Im really not sure where the problem lies in terms of who is to blame. I know quite a few Liverpool fans and there seems to be a split in the thinking.

Some blame the Yanks for not investing and Benitez seemingly have to do a bit of wheeling and dealing to buy players (ie Alonso going and Aquilani (sp?) coming in to replace rather than add to the squad).

Some think Rafa is more to blame with his crazy team selections and questionable purchases.

Personally I think its a combination of both but id lean more towards Benitez - he has wasted a lot of money on some really poor signings like Babbel leaving the squad awfully short of quality.

Its a combo of both in my honest opinion, the yanks have not properly backed their manager with the sort of transfer funds needed to sustain consitent champions league competitiveness, wether its through genuine lack of funds or an unwillingness to invest in the current setup i dont know, while Benitez could have done a lot better with the money he was given, its little but it would still be good enough to put together a decent side capable of finishing top 4 every season.

If they wanted a proper wheeler-dealer, they should have gone for Jim Smith

I don't really rate Benitez. He's certainly not the sort of manager who will get the team playing consistently enough to challenge for the league - and that's no matter how much they spend. His whole focus seems to be on keeping that compact centre of midfield, which is all very well but it's not going to break teams down. Without Gerrard and Torres they'd be a mid-table team. It just seems that Benitez isn't interested in developing the team as an attacking unit, and they've now been found out.


Sunderland did very well to come back against West Ham. They were well on top in the second half depite being down to ten men. Just seen Bent missing a fantastic chance though, they should have won.

Shite defending in the 1st half and Jones was a dickhead but then Sunderland did play well and were a bit unlucky not to win. Sunderland are now a fairly good team and should finish top ten.

Should do. I think you've clearly jumped a level above the relegation candidates, certainly a better team than last season. I can't see you getting dragged towards the bottom half unless you get serious injury problems.

I always had a suspicion that Bruce was quite a good manager.

Didnt see the game/highlights but i wouldnt get too carried away after drawing 2-2 at home to West Ham, they are 2nd bottom of the league

So Rovers got through The Month Of Death - away to Arse, Chelski & Manure - staying out of the relegation zone and not having the worst goal difference in the Prem!
Marvel at how we shoot up the table in the coming weeks, as we use our experience gained against the best teams in Europe to give us the edge over our rivals.
Onwards and upwards with Big Sam!

Quite impressed how you can try and make light and take positives out of getting fucked on in 3 games in the same month

Well your away record hardly inspires confidence: Blackpool, Nottm Forest, Scunthorpe!
God help you if you get promoted!

Wasnt talking about us.

Hopefully if we do get promoted we wont be playing you lot

You've obviously forgotten our excellent wins at Cardiff and Ipswich.

Wouldnt brag too much about winning at Ipswich Yella

What a disgrace Man City are. 2 points V Birmingham and Burnley is shite by anyone's standards, but with the team and the resources at their disposal, honestly, they should be fucking ashamed of themselves. Bunch of tossers.

Ref bottles it yet again at Anfield. Didn't even need a replay to tell you that was a blatent dive.

A dipper diver?

What next.

haven't even seen it and I can tell it was a blatent dive

oh well, the bonus is Rafa may keep his job a bit longer

Chelsea got a scare at the SOL before winning, Man U got a scare at Old Trafford before scraping a draw, Liverpool got bounced out of the SOL and now Arsenal get sent packing. Things are not so bad.

Strange day today, I support Sunderland and I'm chuffed with the victory but I also like Arsenal, I detest Man U but don't want Everton to get anything. Looks like it's shaping up ok.

Shame about the results against Birmingham, Burnley and Stoke. I think most people expected Sunderland to finish 9th this season so it looks like they are on target for that. This is not a did at Sunderland, but it's a shame that the monopoly in English football has got to the point where fans of most clubs are happy when their team finishes mid-table.

Lorik Cana, long may he stay at Sunderland but he must be getting noticed by the really big boys.

Not really his fault I know, but I'm not at all surprised we're a third of the way through the season and Owen is nowhere near the Premier League's top scorers, like some people predicted.

Probably because he's not that good.

Funnily enough you cant score goals when sat on the bench

If he was playing regularly he would be up there although I suppose he cant be playing well or training well enough if Fergie aint picking him.

Would like to see him do well simply to force his way into the England squad - id rather we took an out of form Owen to South Africa to have on the bench rather than the uninspiring alternatives of Crouch, C Cole, Defoe or Bent.

Hence why I said it's not really his fault - it's only his fault in that he isn't playing/training well enough to be picked, but he's clearly not as good a player as the starting strikers.

However, some people seemed to think he'd be one of the league's leading scorers - for that to happen he'd need to be playing football. And if he were one of the leading scorers, it would be because he plays for Man Utd.

I think it's only fair to point out that Owen has scored 2 in 9 league appearances this season whereas Obafemi Martins has scored 5 in 9 league appearances therefore proving that Martins is the better player.

Ameobi's got 5 in 5 so he's better than the pair of them.

20 minutes to go, Tottenham 6-1 Wigan, Jermain Defoe's got 4 of them

Make it 8-1, Defoe has 5 equalling Alan Shearer's record

9-1 now, Kranjcar

And without a player or three being sent off. Amazing in the modern game (and the Wigan goal was a blatant handball as well).

That's equalled the league record hasn't it?

8 goals in one half and some cracking ones as well. Dear me.

Aye, i'd agree witht he commentators, 9-1 and it flattered Wigan, Tottenham should have got a clean sheet and plenty more

Boateng looks like he must have some money on a Stoke win judging by that penalty.

wow 9-1 !!!!

wigan wankers

Let me guess... Titus Bramble was playing?

Thomas Sorensen saved the pen, that reminds me.

Looks like he's got his wish now , good goal by Fuller

But as so often happens in football, players do get the chance to make amends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSLgqXjuK8c

Then when they return as manager.....

Pedro just does the youth team though (1 min 36, tramps in blue,3rd of 3

I can't remember the last time a Mackem scored a crucial winner against the Hun though I bet even you celebrated this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3msQGykNzU

tbh I'm really not that bothered about the England footy team. That said I'll be 'supporting' them at the WC.

Sounds like a good game at WHL...

!

Video should be out tomorrow.

Premier League sensation!!!
Tottenham 9-1 Wigan Bolton 0-2 Blackburn!
Yes, Rovers get their away campaign off the mark with a routine win at the Breezeblock.
This result means that we've picked up three times as many points on our travels as Fuckingburnley.
Teams that had been deluded enough to reckon on getting three easy points from a Blackburn visit will now have to revise their calculations.