G Richards

This is a good move for all concerned. Marseille are putting down a marker for Cisse, saying in effect, that even though he is injured now, they still want him. Being wanted will help Cisse to keep a positive attitude and it will assist in his recovery time. He will have something positive to aim for (i.e. get fit and play for Marseille, rather than get fit and hang around on the fringes at Liverpool).

I'd go along with 30 goals between them, but only on the proviso there is one striker ahead of them in the pecking order. If Crouch and Fowler become no.3 and no.4 strikers, then they will have less opportunity to reach 30.

I really like Gerrard on the right. 23 goals this season and the way he played - that will do for me. This also gives us Momo and Xabi in the middle. I honestly don't see the need to sign Alves, especially at the prices mentioned. I'd rather Pennant for £4M, and with the £5M saving I'd rather sign better strikers. Obviously if we have the money for Alves as well as Rafa's striker targets, then bring it on. Be if we have to cut our cloth, I'd be dropping the Alves interest. Also, if there is anything in the Aimar rumours then I struglle to see how he and Garcia could be in the same team, especially if our flanks are strengthened this summer.

Reina v Robinson - Reina gets the nod for me Neville v Finnan - even (much as I hate Neville, he's a good player) Carra v Terry - Terry (only just). They are even, but Terry has added goal threat). Hyypia v Ferdinand - Hyypia (only just). Ferdinand has more ability, but as an out and out defender he is not quite at Sami's level, with his concentration being the main thing that lets him down. Potentially he is better than Hyypia, but he only shows it in fits and starts, whereas Sami seems to be so consistent. Riise v Cole - Cole (pre injury. Since coming back he's not had time to prove himself yet). Gerrard v Beckham - Gerrard, by quite a bit. Sissoko v Carrick - Sissoko (just). Carrick better on the ball, Momo better athlete/tackler. Alonso v Lampard - Even. (I'm trying to be objective here, don't slate me for this!) Kewell v Cole - Even. Could be Kewell if he gets on top form, but as things stand, it's fairly even. Crouch v Owen - Owen (but it's closer than most would think). Fowler v Rooney - Rooney (but Robbie would probably score more goals, but you'd have to go with Rooney for the other things he brings). Rafa v Sven - Rafa, by quite a margin. So that's 4 for Liverpool, 4 for England, 3 even, but our manager is better. It would be close, but we'd win it.

Gerrard is 10/10 as a midfielder given licensse to maraud forward. Lampard is 8/10 (or 9/10 if you are being generous). The point is, Stevie is better in this role. It all falls down because Lampard can't do the holding role. He is probably a 6/10 at that, whereas Stevie is an 8/10. Carrick can do the holding role, but he is probably a 7/10 at that. Erickson's problem is that he will shy away from making a big and bold decision. He should drop Lampard and replace him with Carrick, who's job will be to sit back while Gerrard does his stuff. That's the only way Erickson will have one of the world's best players playing to his strengths. It seems to me that you might need that if you want to win a World Cup! Instead, we'll have more routine performances from Stevie due to the limitations of his midfield partner, as has already been pointed out. It's a recipe for continued frustration and a quarter final exit.

I'd be surprised too. We've probably already done lots of ground work, but I'd imagine we'll have to wait until after the World Cup to sign any players involved. Having said that, for most players their World Cup will only last 2-3 weeks.

I dislike Chelsea. One league title about 50 years ago was their level. Under Bates they pushed the boat out and got themselves into huge debt for getting up towards challenging for a CL spot. An occasional cup here and there, but nothing of note in terms of achievement. Then the Russian arrives. This is accompanied by a sharp upturn in their success on the pitch (whenever their fans/players say they are not getting the credit they deserve, it is like a lottery winner being upset at not being feted for earning his money through hard work). Anyway, I don't like them, and the sooner the wheels fall off the better. So, with that all said, I'd like to comment on the financial comparison at the start of this thread. It's a poor comparison IMO! It does not take into account inflation or the huge amounts of money that have been in the game the last 10-15 years.

I would sign Aimar if Garcia is returning to Spain (which seems unlikely, given the recent comments from Rafa). Aimar would give us the skill and trickery of Garcia, but with the added benefit of being better on the ball and a lot more likely to get it to a team mate. Garcia's star is high right now in Spain, so we should get enough money for him to be able to buy Aimar (or very close). If Garcia's wife is indeed unsettled, then this is a deal I would go for. Aimar would be great for us IMO. Small, but tough too.

If we do have Defoe lined up, then I'm sure there's a good reason why we have not announced it yet. My guess is it's a financial reason, and it is to do with moving Cisse on. If we announce we have Defoe, then any possible suitors for Cisse will gain an advantage because we will be more desperate to offload him. That could cost us a fair few million in the market. So, much better to see what offers come in for Djibs and get that sorted out. I will be very happy if Djibs leaves and Defoe comes in, and the fee is fairly neutral for the club. BTW - this is a great time to get Defoe. A year ago he would have cost £15M+. He has fallen out of favour at Spurs, but he is still young and he still has the attributes that made him a much sought after player not too long ago. I feel a fresh start and a new challenge will rekindle all of that in him. And what better man than Rafa to play under? We still need a Mori replacement, and I'm hoping that will be Kuyt. Kuyt, Defoe, plus a right mid, Gonzales, Paletta, Aurelio, and then one or two more youngsters. That will be a great summer's business if we can do it.

There's no way Xabi is for sale. But I do feel most players have a price, even if they aren't particularly for sale. Something like £20M plus Ronaldo might at least get Rafa talking. But it's a nothing story - unfounded speculation.

