Mikey

No hospitals any nearer? Or have I got it wrong?

Agger - Outstanding again. Warnock - played well, his best 2 games for us by a mile. Momo and Xabi held their own qithout too much trouble. We weren't anywhere near bad today, freak goal, denied a penalty and gash in front of goal is the story of the game away at Chelsea; even when that German coward was still on the pitch. My downs on today are, We need Gerrard back in the centre, Why Zenden and not Gonzales? We need to score and score soon, the pressure is mounting on the players!

Not loads, but I have watched him in youth internationals for the Argies - Under 19's I think, and the few games he's played for us. I like his agression, he's also pretty quick, good tackler and very strong in the air - and he's an Argentinian CB! I'm not saying he's briliant or anything right now, but he has every attribute you would want in a real top CB and being coached by possibly the best coach in world football.

Agger looks like a very good player but needs matches to prove it, Ferdinand is a very good player(looks better than his brother to me) who has proven it so far in the PL. Very happy to have Agger here, be very happy to sign Ferdinand. P.S. I think Paletta(sp?) could be better than both of them in the long run.

I think we'll see players rested against PSV if at all, try to do well against Everton and Chelsea.

Funny really when he's scored against Chelsea and United in big games, Argentina and Uruguay in friendlies and in WC finals and the Charity shield. Not bad for just a season.

Cheers mate, lot of money isn't it.

Two months now since his operation after which it was said he would be out for 6 weeks or so, anyone got any news or sightings of him at Melwood?

What prices were low? Bellamy had a release caluse in his contract so our finances were irrelevant to his price, Pennant came for the top end of his price range with no-one else interested in him, Gonzales was agreed a year ago, Kuyt was £10M hardly a snip. I'm not saying we were robbed here but you can hardly call any of those transfers apart from Bellamy a great deal surely?

Yes

He did work hard and never hid, plus points for him and he could have scored a couple as well. Should really be shot for his inability to hold onto the ball all night, and his playing of passes without looking and subsequently giving them the ball in our half could be a real problem against better teams. We work hard to get the ball and 9 times out of ten he gives it back to them within a couple of seconds. He's been a match-winner for us in big games but if I was playing with him I'd have had a word by now about it.

Didn't Traore sign one 12 months ago?

Every single day of the week mate, Rose-tinted glasses aplenty where JAR is concerned.

Bridge - very good LB unlucky to be around the same time as Cole, substantial improvement on JAR and available for less than £7M. FFS I remember the threads on here slagging Cole off as being over-rated yet JAR is the 2nd best LB in the PL last season? Maybe with Cole and Clichy injured at the @rse, Heinze out for United, Bridge sick and Gallas sulking he just might get a mention. He's been a good servant for us but he is one of the weakest players in the squad now.

How so? He's not English, he's not fast and he's incredibly one-footed. £7M for Riise would be great business for us, no-one but Chelsea would go anywhere near that amount and I don't believe for a second they are really interested either. And I know Lescott went to Everton for £5.5M, and Traore went for £2M.

Anywhere above £6-7m and it'd be a good deal for us, can't believe people don't see him for the limited footballer he is. Easily the weakest link in our back 5, and if we get a striker in this season I would imagine LB and would be priority number 1 next window. As for Gallas, like him or not he is the best defender in the PL and right up there with Cannavaro(sp?) and Ayala in World football. Don't want to cause an arguement but he is better than Carra, FAR better than Sami and MILESbetter than any LB we've got on the books as well. Never happen, either part of it.

As we stand thats very true, sale value for HK is nothing due to injuries and his high salary. Makes me howl reading on here 'I'd take £7-8M for Harry' wouldn't we all.

Duff's a very good player, £5M is a very good price for him as well. I remember there being a huge feling that if we'd got him and Finnan instead of Diao, Diouff and Bruno then we could have really kicked on under GH and even won the league. Chelsea would never have sold him to us or spurs for £5M. As for him being 'not too good anymore' don't be silly now.

Thats what I thought but I keep seeing ?6M quoted which is close to £4M?

Assuming there is some mileage in Djimi leaving we will be in profit regarding ins and outs so far this Summer, Morientes for £4M, Barragan for £1.7M, Traore for £1.5-3M,.......Bellamy in for £6M, and loads of money off the wage bill! It will be very interesting to see how much we actually spend now as it will be the money the club has made available to Rafa. My bet is under £15M.

I keep reading that we are not paying the extra million for Pennant, or the extra 2 million for Alves because we need the money for other signings, anyone actually believe this? Kuyt was out of the WC a week ago, Bent never went, Torres and Joaquin are all available now so why aren't we doing something about these 'other' targets that we are allegedly saving money for? I know it could all be going ahead behind the scenes but come on, it isn't is it? FWIW I think we have a very limited budget, no-one's fault and no-one's to blame, but we are obviously counting every penny not just practicisng good housekeeping here! Personally i would like us to spend the money to get Rafa's 1st choice RM, if that's Alves or Pennant then so be it, and look to compromise with the striker signing. I obviously reserve the right to disown this post if Joaquin signs!

Just wondering with there being no news on a 2nd striker.

If Joaquin is actually for sale then a fee of around ?20M would be right I think, plus side for us would be including Dudek and Zenden in the deal. Dudek leaving would clear the way for Carson to be 2nd choice keeper and get dudek's wages off the books, and Zenden who I do rate is never going to be more than a bit part player now is he and we got him for nothing. Not sure about Barragan going though. Getting them all off the wage bill as well as signing Joaquin would be a tremendous result, we could keep Didi then as well!

I'm happy with Pennant instead of Alves, he's a bloody good player proven in the PL and better than anyone else at the club, other than Stevie, in his position. I think he will more than just do a job for us, look how Lennon has pregressed at a better club! 2 years ago Trabelsi(sp?) was rated one of the best RB's in the world and looked nailed on for the a***, dunno what happened there but if we get him for nothing and low wages then in effect we have swapped josemi for him and got £3M for nothing when we sell Kromkamp. don't want Kuyt though, would prefer another couple of quid and get Bent.