Magic8Ball

the ground share stories just wont go away - guess the only way they may is if the stadium is built

except beat us over 2 legs

Rafa Benitez set for transfer boost with Liverpool set to seal £350m refinancing deal http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-21403178/

yeah, I think Rafa doesn't want to upset Xabi this time, and he's making it clear to Xabi and others he's staying

United clearout should target Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez Jonathan Northcroft SIR ALEX FERGUSON is hardly going to like the following proposition, but here goes. In retooling Manchester United for 2009-10, he could learn from a Spaniard who makes him wince even more than Xavi when receiving possession. His name? Rafael Benitez. Ferguson’s amigo will never admit he is wrong to a journalist or, for that matter, one of his players, but there is no ego about Benitez when it comes to transfers. Rafa has made some rum ones in his time but has always been quick to recognise when a signing is not working. Ferguson should do this regarding Dimitar Berbatov. Jamie Carragher notes that when his manager gets a purchase wrong it gets taken straight back to the shop, or rather the transfer market. Recalling the collection of roadsweepers and fading idols from Spain — Josemi, Antonio Nunez, Fernando Morientes, Mauricio Pellegrino — bought early in Benitez’s reign, Carragher wrote in his autobiography: “In Benitez’s defence, he wasted no time waiting for players to bed in. Once he saw how they were struggling, he’d offload them. I liked that about Benitez. When he make a mistake he wasn’t scared to rectify it. Under [Gerard] Houllier we’d persevere with players far beyond their point of no return.” Benitez signed Robbie Keane for £20.3m and ushered him back to Tottenham for £12m. Few doubt — even given the financial loss — that his decision was right. It is time for Ferguson to hold his hands up, Benitez-style, and concede his Berbatov experiment has failed. There would be no shame in it. Berbatov’s supreme technical qualities made him a punt worth taking when Ferguson recruited him for a club record £30.75m, but like Juan Sebastian Veron, he looks a serious talent who simply does not suit United. One thing the Bulgarian and Argentinian have in common is their laconic playing styles. Fast, percussive attacking is the United way and though Berbatov’s ability to hold the ball and use it unhurriedly is what made him attractive to Ferguson, it has also posed a problem. Against Barcelona, as against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals, the Bulgarian was left on the bench as Ferguson went for quicker, more mobile forwards able to adhere to United’s ‘A’ plan of speedy ensemble counters. While in an ideal world it might be nice to retain the different option Berbatov provides, realistically he is one of the assets Ferguson could sell (at a loss) to fund squad-building that could help achieve what is now United’s compelling target, regaining the European crown. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic and Edwin Van der Sar made more Premier League starts but Berbatov began just five Champions League games in 2008-09. You expect a player costing a club record sum to figure at the business end of a campaign. Press room arguments have raged about Berbatov all season. Maestro or dilettante? Once I was firmly in the former camp but the season’s climax has been chastening for Berbatov fans — and that, deep down, must surely include Ferguson. The striker’s contribution in Rome was symbolic: on, not even as United’s first attacking substitution, but their second, some ponderous build-up play and a clear scoring opportunity that he lacked the focus — or was it nerve? — to take. His pre-match remarks were worrying, words to the effect that he thinks he is a special footballer to whom the normal imperative for players to “give 100%” does not apply. He said Ferguson shows approval by giving him the odd slap on the cheek, but maybe there is a misunderstanding and that gesture has been the manager trying to wake him up. Carlos Tevez, for all he is perceived as a scurrier who works his cojones off for the team, appears guilty of similar egotism. Tevez, who appeared more times than Wayne Rooney in the campaign, has been sulking about not getting enough playing opportunities and declared himself “humiliated” by his omission from Wednesday’s starting line-up. Well, he didn’t manage a shot — on or off target — in 45 minutes when he did get on and in 2008-09, in the Premier League and Champions League, he scored just seven times, two more than Vidic. Berbatov’s goalscoring record is just as iffy. Six of his 14 strikes were against Celtic, Aalborg and West Brom, and he notched just once against a top-six club, a late tap-in during the 3-0 stroll versus Chelsea. Providing he keeps Ronaldo, Ferguson should prioritise finding new strikers. The £25.5m he could save by declining to sign Tevez and the £18m or so he could add by selling Berbatov would pay for the arrival of Karim Benzema from Lyons, a long-term target, and still allow spending in other areas. The climbdown might be uncomfortable, but we know what Benitez would do. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle6394638.ece

Manchester City and Liverpool meet valuation for Tevez http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle6383259.ece

well that almost certainly means he'll never play for us - guess Bordeaux are hoping for a massive offer in the next 2 seasons or so

Spurs losing to us and spurs not losing to man u when they were 2-0 up would have us winning the league by 1 point !

and we've started selling youth talent, looks like a new broom sweeping clean to me

let's see if I understand this, Pako disagreed with Rafa over Babel, with Pako not wanting him and now we're selling Babel proving Pako was right ?

