Liverpool Rumours And General Discussion 2007/2008

el rabitos

hunter164 wrote: »

I can see Rafa raiding Zaragoza now they're relegated.

Diego Milito would certainly be an improvement on voronin, but then so would Mickey Mouse or Snoogy Doogy

love to see us snap up Zapater on the cheap though

Tusky

machiavellianme wrote: »

Anyone know who does gold (yellow) lettering? Need to get F. Torres 9 on the back

I believe he will just have Torres on the back.

machiavellianme

Tusky wrote: »

I believe he will just have Torres on the back.

When did that happen?

GBX

Thats the Spanish jersey Mach.

machiavellianme

GBX wrote: »

Thats the Spanish jersey Mach.

No, I meant when did he drop the F. from his spanish kit?

IrishMike

The silly season has well and truely started

Liverpool could turn their attention to Stewart Downing if their proposed move for Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry falls through. Reds boss Rafael Benitez is prepared to pay £12m for the Middlesbrough winger. (Daily Telegraph)

Better chance of Mr Alan playing in goals for Liverpool than Downing signing.
Where on earth do these stories come from?

Seems Harry Kewell is meant to be signing for Portsmouth, bit of a strange one.

Mirror also reporting that Carsons asking price has fallen to £6m.
Probably a lot closer to what he is actually worth than the £10m being quoted previously.

MementoMori

The silly season has well and truely started

Quote:
Liverpool could turn their attention to Stewart Downing if their proposed move for Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry falls through. Reds boss Rafael Benitez is prepared to pay £12m for the Middlesbrough winger. (Daily Telegraph)


Better chance of Mr Alan playing in goals for Liverpool than Downing signing.
Where on earth do these stories come from?

Totally agree - £12m for Downing is utter nonsense - no way good enought for Liverpool. A case of an English left-sided player being hyped up by the English meda after some initial good performances but coming no where near to justifying the early hype.

£6m for Carson seems fair - would prefer more but when the player himself comes out and says £10m was overvaluing him fair enough I think Still made a decent profit on him. Wouldnt begrude him the move to Villa especially if we take Barry away from them in a player plus cash move - as against that would be worried about lack of cover for Reina - think after Torres he is the player I would be most concerned about picking up any sort of injury in the League as I think losing him could cost us valuable points. This is just ahead of Stevie G as I think the drop in terms of quality of available replacement would be greatest(after Torres). Also given Pepe played so many games this season, chances are he's due an injury spell.

Kewell £50,000 a week has to be nonsense - unless it's a case of he gets £50k for a week when he plays and pays Portsmouth £50k a week when he doesn't. Think that just might make sense.

As regards the Crouch plus £7 million for Kranjcar deal, when I read that first I thought it was we get £7million and Kranjcar which I thought was not a great deal, not a bad deal. Honest.Couldnt believe it was the other way around. Wouldnt rate Kanjcar anywhere near that - don't see him making any improvement to Liverpool - I was thinking along the lines of Crouch = £12m Krancjcar = £5m => Diff = £7m cash . Still can't believe it. Think it values Crouch way too low and Krancjcar way too high. The thing I believe that could scupper any chances of a decent season next season is an injury to Torres (FSM forbid). Suppose he's out for a month or too and Crouch is gone - then it's essentially a choice between Kuyt, Babel and Voronin as out main striker. Not exactly threatening to my mind. Hell of a different situation if we had Crouch to come in. If we are not going to get any decent money for Crouch maybe it would be better to have him on the bench for the year and let him go for a free next season. He is a proven in the Premiership English as a goalscorer and the thing about any new strikers we bring in, is that you just never know if they will settle. Crouch has proven he can score goals in this league with these players. Given Torres settled so well I would be afraid we are due a Morientes situation again. Might be tough on Crouch but them's the breaks. I think the major reason he wants a move is because he feels he has dropped down the pecking order in terms of being England striker due to not getting enough games.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has already agreed an £8m fee for Peter Crouch, but Rafael Benitez is keen to switch it to a player-plus-cash deal to lure the 23-year-old Croatian away from Fratton Park.
An offer in the region of £7m plus Crouch could seal the deal.

