Taipan

Can I add my own question? Why is it that we have had so many good second strikers under Jose, but we've never seemed to get anything much from them? Gudjohnsen, Crespo and Shevchenko are really top quality players, and then there was Kezman and Kalou as well. Yet not one of them has settled in and really looked the attacking threat they were before playing under Jose. Is that the players fault, or the managers?

The more I think about it, the more I believe Carvalho will play. Looking at some old Jose quotes: But just to put that quote into context, he isn't talking about Carvalho. He said that over two years ago and he was talking about Damien Duff, the day before playing Barcelona. The following day, an hour before kick off he said "The medical department have done a very good job and we will take a risk." and Duff played. (link) Perhaps another, much more recent quote from Mourinho about Carvalho: That one is just over a week old, taken two days before first leg in which Carvalho played. Now his current quotes about Carvalho: That reads a lot like some of his previous ploys. Okay, so based on Mourinho's track record Riccy may or may not be injured. But what really make me suspect that Carvalho will play was our choice to send Essien to the pre-match press conference. Now, psychology and mind games are a big thing for Jose. He could have sent anyone to that press conference. He could have sent Drogba and emphasised our strength. Drogba was too strong for their defence. We know it and Liverpool know it. If we sent Drogba then the pre-match headlines would be about Drogba's confidence that he can do it again, and how Liverpool can't stop him. We could have made Liverpool worry about their big unsolved problem from the first leg. But we didn't. By choosing to send Essien as our player to the pre-match press conference (Liverpool sent Alonso btw) we have emphasised our weakness. As a result the headlines before the game are now Crouch No Tall Order For Essien, and Essien ready for Crouch. Make no mistake: We have encouraged those headlines and those stories. I think Mourinho did that for a reason. I don't think for a second Benitez would be caught out tactically by Carvalho starting, but then I don't think Mourinho would expect that either. My guess is that Mourinho's angle is psychological rather than tactical. I think he is giving the opposition hope with an obvious mismatch of Crouch vs Essien, then he is going to take that hope away an hour before the game. Even though Benitez and his players will be fully prepared tactically for Carvalho to start, they will all be really hoping that he doesn't. Jose is hoping that the letdown when it is announced that Riccy starts will affect Liverpool's belief. Of course I could be wrong and Carvalho might really be injured, but admit it: You want me to be right!

I'll believe Carvalho is really not playing when I see the teams come out on to the field. Remember this and then this?

We don't need to be in the G14. They are a lobby group who serve the common interests of the elite clubs. Their main interest is the format of the champions league, and the current seeding system is one of their main achievements. By using the last five years performance they guarantee they (and now us as well) will get a relatively easy draw and are so more likely to progress to the stages of the competition where they can win the big money. The thing is that, like it or not we are now an elite club as well. They can't really lobby for a decision that benefits them without it also benefitting us as well. The seeding system is one example. I still believe it is unfair and a rort, but they made the rules and it might have taken us four years but now their system is working for us just as much as it works for them. Similarly the current main item of their agenda probably benefits us more than any other club: They are trying to sue FIFA to get compensation for when injuries to clubs players while on international duty. We've got more internationals than anyone so we are more likely to benefit than anyone else. But we've outmanouvered the G14. They are a lobby group who seek to influence UEFA. That is fine, but we've managed to get Peter Kenyon a seat at the table of the UEFA committee that actually makes the decisions. The G14 can lobby all they like to try to influence the vote, but we are at the table actually making the vote. Take that Madrid, Juventus, United, Liverpool and Arsenal!!!

Thanks to our win I think we are now guaranteed to be seeded in the top eight for next season. We've moved up to equal 7th with the Mancs in the seedings, guaranteeing us an easier draw next season:link Now that we've achieved that I almost feel a little dissapointed. We've always had a harder draw than those seeded in the top 8, but then we've also had a much more interesting group stage as a result.

I wasn't suggesting dropping Sheva for effort or performance. Just picking somebody else with more speed who would be better suited to playing counterattacking football, which is what we'll be doing at Anfield unless we go 2-0 down. Lets face it, Sheva's pace hasn't exactly been causing nightmares for defenders this season. Given the situation - Liverpool will be attacking because they must score two goals - I think speed, counterattack and our old 4-3-3 are the way to go. There will be space in behind them. Robben to start. He will not last 90 minutes, but he is more a threat on a counterattack than anyone.

