Messages

I didnt think we played all that badly (seen us play worse). Apart from the missed sitters! But the missed sitters combined with their flukey goal knocked the stuffing out and the last quarter was painful.

I thought El Zhar was doing quite well, until his missed sitter. Then straight away after he does the short corner with Gerrard - and the linesman gives the worst offside decision I've ever seen, and gerrard responds by giving El Zhar a tongue lashing! After that the poor fooker was totally gone.

I thought Skrtel did fine at right back. He's a better footballer than Carragher so IMO would be a better right back. But of course both are better at CB. Aurelio wasnt so good today. Fine with the ball, but a little suspect defensively.

Carra was rightly pished off coming off. But of the back 4, with us chasing goals, it was the right decision by Rafa. But it'll mean Gerrard and Carragher turning against him, which really will be the beginning of the end for him.

At least Arsenal only drew! Should hang on in the top 4....

BOD was immense.
Crap Game
O'Gara will win us us the Grand Slam, trust him, he just had a bed game.

2 bad games out of 3 for O'Gara.
By "will win us the Grand Slam", are you saying he'll be man of the match v Wales? Hugely unlikely. But we will need him to do his job if we are to win the grand slam.

Again, why Ferguson decides to get "clever" with his team when playing in Europe is beyond me. Its got them knocked out before. If they'd played 4-4-2 with Rooney starting instead of Fletcher, the tie would be over. United should still progress without too much difficulty, but Inter only need a draw and if United have "one of those days" you never know.

Worst I've seen Ferdinand play in over a year. Forgot to switch his brain into gear, like he'd often do a few years ago.

Stunning ball by Berbatov at the death that very nearly gave Rooney an easy goal. Keeper did tremedous but I think had an element of luck on his side.

Sky Bet go 11/4 about Benitez being in charge at the start of next season, while they have already priced up a market on his successor, with former manager Kenny Dalglish leading the way at 3/1 and ex-Chelsea boss and current Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho the second favourite at 8/1.

So he's still favourite to be there at the start of next season, albeit only just.

I have friends in the public sector, mainly Guards and teachers, there attitude is the levy is harsh, but they all come back with the atitude that they have job security and in todays climate that is worth a lot.

Surely with every day that goes by they can see that they are getting a decent deal.

Today (among others) its Elan shedding 115 jobs and PricewaterhouseCoopers giving 10% pay cuts across the board. Tomorrow it'll be someone else. And the next day, and so on. The union leaders are not better than the politicians, bankers etc. It just taken them until now to have the opportunity to implement their power. The pity is so many of the public sector workers seem to be buying the union mantra "woe is me", instead of actually looking at what is happening out there in the real world.

Unchanged starting line-up is fair enough I suppose.

I can't go Mick O'Driscoll at all. I don't think he's anywhere near international level. I'd definitely have Bob Casey ahead of him.

A bit strange that O'Kelly has gone from sub to not even in the panel. Something happened behind the scences I reckon.

I don't understand why he has so much time for drug cheats. Last week I heard him talking about Floyd Landis, the British cyclist Millar and some other famous guy (Spanishy type name I think) who had all failed drug tests and all he had was praise for them, even saying what great men they are.

It will be interesting to see how much airtime Kimmage and Walsh get leading up to the Tour of Ireland.

[A bit of humility needed in the crowd, not stupid day-trippers who have too much to drink, usually carry an Irish accent, spend £100 in the club shop and listen to sensationalist media coverage which they think justifies their right to boo a player minutes after the first whistle.]

The Pool forum I be on has a lot of regulars on it and they are fast becoming disillusioned with the Anfield crowd. Although not defending his performances, many are sickened by the constant booing and heckling Lucas got. The club is moving away from the 'Liverpool Way' that use to set the club above the rest.

If fans are willing to boo a player from the off, eg Lucas yesterday and Fulham at home, what hope is there?

A bit of humility needed in the crowd, not stupid day-trippers who have too much to drink, usually carry an Irish accent, spend £100 in the club shop and listen to sensationalist media coverage which they think justifies their right to boo a player minutes after the first whistle.

I don;t give a f**k. A supporter is meant to support. If a player is not giving his all, f**k him. If a player is giving his all and it is not coming off, don;t get on his back you pack of c***ts.

In my view the bit I bolded is nonsense. If there is booing going on then you cannot put it down to Irish daytrippers!

However I believe "constant booing and heckling" is a huge exaggeration. Lucas got heckled when he made mistakes. And the reasons are the fans are sick of him making mistakes. Many fans think he's not good enough to wear the jersey, its up to him to prove them wrong. Liverpool fans don't heckle or boo because of one game going wrong. That's when they are great and really get behind the team. Its when the same mistakes are repeated over and over, 6 home draws out of 13 (ManU have had 1), that frustration finally gets the better of the paying public.

