Big E

With Carra, Sami and Arbeloa we should be ok. Riise/Aurelio for LB for the time being. I'd play Arbeloa at CB, Riise LB against Brum to give them a go, though Brum could suit Sami better. An Extra CB would have been nice, but can't be helped. In midfield we've plenty of cover with Lucas an option if needed. Masch is our only holding CM and ahead of Alonso IMO. We've got the best midfield in the world, dontcha know! Lets be thankful of our fantastic squad.

is 3 at the back a realistic option? Carra Sami Agger Arbeloa Xabi Momo/Gerrard Riise Gerrard/Babel/Yossi Torres +1 4-4-2 more likely though, as they won't have had time to prep it. As for the kit, I reckon white with red socks would look better.

course you can. you can buy my Porto spare

How about: 'Rocking all over the world' Voronin, Voronin, Voro-nin, He's a Red, he's a Ukranian. He scores gooooooaaaaaallls, but he's got hair like a girl

back 3 of Agger Carra Richards would do me just fine. never happen tho.

The potential lack of goals worries me. Of all the players we've bought, none of them appear prolific in their respective position. If I was predicting prem goal tallys I'd say Torres 10, Yossi 3, Babel 5, Voronin 5. We need to see improved contributions from every one of last years midfielders in addition to the new recruits. The new recruits need to offer more than those they replaced. Torres, Voronin and Yossi are 5-10 goals better than Bellamy, Garcia and Robbie, so Babel is vastly important yet is a big gamble for me esp with Kewell's contribution very uncertain. It seems to me that while the squad is incredibly strong with 2 players for each position there are so many positions where there isn't a clear first choice. Apart from Gerrard and possibly Torres because of his price tag none of the players can consider themselves first choice and anyone could start on Saturday. Compare that to United who's first 11 is much more settled, and I wonder if that's a factor in our attacking problems. Defensive duties are easy to coach, but it's the understanding from playing with the same players that helpsin the final 3rd.

steamy windows?

Saw more Liverpool shirts than any other at Glastonbury, felt very pleased. Also heard ring of fire more than a few times, and the odd other LFC song too. Go on the muddy reds!

Another point to consider - if we're signing players from Spain who wouldn't be available till next week, then why would Rafa make a statement saying he wanted players straight away, right after the CL final?

I bet! You're getting the beers in then?

Breaking news on SSN. Hopefully that puts this one to bed. Some quotes "I know there were clubs interested but I didn't want to keave......thanks to Parry and Rafa"

He is Dr Emmet Brown, gimmie my £5

what's an average ST going for over at OT now? and to all the ST's, would you accept a not insignificant% increase if virtually the whole amount was spent on players?

Owen or Anelka? There's a thinker

As good as momo is, the point is that He'll probably be 5th choice and struggle to get a game. Especially as he plays higher up the pitch where his lack of ball skill gets found out more. Better to sell him now and spend the money elsewhere.

If Nani wasn't on Rafa's list, I wonder why not? Surely he's the type of player we need?

You're just too good to be blue, Can't take the ball off you, You've got a heavenly touch, You pass like Souness to Rush, And when we're pissed in the bars, We thank the Lord that you're ours, You're just too good to be true, Can't take the ball off you. Oh, Steven, Steven, Steven Gerrard, Oh, Steven, Steven, Steven Gerrard, Oh, Steven, Steven, Steven Gerrard, Oh Steven, Steven Geee-rard! Oh Steven Gerrard, because he hates Man U Oh Steven Gerrard, he hates the blue s**** too Oh Steven Gerrard, you're a Red through and through

I don't think we're a counterattacking team. We don't have the pace for it. Our style is based on being solid of course. But when we get the ball we're usually slow the game down and excert the 'control' Rafa loves. Then we work the ball forwards, with a view to crosses or around the box efforts. Not often you see someone clean through from a through ball. Maybe that's just because teams defend deep against us.

I'd celebrate by getting off the pitch as quickly as possible before the stewards nabbed me!

Same tune as 'Rafa in Istanbul' We're playing Chelsea once again, Mourinho still whines, But Danny Agger passed it in, it crossed the line this time! And then it came to Reina, to save the penalties, and that sent Rafa, to Ancient Greece. Rafael! Rafael! Rafa in ancient Greece! Let get this going in Athens, along with the Istanbul one of course!

Johnny Cash - Ghost Riders in the Sky Beach Boys - Sloop John B

I'm with Sportops, flying Tuesday 9.30am from Luton returning Thursday 4pm. Apparently they sent out Mondays flights on Tuesday. Tuesdays flights were being posted yesterday.

It all sounds very promisong to me. I'm off to put an accumulator on us winning the EC, utd winning the FA cup, and the pope taking a dump on Tiger Woods.

agreed

Just deleted my whole post before posting. Annoying! Here's the summary: The right side is better than the left already, and could survive without change. Kewell/Gonzalez are both gambles for different reasons and Zenden isn't good enough. We need a top class goalscoring LM, with one of Kewell/Gonzalez as back up. If I'm gambling on one of them, I'd make it Kewell and I reckon Rafa thinks the same. Gonzales to go out on loan to get a run of games. Alternatively Rafa could keep them both, but would he get any games? My priorities: LM, CF, RM. I wouldn't be surprised if a LB, CB, 2nd CF turned up too. Not sure about Alves, great player we have other priorities. Guess it depends how big the budget is.