ref on one had didn't help on the other it created a bit of niggle that ordinarily wouldn't have been there.

Rolling up the Steves

Absolutely no need to be a prick with us so its kind of flattering. We've no reason to be snarky with Brentford or someone and were not. Second prick in a row that's managed them that's got a major hard on for us. Its not enough to financially constrain other clubs from competing and out-competing with them, but those same clubs that are held back on Liverpool's terms also have to play the game on the park by Liverpool's terms. Cant imagine why everyone thinks they're entitled arseholes.

Think his issue with Rafa was at least stoked by and shared by the owner. What a state of affairs. The owner of a club hating his own manager who hit every objective asked of him, just because the fans of that club adored him then hiring a lackey that felt the same way. Probably had private laughs about Rafa and the fans. That and the milking of the club was never going to come back to bite Ashley but Bruce's name is dogshit in these parts now, beneath the toadying and riches there must be some regret about that.

This mind the gap thing is their latest small-time thing that was never heard of and didn't count before and won't counted or be heard of again once its short life span is over. The latest 2-1, top dog, wins in a row thing that has 'broken us' yet completely didnt effect when it was done to them, just prior, in a much better way. Being a few divisions ahead of them for several years was no sweat but were broken, whilst playing Champions League football, by them being a few places/points ahead at the start of a season. Its make sense if they were suggesting as the poor relations its embarrassing for us to cede anything to them but just business as usual the other way, but that wont be the thought process.

I've a feeling Athletic might put a spanner in the works, confident about PSV, OM and Leverkusen could go either way and hoping with PSG home and hosed by then they take it easy - unfortunately they'll be home and hosed domestically too. All to play for.

Very strong performance all round. Team play, individual play, lots chances. Don't know what to make of them but Chelsea laboured past them unimpressively.

As its topical, its worth checking out Souness' record at Benfica. No coincidence Boavista broke the usual three to qualify for the Champions League that season or that Benfica lost the only game a Finnish team has ever won the Champions League

One day a man has everything the next he sacks the manager that nearly got them into the champions league and the next he has nothing it really makes you think

The weather, and how I feel, is reminiscent of Dortmund. Think it will be an awkward game and a draw and I'd be just about be okay with that. Benfica travelled well to that Europa League game back in the day. Started that whole, thankfully short lived, flare phase off.

We've played well once in the league this season if were honest. Expected this league season to be a write off (in that there is no room for upward mobility from the likes of ourselves and Villa now) and the cups to be where the fun was to be had anyway so dismayed am I with the rules and as a result cant get vexed at it. There was never anything to be gained in the first place.

We were given extra tickets because they couldn't shift them. They got under 30,000 for the previous home game weeks before they were relegated officially and most home gates were around the 30k mark all season

Probably let the 4-1 go ahead at 3pm because it was the only game between us I can think of that wasn't full and was nowhere near, nearly 10k empty seats even with 6k away fans with 18,000 Sunlin Til I DIe's not bothering to go to games at that point. *was also our fifth win in a row against them and one of six wins in a nine game unbeaten stretch. Nobody was even keeping tabs on it never mind thinking it was all that counts, a mantra, tattoo material and highlight of our supporting lives.

Primarily because of Keegan.