Chief Robert

Without getting into the sell/don't sell Gerrard discussion that is starting in this thread - I think the biggest issue we have is that we can't balance the centre of midfield with Gerrard in there. I don't think he has the discipline to be a great CM, such as Souness was. I think Gerrard at his best is a great individual player, who can display moments of magic or power or determination to change or win games - but only every now and then. Not consistently, and especially not consistently against the top teams. I think Alonso makes the team a better team, is more disciplined and more consistent. He probably is not as exciting, powerful, pacy or eye-catching as Gerrard, but he makes the team smarter. Remember our team play before he arrived? Momo is still young, learning, but developing into that sort of destroyer that every team needs. The player carrying the piano while others play it. He's consitent, not afraid to put his foot in, but still learning. Adding Mascherano to this conundrum will make it more difficult for everyone, probably including Rafa, to pick 2 for the CM positions. Don't get me wrong - I think that this is the dilemma that we should want to have and I think Rafa believes we need to have as well. I'd love us to get Mascherano in. But then where to play Gerrard? For me he's most effective for the team in RM. When we have Momo back, I'd like to see Stevie on the right, especially against the a***, ManYoo and Chelsea. He can win games out there without the fear of him going anonymous in the middle - in my opinion of course. Of course all of this is based on the assumption that Rafa want's to play a 4-4-2 formation. But I would not be suprised if Rafa was still trying to develop something along the lines of a 4-2-3-1 team that is effective in the PL.

Back when Momo was injured a few people on here had a "Who'll be back first" thread between Momo and Harry. Both were supposed to recover around the same time back then, but I haven't heard anything on Harry since then. With Luis and Speedy both injured now, along with Zenden, we are going to need someone to play left side. I think we are gonna need him back really soon... I know he is injury prone, but when fit he really does improve the first 11. Any word on him?

Based on the amount of lines the story got on here during the summer, Daniel Alves trasnfer to LFC was one of Rafa's primary objectives in the summer. We didn't get him for all the reasons posted in those threads during the summer. The reckoning was that Alves was to come here and play RW in front of Finnan, and even rotate with SF for RB at times. We seemed to be quite close to getting him, but didn't and then went and bought Pennant and let Kronkamp go. Maybe Alves would not have been the huge hit that many on here hoped (and fellow Brazilian transferred from La Liga Aurelio hasn't exactly set the world on fire either so there was no guarantee Alves would have...) But now, with the benefit of hindsight, do you think Rafa regrets not spending the extra couple of million (or whatever it was) on his primary target, instead of going for the second choice Pennant? Call it either stubbornness, or unwillingness to pay what he deemed over the odds for his target, but has not getting him had an impact on our performances this season so far? And do you think or know if Rafa has had any inclination to go back there in the January transfer window?

That line stood out for me and I have to agree with this 100%. Alonso probably has the best instinct to pick the right pass from out current squad for me, and after that we have alot of guys who seem to pick the wrong option more often than now.

Souness (the player) would be my pick too. He'd sort out the attitude of many of our guys for a start, not to mention sort out the opposing team a fair bit too... And then play some football as well

Its a question.

How was it was different when it was Heskey?

Best supporters in the land indeed...

I agree that Alves was the first choice for RM, but if Rafa didn't think Pennant couldn't do the job, he wouldn't have bought him. I haven't been exactly thrilled with Pennants performances so far, but he's had what, 4 or 5 competitive games to impress people like you and me? Give him time before we write him off as nothing more than a cheap squad filler for RM... I'm not entirely disagreeing with you - I just think it depends on who we are playing. I think in some games even with 2 attacking wide players, a CM who can score goals and make lots of forward runs is of benefit. Man Yoo have played like that for a long time with alot of success. In some games I think we can take the risk of being less defensive in CM for the sake of more runs into the box from there.

Have to agree with that. I think Agger can feel hard done that he didn't get a longer run in the team. I don't think Carra was 100% match fit last weekend and Rafa gambled that it being a Derby would bring out the best in JC. Didn't work out, and both Sami and JC looked off the pace...

Pedant!!! You know who I meant Oh FFS - Pedant x 2!!! I hear you and I humbly apologise

I think alot of the World Cup players seem to have returned off form or someway jaded. Just don't seem to be playing to their own high standards. Doesn't mean that they are crap players, maybe just still recovering after the World Cup. Maybe it's not a physical rest they need - but the Spanish seemed to be really gutted when they went out of the WC that time. I'd rest Xavi for a game or two and let Momo and Stevie play in the centre. Both SG and MS are playing well, and it will afford Pennant some game time on the wing as well as allow Xavi a little rest so he can return in a few weeks back to the form we all know and enjoy. That is the reason we have the big squad - when players are off form, give them a rest...

Have to agree with that. Sami looked very slow last night in my opinion... I though Alonso was good though, and thought that Gonzalez was excellent in the first half, before he seemed to tire. 1 - Agger 2 - Crouch 3 - Finnan (We miss him so much when he aint playing) The team still look like they are in pre-season mode at the moment to me though!!!

