Jase

I wasn't comparing Pellegrini's record in the Champions League with Moyes' run in the domestic cup competitions here but more so both of their record in the respective domestic cup competitions - Copa Del Rey v FA Cup & League Cup - and they have not been very successful at it. And yes, I'm not taking anything away from Pellegrini's CL achievements with Villarreal and Malaga but he should not be overhyped because of that especially when you consider what he did at Madrid in the Champions League and even Copa Del Rey. About Moyes's playing styles, I don't necessarily think we can say for certain he is a manager that plays a rugged, negative and physical style of football. Unlike Tony Pulis, Moyes is more of a fella who has a mixed approach in the playing style, his Everton side are capable of playing good football and also alter its approach to the long ball one, if you like, when necessary. Furthermore, Moyes has limited resources at Everton and because of this, he has to try and find any decent player that fits the bill and mould them into a team that is competitive and strong. Yes with players like Anichebe, Fellaini etc, Everton does tend to be physical and lump up the ball a bit but with players like Mirallas, Osman, Pienaar, Baines and others, we can also see the other side of playing style implemented by Moyes where they play the 1-2s, short neat passing football etc. If we hire Moyes, think he is more than capable of getting us to play good expansive football with the players that we've got and also add some toughness into the team, who has been rather soft at times this season. Moreover, don't you think Mourinho will do similar things if he returns? I'm sure he will look to get some physical players into the team(which we need anyway) and instill a bit of physicality and aggression(which we also need).

Are you working for Adidas?

Not that I'm championing for David Moyes to be appointed(and he's not without his own flaws either) but it's funny that some seem to have completely hype up Pellegrini's success(if you can call it that) at Villarreal, Madrid and Malaga and downplay Moyes's when on the grand scale of things, their record is almost identical in terms of winning trophies at the highest level. Yes, Pellegrini may have done well in guiding both Villarreal and Malaga to the latter stages of the Champions League in their debut season but can that really be considered as a success or a true measure what Pellegrini is about? It is only one season after all and not saying those teams got lucky to get there(or maybe they do) but sometimes, teams in debut competitions like that can go far because of the surprise and freshness factor about them that other teams do not know about. Ivan Jovanovic guided APOEL to the Champions League quarter finals last season on an even smaller budget scale. Maybe we should go hire him... When you look beyond that fact, he didn't exactly did too well with Madrid in the same competition, did he? Got out of the group stage but failed to beat Milan twice in it and couldn't break Madrid's Last 16 jinx by losing out to Lyon. I know the previous coaches have all failed to do it but when you look at the talent he had at his disposal, he really should be doing much better. Furthermore, it's also worth remembering that his Madrid side lost embarrassingly 4-0 to Alcorcon in the Copa Del Rey in that same season. For all the supposed greatness that has been talked about Pellegrini, his record in the Copa Del Rey isn't all that impressive. Villarreal 2004/05: LOST in Round of 64 - Girona 2005/06: LOST in Last 16 - Valencia 2006/07: LOST in Last 16 - Vallodolid 2007/08: LOST in QF - Barcelona 2008/09: LOST in Last 32 - Poli Ejido Real Madrid 2009/10: LOST in Last 32 - Alcorcon Malaga 2010/11: LOST in Last 16 - Sevilla 2011/12: LOST in Last 16 - Real Madrid 2012/13: LOST in QF - Barcelona Isn't that record a tad similar to Moyes's in the League Cup and FA Cup, always losing out early and not being able to get over the finishing line? As for the playing style, Pellegrini has his team play good football and being organized but isn't that also identical to Moyes's Everton? It's one thing playing good football and getting the results and another doing those by getting over the finishing line and win the trophies. Both Pellegrini and Moyes's style of play have brought the best out of their respective teams (Malaga & Villarreal for Pellegrini) in achieving the results but neither have won any trophies with them despite this apparent success. In Pellegrini's case, he didn't achieve any of it either with much more talented players at Madrid and when you see what Mourinho achieved after him, it does kinda put out the question whether Pellegrini actually has the capability of succeeding at the very top level by bringing out the best in the players like Mourinho has done with Madrid. Pellegrini looks like one of those managers who over-achieves with smaller clubs and under-achieves with the bigger ones.

