bazz

Afraid not - pic taken from the official site after the PSV match http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/archivedirs...070413-1055.htm ......................so he has had a season to get fit.....and he still has a belly. No excuse for a professional footballer to look like that, he still looks about a stone overweight and must mean he's not in peak condition and maybe the reason he can't seem to run anymore. He only has himself to blame after been given a second chance.

A bit harsh maybe, but should a professional football player who trains most days look like this?:

Count the number of player in the OP line up!

Even 5miillion would be a waste of money. He's finished at the top level.

Thats the way I see it too. If Rafa wasn't happy with his form, then when why did he pick him in every game then? Rafa has built a large squad of players and Finnan has been one of his most consistent performers and therefore has been picked for almost every game. This is not criticism, but just keeping players on their toes. If Rafa is indeed saying that he needs to improve, I think that he says the same to Gerrard and doesn't mean that he wants Finnan replaced. Every player can improve. Here are some quotes from the official site during Rafa's interview: You mention Steve Finnan ? do you agree he's often an unsung hero? He's a good player. You don't always notice, but he's always there. The quality of his crosses is good. Now you are seeing the best of him because Arbeloa is pushing him. Was that your intention in signing another right-back in January? It's the same with all the players, for example Mascherano and Xabi. It's important to have two options in each position. If you want to compete at a high level on four fronts you need that. When you arrived, were you convinced about Finnan? I had reports and some people were saying, hmm. The season before I think he was not playing at his level. Now he is. Gerard Houllier said to me that he was a good player, but people weren't telling me he was fantastic. He's played really well over the three years. Steve was very professional and showed his quality.

Brilliant comment by Rafa. The new Shanks in more ways than one.

Should be Crouch and Bellamy - but I think Kuyt will make he way into the team for some reason.

No Way Let him rot away in Newcastle for a team that won't win anything. He opted for money, so let him spend his money and win nothing.

What? Why do you have to use f***? What's the agression for? How is the post "stupendously ridiculous" - because it doesn't agree with the general view that Rafa hasn't been given the funds for players. when he quite clearly has been? Are the players I list incorrect then?? Back up your point if you are going to slag me off. Its about choice, isn't it. A manager (i.e. Rafa) has a certain amount of money. He can a) purchase 6/7 or b) purchase 4/5 with one being of higher quality and therefore foregoing the purchase or 2 others. Oh I got the memo allright - so if Alves was the "missing link" that he didn't have the money to buy - then how did he get Kuyt for 9million, Paletta for 2million and Pennant for 7million. If Rafa was as desperate for Alves as he says he was - then why didn't Moores buy him instead of Kuyt? After signing Crouch the season before and with Bellamy, Fowler in the squad - why didn't he NOT buy either 2 of 3 players and get Alves instead. Possibilities and choices....but money was made available and Rafa chose the players he wanted.

Agree with that. Rafa needs to keep quiet on this whole thing as it is not the "liverpool way" to spout to the media about the inner working's of the club. H e has a 5 year contract, we are in transition of ownership and the new owners are trying to ensure the start of our new stadium (our future), so a little patience from Rafa would be welcome - maybe he should start focusing on his newly build squad and new 35million worth of recent additional talent first and foremost. Maybe some extra coaching and keeping them and the media focused on our remaining games.

Or you can be given 35million and you choose your player differently: He could have signed: Kuyt 9m Agger 6m Gonzalez 4m Alves 12m Bellamy 6m Total: 37million and left Paletta & Pennant where they where See........possibilities

So basically United managed their current crop of players better than we did? As for Rafa not getting to sign Alves. We were quoted 12million for him and Rafa refused to pay that much for him - instead he spent Kuyt 9million, Gonzalez 4million, Pennant 7 Million, Bellamy 6million = 26MILLION and if you want to be really pedantic about it. he signed Paletta for 2million and Agger for 6million - all these players arrived in 2006!!!!! Total cost to the club: 34MILLION IN 2006 Did he really have to spend £34 million in 2006 and still not have the funds to buy Alves? Did he really need to sign Paletta and Pennant - could that money not have gone on Alves? Im just getting sick of seeing/hearing/reading about Rafa complaining of not having the funds that his rivals have had. Any other manager would be delighted to have had 34million made available for transfers between Jan and August in one year........ Anyone not think that is what Roman at Chelsea is doing now - telling Mourihno: Look you have had the millions to build a squad and team - now get on with the real job of manager - coaching your team to beat other teams consistently in order to win trophies.

