JimmyF

He won the league at Valencia against the odds, you cant consistently keep on doing that when your chief rivals are dropping £20M for players all the time. Last summer Scum payed £19M for Carrick and were willing to stump up another £20M for Hargreaves, Chelease are Chelsea. We lost out Alves b/c we could muster up £13M for him and now look what he's worth The thing about DIC Vs G&H is that imo if DIC were the current owners no one would be questioning whether we would ahve the funds to buy Alves, Villa .. et al - With G&H we dont know but i get the feeling we wont be able to compete at the top end

Sack Parry! Seriously though what the hell is Parry playing at, he knows the score - If rafa is unsettled by what has happened over the past 3 weeks a lot of this would fall on Parry's head From The Times March 21, 2007 Real Madrid choose Benítez Oliver Kay Real Madrid have identified Rafael Benítez, rather than José Mourinho, as the leading candidate to become their new coach and are planning to lure him from Liverpool by making an offer that they believe he cannot refuse. With the Spaniard unsettled at Anfield, as he awaits reassurances from Liverpool?s new American owners, Real believe that they can tempt him back to his native Madrid by offering greater control than any other coach has had at the Bernabéu. Benítez rejected an approach from Real 12 months ago, partly because his misgivings about the regime that was taking shape in Madrid, but a series of changes behind the scenes have laid the groundwork for a renewed bid to sign the Liverpool manager. In recognition of the need to allow their next coach more power than they have given the beleaguered Fabio Capello, Real have made moves to marginalise Predrag Mijatovic, the sporting director, and to promote a friend of Benítez, Juan Ángel Sánchez, in a role as general manager that has been designed to avoid any conflicts of interest with the next coach. Real plan to sound out Benítez via his agent, Manuel García Quillon, in the next fortnight, having detected that his position at Anfield is becoming unstable. The Spaniard expressed concern last week at the fact that he had not been contacted by George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks, the American sports tycoons, since they bought a 62 per cent stake in the club in early February. He was piqued by their failure to speak to him when they visited Anfield for the Champions League match against Barcelona two weeks ago. While he has since been placated by a number of conciliatory e-mails from the United States, Benítez is understood to be demanding serious reassurances when the Americans, whose takeover is complete, return to Merseyside for the Barclays Premiership match against Arsenal on March 31. Last night, Benítez offered observations on the new regime at Real in an interview with Revista de La Liga, Sky Sports? Spanish football programme. ?From a distance, you know that they are changing things,? he said. ?They have enough quality and players with experience. It?s difficult when you are in another country to talk about their squad, but they have very good players. ?I know that the people are talking [about him], but I like to be focused on my team because we are trying to finish in the top four [in the Premiership] and we are playing in the Champions League.? That at least is encouraging for Liverpool, but Benítez is eager to know whether he will have the money to strengthen the squad in the summer. Although Liverpool have had success in the Champions League this season, Benítez believes that they are at least two top-class players short of a team who will challenge for the Premiership title next season. Gillett and Hicks have offered assurances that there will be money available ? with those assurances backed by Rick Parry, the chief executive ? but Benítez wants to know how much, with uncertainty about whether he will have the funds to compete for a centre forward of the calibre of David Villa, of Valencia, or Samuel Eto?o, of Barcelona. ?It?s important to know the ideas of the new owners and they need to know my ideas,? Benítez said. ?It?s important to know what will happen in the future. Will there be a new stadium and maybe more money coming in? We need to do the right things.? Liverpool are confident that Benítez will stay at Anfield beyond his present contract, which expires in 2010, and are encouraged not only by his commitment to investing in better players at youth level but also by his decision to buy a new house for his family in The Wirral. But they also recognise that the attraction of Real is strong for a man who was born in Madrid, supported the club and played for their reserve team before spending several years on their coaching staff.

PSV lost 5-1 at home to Ajax hmmmmm

Hicks and Gillet better pull their finger out though, say what you will about madrid but at the end of the day its his team, he probably feels about them as how we feel about liverpool. Reading the story about Alves in the echo today doesnt exactly fill you with confidence that they have deep enough pockets to get rafa the players he wants in the summer

Anyone else a litle worried by this? WILL RAFA RUN TO REAL? Hi Guillem, As a Liverpool fan will Rafa Benitez turn down Real Madrid again knowing of all the interference which comes with the job? At my beloved Liverpool he is given full control of football maters and with substantial backing could possibly have a very good team and of course there are the fans who do believe in him. There are not a lot of managers with ability out there with, for the first real time the players coming out in praise of him, which tells me they see his vision of the game which should lead to the team he envisages. Tony, London. GUILLEM SAYS: Well not to give anything away, but we have an inclusive interview with Benitez on Revista so keep a close eye on what he says because I get the impression that the offer from Real Madrid is very serious and is big in terms of money. But I also get the impression that if he gets to meet the owners for a second time, they may convince him to stay. It is not about the money, it is about the promise that things are going to change. http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=4...+test+for+Celta

