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Well Rafa's restructuring of the Academy is gathering pace: Rodolfo Borrell Rodolfo Borrell, one of the trainers with the greatest experience in football youth clubs, has broken contact with Barça to become one of the coordinators of the Academy of Frank Mc Parland. Borrell moved Monday until Liverpool and signed its new contract that ties to him during the two next seasons. “He is an excellent professional with great achievements. He knows the youth development like no-one else”, affirms Pep Segura. The ex-coach of Olympiacos assures that next to Borrell they must impel the new method of work in the quarry of the Liverpool. “We have spoken with Rafa Benítez and we know clearly some fundamental concepts. For example, to implant the same overview of game in all the teams fo the Academy”. There are questions still to define, but what is evident is that the youth coach deserves admiration. “It is not to export the model - the style of game of the Barça, but a model. First it is to modernize the soccer structures base respecting the own philosophy of the Liverpool”. He's the youth coach who worked with Cesc Fabregas and Messi: Rodolfo Borrell, the coach that helped Fabregas come through his parents' separation, visited Fabregas in London after he had joined the Gunners. Borrell told the player that he had a present for him and produced the Barcelona shirt signed by Guardiola along with the message, "Some day you will be Barca's No. 4." When he (Messi) arrived at Barça, 13 years old, 1.48 centimeters high and weighing 39 kilograms. Three years later, in which he progressed through the Infantile 'B' squad of Rodolfo Borrell to the Cadets of Alex Garcia, he grew to measure 1.64m and to weigh 62 kilos. A spectacular change that showed that all the applied programs had been effective. And also coached at Barca's U-17 Level : 21st August 2007 Third U-17 Club Championship “Quixote Trophy” For a third consecutive year, the under-17 players arrive for another new edition of the Club Championship, celebrated in Castilla-La Mancha. The Barça team of Rodolfo Borrell, which marched through last year in the National League and plays with a noticeable 4-3-3, like all the other years.

Some exclusive from the Echo appearing shortly, re: Mascherano

On that note, we've started signing new staff: Tranmere legend John Achterberg has today left Rovers and become goalkeeper coach at Liverpool. Achterberg, who played seven games in League One last season, joined Rovers back in 1998 and enjoyed a testimonial at Prenton Park last season. He will now work alongside former Wrexham goalkeeper Xabi Valero at Anfield who is already on the coaching staff. Valero will step up and coach first team goalkeepers in the wake of Joe Corrigan's retirement, Achterberg will coach reserve and academy goalkeepers. The Dutchman has become a huge crowd favourite during his time at Tranmere and no fan would begrudge him the opportunity to go and work at a club of Liverpool's size. A veteran of more than 300 appearances, today's news does now seem to confirm his playing career has come to an end. John, who holds a range of UEFA and FA coaching badges, had not been offered the chance to prolong his playing career at Prenton Park and had been offered only a part-time coaching role with the clubs' goalkeepers. He follows former Tranmere coach John McMahon to Anfield who was named reserve team coach yesterday. Link

To be to fair to Masch, he seems to have four agents: Kia Joorabchian owned his rights and acted as a sort of agent for him in every actual transfer he's ever done. Currently he's supposed to be tied to Kia's associate: Pini Zahavi. However for the last 4-5 years he's had two clowns selling throughout Europe: Walter Tamer and Fernando Hidalgo - if you look back at the paper gossip since he broke on the scene there will be those two names associated with every single one of these reports/stories about him moving etc. They are the real two leeches. Now that I know it's these two c****, I'm not worried, Masch will be with us for next season.

ECHO The situation is complicated still further by the fact that the deal which brought Alonso to Anfield saw Liverpool guarantee his former club Real Sociedad 6m euros if he was sold for 16m euros or less. Anything above that and a 20% sell on clause kicks in, making it almost impossible for Liverpool to sell Alonso for 16m euros or less and still claim to have done good business. So Given the figures being banded about: (ie RM with a £23m~€25m bid) Sell for €25m means we actually get €20m. But this is irrelevant anyway, as I believe this is all paper talk and Real Madrid posturing.

No thanks, I think Kaizer can do more than enough talking for himself.

