Let's look on the positive side of things

[BobTheCharmer]

Thing is, people who don't like Rafa will have no choice to bear with him in the long run. He'll be here next season, independent of the fact we finish 10'th or are relegated. So it's better to love him than loathe him for your health I'd say.

I understand and take on board that last sentence, but I've tried to convince myself for years I love the man, but the fact is I don't.

[Guest]

I'd take the entire back four of chelsea over ours and add Lampard, Essien, SWP, Joe Cole, Malouda (yes) and Drogba and Anelka as backup striker. I think they'd take Gerrard, Torres, and possibly Mascher.

But we've had roughly the same excellent defensive record along the years. And in any case, a team's excellent defending standards shouldn't be judged on a just the back four. The entire team defends, not just 4 players.

[Scratch]

Reina
Johnson
Carra
Gerrard
Torres

the rest are up for serious debate whether they're that good.

Mascher? Agger? That's 7 players. And i have a good feeling about A'lani too. That's 9. Kuyt ain't everyones cup of tea, but i like having him in the team.

I'd take the entire back four of chelsea over ours and add Lampard, Essien, SWP, Joe Cole, Malouda (yes) and Drogba and Anelka as backup striker. I think they'd take Gerrard, Torres, and possibly Mascher.

Then really, you know **** all about football...Malouda? Lampard? Bosingwa? Even Terry is made to look better than he is by having Carvalhio and Essien to protect him. I'd like to see Essien and Cole, and Drogba as a foil for Torres...ther rest can stay where they are...SWP at City for a start...and even Joe Cole only impresses once in a while.

[BobTheCharmer]

Mascher? Agger? That's 7 players. And i have a good feeling about A'lani too. That's 9. Kuyt ain't everyones cup of tea, but i like having him in the team.

The point that Pete Best made was that we were close to having the best 11 in the league.

Now just because you 'like' kuyt doesn't make him any better than the average player he is. No way in ****ing hell would he get in Utd's, Chelseas or Arsenals first 11. Agger is way too injury prone to prove he's better than the likes of terry, vidic, ferdinand, gallas etc I think Masher is great but limited, Essien is much the more complete player. As for Aqualini how the hell can you even consider him when we've seen 20 mins max???

If the point was that our first 11 are a match for any of the other teams first 11 on a one off game. I'd agree wholeheartedly.

[Vermilion]

Out of 6 seasons, including this one, we've had one good season in the Premier League. We were also rans for all the others. Sorry for pointing out facts like.

Facts, hah, disregard the job he had to do when he got here, disregard the competition and the funds available to them compared to us, disregard season on season progression, disregard dragging us back to the top table in the Champions league, yeah, facts, love em.

Anyway enough of this, i'm done defending our manager from our own fans, it's not something i enjoy doing at all, infact i find it painful to do.

People should consider where we'd be if Rafa went and we failed to get the two darlings of football management Maaureen or Hiddink.

[BobTheCharmer]

even Joe Cole only impresses once in a while.

sorry couldn't resist but to add, that is once more than kuyt ever has.

[Guest]

sorry couldn't resist but to add, that is once more than kuyt ever has.

Kuyt is very underrated. He has played more international football for the Dutch national team than what Cole did for England, albeit marginally. That speaks volumes.

[Scratch]

No way in ****ing hell would he get in Utd's, Chelseas or Arsenals first 11.

In the same way that Park or Fletcher wouldn't get into another team in the top 4, but are mainstays in the United side.

And if 9 out of 11 players are good enough, and the other 2 marginal, i ain't unhappy...i just wish we had a bit more squad depth in key positions.

[elrichio86]

Out of 6 seasons, including this one, we've had one good season in the Premier League. We were also rans for all the others. Sorry for pointing out facts like.

Bit harsh to hold Benitez responsible when he has had to rebuild pretty much the entire squad. Or are we now expecting a new manager to come in, wave a magic wand and make us title contenders straight away?

We've seen a gradual improvement in league form since he joined - bar this season, which isn't even half way through yet. To count this season as a failure is a little premature yet.

[red g]

Bit harsh to hold Benitez responsible when he has had to rebuild pretty much the entire squad. Or are we now expecting a new manager to come in, wave a magic wand and make us title contenders straight away?

We've seen a gradual improvement in league form since he joined - bar this season, which isn't even half way through yet. To count this season as a failure is a little premature yet.

i dont think it is......anything but a strong showing in the CL and Premiership is failire. I am one of his biggest supporters but Rafa has failed this season

[FatTony]

Mascher? Agger? That's 7 players. And i have a good feeling about A'lani too. That's 9. Kuyt ain't everyones cup of tea, but i like having him in the team.



Then really, you know **** all about football...Malouda? Lampard? Bosingwa? Even Terry is made to look better than he is by having Carvalhio and Essien to protect him. I'd like to see Essien and Cole, and Drogba as a foil for Torres...ther rest can stay where they are...SWP at City for a start...and even Joe Cole only impresses once in a while.

Aquilani hasn't done **** yet. Kuyt is average at best imo.

Bear in mind that this is a who would I take into our squad, not necessarily who's a great player. Lampard, yes, you're mad if you wouldn't take him.

Malouda has something imo and is better out wide then any player we have other than Benny. Terry isn't the captain of England for nothing you know.

Carvalho is a top defender, and Essien is immense (on form possibly their best player).

I'd love to see Joe Cole at LFC.

The problem I have with our back four is that Agger needs to prove himself all over again, we haven't seen him return to the form he had in his first season, because of injuries. Carra is well on the way down, and I've never thought of Skrtel as anything more than average, don't rate him at all. Johnson seems quality though. So yes, I'd take their back 4 in a shot.

SWP...don't know where my head was there

[Nicey]

Reina
Johnson
Carra
Gerrard
Torres

the rest are up for serious debate whether they're that good.

Fair enough but Aquilani is supposed to be all that an a bag of crisps .. masher on form there is no better holding mid field player in the world I think. Agger for me is one of the best defenders around and one of the few who can comfortably bring the ball out, Fabio ok but a dame fine player at that and i am sorry Benny is pure class ... typical un fashionable player which gets over looked but that guy rarely puts a foot wrong an offers a lot going forward. Bit like Fletcher over at the Manc's rarely gets the praise he deserves because he is not a big name or got that X factor ... as for Kuyt he is Marmite some people love him me included some people don't ..

[Nicey]

Anychance you cunts can keep it even slightly positive

[BobTheCharmer]

Anychance you cunts can keep it even slightly positive

NO, my wife had her phone stolen by a little cunt yesterday and there's now a few pictures of my decidely average penis floating around!!

[Scratch]

Aquilani hasn't done **** yet. Kuyt is average at best imo.

Bear in mind that this is a who would I take into our squad, not necessarily who's a great player. Lampard, yes, you're mad if you wouldn't take him.

Malouda has something imo and is better out wide then any player we have other than Benny. Terry isn't the captain of England for nothing you know.

Carvalho is a top defender, and Essien is immense (on form possibly their best player).

I'd love to see Joe Cole at LFC.

SWP...don't know where my head was there

We're talking first 11 though, not squad...if we continue with Rafa's preferred formation, (basically a 4-3-3 all dressed up) then i would replace;

Aurelio with Cole

and consider

Essien with Mascher
Drogba with Kuyt (Gerrard moving back into Kuyt's position and Drogba playing the support striker role)

Other than that, i'm pretty happy with what we have.

However, for strength in depth i would happily swap some of our benchwarmers with the Chelsea squad.