Totally agree with that.

I have the impression that we brought them over and didn't really know what to do with them. They had both played as a front two for Le Harve and the French U18s and U21s as I remember (Correct me if I'm wrong here!) and when we broke up their double act to introduce them into the first team. Neither seemed to be as effective when on the field alone as when with the other one playing as well. They read each others runs and knew each others play very well. However, I also think they were very mis-managed by Ged. I am a big fan of Ged's and was sorry to see him go, but I don't think he knew what to do with them. For example - if they had been under the mentoring of Wenger or even Fergie - they might be much bigger hit's today than they are. ALT's attitude does seem to suck at the moment - but would that have been tolerated and allowed to fester by Wenger? I think FSP was a little unlucky with injuries and not having a player feeding him nice little passes and reading his runs... He was trying to break into a team with Heskey and Owen initially, wasn't he? Maybe I just believed in the hype too much, at the time they were rated as better than Ronaldo at Old Toilet. They came here very young and probably needed alot of mentoring not just on the field but in terms of their attitude and professionalism. I just think that Ged didn't know how to develop them and to a large extent their talents were wasted.

I only thought of Mellor after posting! I think we're okay up front, as I said I wouldn't mind another recognised CF (Kuyt, Trezeguet, etc) but my priority is RM.

I feel our priority is a RW. One of either Alves (my preference) or Pennant at least, I don't see the logic in getting both. With regard to CF - we have 3 recognised CF's (Fowler, Crouch and Bellamy) plus Flo-Po, plus potentially ALT. Plus Garcia and Kewell who can both play up front as well. Not saying I wouldn't like a 4th recognised CF, but for me the priority now is getting at least one more RW into the squad. If we can get a RW and a CF then great

I can see where you're coming from on that Kev, but I just get the impression that Rafa is one hell of a negotiator, and doesn't travel desperately trying to resurrect dead deals. I also get the feeling that if any potential transfer target talks to Rafa, he suddenly becomes all desperate to sign for LFC and play for this club. A bit like the old Jedi Mind trick... I also wouldn't consider this last minute. It's been dragging on for weeks certainly, but if as Figaro has said that Rafa has told him to be patient, there could be a fair while left to run in this saga also. While it is terrible for people like us who spend each day on the internet checking up on transfers, I wouldn't think that Rafa would give a damn if Alves signed last day of transfer window, if Rafa considers Alves a key component in the team next season. Thats just the impression I get, totally without substance however!!!

Wonder if anyone has ever managed to confirm whether Rafa actually went to Spain, as The Count on TLW had implied? If it was confirmed that Rafa had gone to Spain, I'd be very confident that Alves would be joining this summer...

As this summer has gone on, I get the impression that this guy is really the guy to bring us on from last year and really challenge for the title this season. More so than any other position for some reason, including Striker. Looking objectively I would think we'd need another striker more than a RM. We've lost Morientes and Cisse up front, and we potentially have Stevie, Luis and Harry who can all play RM, and with any luck some of the youth team coming through as well. But I get the impression that from past chases for players like Alves, Simao and Pennant (allegedly) that Rafa really feels there is a need for something different on that wing. Of all the players we bring in this summer, including Bellamy who I think is going to be a huge improvement up front - I really really want us to get Alves. Is this just the result of 79 & 18 pages of Internet Forum Hype? I feel like I've been

But I don't think it happens only to us at all. In fact, I'd expect that any of the top "5" clubs (Spurs -> Chelsea from last years table) and also then Newcastle ( )get this to some extent in every transfer negotiation. If I was the seller, and I was selling to West Ham, I'd know they have a pretty non-negotiable budget. If I see Liverpool, ManYoo, Chelski, Spurs or whoever coming in, I'd see an opportunity to make a few more quid in the deal. Didn't Chelski have to pay approx 5 Million more than they wanted for Drogba? And also over the odds for SWP? ManYoo for Vidic? What about Newcastle for Boumsong, Owen, Luque and Viana? I think it happens to all the bigger clubs (and Newcastle) so we shouldn't consider ourselves alone in the fact that it happens. Aren't you an agent Gravy?

Player C??? Dunno if this is a reputable link but anyway... Liverpool have put together a massive bid for Real Betis wing ace Joaquin. Reds boss Rafa Benitez is willing to offer £12 million plus fringe players Jerzy Dudek, Bolo Zenden and Antonio Barragan for the Spain international, reports AS. Betis have welcomed the interest, with new president Pepe Leon admitting they?re prepared to sell Joaquin this summer - if the right offer arrives. Liverpool want to split the cash component in two, with an initial £7 million arriving before a second installment of £5 million being paid in 18 months time.

Well said boy!

I did notice that it became almost predictable that he kept on turing onto his right foot, didn't play anything that I saw with his left. As I haven't seem him before, and wouldn't dare judge a player without having seen him twelvety million times, is he JAR (except Right footed, blond, and Dutch instead of Left footed, Ginger and Norwegian?)

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