beejay

It wasn't just TLW - I stopped buying RAOL & TW&R for the same reasons. Criticism is one thing but non-stop negativity about the club from your own fanzines is more than I can take.

Morientes & Cisse are not a good partnership particularly this time of year when so many pitches are cr*p and a measured build-up is nigh on impossible. If the ball is being lumped forward we need Crouch to hold it up because neither cisse nor nando have the strength or technique to do so. I also think we are missing Garcia big-time. As much as he frustrates the hell out of you, his touch and movement can be sublime and he finds space in dangerous areas. He is a constant goal threat and without him we are not as creative.

Most of us on here thought you spent all your time prancing round with GOD printed on your back but it had nothing to do with Fowler!!

Mixed feelings about God coming home. Great for the fans but not convinced it would be great for the team because his popularity would impact on the rest of the side. As for ability, Fowler is not and never was, JUST a finisher. His touch, vision and skill creates space for himself and others and IMO, he still has it in him to be a regular premiership player. If he had his swansong at Liverpool for a season or two, I'm certain he would respond physically.

Just like Owen chose Newcastle.

Just as important will be the subs - rafa is a real magician with his substitutions - especially now that Josemi's gone I reckon Carson, Warnock, Hamman, Morientes & Pongolle

They will try to physically intimidate us. Utd always do when up against it and after losing to City last week, Ferguson can't afford to be out-battled. So they will play very high tempo, in our face, with sliding tackles all over the park and try to play an "English" game. In particular, their defenders will be right on our strikers backs - an early boot from behind, followed by digs in the ankles and back so we can't settle on the ball. They killed us with those tactics last season at Old Trafford when we just couldn't hold onto the ball. Crouch is able to overcome these tactics but I'm not so sure about Moro - they will target him. Didn't rafa play pongolle up front against Bolton when he knew we faced similar tactics? It didn't actually work if I recall because flo disappeared but Cisse is the obvious alternative. sissoko v smith in midfield should be interesting...

I can. Playing 2 up front has been one of the main reasons we have been on this great run. The only doubt is whether he starts with Cisse instead of Morientes. We are the only team left with any chance whatsoever of catching Chelsea (albeit pretty slim) and a win at Old Trafford might just give the Chavs a few nerves before the game at Stamford Bridge. I fancy Sky & the Premier League would rather like an away win on Sunday to keep the pot boiling - Mike Riley to do us a favour perhaps????

Great news. One of the mainstays of the team and we need him.

Exactly. Yes, there are risks with signing kids for millions but even Pennant who has been used as an example of what can go wrong is worth more than arsenal paid for him. There's more risk IMO of signing overseas players for big bucks when they may not settle, like the climate, couldn't care less etc.

No you just stated blandly that it's 12m full stop. Which it isn't is it? And anyway, how many times have you posted that the money has nothing to do with us, it's up to the club?

Do you? If not, what's the point of your post?

OK so arsenal end up paying 12m because the lad meets all the extra payment criteria and goes on to make 100 appearances, plays for England, scores shedloads of goals, helps his club to win the Prem & the Champs League. (a) In those circumstances would Arsenal believe it was a good deal and (b) How much do you think Walcott would be worth then?

But it's not £12m now is it? From all the reports I've seen, arsenal are paying £5m up front with the rest when he has proved himself to be a success ie by number of appearances, England caps, League/Cup medals, goals etc. Rafa says our bid was £3m so we have lost out because we wouldn't gamble the extra £2m. If he goes on to be a huge success and costs £12m in all, that's hardly a problem is it?

Two to go - simao and theo

This calls for a formation thread : The Liverpool team in 5 years time? --------------------------Carson--------------------- Barragan---------Carragher-------Hobbs------Warnock Anderson--------Alonso-------Sissoko--------Hammill ------------------------Gerrard--------------------- -----------------------Crouch-------------------------

It wouldn't be 3 at the back the whole time though. Rafa has played this system to good effect before. The fullbacks will tuck in when the opposition have the ball, meaning 5-4-1 (one of the strikers helping out) but when we have the ball at least one of the fullbacks has licence to get forward in support. Rafa was so keen on Milito because he was to be the "3rd" centreback and a leftie who would be comfortable in possession.

OK we can kill smackdouble for his views and those of all his mates in Liverpool but from me & my mates in the city and loads elsewhere on the phone, the main topic has been - where has the money gone? Without exception, all I have heard is that IF we had signed a quality CB & RM for 15m or so and then couldn't afford owen then so be it. But where are these players? We have screwed up the close season big time. The farce over gerrard followed by missing out on one target after another. And selling baros - why? And trying to sell cisse - why? To not buy owen? We will have a gigantic treasure chest for January - when we are 20 points behind. Or maybe not. We are not acting like European Champions on or off the pitch and that's the hardest thing to take.

If I actually believed we had some quality signings for CB & RM I would have no problem in accepting that we can't afford owen. But where are these players? Rafa said 3 ? weeks ago we would be signing these players in the next week, then nothing. We have left it too late. If owen signs for newcstle and we don't spring a rabbit out of the hat for CB & RM then there are some very big questions to be asked of our board.

OK clever clogs, if we haven't missed out on our primary, secondary or even tertiary targets for CB & RM then how come we haven't signed anyone in those positions with 5 days to go before the end of the window? Jeez, it's feckin obvious we are struggling to get the players in that rafa wants why say any different?

It's on the back page of the star. Surely figaro couldn't be wrong?

Check out the new Transfer Forum. And I read it that kirkland is at risk not jerzy