Thems some of my thoughts today anyway

IrishMike

Anyone see any benefit in signing Stelios as a squad player?
He was released by Bolton and 2 years ago we made a £10m offer for him if memory serves me.
Surely he could be a decent squad player if pennant was sold?
He was quality a few years back and he finished Bolton tops scorer in 06 with 12 goals from the wing.

Melion

If he's not good enough for Boltons squad he is hardly good enough for ours.

gucci

IrishMike wrote: »

Anyone see any benefit in signing Stelios as a squad player?
He was released by Bolton and 2 years ago we made a £10m offer for him if memory serves me.
Surely he could be a decent squad player if pennant was sold?
He was quality a few years back and he finished Bolton tops scorer in 06 with 12 goals from the wing.

I was just in the process of writing that in! I think he would be a decent addition on a free transfer, age 33 he could only really be a bit part player, but a decent enough addition all the same?

mike65

I have a soft spot for Stellios, he is a free and at say 20-25k a week he'd be value.

Mike.

gucci

Melion wrote: »

If he's not good enough for Boltons squad he is hardly good enough for ours.

I imagine its a financial thing that they are off loading him and Ivan Campo, i would say they are on big enough deals..

Just looked him up on wiki to see what his international record was and seen this amazing fact of the day:

Stelios has the distinction of being part of the substitution that holds the record of the largest difference between the number of letters in the surnames of two players in a Premier League substitution. This occurred when he was replaced by Ibrahim Ba during a league game for Bolton Wanderers on January 31, 2004[2]." . The difference was 12 letters, 14 and 2.

jesus_thats_gre

Melion wrote: »

If he's not good enough for Boltons squad he is hardly good enough for ours.

Statements like this really piss me off...

Stelios is not good enough but look as Masch ffs!

MementoMori

Tbh honest don't see any move for Stelios being made.

Think at 33 he's probably looking to retirement - can't see it being worthwhile, even on a free - 20k a week for nine months is almost £750,000
Pass.

Gucci - Most amazing fact of the year nevermind day.

zAbbo

Stelios is not good enough, he would never start, and I'd rather Paul Anderson coming on for 20mins that a 33yr old winger with no pace.

Malice

Stelios might be worth a punt but given how well our most recent 'free' transfer forward performed, I'm sure there are better options.

Does anyone know if Lindfield could make the step up for example?

mike65

A cheeky bid for Kaka?

Mike.

Tusky

Thats the thing. We dont need backup wingers. We need someone who will walk into the team.

zing

Cross Bentley's name off the list then.

Reports that Blackburn’s David Bentley also features on Benitez’s wanted list are wide of the mark.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/05/19/javier-mascherano-to-help-restore-liverpool-s-trophy-pride-100252-20931180/

Dub13

Considering most of the talk here now is about next season it could well be time to say goodbye to this thread and start a new fresh one.What do you lot think...?

MementoMori

Thats the thing. We dont need backup wingers. We need someone who will walk into the team.

That's the first priority, then after that we can add depth and cover to the squad. The only question is how to effectively manage to do that on a limited budget. I have confidence Rafa will do ok. Would be happy with one major name - ideally an immediate first-eleven right winger - just don't think Kuyt offers enough of a threat there and then adding squad depth after that this summer, with a backup strinker or keep Crouch second priority, then followed by decent cover keeper, somone who would be prepared to be on the bench but could do a job if Pepe got injured, perhaps someone experierenced along the lines of Jasskallinen {sp}

I think it will be interesting to see how the new seven subs rule will be used next season. Will we see more tactical substitutions? Could we see more and earlier substitutions i.e I think there could be a benefit to half-time subs especially in order to beat "smaller" teams. Definately think this will favour specialist positions such as an out-and-out winger who might have struggled to make the bench before as they didnt offer enough cover before but now might make it to the bench and could come on with half an hour to go to bother a tiring full back.

As regards substitutions how do people rate Rafa in this area? Personally think he could make substitutions earlier - too often think he leaves it ten minutes late. I also think half time is a time when more substitutions should be made, as a player who has a poor first half rarely has a good second half while I also think it is easier and more effective for a player to come on at half-time than when the game is in flow.

zing

Dub13 wrote: »

Considering most of the talk here now is about next season it could well be time to say goodbye to this thread and start a new fresh one.What do you lot think...?

