fabfive

As i stated ticket pricing and pricing supporters out of going is a concern for all supporters. Something SOS could have highlighted. What is confusing is what does SOS want the club to do about it? Nothing in the article with any suggestions. There's not likely to ever be another boys pen due to safety regulations. So just how does the club address the problem? What is SOS's solution for it? We know Anfield is at capacity. Does SOS think the club should knock back 50 tickets for local kids? And if the club pulls them from the PTS scheme, will there be another howl in protest? I don't think a lot can be done until the new stadium. Could be wrong though.

Weren't these the tickets that were knocked off the developement association? Weren't those the ones found to have been used for "unauthorized" local package deals? So in reality isn't it like for like? A package deal that kids or locals didn't use anyway. Or would rarely have used. If so, then the only thing that has changed is the club is getting more of the money out of the deal. I think we're all in agreement about pricing fans out of going to the match. If that is what SOS was attempting to highlight it looks like it's backfired on them by bringing day trippers and oot'ers into the equation directly by their spokesman at the photo shoot. It does smack of locals v others. Something not on and will impact the membership drive. But even having to correct the faux pax could mean those thinking about joining may still be uncertain for awhile until they see SOS act on their behalf me thinks. And if SOS does. Will locals then get upset. Can of frigging worms this was by bringing up day trippers and oot'ers.

hip hop band from Beiijing.

Something doesn't add up. It seems a number of people are willing to assume Rafa has agreed on the £18m valuation of Barry. And that Rafa wants him that bad that Rafa would change his valuation on the player. Isn't this the same Rafa who threw a strop over a january transfer for a back up italian defender last November? But this time Rafa basically has been quiet through all this. All we have is media reports and chinese whispers. Maybe what has happened as Villa have dug their heels in, another player who we might not have had much chance at has come available and Rafa now has a choice. Villa might be pressing us for answers. Media wonder what's taking so long as Ronaldo is out of the news now. So they focus on Barry. Rafa could be negotiating to see about A.Nother with him being in full knowledge if he doesn't get A.Nother there's always Barry to go back for. Oh well only 20 days to go until the summer transfer season is over.

Per SSN..yes. Villa are after Joe Cole.

Oopps. meant monetarily. Edit feature was missing

At this point in time, is the Robbie Keane transfer the highest momentarily in the Premier League so far.

True the owners probably do not know the value of any specific player. What they do know is negotiating. What they would know is what Aston Villa original price for Barry is. They would negotiate from there. And one suspects they would have Rafa's input on his evaluation. They may have even asked Rafa what would you pay for Barry before going to Villa. Maybe Rafa says 12mil. So the club offer 10. Villa scream and say 18 or nothing. We go back with 10 plus a player and on and on it goes. The only thing none of us know is IF Rafa said buy Barry at 18 mil because I want him anyway. Anyone claiming they can read the tea leaves on that must be a mystic. Personally I am not convinced Barry is the answer but if Rafa gets him that's enough for me. Rafa's won more than me.

All will be revealed by September 1st...

The only way i'm leaving early is in a St. Johns ambulance and they better have the match on the radio.

Didn't think it would be so quick my thoughts were vindicated by the club...

I underlined a bit you didn't highlight. So it isn't about money. Maybe Rafa has tired of Villa and their valuation of Barry. Something Rafa said long before G&H took over is that he won't be held to ransom over what HE values a player at. So this type of statement is a last shot across the bow of Villa and MON. Either accept what Rafa is offering for Barry or Rafa has another target lined up. Who the left sided players is would be another matter. Like a number of Rafa's targets he does like his surprises. Lastly, we all got our ire up over the reports of G&H pulling rank on Rafa and telling him not to buy Barry because of resale value and Barry's age. Were those reports accurate? Because what Rafa said after the match the day of the media reports doesn't indicate they were. Otherwise Rafa could have coyly answered media questions about financing. But Rafa didn't he dispelled that in one felled swoop. Which brings me to a media agenda. Are they feeding us stuff to make us madder? As much as we know G&H have lied in the past are the media inventing things to disrupt us and ultimately the team?

Is TB at The Echo being used like how Real Madrid use Marca...

Who says Rafa values Barry at 18 mil? It seems he doesn't and hence MON screaming bloody murder for a month or so now. Villa have dug their feet in on Barry's value. It looks like we would only pay so much cash and throw in a player to keep them satisfied that we met their evaluation. MON wanted none of that. I don't think Rafa values Barry at 18 mil. He may be forced to pay that in the end unless Villa save face and accept a player along with cash.

Why would Barry stay behind from Villa training for three weeks until the 27th and we're done with Liege?

Great piece and a well worth effort. One the one hand we have the stats about goals. Even though we came 4th in the League, we came first in all competitions. One the other hand, Rafa has identified some weaknesses at the back which let in goals from set pieces. Some of that could be attributed to Agger being out and Skrtel only being here since January. Not to mention the changes at fullbacks most matches. But we defend as a team. So it is not surprising Rafa has brought in Keane to improve the options in attack or even Ngog, targeted Barry, and we've seen during preseason the Kids are alright and can step in when called upon. Which means that Rafa has undertaken the revamping of the Academy and now we are seeing some benefits and it looks like we are on the verge of a production line of sorts. Complimented by transfer dealings for specific needs. Now to turn this into a winning team, with a killer instinct, and a trophy haul to match.

