Magic8Ball

well for most league games anyway

either he plans on staying a while and hence wants to secure his back-room staff and wants contracts dealt with more speedily (cough Agger cough ) or he's doing and Owen and letting his contract run down

I was under the impression that Rafa had got his demands, but was delaying over assurances on the ownership of the club

Very True - keeping Alonso and getting Barry would have meant Gerrard playing as Torres's partner - Personally I think we'd have fared better than with Keane

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expect to see a lot more 343 being used

I suspect Rafa's had enough here, I can see him holding out for everything he wants or walking. Having said that it's strange, I thought Rafa had got everything he asked for from the owners, so there's clearly something new happening.

I keep saying that. no one will listen. Everyone thinks the only thing a defender should do, is defend .... madness

Martin O'Neill definitely has control over the academy. If you read my newspaper post from earlier, Rafa's not asking for anything MOST managers don't already have

Liverpool are set to be handed the perfect title boost this week - when Rafa Benitez finally signs the £20million contract extension that will keep him at Anfield until 2013. Liverpool owners Tom Hicks andGeorge Gillett resolved all outstanding issues with Benitez during the international week and hope to announce the new deal "within days". Benitez rejected Liverpool's first contract offer because he was unhappy about the amount of control he would have over transfers, following the club's failure to land No.1 target Gareth Barry last year. But those concerns have now been addressed in the aftermath of the two American owners visiting Merseyside for the victory over Chelsea two weeks ago. A Liverpool insider said: "All issues have now been resolved and the contract should be signed within days." It is understood that the final sticking point was Benitez's insistence of control over the club's academy. He has won the day on that point too and is now in the clear to sign his new contract. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-21124971/

so, win all our games and we can still do it - simples!

Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are set to make Rafa Benitez a third contract offer this week - and they want it signed before next Sunday's game against Manchester City. Having won major concessions about control over transfers, Benitez has sent back a second offer to the Americans, this time querying his role with the club's academy. Now the owners are trying to rush through further amendments, believing any additional delay will hurt Liverpool as they battle for the Premier League title. A senior source said last night: 'The major points have been agreed and we hope things will be finalised soon.' Benitez, who has been offered a four-and-a-half-year deal which will earn him £15million, has twice looked in detail at the offer. Although his primary concern that he would have to report to chief executive Rick Parry on transfer targets has been satisfied, he wants it to be clear that he has overall responsibility for the club's youth policy, too. He is now waiting for a response, although the owners know they will try to do that quickly. Benitez originally set a deadline of November 30 to get a new contract offer but later turned down the deal. He has always said he wants full control of which players are bought and sold at Liverpool, although he understands he will be given a budget. It follows a contentious summer at Anfield, when £20m striker Robbie Keane was signed but Benitez's No1 target Gareth Barry was not, because of Aston Villa's £18m asking price. Hicks and Gillett met Benitez two weeks ago and agreed he would report to the board, rather than Parry, on transfers. They also held informal talks with Aston Villa owner and fellow American Randy Lerner, finding out that Benitez is only after the powers that Martin O'Neill has at Villa Park. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ine-offer.html#

Theoretically they should compliment each other. Torres for the through ball and the quick incisive play. Villa for the more patient build up. The thing is it's really hard to know if they do work together or not as Spain's approach favors Villa over Torres. Personally, I suspect they don't work well together. However, here at Liverpool OUR STYLE, while favoring Torres, may actually allow Villa to work as well, it would mean Villa has to play the link striker role most of the time. I'm not certain he'd settle for that.

sounds like a good fit - but wouldn't we be vulnerable at the back if a team plays 2 up front ? or proper 442 ?

I'm not sure coming to liverpool IS leaving Spain LOL We've so many Spanish players and connections, I'm sure it'll feel like Spain - the biggest problem is Villa really is more an alternative to Torres than someone who can play with him. IF we played Villa and Torres together Villa would have to be the link striker, and I think he see's himself as an out and out striker. Also we'd have the problem of where to play Gerrard. IF Villa can play link striker WITH Torres then a 4321 formation may prove best

well he wont and because we didn't offer him a new contract ( with provisions/safeguards) when he was injured, we're going to lose him for next to nothing

IF in reality Ribery will cost is about 30m we should try to pay it. I can't think of a better RW for us out there.

Love that team - if only it were possible ( only one player as an addition too ). plus we could also swap Barry for Mash in more attacking games ( in theory). Love the fact it's Agger and Skrtel. sadly this bit wont happen as we're set to lose Agger for peanuts. Bet the replacement's not as good either.

There are some video's of the kid here http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-21117451/

true, but it beings up a point about players, teams and leagues - often to see the best o a player they have to have all 3 work for them. So just because a player doesn't make it here doesn't mean they're bad.

As far as I know no-one in the history of the world has ever proven a dispositional state. I said felt, not fact

it's more than that for me, I just think we score more goals with Agger in the team

so how come Torres never scores when Villa's on the pitch? DanielS Re Villa - they're only doing so well as most people don't/didn't dee them as title challengers. Now they are, they should find it increasingly difficult.

Get Fabrigas and play 4321 (xmas tree) Now if Villa COULD play link striker for Torres Gerrard --- Villa ---Fabrigas -------------Torres ;) say no more