GWistooshort

Quotes from Rafa the other day.............. "We will continue looking for good players but not necessarily a ‘proper’ winger. We’ll look for good players and maybe adjust the system. Don’t forget, we have some very good players here already, players we have signed over the last 12 months." "We knew we were creating a lot of chances last season but everybody was talking about the wide areas," he says. "If you go to the market and want to sign a top-class right-winger, they will be in the top sides and the price will be crazy. To sign two full-backs with an offensive mentality can give us more quality out wide." The article, from the Liverpool Daily Post, also says that "Benitez admits the high cost of bringing recognised top-class wingers to the club had forced Liverpool to be creative in the market." http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21324777/

Transfer news/speculation from today's papers.............. Gareth Barry & Robbie Keane are "closing in" on moves to Liverpool. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...want-relax.html Liverpool are "close to" a deal for Barry which would cost them about £17m, but "have not yet made an offer for Keane", although he is "receptive to the idea of the transfer". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ju...ackburn.arsenal Spurs "plan to use money from the sale of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane to fund their summer spending". http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...89520-20644165/ Blackburn are "believed" to entered the race for Scott Carson as a potential replacement for Brad Friedel, but may sign Paul Robinson instead as a part-exchange for reported Liverpool target David Bentley if he goes to Spurs. Middlesbrough's interest in Carson "appears to have cooled". Like Stoke, West Brom have had an offer of more than £3m accepted by Liverpool & "have since spoken to Carson & his agent". http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/displ...;pNodeId=158332 Carson has turned down Hull & will join Stoke. Liverpool are "considering" whether to sell Charles Idantje. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...oke-867704.html Carson has agreed personal terms with Stoke. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ju...tbrom.stokecity Stoke "are the closest to meeting Liverpool's £6m valuation" of Carson, although the player "fears being stranded at Stoke, a club he doesn't really want to sign for". "A loan deal is still a possible compromise". West Brom & Middlesbrough are also interested. Blackburn have offered £4m for Jermain Pennant, but Liverpool are holding out for £6m. A compromise is "likely" as Liverpool "need cash to fund the transfers of Keane & Barry". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...nho-Carson.html Blackburn "want to fund a deal for Jermaine Pennant", but "are prepared to pay no more than £4m at present" while Liverpool want £6m. Spurs "will want to hold on to" Keane if Berbatov, who is the subject of an initial £20m bid from Man Utd, is sold. Talks are "under way" for Bentley to join Spurs. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...tov-867703.html Blackburn are planning a £5m move for Pennant, with Rafa "willing to let Pennant go to fund his bid for Valencia's David Silva". However, Liverpool will want closer to the £6.7m they paid for Pennant which "could prove a sticking point" especially with Rovers "reluctant to pay too much up front, preferring to pay in instalments". http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...89520-20644060/ Buyers are "being sought" for Andriy Voronin. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...89520-20644084/ Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri has said that the club "only needs [to sign] another keeper" after buying midfielder Christian Poulsen, apparently ending the Italian club's interest in Xabi Alonso. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11854_3820950,00.html Villa "will now be virtually immovable" over Barry's valuation because of Arsenal's interest in the player. It is now "more than likely" that Alonso will stay at Anfield, "with Liverpool left to reconsider their options regarding Barry". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm.../ufnxabi115.xml Reported recent Liverpool target Antti Niemi's "would jump at the chance to join Juventus" according to his agent. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...says-agent.html Blackburn have revealed that Aston Villa lodged an offer "believed to be" in the region of £10m for reported Liverpool target David Bentley. The bid is "thought to have come in last week, but was instantly rejected by Rovers". http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport...id_Bentley_bid/ Spurs are "still expected" to sign Bentley despite Villa's offer as "he has made it clear he only wants to go to the north London club". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ck-attempt.html Man City are "set to reject a bid of around £10m from Aston Villa" for reported Liverpool target Michael Johnson, who is "on the verge of signing a new contract". http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...eal-867702.html

