Today's Game 559

Not quite. Mainly.......and boingly often......... that SG sould be played central where both his attacking and defensive options are likely to be more effective. I said it was wasteful last term, even though the manager was limited in his choice of wide men. No such excuse now.

No doubt. He hasn't done much yet but looks like a clbutty striker. But maybe he should be coming off the bench and the leading scorer starting in games as important as the last one? Use the strengths you know you have. despite Crouches rare ordinary game against Everton where he was hardly given much support with Raffas line up.

Don't you think the manager is just too negative too often? Isn't it vital to play the side most likely to win at the start of the season and use the luxury of resting for when you have a team playing confidently and points in the bag? Isn't it far easier to bring players off for a rest when 2 goals up rather than fighting to get a result? If Pool have any serious thoughts on winning the title Benitez better learn fast that there are no games........particularly early matches.....where he can afford to play any side other than the one most likely to win, presuming he knows what that side is right now.

Isnt it proof of sloppy reasoning, an absolute contradiction, to decide late in the game that the best way to get the team out of trouble was to get another player on in order to get Gerrard central? If that is the winning key, the question is too obvious.

The way to win the title is to play as if you mean to. The last 3 teams to hold it certainly did that. home or away. Raffa should look at the Arsenal performance against Man U and learn.

les