Not until we reach 20000 posts

MementoMori

Considering most of the talk here now is about next season it could well be time to say goodbye to this thread and start a new fresh one.What do you lot think...?

Heresy

Madness

Lunacy

Might have a point

Cross Bentley's name off the list then.

Quote:
Reports that Blackburn’s David Bentley also features on Benitez’s wanted list are wide of the mark.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-20931180/

How accurate is Tony Barrett generally? Think i remember someone saying he has close links to the club.

TBH Wouldnt be displeased at all by signing Bentley - like the cut of his jib so to speak - Could this be a budget issue? Could see Blackburn looking for silly money e.g. £20m for him with Rafa saying forget that. Anywhere up to about £13m, i'd say yes. More than than no. What would others value him at.

Ideally would like to see Pennant go the other way with £5m but cant see Sparky falling for it.

mike65

Dub13 wrote: »

Considering most of the talk here now is about next season it could well be time to say goodbye to this thread and start a new fresh one.What do you lot think...?

zing wrote: »

Not until we reach 20000 posts

Or hit 500,000 views

Mike.

IrishMike

MementoMori wrote: »

TBH Wouldnt be displeased at all by signing Bentley - like the cut of his jib so to speak - Could this be a budget issue? Could see Blackburn looking for silly money e.g. £20m for him with Rafa saying forget that. Anywhere up to about £13m, i'd say yes. More than than no. What would others value him at.

Totally agree.
Good player but not worth the money being speculated.
If he was gotten for 10-12m then yes but for 15+ million i think it would be maddness.
He is good but he is not exactly world class in fairness.
Plus he is an arrogant gimp and i could see him starting to make serious
noise if he was given an extended run warming the bench.
For me i would pass
Any update on Mancini?

IrishMike

Finally an ex player with something positive to say

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-columnists/john-aldridge-column/2008/05/17/john-aldridge-time-for-liverpool-to-make-the-also-rans-pay-100252-20925615/

Makes a welcome change from idiots like mcmanaman souness and redknapp whinging about rafa
spending 100 trillion on crap players.

zing

MementoMori wrote: »

How accurate is Tony Barrett generally? Think i remember someone saying he has close links to the club.

He's the official unofficial voice of the club if that makes sense.

zAbbo

zing wrote: »

He's the official unofficial voice of the club if that makes sense.

He's the official cheerleader

5ForKeeps

zing wrote: »

Cross Bentley's name off the list then.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/05/19/javier-mascherano-to-help-restore-liverpool-s-trophy-pride-100252-20931180/

Coming from Tony Barrett, he is more reliable than any of the journo's around including the once acclaimed know all of Liverpool Chris Bascombe who fooked off to the the sunday rag of the s*n, Barrett has close contacts within the club as been the main Liverpool FC correspondent for the Echo surely has it's advantages along with been a Kop Season Ticket Holder....he is the voice of the fans in the media. Out and out Kopite.

Kimbot

MementoMori wrote: »

As regards the Crouch plus £7 million for Kranjcar deal, when I read that first I thought it was we get £7million and Kranjcar which I thought was not a great deal, not a bad deal. Honest.Couldnt believe it was the other way around. Wouldnt rate Kanjcar anywhere near that - don't see him making any improvement to Liverpool - I was thinking along the lines of Crouch = £12m Krancjcar = £5m => Diff = £7m cash . Still can't believe it. Think it values Crouch way too low and Krancjcar way too high. The thing I believe that could scupper any chances of a decent season next season is an injury to Torres (FSM forbid). Suppose he's out for a month or too and Crouch is gone - then it's essentially a choice between Kuyt, Babel and Voronin as out main striker. Not exactly threatening to my mind. Hell of a different situation if we had Crouch to come in. If we are not going to get any decent money for Crouch maybe it would be better to have him on the bench for the year and let him go for a free next season. He is a proven in the Premiership English as a goalscorer and the thing about any new strikers we bring in, is that you just never know if they will settle. Crouch has proven he can score goals in this league with these players. Given Torres settled so well I would be afraid we are due a Morientes situation again. Might be tough on Crouch but them's the breaks. I think the major reason he wants a move is because he feels he has dropped down the pecking order in terms of being England striker due to not getting enough games.



