MickeyDocs

Cast your mind back to the end of last season and the game against Chelsea. Kewell was fantastic that day and was really finding some form. He is a big loss this season. I reckon Rafa will get rid this summer due to wages/injuries. His time at Liverpool will always be a mystery.

What the media have failed to understand is that Benitez wants Gerrard to play in a free role, albeit starting from RM. Zidane's position was LM, however in reality he had a free role which effectively means supporting the attack. Gerrard excelled in this role last season. At the start of the season Gerrard, Alonso, Reina, Finnan, and Carra all struggled for form, and we lost Kewell (who had enjoyed a good season). Rafa was also attempting to integrate alot of new players, and we suffered terribly as a result. The media then used this poor form to lobby for Gerrard to play in the centre, completely forgetting about the fantastic season he had just enjoyed playing mostly on the right. It will be interesting to see how Rafa adjusts the formation now that Pennant and Kuyt are also blending into the team. Bellamy also seems to be coming good. Just imagine Gerrard's interplay with Kuyt and Bellamy if he is allowed to play in a free role.

I just hope he finally concedes that pace in abundance is an absolute necessity in the Premiership!

He's Scottish born and bred, but has chosen to represent the Republic of Ireland. Something to do with a promise to his Grandfather who hails from Ireland.

Discuss... Especially since we are now without Kewell, Garcia, and Gonzales which leaves us with Aurelio, Warnock and Riise for the left side of the team. Ok he's a nob, but only 29 and still a good player, better still a player with a point to prove and a player the a*** are willing to sell!

The echo article sums it all up brilliantly... give the man more money so we can compete for players for the future... Rafa has firmly stated he wants to buy players like Momo and Gonzales, I presume Mascherano falls in to this category. It would be nice to see the board back him completely... will this takeover ever be completed btw? It's time for us to get real Jan 10 2007 Exclusive By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo RAFA Benitez says Liverpool must learn the lessons of last night's Carling Cup humiliation, as he urged the club to match Arsenal's ambition in the recruitment of young talent. Benitez, who apologised for the 6-3 defeat, is deeply frustrated his efforts to create an equally powerful reserve line-up has been thwarted by lack of funds. But the boss insists he was right to stand by his team selection at Anfield, and argued the gulf in class was a result of Arsenal's ten years of careful planning and recruitment. He says Liverpool's prospective new owners must take note if they want the club to match the Gunners. "The first thing we must do is say sorry to our supporters. They were magnificent and deserved better," said Benitez. "Secondly, although we made mistakes in the game my players worked hard and I must recognise this. "But when you analyse the situation, the conclusion which worries me is Arsenal could pick nine reserves and score six goals at Anfield. We had seven players of the first team and could not win. "There is a lesson in this for the whole of our club. If you want to compete at the top level, you must be able to spend a lot of money not only on your first team, but on the young players and reserves. "Arsenal spent £4m on Diaby, £4m on Denilson, £8m on Walcott and Baptista is a £22m player. "They have been working for ten years to build a strong squad, and we have been working for two years. My scout department has done an excellent job, but sometimes we go too slow as a club to make signings we need, and when we do there is not a lot of money. "Today, for example, we are signing a young Italian keeper on loan with an option for later. We've also been working for many weeks to sign the young Scottish player James McCarthy. "These are the deals we are doing because we want to build a squad of similar quality in the future, but without spending big money it's difficult. "The money we sign is for the first team, and when you look at the quality of Reina, Sissoko, Alonso, Bellamy and Crouch it's clear all are worth more now than when we bought them." Benitez has come under fire for his team selection in the wake of the latest cup exit, but he's standing firm. "I used Momo Sissoko in the Carling Cup against Birmingham and lost him for four months," he said. "Last night we believe we've lost Luis for the rest of the season and Gonzalez and Warnock were injured. Steven Gerrard has a dead leg and Xabi Alonso a tight hamstring. "What is more important? The Premiership, the Champions League or the Carling Cup? "If Arsenal can play nine reserves and score six at Anfield, people should be asking why is this. It's not because of one game, it's because of many reasons. I picked a team with seven players from the first team last night. Do people expect me to play Finnan every week? He has had to play in every fixture this season. The players I used were good players."

