Martinus

I don't see why? You and some others seem to be suggesting FSG will have failed if we don't finish in the top four, I would see the failure with the management who signed the players. FSG have delivered. I get the impression that because of who Kenny is he is exempt from blame or criticism if things don't go to plan.

So hypothetically if all the circumstances were the same except Roy was still our manager and we fail to finish top four this season would it still be the fault of FSG or Roy? I would suspect everyone would be blaming Roy. No one wants to contemplate us finishing outside the top four but if it happens for me it will be down to the players weve signed not being good enough.

If we finish outside the top four we have failed and as always the buck stops with the manager, the manager we all wanted and now have. FSG have backed us financially to secure us the players to finish in the top four they can't be held accountable if we finish outside the champions league places next season, theres nothing more they could have done. Only thing I dislike with the DOF role is who is responsible for the players we bring in? Is it Kenny or is it Comolli? Hopefully it is all academic and we do challenge for the title next season, for once we will be going into it in a positive frame of mind with hopefully the players Kenny wants.

Wouldn’t see it as FSG have failed, they have provided the money...

I think the money we have spent and the fact we have no european football, top four is the absolute minimum requirement, anything else would be considered a failure.

Roy Evans doesn’t think the business we have done so far is good enough for top four. We absolutely need a left back, who else will play there? Johnson and Flanagan are right backs and should play right back. Also need a world class centre back any combo of Agger/Skrtel/Carra is not good enough.

Think it's more likely to be Reina Johnson Carra Dann Enrique Lucas/Adam Gerrard Henderson Suarez Downing Carroll Good balance to the side I think Adam will play more at anfield and Lucas more in away games however I think it leaves us very weak in the centre back positions, also needs another top class attacking player like Mata. I'd also select Agger if fit over any other centre back at the club. What would be better is... Reina Johnson Lovren Agger Enrique Lucas Gerrard Mata Suarez Downing Carroll But we won't spend the amount of money we have on Henderson for him not to be first choice in most games. So as much as it pains me to say looks like Downing or Mata with Downing being prioritised.

Mata would be awesome! I'm clinging to the hope our friendly with Valencia is more than coincidence.

Well I don't think Carra was ever top class but that's another debate. Carra was never first choice for England no, but he was always on the periphery and had the advntage of coming through our youth system he has admitted since that in the modern game he would never have made the breakthrough. Dann is nowhere near the England team if you look at the amount of centre backs that have played for them in the last few years. Could he not have been selected for the U21's?

Subotic and Hummels are younger than Dann and have proved to be top class for a couple of seasons now. Terry proved it at a younger age as well. Dann is already 24, has no international caps and does not appear to be interesting any top clubs other than us, why to both questions? Jones was wanted by everyone based on one season with Blackburn. I have seen a far bit of Dann and the only stand out quality he has is his ariel ability. He's quite slow, average in possession, average at bringing the ball out (be prepared for Carra like long balls) and he appears to get his fair share of injuries(something else I thought we were staying away from?) As I have said as a fourth choice to replace Kyriagkos he would be a decent signing for about £5 Mill. But if he is being considered as a first choice he will not only cost £10 Mill he won't improve our defence. I would dread a Dann/Carra partnership.

But they were complimented with top class players we already have average players in the team and need better ones. Dann would be just another average player when we are crying out for a commanding, dominant world class defender.

Potentially top class if he could stay fit. Not really plucked out of the air those reports indicated that £12 mill was for Dann. I hope he does go to Stoke. See very little between Dann and Huth. Funnily enough a player ridiculed by everyone when suggestions Roy wanted to sign him.

They were only ever squad players complimenting top class centre backs. We don't have any top class centre backs unfortunately. If Dann were to sign for £5 mill to replace the Greek fine, but he's likely to cost at least £12 Mill and be first choice probably at the expense of Agger who is a far superior player.

haha well yes that goes without saying! Point still remains though they are better. You could maybe argue Evans but the other four are clearly better.

Personally would rather Ferdinand, Vidic, Jones, Smalling and Evans over Dann.

How do you define working out? If Stoke were rejected with £12 mill he's going to cost more than that! The Mancs who have just won the league, the team we hope to overhaul, have FIVE better centre backs.

Why? But it's okay to say it about current Liverpool players? He is an average footballer, not good enough for international football, suited to mid table clubs like Stoke. Pretty much the same as Konchesky.

And how much will SFD cost? didn't Stoke have a bid of about £12 mill turned down?

You can't but if you read back a few pages you will see why I asked the question! There is NO evidence to suggest us being out of the champions league is hampering our attempts at signing the likes of Mata, so why do people continuously post it as fact? Only evidence I have seen regarding Mata is where his own father said us not being in the champions league was not a factor! Just as plausible is that Dalglish would rather sign Downing than Mata, and rates him as a better player, that's what the mirror article this morning is suggesting.

Not conclusive evidence! There could be numerous reasons why those players signed for other clubs.

But we have seen plenty of cases of players who have performed for other clubs in this country and not done well at another club. (Keane with us recently) Obviously moving abroad to a new country is another factor to take into account but I think generally if a player is top class he will succeed wherever he plays, obviously there are exceptions.

Why is it also assumed Downing will hit the ground running and a foreign player will need a year to settle? Not saying that wouldn't be the case but it's no guarantee. We would never had signed Suarez following that policy.

Okay I relent Downing is the best winger in world football, we can't sign anybody better and he is worth every bit of the £20 mill he will cost. I am merely offering an opinion which is based on a lot more than youtube highlights!

Like I say I dont think booing is relevant to a player's ability but I do recall stories of Downing getting booed. 'Plenty of passion and plenty of action plus a bit of booing from the Boro fans directed at Stewart Downing. The Boro Boo Boys are back in action!' (Quick google serach)

I don't think they would cost more than £15 Million no. Just like no one here knows we can't sign Hazard. It's an opinion that's all any of us can give. I'd rather Payet at £11 than Downing at £20