Wardy

I just hope that the speculation about a rift between Rafa and the board is b****x. Losing Rafa is the worst thing that could happen.

We initially signed him on loan then I think we got wind of the investigation going on and signed him permanently so we owned his registration. £10 Million.

I'd have said Tevez was a forward myself.

We've either had a good offer for Momo or Xabi's off to Barca. Xabi was supposed to be getting a new contract wasn't he?

Can the mods make this a sticky?

Bump. Get it signed people FFS!

The top Spanish clubs might have something to say about that, we'll have competition there.

I don't mind Gerrard on the right but he's utterly wasted on the left and it unbalances the whole side. I'd rather see Riise, Zenden or Kewell start on the left with Gerrard on the right.

I'd have to go with Gerrard starting the game on the right for this one as I think Pennant would leave us exposed. I'd start with Riise LB and Zenden left mid and look to bring Kewell on in the second half. Or alternatively start with Kewell and Riise and hope to get our noses in front before Kewell tires.

Signing Alves means we can play Gerrard through the middle more and also gives us cover at right back. At the moment we've got Kewell, Garcia, Gonzales, Riise and Aurelio to choose from for the left and we've also got Leto arriving. Unless one or more of the above are on their way I'm not sure we'll sign another.

It is indeed accurate, I've been keeping tabs on that after a bet with a Manc who laughed at our forward line at the beginning of the season. Goals from midfield has been the difference between us and the Mancs this season, we need another midfielder capable of getting ten goals a season or midfielders capable of supplying the forwards with better chances. Like I said on another thread, if we'd have had Garcia and Kewell fit all season the table might have a different look. We'd certainly be a lot closer.

Now that WOULD be funny!

Do we still have to qualify next season?

Klose is 29, he was 28 at the world cup. I reckon we could pick him and Tevez up for a decent fee in which case I'd let Bellamy go leaving us with Crouch, Kuyt, Klose, Tevez and Voronin. I'd be happy with that. Not fussed on Torres he seems inconsistent.

I just can't see us going for someone who will command that sort of money who's the wrong side of 30.

I just can't see us going for Henry or him leaving Arsenal for another English club. Likewise Eto'o, I reckon he's becoming a bit of a diva and Rafa will steer clear. I can see Benitez being interested in Villa but his buy out clause is a ridiculous amount which makes the likes of Tevez and Klose more realistic targets for the forward positions. I don't think signing Alves is cut and dried either, he looks a cracking little player and his performances won't have gone unnoticed in Madrid and Barcelona. We've got competition on that one. If we do end up signing another left winger I'd rather it was Ribery than Simao. We've also been linked with Micah Richards and Philip Lahm, wouldn't be dissapointed with either of those two.

He didn't pursue them for the best part of two seasons though. Neither Josemi or Kromkamp settled in Liverpool and wanted to leave, Nunez was just a makeweight in the Owen deal.

If we'd have had Kewell and Garcia fit all season the table might have a different look to it now. Pennant has a long way to go to be better than Garcia or Kewell.

That's another possibilty, I like Garcia on the left just not away from home in the league. It's obvious rafa rates Kewell as well so it remains to be seen what happens, it's not cut and dried we'll be signing another left winger.

Some well considered opinions here. For what it's worth I think Gonzalez will be here next season but probably as understudy to a new player brought in to replace Zenden and that's not to say Zenden hasn't done a job as I think he's been a useful squad player but he's out of contract and I doubt he'll get another. Gonzalez has had injuries and has struggled for form and confidence but I doubt Rafa will have chased him for so long if he was s**** and anyone that saw him play in Spain last season knows that he can play.

I reckon last night was probably the final nail in his coffin, it sounds like he didn't have much choice about who the signings were anyway. Hopefully the uncertainty at Chelsea will put Alves off going there.

"Easy ball Momo"

Yup, Ballack and Essien are out but Carvalho trained yesterday. Linkage

Momo's in suspenders isn't he?