As you all know Rafa is fast approaching his 100th consecutive game with a changed starting XI. In honour of that feat LFC Vancouver is starting a ‘Guess the Starting XI Contest’.

RULES:

• Only open to paid LFC Vancouver Members.
• You list the names of the players you think will start the next LFC match.
• You must submit your list to lfcvancouver [at] gmail.com at least 12 hours before kick-off.
• This contest will include every match that LFC plays this season. Starting with Blackburn.
• The member(s) that correctly guess the starting XI will be awarded 5 points.
• At the end of the season the player with the most points will win the prize.
• What is the prize? It is a surprise!
• The standings will be included in each week’s newsletter.

You can send comments or questions to the Andy [at] lfcvancouver.com.

YNWA/JFT 96,

Andy Neumann

By LFC Vancouver member Steven Speed, 17 October 06.

Is our season on the brink of collapse already? That is a question on the lips of many Kopites this week as another week passes and we have another lacklustre result for The Reds. As the old cliché goes it was a game of two halves, and that pretty much sums up our entire season so far. We don’t seem to be able to play at consistent level for an entire ninety minutes. In the first half against Blackburn on Saturday we were dreadful and in the second half we looked great.

The draw on Saturday leaves us eight points behind Chelsea and Man Utd. That is worrying.

The topic of squad rotation is once again in my mind this week. We never know which team is going to turn up and I don’t just mean which players will be picked. We are very inconsistent, one week we look class then next game look a mess.

We need a settled back four playing together as often as possible. There is an old saying that ‘great teams are built from the back’ and I think that is true. Once we get the defence settled it will be easier for Rafa to rotate the midfield and strikers.

The lack of confidence defensively was staring us all in the face with Blackburn’s goal last Saturday. What were Carragher and Hyppia doing going for the same ball and why was Reina still not communicating with his defence? Reina appears to have no control over his goal area, he stays on his line way too much and invites strikers to come in for headers. How often do we see him come and confidently catch the ball from a cross?

Good to see Bellamy finally break his Premiership duck, I had a strong feeling he would score against his former team-mates and he didn’t let me down. Hopefully this will open the floodgates for more goals in a similar fashion to Crouch last season once he finally scored.

If we are going to win the title this season we have to win all our home games and start winning (and scoring) away from home. With no disrespect to the likes of Blackburn and Sheffield Utd, we should be beating these teams without too much trouble. I think a lot of our inconsistencies at the moment is based on the number of new players coming into the side and trying to blend. I feel now is the time for Rafa to start playing his strongest side every week and get some partnerships formed. This could help us go on a winning streak to gain back what we have lost so far.

Last season in the second half of the season Rafa didn’t play with the starting line-up anywhere near as much as he did before Christmas and this was one of the reasons why we went on a bit of a run. Unfortunately it was too late and I am worried that if we don’t improve soon Chelsea and Man Utd will be too far ahead for any catching up.

This Sunday’s game at Old Trafford a ‘must win’ for a number of reasons.

First and foremost, we cannot allow Man Utd to be eleven points ahead of us and that will mean its curtains as far as The Premiership goes for us. As it currently stands we need to win three games while Man Utd and Chelsea lose three themselves, that alone is a massive stretch but to then need them to lose four times will be almost impossible.

We also need a win against our old rivals for confidence. A win on Sunday would be a terrific platform on which to rescue our domestic season from the brink of collapse.

I cannot even contemplate the thought of losing against an in-form Man Utd this Sunday, it is so depressing to even think about our season once again being over well before Christmas. Why does it always have to be this way? However there is one positive – at least we’re not Newcastle!

What do you think? Give Ste your comments at steSpeed [at] lfcvancouver.com.

By LFC Vancouver member Keith Perkins, (previously published on) 09 &15 February 06.

Q. What do you call a pregnant Man Yoo supporter?
A. A dope carrier.

Q. What do you call a Man Yoo supporter with half a brain?
A. Gifted.

Some priceless quotes about ol’fergie:

“A bully who thinks he is bigger than the game, an erratic old man who has lost his way in the transfer market, selling gold and buying dross … Sir Alex is becoming more and more of a music-hall turn.”

“A strange bloke, irritated by everyone, I think.”

Q. What’s the difference between Alex Ferguson and God?
A. God doesn’t think he’s Alex Ferguson.

Way back when Kenny Dalglish was a manager himself and had to deal with the press, he advised a reporter about to interview SAF:

A father and son were leaving Anfield after watching the Reds beat Man Ure. As they were walking along, the son spotted a dog in a doorway licking himself. The boy asks, “Dad, why is that dog licking his private parts like that?” The dad answers, “He just bit a Man Yoo supporter son; and now he’s trying to get rid of the taste.”

Q: What do Manc fans use as birth control?
A: Their personalities.

Anyone interested in a Man Ure 2004-05 Season Review / Highlights package can now call a toll free number for a summary. The number to call is 1- 800 – 810 – 1010. That’s one-eight hundred, eight won nothing, won nothing won nothing.

And finally, we should let Rafa have the last word (from a previous interview):

Journalist: “Do you think that the neutrals will be behind you?”
Rafa: “If we have our own fans it will be enough.”

What do you think? Give Keith your comments at Keith [at] lfcvancouver.com.

Standings as of 20 October 06.

Rank	Member	Points
1	Glenn Whyte	0
1	Ste	0
1	Lance	0
1	Keith	0
1	Quentin	0
1	Andy	0

It has been two matches and no winner yet! The contest is not as easy as one would hope, don't forget to email your starting XI for the ManYoo game.

To enter the members contest see the rules above.