beejay

We hit a groove last season, everyone knowing their part and we had strength in all areas. Arbeloa out & Johnson in is a positive, definite improvement although he still hasn't settled in fully yet. Losing Alonso is a huge blow & Aquilani may fill the void but it's a lot to expect for him to slot straight in, particularly coming back a month into the season after a long injury. We've also lost the rock of Hyypia if injuries at the back appear like now and like much of the last 2 seasons. I'm not sure what's happened with our transfer policy. Missing out on Barry as well as selling Xabi so late has left a big hole & I can't believe Rafa really thinks that his squad is complete going into the new season. From what I heard, we were after 3 & if all worked out with sales, a 4th player, back in May but for whatever reason, only one has been signed. Our pre-season has been average to say the least. Bit worrying really.

We are weaker at the moment than last season but Rafa hasn't finished yet.

Think people (including Taggart) are missing the bigger picture here. We have bought Johnson specifically to improve our attacking game, providing width in games where the opposition play deep. Progression from last year. Agger will I think play a much bigger role this season, again supplying another attacking dimension bringing the ball out from the back instead of the back 4 just feeding it to Alonso in our own half. Progression in terms of building the play. Aquilani is not an Alonso clone, he is similar in terms of range of passing but breaks forward more. Again, we may be more fluid & threatening in the final third. The issue perhaps is that we may lose some defensive shape - but we haven't finished in the transfer market yet.

Respect, Xabi - top, top player and one of us.

Think we are after 2 centre midfielders to replace Xabi

The reports say it's 18m euros = 15m quid. Leaves us 13m plus about 8m from Arbeloa, Leto, kids etc with 4-5m for Dossena to come. Rafa will go a spendathon

It also isn't going to happen is it, so why do you bang on about it in every post? We are not buying Viduka or "Big Kev" or any clone of theirs - thank f*ck. You are starting to morph into that Ron Atkinson atavar - it needs to go so you recover your senses

Jeez, knox may repeat this tripe ad nauseum but I'd given you a bit more nous. It's straight out of the Fat Sam handbook - maybe we should bid for Samba as well. We had an unbelievable record of scoring late, late goals last year and that didn't come from hoofing it up in the air in the general direction of a fat, lazy, useless lump

It's Purslow doing all the negotiations apparently, Rafa's not directly involved. He's doing a great job by all accounts

Some interesting bits here - looks like James Pearce is the new LFC correspondent after Tony Barrett http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-24287800/

The Telegraph story is straight from the Sun. Load of b******s

Noble, Parker, Cattermole f*** ell To replace Xabi???????? Madness.

Rafa has known this is likely to happen for a few weeks now so will no doubt have a contingency plan. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if we bring in a new face before Xabi leaves - as early as next week.

Think the "slowing down" bit is because Rafa/Purslow are trying to tie up other deals

Here's the club statement http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/archivedirs...090614-1837.htm Liverpool Football Club has today released the following statement. "Despite repeated media speculation on the futures of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, Liverpool has received no official approach or offer from any club regarding the players. "Neither is for sale and furthermore Liverpool has no interest in the long list of Spanish based players being linked with a move to Anfield as part of any deal."

Silva is more than on the radar and it has nothing to do with Alonso either.

I'm pretty sure Christian Purslow has been brought in by the banks. It's part of the refinancing deal that he sits on the board and will liaise with the owners over the debt repayment terms they are signing up to.

Reliable poster on RAWK reckons we are selling Voronin for £6.5m. He's a good lad but has a sense of humour as well so don't take it as gospel

It's not us then http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...090622-0912.htm New MD in

Rafa had a throw-away line the other day about maybe breaking our transfer record but not ManU's. I still think he is after Tevez big-time and it wouldn't surprise me if another big-money signing is also on the cards, Silva or Lennon. A few kids, cheap cover like Distin and a spend of about £60m inc add-ons with Babel, Dossena, Arbeloa, Voronin, Leto etc recovering c £30m. Hicks' camp leaked to the press at the time of the furore over the accounts that Rafa would be supported in the transfer market so we will see

Saviola more like

I guess the banks would be happy to retain some debt on the club so it could cost a new owner about £200m of his own money/guarantees. If such new owner is cash-rich he could then underwrite a separate loan for the stadium where his profit would come from. It's not impossible, if RBS decide to drop G&H we could still find a saviour

Yes, Iniesta is the best player in the world!

so if we sign this lavezzi kid we'll have el pocho, to go with el nino (torres) and el jefecito (sp?) (mascherano). What does el pocho stand for?

Dont want him within a 100 furlongs of our club, hes been injured most of this season and is basically not really what we need.