An we bought Kuyt 10million, Gonzalez 4million, Pennant 7 Million, Bellamy 6million = 27MILLION So, United finish 1 point ahead of us last year, in the summer the lose their top striker and sign a midfielder for 18million We go any buy at least 4 players for a total of 27million Now this season there is 20 points between us at this stage with United galloping towards a league title.......why is that? Could it have anything to do with our coaching/having an unsettled team at the start of the season etc etc?? When are we going to be able to ask these questions, before everyone has a go at not being real fans?

Haven't the time or the will to go through United's/Chelsea's/Arsenal's purchases, but is that not a kop out? Are we supposed to assume that if you spend the most money, you should win the title? What happens if United win the title this year, but Chelsea spent more than them - is the argument not then invalid?? At the start of the season, we had many people (me included) thinking United would fall off and trail in 4th. What did they do in the summer that was so amazing. Did they sign 6-7 players or did they just sign Carrick? and were coached how to play the ball quickly and attack at every opportunity and score more goals than anyone else. Unfortunately I think there are fans at both ends of the spectrum: 1. The fan that thinks the manager is king "In Rafa we trust" 2. The fan that thinks we should 4 cups every years I like to think Im in the middle. I hold admiration for our manager and I don't expect to win 4 cups every year - but I do expect a manager that have been give enough funds to make a mark on the league. Is this not the same manager who won the La Liga over the like of Barcelona and Madrid, and they spent more money than him? Why does he now use the excuse of not having enough money to challenge. Did he have the luxury of having £50million to play with over 2 seasons at Valencia? Why is it different here?

Patience? Ive been patient for 17 years now. Ive been patient when Roy Evans was given sufficient funds to break the transfer record to sign Stan Collymore Ive been patient when Gerard Houllier was given sufficient funds to break the transfer record to sign Emile Heskey and then Cisse Ive been patient now Rafa has been given funds to purchase: His Team: Reina 6million Finnan Carragher Agger 5.8million Riise Gonzalez 4million Sissoko 5.5million Gerrard Alonso 10mllion Kuyt 9million Crouch 7million 47million? Patience can be taken for granted too. How many seasons should it take to build a squad? 2-3? Rafa or 4-5 Houllier? A big question, IF Rafa left in the summer for Madrid - how many years would we have to give a new manager and be patient all over again? I think Rafa is the man to do the job and will be given the money he's been actively complaining about not having in the summer. He is then going to have 2 seasons to get the title, if he doesn't then someone else gets a go and we are another few years away from the holy grail Personally I think we all get sidetracked about winning another European Cup - but I want the title and Liverpool to be dominating the league again.

When do we all start questioning why Rafa needs all this money to win the title? Did he have this money or constantly complain about lacking money when he led Valencia to the La Liga beating the big spending Barcelona and Madrid along the way. Why can't he do the same here at Liverpool, or is he using the "lack" of resources as an excuse?

I could live with those!! I like the white with the red, thankfully there is no sign of any green. I hate green in our jersey's. Keep it Red for Home and White and Red for away.

Well 5million sterling is about 8 million Euros - can you really see a club in Spain paying 8million for Pongolle - I certainly don't/ 2-3 million euros is all we are realistically going to get for him.

Well if these rumours are true and they are starting to gain some momentum, then it is in the best interests of overyone for the 2 new owners to get on their plane and have the sit down meeting with Rafa and give him what he wants.

Completely agree. Nothing got me more annoyed than when we purchased french players and then sent them out on loan......to french clubs. Then when they came back, they weren't used to the English game and "needed time to settle" 2 seasons gone, just like that! They are signed for an English club, they need to play or be loaned out to play for a club in a similar or lower division.

Sell no one but Cisse ........and buy 3 top class players. 1 striker (Eto'o), 1 attacking midfielder (?) and 1right sided winger (Alves) Keep the squad together and just add some class and that should allow us to challenge next year.

Ah great, a couple of quotes in the rag of a newspaper called The Star and we have people ready to say goodbye to Alonso and Rafa in a 7 page thread. Good god, people need to get a grip

Rafa: What is my budget for new players? Co-Owners: How many players do you need? Rafa: 3 (top class ones) Co -Owners: What are their names Rafa: Eto'o, Villa, Alves Co -Owners: expect them for pre-season training in June Rafa: eh? Okay, Eh. Great

Completely agree with all that!! Do some research will you. The same owners broke the bank to get the top player in their sport(Alex Rodriguez AROD), do you not think they will do something similar in order to be successful here?