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Stoke have confirmed that they are in talks with Carson http://www.thesentinel.co.uk/displayNode.j...tentPK=21077942

From a transfer rumours article that was posted on the Liverpool Daily Post website this afternoon........ Albert Riera is "not his [Rafa's] first choice", but may consider bringing him to Anfield "if other options do not work out". However, the article also says that Rafa "wants to bring" Riera to Liverpool "as the ideal replacement for Harry Kewell". Liverpool will have to pay £10m for Riera after failing to tempt his club with a player-plus-cash deal. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...375-21339694/2/ Scott Carson "will be next out of the Liverpool exit door as boss Rafael Benitez bids to fund a move for Tottenham striker Robbie Keane. Benitez is confident he can persuade Spurs to sell the Republic of Ireland striker, with rival boss Juande Ramos in need of funds to offer Blackburn for David Bentley.But with the Anfield transfer kitty also needed to prize Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, Benitez needs to raise some cash." http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...375-21339694/3/ It is "increasingly likely" that Liverpool will sell Jermaine Pennant. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...375-21339694/4/ Juventus were either going to buy "one or other" of Xabi Alonso or Christian Poulsen & have signed Poulsen. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...375-21339694/5/

Also the area of the pitch that Xabi play's most of his game is the area that Agger looks to move into when he's bringing the ball out of defence. From the times that I've seen them play together I would say that doing so reduces Agger's attacking threat as he tended to play the short pass to Xabi rather than bring the ball out of defence. While I'm a big fan of Xabi as a player & a person, I do think that he hasn't recaptured the form of his excellent 1st season & his lack of mobility & tendency to sit deep can make our play somewhat pedestrian when those glorious long passes &/or shots from his own half don't come off. Ultimately Xabi's an offensive midfielder who likes to play in the area of the pitch that a defensive midfielder operates in. Mascherano's rightly going to get the nod ahead of Xabi as the defensive midfielder, but then unfortunately I don't think Xabi scores enough goals (especially given how few goals Mascherano scores) or plays high enough the pitch to make our team as effective as possible, as well as reducing Agger's attacking threat as mentioned above.

From the Lancashire Telegraph today.................... Blackburn Rovers set sights on Liverpool star 11:25am Monday 14th July 2008 Comments (2) Have your say » By Jason Kayley » BLACKBURN Rovers could make a move for Jermaine Pennant should they fail to hang on to David Bentley. Ewood Park supremo Paul Ince – who takes charge of his first competitive match against his old club Macclesfield tonight in a pre-season friendly – is believed to be a big fan of the Liverpool wideman, but would only look at the 25-year-old should Bentley make a move this summer. The England international, who had an exceptional season for Rovers last term scoring nine goals in 46 games, has made it clear that he would like to make a move away from Ewood as he seeks European football. But Ince would hope to keep hold of his prize asset as he aims to take Rovers one step higher next term and into the automatic European places. Pennant has found opportunities hard to come by in recent times and made just 25 appearances in all competitions last season. But he could be a perfect replacement for Bentley, should Rovers reluctantly be forced to sell the 23-year-old. http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport...Liverpool_star/

From the Birmingham Mail today.................... Gareth Barry Kop move stuck in limbo Jul 14 2008 GARETH Barry’s move to Liverpool remains in limbo with Rafa Benitez no nearer reaching an agreement with Villa over a transfer fee. Martin O’Neill has dismissed any serious interest from Arsenal in the player but Barry’s move to Anfield is not expected to drag on too much longer with a fourth offer set to arrive following last week’s Villa ‘proposal’ which involved Steve Finnan. Villa have asked Liverpool to increase their latest cash bid of £15million, which was rejected last week, to £17million with £1million-rated Finnan included in the deal. Newspaper reports over the weekend suggested Arsenal were involved in lengthy negotiations with Villa to try to hi-jack Liverpool’s attempt to sign Barry and were prepared to throw in full-back Justin Hoyte – a long-term O’Neill target. But O’Neill has refuted those claims. “It is not true. The situation is very clear. I and Steve Walford know Pat Rice (Arsene Wenger’s assistant), and Pat phoned Steve to ask how far the Liverpool thing had gone and that they might show an interest. But the conversation was not very long. There has not been ‘lengthy negotiation’ at all. Absolutely not. “In fact the conversation, when we discussed our position with Liverpool, Arsenal said: ‘That’s fine’ and they’ll: ‘let us know’. That is exactly what happened.” http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-s...97319-21336466/

