Taking Sides: Liverpool vs Everton

I find it had to imagine Midsomer Murders being any longer than it seems on ITV3.

(Only a flurry of CSKA goals will break this thread digression).

Everton hard up against it. They were unfortunate that Villareal scored with 2 half chances, although V could also have had a pen. E are going to have to score at least 2 over there, a tall order, V impressed me defensively and it looks like they can create goals out of nothing. Some of their passing didn't impress me as much as it did the commentary team, they seemed to get nervous when aggressively closed down, but they may be better at home. Everton will need a large slice of luck, I think, to progress.

I like the fact they went on a Beatles tour on Tuesday. Or is it really normal for visiting European sides to do this when they're playing in Merseyside?

It would be great to see Everton progress. I was talking to my wine about this last night. I think it's only Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool, Newcastle and Blackburn who have played Champions League football. Aside from wishing all Engliush teams well, it's nice to see new blood in the competition.

I wonder how this compares with Italy / Spain etc in terms of the hegemony of previous entrants. I can't be bothered to work it out.

I still laugh at the 7m quid they played for Seth Johnson.

Not a typo. Girlfriend was out. Summer work party! It was pizza, wine and football for me, lazing on the couch in my undies.

Are you making it up?

http://www.soccerbase.com/cup2.sd?competitionid=66

Harry Kewell was in that squad, therefore it's almost on topic.

Note, the holy grail resides there. I don't mean Leeds (obviously).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/4154498.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4163486.stm

Deft from Mooro also.

Blues' first points of the season!

Meanwhile, "The Strachan View" has been replaced by the equally insightful "The Hansen Hindsight" on MOTD.

HOORAY! LFC WIN THE SUPER CUP!

(But I'm left wondering why we ever bought Zenden, how Didi forgot how to pass, and why we don't sell Morientes rather than Cissé.)

I don't even think I want Owen back if it means Cissé is going.

There's too much quick fix hysteria about Liverpool this season, they did look woeful before Cissé came on but it's not a striker they need necessarily, not half as much as a good creative midfielder, I mean every team we play against, even CSKA Sofia, I think when one of their players beats two of ours and looks good on the ball, I think "even HE would be good for Liverpool", there's no flair at the moment. McManaman in his peak would make this Liverpool team so so so much more effective. Figo would have been good, even Stelios.

Somebody though, a good Cristiano Ronaldo type midfielder is vital.

Or what about trying Zenden through the middle? He was superb there for Boro last year, after being turned into a left back at Barca and failing as a winger at Chelsea. We've bought a class central midfielder and made him play somewhere he's been proven to be average.

I wish the transfer window would close!

We only have one striker fit anyway!

I see on the internet that England are close to winning The Ashes, in cricket. I turned on the radio to listen. Unfortunately I still do not know what the rules are, so I don't really understand the meaning of what the commentators say. It is a pity as I like big inspiring events, like Live8 and England winning at sport.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40806000/jpg/_40806890_weir_martyn203.jpg

love,
someone else who has seen their team lose five goals away to a shitey bunch of European no-hopers in Europe xx

We're used to thinking of the teams that bounce in and out of the premiership (Palace, Sunderland, Bolton until recently) as the yo-yo teams, but Everton seem to have been experimenting with an intra-premiership yo-yo over the last few seasons.

It's like we're Sissy Spacek in Carrie, invited to the prom, made queen, and then humiliated in front of the masses. Unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge, none of the Everton squad are telekinetic. They're barely kinetic.

Thanks for the commiserations, Ailsa. I'd settle for that 4-0 home leg too.

Actually,that's not completely true. Really, I feel bad for Jonesy. Sorry Jonesy.

Nevertheless "They're barely kinetic" made me laugh.