Normally, spending more money means higher quality and less risk of failure. But this theory is littered will exceptions to the rule, as honourable george pointed out with our three most expensive signings (Cisse, Heskey, Diouf). So if we get someone like a Pennant (lowish fee) what's to say he won't do very well for us, while someone with a big price tag (Joaquin) might well flop. It's a judgment thing for the manager. Rafa knows the score. He continually makes furniture analogies about it being the right leg to balance the table, not the most expensive one. The free player we picked up in January looked our most accomplished striker as the season drew near to a close. He was given a new contract and the manager said that he had just saved £10M in the market.

G14 are right in testing the water for their clubs to receive money from the national FA's for when the players are away. The days of international (country) football being all about the honour (with little or no money made) have long gone. Obviously there are some national FA's who couldn't hope to pay their top stars, since it would bankrupt them. But limiting this to England, if the FA are making hundreds of millions from the game, then I think it's within the rights of the clubs to ask that their players are paid by the FA when they are on international duty. G14 are progressive in testing this out IMO.

Whenefer Owen is discussed his fitness record is called into question. Does anyone know what Bellamy's fitness record is like? He is a good player, but I get the impression that his fitness record is not that good.

I Bellamy has a buy-out clause of £6M then I could easily be persuaded. Obvious feisty character, but if he came here you'd have to think he would be glad for the chance to show what he could do, and he'd work hard to keep his nose clean. Kuyt and Bellamy would be just fine by me. It just looks like we have more links to Defoe than Bellamy, but I'm just guessing. But does your dog have a good touch or not?

I'd be very happy with Kuyt and a pacy home grown player (probably Defoe). That would give us great balance, if we add in Fowler and Crouch.

I really like Henry the player. Glad he's staying. Whatever top strikers we go in for, it should be one less team competing for them if Henry stays there. So good news for us on the tranfer front. As a person I've thought for a long time that Henry was a good 'un, but his bitter comments after the CL final have made me have a re-think on that score.

I'd pay for a new stadium, hopefully making the capacity a bit bigger, but not too big/soulless. I'd also invest a lump sum which would generate annual income to be used for the manager in the tranfer market - nothing too ridiculous though, say enough to generate £15-20M per season. With a free stadium (and larger income), plus a £20M a year head start on the transfer budget, we would be well set up. Ticket prices would stay the same, and in years to come I would ensure they remained amongst the lowest in the Prem.

I think he is a very good player. He links midfield and forward very well, and he weighs in with his share of goals. If we were not getting 2 out and out strikers, but rather one absolute top notch one (say Torres), then Eidur would be great just behind him, especially if rumours of Garcia returning to Spain are true.

I'd like to see Crouch used as another options next season, rather than starting most of the time. We need a first choice partnership, and Kuyt/Defoe would fit the bill. Or if Rafa wanted one up top in a 4-2-3-1 (Momo/Xabi the 2, behind Gonzales/Stevie/new right mid) then we need a top top player to play on his own and still be fairly pacy, a decent target man, as well as able to offer his own goal threat. That would point towards Torres for me.

Traore is a lot better than most fans think IMO. He just doesn't have the composure to become a real top class player, but he is still a decent Premiership standard performer. £2M and whoever buys him will get a good deal at that price.

If we have signed Defoe then I'm happy with that - on the proviso that another striker is coming. If it ends up being Kuyt and Defoe, with Crouch and Robbie the other two, then that is more than fine by me. Defoe is a good player. A year ago he was much heralded. He has just finished a patchy season. This means he will cost about half of what he cost a year ago, but it doesn't follow that he now has half the talent of a year ago. The transfer market is funny like that.

I'm very glad Rafa is our manager. He is a great football man. Shrewd, tactical, hard-working. He also seems to be a great leader - able to find the balance between man-managing well yet still maintaining enough distance to keep all his players on their toes. He is definitely in charge, and that's the way it should be. Then the way rafa comes across as a human being also adds to the appeal. Family man, down to earth, humble in spite of his standing in the game etc. I'm very glad he is our manager, and I honestly cannot think of another manager in world football I'd rather have at this time.

The question 'Where would we be without Gerrard?' is impossible to answer. He is our best player, and it is obvious that he has played a huge part in us winning trophies the last 2 seasons. We also have great reason to be optimistic about the part he will likely play for us in future success. He is a special player, one that would improve all the top teams in the league and around Europe. So obviously, on the face of it, we would be quite far behind where we are today if it wasn't for Gerrard. But to say that is a bit disingenuous. Suppose Rafa took £35-40M for Stevie last season. What's to say he would not have made the overall team better with that money? It could have brought in a central midfielder, a right midfielder and a striker. Arguably the team might have been better off, though there's no point arguing this for too long, since it is all conjecture, and assumes the money would have been spent wisely and the players brought in would have delivered. So, where would we be without Gerrard? No-one honestly knows the answer to that, since if Stevie left other top players would certainly come in. As Liverpool fans we're just glad that he is ours and we will continue to celebrate that and look forward to the future with a lot of optimism.

Right at the end Mori says 'but without playing, I can't stay.' That's a fair and honourable assessment. He could relax and pick up his wages, learn the language, have a valuable cross-cultural experience with his family, and basically wind his contract down. But it looks like Mori does not want to do that. He wants to play. I don't think that will be at Anfield, but I do think he can do a job for a decent Spanish team for another 2 years, especially if after his World Cup setback he wants to fight and show his best towards the end of his career.

I think it's Luis' wife - she simply wants to return to Spain. If that's the case then it's a shame, but it is understandable. I would be happy if we could do some sort of part ex along the lines of Torres in exchange for Garcia and up to £10M.