I take it this is bad news, as there's no way they'll get C Ronaldo, and they don't seem too interested in Silva ... so it looks like a full on assault on getting Xabi

damn straight - the only thing the owed 7m may get us is first option on Johnson provided we offer the market rate... no next to nothing. Also we don't know if the owed 7m was included in last years transfer money - it would be silly to count it twice.

and that's part of the problem, he doesn't cross

Well many Liverpool fans on this forum have a fear we'll lost Xabi and their spin on things is negative even though they want to keep him. When we have insufficient of ambiguous information our biases and/or fears become evident in our take on things. If you read my post, it's easy to see how a normal conversation can be misrepresented by chance or by design. Thing is we don't know and shouldn't worry till we have facts that point in one direction or another

Here's the full paragraph from Gee DoubleYa's article "There is no controversy surrounding Hyypia’s departure but plenty of speculation regarding the future of Xabi Alonso. BenÍtez confirmed he has been in talks with the Spain midfield player and his agent but declared that, with three years left on his contract, “he’s not for sale”. BenÍtez denied the need to sell Alonso to raise funds for new blood – “We can manage,” he said – but did not deny that Alonso may have declared he wants to leave Anfield." Read it carefully - It sounds like the Journalist putting a spin on things, could just of easily have gone this way Fender stratocaster: Xabi want's to know where he stands, last summer you hawked him around to everyone and he was upset Rafa: It wasn't personal, it was football. I'm happy with Xabi's play this year and we wont be selling him Fender stratocaster: So you're saying Xabi wont be sold to being Barry in ? Rafa: Yes, I'm happy with his performances and want to keep him, is Xabi happy to stay ? Fender stratocaster: Xabi loves it here and would like to stay Rafa: No problem then we would like Xabi to stay and he likes it here - Xabi wont be sold Fender stratocaster: No problem, glad we had this talk That could easily have been what happened, it's just the press don't know for sure and given last summer are putting their spin on things.

This is just politics, Rafa clearly doesn't want Xabi to leave, therefore Xabi probably won't leave - it's that simple

Xabi will not come out and deny this every time the story runs, get used to that. Xabi's agent was much raking engineering a move, no one knows why. Rafa doesn't want Xabi to go, recently Xabi indicated he would stay. We don't know what's going on, but it's clear there is some agent vs. manager politics going on. The only thing that's clear is Rafa would sooner keep Xabi than lose him. this could be anything from Xabi being homesick, angling for a pay increase or just letting Rafa know he was upset with last summer. Doesn't mean Xabi's going

Benitez determined to keep Alonso Published: 24/05/2009 Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists he does not intend to sell midfielder Xabi Alonso this summer. But after Alonso's excellent performance in the 3-1 home victory over Tottenham, on the final day of the Barclays Premier League season, Benitez failed to fully dispel claims that his fellow Spaniard wants to leave. The Reds boss did confirm that he had held "private" talks with Alonso's agent on Friday. That was the day when Benitez failed to appear at his pre-match press conference, and then issued a terse statement later on the club's website making the point that Alonso has three years remaining on his contract and Liverpool wish to keep him. Real Madrid would be expected to show an interest in the playmaker if Florentino Perez wins their presidential election. And there have been rumours that Alonso may be persuaded to move to the Bernabeu, with the prospect of Gareth Barry finally arriving at Liverpool. Benitez was quizzed on the possibility of Alonso leaving and Carlos Tevez arriving this summer, but would only say: "Clearly I cannot give any names (of players leaving or arriving). "Alonso has three years left on his contract and we are really pleased with him, so we do not want to sell. "But I have had a private conversation with his agent, and it was interesting to see who had that information. "For me it was a private conversation, and it will stay that way, but it is clear he has three more years of his contract and we do not want to sell him. "I repeat, we do not want to sell, he is not for sale. He has said he is happy here in Liverpool, in every single press conference, in every single interview. "We have some ideas for the future, without losing any of our key players." http://www.itv.com/Sport/Football/News/Pre...-190782108.html

thanks ! Potentially then it's a year before we have Insa, San Jose, as home grown, but we do have Darby and Spearing

When does Insua qualify as locally trained ? - does San Jose qualify ? will Lucas qualify ?

Srna (who's actually better) would cost the same - and not help with our Brit player quota

In a good market that's 18m there! But we'd still be short if that list were true. Makes me think that some of the Keane money is available ( I'll ignore the money Pompey owe us)

Going to suggest we don't sign Barry and sign Lavezzi and Yoan Gourcuff instead - if we need a DM when Mash isn't available surely we can use Plessis

They're virtually the same type of player ! which also accounts for why he's not starting for Argentina remember Carra' and Terry are virtually the same type of player too and Carra' doesn't start or England

played less games than Reira but has similar figures