There's a half decent tactical analysis of last night's game (and others) [url=http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/08/23/man-city-3-0-liverpool-hodgsons-4-4-2-completely-outplayed/here[/url, obviously it is still only someone's opinion but it's much better than most of the cliché-ridden drivel that passes for football analysis in the English media.

The 'Aqua' one is clear for me, he has to find a way to maintain his value in the transfer market as he was a £20m purchase of Benitez. He isn't going to feature regularly for Liverpool given that Gerrard & Cole want to play an advanced central role, and if he has a season of missing out on selection come next summer, his value will be say £6-8m, which would represent a huge loss.

He's hoping for him to have a good season in Seria A, galvanise interest in him over there, and sell him for nearer what they paid.

It's an asset value issue almost, for City say, this wouldn't be a concern. Liverpool could do without what would represent say, a £15m loss.

Think I am, Magath has only taken over in the last year or so hasn't he.



Very true. The problem at a lot of the 'bigger' clubs now is you've either got a foreign owner/businessman running things and a businessman as CEO too, there's not many football-men in charge of the clubs these days. He doesn't have the requisite and shouldn't be making the decision but that's the way of the football world now mate.



He's all about British styles and British players though Roy isn't he. It would be barmy though if he unsettles on of your best players, foriegn or not your best players are your best players. Not easy to get hold of young players to make the grade either. It appears Roy will need to be a bit more open minded when it comes to these things. A little naive maybe?

Just sit back and enjoy.

Like we all do.

Lucas, Babel, Carragher, Rodriguez, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos?

To be fair I am with Wire 85 on a lot of what he says. The only thing that will open some supporters eyes at LFC is a few bad results. We are in a similar situation but due to having a better squad/manager/luck/fergie time etc* at lot of the goings on behind the scenes have been ignored by the majority of our fanbase.




*delete as appropriate

I think Wire 85 and Robbie talk a lot of sense when it comes to Liverpool and there's not many rede who I can say that about



There's still a lot of unrest with fans at United isn't there but suppose with the recent success and on field performances it's easier to ignore it unlike at Anfield where it's going from bad to worse.

That's why he's signed for Liverpool.

Seems to be make or break for Woodgate and his career with this latest groin op he is going to have.

How good could he have been if he wasn't always injured!!!

I expect Hodgson to put in a transfer bid before the January window ends.......

Southampton 0 Bolton 1 ... banana skin avoided ... what a relief!

Who else would of came though? Mourinho or Hiddink wern't going to come in a million years, yet people seemed to think they would. We didn't have many options, the man I wanted was Harry Redknapp but I don't think he'd of left Spurs nor did we ever approach him. As said, the quicker the owners do one the better, stabillity is what we need. Last night - well, why it took Roy till we were three nill down to bring on Ryan Babel was beyond me, he's got the pace, finish (proved on Thursday) and the technique. Luckily, I don't pay for my season ticket nor my away games (it's a good job aswell after Thursday), now - back to winning ways on Saturday.

Belive. YNWA

If he had been able to reach his potential I do not doubt for one moment he could've been as good as any defender England has had for a good few years.

Tottenham have two massively talented defenders in Woodgate and King, who unfortunately has had his share of injuries as well.

Sampdoria so unlucky tonight. Pazzini looked great and his second was a sweet finish. Can't help but think they lost the game rather than Werder won it.
Reasonably hopeful they can qualify for Europe, maybe even the Champions League again this year.
Forza Blucerchiati!

That second goal was filth. Always liked Pazzini, was very surprised when Fiorentina let him leave, looks to be developing nicely, although I doubt he'll ever be a world class player, but he could do a job for Juve up top, IMO.

Cracker, wasn't it? He and Cassano can do some real damage this season.
And he's staying in Genoa, thank you very much

Yeah, they're both good. I remember seeing them snatch victory from Milan last year, Pazzini scoring a late winner then. I'm surprised no bigger club has taken a punt on Cassano, but, he's the type of player I feel is 'dying' in today's game.

Good for Samp, still got a good 10 years left in him in Serie A terms, so I'm sure he'll end up at one of the bigger clubs by 30.

Anderlecht's second was a peach aswell. Linesman made a mistake as the lad was never offside for the disallowed goal. Some shocking penalties.

[url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=nonwire_soccer/10/08/25/manual_010032.htmlStoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, the subject of a recent enquiry from Chelsea, refused to take part in the Carling Cup game last night.[/url

Absolute beauty wasn't it, real stunner. His first wasn't too shabby either, lovely header. I was impressed with Samp until the last twenty mins and they let Werder back into it, took control of things late on. Before kick off I didn't know whether to watch Samp Werder or Sevilla v Braga, although both good games I think I chose right. Cassano looked very good, I'm hoping to see him perform this season, except against the Viola





Unbelievable. Clearly thinking of his wage packet.

Steven Taylor transfer listed.

Didn't see that one coming.

What's happened there?

Taylor wants 60k and we won't pay him more than 40k per week.

So i imagine the club have told him they won't pay that so on the transfer list he goes.

F*ck off Paul Konchesky.