schmuckdonald

Excited.

No where at this rate, Marseille (I think) put in a measly offer for him. Them raising the funds is dependant on them selling someone else who can only raise the funds if they sell blah blah so on and so forth.

Spurs lack of fluidity isn't down to Defoe and Crouch, don't understand that. Although, that said, they'll probably score now.

I really don't want Babel playing the lone striker role, he really doesn't have the tactical nous to play it. Maybe when you want someone on in the last 15 minutes to counter, but not as a first choice. Still an interesting few weeks ahead.

I hope Masch stays long enough to play at City and to lay into them, then he can leave.

Modric will probably play there in the games at WHL, but I'd assume Palacois would play in there otherwise, Modric is too slight and offensive minded.

Mancini obviously thought thatd' stymie Tottenham's play and then having 3 pacey fluid attacking midfielders would enable them to hit Spurs on the counter, but Yaya seems to constantly be the man bringing the attack forward and he has the attacking instinct of Gandhi.

Spurs will regret not getting the goal. City will be stronger in the second half. They should bring on a f*ckin' striker, then they'll actually have some semblance of structure going forward.

Premiership - 4th/5th depending on Spurs and City - think Spurs will be a bigger threat FA Cup - 5/6th round - Get knocked out in some crap circumstances against one of: Spurs, City, Arsenal, Utd., Chelsea or Everton League Cup - 4/5th round - kids do alright against lesser opposition but come undone against first major team they play against Europa - Semi's - Squad depth means we won't fall completely flat later on in the season and it'll be more competitive in the semi. This is going on the assumed injuries. I think a lack of expectation and a more us vs them mentality will suit us, get through the first 5 games with 4 wins and I'll be a bit more optimistic.

'Arry will sign a few players, in the next few weeks, I refuse to believe that with champions league revenue and after a successful season he can resist getting in a few extra bodies, and I imagine that a couple of strikers will be at the top of the list, and then we can get Crouch. Failing that, get Riedle back in.

Let down.

rorysmith_tel By holding statement, I meant something saying talks are ongoing etc. But, and this is important: I don't know what it'll say. #LFC

This is going to be some massive anti-climax. All the talk seems to point to Haung, mind.

rorysmith_tel #LFC statement should - but by no means will - be out at some point this evening. All indications are it's just a holding statement. Holding: progress update, I'd guess. That's what's been suggested. I wouldn't put money on anything at the moment, though. #LFC

Surely there'll be no transfer movement in until Mascherano and/or Insua leave?

He struggled to get into a great Barcelona side, that doesn't mean he's suddenly gone awful. People need to realise that we won't sign anybody if we don't shift Mascherano, compromises have to be made. And besides, as the man said, there won't be any p/ex deal. It'll all be haggling. I'd take him if he was offered anyway. Ho hum.

Beyond the fact he's a different style of player to Kuyt and Maxi, to say that Pacheco is better than an established international footballer who's played at Arsenal, Barcelona and Stuttgart is utter folly. He's got potential, but that's about it.

Hleb isn't awful at all. Just saying, if Barcelona can't afford £30m and offered Hleb as part of the deal to lessen the figure, I'd be happy with him. He'd add another dimension to our attack, which is lacking dexterity when you lose Torres and Gerrard (which we so often do). When you consider we were so weak in attacking terms we wound up playing players like Degen, Eccleston etc. in attacking positions, I don't know why an established attacking midfielder isn't a good idea. Also, I think once the Mascherano deal is announced is when there'll be a flurry of activity and then that'll be it. I'm hoping that it's Crouch, Poulsen, a left back and an attacker. Weren't there press reports in Italy of us being in for Grygera as well? That'd be a good deal, too.

Hleb would be a good player to get in a p/ex. But if it was Hleb + cash, i'd imagine the cash would only be in the region of £15-20m in that case. Pretty sure they rate Hleb between £5-10m. They have signed Ozil, but they still need a replacement for Yaya Toure and someone to compete with Busquets.

Argentina are playing Ireland, not that far away.

I know this isn't ever going to happen, but I'd like to see this if we were to play 4-1-4-1: GK: Reina RB: Johnson LB: Aurelio CB: Carragher CB: Agger DM: Poulsen RM: Jovanovic LM: Cole CM: Maxi CM: Gerrard CF: Torres With the ball, Poulsen dropping back to form a 3 when Aurelio and Johnson push on to create width, then Cole moving in a free position behind Torres and Jovanovic looking to push in off the wing and get goals. Gerrard attacking from deep and Maxi playing a more refrained but agile Alonso role, like he did for Argentina when Veron didn't play. It'd require a lot of fluidity and I know there's basically no chance of seeing it, but I really think that Maxi can play a good role in the centre of the park, he is physical, intelligent and a good passer of the ball and can control it in tight positions. But in essence he'd require a very good tactically midfielder along side him, and Gerrard has never shown that is in his locker and of course it'd involve Cole playing on the wing, which he says he doesn't want to do and has probably been assured he won't in the move. But this would allow having players like Kuyt, Aquilani et al on the bench who can come on and change the emphasis of the attack, which is something we really lacked at times last season. (Did this all in code originally, but I f**ked it up. Apologies.) Is everyone basing Martin Kelly being a good player on a half and hour against Lyon and a game against Rabotnicki? Think he'll be a decent player, but I don't want him anywhere near the starting XI yet. Certainly not ahead Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Kyrgan or Wilson. Can provide cover at right back, but that's about it. I'd still like us to get a back up right back, though. He's only a young un, he can play his fair share of games against lesser sides, but in a 'what should our starting XI be'.

Mascherano wasn't holding him back. Lucas should flourish under Hodgson, mind. He'll fit that rigid 4-4-2 he likes and has the tactical nouse to play the defensive role well.

That's a tenuous link. Pellegrini is a coach who builds his sides on flair and plays in a very South American way. Ancelotti was a vastly experienced coach in a game that isn't perhaps as physical but is more reminiscent of the English game that Argentinian and Spanish football is.

Really don't think he'd be cut out for the Premiership, for all his ability, I can't see a team under him doing very good in such a physical league.

Same situation with 2004 when Benitez came in, Gerrard and our star striker thinking of jumping ship. Wouldn't blame Gerrard on leaving at this point. I can only imagine Daglish taking over on an interim basis and then getting a proper manager installed when/if there's some stability at the club.