First choice midfield...

[Guest]

Football in Spain is totally different from football in England, I bet Barca would not have the same amount of success here. That's why you can't compare; Pique was a bit of a joke here.

As for Skrtel and Insua, I think you're wrong. Skrtel is an excellent defender and Insua, while lacking in pace, is a good little left back who possesses an excellent left foot and crosses the ball very well. He's done well this season and doesn't deserve the canning he gets here.

[Mattshark]

I'd say based on last season as well.

Over the last couple of years, Puyol has been better than Carragher in every aspect of the game. Pique has been the best CB in the world over the last 18 months, easily. The only player that has come close to that form is Pepe of Real Madrid, but he's a different type of CB.

They've got Marquez on the bench who can walk into our team right now. Alves is the best RB out there and Abidal is also better than anything we have at LB even if he is their weakest link. They got Maxwell too who's again, better than anything we have at left back.

Barcelona's defence is extremely underrated, it is somehow assumed to be "dodgy" because it's overshadowed by their offensive game. Put our defence there and they'll embarrass themselves. Can you imagine players like Skrtel anb Insua fitting in their expansive game? They'll get killed with every counter attack.

I think Pepe and Marquez are poor.

Barcelona's defence is criticised because they concede quite a few goals 35 last season compared to our 27 (though not as bad as Madrids 52), 43 in 08/09 compared to our 28, 33 to our 27 in 06/07 and 35 to our 25.

[Guest]

I think Pepe and Marquez are poor.

Barcelona's defence is criticised because they concede quite a few goals 35 last season compared to our 27 (though not as bad as Madrids 52), 43 in 08/09 compared to our 28, 33 to our 27 in 06/07 and 35 to our 25.

If they can concede as much goals in a league (Spain) where they always allow the opposition to play, I can imagine how they'd fare here.

Marquez is slow as **** and wouldn't get on our bench IMO.

[JohnDoe]

I think Pepe and Marquez are poor.

Barcelona's defence is criticised because they concede quite a few goals 35 last season compared to our 27 (though not as bad as Madrids 52), 43 in 08/09 compared to our 28, 33 to our 27 in 06/07 and 35 to our 25.

And despite conceding that amount, Barca had the best defensive record in La Liga last season. It's all relative, there were around 15%-20% more goals scored in La Liga last season than here, so it's a bit skewed. I'd still take their defence over ours by a mile. They're man to man, better than us in every way.

If you think Pepe is POOR, I'm sorry to say, you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. No idea at all. You don't watch him play.

[Guest]

Deleted

[Craig_H]

That table is pure anti Lucas bull****.
Johnson was hardly mom material before he got injured and Mascherano has played enough games to be top of the table but he has not been consistant enough.

How is it anti anything 'bull****'?

It's based on points score per game played, which is an average rating - eg, the most accurate way to look at it. It's not bull****, it's factual. That IS how the table would look.


For what it's worth, at the start of the season, Johnson was superb and easily MOTM on a couple of occasions, at least.

Why are you posting 'anti-Johnson' and 'anti-Mascherano' bull****?

Nobody can disagree that Reina has been outstanding thisd season but lets look at all the facts. Lucas is a young player that has been thrown in at the deep and when the chips where down he was actually performing in the middle of the park while others sulked, this could be why he has those extra 'mysterious' votes.

That bit in bold could apply to N'Gog too.

He's performed a bit higher up the park, but otherwise, it's the same.

So maybe N'Gog should be player of the season? After all, he's even YOUNGER than Lucas, and age is obviously the key factor, as opposed to actual performances.

Reina's been our best player this season, by a country mile.

[red g]

Not sure how you can say Lucas got thrown in at the deep end when he has 100 games under his belt .


And Johnson was sensationally earlier in the season and has prob more assists and goals this season than Lucas, not that's how we judge Lucas

[Mattshark]

And despite conceding that amount, Barca had the best defensive record in La Liga last season. It's all relative, there were around 15%-20% more goals scored in La Liga last season than here, so it's a bit skewed. I'd still take their defence over ours by a mile. They're man to man, better than us in every way.

If you think Pepe is POOR, I'm sorry to say, you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. No idea at all. You don't watch him play.

Ever consider that could be because the defending is better over here?
If you like.

I could easily make the same argument about your nonsense regarding Lucas and suggest you have no idea and have no clue what you are talking about.

I have seen Pepe play plenty, for both Real and Portugal.

[Mattshark]

That bit in bold could apply to N'Gog too.

He's performed a bit higher up the park, but otherwise, it's the same.

So maybe N'Gog should be player of the season? After all, he's even YOUNGER than Lucas, and age is obviously the key factor, as opposed to actual performances.

Reina's been our best player this season, by a country mile.

No it couldn't because unlike N'gog, Lucas has performed week in week out, not sporadically.

In your opinion, it certainly isn't the consensus.

[Guest]

Pepe had a mare against us last season too, when we trounced Madrid.

[Craig_H]

No it couldn't because unlike N'gog, Lucas has performed week in week out, not sporadically.

In your opinion, it certainly isn't the consensus.

N'Gog hasnt PLAYED week in, week out. When he's played, he's generally performed well.

Let's stop beating around the bush - who do YOU think has been our best player so far this season?

[Mattshark]

N'Gog hasnt PLAYED week in, week out. When he's played, he's generally performed well.

Let's stop beating around the bush - who do YOU think has been our best player so far this season?

Personally I would say Lucas.

But I think N'gog has been hit and miss this season, which is no slight on him, just an indication that he is not quite ready for a lone striker role.

[red g]

Reina and torres have had better seasons than lucas.

I am not a Lucas hater by any means but I just don't see what he has done to deserve such an accolade, he has had a couple of very good games and a string of decentish performances.

He very rarely assists in goals and never scores, which when u take into account he has one of the worlds best dm's next to him he should be doing a lit more.

[Mattshark]

Reina and torres have had better seasons than lucas.

I am not a Lucas hater by any means but I just don't see what he has done to deserve such an accolade, he has had a couple of very good games and a string of decentish performances.

He very rarely assists in goals and never scores, which when u take into account he has one of the worlds best dm's next to him he should be doing a lit more.

Torres has not played anywhere near enough to say that and he has looked injured in a good few games.

But that is not what he is there to do so judging him on that is not really relevant.

[Armchairkopite]

How is it anti anything 'bull****'?

It's based on points score per game played, which is an average rating - eg, the most accurate way to look at it. It's not bull****, it's factual. That IS how the table would look.


For what it's worth, at the start of the season, Johnson was superb and easily MOTM on a couple of occasions, at least.

you are so deluded man. Thats like taking the league table after 12 games and working out the rest of the results based on those games, guess what it doesn't work like that.




That bit could apply to N'Gog too.

He's performed a bit higher up the park, but otherwise, it's the same.

So maybe N'Gog should be player of the season? After all, he's even YOUNGER than Lucas, and age is obviously the key factor, as opposed to actual performances.

Reina's been our best player this season, by a country mile.

Its obviously not that clear cut, if it was he would be top, wouldn't he?

Or maybe he hasn't played enough games.

Who said age was a key factor

Do you think that age is taken into consideration?