alias75

Disagree with that first bit, most teams we play are looking for a point from the start, they defend deep and in numbers because its a more defensive way of playing than leaving space in behind them. Once we get the first goal then yes that pace option would be good as the opposition have to come out and play a bit, but most teams setup with numbers behind the ball and not a lot of space for anyone with pace to be useful. Ideally we get both types as it covers all possibilities but personally i dont see Milito not being lightening as a problem, he is pretty quick over short distances which is key for strikers and he also seems pretty intelligent in where he runs, as we've seen with Cisse being able to run like an olympic sprinter is no guarantee of goals. I think the comparison with RVN is a good one, providing the service is good he'll get goals.

Rafa is ruthless maybe when he told Crouch that he didnt think we'd get Milto.

Most teams we play get men behind the ball and defend deep, we havent been able to use someone like Bellamy as effectively as we'd like because of this. I dont think we need lightening pace up front, as most of the time theres no space for the forward to run into anyway. What we need are strikers that are more consistent in front of goal and wingers and midfielders that will create more chances and score more goals themselves.

Was it Betis that were after Gonzalez? anyway they stayed up so that should go ahead, which may trigger some other moves.

Looks like SWP could be for sale for around 10 million, a few seasons ago a lot of people thought he was exactly the type of winger we needed, probem is now we're not really that bad for right sided players especially with all the CMs meaning Gerrard will probably play there a far bit.

Not sure what sort of contract these players have but it could be a case of them wanting to sign for us and only us and that dictates the price so the selling clubs dont have all the power. If Bent wants to sign for us and we wont pay 17 million what happens? will he stay in the championship?

If this link had come AFTER 2 or 3 top money signings nobody would have a problem with it, because those signings havent been made yet people are moaning as if this would be the only player signed this off season. Top player improvement on Zenden and Gonzalez who both wont be here next season fee looks like it will be low, dont see the problem here.

A release clause is almost irrelevant if Torres wants to leave...

Reckon we'll get more than that for the players you listed, Bellamy alone if 2 or 3 teams are in for him could go for 10 million plus. Theres also the money we got for FSP,

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.