That is the most probable outcome. However I'm ever so slightly worried about Masch because of the earlier comment (1-2 months ago) about 'never knowing the future' etc. Link And now with Argentinian newspaper claiming that Barcelona have met with Javier to discuss a move...... He could well have said 'maybe, but you have to agree with Rafa first' etc. We don't know that. Still there is smoke there.

How old was Xabi when he originally came? 22? Age doesn't matter if you have the composure and the talent. Maybe Javi has it, maybe that's why we are looking at him. I would rather go for him than say Pirlo. As much as I admire his ability and passing range, I can't help but feel his best days are behind him and he would cost a packet too.... I think the Alonso stuff in the papers is just that, hot air by the papers and RM trying to unsettle our player. I'm more worried about Masch - as there are reports that Guardiola has actually talked to our player over a deal. If that's true he is tapping him up like nobody's business (and doing what works - ie see our own Rafa with the condiments). Who would replace Mascherano?

I would assume Javi Martínez - as that's why we have been keeping tabs on him.

Sounds like that is part of the Real Madrid playbook this. If you replaced all the "Xabi Alonso" with "Cristiano Ronaldo", "Franck Ribery" or any other top name that the selling club didn't want to sell, the articles would be identical. Alonso doesn't want to go and Real are just making a play, trying to woo him. Standard RM procedure.

There's more of Lavezzi in today's Italian journo: Interview with Lavezzi's Agent The gist of it is: The club (Napoli) says that it isn't a concrete offer - "The proposal of the Liverpool is certain. Let me say a thing that up to now I have kept reserved, but Napoli have a right to know: Marino one has met two times with Fifa agent Pablo Cosentino, he has instructed him to fix an encounter in Liverpool or Naples with the English". And it still hasn't happened? - " No. And we don't want to force Napoli to sell the player. But it is correct that the club considers the offer: trying to judge it sufficient or insufficient. And as we can't force them, neither they can obligate Lavezzi. We're talking about a man, not a machine. The rights of an individual are part of the highest". Il club dice che un’offerta concreta non c’è. "La proposta del Liverpool è certa. Le dico una cosa che finora ho tenuto riservata, ma è giusto a Napoli sappiano: Marino si è incontrato due volte con l’agente Fifa Pablo Cosentino, che lo ha invitato a fissare un incontro a Liverpool o a Napoli con gli inglesi". E non è ancora accaduto? "No. E noi non vogliamo obbligare il Napoli a vendere il giocatore. Ma credo sia corretto che il club consideri l’offerta: giudicandola sufficiente o insufficiente. E se noi non possiamo obbligare loro, nemmeno i dirigenti possono imporlo a Lavezzi. Parliamo di un uomo, non di una macchina. Il diritto di uno si completa in quello dell’altro".

GWistooshort have you been storing these up in preparation for when the forum came back online? I've never seen so much dedication to this. Amazing!

I agree. Your logic is flawless.

Except for some Cup-Finals - ie the German

it was mentioned several times in last years saga. That's why Rafa put a 20m value minimum on him as otherwise we make a loss..... I think if I remember it's 20-25%

I see. However he did make his debut in Nov 2006 against Portsmouth in the League. At the end of the day he is/was only 3rd choice right wing for us, then or now. I'm impressed with what you've done on this, takes some time. It's pissed me off too the amount of innaccuracies that get spouted by the media - and I was working on something myself - but based not only on transfers fees but wages as well. I think that if you combine both the annual spend of the big four and assorted other big spenders (Spurs/Newcastle/Aston Villa etc) you get the complete picture of the financial chasm that Benitez has to fight. Anyway much appreciated the info you've posted.

El Zhar joined in October 2006.

With one game to go: VdS - 21 from 32 Reina - 20 from 37 Cech - 19 from 34

1. Lucas 2. Reina 3. Gerrard

It's all that stamina he has... after all he's Mr. Duracell.

?

Currently VdS - 20 from 31 Reina - 19 from 36 Cech - 18 from 33 For Pepe to win it - he needs two clean sheets and for the Mancs to not get any. Pretty much like our League chances really.

I think you're right, this is a hint that we are looking to bring in at least two attacking/forward players. Say a replacement for Keane - a Silva type of player - and a back-up for Torres - i.e. Negredo himself.

1. Kuyt 2. Alonso 3. Benayoun

VdS - 19 from 30 Cech - 18 from 31 Reina - 17 from 34