http://www.as.com/articulo/futbol/Barcelon...sdaiftb_53/Tes/ BARCELONA AND LIVERPOOL AFTER CANTERANO DANI AQUINO Seville also follows international the youthful one of the Murcia FUTURE OF GOLD. Dani Aquino, followed by several powerful equipment of Spain of the Premier. (PEPE VALERO) 16.03.2007 JAVIER ORIVE The way undertaken previously by Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal), the zaragocista today Piqué (Manchester) by Barragán (Liverpool) or more recently, also course to Anfield, by the malaguista Durán, it can cross the one that all say is the great one to per it of the quarry seeds: Daniel Toribio the Pinto Aquinos. In the son of the remembered Dani Aquino they have been interested spanish Liverpool that commands Rafa Benítez and Soccer Barcelona Club among other equipment of first level. Although blaugranas and reds is not the unique ones that their eyes in the forward have put, Seville also has to him in mind, yes they are those that more advanced take the contacts until the point of which already the father and representative of the player have put themselves in contact with to see the availability of Dani to give the jump. With contract in vigor with the organization that Jesus Samper presides over until June of 2,10 Aquino could not be welcomed in a change of residence to sign by a national club. But to emigrate to the foreigner, to the English clubs that in addition to the Liverpool already him ?have thrown the eye?, will not be so complicated and ?only? it will be question to put a good contract upon the table of the player. Soon the UEFA will stipulate the canon to perceive by the club, in this case the Murcia, for rights of formation and promotion. With a quality outside the normal thing, Aquino has been summoned in the last weeks by youthful the Spanish selection that directs Ginés Menéndez, ?only their emotional instability and their pasotismo in some opportunities could truncate a shining race at upper the level? according to confirmed technical AS that have been following to him for several seasons. Son of a myth seeds of the 90, advises Ginés to him Carvajal Daniel Aquino is son of whom outside player of the Real Murcia during five seasons (in two stages different in the Nineties), Daniel Toribio Aquino. The once front one seeds and of the Betis and Rayo it knows clearly that ?to Dani it still has left much way to cross. He must grow and he has much to improve. Better than I? That has it to demonstrate (laughter). I, its age, already some party had played with First of Banfield?. The ex- soccer player has put, in common agreement with the mother of the chaval (tutorial of the boy) his professional subjects into the hands of the office that directs Ginés Carvajal, the representative, among others of the madridistas Raul González Blanco, Iker Casillas and Michel Salgado. Crystal clear translations as always

Yeah I would agree with that, Duran looked really good in the game that he did play in and was a bit closer to the 1st team than the young swede. its reported Wenger wanted him so must be a little bit special, hopefully he'll make a fully recovery for early next season

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv...-name_page.html Shame for the lad, probably the most talentyed of all the youngsters we've drafted in over the last couple years.

LIVERPOOL WANTS TO FILE TO THE YOUTHFUL MIKEL SAN JOSE Lezama already knows of the interest by the international power station POWERFUL. Mikel San jOse struggles by a ball with a soccer player of the Numancia. (PEDRO AGUSTÍN) 14.03.2007 The Liverpool wants to fish in Lezama and, as it could not be of another way, a fat fish. The club of Anfield already has let know to the Navarrese Mikel San jOse, youthful international defense of the Athletic, that it wants to file to him for the next campaign. The rumor untied in one radio in Pamplona and AS could certify that in Ibaigane already it is known that reds offers to him to integrate itself in their rows. The logical thing is that, initially, the English proposal is for forging to him in the second equipment, but training to the orders of Rafa Benítez. An operation similar to which the Liverpool will approach with youthful of the Malaga the Francis Durán. When not having professional contract, if San jOse take refuges abroad in a change of residence, to the Athletic only it they would have left to perceive the rights of formation and promotion, about 100,000 euros. San jOse, of 17 years, only takes two seasons in Lezama, although he was followed close by during several campaigns in the Txantrea and got to dispute several friendly ones with rojiblancos equipment in different stages. Her family is enchanted in the Athletic, but she tries to know what type of sport project offers to the multipurpose player, who in the last started off has played of defensive pivot. Its stopped ball incorporation has taken to mark five goals to him in 23 parties the orders of Julen Guerrero. To the club only it has left to present/display a professional contract and to wait for that the young person to him, to title in the Selection Sub-19, not boarding in the English adventure. Nobody of Lezama has been escaped to the foreigner. Miki Roqué, a ?network? companion of Selection Mikel San jOse was one of the five soccer players of field who disputed yesterday the ninety minutes in the friendly one of Spanish the Sub-19 Selection that lost yesterday one to zero in a friendly one against Portugal. Power station of Villaba, locality of champion Miguel Indurain, could to interchange impressions on his case in call, since one of the members of the same one is Miki Roqué, who left in a similar situation of the Lleida and has made debut this campaign with Rafa Benítez in the Champions League, before the Galatasaray. Alvaro Arbeloa and Francis Durán are the last bets of reds. Cesc and the Almunias, each one in different dimension, guessed right leaving by the door back to the Arsenal. In the heat of way of the success is young like Fran Mérida, also with gunners, Sergio Tejera (Chelsea) and Gerard Piqué, who changed the Barça by the Manchester United and now she is making a good yielded campaign like in the Zaragoza. Hopefully San jOse does not fatten this list, although the temptation exists. It looks like rafa is cornering the market on young power stations

