GWistooshort

According to the round-up of the transfer news in today's Spanish papers on Guillem Balague's website, we are interested in Real Madrid midfielder Reuben de la Red, along with Arsenal, Spurs & Villa. Apparently de la Red "would be willing to listen to offers" to move to the Premiership. http://www.guillembalague.com/rumores_desp.php?id=44

--------------Reina---------------- Carra---Skrtel---Agger---Dossena ------Mascherano-----Barry------- ----Gerrard----Keane----Babel---- ----------------Torres---------------

I think we're sticking to a 4-2-3-1 formation (but with the personnel to be able to swop easily during a match to 4-3-3, 4-3-2-1 & 4-4-2), which means we don't really need out & out LM & RMs IMO the midfield & strikers would line up like this with that formation ------Mascherano-----Barry------- ----Gerrard----Keane----Babel---- ----------------Torres---------------

Liverpool FC won't drop £18m price tag on Xabi Alonso Aug 4 2008 by David Prentice Xabi Alonso salutes the Kop _320 LIVERPOOL will not accept a cut price offer for Xabi Alonso. Arsenal tried to take advantage of the Reds’ need to raise funds for the Gareth Barry transfer with an enquiry over the weekend. But they were deterred from making a formal bid by Liverpool’s £18m valuation. The Gunners’ valuation was nearer £12m, and while Arsene Wenger hopes Liverpool’s asking price will drop as the August 31 transfer deadline draws nearer, the Reds were adamant today that will not happen. Alonso scored from the penalty spot in Saturday’s 4-0 romp at Ibrox and boss Rafa Benitez said: “Xabi played very well and he’s a very good player. “I’m pleased about this. The value of Alonso in the transfer market will be high and we’re really pleased with him and don’t want him to go if it’s not a very good price.” The immediate need for funds to complete the Barry deal have eased after co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett agreed to underwrite the fee in what amounts to a short-term loan. The Reds were waiting on confirmation from the Americans today that the funds are in place before making a fresh offer to Villa. Once Barry has arrived at Anfield, the onus will then be on Benitez to raise cash to pay back the debt. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-21461108/

Rafa "has been given the green light to finally seal the Gareth Barry transfer" & "will now be able to push ahead with the protracted move this week". Sebastian Leto is "now expected to be loaned out to Greek club Olympiakos" following his failure last week to obtain a work permit to play in the UK. Rafa said that 8 or 10 clubs, including ones from Spain, Italy & Greece are interested in Leto. Rafa also "insists that despite having to raise the funds to complete the Barry transfer he does not want to sell Xabi Alonso". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21460697/

More from Rafa on formations & where Stevie G will play......... "If we play a 4-4-2 formation then Gerrard can play as a midfielder. If we play with Torres on his own up front then Gerrard and Keane can play either side of him. "I don't think that St even will be frustrated by that. "I was reading an interview recently about Gerrard's role in the England team and he is now very clear about his role in the football world - that you need to adapt, think about the team, and play in different positions when it is required. "I think Steven is clever enough to do that. If he needs to adapt then he will adapt because he is a player of quality who can play in different positions." http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-20682996/

Article in the Times this morning strongly criticising Villa & Spurs for their complaining about our & Man Utd's interest in Barry, Keane & Berbatov, which is described as "a desperate attempt to fool supporters into thinking that they put up a fight to keep said players". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4454436.ece