Thems some of my thoughts today anyway

If Harry Redknapp does sign Kewell, Nico Kranjcar will be allowed to join Arsenal for £10m. (Daily Mirror)

SO does that mean crouch is only worth 3 Million??

LuckyLloyd

mike65 wrote: »

I guess with no local interest, Spain is our team this summer!

I think you'll find that Poland are playing.

whatawaster

I have been giving our summer transfer activities an unhealthy amount of thought. I think it's pretty obvious where we need to buy, looking at who is likely to stay out of our current squad

GK: Reina, Itandje

RB: ?????, Arbeloa
LB: ?????, Aurelio, Insua
CB: Carragher, Skrtel
CB: Hyypia, Agger

DM: Mascherano, Plessis
CM: Alonso, ?????
AM: Gerrard, Lucas

LW: Babel, ?????
RW: ?????, Benayoun, Kuyt
CF: Torres, ?????, Kuyt, Nemeth, Babel

*I'm still unsure as to whether Lucas will be a defensive or offensive player. I suspect it will be the latter. Either way, with our system we need a new midfielder.

So, in my opinion, we need six new players. Six players of real quality. And it's very unlikely we'll get them all in the summer. 2 Full backs, a Central Midfielder, 2 Wingers and a striker.

Degen looks certain to come for free. Finnan will probably be surplus to requirements. Have heard mixed reports of him but at least he looks pacy and attacking from what clips i've seen. Dossena seems to be the likeliest purchase for left back. I like what i hear about him but i've never seen him myself. 8m has been suggested.
Gareth Barry or Michael Johnson should come in for midfield, though i'd prefer Stephen Ireland to both of them.

The most interesting purchases will be the three forward players. I'd like to see a proper centre forward brought in to replace Crouch, someone who could lead the line without Torres, but will accept being second choice. Kenwyn Jones? Darren Bent? Forssell?
I also think we need a second striker/wing forward. If money were no option David Villa would be perfect. I have my fingers crossed for Zarate though.
Finally, a direct and pacy winger. I have no idea who fits this role within our budget. I don't rate Valencia and Kranjcar is a very good player but maybe not quick enough? McGeady would be very interesting.

So, all in all, something like this wouldn't be a bad summer:
Out: Carson (6), Riise (4), Finnan (1), Pennant (6), Guthrie (2), Crouch (9), Voronin (2): Total 30 million

In: Degen (0), Dossena (8), Johnson (8), Zarate (10), Kranjcar (12), Jones (10) Total 48 million. NET SPEND 18 Million.

I'm sure there's someone better than Jones for that price, but i just can't think atm.
This is all, by the way, assuming we have very little to spend.

IrishMike

Price for Kranjcar and zarate are far too low.
Both will be over 15m.
Also no way sunderland will sell jones for 10m.
For me though he is the answer if crouch were to go.
Has the makings of an excellent excellent player.
The amount of assists he has this season for a striker in a crap forward system is outstanding.
Dont want johnson as i dont see him adding anything to our squad.
Prefer to see anderson or someone get a chance rather than spending 8m on him.

Chardee MacDennis

IrishMike wrote: »

Price for Kranjcar and zarate are far too low.
Both will be over 15m.
Also no way sunderland will sell jones for 10m.
For me though he is the answer if crouch were to go.
Has the makings of an excellent excellent player.
The amount of assists he has this season for a striker in a crap forward system is outstanding.
Dont want johnson as i dont see him adding anything to our squad.
Prefer to see anderson or someone get a chance rather than spending 8m on him.

Zarates agent said ten so i dont know where the 15m figure is coming from.

also i dont mean to be an ass but i am pretty sure we never bid 10m for stelios :eek:. it was a 1/2m bid turned down and we didnt go higher afair...

if we got Zarate and Krankjar for Crouch plus 17million i wouldnt be too upset tbh... considering Nani and Anderson cost 34million.

