Stefano

Most of those clubs have won a league title in the past 20 years and are not playing catch up to mighty financial powers, who continue to spend vast amounts and add to already amazing squads and only get stronger. If it stays like this we'll end up like Arsenal, in constant transition after selling our best players to generate extra funds, and existing to finish in 3rd/4th.

He's already been heralded as the next saviour on RAWK, which is a lot of responsibility to live up to at his age. Can't say I've been massively impressed by him. He looks like a steady player.

The only advantage we've got over those clubs is we can attract better players because of the CL. If they had similar status we'd fall way behind because they could outspend us every summer. It's an astonishing situation to be in, and one that the fans actually pay for.

I hope that's a joke. We're absolutely skint in major club terms, and are barely better off in the transfer market than we were under Moores, other than we can now add more to the overall debt. And yet we're expected to win the title.

Just highlights the constraints he's working under compared to those around him. Some might say Johnson was an expensive luxury but he's earnt the right to make those decisions with the budget given to him. After that though it's yet more wheeling and dealing.

I think any notion of signing Tevez was based on Alonso leaving and Barry coming in. I doubt there's much left over from the Johnson deal. He's got enough to buy a defender, and if push come to shove and Alonso stayed, he might look at offloading other fringe players like Babel to fund a purchase for an attacking player.

It's too late in the day to be getting messed around by Alonso and Madrid, who don't seem that desperate to buy him, and finding someone suitable enough to replace him. Tell him he's staying and he can have his move next summer after another good season.

Valencia have said Silva is staying. Too expensive anyway I reckon, and an easy target for speculation given we've enquired in the past.

He's not in Alonso's league.

Whoever replaces Alonso has to be top draw and have experience at the very highest level, or it's a waste of time selliing him, whether he want's to go or not.. The likes of Noble, Martinez, et all, would be fine if brought in along with Alonso's replacment and allowed to develop for a couple of seasons, but at the moment they'd be a luxury we can't really afford. Just looik at the influence Alonso had last season and how much we rely on his calm assaurance. That's difficult enough to replace as it is without taking a huge risk on inexperienced young lads. If we don't get it right we're in danger of having a disjointed couple of seasons.

He was 17 in 2002, and is still only 25. His limited appearances could also be down to gradually being integrated into the first team and competing with some established players as well as injuries.

Hamill not even on the bench tonight for the ressies, must be off. Unless Rafa is taking him to Spain.

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3 for me. CM, a striker/attacking midfielder and a defender.

If Rafa wants to use some of the Alonso money to strengthen other positions, then his options for a quality replacement are limited. He'll either have to take a punt on someone relatively unproven, or take a risk on a class player like Aqualini who has had his fair share of injuries. The Martinez rumours were quite prevalent early on in the window, I just think he might be too inexperienced at the moment.

They're all staying with Carlos Tevez at the Hope St Hotel.

He's not good enough and would cost a fair whack.

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Isn't that what he sort of says?

Every club he's been at the fans love him. If he can't get a spot on the bench now the ridiculously average El Zhar is injured, he might be better off asking to leave. I think he'll end up in the Premiership anyway.

Can't see much wrong with what he's said there. Just the media trying to stoke the fires.

f*** that, they've bid something ridiculous like 750k. He's a talent and should be given a chance. Can't be any worse than Babel.

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Still, they can't suddenly start dictating high fees for him if they want him as part of the package. He's still relatively unknown.

Probably some bored kid.