Alonso

This rotation stuff has been blown out of all proportion. Ok Rafa rotates, that?s his style. He?s won 2 La Liga titles, the UEFA Cup, Champions League and FA Cup in recent years doing it. Now where the problem lies is how and when it?s being done. There are key partnerships forged across the pitch and with the new players introduced to the squad these are taking longer to gel than usual due to the chopping and changing. Once these click either due to training or playing time then we will see the entire squad playing with rhythm, consistency and understanding whoever is picked. IMO Rafa sees this as a possible short term loss but long term gain in terms of overall style of play, results and cohesion between every squad member. In a way it?s similar to the zonal marking where at first we seemed to struggle but once everyone has got use to it it?s been brilliant. There are times when I think Rafa gets too hung up on opponents style of play and over-analyses things rather than just letting the team go out there and play and let the opposition worry about our style of play. However, he may not be confident that he can do this just yet as he may not be happy with the level of play that his team can reach. Again this will take time and understanding and a more expansive approach which is what Rafa has hinted at recently. The nucleus of the squad is there now and we can only get stronger as the season goes on. I can only see minor additions to the squad next summer and if that is the case there should be a well oiled squad there ready for an assault at the title after having a world cup free summer. Personally tho I?d like to see a core of the team remain as static as possible with the keeper back four, Gerrard, Sissoko Alonso and Kuyt starting 9 times outta 10 leaving 2 places up for grabs. The back 4 showed last year how key it is to be a settled unit and the 3 midfielders are the best at the club giving a good balance between them. Kuyt seems to have everything, pace strength, finishing, hold up play and can play with anyone and IMO should be the first striker on the team sheet. Current form suggests Crouch should be his partner.

Some Morrocan 20 year old who we souted at the same time as Paletta at the World Youth Cup. He looks to be an attacking midfielder with strength, pace and skill from various You Tube videos. He was at St. Ettiene who released him or we paid £200k compensation for him to be released and was on trial with us. No-one seems sure if we've signed him or not cos nothing official has come from the club but his official site claims he's signed a 4 year deal.

Liverpool have named a strong line-up for this evening's reserve team clash with Newcastle United. Jerzy Dudek, Stephen Warnock, Bolo Zenden, Robbie Fowler and Jermaine Pennant have all been included in Gary Ablett's starting eleven for the match at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground (kick-off 7pm). The team in full for our second match of the campaign is as follows: 1. Jerzy Dudek 2. Lee Peltier 3. Stephen Warnock 4. Miki Roque 5. Gabriel Paletta 6. Danny Guthrie 7. Jermaine Pennant 8. Boudewijn Zenden 9. Robbie Fowler 10. Nabil El Zhar 11. Robbie Threlfall Substitutes: 12. Jack Hobbs 13. David Roberts 14. Godwin Antwi 15. James Smith 16. Ryan Flynn Official Site

As opposed to Dudek, that renowed powerful keeper who comes confidently and claims everything knocking people out the way?!

Looks good to me! Would be tempted to play Pennant on the right tho.

Judging from these comments I think we can assume Crouch will be recalled, but the question is will it be for Bellamy or Kuyt? The Galatasaray defence struggled to cope with Trabzonspor's 6ft 4ins striker Ersen Martin, but Benitez is refusing to draw too many conclusions from that game. "I haven't seen their game at the weekend yet," said the manager. "I'll get the reports and watch the video carefully and we'll see whether Peter (Crouch) is a good option or not. Sep 27 2006 By Ian Doyle, Daily Post Further alterations areexpected for the visit of Galatasaray tonight, as Peter Crouch is being considered for a recall to take on former Anfield centre-back Rigobert Song. Sep 27 2006 By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo Maybe even both will be rested as Garcia has been talked up a bit by Rafa too this week. "Luis is a player who can change games, do different things, find a clever pass," says Benitez. "He's capable of the best and sometimes the worst. He's scored a lot of very good goals in Europe and is a special player. He's a good option for us to have. "Luis is a player who can produce the best, but also give the ball away too easily. But if you remember the goals that he's scored - they're fantastic and very important. And he always scores 10 to 15 goals each year. "I've always supported him. I tell him to try and do things close to the other box. I remember this year two very good assists - one for Crouch (v West Ham) and another for Kuyt (v Tottenham)." Sep 27 2006 By Ian Doyle, Daily Post

I think people were asked to vote for their all time top 10 to generate the results therefore it'll be more about who the people that voted liked rather than judged on specific criteria such as trophies won, goals scored, number of appearances, relationship with the fans etc.

