Wardy

I'll drive him there myself for that money.

I wouldn't disagree with the second part of that sentence but I reckon Agger would be great at left back and it would also mean we wouldn't have to suffer Riise.

Can anyone else see Agger getting games at left back if this lads any good?

I think were in a better position in that he's got cover for just about every position so he can go for quality rather than quantity now in the transfer market. That's if there's money available.

I'd get shut tomorrow if it were up to me. He's just not good enough, might be worth taking a gamble on someone else from the Dutch League and part ex'ing or swapping him cause I can't see anyone else in this country wanting him.

If they sack him I think we're royally f***ed. Does anyone really want another five year plan? I doubt the players will and I can't see Gerrard hanging around if there's another change of manager and he probably wouldn't be the only one.

Up to you but it would probably have to be a minimum amount to guarantee you a vote.

That's what got me thinking but as I said - all you'd get for your money would be a vote in who the custodians of the club would be - like Barca.

I just want to canvas some opinion here, this is 100% pie in the sky! If it meant the club could be owned by the support and all you got for your donation was some piece of mind that the club isn't being run by someone with their own agenda would you be prepared to make a donation to a trust every year?

I have to say I think that's b******s. The average player in our squad is far better than it was under Houllier. I think we can improve on a few but bye and large we're improving slowly but surely. Of those you mention yes I think Alonso is an improvement on Hamann, likewise Reina and Torres on Dudek and Owen. Houllier was throwing money away at a time when we could compete financially, since Rafa has come in the goalposts have moved and I think he's done well with a comparatively limited budget.

He got the system/selection wrong, it happens. On the positive side he rarely makes the same mistake twice so I doubt we'll see Crouch on the left again. We got nothing from the ref. Reading deserved the win. Frustrating yes but a win on Sunday and all will be forgotten.

From the offal: Rafael Benitez has been handed a triple injury boost with the news that Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio could be back for what promises to be one of the biggest weeks in the club's season so far. The Reds boss revealed the trio are close to a return and added the club's medical staff will be assessing their fitness at Melwood on a daily basis. Jamie Carragher has also recovered from his bruised ribs and is line to play at Reading on Saturday. "Alonso trained today and is very close to a return. Agger is closer as well and Fabio could be back," commented Benitez. "Carra is okay and he can play at the weekend."

That's what we need at times though, someone to get hold of the ball and keep possesion. Kuyts second touch is usually a tackle.

Utter cobblers, so Torres loses his pace when Crouch gets hold of the ball does he? Crouch gets hold of the ball and allows the support to get forward from midfield and join the attack. Neither Voronin or Kuyt have shown themselves to be any good at that. He's the ideal one to partner Torres if we're playing on the break, unless you'd prefer us to go back to aimless punts over the top which would explain your love of Riise.

It's the way he puts it across, i.e. he's right and everyone else is wrong. I'm of the opinion that Crouch makes the better partner for Torres because defenders don't know what to do with either of them. Crouch is also well capable of dropping off and linking the play, in fact he's very good at it.

In your opinion. In my opninion he's the best partner for Torres.

He's been out since September with a Metatarsal injury, playing in December is hardly rushing him back. As well as Sami has played in the last few games I still want Agger back in the side as soon as possible.

f***, not what I wanted to hear.

Does anyone know how close Agger is to a return, last I heard he'd had a setback and they were pinning their hopes on some new boots designed to protect his feet?

£14M for Cisse to £26M for Torres is though, it just depends who's report on the fee you believe. Truth is we'll probably never know. I think he does need to keep his mouth shut whatever his frustrations, it's not like he was shopping at Primark over the summer is it. As well as doing well on sales himself he has had backing and now isn't the time to be throwing his toys out of the pram.

I just can't see them preventing him from selling under any circumstances, maybe they're just genuine about wanting him to wait until they come over so they can sort everything out face to face without any misunderstandings.

I agree, I can't see Frodo Baggins having an inside line at the club now he's at the NOTW. I can't see them getting a return on their investment during their lifetimes. Considering what it cost them to buy the club and the cost of the stadium. They've stated they're not in it for the money which I don't believe but in all reality I don't think they will be expecting to make much and in the grand scheme of things I can't see them skimping on transfers to save a few quid. They're more likely to be being prudent about the way the club is run, count yourselves lucky in that case and think about what happened to Leeds. That's a bit melodramatic, there's clearly a battle of wills going on but Rafa has been well backed at Liverpool and he does get to choose his own players unlike other clubs I could mention.

Arbeloa and Insua play. Or Sami comes in and Agger or Carragher cover the full back spot.

Arbeloa can also play left back.

Because I'd prefer to see either Arbeloa or Aurelio at left back before Riise and from all accounts Insua is one of the players in the Reserves that they think will make the step up. How many left backs do we need? We still need a centre half and a winger and if we want to sign Mascherano permanently we'll have to pay for him as well. Look at it this way, if we need two players for every position we've got: GK - Reina, Itandje. RB - Finnan, Arbeloa. LB - Aurelio, Insua. CH - Carragher, Agger, Sami, Hobbs. RM - Benayoun, Pennant. LM - Kewell, Babel. CM - Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Lucas. CF - Torres, Crouch, Kuyt, Voronin. From that we can surely afford to let Momo, Riise and Carson go in January to fund Mascherano and another Centre Half to replace Sami who's clearly past his best.