I can remember Mikel giving the ball away. Once. He was hemmed in in right on the sideline, surrounded by three Liverpool players trying to tackle him, with no support. He was simply outstanding. The best midfielder on the park, which says a lot considering who else was playing. But Drogba still beats him to MOTM for me.

I'd give serious consideration to reverting to our old 4-3-3. Drop Shevchenko for a pacey winger - probably Kalou, but I'd pick Robben to start if he is available even knowing he will not have the fitness for 90 minutes. This is a situation taylor made for that system: The opposition will be coming at us needing goals, so the extra pace will enable us to better counterattack. We might have managed it tonight, but our usual starting lineup with the diamond doesn't catch team on the break very often. We were playing this 4-3-3 for the last 15 minutes, and I think there is a strong chance we'll start with it at Anfield. It is a tight call between Makelele and Mikel. I think Mikel will get the start because he is better in the air. I think that will be significant for the 2nd leg. Essien and Ballack will both play (if fit). For me: Cech Essien Terry Carvalho Cole Mikel Ballack Lampard Cole Robben (Kalou) Drogba

Ferreira was fine. He had a few dodgey moments on the weekend against Newcastle, but nothing got past him tonight. Zenden did nothing, other deliver a few bad crosses. I wouldn't be suprised if Essien plays Right Back at anfield, but that wouldn't be because PF struggled tonight. More a case of Essien must play, but our midfield excelled and Ballack will be coming back as well. Essien must play somewhere.

Thank you Rafa for playing the worst player in Liverpool's squad - Zenden. Thank you Rafa for Playing Liverpool's best player out of position. Thank you Rafa for leaving Liverpool's best striker on the bench for most of the match. And then thanks to Crouch for giving away a free kick anytime the ball came anywhere near him. Mourinho won hands down tonight.

It is a long story. Teams get points for their coefficient each season. The seedings are based on totaling the previous five years points. Our overall coefficient is still being hurt by a poor performance in 02/03. Arsenal always get past the group stage. See details here. For the following season when points for the 02/03 don't count anymore we're currently second to Milan. link (with points for next seasons CL still to be added in) All the detail is on the seedings and how they are calculated are on this site. Moos - it is pretty unlikely for us to overtake Liverpool for next season. They still have a game in hand against PSV which I don't see them losing.

As a result of our Champions League run this season, we are almost seeded in the top eight in Europe. That is important as it will ensure an easier draw for next season. As it stands we are equal on points with United, sharing 8th and 9th place. The current seedings for next season are as follows: (link ) 125.431 Milan 118.478 Barcelona 107.431 Inter 104.164 Liverpool 104.164 Arsenal 103.478 Madrid 98.478 Valencia 97.164 Chelsea 97.164 United All teams still involved in the competition are still accumulating points. It is actually possible for us to overtake Valencia and secure a top 8 position even if we lost both games against Liverpool. The reason is that the calculation of those points is a complex formula which includes points for their country coefficient. Basically, the better your country does in Europe the bigger your country coefficient is. Though the amounts is quite small. Of our 97.164 points only 5.032 comes from our country coefficient. If we were to get a top 8 seeding that way we would need United to win both their semi final games, as well as Spurs beat Seville. (West Hams early exit from the UEFA cup is really hurting our country coefficient) Of course, beating Liverpool would be a much better way to achieve that. I think that probably just one draw out of the two games against Liverpool would do it.

I have to say that one of my biggest fears is that we'll conceed a very soft goal on a free kick. The reason that worries me in this game when it doesn't usually bother me is that on the television coverage I saw of the first leg there was some coverage from a camera looking over Jose' shoulder where it was possible to read his notes. Among his comments that I was able to read were instructions for the wall to jump. If I could read that then I am sure someone from Valencia could read it as well and they might decide to direct a free kick along the ground straight at the wall. I am very surprised that there was not more of a fuss made over those notes. There was also an instruction to 'win three yards' when we win a free kick. I would have thought a clear instruction like that would have caused a stir in the press, but there wasn't anything. I guess then that maybe not everyone saw the same pictures from the first game that I did.