As for right back, I was a fan or Arbeloa before this season and I really thought he'd become the best right back in the country this season. But he hasnt. He's done fine but made the odd costly mistake. Personally I think Carra-Skrtel-Agger-LB is marginally better than Arbeloa-Skrtel-Carra-LB.

I wonder what kind of reception he'll get over here....

from sportinglife.com:

Lance Armstrong has confirmed he will compete in the Tour of Ireland in August.

The Texan, who has returned to racing four years after retiring with the aim of winning an eighth Tour de France, will use his appearance in the much lower profile Irish event to promote his cancer charity.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) have organised the first 'Livestrong Global Cancer Summit' from August 24 to 26 in the Dublin, the day after Armstrong completes the stage race.

"Unless we act on a global level, cancer will be the leading cause of death by 2010," said Armstrong.

"Our goal is to be the catalyst that brings everyone together to fight cancer - from survivors, like me, to world leaders and policymakers who must commit completely to the effort to avoid a public health catastrophe.

"The summit provides an invaluable opportunity to stand up for the 28 million cancer survivors worldwide and to create a unified effort to control cancer through new commitments to action."

The 37-year-old, who has competed in the Tour of California and the Tour Down Under this year, last took part in the Irish race in 1992.

Tour of Ireland director Darach McQuaid said the global sports star can use the event to promote his cancer message all over the world.

"The Tour of Ireland could not be more proud than to have Lance Armstrong riding once again on Irish roads in the lead-up to his global cancer summit in Dublin," said Mr McQuaid.

"The massive, positive public reaction to his comeback to the sport in Australia in January and California in February indicate that, by the time Lance arrives in Ireland next August, the interest levels will be at fever pitch."

[Could they not have affected changes through the medium of the clubs long before now?]

In fairness to BigTom, he didnt call the current players Junior C players. He was using an analogy to describe the current players as being a number of levels below the 2008 players. It was the usual style of TH article, bits of exaggeration, slagging and his style of humour.  And of course biased towards his view, as you'd expect.

However I find it hard to understand that the clubs of Cork could be so unwilling to affect change, for whatever reason (malaise, fear or whatever), for so long and it is very worrying that it takes a move by the players for this to happen. Could they not have affected changes through the medium of the clubs long before now? What happens next will be interesting but I think the momentum is definitely with the players now.

I still wonder will the clubs have the bottle to effect the change that they seem to want (going by reports from their meeting with the 2008 players). Some clubs may hold EGMs straight away, but I think most clubs will just start the process of talking about it, and then go back to the 2008 gang for a progress meeting, where actually there'll be little progress made. In the meantime those with the power, will be doing everything they can behind the scenes to hold on to the power.  Though there is at least the possibility they can see themsleves losing their power, so they'll sacrifice McCarthy sooner...

Six weeks for the testicle groper. Very strange. I was expecting 3 months followed by an appeal, getting it either reduced or eliminated altogether. Hopefully there'll be no appeal and that'll be the end of it.

Though I'm sure there'll be opposition fans who won't be slow to remind him of his public display of affection for another man's  penis!

Not that'll bother the bould Ricey!

Personally I don't think the golden circle did anything wrong. They bought a heap of shares, they thought they'd make a heap of money, and it seems Anglo organised it so it was effectively a free bet. Though I'd love it if they could find that it wasnt a free bet and they could go after their assets.

On the other hand, the guys who organised this and the other dodgy Anglo dealings, Drumm, Fitzpatrick, and maybe Quinn. They should be in jail awaiting trial.

I'm hugely annoyed that the unions seem to have persuaded so many in the public service that they should strike over the levy. By all their comments, actions, and even some of the statisitics they dig up, the unions are clearly intent on fanning the flames of discontent.  

Very disappointing to throw another 2 points away. We actually played better than United did on Saturday, but they always get the win even when they're rubbish, whereas we only sometimes do.

First half played reasonably well, but it wouldnt go in. Second half, we were poor (and in fairness to them City played well) up until Kuyt got the equaliser. After that a bit unlucky not to get the winner.

I think its 7 league games now that Lucas and Mascherano have started together and resulted in only 1 win (v the worst Newcastle performance I've ever seen). I wish Rafa would get the hint.

On behalf of all the eejits, I'd like to ask someone to explain the half orange head lark....

Hound thats the best avatar I have seen on this board 

Ditto! First class, going to youtube the real version now.

Cheers lads. Pretty cool alright!