Iver

One or two games early in the season (Sunderland, Arsenal) apart, for me he has been very disappointing. Has done little or nothing to justify Kenny's massive outlay on him. Has been lucky to keep his place in the side. For games like today, I had envisaged that with his pace and eye for goal, he would be a matchwinner. Has shown no evidence of this so far, nine league games, and no goals, no assists. Must do better, and must start doing better quickly if we are to seriously contest a Champions League spot. As an aside, Kenny does him no favours by sticking him over on that right side in games - play him in his natural position FFS!

Skrtel did well against Bolton at home in a game we were very comfortable in. Flanagan coped very well in the run of games he was given in the first team last season. I would play him right back over Skrtel every time.

I cannot understand this, unless Flanagan is carrying an injury, and would love to hear Kenny's rationale. He started the season preferred to Kelly at right back. Now with both Kelly and Johnson out, he is not even making the bench. Defies logic, especially when you consider that Skrtel is being picked in the position. Much of the tone for today's game was set in the first fifteen minutes with the attacks that Spurs built from left midfield. It was so obvious that Skrtel was being targeted as a weakness, and he did not disappoint from a Spurs perspective. Flanagan might have been given an equally hard time against arguably the best left sided midfielder in the league, but at least his positional sense etc would be better, as he is not alien to the position. Skrtel is a liability in games like today's, even when he is played at centre half. His tendency to jump rashly into tackles, as he did today when on a yellow, is incredibly naive - he should be now viewed as 4th choice centre half, and not played anywhere else.

Did not see it on Sky myself but read elsewhewere that they had broken the news.

No Gerrard, No Meireles, No Johnson. Coates to come in. At the start of the the season I thought we were playing for 3rd / 4th place. Now I am beginning to believe we can mount a challenge for the title.

Lots of talk that Bellamy has turned us down in favour of a return to Cardiff. Anyone confirm if this is true? Hope we have a plan B if it is. Also Young from Monaco, Korean player who wanted to join us, apparently having medical at Arsenal.

I mean it would seriously damage our chances of contesting a top four finish.

Absolutely correct - spot on. And if ever a twenty mins proved that, Saturday did. For all the millions we have spent, the reality is that we are in a position where we are hugely dependent on him for the flair / spark / creativity etc that is required to win games. Gerrard aside, we do not have any other player in the current squad capable of that, and whether Gerrard can still manage it after his injury problems is another matter. That is why I feel that the signing of another player, in addition to a centre back, is essential, and that needs to be a pacy creative attack minded player who is equally comfortable upfront and out wide. A longterm injury to Suarez would really have us in trouble.

One of the twitter "ITKs" "NevillePool" claims we have made an approach for Higuain. Massive grain of salt, but lots of talk that there is an LFC delegation in Spain ? Madrid at present on transfer business. More likely to relate to Godin, I would suggest.

Adam, Downing, and Enrique are quality additions, capable of making an immediate impact. Henderson will hopefully mature into a great player in time, but we need to be patient with him. Looking at yesterday's game, you would have to worry are we becoming overly reliant on Luis to make things happen upfront. If, for whatever reason, we were without him for a period of any length, I do not think a strike force of Carroll, Kuyt, N'gog would have enough in terms of mobility, pace, flare, guile etc to win us games. I agree that centre half is next priority, but I would argue that the need for another striking option is not far behind, and if we can find a striker who can do a job wide right too, then all the better. Hopefully N'gog will be off to Bolton as part of a player plus cash exchange for Cahill, thereby lowering the price by a few million. If so, then hopefully we will bring in another striker. This Korean lad (? Young) at Monaco might be an option - would not cost the earth, and is apparently quite fast. Most importantly, he is supposedly a big LFC fan and very keen to join. If there is no cash at all left after we sign the centre half, then we could do worse than looking at Bellamy on a free, although City would be very unlikely to do business with us I would imagine.

I think everyone is agreed that the decision to prefer Flanagan to Kelly at right back was surprising to say the least. Looking at the bench, with Skrtel injured, and Soto left out completely, Kelly was obviously the fallback option in the event of an injury to either Carra or Agger. If we fail to get a new CB in before the close of the window, I wonder if that is where we will see Kelly play the most this season. I like Flanagan, and think he is a fantastic prospect, but strongly feel that if Johnson does not make the Arsenal game next weekend, that Kelly should start at right back.

Was Kenny asked anything about the players he omitted from the squad - surely Aquilani's absence indicates that something is imminent. Late second half today would have been ideal for him, when everyone was tiring, dare I say it, even Joe Cole might have sparked something.

