fred milne

Zola and Bergkamp probably had more natural talent but I think Cantona had a stronger, winner's mentality.

Finnan is strong defensively and composed in possession. To be honest, those are the key things I want from a full-back. We may need better back-up than Kromkamp but I don't see the need for a new RB in the first XI. If we were playing 3-5-2 it might be a different story, but in a 4-4-2 Finnan is pretty much exactly what we need.

I don't think he looks comfortable playing off the main striker but RM is a different story entirely. As for keeping him in the game, that is definitely the key issue when he plays RM. If Alonso is playing CM it usually isn't an issue. Its a bigger problem when its (say) Sissoko and Zenden in the middle.

Sabre = Glenn Hoddle?

That's why Agger may be such a key signing. Previously, if Alonso has been closely marked then we've been reliant on the distribution of Hyypia and Carragher. Agger's ability on the ball changes all that.

That's all predicated on the assumption that central midfield is his true position. I'm not convinced myself. These days it seems that its increasingly a case of 4-2-3-1, rather than 4-4-2. Gerrard can certainly do a more than adequate job as one of the two deep midfield players but I think its a waste of his talents in and around the box. I'd rather he played there when his legs start to go, which is hopefully another 4-5 years off.

Lets just agree to disagree on this one.

Not really. You said "mature debate has been attempted" which I took to mean in this thread generally and not just from you in particular. The fact you went on to say "The only tool (how apt)" only reinforces the point.

I wasn't suggesting you should take it back.

Agree with that.

I never said that you had.

I remember reading that - something along the lines that Rafa didn't have a great rapport with Didi but understood how his experience was important to the side. I suspect Rafa also had reservations about Didi's lack of mobility and his tendency to sometimes be over-cautious in possession. FWIW, I'd have kept him over Zenden in a flash.

That'll have been when he was called a tool and a berk, right?

Why would Mossad be after Rafa?

Van Persie and Reyes have yet to really convince me and Fabregas is still a kid. Ferguson brought in the likes of Beckham, Scholes, Neville and Butt as youngsters when he had the experience of Schmeichel, Pallister, Bruce, Irwin, Keane, Cantona and Cole to complement them. Arsenal have just lost their three most experienced outfield players and are possibly about to lose another key figure in Cole. I think they will do well to make the Champions League placings for next season.

Although he was clearly working from a much weaker base, I think Ged's first summer of transfer activity shouldn't be discounted in terms of its impact. Hyppia, Henchoz and Hamann were terrific signings that really turned us around as a side. Camara was a useful player to have around in the short term with Owen and Fowler's injury problems. Smicer had his moments too, although I'm not sure the same can be said of Westerveld and Meijer.

If the deal goes through, then I reckon Fowler would be very much the 4th choice forward - possibly 5th choice if you count Garcia. I expect he will get a reasonable amount of starts at Anfield but would be surprised if he figures that much away from home.

Agree with all that, although I still they will struggle without RVN's goals unless the Rossi kid turns out to be the real deal. As for Hargreaves sitting too deep, he has to do that when playing for England because (as Gerrard has discovered) there's no way on God's earth that Lampard will. However, if Hargreaves were paired with someone like Carrick whose natural game is to play in front of the back four then it could be a different story.

Barclay is ok. Winter I'm not keen on.

I think he's in danger of having too much of a soft spot for Rafa.

Let me stop you there. No we don't.

Granted, but surely you can speculate about how they might play together.

Not really because I don't see Gerrard and Sissoko as being a particularly balanced midfield pairing.

As the deep-lying midfielder, yes.

For all their strengths, I don't see either Sissoko or Gerrard being able to run a game from deep as consistently well as Alonso does. Its always going to be Alonso plus one of Sissoko and Gerrard for me. (Zenden looks like he is going to replace Hamann as the cover for Alonso.)