Stefano

Forget Aquilani, his agent has been quoted on the same website saying we haven't even made contact.

How the hell are a club like LFC in this position, and waiting to find out if we could go into administration. Even if they get the refi, they then want to borrow even more to build a stadium that will never be paid for.

http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=161430 This Aqualini story rumbles on. Say's we've sent a FIFA agent to make an offer of 15 million quid. He's not in any negotiations for a new deal is he? Usually the case when we're linked to random players.

So what's your point? Rafa is a single minded winner? Whoever it's off, they obviously have their own agenda and can't be trusted.

This is a bad thing is it?

At the end of the day, who cares. You'd think Rafa was the only manager to play the media and not have a close personal relationship with everyone of his players. Judge him on results not this silly tittle tattle culture.

Degen is like some kid they found to make up the numbers.

Yawn. This character assasination of the manager is become rather tiresome.

It's all gossip fueled hysteria. Right or wrong, Rafa only does what he thinks is best for the team. I fully backed him over Barry as I thought Alonso had stagnated and Barry offered something different and also freed up money for other positions, but it didn't work out and Xabi responded in the best way possible. That's football. I don't believe for a minute that Rafa is still desperate to force him out or that Xabi wants to leave for any other reasons than for his own career.

I would think it's the manager's perogative, what with him being the manager. I don't remember much outrage from these people who despise the manager about any other player he's tried to flog to do what he thinks is best for the team.

Ridiculous. Voronin had a good game in what was nothing more than a glorified training session. If we're being picky, Gerrard was abysmal.

Decent run out. Johnson looked quality. We have a lot of garbage on the books too.

He's box office.

Beckham is awful. Imagine his t*** of a bird at Anfield, and the cameras constantly panning to her and the kids and their entourage. I feel a bit sick.

Xabi is on more than that isn't he? I'm sure they'd travel here to finalise a deal anyway.

I thought we got a good return on Crouch, but I take your point. Parry was useless and there are plenty of examples of his ineptitude to drive a hard bargain. In his defece, the players we tended to get rid of were out of favour and on big wages, and this is one of the rare occasion were we hold all the cards in terms of a player in demand, which is why it'll be disapointing if we cave in and don't get full value. I understand the reasons for getting the deal done quickly so we can spend the money but sometimes you have to take a stand or clubs will continue to take advantage. As long as Rafa has the money to buy his next player we should ignore any contact from the Circus until it's an offer that matches our valuation.

I remember reading somewhere that Masch was on 60 grand a week, so he'll now be the highest paid player at the club? Ok.

I thought it was the new MD doing the negotiations? Absolute joke if we sell him for 25 million.

Stick to your guns Rafa. Not a penny less than 30 million.

Maddock is up there with the worst.

We're f***ed. No one is spending huge sums to buy football clubs in the current financial climate.

Surely they must have the had the nod long before now? If they were refused and couldn't meet the terms, how much would someone have to pay to buy the club?

I think if the quality is there we should always go for British or home based players who are settled here and unlikely to be homesick after a couple of seasons and missing their paella. Difficult for Rafa though as his main source for top players is Spain so naturally he has to tap into that market.

84 EC final on at the minute. A few observations: Lawrenson was truly world class. Italians at that time were dirty cynical scumbags. Keegan doing the analysis was still a massive Red.

70k should be the long term target. A redeveloped Main and Anny to bring the capacity up to 60k, with added corporate facilities and updated amenities, is more than enough for our needs currently.