From today's Liverpool Echo.......... "Despite speculation suggesting otherwise, Jermaine Pennant has not entered into talks with Blackburn regarding a potential move to Ewood Park. Benitez would be willing to let Pennant leave Anfield but only if someone offers a great deal more than the £3m being quoted in some sections of the press." http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...252-21336290/3/

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers........... Rafa "is confident of tying up a deal for Gareth Barry this week". Blackburn are ready to offer around £3m for Jermaine Pennant. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21334710/ Rafa's "top wide target" Albert Riera is "seemingly priced out of a move to Anfield by Espanyol". Pennant "is likely to complete a deal with Blackburn this week". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...-name_page.html Villa boss Martin O'Neill has said "We have waited over a week for them [Liverpool] to come back to us and respond to our price for Gareth. They know what it is but their original offer hasn't changed." http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...zan-866924.html Barry "is still expected to move to Anfield" despite Liverpool being "either unprepared or unable to match Aston Villa’s £18 million valuation". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4327033.ece Liverpool will "step up" their interest in Barry & Keane "this week". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ju...l.premierleague Scott Carson is "likely" to move to Stoke or Middlesbrough. David Bentley, who is also wanted by Liverpool, Everton & Villa, will sign for Spurs today for £17m. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...89520-20643102/ Newcastle will hold talks over the £7m signing of former reported Liverpool target Pablo Aimar "over the next 24 hours". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...e-interest.html

Transfer news/speculation from today's papers............... Stoke look favourites to sign Scott Carson for £4m. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/g...ers/7503890.stm Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has said that "Nothing much has changed" regarding Gareth Barry's potential move to Liverpool but that he's "sure" that "it will resolve itself at some stage". http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3813106,00.html Barry's transfer to Liverpool is "imminent". http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html Spurs are "willing to sell Robbie Keane to Liverpool" even though they are "resigned to losing Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...-playmaker.html Liverpool will "this week step up" their bids for Barry & Keane. http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html Steve Finnan & Scott Carson were "significantly" absent from Liverpool's squad for their pre-season friendly against Tranmere "with further moves likely soon". Rafa is understood "not to be over-concerned about suggestions Arsenal are trying to snatch Barry at the last moment". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm...iverpool112.xml Valencia are selling Joaquin "in order to hold on to" Liverpool target David Villa. http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan has told reported Liverpool target James Milner he won't be leaving the club. http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html Liverpool are looking to loan out David Martin to a Championship club to gain experience. http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/footba...98487-20635124/

Transfer comment from Rafa in his post-match interview today from the official site........... The Reds will now head to their pre-season training camp in Switzerland with Benitez hopeful of bringing in one or two more new faces to bolster his squad in the coming weeks. "We are working hard trying to bring good players in and I think we can progress in a few days or maybe a few weeks." http://www.ynwa.tv/forum/index.php?act=pos...=1&t=138011

From the Liverpool Daily Post this morning............. RAFAEL BENITEZ has continued his squad reshuffling by sanctioning the sale of Danny Guthrie to Newcastle United – as he prepares to step up his interest in Robbie Keane. Guthrie held talks with the Magpies yesterday after Liverpool accepted their £2.25million offer for the player. The 21-year-old impressed during a year-long loan spell at Bolton Wanderers last season and has acquired a taste for regular first-team action. That is something Benitez cannot offer and, as with Peter Crouch – who yesterday completed his transfer to Portsmouth – the Anfield manager understands Guthrie’s desire for senior football. Scott Carson is another expected to imminently leave, with promoted Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion believed to have approached Liverpool about the England international. However, neither departure is expected to impact greatly on Benitez’s attempts to raise funds to sign Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane. The Spaniard has been handed around £20m to spend, with the rest having to be raised through sales. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21328886/

