Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – Xbox 360 Review

Where do you start with a game of this size? It’s almost impossible to know, other than to say: Pirates!

Over the years, I’ve played Sid Meier’s Pirates!, going back to the title several times. It was almost all of what I wanted from a pirate game: my own ship and crew, resource management; the freedom to roam the Caribbean, take on legendary pirates and assault towns, forts and cities.

No room in January for previous transfer errors

THE moment that Liverpool looked to have lost the second of their almost impossible Christmas double-header against Chelsea came as Brendan Rodgers looked to his bench and considered which of his substitutes choose.

With Joe Allen having to be withdrawn through injury – further limiting the manager’s options going forward – he cast his eye over summer signings Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto and opted for 16 year old Brad Smith.

Perhaps Sevilla’s Rakitic Is The Answer?

I wrote a couple of days ago that Basel’s Mohamed Salah was a great option for the Reds during the window in January: young, talented, affordable and likely to be able to come straight in to the team and make an immediate difference. Perhaps even giving us that final bit quality to push for the title.

As the January window begins to loom ever closer, we’re likely to be linked to more and more attacking players (given that that’s what we need!) and you’re very likely to be reading more and more articles like this, espousing the value and football worth of each of these candidates.

Would Salah be a good fit?

AFTER Liverpool’s attack once again tore yet another Premier League defence on Saturday afternoon, the need to bring in any additional options in attack seemed a bit redundant.

With Suarez, Sterling, Coutinho and Henderson working so well in tandem, not to mention Sturridge and Gerrard to return in the New Year, there are probably other areas that require strengthening much more, particularly with the likes of Moses, Aspas and Alberto also in reserve.

Will We See Rotation Against Cardiff?

FOLLOWING the spectacular – if unexpected – demolition of Tottenham in their own house last Sunday, we’ve had what can pretty much only be described as an outpouring of joy, happiness and optimism from Liverpool fans over the last few days.

It’s been some time since we’ve been able to feel that way. This isn’t just optimism from a great win, it’s optimism that things are on the turn; that Liverpool look like they may be pushing themselves out of the huge plateau of disappointment that they’ve occupied since Rafa Benitez’s final season.

That’s How You Send A Message

WOULD you forgive me for gloating; for saying ‘I got it right’? No, of course not but against Spurs on Sunday afternoon Liverpool’s performance harked back to a time when Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano would literally tear teams to pieces with their power, pace and passing – the three ‘P’s, if you will.

With Alonso and Mascherano long since removed from the Liverpool midfield however, only Gerrard remains of that imperious triumvirate. But with the captain in the Sky Sports studio on Sunday, the midfield was shorn of the last of it’s former world-class trio. Did anybody notice?

Liverpool must see Gerrard absence as an opportunity

IT wasn’t all fun and games on Saturday, as the Reds rallied after a mid-game wobble to utterly destroy the second bottom-half of the league team of the week.

No, as Liverpool’s captain hobbled off, after pulling up with what looked like a strain after a formerly typical lung-bursting run and shot, it looked like a minor pull but would later turn out to be a hamstring injury that will leave Liverpool bereft of their captain for 6 weeks.

When should the title challenge be taken seriously?

AS the 3^rd goal was put away for Hull two weeks ago it wasn’t just a shock to the system it was an embarrassing ‘hiccup’ in what has been a great start to the season. I’m sure that we’d all be forgiven for thinking the world had ended, just as much as we’ll all probably be thinking ‘it’s on’ in terms of the title race.

All a bit too optimistic, I’m sure, but when is it OK for us to starting believing that we’re in the title-race?

Squad a bit thin? Whose fault is that then, Brendan?

FOLLOWING Liverpool’s immensely embarrassing 3-1 defeat to the Tigers of Hull City on Sunday, Brendan Rodgers made what can only be described as an ill-advised statement regarding the strength of the squad.

Rodgers commented after the game:

“There’s no doubt the quality in our squad, with all due respect, isn’t big enough to cope with two big players like that missing,” he said. “We still have some very good players. Daniel could be out for up to eight weeks. Philippe [Coutinho] hasn’t trained all week.

Rodgers Must Put Sturridge Issues To Bed In Private

Things were going just to well, weren’t they? 2nd in the Premier League – still – after one of the most scintillating derbies in living memory and seeing two of our big rivals for a top-four place drop points on Sunday, we were starting to look very healthy as we get into the meat of the season.

Then we learn that not only was Daniel Sturridge playing with an injury, but he also chose to put himself further at risk by accepting ‘the call’ of the clearly very enigmatic Roy Hodgson which has clearly gone and wound up his club manager, Brendan Rodgers.