Nah,I'm using the internet through my dads phone, on my brothers laptop. Bit silly having it in the car with all these Scousers around. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I've not seen the replay of Laursen's goal or anything, looked pretty bad to me. MON isn't one to complain with referees, I've never seen him like this in my life, the whole Villa team surrounded him at the end, pretty disgraceful performance.

Torres was superb for me, looked really good everytime he touched the ball.
Steven Gerrard, unfortunately, is the biggest match winner in the League, had a good game.
Freddie Bouma made Pennant look like sh!te. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) But lost his head a bit.
Laursen went off sick at half time, I would be after that goal!
Stuart Taylor in goal was magnificent for us, nothing he could have done about either goal, full credit to him.
I think I'm developing some sort of man crush on Gareth Barry, he's always there at the right moment for us, great penalty vs Reina.

I'm not too disappointed with the perfromance, just the result and the referee. Good game to watch for the last 20 minutes. Put me off Liverpool a bit, especially with the way Carragher was, lost alot of respect for him after today.

Chelsea for the title!

I don't like Liverpool - I just respect them (probably the team I respect more in England) and like some of their players: Stevie, Alonso, Masch, Torres...

If it was up to me, they'll be the Champs. Either them or Chelsea. Not for Mourinho... just because I hate ManUtd arrogance and L'Arsenal french-connection.


Lucky cnut with all that good stuff. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[I've it too but still... (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ]

I'd respect them too if they were playing in the Championship!

(IMG:http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t57/Rocket_28_/match-0707-astonvilla-01.jpg)

A Villa 1-2 Liv'pool

1-0, own goal: http://www.dailymotion.com/kingtona/video/4598244
1-1, penalty: http://www.dailymotion.com/kingtona/video/4598947
1-2, superb fk: http://www.dailymotion.com/kingtona/video/4598910

This post has been edited by Porty: Aug 11 2007, 07:40 PM

I really don't know what to think of Liverpool's title chances after this. They were the better team in the game, but I don't see where they're going to get the goals from. Torres looked sharp, but his finishing was very, very poor.

An own goal and a free-kick like that aren't going to happen every week. I think they'll have a similar season to last year, won't conceed many, but they'll struggle to score for sure.

What did you want to see? A 0-5 with a Torres hattrick and 2 Gerrard goals from Liverpool's half?

Villa Park is one of the most difficult pitches in England. It won't be a "piece of cake" for Arsenal, United or Chelsea.

All the new players (Torres, Benayoun, Babel, Voronin...) need time to settle. Not only in the team and the EPL but in the new city too.

Time will say what this Liverpool can do.

I never want to see Liverpool score at Villa Park! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)


I know it's tough for teams to come here and win, but they weren't too threatening, only when we moved to three at the back they started to create more chances.


The team was not much change from last year. Torres was the only new man to start the game. I thought they were better, but their style of play was very poor. I don't know if they're used to playing with Crouch, but Agger was just smacking the ball 40 yards upfield for Kuyt and Torres, Alonso was invisible.

I just don't see them scoring many goals, when you consider Laursen went off at half time, we had a centre mid playing at right back and Sorensen was missing between the posts. Their main problem is their RM for me. It's a very biased opinion, but Pennant is sh!t. He wasted too many crosses and gets wound up too easily. Maybe with Mascherano and some more of their new boys playing they'll be a much bigger threat. Then again, like you said, 3 points at Villa Park, a win to start the season.. Something Rafa's never had, maybe that'll boost their season!

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Aug 11 2007, 09:13 PM

Do you think Liverpool played with their best team?

Far from that IMO.

------------------Torres---------------------
Babel-----------Gerrard------Benayoun---
--------Mascherano----Alonso--------------
Riise-----Agger-------Carragher---Finnan

OR

----------Torres-----Kuyt-----------
Babel--Gerrard--Alonso*--Benayoun
Riise---Agger---Carragher---Finnan

*or Mascherano

Specially the 1st one, I think it's really strong. Just look at their midfield. That can easily be a 4-5-1 with Babel on the left (his best place - LW) and Benayoun closing on the right.

Kewell, Sissoko, Kuyt, Crouch, Voronin as quality options to put in.

This post has been edited by Porty: Aug 11 2007, 09:40 PM

I think they were missing 2 starters from today. Arbeloa and Pennant OUT. Mascherano and Babel IN. Then it'd have been their first XI.

I'm not a fan of Babel, but he did look pretty good when he came on, forced a good save, then went and missed an easy chance to make it 2-0. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Babel is a mini-Henry. He can play on the right but there he plays 60% of what he can do on the left. Riise should be the LB and Kewell/Babel rotating.

Arbeloa is OK for a sub, although he did a magnificent job on his debut (remember Camp Nou vs. Messi?).

Again, even if they played their best 11... they'd need time to get used to it. It's not 1 or 2 months of training.

Watching Match of the Day at the moment.
West Ham 0-2 Man City

Geovanni and Bianchi with the goals.

Geovanni, Bianchi, Elano, Petrov and Bojinov all looked pretty good, as bad as their opponents were. Sven's made some decent signings.. Even without seeing them play before. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Shock of the morning: Fulham lead Arsenal 1-0. David Healy goal in the first minute. Looks like Jens is going to have a long day.

Why does every fu*king keeper in the Premiership have their match of their lives when they play against us? And Warner isn't even Fulham's first choice keeper...sh*t this is ugly.

What about Lehmann? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Here you go... there's nothing like a penalty to get back on track.

2-1 but this Arsenal is going nowhere. Not in the CL or EPL.

Bitter are we?

But what a goal by Hleb. Brilliant.