Magic8Ball

does agger want to stay? - will he be fit enough to play?

Personally I feel there's a pro United anti Liverpool core to UEFA - the only good thing I can see coming out of this, is there wont be any complacency now

here we go again ..... our best hope here would be Van Persie if we could persuade him to come

sadly he'll have to go for english players, especially with the new ruling 6+5 ..... sucks!

Liverpool's transfer targets and sales now Rafa Benitez has signed on After Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez ended speculation over his future in signing a four-year contract extension worth around £20 million that will keep him at Anfield until 2014 Telegraph Sport looks at five possible transfer targets and players on the way out. By Rory Smith Last Updated: 12:07PM GMT 19 Mar 2009 FIVE OUT Jermaine Pennant (Free) The former Arsenal and Birmingham winger, currently on loan at Portsmouth, will not have his contract renewed after falling out with Benitez, with the manager concerned by his attitude in training. Andriy Voronin (£2-3 million) A flop in the Premier League, the Ukrainian has been in sparkling form since joining Hertha Berlin on loan. The Bundesliga remains his most likely destination, and Hertha his preferred move, should the Germans be able to find the cash. Andrea Dossena (£4 million) After early struggles at Anfield, Dossena’s two goals in two games suggest he is starting to find his feet, albeit as a left-winger and not a left-back. Benitez may be tempted to cash in, though, if a suitable offer from Italy arrives, with Juventus and Roma interested. Philipp Degen (£1 million) The Swiss full-back has featured just twice since his move from Borussia Dortmund after a succession of injuries. Benitez will surely move him on if he can find a buyer willing to take the risk. Sami Hyypia (Free) Benitez would be loathe to lose the former club captain, who proved at Old Trafford that he is more than capable of filling the breach when required. But the Finn, whose contract expires at the end of the season, may decide he wants one more year of playing regularly before hanging up his boots. FIVE IN Glen Johnson (Portsmouth, £8 million) Liverpool’s most obvious weakness is at right back, where there is no natural cover for Alvaro Arbeloa. Johnson, an England international, would provide a more attacking alternative and is likely to be available as Portsmouth look to ease their financial concerns. David Wheater (Middlesbrough, £5 million) Should the ever-reliable Sami Hyypia leave, Benitez is likely to look at the Middlesbrough man as a young, English replacement. The Spaniard knows he has to boost his English contingent to meet UEFA regulations and, should Boro be relegated, Wheater would be an economic option. Aaron Lennon (Tottenham, £10 million) Benitez tried to include the wide man as part of the Robbie Keane deal but Harry Redknapp was unwilling to budge. There are suggestions that Liverpool may go back in the summer as Benitez tries to add natural width to a team which struggles to break down compact opponents. Michael Mancienne (Chelsea, £4 million) The England under-21 international has struggled to break in to Chelsea’s side and Benitez, on the lookout for English players, would be tempted to bring in a defender equally comfortable at centre back or full back. Gareth Barry (Aston Villa, £15 million) If Aston Villa fail to reach the Champions League, Barry may decide that he has to make the move he was dissuaded from last season. Benitez may choose to go back for the man who, ultimately, cost Rick Parry his job and is still keen on his dynamism and versatility. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...z-signs-on.html Interesting article, though I don't agree with their prices

and how !

If fallen for GWistooshort's argument - I'd take Van Persie

This is all I have http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/fa-...ull-273390.html

hope those instructions on how to beat United work. Would love teams to take them on and get a few results PLTBT

I see Van Persie's playing up top alone, how's he doing?

How about winning one or both ? yeah would be great for Barca to draw Arsenal and Man U to Draw Chelsea - Mean while in the OTHER group Liverpool draw Villareal

reminds me of the monty python sketch of the philosophers playing football

Sounds like a good argument. But he's a Chelsea fan and I'm not sure he'd move. I'm trying to think of his delivery. I can't remember him in on the right much, more on the left. I'd say he was better than Benyoun, but not by that much. Wonder if he has a footballing brain, that's one of the key things needed to succeed under Rafa. I can't help thinking there has to be someone out there that can do what we need from the right. a sort of Van Persie for the RHS..... no it's not Walcott who I rate the same as Babel.

Have to agree on this, Keane just seemed to get in the way. When playing up top he needed Torres to do all the work, and then he'd miss. When playing deep he got in Gerrard's way, and then he's miss. He couldn't play the lone striker role well, and then he's miss. That's the problem, Gerrand and Torres are so good you wont get adequate backup directly. You need someone who can play one of the other attacking roles and occassionally sub for Torres - we thought that person would be Babel. Maybe it's Van Persie. The nice thing about Van Persie is he can play LA, or Link striker - so provided we have cover on the left ( a good reason to get Barry) we could play Van Persie and N'gog up front - which may actually be ok.

Still not sure about Cole though, wouldn't Silva be better there ? - Otherwise I thin it's ace

I agree it's going to be really tough to improve the first team now. The Keane incident shows that. But the first team really needs both a left and a right wide player that will score lots of goals and terrorize the opposition. Questions: If Van Persie is the man for the LHS whither Babel and Reira ? Who's the right man for the RHS - assuming we can't get Messi or Ribery .... who ? Does getting Barry mean staying with 4231 or moving to 433 ? - interesting note, Rafa has used Aurelio in what I would call the Barry position already this season I'd be inclined to keep Babel and play Van Persie in Gerrards position when he's injured - moving Babel/Reira to the left This is an awkward stage of development for Rafa, to take us forward he's gotta gamble as we don't have the money to buy the players most likely to work. Thing is Rafa's favor is he cuts his losses pretty quickly.

have to agree with that, just don't think we'll get Van Persie - and I would love to see him here

I'd only accept Villa getting 4th if we won the league !!! I just want to see them humiliated

Getting Owen means we have to play 442, not our best formation. It also means giving him a run of games to get the best out of him,that doesn't fit with Rafa's approach, he picks his team to match the opposition. Playing Owen means not giving Nemeth a chance.... and so on We'd be better off getting Barry and working on getting a RA and a solid back up for RB. We really should be looking to improve our 433/4231 rather than go sideways

Sadly, I don't think it does - however if we win all our games and Arsenal, Man City and Spurs win then we have a chance. I don't mention Villa as I want them to finish outside the top 4 so we can get Barry on the cheap

definately need Barry as Gerry is primarily a link striker now - maybe he can play in a 433 with Barry but most likely Gerard will be up top with Torres Barry would be good buy and bring balance to the midfield

They'd still need decent wingers and the best midfield in the world

hope arsenal win and villa draw -

It's a shame we're not really in contention for the title - the irony is if Man Utd win, they'll have won it the Benitez way by 1-0 wins. If there's anything we should hope for today it's that other teams will learn how to put Utd to the sword !!!

depends on the opposition Barry Alonso and Gerrard is more attacking than Barry Masherano and Gerrard