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers.............. Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has said it's "as clear as daylight" that Gareth Barry will join Liverpool, adding "Liverpool and Gareth will both get their wish". http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html Liverpool are preparing "to successfully conclude their quest to sign Barry" & "hope to unveil [him] before their friendly against Lazio next Friday". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...Barry-deal.html Liverpool "will secure Barry's signature this week" in an £18m cash deal, possibly "within 72 hours, provided there are no hitches with the cash advance" which Hicks & Gillett "are understood to have agreed to make". Hicks & Gillett "are understood to have provided the £18m needed to buy Barry", despite Rafa originally being told that he had to sell to buy, & they "may be willing to write off any shortfall remaining after the transfer window closes". It is also "understood" that Liverpool have agreed to Villa's demand that the fee be paid in 2 instalments. Rafa "is keen to wrap up [the] deal as quickly as possible". Liverpool could still sell Jermaine Pennant for £4m if Blackburn "develop their known interest in the winger", Andrei Voronin for £6m & Steve Finnan for £2m. Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri confirmed yesterday that, as expected, the club were no longer considering a move for Xabi Alonso. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...nce-884277.html Liverpool are "hopeful" of completing the £18m signing of Barry "this week" with Rafa "keen to force through the deal as quickly as possible with the new season looming". With Liverpool "still waiting" on offers for Pennant, "who is the subject of firm interest from Blackburn"; Voronin, "who is being courted by a number of German clubs, including SV Hamburg"; & Alonso, "Hicks & Gillett indicated last week that they will provide the money to sign Barry in what would effectively constitute a short-term loan". The onus is now on them "to deliver on their promise" with Rafa "hoping that they keep their word". "Sources close to Hicks" have indicated he "may be prepared to write off any shortfall". There "appears to be little chance" of Alonso leaving "at the moment", with potential buyers deterred by Liverpool’s asking price, & depending on whether Liverpool can offload Pennant & Voronin & the price/s they get, they "may be forced to sell another player, most likely Yossi Benayoun", although Rafa "is loath to lose" him. "Man City have already bid £6m [for him] & West Ham & Roma are also interested". "Providing that there are no last-minute hitches as far as the Americans’ ability to stump up the cash for Barry is concerned, a deal could be struck with Villa in the coming days". It is "expected" the fee "will be paid in 2 instalments, with ½ up front & the remainder payable in 12 months’ time". Apparently Villa informed Liverpool in writing the day before their deadline that they wanted to change the terms of payment. The article also says that Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger "did not deny his interest in Alonso yesterday, but did rule out any interest in Barry", although in my opinion Wenger's quotes in the article don't necessarily support that he isn't interested in Barry. The full quotes from the article are: “I don’t know if Gareth Barry will leave Aston Villa or not,” Wenger said. “At the moment, I am not on this case.” When asked about Alonso, Wenger continued: “I cannot tell you anything more. But at the moment we are not close to signing anybody.” http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4454455.ece Liverpool "still have serious obstacles to overcome before they can tie up the signing of Barry" despite agreeing "an estimated £19m fee – involving cash & a player, believed to be Steve Finnan – last week". Those obstacles include resolving the dispute over the schedule of payments which held the deal up last week, although Barry & his agent "expect Liverpool to return with another offer", meeting Villa's "rigid list of demands" & "the prospect that Arsenal could enter the race [to sign Barry]". However, O’Neill "could favour an agreement with Liverpool if they act fast" because "there would a significant amount of haggling to be done" with Arsenal, who would be keen to include players in the transfer, & there are less than 4 weeks left before the transfer window closes for O'Neill "to add to his thin squad". Rafa "now does not expect Alonso to go before the transfer window closes". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...--football.html "Barry is hoping to be given permission to finally hold talks with Liverpool in the next 48 hours". http://www.skysports.com/football/papertal...3,12709,00.html Wenger wants to sign Alonso provided Liverpool "dramatically lower their £18m [asking] price". However, any deal remains "a remote possibility unless Arsenal revise their stance or Liverpool's need to raise funds forces a compromise". Arsenal "made an initial approach for Alonso", who has been told he can leave Anfield for the right price, but have not returned with "a firm offer" as they value Alonso closer to the £10.5m Liverpool signed him for. Rafa said on Saturday that "we don't want him [Alonso] to go unless we get a very good price". Rafa also "hopes" to sign Barry for £18m "this week" provided Hicks & Gillett "underwrite a loan to conclude the £18m deal" as they "promised...last week". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/au...senal.liverpool Arsenal are "on the verge" of signing Alonso & "expect to tie up a cut-price deal within days" with "sources in Liverpool suggesting the deal is all but done". http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/4...abi-s-a-Gunner/

