Stefano

Imagine the outcry if Lucas was taking the abuse Jamie Carragher has since Saturday.

If we only had 2 million left why is he bidding 6 million for Turner, and, more importantly, knowing the budget he had, why did he shell out 17 million for yet another full back. Mark Hughes aside, every manager has had to wheel and deal this summer, and while I'm sure Rafa would love more money, if he was truly unhappy he'd never have agreed to work under such limitations or signed his lucurative new deal. I doubt he was complaining about a lack of funds then. All we seem to do is moan about money these days, and Barrett is just another in a long like of journos, especially at the Times, who are on a perma downer when it concerns us. Whether Rafa is breifing them all, who knows.

He's a lazy, gutless coward. I'm struggling to even remember a game where he's looked like he gave a f*** or enjoyed playing for the club.

Not the greatest source but Arsenal are in for VDV for 7 million euro. They'll have plenty of quality attacking options if he goes there.

It is usually the case that un allocated funds are carried over from previous budgets?

All this talk of formations misses the point somewhat. The current set up is just a variant of 4-5-1, which is a variant of 4-4-2, and so on. It's how the players adapt and approach the game that matters. The real question is are we a stronger team with Gerrard back in midfield than Lucas, which is a no brainer as far as I'm concerned.

How can we have banked a guaranteed 16 million from Keane when it's doubtful we ever paid them that much in the first place?

Ah right, sounds like a bulls***ter.

Better than nowt. If we can unearth a couple of quality players and boost the squad we'll be laughing. His info does seems a bit vague though. The likes of Barrett have reiterated that there's practically zilch in the pot.

There's a poster on RAWK called Shankslegend who reckons we have more than 20 million left to spend. Most on there seem to think he's very credible.

Negredo on his way to Zaragoza according to AS. Sounds like Hull were nothing more than a bargaining tool, which Brown was happy to let go as long as they were linked to players from Madrid.

Awful ref and has chip on his shoulder about us. The Voronin shout was a clearer pen than the first. The defender didn't even look at the ball. Just noticed that Defoe was in Reina's line of sight for the first goal too which Gray refuted, but it's clear as day.

Terrible isn't it? My fault really. Should have just ignored them and reigned in my views a bit. Sign Silva, please Rafa.

It's debatable but given the instant understanding with Torres I'd agree that's been his best position under Rafa. That said, without a genuine top draw playmaker supplying them I feel we'd be better off with him coming from deep, even if we lost a bit of tactical superiority. With the quality we have should be letting others worry about us.

I just don't get these comments. It's like people are rewrighting the history of Gerrard's game just to protect other more inferior players and tactics. The difference in our ability to control the game was there for all to see when Gerrard dropped back yesterday, and many times before that. He was confident and got on the ball and the opposition instantly took a step back. Rafa is a tactical genius but sometimes a more simple approach is needed.

I'm not arguing mate.

Not really given the poster in question.

Nature of my comments? Abuse? You've got nothing. And I'm delusional. Your bleating because you can't get your own way says a lot more about you than me.

I see you ignored the other loons 'insightful' comments? Get on the bandwagon.

I'm alright. It seems some, though, can give it but can't take it, despite the fact that I've not really said anything different from many others on here.

This obsession to defend Lucas and project him as something he's not is getting out of hand. He's not, and never will be, good enough for us or a team challenging with ambitions to win the league. I doubt he'd get in the vast majority of teams in the league.

Well you certainly don't contribute anything of quality. You lack any real brains, wit or football knowledge and probably sit at home all day in your food stained vest cursing at names on a computer screen.

Running down other posters? As in a few idiots who follow me around to post the odd snide remark to boost their standing with the regulars? I suppose that includes you, as you have a weird infatuation with defending Lucas from perfectly valid criticisms.

So we should drop our best defender because the midfield lacks the ability and confidence to control our game? If anything Spurs did their homework and had their forwards press right up on top of our back line, who weren't helped by the static movment of our midfield. I don't think Lucas dropped off once to get a move going, and even Rafa had a go at him at one stage in the first half for not showing for a throw in.

Clearly deserved? Considering I've never even responded to any of your posts or abused anyone else, you have a funny definition of 'deserved'.