alias75

But not all the strikers on that list play primarily off the shoulder of the last defender, i wouldnt say Drogba for example is that type of striker, nor Berbatov. Moot point i guess i personally think hes a very good player that would make a very good 3rd of 4th striker for us, but if he has to be sold at a profit to buy someone like Torres then so be it.

Torres is a proven international that has captained his team and has been a proven La Liga player for a long time despite being still very young, i dont think you can compare him to Gonzalez who was playing his first season at the top level. I think its true that Torres could go up another level with the right move to the right club, i remember reading when Rafa first got here that Torres was the 1 player he'd sign if money was no object.

I dont think there was a lot of risk to his signing, he is a good player maybe not the top top quality we need but more than capable against 95% of PL teams. The 6 million fee always meant if he didnt work out or if better options came to light he could be moved on for a profit, im sure there will be several of the 2nd tier teams that would like him which could push his price up. It wouldnt even surprise me of he was signed with the express purpose of moving him on after a year for a profit unless of course he had a great season. We could make a good few million on him that will be useful in getting a replacement. Of course not but when your a striker that plays on the shoulder of the last man your going to get a lot of incorrect calls too, i remember a couple of games when it happened 2 or 3 times when he would have been clean through.

I can remember quite a few games this season though when Bellamy's been flagged for offside and the replay has proven him to be onside.

I think he did pretty good in his first season, the question is he good enough to play for a top 4 side or is he always going to look good in a 2nd tier team but not quite good enough for the real top level. If we can make 3 or 4 million on him in 1 year and that money can be used to get someone like Torres it makes sense to let him go. That said if we didnt need to sell him i think hes a very good 3rd of 4th choice striker.

I like that Colts one, looks very impressive inside the stadium. I hope its something unique looking and not simply another football ground, by whats being leaked thats the direction its going in.

Surely everyone should know by now whoever we sign will come out of the blue and most likely their names havent been all over the media (although given the number of names mentioned it would nearly impossible if someone hasnt named them at some point.)

Compared to a team like Utd the spine of our team could be here for the next 5 seasons, we have Reina, Agger, Carragher, stevie, Alonso, Sissoko (maybe) all signing long contracts. Thats a solid core of the strongest 11 all committing for the next 4 or 5 seasons, thats huge. We all blamed a lack of cohesion and too many new players as a reason why we start the season badly, now all of a sudden everyone wants to sign another 5 or 6 players, we dont need to do that. We need more goals from midfield, the links with Malouda and Mancini if they happen would solve that problem, and we need another striker that aside i dont think we need much more except maybe a young centre back. So the truth is we only really need to sign 3 top players and maybe 1 or 2 younger prospects that will cost less, all the solid links being reported are for wingers and a striker so i dont see what the problem is.

Maybe this kid from Betis is very good in which case its a smart move by Rafa to get first refusal on him. Yes we have some good midfielders at the moment but you must always look for good young players and using Gonzalez could be one way to secure a top Spanish youngster in a year or two.

Malouda would certainly strengthen us i think a lot of people are dissapointed we may get him because he isnt a flashy full of tricks type winger, but he is a very good player that would add a goal threat from out wide which we lack at the moment.

But whats to stop Bolton saying after the loan deal we dont want to buy him, then we're left with a player in the last year of his contract that knows hes not wanted here, hes then either going to get transferred for a much reduced fee or wait and leave on a bosman the next season. Simply dosnt make sense to loan him this season.

Why would we loan Cisse when he has only 2 years left on his contract? By the time the loan is up he'd be available on a Bosman the next season. He has to be sold this off season, or sign a new contract which isnt going to happen.

Think theres some truth in this, every team in the PL has more money because of the new TV deal, on top of that we have the CL money for making the final plus money got from sales which will be sizeable this off season. Thats before the new owners have put their hand in their own pockets. Everything points to us having a good amount to spend but of course you dont want every man and his dog knowing that as fees rocket.

IF this happens my guess is that its more because the player isnt happy not to be playing more than Rafa wanting to let him go. But this is the one position where we have an abundance of talent and that money could be used to strengthen other areas.

wouldn't be surprised to be honest with Mascherano here his game time will be limited and part of this could also be the player not happy that he hasnt figured much at the end of the season. Even if we wanted to keep him you also have to consider the wishes of the player sometimes.

both players also share the same agent which is also the agent of Ronaldo so that probably explains why the deals where done quickly. I wasnt comparing Lucas with Anderson just making the point that they're both at a similar level for Brazil one has a bit of European experience and the other doesnt but theres over a 10 million pound difference in their prices. The people moaning that we haven't signed anyone or complaining cos Utd have signed 2 players today seem to have forgotten we've already signed the Brazil U20 captain.

According to some sources the 2 players Utd have signed will cost 34 million, Anderson is at a similar level to Lucas who we signed for 6 million.

Im sure Rafa has a point when he criticised the speed of some of our transfers but some people on here need to calm down. Utd have had their own transfers that have dragged out or looked sorted and then failed to happen. People seem to forget we've already signed Lucas Leiva and a lot of the leagues in Europe are still active. Utd obviously have good links with some teams in Portugal and that probably helped make these deals pretty smooth.

Lucas Leiva was 6 million...

Malouda isnt average he was one of the best players at the world cup

been told the CB we have lined up plays in S.America no names yet though...

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/...p;TEAMHD=soccer Peter Crouch has been reassured about his Liverpool future by manager Rafael Benitez. The Spaniard has stressed the need for the beaten Champions League finalists to spend big and spend quick this summer. But England striker Crouch, linked with a possible move to Newcastle, is adamant that he has not been earmarked for the exit door at Anfield to make room for new signings. "He's (Benitez) told me I'm part of his plans and that's good enough for me," Crouch told Sky Sports News. "At a club like Liverpool there's going to be competition for places, especially as the manager likes to chop and change." Last season Crouch battled for a starting place up front with Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy and Robbie Fowler. Fowler has not been offered a new deal and Bellamy has been strongly linked with a move away from Anfield but Benitez is bound to bring in replacements so it seems likely that Crouch will face a renewed threat to his place next season.

heard the CB we sign will be from south america and currently playing over there.

If Benfica want Cisse as reported we could get Simoa for maybe around 5-6 million (plus Cisse) i think that would represent a great deal and wouldnt dent severely money we could spend on a striker.

I think for some PL games you wouldnt need 2 defensive midfielders but for lots of games and away from home theres no reason why you cant do it providing you have the quality in the wide positions and in the forwards. Theres nothing defensive about a side containing Alonso and Mascherano providing we have a top quality left winger, gerrard on the right and 2 forwards, thats plenty of attacking threat. The key as always is to have top quality in those attacking positions.