RedNik

I suspect that we have cash enough for 2 strikers. Its almost gonna entirely depend on whether and for how much, we can sell nando and cisse for. I dont imagine this would amount to more than 10 million quid. If we spend all of that on another striker - we could probably get kuyt and one more.

Without turning this into a formation thread, our signings will very much depend on what system Rafa wants to play. If he is indeed gonna start xabi, momo and stevie g, we will definitely need another central midfielder (if didi were to leave). If we only play Gerrard and Xabi in the centre though, Momo and Zenden would be the backups and we wouldn't purchase another.

Owen Hargreaves as a fourth choice in centre mid? I'm not sure if he'd go for that, and i certainly dont think we have those kinds of funds available. As for the striker situation, i really doubt we will be able to buy both Dirk Kuyt and Torres - too expensive and similar in their build and play. Joaquin is a distinct possibility. I think you are forgetting Paletta and Mark Gonzalez. I really see us buying a right midfielder, a striker for sure, in addition to the reported secures, being aurelio, gonzalez and paletta.

I definitely hate the Mancs more than chelsea, however, the main reason i was cheering on chelsea was because that would give us more of a chance of getting second place. Had Manu and chelsea switched point totals, I would be cheering on the Mancs. I don't think it makes me any less of a liverpool fan/ supporter - it's just pragmatic.

I wouldn't call him world class yet. He's definitely a great keeper though. Has good distribution, plays like a sweeper as well and is a wonderful shot stopper. He however needs to improve the way he deals with crosses - corners and such. Sometimes, he is caught flapping at them.

Would you back Crouch?

haha thats hillarious - sami doesn't have any clothes apart from his team kit ... ahaha

With all that in mind, what is the point of a striker - scoring goals right?

Have to agree with you entirely mate. Its alike the Riise at left midfield debate that was raging last year. He doesnt provide quality crosses and isnt a great outlet, but he scores goals. Isn't the eventual point of those crosses goals? Am i wrong in saying that every fan would rather a goal from his boot than a perfect cross that may or may not be put into the goal? I personally don't think Riise is good enough to play at left midfield, but to have as an option - he's great! Same with Ciise, except Djibs needs to work on his attitude, more so than anything else. Furthermore, the main reason for strikers is goal scoring. Crouch does all but that, Cisse on the other hand gets goals. Add that he hasn't been given a stretch of games and has been mostly out of position and in midfield. We look at his goal return of 17 being decent for a striker. How about that for a winger though ?

For you to say cisse is not talented is ludicrous mate. Im sorry but its utter nonsense. Also big stuff mate, whether we are better with crouch or nando starting than with Milan starting is irrelevant. My question is to whether a striker whose goal return is woeful - like 1 in 4 or 5 games - can be afforded a starting spot consistently for a championship challenging squad. He does link up well, but its hardly great in my opinon, and he isnt a powerhouse in the air either. That aside, what system will we play next season? With Momo and Xabi in the middle, where does Stevie play? Is it 3 in the middle, or maybe G on a free role ..

Do people honestly think that Peter Crouch can lead our attack in the long run ?

Cisse is cursed by his price tag. Very talented, no doubting.

Has that not been the case every summer in the last 3-4 years? (not specifically with you .. but in general)

Everyone is so fast to pick on the fact that cisse got a number of goals in the qualifying games. Sure that is true. But this was the one period in which he got an extended run as a striker. Yes the opposition wasn't great but they are nonetheless important goals. Why don't we ever see people stressing the fact that 8 of Gerrards 19 goals this season came in the qualifying stages (pardon me if I got the numbers wrong). Without those goals, Gerrard has 11 - not a great return, very good from midfield, but you expect more from Stevie than 11 dont you? Yes cisse has his downsides, but apart from Robbie, which of our strikers, heck which of our players look composed in front of goal? Its like the above post, with Garcia. We have to accept that he is a bit of a flair player. He isnt gonna provide us with great work defensively, like crouch for example. He may be wasteful. But he can produce the brilliant, which many other players simply cannot do. I still think theres place for him here, with a little working.

What is really dissappointing to me is that we haven't really improved much on our squad since last year. We've not prioritized positions and have sold players without viable back ups.

hey .. he did originally post this twice .. appreciate the effort mike mate!

very left footed - wouldnt like to see him on the right tbh. scored a cracker this weekend by the way.