Conrad

good work but a couple of things carson wasn't signed on a free - about .75m I think Leto +Gonzalez only 3.3m between them? I thought it was more, maybe not

Nicky Butt and Alan Smith have got to run that Blackburn pair close for centre mid And John Utaka at Portsmouth makes Babel look like Barnes at his peak

I don't disagree with you, but I don't think Liverpool lost out because of that attitude. Fortunately for us he was a Liverpool player during his peak years - had he been at another club I agree he would have given the same level of performance/commitment. The youtube clip of him and the kid in goal being coached by Southall is cringeable but shows what a competitor and supremely focused on being number 1 type of person he is. As I say, it dosn't make him lovable but I really don't understand the level of vitriol directed at him for wanting to be good at his job and for wanting to get the most out of his career.

My point is that even if he was a self serving mercenary he gave 100% to Liverpool while he was here, and he single handedly won us that trophy. If we'd had a better side he'd have stayed. He didn't, he made a mistake. I don't blame him for leaving though - and even the manner of his leaving which was shabby doesn't alter the fact that he gave us 7 great years of playing through injuries and 100% commitment to the cause.

I really enjoyed his self serving mercenary act at Cardiff in 2001

Nutshell. It's irrelevant what price Utd and his agent agreed. we aren't bound by that, nor are City of course and City will offer more than us, probably a lot more. It will come down to whether Tevez wants to come here over City, which I'm sure he will

Fantastic post mate. Absolutely spot on. Owen was a consummate professional. If only he'd been lucky enough to have a manager as good as Rafa in his peak years before injuries took their toll.

He wasn't - the first half a season after he arrived he was outstanding. I remember one of his first games, when he just skinned a couple of players (Chelsea home I think). He was blisteringly quick. He could have gone anywhere when he left Leeds that summer - Utd, Arsenal wanted him too.

Owen was badly advised off the pitch and badly managed on it by Houllier. Overplayed, bulking up to the point where he couldn't f***ing accelerate anymore, burnt out at what 25, 26? Like Kewell who was also once quick before being played through injury by a manager who signed so much dross he had no choice (in his mind) but to risk burn out to his best players

The thing that worries me is the more we hear comments from Gerrard and Rafa publicly praising Lucas, the more I'm thinking we are being primed for Alonso's departure Barry in = one of Lucas/Alonso out I don't mind Lucas but he's nothing special. I want Alonso here next season.

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I see Shearer is lining-up for the All Stars in the Hillsborough memorial game. Good on 'im

double post

Yep. Plus not selling Alonso = title next season

I have...I just think its the prelude to negotiations with a view to landing a big fee. I hope I'm wrong.

Alonso's off this summer I reckon. I'll be gutted but I really think he'll be the one to make way for Barry, particularly now that clubs like Real, Arsenal, Juve will all want him and his price will be £20m plus

He would fit perfectly into our 4-2-3-1, on the left of the 3.

Correct.

and his gargantuan ego

Mobile phones should be banned from football matches and so should that portsmouth c**t with the bell

I didn't know you posted there

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Saturday, 18 April 2009 Arsenal v Chelsea, SF, 17:15 Sunday, 19 April 2009 Man Utd v Everton, SF, 16:00 Good that Arsenal are playing a semi-final against Chelsea just 3 days before they have to come to Anfield.

Riera scores winner for Spain!