Also would like to see a cheeky 5m bid for Anelka, remember it was Jose's rule of not selling to rivals and not Abrhamovich....

finally i dont see it happening but Bentley and Downing wouldnt be too bad, as long as they were less than 16 million for the two. the step up could be what they need and they are both better than Kuyt and Pennant as wingers.

EDIT: i like Johnson, but we will never sign Ireland - he's not right in the head and Rafa likes mentally strong players.

IrishMike

Anelka would be a brilliant signing and he really didnt want to leave the club the last time.
Cant see rafa resigning him though.
If he was happy to be #2 he would be a brilliant signing but he is too good to only play
10-15 games a season and i doubt he would be happy to sit on the bench for the big games.

whatawaster

IrishMike wrote: »

Price for Kranjcar and zarate are far too low.
Both will be over 15m.
Also no way sunderland will sell jones for 10m.
For me though he is the answer if crouch were to go.
Has the makings of an excellent excellent player.
The amount of assists he has this season for a striker in a crap forward system is outstanding.
Dont want johnson as i dont see him adding anything to our squad.
Prefer to see anderson or someone get a chance rather than spending 8m on him.

Johnson is a central midfielder. Anderson is a winger. At the moment we have 4 senior CMs filling 3 slots. Plessis may step up, making it 5, but the 2 players per position rule dictates that we need another CM in the summer. I'd rather Johnson over Barry because of his age.

Chardee MacDennis

i think he would be happy here tbh, he's won lots and he cant be happy if he is chucked out of chelsea this summer. i do think he would be happy at this stage in his career to be at liverpool for the next 4-5 years and play 25+ games a season, remember torres isnt indestructable and we will play two up top at times.

Tusky

whatawaster wrote: »

I have been giving our summer transfer activities an unhealthy amount of thought. I think it's pretty obvious where we need to buy, looking at who is likely to stay out of our current squad

GK: Reina, Itandje

RB: ?????, Arbeloa
LB: ?????, Aurelio, Insua
CB: Carragher, Skrtel
CB: Hyypia, Agger

DM: Mascherano, Plessis
CM: Alonso, ?????
AM: Gerrard, Lucas

LW: Babel, ?????
RW: ?????, Benayoun, Kuyt
CF: Torres, ?????, Kuyt, Nemeth, Babel

*I'm still unsure as to whether Lucas will be a defensive or offensive player. I suspect it will be the latter. Either way, with our system we need a new midfielder.

So, in my opinion, we need six new players. Six players of real quality. And it's very unlikely we'll get them all in the summer. 2 Full backs, a Central Midfielder, 2 Wingers and a striker.

Degen looks certain to come for free. Finnan will probably be surplus to requirements. Have heard mixed reports of him but at least he looks pacy and attacking from what clips i've seen. Dossena seems to be the likeliest purchase for left back. I like what i hear about him but i've never seen him myself. 8m has been suggested.
Gareth Barry or Michael Johnson should come in for midfield, though i'd prefer Stephen Ireland to both of them.

The most interesting purchases will be the three forward players. I'd like to see a proper centre forward brought in to replace Crouch, someone who could lead the line without Torres, but will accept being second choice. Kenwyn Jones? Darren Bent? Forssell?
I also think we need a second striker/wing forward. If money were no option David Villa would be perfect. I have my fingers crossed for Zarate though.
Finally, a direct and pacy winger. I have no idea who fits this role within our budget. I don't rate Valencia and Kranjcar is a very good player but maybe not quick enough? McGeady would be very interesting.

So, all in all, something like this wouldn't be a bad summer:
Out: Carson (6), Riise (4), Finnan (1), Pennant (6), Guthrie (2), Crouch (9), Voronin (2): Total 30 million

In: Degen (0), Dossena (8), Johnson (8), Zarate (10), Kranjcar (12), Jones (10) Total 48 million. NET SPEND 18 Million.

I'm sure there's someone better than Jones for that price, but i just can't think atm.
This is all, by the way, assuming we have very little to spend.