Porto have said they haven't received any "authentic" offers for former Liverpool target Ricardo Quaresma, but that any of their players, including Quaresma, are available if "a reasonable offer" is received. The club also revealed that Quaresma's release clause is £31.5m. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11854_3905894,00.html

Gerrard on signing Keane............ "As soon as we heard of the interest in Robbie, those of us who know him wanted the deal to happen." "We know what he can add to the side and, alongside Fernando Torres, we feel we've a strikeforce to rival any in the Premier League. "A lot of Liverpool fans see similarities to when we signed Gary McAllister in 2000. You'd hear people say how we should have signed him years ago. "The same applies with Robbie. He probably should have been here five or six years earlier." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_3904950,00.html

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers.................. Rafa "declined to comment on the continuing speculation about Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry coming to Anfield" in his interviews after the friendly against Rangers yesterday. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21455652/ Rafa "stonewalled questions about Barry" but Liverpool are "quietly confident" he will sign "in the next fortnight or so". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...says-Smith.html O'Neill admitted yesterday that "Liverpool [had] made their position clear before the deadline that they were unable to do anything at that stage". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4449484.ece "A move to Anfield [for Barry] would now appear imminent". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...--Football.html Reports in Spain say Barcelona have bid €22m for David Silva, who has been linked to Liverpool in previous articles. http://www.guillembalague.com/rumores_desp.php?id=43

A couple of interviews with O'Neill confirming that we can sign Barry........... Sky (video) BBC (audio)

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall at that meeting between Barry, his agent & O'Neill after Villa released their "Barry's staying" statements Anyone think that maybe Barry has now handed in a transfer request?

He's on the bench http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsD...1356673,00.html

a number of articles recently have said that Barry hasn't put in a transfer request because he strongly feels, as a matter of principle, that the club shouldn't force him to do so after 10 years & his gentleman's agreement with O'Neill when he signed his last contract 2 years ago that he could leave for a Champions League club if Villa didn't qualify (an agreement Villa apparently dispute) whether it's true or not...............

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers.................. Charles Itandje has rejected a £1m move to Galatasaray & is now planning to hold talks with PSG. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...alatasaray.html Fenerbahce have made a £13m offer for Xabi Alonso, but Liverpool have placed a £16.5m price-tag on Alonso, who "does not want to go". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...rs-Baggies.html Following talks with Martin O’Neill Gareth Barry is in line to play at left back for Aston Villa in their friendly match at Reading today "as he aims to cast aside the disappointment of the collapse of his proposed move to Liverpool". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4446657.ece Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said yesterday "I don't think that the best tactic is to come out with names", when asked if he was interested in signing Barry, adding "we lost experience and if we can get a midfielder with experience who can play a tactical role we will do it". http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3897257,00.html Sebastian Leto "is poised to spend the season on loan after being rejected a work permit to play in the UK yesterday". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21452573/ Former Spurs coach Martin Jol said yesterday he was “very surprised" that Spurs sold Robbie Keane because “he was everything which symbolised Spurs. He was the most influential person in the dressing-room & the most consistent player". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4446586.ece

It was a behind closed doors friendly so hard to get any info eg nothing on the official site besides a news piece saying Curtis Davies played For what it's worth the Daily Mail this morning said Barry didn't play http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...er-weekend.html Villa are playing Reading in a friendly at 2pm tomorrow so will be interesting to see if he plays in that