What if no one goes of note? Voronin might go. Maybe Pennant. Maybe Finnan. But none of those or all combined will raise the funds for Barry. Just means the squad gets down to a normal amount of players.

Round and round it goes. You bring up past close seasons and how we could or should have spent better. Yet, this started as some sort of bat to beat G&H over the head with. And they've owned the club for two summer transfer seasons. Last summer seasons purchases on the whole have been good buys. January rolled around and we signed Skrtel. February we signed Mascherano. And subsequent to all the acrimony of the owners, Rafa, and Parry---it looks as though Rafa has been given the reigns to do the negotiating for players instead of Parry, which Rafa has positioned himself as needing. Plus Rafa was given charge of the Academy and youth set up as well. Another point Rafa wanted and the owners oblidged. So that brings us back to this summer. If Rafa does have the control over the spending of the tranfer budget as it seems he does, then one can assume he is going after his targets. So far Rafa has not indicated he's been knocked back to bring in any player. And shouldn't that be the measure of if Rafa is being given the money? Supporters want high priced talent and will constantly whinge whether we spend 20 mil net or 40 mil net. If Rafa has the budget at his disposal and can spend it on one or two top players or 4 or 5--then the choice is his to make. Because at the end of the day it is his neck on the line if we don't win. If we don't sustain a run for the League, then we all know there will be posts and threads discussing Rafa should go. As has been mentioned there are things to beat the owners over the head with however it seems they have given Rafa what he wants with respect to control that he didn't have before. Whether the monies come from loans or bank drafts, I don't suspect Rafa cares as long as he has it to spend. It's up to the club to find ways to generate profits to pay for it all. If some of that comes froms needing to sell players then Rafa has to judge which player he brings in will improve the team from the ones leaving. Every season we have seen players come and go and it will always be thus.

Unless Barry moves to left midfield and Babel moves to striker as a sub for Torres or Keane. With Rafa it's all about possibilities, no ?? ---------Masch--- Kuyt-------------Barry --------Gerrard ----Keane--Torres

Oh, i see. Must make sense in video games and fantasy football. However, managers all have squad players who supporters think are dross. With the usual chants of give the kids a chance. Until the kids cost us points then they're crap. Or maybe a defender who gives away 2 own goals to man utd who people wanted rid of because he had limited skills. There are scapegoats every season. However, judging talent for the 4th striker or 2nd choice right back means we should basically have top talent ready to fill in, who cost a lot of money and are on high salaries as well. Unfortunately Rafa does not have that luxury. And I doubt he will regardless of who owns us because most clubs don't have that luxury. Who is Fergies 4th striker and 2nd choice right back? I suspect you'll need to look it up and then find out it's not exactly like we'd swap like for like would we?

It's a catch22 though isn't it. Supporters want instant success and the very top players at all positions. We could have a great 11 with all the transfer fees sunk into top players and a s**** squad with average to poor backups. So rafa has to look at the squad in total. He's said he now has the best squad since he's been here. We are now, as Gunga points out, on the verge of seeing some fruits from the reserve tree. Rafa has bought loads of players "for the future". If he can bring through one or two a year and supplement with one or two decent quality players, He'll be on the right track to keeping consistency at a higher and higher level for the team. Rome wasn't built in a day but supporters think it can be.

Liverpool win the league Everton survive the drop the last day of the season Keane gets 15 goals in all competitions Torres gets 29 goals in all competitions We do the double over Man Utd in the League

But is your analysis flawed? Moores dug into his pocket and loaned the club £10m to get Kuyt. This made the net transfer amount the £25m you mention. But did Moores do that knowing full well at the time that he was on the verge of selling the club and knew he would recoop his money soonest? Would Moores have dipped into his pockets if he was not selling? Unknown, but chances are the answer may have been no. Yes, Moores had dipped into his fortune before when the stand was being rebuilt but he had assurances of getting his money back from increase ticket prices. Moores only dipped into his personal fortune when he knew he'd get his money back sharply. Where some peoples argument is flawed about G&H is the fact that they use loans to finance purchases of players. Yes that is very much true. But the difference between G&H and Moores and the old board is that G&H are using their personal assets as collateral in order to get those loans. Something Moores and the old Board were very reluctant to do if at all. That is why Moores said he, and the board, couldn't take Liverpool further. They wanted no part of risking their own wealth as collateral for the loans for the new Stadium or the ever increasing transfer fees and player wages. So they got out. I think it is probably folly to suggest that had Moores not have sold, that the club would have the players Rafa has been able to get under G&H. Unless Moores and the board change their philosophy on investing in the club by using their personal assests as collateral then Rafa would have had the monies at his disposal and Parry to fight over it. Now it looks as though Parry has been neutralized and Rafa is a happy camper with transfer dealings.

Panchekgooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllll

It will look fabulous in Rome lifting a Cup..