Alonso

As part of the deal for Bellamy maybe.....?

I probably wrote it that way so it would appear like that subconsciously!!!

As Gerrard is more involved in the game, chasing players, making tackles etc he is more likely to pick up a yellow than Lampard as he's just wandering around waiting to have a shot.

Here's an interesting one; ask someone you know that supports a lower league side (or any team for that matter) what they'd prefer, England to win the World Cup or their club to win promotion/league. As a Liverpool fan I don't have to think for a nano second as to what the answer is....the Premiership without doubt.

Different story when that's all Owen does tho!

Too true!

But apparently the best midfield in the tournament according to some pundits!

If we are to sacrafice any purchase then it'll be for RW. We currently have 2 strikers and will need 2 more as Cisse won't be fit until at least Christmas and even then he isn't Rafa's cup of tea. At least have players that can play RW including Gerrard, Garcia and Kewell amongst others.

No mention of Defoe which is strange given the amount of rumours there have been. Looks like it may well be Alves, Kuyt and one from Bent or Bellamy and that'd be the lot. Maybe we'll drop our interest in Pennant then and use Cisse there when he comes back?

Phil Neville is another prime example.

Having mentioned our determination to bring in a new wide player, I can confirm that we have put in a work permit application for Mark Gonzalez. He's now fully fit which he wasn't at this time last year and has been playing well for Spanish side Real Sociedad. We are also seeking a long-term deal whereas initially it was a one-season loan. The other plus is that Chile have broken into the world's top 70 in the FIFA rankings. Mark has had a significantly better season in terms of showing the quality we always knew he had. We believe our case is much stronger this time round and he would be a great acquisition for us. The player is exciting and incredibly quick. He can knock it five yards past players and run by them, reminiscent of Steve Heighway at his peak. He can also beat defenders and has got a trick as well. The authorities normally respond fairly quickly and I anticipate we will have a decision in time for pre-season. Taken from HERE

That's too much like common sense for Sven tho! Plus he'd never drop Owen if there's a chance he can play some part in a game whether he's suited to a role or not. Sven makes his fvourites fit the formation he wants rather than picking players who suit the formation.

I think the £6m clause is only activated if a team that is in the Champions League makes a bid? Maybe cos we're not in it officially yet then the release fee isn't triggered? If they decide to buy Pongolle then maybe if Rafa does want him we can use him in some sort of swap + cash?

Surely Bacsombe?s article sum?s up the situation in a nutshell. 1. We need to re-apply for a work permit as he hasn?t got one ? We will do on June 1st. 2. If this fails he/LFC will go down the Spanish passport route which may take longer hence the reason for applying for the work permit first. Rafa and the board have more weight behind their work permit application this time due to: 1. He?s being signed on a permanent deal as opposed to a season?s loan deal with an option to buy (as was the case last year). 2. He?s fully recovered from a serious knee injury. 3. He?s been a huge success in La Liga since he returned there. 4. Chile have entered FIFA rankings top 70 one of the criteria the DoE look at.

Thanks for the info. Will Finnan be playing? If so it'll be a great test and interesting to watch.

I thought he was at Gremio (coincidently where Ronaldinho started out). When did he move and for how much?

9 is free

No obvious significance in 15 tho?

I found the scream bar on death junction a bit cramped and lacking of seats, closer to town tho.

If anyone is looking for a pub in Cardiff to watch the game in, The Claude on Albany Road in Roath use to be owned by an LFC fan. It?s a big venue with a student atmosphere and will cost about £6-7 max in a taxi from the train station. If you walk it will take you about 30-40 minutes if you know where you?re going. Obviously you?ll be a bit from the centre but you can easily make your way back as there is a frequent bus route outside the pub.

Same with Freddy Adu born and raised in Ghana til he was 8 then moved to the USA and has played for them ever since. Can't remember if the USA scouted him and offered him and his family citizenship if he were to move there? Another fact is that Tony Yeboah is his uncle!

Arsenal's run to the Champions League final has seen them eclipse Chelsea's earnings for television income and prize money in the 2005-06 season. The Gunners have made £52.7m so far while champions Chelsea took £47.5m. Liverpool made £43.2m from television and prize money while their great rivals Manchester United got £39.9m. Almost half Arsenal's income has come from the Champions League - victory over Barcelona in the final would bring in a further £2m. Spurs, the highest-placed club not involved in the Champions League, earned £26.2m, less than half the sum their north London rivals pulled in. Henk Potts, a football finance analyst with Barclays stockbrokers, said: "The Champions League is the cash cow of modern football and it is so important to the leading clubs to be part of it. "It is not just the TV and prize money, though that is very lucrative in itself, but it is vital in terms of a club's profile, merchandising and desirability for sponsors." Liverpool's run to the FA Cup, and qualifying for the Champions League knockout phase, enabled them to earn more than Manchester United, while Middlesbrough's success in cup competitions brought in an extra £5m. Earnings of Premier League clubs in 2005/06 (prize money and TV cash but not gate receipts or merchandise income). Arsenal £52.7m* Chelsea £47.5m Liverpool £43.2m** Man Utd £39.8m Tottenham £26.2m West Ham £24.4m** Middlesbrough £24.3m Newcastle £24.0m Bolton £23.7m Blackburn £23.6m Wigan £22.9m Everton £22.4m Charlton £21.0m Man City £20.6m Fulham £20.3m Aston Villa £19.6m Birmingham £19.4m Portsmouth £18.0m West Brom £16.9m Sunderland £16.1m * Arsenal earn an extra £2m if they win the Champions League ** An extra £1m goes to the FA Cup final winners

And SWP and Alves

Maybe make a bid for Lennon then!!

Liverpool's Xabi Alonso may miss the FA Cup final after landing awkwardly on his right ankle at Portsmouth. The incident happened after 39 minutes of the game as the 24-year-old Spain international launched himself into the air to control the ball. Midfielder Alonso was carried from the field and is thought to have twisted his ankle - bringing into question his availability for the final. Liverpool take on West Ham at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. Rafael Benitez's team are already without the suspended Luis Garcia and Robbie Fowler, who is cup-tied. BBC