I think Rafa got it right last night. This is the Carling Cup. Qualifying for the Champions League is now our priority along with staying in the CL as long as possible... and who knows what could happen there. Last night sent out a message to the board... back me so that I can build a squad full of youth... just like the a***. A team of youth that we can groom for the future. Help me acquire players like Denilson and Walcott, because in the long run it will save you money. We should have done alot better, but a very strong message has been made... On Saturday we learned what top forwards can do for your team (Arsenal by the way reminded me of Houllier's LFC with a little more skill, constantly sending long balls for forwards with pace to run on to), and we also learned that we need at least one world class forward. Last night reminded us that we also need to start investing seriously in youth. I still believe in Rafa and his priorities are in my mind correct.

Forget Motty... what about happy larry! If you didn't know who he was you would believe the guy was anti-LFC. We had Arsenal on the ropes for a very long time, however this numpty made a final summation that this had been a one sided game in which Arsenal totally dominated from start to finish. I hate this guy!

More from Bascombe in the Echo... Benitez has no fresh injury problems to contend with, but Bolo Zenden and Momo Sissoko have returned to training. "They are working again, but not with the ball," explained Benitez. "Bolo could be back in two or three weeks, and we may have Momo in a month. This will be a big help for us in the second half of the season." Meanwhile, a deal to bring Javier Mascherano to the club is now close to completion. The initial loan deal, which may become permanent later, could be concluded over the weekend or in the early part of next week. Mascherano will provide cover for Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard, but at 22, the Argentinian is also seen as a potentially excellent long-term prospect. Although he's perceived as a failure at West Ham, he was considered one of South America's hottest properties prior to his move to Upton Park. Benitez will be confident the youngster will produce his best form under his management.

They'll want at least as much as they got for carrick.

makes me ill when I think that Lennon cost only one million and Pennant will cost almost 7... time to cut our losses me thinks

Seems like Pennant won't make it and is woefully out of his depth, is this just down to confidence/tactics?

oh yeah, mungo and lamps of course

ok ok ok, I know I'll get murdered but privately you've all been doing it... who should we buy if we have alot of money to spend????? Number one on my list is Messi Number two is Alves Number three is Vicente We'll also need a centre back... maybe Nesta?

Rafa will still look for desire and will to win before wanting to buy a player. We are the talk of European football right now, 'cause the Europeans know that unlike Chelsea we will now have the pedigree, the heritage and the wherewithall to compete

I agree with this team and in fact it is a team selection I'd love to see. Bellamy is a good option on the right and we will need someone to get in their face a bit. Might opt for Crouch with Kuyt playing off of him instead of Kuyt and Bellamy though.

Why are we so quick to knock our own players, yet no one has mentioned that Gonzales showed some blistering pace and good control? I get the feeling the guy will take a year to really settle, but when he does he will be a great player for us. Paletta also looks like a good signing for the future, and Peltier played with an old head, and correct me if I'm wrong but that is not his best position. Guthrie was on for just a short while but made a peach of a pass that we'd be giving thanks to Rafa if Alonso had made it.

My opinion on Alves is based around one performance and alot of You Tube, but he does seem to be the kind of player that can help to take the first team forward. He can comfortably play right wing and right back. More offensive than Finnan, lots of pace, but Finnan probably shades it defensively. It would be good to have players that offer something different for each position. I don't want to get rid of Finnan, but I would like to see someone really challenge him for his position, and allow him to get some rest at times. BTW, does anyone think our slow start to the season and Rafa's rotational policy had anything to do with the fact that due to a complete balls up by the FA that the Champions of Europe were made to start their qualification for the CL in July... and that the majority of the squad played without rest for the best part of 12 months?

thanks all... anyone else getting annoyed with RTE's love in with Chelsea?

anyone get the feeling we'll go in for just one or two top drawer signings this summer?

is that free for NTL only, or does it show on Sky? Thanks in advance.

does anyone know if our game is being shown on RTE tonight (republic of Ireland), or will they appeal to the 25 chelsea fans once again. what are utv showing?

Hopefully Zenden will be on his way. Will we be after a replacement for Kewell & Zenden, or will Gonzales make the position his own?

Last season we had a very successful season and were awesome away from home with Gerrard on the right, Crouch up front, and with minimal changes from game to game. What I don't understand is why Gerrard is playing on the left to accomodate Pennant? Why Crouch was replaced by Bellamy who is clearly off form? Why we didn't have a specialist left sided player when we have Gonzo and Aurelio to choose from for the left mid spot?