A draw against Pompey is a good result - positivity thread

[Shaggy]

I am genuinely worried that Rafa STILL wants to win in Europe more than the Premiership.

Benitez, who did not even include Dutch star Dirk Kuyt in his 16-man squad, insisted: "If there is one title for us to win this season it is the Premier League. But we want to win the Champions League, too.

"When Gerrard and Torres came on we had more creativity in attack than we had before but we had 18 players on international duty around the world last week and I don't think it would have made any difference if they had started the game.

"I just had to try to pick the fittest and freshest players and we had the better of the game in the first half but then it became more open and they had chances, too."

[Shaggy]

Table now:

   	   	        P     GD  	PTS
1 	Arsenal 	5 	6 	13
2 	Liverpool 	5 	9 	11
3 	Man Utd 	6 	2 	11
4 	Chelsea 	6 	1 	11

[anfieldanfield]

Table now:

   	   	        P     GD  	PTS
1 	Arsenal 	5 	6 	13
2 	Liverpool 	5 	9 	11
3 	Man Utd 	6 	2 	11
4 	Chelsea 	6 	1 	11

Could be the tighest title race in years.

Cant see anyone running away with it, that's for sure.

[Johnny]

The scum won away to the bluescum which are as tough opponent as pompey so us dropping 2 points is a bad result

Did they beat Pompeii away??

[Revo]

Bollocks.

Two points dropped today.

Rafa should have started with Torres and Gerrard. We looked a different side when our two best players came on, obv.

the team that beat derby should of picked itself today (with the addition of carra) regardless of internationals or the champions league on tuesday. bring on the likes of crouch etc etc when the tank is empty for the starting players. i honestly believe rafa appeased crouch today at the expense of the team. i like peter crouch and hope he has a future with us but hes gonna have to pull up his socks.

[Shaggy]

the team that beat derby should of picked itself today (with the addition of carra) regardless of internationals or the champions league on tuesday. bring on the likes of crouch etc etc when the tank is empty for the starting players. i honestly believe rafa appeased crouch today at the expense of the team. i like peter crouch and hope he has a future with us but hes gonna have to pull up his socks.

Totally agree but it's gonna be nigh-on impossible for him to pull up his socks when his playing time is gonna be so limited. Strikers, more than anyone, need to be playing regularly to get into some sort of rhythm and Crouch hasn't had that...and I don't think he will get it unless one of Kuyt or Voronin gets injured.

[sonsofthedesert]

Table now:

   	   	        P     GD  	PTS
1 	Arsenal 	5 	6 	13
2 	Liverpool 	5 	9 	11
3 	Man Utd 	6 	2 	11
4 	Chelsea 	6 	1 	11

Goal difference is interesting for Chavs and Scum, the 2 teams that had an easy time scoring and defending last season have goal differences of 1 or 2 after 6 games.

[sonsofthedesert]

Did they beat Pompeii away??

Lie the point there. Seem's to be ignored though.

[sonsofthedesert]

the team that beat derby should of picked itself today (with the addition of carra) regardless of internationals or the champions league on tuesday. bring on the likes of crouch etc etc when the tank is empty for the starting players. i honestly believe rafa appeased crouch today at the expense of the team. i like peter crouch and hope he has a future with us but hes gonna have to pull up his socks.

After today I fully expect to see the time Crouch gets on the pitch n the league limited. I suspect he will play more in Europe and the cups this season.

[Revo]

Totally agree but it's gonna be nigh-on impossible for him to pull up his socks when his playing time is gonna be so limited. Strikers, more than anyone, need to be playing regularly to get into some sort of rhythm and Crouch hasn't had that...and I don't think he will get it unless one of Kuyt or Voronin gets injured.

his time will come and he will get a run but not the way he played today. the concern for me today shaggy was how easy he give the ball up. you cant have midfielders and defenders fighting tooth and nail for the ball and have a forward give it up so easily mate. crouch should of been very fresh today after his involvement with england when in fact it looked like he had a marathon session with abi when you and me could of obliged her

[Johnny]

After today I fully expect to see the time Crouch gets on the pitch n the league limited. I suspect he will play more in Europe and the cups this season.

Crouch will play in the PL when rafa thinks he can do a job there.

[sonsofthedesert]

his time will come and he will get a run but not the way he played today. the concern for me today shaggy was how easy he give the ball up. you cant have midfielders and defenders fighting tooth and nail for the ball and have a forward give it up so easily mate. crouch should of been very fresh today after his involvement with england when in fact it looked like he had a marathon session with abi when you and me could of obliged her

[Johnny]

his time will come and he will get a run but not the way he played today. the concern for me today shaggy was how easy he give the ball up. you cant have midfielders and defenders fighting tooth and nail for the ball and have a forward give it up so easily mate. crouch should of been very fresh today after his involvement with england when in fact it looked like he had a marathon session with abi when you and me could of obliged her

It`s not like Crouch was the odd man out in this team today!!!!!!!!!!

[kurtangle01]

the team that beat derby should of picked itself today (with the addition of carra) regardless of internationals or the champions league on tuesday. bring on the likes of crouch etc etc when the tank is empty for the starting players. i honestly believe rafa appeased crouch today at the expense of the team. i like peter crouch and hope he has a future with us but hes gonna have to pull up his socks.

I agree with this 100%. Crouch got a game today, not because he's on form, but because Rafa had to try and keep him happy.

[Revo]

It`s not like Crouch was the odd man out in this team today!!!!!!!!!!

id agree with that mate just felt crouch played well below his potental more than anyone else today mate.