Magic8Ball

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-21574369/ When he looked at last season’s failed title challenge Benitez will have identified three areas that needed surgery. Two were obvious, at full back and wide midfield. But the third will surprise many fans, who assume that the club’s midfield was their strength last term. On the surface, the Alonso-Javier Mascherano partnership was one of the strongest in the Premier League, but a closer look at the statistics from last season suggest otherwise, given the importance of the two base midfielders in the diamond formation all top teams now employ. Between them, the pair scored just THREE league goals all season. Compare that to Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher at United who managed seven in a side who got goals from all over the field. What Fletcher and Carrick also provided was an ability to get forward into the penalty area unmarked, and beyond the opposition back line into space, which created numerous chances for United. For Liverpool, who beat Lyn Oslo 2-0 last night, neither Alonso nor Mascherano could do that, because their style in sitting deep is so similar. But it is crucial when Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are always so heavily marked to exploit the space afforded to other players deeper in the midfield. It seems the Liverpool boss decided that Mascherano has the edge because of his mobility and aggression in fulfilling the covering role both must do. The Anfield manager has been left casting around for a midfielder who can pass and defend, and still get forward beyond the opposition back line. Aquilani appears to have those qualities, but Italians have not always been successful in the Premier League, and his injury record is a cause for concern.

if we get Aquilani I still think we'll need 3 more players, a CH, a CM and either a LA or striker cover - hope the CM is Defour

anyone else think we need another CM - a backup for Mash ?

I agree with that. I think we've learned a lot from the Barry Saga. Mind you I'd laugh if they met our 30m and we added a 5m late agreement penalty ( compensation for the lateness of the transfer).

Rafael Benitez eyes David Silva after Xabi Alonso nears exit to Real Madrid http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...eal-Madrid.html

No it's not - if we are to sell it's best to sell early true, but those numbers are so wrong. If we are to sell it should be at current ( MAD ) market valuations as Veloso, Martinez whoever would cost more than they're worth in this climate, plus they'd have the "we know you need a player tax" on them ( assuming the clubs want to sell, or we've not been beaten to them). Also we should factor in the risk of not getting a replacement in the fee..... In short the fee should be high and get higher the longer they drag it on (risk of not replacing xabi increases), that's if we don't set a deadline and ignore their faxes after that date. Frankly I hope to see Xabi and Mash here this season with both getting a new deal with extended contracts

we have a player with 3 years left on his contract, we can set a deadline beyond which we wont listen. We hold all the cards as Xabi is professional enough to just get on with it

They're playing silly buggers because they got McMoneyman and Owen from us for next to nowt

According to the mirror Xabi wants to leave because he feels Rafa doesn't value him and tried to sell him two summers in a row (conjecture) - But RM wont pony up the money ( and we know they have it) therefore they clearly don't value him (FACT). According to the above it would make more sense for Xabi to stay

Here's one point, the title ! Xabi playing at 90% is better than most players out there, and he'll play his best as it's a world cup year

it's one, maybe two sought after player/s who apparently want/s to leave when a "bigger" club comes calling.... in the eyes of Barca and RM that makes us look like a selling club i.e. a club that can't hold onto its top players

This is the approach we have to take, especially to remain true to ourselves. We either sell and become a selling club or keep Xabi and win the league. I was of the impression LFC existed to win things. Besides keeping Xabi sends a message of our intent to the rest of the league and will help us attract players and get a better price should we choose to sell

Torres and Gerrard are so good together, that most good strikers we can afford seem loathe to come here as it would mean sitting on the bench during a world cup year. I'm guessing our best bet is to get someone young like N'gog at a great price and be pleasantly surprised

Completely agree, offer both pay rises and tie them to ridiculously long contracts

Despite Elisha's musings/feelings, I still believe we'll keep BOTH Xabi and Mash for this season at least. They key will then be tying them to longer contracts

Thanks, but we still have Arby, and San Jose and the new French lad As for dropping the price; we don't have Parry to come up with a panic response anymore, so we'll just laugh at that tactic instead As for the speed of the transfer, that's interesting. Barry when moving to City claimed he didn't want the transfer rumbling on all summer again. allegedly we offered 8m and City (bless their vulgar socks) came in with 12m. So it's clear the transfer would have taken some time as we wouldn't match the price set by City. With regards to Xabi, I wonder if he's feeling RM really want him. They're notorious for using and discarding, and they don't seem keen on paying a price that would force them to keep him. Hopefully Rafa's saying, they don't really want you, we do so stay and win the title with us. The same argument can be applied to Mash.

So would I be correct is saying that all that's happened so far is we've signed johnson and have the same squad as last season ?

3 Clubs according to this http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/113390...es-not-for-sale So Chelsea, MU and City ... now I'm curious why they're not bidding for Aguero... would we sell Alonso to City if they offered 35M+ ?

Duplicate post

Doesn't work like that though, with Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal and possibly Everton (yeah them) improving it all depends on who takes points from who in the to 6-7 ..... But if we keep our Spanish contingent and both Reira and Babel step up to the plate, I would hope we win something, preferably the league.

and Reina. Here's a question Stevie's on a new deal, which is the same deal I suspect Torres is on. Shouldn't we put Xabi and Mash on better deals like Stevies old deal ?

it's in most of the papers, the times, the indy, torygraph ... everyone has money to spend and we're the paupers of Europe

extensions and pay rises for both Xabi and Mash

Negredo is only worth 5m that's what they paid for him. So they'd have to offer over 30m UKP (cash up front) for Xabi as well, and we shouldn't consider that unless Xabi wants to go and we have SIGNED an alternative

Hasn't Rafa been quoted as saying he's not interested in Negredo .... ?