I would disagree. I think we need 3 players of real quality. First choice right winger & two first choice full backs. Then we need a backup striker and a backup keeper, who could probably be bought cheaply enough.

We have Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Lucas & Plesis who can all play in CM so I think that position is sorted.

whatawaster wrote: »

Johnson is a central midfielder. Anderson is a winger. At the moment we have 4 senior CMs filling 3 slots. Plessis may step up, making it 5, but the 2 players per position rule dictates that we need another CM in the summer. I'd rather Johnson over Barry because of his age.

If you are counting Gerrards position as CM then Benayoun or Voronin could step in for him if needed.

5ForKeeps

I am throwing this out as a name for a potential backup striker which could bring us goals. Scott McDonald at Celtic would a shrewd purchase if we were looking for someone to compliment Torres in terms of scoring goals. Scoring the amount of goals he has this season in the colours of Celtic, but has been Celtic's best player when playing Europe this season.

whatawaster

Tusky wrote: »

I would disagree. I think we need 3 players of real quality. First choice right winger & two first choice full backs. Then we need a backup striker and a backup keeper, who could probably be bought cheaply enough.

We have Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Lucas & Plesis who can all play in CM so I think that position is sorted.



If you are counting Gerrards position as CM then Benayoun or Voronin could step in for him if needed.

I have been swaying back and forth. Should we buy 6 players like i said above, or should we buy 2 of real quality, Villa and Silva for example? I think Rafa will go for the former option, because several players are likely to leave this summer and we have a few holes to plug in the squad.

zAbbo

Get 2 quality players in, and it's sink or swim time for the reserves/youth players.

Tusky

whatawaster wrote: »

I have been swaying back and forth. Should we buy 6 players like i said above, or should we buy 2 of real quality, Villa and Silva for example? I think Rafa will go for the former option, because several players are likely to leave this summer and we have a few holes to plug in the squad.

I would love us to buy two players of real quality for 15-20m each but its not going to happen. From who we have been linked with it looks like we are going to buy two full backs, two wingers, a keeper and at least one striker...on a shoe string budget. Hmm.

One thing that also worries me is this. Currently we have Babel, Benayoun, Kewell, Pennant & Kuyt as our wingers. With Pennant and Kewell likely to leave we have -

Benayoun - more of an attacking midfielder
Kuyt - a striker who is doing a decent job on the wing
Babel - more of a striker

We are desperately short of quality wingers.

5ForKeeps

zAbbo wrote: »

Get 2 quality players in, and it's sink or swim time for the reserves/youth players.

If only things were that easy. We don't have the funds to go out a splash big money on Villa or Silva names been mentioned without selling players who are fringe like Crouch, Carson and Riise for example. Even at that selling 3 of them would only barely get one of those players mentioned. We fans need to wake up we don't have the money to go buy top class players every summer without recouping it first which is what it has been like since Rafa arrived at Anfield. Factors like debt need to be taken into account here people until G&H are gone this will be hanging over us for the foreseeable future unless they both sell up, it is clear as day.

As for the sink or swim for the reserves and youth players. I wouldn't like you in charge of Liverpool that is for sure, Rafa is not stupid if some of them are not ready it is simple, why be a detriment to there confidence and develop by pushing them too quickly. Loan deals out to lower leagues helps there development in some cases. Like Paul Anderson at Swansea and Antwi at Lincoln. Adam Hammill was good on loan at Dunfermline but has gone off the scene. If these guys were ready, same goes for Jack Hobbs they would be involved in the first team as it is but there not. Same as the current crop in the reserves. Insua & Plessis have made the jump so to speak, Nemeth has been mentioned of course as he has been a standout performer this season. I don't think Rafa feels he is ready yet either.

whatawaster

Tusky wrote: »

I would love us to buy two players of real quality for 15-20m each but its not going to happen. From who we have been linked with it looks like we are going to buy two full backs, two wingers, a keeper and at least one striker...on a shoe string budget. Hmm.

One thing that also worries me is this. Currently we have Babel, Benayoun, Kewell, Pennant & Kuyt as our wingers. With Pennant and Kewell likely to leave we have -

Benayoun - more of an attacking midfielder
Kuyt - a striker who is doing a decent job on the wing
Babel - more of a striker

We are desperately short of quality wingers.