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers............... Arsenal have made an 11th-hour bid to hijack Liverpool's move for Gareth Barry. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/g...ers/7503126.stm Jermaine Pennant is in talks with Blackburn Rovers who are looking for a potential replacement for reported Liverpool target David Bentley. If Pennant departs the cash could go towards an offer for Robbie Keane. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ole-Rovers.html Rafa is putting pressure on Spurs to sell Keane because "he believes they need money to buy Blackburn's David Bentley". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ag-Bentley.html Liverpool have "braced themselves for a game of patience" with Spurs over Keane. They "have been receiving mixed signals from Tottenham about Keane, with as many suggestions that the London club are unprepared to do business as there are claims that the Ireland striker would be available for the right price". However, "there is thought to be little appetite at White Hart Lane for a cash-plus-player deal that would suit the Merseyside club", but Rafa "remains hopeful" of signing Keane. Liverpool are "unlikely to step up their interest" until Spurs have signed Luis García, which is expected to occur "next week". The transfer "may hinge on the player’s determination to seek a move". Juventus have still to table an offer for Xabi Alonso, despite "lengthy negotiations". Newcastle are paying £2.5m for Danny Guthrie. Stoke & another Premier League club, "thought to be" West Brom or Middlesbrough, have tabled offers for Scott Carson, "who is likely to fetch about £4m". Carson "has accepted that he has no long-term future at Anfield", especially after Liverpool signed Diego Cavalieri yesterday. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4318924.ece Stoke & West Brom are "locked in a battle" to sign Carson. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...way-Carson.html Liverpool have offers from 2 unamed Premier League clubs for Carson, who is keen to leave. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...ill-865861.html Newcastle paid £2m for Guthrie. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ol-Guthrie.html Guthrie cost Newcastle £1m. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ju...newcastleunited Aston Villa are "thought to be stepping up their interest" in reported Liverpool target David Bentley. http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-bir...65233-21328856/

West Brom have been linked with him recently as well

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Liverpool confirm signing of Cavalieri http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...080711-1129.htm

Some quotes from Rafa in the Daily Post today on formations for next season............. "We want to use two or three systems during the season," says the Anfield manager. "The key isn’t the system itself, but how the players adapt on the pitch. It doesn’t matter if it’s 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, it’s the role of the players that counts. "At the beginning of last season we were doing well with 4-4-2, so if the players can read the game and understand things, then it’s easier to change the system. "Now we have more options at full-back, with Degen, Finnan and Arbeloa on one side and Dossena, Aurelio and Insua on the other. We have players with different qualities. You can’t use too many systems – two or three maximum – and the key is to teach the players how to adapt to each system. "We will continue looking for good players but not necessarily a ‘proper’ winger. We’ll look for good players and maybe adjust the system. Don’t forget, we have some very good players here already, players we have signed over the last 12 months." http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21324777/

Quote from Rafa about Silva & Villa in the Mirror this morning....................... "Valencia have new investors and they want to keep their best players - and given the players we have, we need to look for another kind. "We will continue to look for good players but not at crazy prices." http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...89520-20639595/

From the Liverpool Daily Post this morning............. "A change in ownership at Valencia means David Villa and David Silva are now off Benitez’s wishlist, with Spurs striker Keane the prime forward target. Tottenham’s imminent capture of Real Zaragoza striker Luis Garcia has increased the possibility of Keane being sold, although Liverpool value the player significantly less than the £20m that has been mentioned in some quarters." http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21323524/

