Stefano

I fear you're wasting your time mate. Wanting good young local lads in the team instead of wasting money on average foreigners, most of whom are shipped out within a coulple of seasons, is considered a slight against Rafa and our global fanbase. Ignoring the glaring fact that under Benitez our two best players have been two local lads, one of whom probably wouldn't have been considered good enough if he came through in this day and age. I know a few talented kids' parents who have turned us down, and who can blame them with our recent track record.

I doubt that lot would even cover a few months of Torres' new deal. Regardless, a 15 million budget is ridiculous for a club of our stature, and is nothing more than we used to spend under Moores, except now we have a 300 million debt to serve.

Doesn't it all usually come out of one pot? So whoever we bring in will have been through players sales, and if the figures are correct we really don't have much left. He also says that Rafa is happy with Johno, Aqua and Voronin and basically hints that's the end of our spending. Whether Rafa is using Barret to make a point, who knows.

Barrett in the Times reckons Rafa has spent the vast majority of his initial budget on contract extensions.

f*** all happening is there. If we were in for anyone of note there'd be a lot more speculation.

So where did El Zhar impress to get his chance, and which top clubs will be after him next summer when we get rid for some minimal fee?

His actual quotes were "he (Glen Johnson) is a great player and would help Gerrard and Torres".

Newcastle have recieved a 4 million bid for Damien Duff from a yet as unamed Premiership club.

Haven't seen it but my first thought was he didn't want to say anything out of turn because the owners' lackey was in the room.

VDV wants to play in England apparently.

Had a look on Stoke forum and in between the hilarious jibes about car theft and 'who would want to live in Liverpool', they reckon he's worth upwards of 10 million.

Babel will never be a striker, he lacks the work rate, intelligence and guile in front of goal. The bottom line is, despite the hype, he's just not good enough. I think Rafa would have sold him had anyone been genuinely interested.

Thought it was a typical Babel performance; flashes of ability before quickly retreating into his shell.

No side with Heskey, Carlton Cole and Defoe as their main strikers deserve to win anything.

Well in Barry, showing your class.

Riise scores a beauty, typical. Edit: Big deflection.

Haha, wait until you see Riise's sitter in the Norway-Scotland game, feckin yard dog.

I despise James.

Was thinking that. Ferguson probably put a word in.

I'm sure that's the price we would have had to pay. Probably more if we go after him next summer.

6 million for Cattermole, kinel. Good deal that.

1-1, great goal from Augero. Good game this.

Cattermole is signing for Sunderland. Just had his medical.

Argies playing Russia at the moment, live on ESPN. Masch playing, just got clattered.

Not sure about the Keane money. I assumed that money was swallowed up by the club and he gets a new budget. I think he's got something in the region of 15 million left, which probably wasn't far off his budget. Whether that's enough to get the rest of his targets remains to be seen.