Just something about David Moyes. I would not necessarily be against his appointment simply because he knows the league very well and one thing you are likely to be guaranteed from his team is that the players will give a 100%(or close to it at least) in performances every game. However, the issue does come when you look at his track record in terms of winning trophies. Yes, he has done extremely very well at Everton to make them competitive as possible on a shoe string budget but even then, he has managed quite a few good Everton sides that should be winning or have won at least 2-3 trophies in the past 10 years and hasn't. And when you see Swansea won the League Cup this season, in Laudrup's first season, it kinda makes one wonder if Moyes has ability to drag his players over the finishing line in really big crunch matches. Also, when you look at his record agains the big teams in the league, he has yet to win at Emirates(or Highbury), Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford and Anfield in his years at Everton. I know it's not easy to win at those grounds but it's rather staggering that he has yet to win at any of those grounds. Furthermore, Moyes's tactics can be a bit of a suspect. Sometimes, he a bit too rigid in it and seem rather unwilling to take the risk to change things around. And not to mention, he can be a bit negative with it as we have seen in the past. Despite not being able to play in the Champions League so far, Everton have played a fair bit of games in Europe in the UEFA Cup previously and they have not exactly done all too well in it especially when playing against decent sides such as Benfica and Sporting Lisbon. They even lost 5-1 to Dinamo Bucharest at one point!

That's because they want to make us look like we're spending big bucks on players. The higher the price, regardless of currency, the better it is for them to say we're buying sucess and all that. Part of their agenda against us.

Just because they're playing 5 at the back, doesn't necessarily mean we should be pushing a bit more though. Would have been difficult to break them down. The plan was to invite them onto us, press them somewhere between 30-40 yards out from our goal and hit them on the break, similar to what we did against Arsenal at SB. The approach was working a treat for long periods of the game but we just couldn't finish our chances and ran out of steam. Had Mata converted that chance just before HT and go on to win the game, we wouldn't be talking about this right now.

Was that conservative though as you previously mentioned? Our intensity/urgency dropped then simply because we couldn't keep it up with the pressing as we have played quite a fair bit of games before that.

Conservative? No, we weren't. We completely stifled them for large parts of the game by pressing and forcing them into mistakes, created tons of chances but just didn't take enough of them. We ended up running out of steam and conceding the goal that obviously led to a draw.

Even after dropping those players, it seems that they still play quite a fair bit of games for their respective clubs. And being bold to drop players is only one part of the matter. As for Hiddink, didn't he sort of back track with his retirement comments in February or something? Said something about if he can still continue managing, then he will do so.

That! It looks nice but if anything, would take Steve's design over this!

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12040/8646574/Brazilian-international-is-joining-Cruzeiro-from-Vasco-da-Gama He's now heading to Cruzeiro..

A bunch of them? Ooh Mata..

I don't know but Pellegrini just seem too nice of a manager for me. Doesn't seem to have that ruthless nature/streak about him to really change things or make decisive changes etc.

Just had somebody suggested to me on Twitter that Pellegrini is a yes man. Would allow the board to control him just like it did at Madrid...

Getting rather frustrating with Moses at times. Beats the defender(s), gets himself into a good position to score/pass and then he produces a rubbish end product. There's a lack of inconsistency in that coupled with some very poor decision making. Must do better!

Benitez, Torres and Benayoun all heading back to Anfield....... Getting 3 points on Sunday to go along with the win today would be an excellent return though I would likely to be satisfied with a point as well. Think we definitely need to avoid a defeat here and we will remain in the driving seat.

United now basically have to win all of their remaining 5 league games to better our best point tally record of 95pts in a PL season. A draw or defeat and they wouldn't even be able to equal it, let alone beating the record.

Liverpool vs Chelsea PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION AND LIVE CHAT Barclays Premier League 21st April, Sunday 2013 Anfield 16:00 Kick Off (UK time)

Liverpool vs Chelsea POST-MATCH DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Barclays Premier League 21st April, Sunday 2013 Anfield 16:00 Kick Off (UK time)

Am not quite sure about Pellegrini TBH. There's just something putting me off about him. Really hope we get Mourinho. Please.

His 1st start for the club came away against Fulham two seasons ago and even gave away a penalty but now in his 100th start for us, he scores a screamer at the same place! :blue scalf:

Didn't expect a 3-0 win but it's a vital win nonetheless. Back up to 3rd with 61pts, 1 ahead of Arsenal and 3 clear of Spurs. Well done! Now, all we need this weekend is us getting at least a point at Anfield and City to beat Spurs, Fulham beat Arsenal and Sunderland to beat Everton. Or basically to just take points off them at least. If that happens, it will be a wonderful weekend for us.

Performance...meh. Average. However, result going according to plan...so far. Think a 3rd goal is needed to be totally safe! We don't defend 2-0 leads all too well..

Should never reply messages when I'm half awake. Apologies. There's that about Kalas at RB but for Omeruo, see him at CB though.