PrittStick

Well apparently he is "hoping to be training again in four weeks" - so it depends on what you read into that. There's 4 weeks gone already. Then you have to consider what kind of training that would actually be. If he's only been in the gym doing weights and hydrotherapy, bike work, etc, he'll be starting off jogging initially. From what I recall from other injuries it normally takes about a week or two before running and ball work can be embarked upon. So there is six. Then he'll probably do a couple of reserve games to get in some match practice. So, eight weeks? That would be the end of September. If you look at that, another 8 weeks isn't that OTT. It's not that urgent that he comes back anyway. I suppose we have Riise, although I wasn't too fussed on him yesterday to be honest. Haven't been too fussed on him for awhile, now, but he's adequate, so there's no point in rushing a notoriously injury prone player back from a serious injury when it's not absolutely necessary. Having said that, an early return would be beneficial.

I think what's relevant to this injury is that he's had achilles problems before, which came from the knee injury he suffered whilst at Valencia. He had two operations on his knee and it was touch and go whether he needed another one on his achilles because the rehab he was doing for the knee had put too much strain on the achilles. I don't know if it's a weakness or what, that has caused his calf problems. Again, I am no doctor. Then again, he has had one of those innovative new operations, as already said above, so perhaps that will do him good in the long run. He's been doing bike work for about a month and a half now if the training camp in Spain is anything to go on, so that'll have done some good! I was just saying that I always saw 3 months as optimistic when he seems to heal slowly. Hopefully our medical team are more adequate than Valencia's.

Yeah but the point with Aurelio is, with most of his other serious injuries he's had complications. He had a knee injury that was supposed to keep him out for 3 months and he ended up being out for more or less 18 months. He had a calf injury that was supposed to last 10 days and ended up lasting two months. Certain people are prone to slower healing and injuries which become complicated - and he is seemingly one of those people. So, for him, 3-4 months was unrealistic whereas it might be a valid estimation for a person who DOESNT have the fitness problems he has.

When I heard 3 - 4 months being quoted I thought that was a little unrealistic. I'd say it'd be mid-October before we saw a return. 6 months is more realistic for an achilles problem. Especially in someone who is prone to complicated injuries!

17 is his favoured number, allegedly. His birthday is 17 January so perhaps that is why. Maybe he no longer wants to wear a number associated with those who do not score goals.

Seriously, though, how is he? Last I heard he could barely walk. That was around Athens time. He was doing bike work but taking toddler steps and was still on crutches. That was six or seven weeks ago. Have also heard that he is in light training, but what does that constitute? Is that gym work, bike work and swimming? He was supposed to be fit for pre-season. I actually thought three months was a little optimistic for a player with such a questionable medical history.

Isnt it that kid from the youth team? The one they interviewed on telly? Forget his name. Blonde lad.

Is the baby not three years old now? Same age as my cousin's kid. Garcia said he has not even spoken to the child in Spanish. It has grown up learning only English. Strange, then, that he now wants it growing up in Spain if he goes to that extreme with it.

The only way I would be able to justify us wanting rid of him is if he was desperate to go. He was close friends with Morientes. I wonder if, when he left, things just didn't feel so comfortable for him any more. That, and being in Spain after his injury. I don't know. I just would've rather seen Torres play with Garcia come here as an exchange for him. I'm not a happy bunny really.

The silence from the club with regard to the Garcia rumours, sadly, make me believe that they are true. Gutted. Something special about that little guy.

Could be that we are awaiting confirmation of personal term agreement.

It will have come down to a wording and fineprint issue. Hopefully we are good enough at selling ourselves, negotiating and sealing a deal that it can be finalised regardless of whatever little niggling problems with clauses and fees have arisen. Course, going on past history, we don't seem good at that at all, but word all around seems positive, at least.

It's probably more a principle thing. If they are admitting that they are upping the price due to his personal bonus then they are effectively overcharging us. We are paying costs that we are not liable to pay and they are laughing all the way to the bank. Cue how many other clubs trying to palm their personal debts off on us. Hopefully it was just a poorly reported thing and this isnt the case.

They would have to word that very specifically then, i.e simply not mention this fact, and if we are going by the reports today, it seems that they have. In some ways it is therefore understandable that this is causing a hold up, as they cannot agree a fee of 25 and then up it to 27 in order to pay off a debt that they have with the player. It is for this reason that I don't actually believe this story to be true. They would have to be pretty stupid to come out and confess that they are upping the price so that we are effectively paying his bonus. Having said that, it's a lot more positive than the ones that have us mixing and matching players in order to suit their payment demands.

Well if he is on holiday, as they say he is, I doubt that he has offered one of those. I was just thinking about the legality of them demanding that we pay it. That is not part of our contract with this player, it is part of theirs.

What I am wondering is, if they added this into his contract then are they not legally required to pay it? They promised it, after all. That's nothing to do with us. Although, having said that, if we are to pay them 27 million and no less, what difference does it make anyway? We are paying what they believe he is worth. They are choosing to take 2.5 million out of that to give to him.

Well he has said this before so I guess he really does want to go there. Gutted, actually.

How much are we looking to get for him? Have we made a profit?

Really depends upon our marketing department. You'll get the people who are huge fans of his wanting the Star Name on the back of their shirt but if you are talking about worldwide income based on one player, that requires a careful marketing strategy. I have heard that this is being implemented into the new owner's plans so perhaps one day we will actually see some comeback.

Was it not ages ago that Luis was on that TV show? I seem to remember he spoke of this before he got injured which must've been about eight months ago. He was asked if he'd ever wear the red and white of Athletico again he said "Maybe one day in the future but right now I am all for Liverpool." Could be a case of old, twisted news being regurgitated to fit the rumours. He simply said that one day he would like to go back to Spain. Didn't say that "one day" was now.

Just some questions. These might be stupid ones and I apologise for that in advance but it would clear up a few things in my head with regard to all these "sightings" and might, just, make people think before posting them. As I have said, I apologise for this, but: - 1. How does it work when a player is about to sign? Do the club go out to them or do they come out to the club? I was under the impression that, if a player is due to have talks or to sign, representatives from our lot fly out to THEM, not vice versa. I thought that them flying over here was an advanced thing. 2. What reason would there be for a player being at Anfield? To sign? If that is true, would there not have been a medical beforehand and therefore they would've been spotted by one of the many people who hang around spying at Melwood? 3. Where does the signing actually take place? 4. Is it possible for a player to get from an airport to a club ground without the media catching wind of it, especially if said player is under the spotlight due to potential transfers (i.e. Torres, Henry)? Can anybody answer these questions for me? If the answers are what I suspect they are it would certainly emphasise just how bloody ridiculous these "I SAW HENRY/TORRES AT ANFIELD" posts.

Good example of a biased scouser, is Thommo, and I love him for it. Although, he has the benefit of objectivity which makes him even better.

If you consider that his clause is £27 million and that Garcia and Cisse combined would equate to roughly £14 million, leaving £13 million in cash to go with it, it worries me to think how little money we have to spend. I feel like we are on Cash in the Attic, seeing just what we can flog in order to get what we want. I never realised we’d be screaming poverty quite so loudly this time 'round. We could always offer them Bellamy as well. Get the price down to 4 million or so!