yuriska

From various sources Jovanovic is reported to have been on 120k a week, which was his basic salary plus his signing on bonus. 120k x 52 = 6.24m Poulsen was bought for € 5.475m (rising to 6.675m with add-ons). He was on €3m a year at Juventus. Assuming the least he got was the same salary. then overall he has cost: £7.35m for his first year alone. I think Hassony is correct.

I like that. standard 4-4-2 with Downing left, Hendo right and Kuyt and Carroll upfront. Cool.

"I'm still under contract with the Reds, but they've agreed to let me go on a free transfer when I find a new club," Jovanovic told Sport/Foot Magazine.

True, just putting the distinction out there, as it gets confused that we are paying him off and he then signs on with another club, and gets called a mercenary, etc., which isn't the case. However as Gomez said ' if he doesn't find a club then we can't have done more', though it looks like he is going to Anderlecht, so this won't be a problem.

His agent has stated that we have agreed to 'waive' the fee as long as he doesn't want a pay-off. Ergo we don't get transfer moneys but at least we get his wage off the books. There are four interested parties: Anderlecht seem to be the most likely from the sounds we're hearing, but Lille were also in with a shout according to Jovanovic himself. The other two have not been divulged. Link Link 2 Link 3

f*** Off Purslow.

Amen.

I think Adam and Downing are Kenny identified players, but I think Comolli is the driving force behind Henderson.

They can f*** off. The days of being a soft touch finished when Purslow left.

He was a Brazilian international and Roma's number 1 keeper for a while until injury sidelined him for a while. We originally offered 40% of his current wages (so 32k euros/ ~ 1.3m pounds annual) which he turned down. Since then he's getting a pay off from Roma and maybe a slight increase from us.

i.e. do the things the proper way. Unlike f***ing off the only fit left back in the club before panic buying PFK like the 'Fernando Torres of Management' © did last year.

So bad you named him twice? My Priority List for outgoings from worst to not so bad. 1. Konchesky (OMG my eyes!) 2. Poulsen (Out! Out Now!) 3. Cole (Waste of a LOT of money) 4. Jovanovic (Failed, need a replacement) 5. Jones (Never needed to be bought) 6. Degen (Ultimate Sick note. However contract must be over by now?) 7. El Zhar (not on much but useless) 8. Insua (Maybe could still do a job as a reserve, but has a mountain to climb) 9. N'Gog (Is the incumbent 4th choice forward, if we can afford an improvement great!)

Italian Calcio Mercato are reporting that Doni has changed his mind and now says yes to Liverpool. Link

Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani is looking forward to returning to Liverpool following his season-long loan at Juventus. Aquilani was not offered a permanent deal by the Turin giants despite making 33 league appearances for the Bianconeri last term. The 26-year-old was a reported target of Napoli and AC Milan, but has confirmed he will move back to Anfield this summer. "I return to Liverpool with great enthusiasm," Aquilani told Sky Italia."This is not a problem. It's not true that I didn't want to return to England." Liverpool signed Aquilani for a reported fee of £20million from Roma in 2009 and he is under contract with the Reds until June 2014. Juve missed out on European football after a disappointing seventh-place finish in Serie A. Press Association

Insua is in the provisional 26 man squad for the copa america. He played in what is described as a 'C' team against the Nigerians. Reasonable write up here: BBC

Ordered it for the collection. Always useful for statto's like me!

That used to be true I think, but for the last ten years - i.e. the era of the big 4 with all the champions league money (sp) etc. that hasn't been the case - at least two sometimes three and once 4 teams had the 2 points per game average. However with Kenny's record if it's maintained we will be back in the top 4 likely in the top 3. Given how the season pans out, maybe a nascent title challenge....

1. Suarez 2. Maxi 3. Lucas

Skrtle then.

I would go for the experienced older head like Raul has done for Schalke or Riedle did for us, someone who was world class and is looking for a last hoorah. They can't play all the time but inbetween the games will give a guiding hand to Carroll and instruct. As such - I nominate Klose. Great as back-up and can lead the line when neccesary too.

It's a shame in some ways, but he needs a team with resources and you can see them doing a Valencia. If he took over Man City or Arsenal, they would win the league. I would hope he doesn't because I don't want to go against him, however there aren't many longish projects in the other leagues. Unless he also speaks German?

Problem is, we need two. A really good one, and one less-so for back-up.

1. Suarez 2. Kuyt 3. Kyrgiakos

I was using what the previous poster had written, and I meant it as a start of the season thing. But yeah I get your point regarding 2010-11. It was why it was why it hurt so much, nevermind the adulation just losing 1/3 of your world class contingent. Which is why then getting Suarez and then Carroll like they did meant more than it should. We needed a fillip and Carroll is it. Hope they become the world class replacements that we need. Suarez looks a surer bet than Carroll at the moment, hopefully soon we can claim he is on the right tracks.......

To riff off of this, sides get broken up, either by age or by ends of successful times (players move on looking fro greener pastures etc). This is what I would say each season which players hit the peak of world class then either faded away or left. 2000-01 Hyypia Babbel McAllister Heskey Owen 2001-02 Dudek Hyypia Babbel Hamann Owen 2002-03 Hyypia Gerrard Owen 2003-04 Hyypia Gerrard Owen 2004-05 Hyypia Alonso Gerrard 2005-06 Reina Alonso Gerrard 2006-07 Reina Alonso Gerrard 2007-08 Reina Mascherano Alonso Gerrard Torres 2008-09 Reina Mascherano Alonso Gerrard Torres 2009-10 Reina Gerrard Masch Torres 2010-11 Reina Gerrard Torres This is my point of view and certainly I've ignored some players (Hamann in later years, Carragher - though I feel he's come in to his own since the move in to Centreback but not world class though.) The successful times under Houllier were under better players, vice-versa with Benitez - his was a more team ethic (caveat being his 08-09 side was probably the best side of the decade.)