From today's Birmingham Mail....... Damage is done by Gareth Barry transfer saga, says Graham Taylor Aug 1 2008 By Bill Howell FORMER Villa boss Graham Taylor believes it will be difficult for Martin O’Neill and Gareth Barry to repair their damaged relationship. And Taylor believes it will still be possible for Barry to get his wish with a move to Liverpool, despite Villa’s strongly worded statements that any transfer was now dead in the water. Fresh reports today indicated that the transfer could be resurrected, even over the next 24 hours, with Liverpool having borrowed the finances to meet Villa’s full asking price. O’Neill, who was today said to have approached Manchester United with a viiew to taking Mikael Silvestre on a year’s loan, has firmly put his foot down and insisted Barry is staying. But Taylor can see problems ahead. “It is going to be very interesting, the relationship between Martin O’Neill and Gareth Barry”, he said. “Gareth is the captain as well and it is a very difficult situation. We can only read and don’t know exactly what has gone on inside, but it seems to me there has been a fall-out. “I would imagine it is going to be very difficult for that relationship to be mended. It would appear that it is broken at the current time.” Taylor says Villa supporters should not worry about a lack of dedication from Barry should he be forced to stay for one more season, but he says a loss of form could result in the fall-out with his manager. “Gareth Barry is professional enough and if he does stay at Villa, then I will say to supporters: ‘Don’t concern yourself about a lack of effort’. “The only concern that everybody has is will this break down of relationship affect his form? “If it does it won’t be that he is deliberately playing poorly, it will be because he feels it that much.” Barry is unlikely to skipper Villa again in any case. Taylor added: “It’s going to be very difficult to make him captain. “Martin O’Neill may feel otherwise, but if you know that a player literally said that he wants to leave and was very close to leaving, and yet he is your captain, it is very difficult then for that kind of relationship to be a good one. “I just see problems until it does get sorted out one way or the other. Villa are making out that it has been sorted because this so-called deadline has been missed. “There is another month of the transfer window to go yet, so I wouldn’t rule it out that this may yet happen.” Taylor says O’Neill’s handling of the situation has been eye-opening, but few would excuse Rafa Benitez who clearly ignited a bitter fall-out between the two managers towards the end of last season. “I have been a little bit surprised at times as to what he has said in public”, said Taylor. “But we are not party to all of the facts. This is really difficult. If Martin says one thing and Liverpool deny it, only they know who is telling the truth. “Martin has come out very hard on Gareth, and I can understand how Martin felt because of some of Gareth’s comments earlier about him going to Euro 2008 and not sorting his situation out. “But at the end of the day most successful teams will be settled and will have a trust in one another. “I am just a little bit concerned that the trust between the captain and the manager may have broken down.” http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-s...97319-21449005/

Are you sure? Link

Generally speaking Spain do play a much slower game than in the Premiership so the fact Xabi isn't the most mobile isn't exposed so much

ah yes I forgot 4-3-3 we can add it to 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 & 4-3-2-1 as possible formations we can easily deploy during a match with the same 6 players Rafa must be so excited

I think we're more likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with the midfield & strikers as below rather than 4-3-1-2 ------Mascherano-----Barry------- ----Gerrard----Keane----Babel---- ----------------Torres--------------- Those 6 players give us loads of possibilities (with Barry, Gerrard, Keane & Babel all able to play in more than 1 position) so I expect during a match we'll see us switching between 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 & 4-3-2-1, although 4-2-3-1 is what I think we'll start with

I won't be suprised if there isn't some seriously bad blood between Villalonga & Soler after Soler sacked him so maybe Villalonga was insinuating the extra €5m is a sweetner???

Valencia's vice-president has confirmed that keeping David Silva & David Villa is the club's "priority" & that they have officially informed the players' agents. He also said "I think next week we will be able to talk about this in more detail." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_3894899,00.html However, Valencia's former President Juan Villalonga, who lasted a matter of days before being sacked by majority shareholder Juan Soler (who has now agreed to sell his shares in the club to former rival Vicente Soriano), has revealed that during his brief tenure at the club he blocked the sale of David Villa to Real Madrid & that negotiations to sell David Silva to Roma for €25 million "are at a very advanced stage”. http://www.guillembalague.com/rumores_desp.php?id=42

From today's Liverpool Echo............. "Meanwhile, Liverpool are still hopeful that a deal can be struck to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa. The 27-year-old remains desperate to bring the long-running transfer saga to an end by moving to Anfield and is likely to harden his stance rather than soften it in the light of Villa’s ongoing refusal to sanction a proposed deal." http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-21448531/