Good call, especially as Cicinho has a crutiate injury likely to keep him out for about 6 months.

Sissoko Alonso Kuyt

Not to mention his and his wife's off the field charity work for underprivileged children around the world and the donation to charity of some of his wages.

A friend of mine at schools Dad's name was Ivor D1ck!!

A bit like Garcia screaming blue murder at the ref for booking him for a deliberate handball that resulted in a disallowed goal?

Alonso Garcia Kuyt

We've also hit the post 6 times in the last 4 games! Twice against Everton, twice against PSV (Kuyt's was more of a graze but hey!), once against Chelsea and again once last night!

Anton Ferdinand!

Agger Alonso Kuyt

Rafa's prefered formation (or the one he used most successfully at Valencia) is a 4-2-3-1 formation. Gerrard is ideal to provide the drive as the central one of the 3. He then also has the ability to switch to either the left or right swapping with the other players making it hard for him to be picked up and giving him the freedom to do what he does best and attack teams with pace and power and get on the end of lose balls or knock downs in and around the box. The base of the 2 holding midfielders (Momo and Xabi) also gives him theat peace of mind he needs to express himself and also fits all 3 central midfielders into the team. We have Kuyt and Crouch who can play the 1 and wingers in Kewell, Gonzalez (possibley Aurelio) who can play as the left sided 3 and Pennant, Bellamy or Garcia who can play as the right sided 3. All the players who can play as the 3 are also able to play at any point across the pitch giving freedom and movement to feed of the loan striker or find space giving Xabi opportunities to use his passing range.

Interesting article, thanks Mike. They don't put a positive spin on things but I can't imagine us coming this far only to say we can't afford it! Looks like we'll have to wait until the end of the month now.

For me that's the key. Wherever possible the back 5 (including GK) need to build up an understanding so that needs to be a setteled 5, we then have 3 midfielders in Gerrard, Alonso and Sissoko who are all world class, each offering something different giving a great balance to the side. They form such a strong base from which to attack on that IMO they need to start in every game, either Gerrard out wide or playing off the lone striker. You then have 3 players left to complete you line up and I think that's where the rotation can come in dependant on form, fitness, tactics etc. Admitedly strikers need to form a partnership too but hopefully that'll come with training and the game time, they get with each other. The plus points are that they are all intelligent players each slightly different so shouldn't have too mcuh problem gelling quickly.

Kuyt did put in a big effort v PSV but that's his game and is always gonna play like that so might always be tired after a game, however, he should have had enough time to recover ready for the Chelsea game. If he's still feeling the effects on Sunday from a game played on Tuesday then something's not quite right IMO. Not saying he'll start but it may be more to do with tactics rather than fitness problems IMO if he doesn't.

We've also used Zenden there too. I'd go with Gonzalez. He's likely to be our long term LW and most suited to that role. Plus he's shown great ability there in Spain and for Chile and needs to get a run of games going to get use to teh Premiership. Once Kewell is fit I'd imagine he'd be pushed quite hard to start unless he's shown exceptional form, so for me it's Gonzalez til Kewell is fit and then make another decision based on form/fitness.

Of course they would, but if the club have shown the council the relevant documentation and asked them not to release the details then I'd expect the council to oblige.

Dunno how we'd keep it quiet but I suppose if the club wanted kept out of the media then they might be able to do that?

I wonder if that means that we've proved we have funding in place but have kept it quiet as to where the money is coming from?

So toady's the day we should be showing how we're coming up with the £180m to fund the stadium build to secure the public funding and government grants. Anyone know anything as to where the money is coming from? If we don't hear anything over the next few days from the club or councillors is that a good or a bad thing?