Did everyone else get the same coverage as we did in Australia, where you could read some of Jose's notes over his shoulder? He went through a few pages. There was one presumably on our set pieces which distinctly said 'win three meters'. Sure enough on every free kick we were trying to pinch a few extra meters. Another one was presumably about our defensive set pieces which distinctly told the wall to jump. When I read that I thought that in the next leg there will be a big chance of conceeding a goal where our wall jumps and the ball it hit along the ground by the Valecnia players who saw the same tv coverage.

Trying to get an idea of the state of the Valencia squad: Morientes - definitely out for both legs (injured) Baraja - probably out for both legs (injured) Marchena - definitely out (suspended) Navaro - definitely out (suspended), but only a backup defender Vincente - Possibly injured. Didn't play their last league game and has missed most of the season through injury, but I haven't seen any recent description of his injury status Ayala - Possibly injured. Like Vincente he didn't play their last league game, but I don't know his injury status (if any). Can anyone fill in the gaps? Particularly on Ayala. Given they are down two of their defenders already they really need him to play.

A random selection of some of the players to have left in recent seasons. Mostly lesser known or youth players. Perhaps it is a sign of the way our youth setup used to be, where apart from JT we have only produced one player from our youth who is currently playing in a top league - and that is Carlton Cole who can't get a run with soon to be relegated West Ham. Perhaps Joe Keenen in Holland and Filipe Oleveria in Portugal come close. Marco Ambrisio - playing Serie C1b for Salernitana Alexis Nicolas - playing conference for St Albans City, currently second from bottom (remember him playing a full 90 minutes in the first team against Portsmouth in Ranieri's last season) Sebastian Knessiel - playing in the second division in Germany for SV Wacker Burghausen. Currently second bottom. Joe Keenen - Playing for William II in the Dutch league Filipe Oliveria - playing for Portuguese club Maritimo Jurgen Macho - Playing for FC Kaiserlautern in the second division in Germany. Jespar Gronkjaer - playing for FC Kobenhavn in Denmark Carlton Cole - on the bench for West Ham about to be relegated Yves Makaba-Makalamby - on loan at Watford Filipe Morais - playing for St Johnson in the Scottish first division Steven Watt - Playing for Swansea City in division 1. Joe Tillen - playing for Thurrock in Conference (South) Valerio De Cesare - unattached Enrique De Lucas - still at Alaves in the Spanish second division Jody Morris - Milwall Fortunately our current crop of youngsters looks much more promising.

Yep. I claim three points for the loss at Spurs. Drogba with a good goal ruled out, and Terry sent off for nothing.

What will the Valencia side look like? I see they've lost Baraja to injury for up to three months, (url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=453061&CPID=23&clid=191&lid=&title=Baraja+injury+woe]link[/url]. He'll be a loss for their midfield. Marchena will be suspended. He would probably have played if available, though maybe in Baraja's place in midfield rather than in defence. Navarro will be suspended as well, though he is probably not a great loss. He probably wouldn't have started if they had a full squad to choose from, though he may have been a candidate to replace Marchena.

Good. I think. I just need to have a closer look at the Valencia - Inter brawl to see how many of the Valencia players are going to be suspended.

Why wasn't this a penalty? The defender didn't get the ball:

Ronaldinho becoming the new Ronaldo...

I can't remember seeing worse than this: link

Has a golfer ever attacked another golfer with a football boot?

It was all a misunderstanding. After a night out Risse said he could do with a little bite so Bellamy gave him a sandwedge.

Eto's 'resting' from the league game had everything to do with his recent hissy fit. At a press conference Rijkaart was asked why Eto didn't start? He said it was because of the injury not quite being right. Then he was asked if the injury wasn't right then why was he on the bench the previous game? Rijkaart responded by changing the subject and avoiding giving an answer. Will Ronaldinho pass the ball to Eto? Will Riise pass the ball to Bellamy? Will Liverpool finish the game with 11 players? Who do I want to lose the most? Probably Barcelona, but it is close.