Midterm Report

We played 31 games in the first half of the season, with 16 wins 6 draws and 9 losts. In the league we won 10 matches, drawn 4 and lost 6 with 34 points and sitting in 6th place, 15 points behind leader Chelsea, 6 points behind 3rd and 4th place Manchester United and Everton and 1 point behind 5th place Middlesborough. In Champions League we are in last 16 and in League Cup Semi Final. With 18 games remaining in the league the highest we can get is 88 points.

Departmental Comments:
Goalkeeper
Our goalkeepers is a really big concern. Dudek started 17 games and Kirkand 14, yet both convinved he should be the number one for the team. There was rumor that Dudek may be sold to generate some transfer fund, and another rumor that we have bidded Carson, but with Kirkland currently injuried and had a poor run before that, Rafa may have a second thought.

Defence
People are still questioning the zonal system, but I think it's working quite well gradually. Hyypia and Carragher played quite well, but with Hyypia getting old we may want to buy another centerback. And Henchoz seemed to have played his last game for us. Good luck to him. In right back Josemi was disappointed let's hope he can play better after his injury. Luckily Finnan was playing very well, but we are a bit short in cover in this position. In leftback Traore played his best football with us before his injury, hopefully he can continue this. And Riise... I think his best position should be midfield, he's scoring goals and assisting there. Warnock also played a game as left back vs Southampton. From the reserve Whitbread shows he is a player that could come to first team in 1 or 2 years, and Raven's performance in the Spurs league cup game also catch our eyes as well.

Midfielder
Stevie G continues to carry us through, and Alonso is really nice to watch. Garcia wins lots of cheers from the fans, but he is not as consistent. Nunez just come back from injury and he is showing signs that he's really good. In defensive midfield Hamann is taking his position well, although Biscan is also revived and even scored a goal. Hope the rumor that he's going to be sold is not true. Rafa seems to prefer Diao then Biscan, but I think Diao should be sold. Hopefully he had played his last game for us. Kewell is another disappointment but he is showing signs that he is coming back to his best form. Currently he is injuried but as I always say he only plays half season well, so it's not bad if he can come back and play his best football for us. Warnock is a surprise to all people and he plays well, apart from a few big games like Olympiacos away showing he's not completely established yet. Potter also played a few games for us well. Other youngsters like Partridge, Welsh and Smyth also get a few games in the League Cup.

Attackers:
A certain ex-player's departure made us short of headcount in this department, and Cisse's horrible injury made the situation even worse. He's a tough and nice guy, hope he get well soon. Fortunately Baros finally take off, and Sinama-Pongolle and Mellor played quite well recently, although they are still yet to be able to play it in a consistent level. Rafa for sure will bring a new player, wheather it's Morientes, Anelka or another player is yet to be seen, but he won't spend madly like a certain team does.

Player Rating (Games played, Minutes played, Goal scored/conceded, Assists/cleansheets, MoM, Rating)
Goalkeepers
Dudek: 17G 1560M 10GC 8CS 0.5MoM 6.56
Harrison: 7 unused substitute
Kirkland: 14G 1260M 15GC 3CS 0MoM 6.61
Luzi: 2 unused substitute

Defenders
Carragher: 28G 2520M 0GS 2A 6.5MoM 6.96
Finnan: 20G 1829M 1GS 0A 0MoM 6.71
Henchoz: 4G 390M 0GS 0A 0MoM 6.88
Hyypia: 28G 2440M 0GS 0A 0MoM 6.83
Josemi: 22G 1624M 0GS 1A 0MoM 6.23
Raven: 1G 120M 0GS 0A 0MoM 7.00
Riise: 29G 2352M 4GS 3A 2MoM 6.87
Traore: 21G 1432M 0GS 0A 0MoM 6.25
Whitbread: 3G 300M 0GS 0A 0MoM 7.17

Midfielders
Alonso: 22G 1698M 2GS 4A 2MoM 7.05
Biscan: 12G 515M 1GS 0A 2MoM 7.25
Diao: 13G 676M 1GS 0A 0MoM 5.94
Foy: 1 unused substitute
Garcia: 19G 1461M 4GS 3A 2MoM 6.89
Gerrard: 18G 1442M 7GS 4A 5.5MoM 7.47
Hamann: 25G 1879M 0GS 4A 2MoM 6.80
Kewell: 23G 1678M 1GS 4A 0MoM 6.32
Nunez: 9G 465M 0GS 0A 0MoM 6.28
Partridge: 2G 30M 0GS 1A 0MoM 7.00
Potter: 5G 395M 0GS 2A 0MoM 6.88
Smyth: 1G 50M 0GS 0A 0MoM 6.50
Warnock: 16G 671M 0GS 2A 0MoM 6.46
Welsh: 2G 82M 0GS 0A 0MoM 7.00

Attackers:
Baros: 22G 1561M 11G 2A 4MoM 7.21
Cisse: 15G 1061M 3GS 1A 2MoM 6.93
Mellor: 12G 722M 5GS 1A 0MoM 6.90
Owen: 1 unused substitute
Sinama-Pongolle: 19G 794M 4GS 0A 2.5MoM 7.14

Players of the 1st half season (1000 mins or above):
(1) Gerrard 7.47
(2) Baros 7.21
(3) Alonso 7.05
(4) Carragher 6.96
(5) Cisse 6.93

Rafa: 6.73 Still yet to find a consistency team, but we are getting there. He should play Riise more in midfield especially now that Kewell is injuried. And he will bring in some quality players.

2H Result Prediction
League:
1st-5th place teams (Chelsea H, Arsenal A, Manchester United H, Everton H, Middlesborugh H) 2W2D1L
7th-10th place teams (Charlton A, Tottenham H, Birmingham City A, Portsmouth A) 3W1D
11th-15th place teams (Aston Villa H, Manchester City A, Bolton Wanderers H, Newcastle United A, Blackburn Rovers H) 3W2D
16th-20th place teams (Fulham H, Crystal Palace A, Norwich A, Southampton A, West Bromwich Albion A (played)) 3W1D
Total for 2H 11W6D1L 39 points
Total for the season 73 points

League Cup: We get a good draw in semi final and should go through to final. Whether we will play Chelsea and Manchester United are not that different, but Rafa may switch back to the A team. Anyways it's not bad to win something in the first season.

Champions League: Another good draw and we should be able to go through to quarter final. As the strong teams are playing each other in final 16, with a bit luck we can get a good draw, and who knows where we will end up to be?

FA Cup: Still too early to call, but let's beat Burnley first. This is the cup I really want to win, but Rafa may yet play some B team players, if not all.