I know he's very slow, not really suited to the Premier League and looks quite clumsy, but they do miss Mertesacker, he brings a reading of the game and adds leadership to the back four that no one else there possesses.

Looks like I spoke too soon. Oops. Craig will be crying tonight.

f*** YES. f*** YES. f*** YES.

 

What a final, but I don't think I've been so tense for a football match since that 2005 Champions League shootout, and this is only the Carling Cup. Massive big up to Cardiff though, they really stepped it up for that final, and the defence was superb. But, jesus, delighted we came out of that as the winners - tense stuff right there.

Was a great game, Turner and Hudson were immense at the back for Cardiff, made Liverpool's forwards look very average, Downing always looks so much better against lower league opposition.... Very lucky for the second goal, didn't really care who won it but wanted Cardiff as a Europa League campaign could scupper them next season if they're still in the NPC!

Great game of football.

 

If it was a league match everybody would be saying Cardiff rode their luck and snatched a draw. Liverpool bossed possession, corners, chances. Great romance from Cardiff as they used grit, determination and pure spirit. But over the game Liverpool deserved to win, and they were highly average today. Very wasteful, but Cardiff had done their homework as everytime we attacked them there were 6 players in the box. Downing was exceptional, he actually decided to take men on for once, but Sktrel was the best player on the pitch.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17214703

 

Sheffield Wednesday sack Megson, surely stability would achieve the aim that Mandaric refers to? A new manager might do things differently and possibly unsettle the players.

RVP is surely up there with Messi and Ronaldo now as a clear top 3 in the world. Szczesny also played well, though Downing is absolutely atroctious. Also Suarez is a diving bastid.

Van Persie gave Liverpool a lesson in clinical finishing, it's been a huge problem of theirs all season, the quality of chances and the conversion of them has been poor all year.

RVP is surely up there with Messi and Ronaldo now as a clear top 3 in the world. Szczesny also played well, though Downing is absolutely atroctious. Also Suarez is a diving bastid.

 

I hope for Arsenal's sake they keep onto Van Persie, as they'd be nothing without him. Complete class with his finishes, although he should never have been allowed either. Poor defending from Carragher.

 

Pretty devestated to be honest. Played some brilliant football and had plenty of chances. Story of Liverpool's season. No luck with the woodwork, and fluffed chances in the box. Penalty was harsh, but there was contact and any player that gets contact in the box these days is more than likely to go down. I thought Downing played well too, certainly better than Walcott.

Pretty devestated to be honest. Played some brilliant football and had plenty of chances. Story of Liverpool's season. No luck with the woodwork, and fluffed chances in the box.

Everything I could want to say is just here, I'm very bitter, but when you can't hit a barn door - we could've been given another 45 minutes to get a goal, and it just never felt like we'd ever convert chances into goals.

I think Downing is part of Liverpool's problem, much too average. Players like Adam, Downing and Henderson aren't good enough for a club of their size. I think you need a major overhaul of the midfield in the summer to provide for Suarez and Carroll and then you will be fine.

Everything I could want to say is just here, I'm very bitter, but when you can't hit a barn door - we could've been given another 45 minutes to get a goal, and it just never felt like we'd ever convert chances into goals.

 

Thing is, if we had someone of Van Persie's quality we'd be challenging for the title most likely. Missing 4 first team regulars, but finishing today was just so poor which has happened all season. I'm disappointed, but I didn't think we'd ever get 4th. Still 36 points to play for, but need a lot of luck now to get it.

Chelsea were apparently extremely poor at WBA today. I do feel sorry for AVB, he's clearly not going to be there much longer, and I think he's a better manager than the results have suggested. The Chelsea job has always been a bit of a poisoned chalice, but it was always going to be much worse this year.

Roman Abramovich has succeeded Doug Ellis with the title "Deadly" in terms of managers I think..

 

Anyone catch the Leeds-Southampton game? Edge of seat stuff there, I lost count of how many chances Leeds had in the end...

Opta Stat:

 

4 - Penalties missed by Liverpool in the PL this season, the joint-most by any side in a single season since 97/98.

 

Pretty much sums up Liverpool infront of goal this season really.

Opta Stat:

 

4 - Penalties missed by Liverpool in the PL this season, the joint-most by any side in a single season since 97/98.

 

Pretty much sums up Liverpool infront of goal this season really.

 

Yes very disappointing. The "fans" are going mad right now. You'd think we played terrible and got beaten by Blackburn. Pisses me right off cos we played well today, we just can't finish. It's a long term project. A clinical finisher must be high on the shopping list in the summer.

 

I don't know what's going on at Chelsea. AVB won't be in the job much longer, but they have huge huge problems. Average players on massive wages, an ageing squad, huge player power, and a manager who is obsessed with the Champions League. He's a better manager than he's given credit for, but the media don't like him. Probably doesn't help that the Chelsea fans are still obsessed with Mourinho.

Yes very disappointing. The "fans" are going mad right now. You'd think we played terrible and got beaten by Blackburn. Pisses me right off cos we played well today, we just can't finish. It's a long term project. A clinical finisher must be high on the shopping list in the summer.

But, what baffles me, is that technically we've got 3 good strikers. Luis Suarez, I still regard as one of the best strikers in the league, and he isn't scoring the goals. Andy Carroll, one of the top scorers for Newcastle. David Bellamy, well when they play him, he is scoring, so we'll leave him out of it. I just don't know WHY it isn't working, it's not like we don't have a great striker in Luis.. but yet I agree with you.

But, what baffles me, is that technically we've got 3 good strikers. Luis Suarez, I still regard as one of the best strikers in the league, and he isn't scoring the goals. Andy Carroll, one of the top scorers for Newcastle. David Bellamy, well when they play him, he is scoring, so we'll leave him out of it. I just don't know WHY it isn't working, it's not like we don't have a great striker in Luis.. but yet I agree with you.

 

Suarez is not a great finisher. Great player, but not a out and out striker. Carroll scored so many goals for Newcastle because their whole game was based around him, that can't happen at Liverpool. And Bellamy has always been good, but never prolific. He can't play more than 90 minutes a week because of his knees. I'm sure he would have come on sooner today had he not played 90 minutes for Wales midweek.

But, what baffles me, is that technically we've got 3 good strikers. Luis Suarez, I still regard as one of the best strikers in the league, and he isn't scoring the goals. Andy Carroll, one of the top scorers for Newcastle. David Bellamy, well when they play him, he is scoring, so we'll leave him out of it. I just don't know WHY it isn't working, it's not like we don't have a great striker in Luis.. but yet I agree with you.

 

Playing David Bellamy up front is probably why you don't score!

 

http://www.pitchup.com/static/v33/uploads/good_picture_david_4_use.jpg

AVB has been sacked by Chelsea.