Armin_Tamzarian

He really isn't.

I wouldn't. You'd be swapping one proven premier league performer against 3 players with significant question marks over their suitability for English football. You'd be swapping 1 big wage for 3, those players won't play for free. You'd also be overpaying for them, each of their clubs would want their share of the Chelsea money. Finally you'd be trying to integrate 3 big players into your formation, 1 in the defence, 1 in the midfield and one in the attack. The season would probably be half over before you'd reap any form of reward. Even if you only care about the money its a short sighted sale. Torres is 24. His value should increase for the next 3 years at least.

The Les Rogers quotes are at least a week old, they've been rehashed by the Telegraph hack. I do think they're interesting though. Often when a player can't say anything directly you find his friends/former coaches etc do the talking for them.

It amazes me how people can have watched Liverpool, a lot in some cases, and yet still fail to appreciate Alonso.

If Juve are coming over the chances are it will happen, they wouldn't be on a plane if there wasn't a wish on both sides to get it done. Gutted.

Agree with that.

I heard £70m.

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What's the betting there's some news management at play, ie it's a hefty increase but not 770, so that there's a 'relief' factor rather than anger when the true price is revealed?

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The reason he'd be trotting it out at every press conference is because after the Echo story he was asked about it at every press conference. We're one of the biggest clubs in the world and Barry has just broken into the England 11. When Rafa briefed the Echo he brought the story into the public arena and inevitably the pressure would mount on Villa for a response. This mess is down to us. I'm not even convinced bouncing clubs in this way does any good in bringing players in and I'd sooner we conducted matters direct with the clubs rather than through the pages of the Echo. Hiding behind unsourced briefings is the kind of thing that gives politicians a bad name.

To be fair though Rafa did his talking via the pages of the Liverpool Echo. Just because he didn't allow them a direct quote doesn't negate the fact that LFC went public on wanting the player, whilst his clubs season was still in the balance.

It's bordering on heresy but at what point would Bob have had a quiet word with Jamie Carragher? A year from now? A year ago?

Myth: Reality:

On Fulham Road did Abramovich A Plastic Football Club decree: Where Frank, the fattened one did run His a*** eclipsed the setting sun, On coaches he took space designed for three

Very nice. Here, have some b*****dised Tennyson 1. Champions league, Champions League Champions League Onward! Marooned midst the sea of Plastic Sang the Three Thousand "Forward, the Red Brigade! "Charge for the goals!" they said: Into the terraces of Plastic Sang the Three thousand 2. "Forward, the Red Brigade!" Was there a man dismay'd? Not tho' the supporters knew Someone* had blunder'd: Their's not to make reply, Their's not to reason why, Their's but to Sing and Cry: Deafening the terraces of Plastic Sang the Three Thousand. *Riise 3. Chavvers to right of them, Plastic flags to left of them, Mercenaries in front of them Russias oil plundered; Surrounded by cockney bells, Loudly they sang and well, Into the Stamford Silence, Into the home of Plastic Sang the Three Thousand. 4. Flash'd all their banners there, Red as they turn'd in air, We'd survived the gunners lair, Tho charged a kings ransom, while All the world wonder'd: Plunged in the London smoke Never crossed the line we joke; Cossack and Russian Reel'd from the songs they sang Bladdered but not with Chang. Onward to Moscow Sang the three thousand, 5. Chavvers to right of them, Plastic flags to left of them, Mercenaries in front of them Russias oil plundered; Confronted by beaut and bell, Loudly they sang and well, Back from the Bridge they came, Plastic flags seemed so tame Sang the Three Thousand. 6. When can their glory fade? O the great noise they made! All the world wondered. Honor the songs they made, Honor the Red Brigade, Noble three thousand.

Spot on. Teams altered their tactics to press Xabi, it's made it harder for him to run the game with quite the same majesty as before but it also opens up other areas of the pitch and allows other players space to play. Alonso and Momo were an excellent partnership in midfield so I could understand Juve being interested. Hope we keep Xabi though. Incidentally I don't understand how any of our fans would want to see Gerrard returned to the central midfield role he played earlier in the season. It doesn't get the best out of him or the team.

That was a hallmark of Liverpool. Players were ruthlessly replaced whilst seemingly at the peak of their game. A Henchoz or Finnan situation rarely arose because they'd have gone a year before.

That would also fit in with the relatively slow start Finnan had when he joined the club. Partly this may be due to general poor team performance at the time but I remember him getting quite a bit of stick, online and at the match in his first season at the club.

I don't think he is any more mate. Sad to say because he's been a class player and a model of consistency. My bet though is that if Rafa were putting out a first choice 11 and he'd no injuries to consider I don't think Finnan would be in the reckoning.

He's been a great player for us but his time is coming to an end. Gretar Steinsson has been excellent for Bolton this year btw. Not saying sign him but he's been a very good buy for them.

Clearly the answer to the first question is yes, at least to an element of our fanbase. I'm not sure from your post what your opinion is but there's no doubt some supporters see success or failure for a club like Liverpool in simplistic terms, the club has won more trophies than any other British club and a season without adding to the collection would therefore be viewed as a failure.

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