londonkopite

The team evolving by a year is an improvement - just look at last season. We had a disasterous summer of transfers but managed to have our first title challenge in years. Granted it does look like our squad is a little thin on quality but you never know, if we sign 2 players of quality it could change the whole dynamic.

You trying to say Rafa hasn't had money? Bloody hell...

I didn't say anything of the sort, I think the owners need to go for their lying about debt, but when you measure what they have given the manager money wise, you can't understand why Rafa moans so much.

I think the owners are w****rs, but Rafa has had more money than most teams un Europe have had this past 2 years so he can't complain. In return we have had a failed youth policy and have won nothing.

No I expect a midfield and attack costing £80m to be able to beat Stoke collectively. If not then we should just play the youngsters and save that money to buy world class players.

It happened against Stoke too. It will happen again. Why can't we prioritise the league? Lucas, Babel, Kuyt and Keane cost us nearly £50m and they were all absolute rubbish today - at home against Fulham. I hope Rafa never complains about money again. (That's before we mention the £30m for Mascherano and Riera).

Wenger is probably in profit when it comes to player sales though whereas we have spent over in £200m in 4 years - it is not a fair comparison when measuring trophy haul. On the one hand we want to not be compared to Chelsea because they have spent a lot, and then like being compared to Arsenal. Arbeloa is not a good example as some even doubted him being a first choice not so long ago. I am talking about unquestionned successes who cost next to nothing the likes of Van Persie, Cliche, Toure, Fabregas, etc.

You think Arbeloa is a good example? He is a million miles from being a starter from Spain? Why have you left Arsenal out? As for United how about the fact that they bought Evra and Ronaldo and turned £18m into £100m?

The question is not just about the diamonds we have unearthed, but of how many players we have nurtured from scratch into top class players - Gerrard was the last I remember. How many have we signed for relative peanuts and made into a world beater?

IMO it has become an talking shop for local fans and rightly so, however that's not why they were set up was it? The American's are still here and nothing has been done at the ground or during the close season to put pressure on them other than the odd hallow press release. I am not sure they even know what they want.

The three positions thing is definitely a reference to Gareth Barry as he said something similar in reference to him a couple of months ago.

Has any thought been given to the fact that Rafa might have wanted Degen and didn't want Ramsey as it impinges on his budget? How does SoS know our budget this summer anyway? I for one am happy with the recent signings of Torres, Babel, Mascherano and Skrtel. Rafa has been reasonably backed this past year if not as much as we need. The boardroom debts and lack of respect for our traditions is a separate issue. I find today's statement disrespectful to Degen and out of touch with what many of us think.

I thought fyds worked at the club? Some told me a while back on here he was Phil Thompson's father in law.

Everyone seems to be asking him all the questions as if he is close to it all. Each time I have come here it has been the same.

fyds - which part of the club do you work in?

Quite a lot actually when we are talking of young players still developing.

Isn't Walcott about 3 years younger?

Neither of them are pound Billionnaires. Hicks is worh $1.3bn and most of that is tied up, Gillett is worth about $500M. I thought it would only right to point that out.

Steel prices? Lost interest? Unwilling to invest? Lied to us to begin with? All mouth no action? Other circumstances unrelated to LFC?

can't someone write to DIC asking them to come bak?

Danny Fitzman, Arsenal's biggest shareholder said he had discussions with Ansaree ((sp?) about selling his stake to DIC but was told that DIC were not interested in any other Premier League club. He has since said he won't be selling his shares.

He said Rafa would be sacked. Also, this may be a strategy by the Americans of telling Rafa that results will get him money and nothing else. Putting a bit of pressure on Rafa which can't be a bad thing.

Maybe them as owners want Rafa to understand who is boss and that he cannot keep getting worked up to the media? I blame Rick Parry in all this, where is he exactly? This media frenzy is making us look pathetic and Parry should be sorting it out.

If they backed Rafa then it would be deemed a "vote of confidence" which the press will lap up. Nothing has changed, they want Rafa to concentrate on games and discuss money in December. If Rafa doesnt get the sack than Bascombe should never show his face at Anfield again.

You being close to the club and that I'd have thought Tevez would have grabbed the phone and told you that himself when you last called Mascherano.