Magic8Ball

So what would Barry bring, that Alonso doesn't ( other than a left foot)?

--------------Reina---------------- Carra---Skrtel---Agger---Dossena Gerrard---Mascherano---Barry---- ----Keane------Torres------Babel--- 433 - with the front 3 constantly changing their postions or 442 --------------Reina---------------- Carra---Skrtel---Agger---Dossena Gerrard--Mascherano--Alonso---Barry- --------Keane------Torres--- or 4231 -------------Reina---------------- Carra---Skrtel---Agger---Dossena ------Mascherano--Alonso------ ---Gerrard---Keane---Barry- ---------------Torres--- My fav's 433 or 4231

FoxSports often show the Premier League

I'm gobsmacked too. really thought Real Madrid would be in for him - could be a blessing in disguise. Keeping Xabi or getting Barry and Keeping Xabi - Gerrard is injured (2 times already this closed season). experienced players for a challenge would help us. Imagine the irony Xabi and Barry are the Axis around which we build a cup run or a title challenge

The reason its taking so long is that MON's worked out our typical transfer budget is 20m and he set the price and payment terms such that it would cost us. We're trying to find ways around that and may succeed. That's it clear and simple

:rofl:

wont that cup tie alonso and lower his value ?

ya think?!

found some interesting articles on RAWK, was wondering who's read these and their opinions Level 3 football - the final step in Rafa's plan http://www.redandwhitekop.com/article.php?id=4625436 and This season’s Defence – an Attack http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=224820.0

Is this Barry thing happening or not? still no news

What's needed to improve ( other than personnel), is a change of attitude. We have to move from containing/smothering the opposition and hence not losing. To being more aggressive, going out to control and score, again, and again. Effectively not only winning but breaking the oppositions spirit. Get the ball, keep the ball, score. Once we start doing that teams facing us will expect to lose, thus making losing more likely. It will also fix one of our biggest problems, controlling games but not killing off the opposition. There are 2 ways to remove the oppositions ability to "wage war" 1 - Smother their attack weapon ( Rafa has done this so far) 2 - Break their spirit ( by continually scoring and keeping the ball) The latter is more effective as the opposition wont want to try to win, thus conceding the initiative to us

I like the new strategy - shift the squad players, get quality in and use the youth to make up the difference in numbers we have Darby, Insua, Plessis, Pacheco and Nemeth who could come through this year and that's forgetting Babel, Leiva, and N'Gog who aren't exactly old either

well the questions for me are : how do we turn our draws into wins ? where will Keane play ? will we still play 4231 ? or move to 433 ? Will Dossena and Degen provide enough width? is Barry being bought for 433 or to sit with Mash in a 4231? As for a smaller squad, that's good if it doesn't cost us and provides a means for the youngsters to get experience

feels like Rush and Beardsley somehow ... feels so ... Liverpool

attacking full backs may just make it work reality check : Degen's injured, Finnan is over the hill, Darby is untested, Aurelio is injury prone, Dossena is untested (in this league), as is Insua

good team, but I think Rafa wants (433) Back5 Masch Gerrard Barry Keane Torres Babel with Barry being able to drop back if Mashgets swamped

it's not a line up, it was just a contunuum of attackers/wingers - the xxx's represent players who could be better than Silva but not so good a C Ronaldo - I accidentally omitted Babel - IMO he's around the VDV/Silva level I wanted to see how people rated these players and I started off with my rating, it would be good to see other peoples ratings.

Least Good ---------------------------------------------------------Most Good Garcia-----Benyoun-------VDV----------Silva-----xxxx-----xxx---C. Ronaldo

That's my thinking too. Still not happy at the sound of Villa to Spurs

Xabi is too comfortable sitting 60 yards away from the opposition goal and pinging 40 yard passes to Pennant. his passing range may be excellent but you will find it hard to ping a 40 yard ball through a team that's come to defend. Also your 40 yard balls wont be so effective if you dont have pace, movement from more than one person up front ( oh and those people need to be able to trap a ball ) Barry's short passing game would be more effective for us right now

why should he, everyone knows he wants to leave. A transfer request only means Barry would lose out it wouldnt lower his price

MO'N is offering an 'Olive branch' to Barry. I wonder what will happen if Barry reiterates his desire to join Liverpool ?

anyone hear anything new about Keane to Liverpool ?

definitely a Beardsley TBH i feel he'd link up with Torres better than Villa would

19 appearances 1 goal --- not sure he sounds that great - anymore information on him?