Totally agree and I did not intend for the purpose of this thread to be to slag the lad off - quite the opposite in fact.

Competing with Lucas, Adam, Gerrard, and probably one of either Meireles or Aquilani (assuming one will be sold), it is difficult to see Henderson getting much of a look in in his favoured position this season. I was really hoping he would have a blinder today, as he is already coming under scrutiny due to the large fee we paid for him, after an indifferent European U-21 championship campaign, and pre season. What are peoples thoughts on him - does the King view him as his first choice for right midfield? Ideally I would like us to have another option apart from Kuyt, Henderson, and Maxi for that right side. If N'gog leaves, and we are bringing in a fourth striker, it would be ideal if that player could also play wide right, and have a bit of pace. I hope Kenny sticks with Henderson for next weekend, and gives him a chance to find his feet and get a bit of confidence.

"Make no mistake about it, they would pose quite a formidable challenge"

Who is Alan Kayll? Worth paying any attention to?

Thanks for all your info to date mate, which has been spot on. Any truth in the rumours that we have pulled out of the Enrique deal due to his excessive wage demands? Johnsons latest injury leaves us a bit short at left back - hopefully Fabio will manage to make Saturday, as he only got 45 mins last weekend, but he cannot be relied upon to put two consecutive games back to back.

Rumours are that Joey Barton has been released from his contract at NUFC! Not that we should be interested in him, but what a joke of an outfit they are. Surely Enrique will be next out the door there.

Respect to you mate - much appreciated. Any idea who the other two players we are targetting to get in before the weekend? Presumably Downing and one other. Enrique? Mata? Dann?

Tomorrow's Times reporting Clichy has rejected Arsenal's offer of contract extension and apparently told Wenger he wants to play for Liverpool. Meanwhile the Mirror running with Sunderland having £13 million offer accepted for Wickham. That will be a real test of our financial clout if true. We obviously rate the lad, and want him, and we are his first choice. Do we have the ability to match their offer for a player who will be viewed as third / fourth choice striker. If the answer to this is yes, I will allow myself to get excited at our prospects of signing a player of the calibre of Mata.

Disagree - he was a top player in his day, but that was four years ago. He is still a good player, no doubt of that. Not good enough though for a side that has serious title aspirations. We need to move onto the next level and sign a player of the calibre of Hazard or Young to replace him. He was an astute signing by Rafa when you consider we were skint at the time, but all that has changed now.

I'll raise you a Babb 6!

Various reports from dubious sites saying he will join in the Summer on a free. Anyone confirm this? Bit of a coup if true, 24 year old, creative pacy wide left player with an eye for goal. Can also play through the middle, and at left back apparently. On verge of call up to full French squad prior to groin injury which will keep him out for rest of season - an obvious concern. I would be very optimistic that he would represent a major step up in quality by comparison to our recent Bosmans (Cole/Jovanovic). I feel we need five, possibly six additions to challenge the top four next year. 1. Young pacy centre half, good in the air. 2. Top quality left back. 3. Holding midfielder as competiton for Lucas in that role, instead of Poulsen, Gerrard and Meireles as a partnership in central midfield wont work. 4. Pacy creative wide player, prefereably two footed, to provide ammunition for Carroll, and add the pace we are so sadly lacking at the moment. 5. Another striker, two quality strikers is not enough in a squad that has top four aspirations, N'gog is not up to it, and Dirk is not the answer in the longterm. 6. If there is any cash left over, then a second wide player would be very welcome, especially if we are to utilise Carroll to maxmium effect. So............ if Marveaux is en route on a free, he constitutes one of the wide players, and without any expense, other than signing on fee etc - this frees up more funds to spend on strengthening other positions. If, for example, the net effect of this meant signing the likes of Hazard, instead of say Young or N'zogbia, it would be great business. Anyone know anything about Marveaux - has he agreed to join, and if so how good is he???

I would be amazed after all the media spin etc by FSG, and appointing Comolli etc.if we signed Van Bommel. We are only in the market for 25 year old (maximum age) international calbire players...................................... ,,,,,,aren't we......................

Not so sure of that mate, I think a lot of clubs might have a lower threshold for selling players this year, with the economic climate etc, if reasonable money is offered. Comolli indicated this a few weeks ago in an interview, and referred particularly to the French market. Even if we could land the likes of Hazard, what a massive statement that would send out. I know he is young, but he seems the real deal.