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers................. Rafa said at his press conference yesterday that "there could be a couple of signings in the next few days" & that Liverpool "still need another two or three new faces", but "it depends on sales because we haven't got too much money". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...want-Keane.html He also said “we are looking for players who can fit into our systems and improve the team. We’re looking for players with the right quality and I think we’ll find some in the next few days — not necessarily the names that everybody knows.” The article says that Liverpool's signings "are unlikely to include David Silva". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4312675.ece Rafa has "riled" Spurs & "provoked amazement at White Hart Lane" with his comments yesterday about wanting to sign Robbie Keane. Spurs are "unaccommodating vendors" & Liverpool would have to pay "at least £20m" for Keane, but "there remains a confidence at Anfield that business can be done". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ju...eague.liverpool Spurs "may find it hard to reject Liverpool’s advances" for Keane, despite insisting they do not want to sell. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...Hart-drain.html Spurs insist they have "no intention" of selling Keane & "have not received a transfer request from him". Spurs "are planning" to launch a bid for reported Liverpool target David Bentley "next week" & "are confident" he will choose them ahead of Aston Villa, who have already lodged a bid of £10m. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...ext-864915.html Liverpool's pursuit of Gareth Barry is "now likely to reach a conclusion next week". http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...uly-864954.html Chelsea "may push ahead" with a bid for Liverpool target David Villa. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...tag-864951.html Peter Crouch will complete his transfer to Portsmouth today. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ju...h.premierleague Jermaine Pennant could be moving to Newcastle, with Liverpool looking for £6m, but they "may be forced to settle for a deal involving add-ons". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...-Haim-more.html Blackburn are considering making a loan move for Scott Carson. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...bid-keeper.html

The Birmingham Post today talking about Barry's move to Liverpool says "it may be O'Neill has to back down from his position rather than keep an unhappy player and risk further disruption in the dressing room". http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-bir...65233-21321512/ Change of tone from the local paper - could the Barry tide finally be beginning to turn in our favour?

You can watch a clip of Rafa's press conference HERE - it includes the comments on Keane, Villa plus a bit on Barry & Crouch He is asked directly whether he will be "making a move" for David Villa & replies "no".

From the Liverpool Daily Post website this afternoon............ "Benitez...expects to formally announce a £3million deal for Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri in the near future. But it has become increasingly obvious that Benitez is working with a much smaller budget than was expected at the end of last season when figures of £25-30million were being suggested as a potential kitty. He admitted: "We know the situation regarding what we can spend, and we are trying to find solutions if we do not have enough money. "And we will still try to sign players that will make us better. But if you do not have too much money, and that is clear, we will have to have a little bit of imagination to progress in the market. "Everyone knows what our ideas are and what players we want. We are working hard with different names now, and at the moment that is not (David) Villa. "We will have another main striker before the season starts, maybe two." He added: "We had our ideas at the end of the season. We have tried to use players to raise money for business in the past, sometimes selling players who have not settled down. "This summer it is very much the same idea. We know we will have to sell some players if we want some cash. So we have to do that. "The fans must trust us, we are working hard during the summer with a lot of people in different countries working for us. "We have a new keeper. And we are looking for a lot of players for the right price. "Now if we want to spend we can do it. But we have to be careful what we do spend." There have been rumours for weeks that Benitez is working with very little money, although sources insist that he can complete the deal for Barry without selling Xabi Alonso. "We are still waiting on Gareth Barry. I prefer now not to say anything and to wait." Sources at the club claim the price for the Villa midfielder could have risen above the £18million the midlanders’ manager Martin O’Neill was believed to want. There is a growing frustration at Anfield with the continual shifting of the position, and the elimination from the deal of several Reds players who initially interested Villa, but who are now not on O’Neill’s wishlist. And now the fact that Barry is banned from Villa’s training ground and has already missed a week of vital pre-season work is also worrying Liverpool and could, it is claimed, affect their willingness to meet Villa’s demands regarding the fee. With Aston Villa away at a Swiss training camp, and Liverpool soon to be in the same country next week at their own base, the conclusion of the Barry saga looks some way off. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21321351/

Is this better? He had a haircut last season