Lanus

Don't get me wrong, I think Gerrard will flourish in whatever position Rafa puts him in, however I do think that he played exceptionally well int he support striker role just behind Torres last season and I think that he will be missed in that role next season to some extent. If Rafa can maybe work out a way to have 2 strikers with Gerrard still in a central enough role and in behind the 2 lads witohut destroying the teams width, then we'll have improved an aweful lot in our forward play. I'm now looking forward to next season.

Torres was one step towards the title and Keane is another step, however I don't think we should be getting too far ahead of ourselves. I'm delighted with the signing but i don't think it's going to see us winning the league this ter,. For one, I think Rafa will have a hard job in sorting out the position and role of Gerrard now that we have our designated support striker here with Keane. All this said, I'm looking forward to the coming season as our first 11 has just improved. Let's hope for a better points total at the end with maybe a victory here and there aginst the other top 4 teams. maybe just maybe a 2nd or 3rd place finish... throw in a CL semi-final appearance, but of course!.... i'll be smiling at the end of the season.

No off the field problems as othersd have said but i'd also like to see us beat a few of the other top 4 next season. A higher points tally with some proper victories against arsenal, man utd and chelsea would be nice... a decent run in the CL of course too, how people can say they are now 'bored' of the CL is just nuts.

I think he'd be excellent in the premiership. he has the physical aspects that so many good players lack and fail as a result of this. he's quick too and as you say, he has a good shot and cross.

id be happy to be genuine contenders and would hope for another semi final apperance in the CL but with the possibility of us meeting Athetico in the qualifiers, we're not even sure of entry this year. anyway, id be happy with any kind of progress. it'd be nice to have a season where the fans arent questioning Rafa's ability.

Madness, yes he is. most underrated striker in the premiership for the last 5 years at least.

sky have quotes from Rafa stating that he is after Villa. sorry if its already posted. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_3796210,00.html

or the fact that they can offer CL football. Maybe it was about money but I doubt it. I think people just like having a go at Kewell because things didnt work out for us or him.

I don't need to see Itandje play any more. 1 game should be enough to tell you what you need to know about the man.

Kaizer, you know im going to find it very hard indeed to put up any kind of fight when the lads waste 2 entire pages in tearing you a new one with comments like these.

Itandje is a terrible terrible keeper.

Id say that Silva could play the wide attacking player who comes inside instead of crossing quite well myself.

For the amount of times he lost the ball, it just isnt worth it. Garcia was a shocking player.

Ok, but does everyone have to constantly be having a go at him? it's childish.

what are you quoting? where did he say source? this forum really loves to hate Kaizer. It's starting to look like a f***ing school yard in here.

No, we need to start beating the ones ahead of us. We have been putting the s***tier teams away far more than houlliers teams had been doing.

people think that because we are still finishing in 4th that we are not improving. Each year we improve. If you are unhappy at the time it takes to progress then fair enough, get someone else in... blow 5 years on some guy who will take us back a few steps. I say give Rafa at least another year or 2. Not to win the league but to make more of an impact on it. Personally id probably give him 3 more years myself.

Utter nonsense. If you're that hard to please, for your own mental health, I'd seriously recommend you start supporting another team!

fair enough but given the s*** that Rafa and the players have had to put up with, I think they've exceeded themselves and should be proud. I tihnk Rafa will continue to strengthen this summer. Maybe next season will be less than 11 points off the top and hopefully at least make the 1/4s of the CL. It's all progress, it may be slow but nothing good comes easy.

this isn't childish at all! Can I be inyour gang Ant? I know, let's go around kicking girls in the shins.

Ibrahimovic.

How right you are. Have to say, I'm suprised that rafa has this much backing from the fans. I knew he would havea majority of supporters by some bit but 97% is pretty damn impressive! Let's hope he does well in the transfer market this summer and we shall see about this title challenging!

I myself really want him to stay but I just had to find out how many people still back Rafa after going out in the semis of the CL, finishing 4th again etc. I am not totally disapointed with the season. I was actually happy with making the semis again. finishing 4th would maybe be a sore point but we're not exactly a million miles from the top plus he's found us our 20 goal a season striker and some. the more I think about the possible signing of Barry, the more I like it. I think it shows that he is planning for the future, to have a certain amount of home grown players who are of sa similar or maybe even better quality than th eones he is replaceing... look at yer chelseas and arsenals etc who will have to pay way over the odds in a year or 2 when this 6 and 5 rule comes into effect.... anyway... it's very clear what i think, now lets see what you guys think.

I think that Rafa might well be thinking ahead this 6 plus 5 rule that's coming in some time... Alonso is no better than Barry from what i hear... I can't say much about the player as I've not really paid much notice to him but then again he is meant to be one of those players whos job is simply to keep the posession flowing without bringing in anytihng that will make its way into a highlights clip. That plus the added strength blah... anyway, I think there is more to this than simple comparison... I think Rafa is looking to buy the best english players for the best positions possible before the ruling comes about. When this ruling hits home, yer chelsea's utds , arsenals etc are all going to be in for the same players lads. The price of home grown players in any league will rise but espeicially in england. I think that Rafa has really shown his talent here in opting for Barry.

Heskey? wtf , are you completely off yer nut... also Owen left, he wasnt really gotten rid of... Player i think had potential that wasn't used.... hmmm Berger, Fowler. That is all I cant think of. as for people who name Garcia... what can I say. I'll choose to say nothing about it.