Age would be on their side, the first 3 on that list are really good athletes very mobile i think they would adapt, Huntelaar - I've not seen enough of him to truely comment accurately

I think this is the summer where we cant afford to speculate, i think we need a proven world class striker by that I we need to land a Torres, Eto'o or Villa (maybe Huntelaar). Anyone else doesnt really enthuse me

Darren bent = Jermaine Pennant ............ Lets not go down that road again

Graham Hunter on talk Sport friday claimed barca have set their sights on signing Abidal, Alves and Roben in the summer. I think we're going to regret not stumping up the extra couple of million Sevilla were asking for Alves last summer

1- We need to buy a top class striker in the worst possible way this summer and 2- We really miiss little Luis especially on European nights like these, the little fella can be infuriating but he's a very good finisher and he's always good for a vital goal. A performance like that deserved atleast a 3-1 scoreline in our favour, barring the last few moments we made Barca look second best all night

If we land a striker like Villa (or Eto'o maybe Torres) this team would be improved exponentially, i'm just praying we land one of the big three.

VILLA 'FLATTERED' BY REDS LINK By Alex Livie - Created on 6 Mar 2007 Valencia striker David Villa has admitted he is flattered by reports linking him with a move to Liverpool. The Spanish international is one of the hottest properties in Europe, as his goals have kept Valencia in the hunt for honours both domestically and in Europe. Villa was linked with a move away from the Mestalla during the January transfer window, but the Che were able to fend off interest in the striker. However, the speculation surrounding his future is refusing to subside as he has again been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. Villa recently told the Spanish media that a host of Premiership clubs were on his trail and he has now admitted that reports linking him with a move to Anfield are flattering. "Liverpool don't just have a coach who is Spanish but I also have a lot of friends there," Villa is quoted as saying in the Daily Star. "When Rafa (Benitez) was coach at Valencia and I was at Zaragoza, there was contact about me joining Valencia. But I couldn't arrive until the year after he left. "The talk is flattering, and it makes you see that if you are doing things well, other teams should become interested in you. "But all the time there is nothing concrete, then I am not going to think about it too much. The day that happens, we will look at the situation then. "Things can happen in the future but right now I am happy at Valencia." http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=4...9;+BY+REDS+LINK

I would be happy with anyone of Eto'o, Villa or Torres and ofcourse Alves. Getting a top striker an Alves would be priorities then I would look for cover at CB and LB and maybe look for a versitile midfielder who could play left and right side. Wonder if Vicente might be a possibility

I dont think this supposed annual £200M-300M is for transfers alone, I think you need to include club development stadium etc

I saw the whole interview, he was in the studio talking about the CL draw, on Liverpool the main points if I remember correctly: Takeover should be completed by next week or as early as this Friday, hinted more details will be released soon (This is contrary to everything we heard and read saying it will be turn of the year at the earliest) Mentioned the benetiz hasnt been told directly what their plans for player procurement BUT the DIC people have been briefing (didnt say who) people that they plan to invest £200-£300M annually in the club (I'm assumning this isn't just on transfers) Also mentioned that they maybe even willing to give Rafa £20-30M to spend alone this January and said Rafa would be after a Striker mentioned Trezeguet and Alves i dont know how clued in Giulleme is aboput this whole thing but thats what he had to say about us

I hate to say it but there were more then a few people here who said the lad wasnt good enough and they were shot down very quickly, I never saw him have a single really outstanding game whilst I had watched him previously and unfortunately by the looks of things he appears to be a flop, an expensive flop

Pardon my ignorance Kev, are you saying Morgan will get his greasy mits on our club? The thought makes me squirm

Stolen from TLW: http://www.sport.es/default.asp?idpublicac...03&h=060714 Fran Mérida, `robbery' that has finished in the courts Once it turned the 16 years - past 4 of March, legal age to change of residence, to Fran Mérida it needed time to sign definitively its contract with the Liverpool, that already it had to him tied a long time ago. In fact, the player no longer appeared at the beginning of the season with the Barça alleging `personal reasons'. Anyone have anything else, is he any good?

Dave U on tlw confirmed he has signed as well, happy days!

saifurv@hotmail.com

as long as theyre not singing in north london in august i'll be pleased