Our system doesn't really call for traditional wingers though. We need wide players cutting in to support the front man. That is crucial. And that is why two full backs are needed. Insua shouldn't be thrown in the deep end and Aurelio lacks pace/can't be relied upon to be fit. Arbeloa on the right will be excellent cover (for lb and cb too) but a quality attacking RB would be great too. Rafinha, Alves. Someone brazilian. Glen Johnson would also be worth a shot i think, though he could cost a fortune.

missingtime

It's been said a lot of times before...but we need to get in a quality SELFISH winger. Someone who wont be afraid to go past players and that would have the confidence to hold onto the ball and head for goal.

We have plenty of hard working average players...we need a, forgive me for this, a Ronaldo type player. Someone who has the class and skill but also not necessarily track back every time.

5ForKeeps

missingtime wrote: »

It's been said a lot of times before...but we need to get in a quality SELFISH winger. Someone who wont be afraid to go past players and that would have the confidence to hold onto the ball and head for goal.

We have plenty of hard working average players...we need a, forgive me for this, a Ronaldo type player. Someone who has the class and skill but also not necessarily track back every time.

The only player possibly available like Ronaldo is his compatriot Quaresma even at that i don't we can possibly afford him unless if rumours are true he can go for at least 8 million this summer due to the terms of his contract with Porto.

zAbbo

5ForKeeps wrote: »

As for the sink or swim for the reserves and youth players. I wouldn't like you in charge of Liverpool that is for sure, Rafa is not stupid if some of them are not ready it is simple, why be a detriment to there confidence and develop by pushing them too quickly. Loan deals out to lower leagues helps there development in some cases. Like Paul Anderson at Swansea and Antwi at Lincoln.

Playing at lower league might give them game time, but won't make them better players.

They won't be in our starting XI next season but are more than capable of playing 10 games a season. Insua could easily do that, at least we'd know if he was good enough, and not mess around bringing in sub standard players who won't develop any more.

Anderson should have featured this season, but we ended up having issues with Leto as well as a change of formation mid-season.

Tusky

whatawaster wrote: »

Our system doesn't really call for traditional wingers though. We need wide players cutting in to support the front man. That is crucial. And that is why two full backs are needed. Insua shouldn't be thrown in the deep end and Aurelio lacks pace/can't be relied upon to be fit. Arbeloa on the right will be excellent cover (for lb and cb too) but a quality attacking RB would be great too. Rafinha, Alves. Someone brazilian. Glen Johnson would also be worth a shot i think, though he could cost a fortune.

We may not be playing 4-2-3-1 for ever though. That formation is entirely dependant Torres playing. What if he gets injured ? If we sell Pennant and Kewell we dont even have one traditional winger.

Arbeloa
Finnan
Aurelio
Riise
Pennant
Kewell
Benayoun
Babel
Kuyt

These are the players we have on the flanks and not a single one of them is among our best players. I dont think any of them are even among our best 8 players. (Reina, Carra, Skrtel, Agger, Masch, Alonso, Gerrard, Torres)

Its painfully obvious that we need genuine quality in the wide positions both defensively and offensively. I think alot of how well we do next year will depend on who we get in for those positions.

5ForKeeps

The spine of our team is class and the fact is our wings are average at best. Finnan is getting older, Arbeloa has been brilliant for us an able backup both at right back and left back. Insua has the potential to be a great player. Aurelio has had an injury prone time, we need more quality in both positions same as in mid/attacking sense.

Riise & Pennant are good as gone, Kewell definitely. Kuyt working as a makeshift winger is not great but works to a point. It will be interesting to see. If we can get players better than what we have in these positions we will have a serious bid for the title next season.

Tusky

http://www.bleskovky.sk/cl/14/252119/FUTBAL-Hamsik-do-Liverpoolu

This Slovakian site is saying that Marek Hamsik to Liverpool is a done deal. The price is 16m euro + Lucas & Voronin. I dont know anything about the guy apart from the fact that he is very very highly rated.

Lucas being sold kind of makes the Barry transfer make sense.