Incompetent or Scared?

As was expected there were many changes to the Liverpool starting line-up when they played West Ham tonight: Robbie Fowler returned, Dudek was in goal, FA Cup heroes: Hyypia, Riise, Garcia and Alsono started the game on the bench with Pepe Reina while Gerrard and Crouch weren't even in the squad.

Was this an insult to West Ham?

Not really, just a sign that Liverpool have a much larger/deeper squad than the Hammers, much like Chav$ki have over us. The difference between the two examples being that 3rd place in the Prem is secured and Rafa is prioritising the FA Cup over a, possibly futile, charge for 2nd place.

Perhaps Moaninho was thinking the same? Was he fearful that ManScum could catch them in the closing weeks of the Premiership and therefore saved using his players in the FA Cup tie? the only other alternatively is that he just made a bad team selection. Admitting either would be bad though, the later would just highlight his shortcoming and/or arogance; the former could perhaps be even worse though admitting a fear of Scum that they might catch him.

So much of his career and managerial style is the illusion of aloofness. Once that is lost the wheels will come off and no amount of Roman's money will rescue that chariot.

Well that's just one man's opinion.