G Richards

I'm hoping we sign Torres, Tevez and Simao. Those three, plus the signings already announced (Leto, Lucas), plus a back up CB, assuming Hyypia is off, and we'll be sorted. We made need a new goalie if Carson wants to leave too.

It was impossible for any of your predictions to be wrong. Kewell - stays - I was right - 60% chance to stay Kewell - goes - I was right - 40% chance to go Zenden - stays - I was right - 50% chance to stay Zenden - goes - I was right - 50% chance to go Gonzalez - stays - I was right - 30% chance to stay Gonzalez - goes - I was right - 70% chance to go

Does anyone think both Crouch and Bellamy might move on?

It always looked to me as though signing Mascherano was a bit of an insurance policy. As a pairing I think the disciplined and tenacious Mascherano behind the marauding Gerrard is the best we have, assuming Rafa is able to bring in at leat one top quality winger this summer. This leaves Xabi's spot in our 'best eleven' (as much as such a thing exists) in jeopardy for me, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go. I hope he stays since he is a quality player, but I feel he will be off back to Spain.

Rafa needs to have a convincing Prem challenge. Having said that, we got our highest points tally in the Prem last term, so he has shown already that he can make progress with us in the league. With the funds to buy two or three quality first teamers (as much as such a thing exists for Rafa) then I'm sure we'll mount a good challenge next season. In my opinion, we need to be much more adventurous away from home. I would play something like: Reina Finnan Carra Agger Riise Pennant Gerrard Mascherano Kewell Kuyt Crouch (Notwithstanding better players coming in over the summer, or Alonso in place of Mascherano). We are too cautious away from home when we already have the players to blow teams away if we get our tails up. With better players coming in the summer (and it's not hard to see how the above team might be improved up front or on the wing) we should be even more adventurous. We should also concentrate on getting points on the board early on. I want us to be top, or very near to the top, after 10-12 games. I hate the idea of having to make up a 10+ point gap that opens up well before Christmas. It just puts us on the back foot. Start with a settled side, and keep rotation to a minimum. Rotate a bit in mid season, once we already have a foothold at or near the top. Then finish strong and fit, as Rafa likes.

Very good my learned friend. I didn't like the way Joorabchian casually mentioned 'his player' at Anfield. Hopefully we already have an option and set price ironed out to keep him on (should Rafa wish to do that) at the end of the 18 month deal.

I have to say I'm a bit nervous about Padelli after watching him play on Saturday. then again, I'm nervous about Dudek these days too, while Carson is obviously a non runner due to not being in the CL list of players. Pepe just needs to be fit and on top form then. And he will be.

Ancelotti's comment (first post) was interesting. He is making an obvious statement in that we have more cover with ALonso in the middle and Gerrard out wide. But what is he trying to do by saying this? Does he fear Gerrard through the middle? Is he trying the old reverse psychology? Rafa will be wise and do what's best. I feel there will be an important role for Kewell in this final too, and he just may well give us a bit of long overdue magic that makes him essential for next season (and beyond if his fitness is good).

I can understand relegations threatened managers feeling the pressure and speaking a little out of turn. They may have a bit of a point, but obviusly relegation happens over a 38 game season. As for the idea of a weakened team, presumably we have to register all the first team squad with the Prem from the outset. Once that happens it is surely up to the manager to apportion his resources as he sees fit.

Behind his caustic remarks lies something close to a valid point. The football wasn't all that great and many said so afterwards. But the point is that you will rarely get great football when there is so much at stake. Add in two managers who don't like each other, the familiarity of the teams to cancel each other out, and the more physical approach in the Prem, and it was never going to be pretty. But that matters not one jot. We knocked out Barcelona and Chelsea, two of the best teams in Europe. We have also played some good stuff along the way but this is overlooked by some of the more bitter or myopic commentators.

Good first post. Our strikers (between them) score just about enough goals then - assuming the midfield weighs in too. And therein lies the problem for me. We have had two defensive midfielders playing in many games. I hope we see quality wingers next term and one holding player with Gerrard in the middle too.

I think the Charlton game will tell us what we need to know about Kewell's readiness for the final. He is the best left winger we have and he can keep the ball better than all the others and offers a better balance to the side. Charlton will tell us if he's fit.

Dudek Fowler Zenden Bellamy Plus some of the boys not here (but on our books) will be gone: Le tallec Cisse Carson (possibly) I still think there is scope for a surprise or two beyond this list, but a lot will depend on incoming.

If we could sign Henry for £15M then it sould be a foregone conclusion.

Is that Rafa on the sideline watching the penalty shootout?

In his book Gerrard said Didi whined like a little girl and that Gattuso was as scary as a kitten. Stevie is entitled to his opinion, but I don't like the trend for people to write books so early in their careers, especially when the likelihood is you will have to face people on the pitch again after putting things in print. It's something and nothing, but my preference would be to have our captain do his talking on the pitch. Gattuso is a good player. He is exactly the player a team like Man Utd need right now. I agree that he wouldn't get in our side, since our central midfield is so strong. But he is a noble fighter, and he shouldn't have been disrespected by our captain. It might be I'm out of touch, but I don't really like this sort of sniping via autobiographies of players still in their mid 20s.

'Ard is Gattsuso

It was marginal. You get some of those and you don't get others. Simple as that really. Fortunately we went on to win, so the importance of the Kuyt goal that never was is diminished.

I thought Terry showed some class at the end, unlike Maureen and his scandalous postmatch interview.

'He likes to talk', as Rafa once said. Still, the press conference yesterday seemed to go up another notch. I genuinely feel Mourinho is scared of us.

I think we'll sign Villa and Bellamy will go for about £10M to Aston Villa. He will form a regular partnership with Kuyt, and Crouch will be an option when we want to pack the midfield, since he is the best striker we have for playing on his own.

I feel we need a solid and older back up next season, and I'd be tempted to sell Carson. Reina is better so we should cash in on Carson, given that they are of a similar age.

Obviously we'd much rather be competing for the league as well as the CL. That ship has long sailed. We have as good a chance as any of the others in the CL now, and hopefully some astute business over the summer and a bit more consistency next term will see us fight for the league right to the end.

I reckon it's 50-50 too. It will be a cracking tie. I think it will be important to score at Stamford Bridge since Drogba looks capable of scoring from nothing, and will be a big threat to us. Still, we've got plenty of players who can damage them. I'd really like to see Stevie grab this one by the scruff of the neck and score one of his blockbuster goals to knock them out.

We need a deeper talent pool and a good pre season. The first will be helped if Rafa concetrates on signing first teamers i.e. players who are clearly better than what we now have in the 'first eleven' (as much as such a thing exists). Quality not quantity. Those displaced from the side strengthen the squad, and those displaced from the squad are shipped out. The second is helped by no summer international tournament. It would be good if Rafa gets his main business done early too.