Filling the Didi Hamann spot...

[Cunny]

I think we already have his replacement in Momo.

 

A purely speculative shout for me whould Maschereno of Argentina - I like the look of him as a midfield hatchet man/destroyer.

[fred milne]

I'm not sure we'll be bringing anyone in to replace Haman nnecessarily.

 

If the Alves signing does complete, then that suggests Gerrard will move back inside again. A quartet of Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko and Zenden should do for CM.

[Albertini]

I think we already have his replacement in Momo.

 

A purely speculative shout for me whould Maschereno of Argentina - I like the look of him as a midfield hatchet man/destroyer.

 

 

Mascherano does look a good player (and is always ace on Footy Manager) but i seem to recall Madrid sniffing after him and big coin being mentioned (like £15 mill plus).

[Guest 3an86]

don't think we need to bring anyone in as momo replaced didi last season. with aurelio coming in who can also play in the middle i doubt theres any reason to bring anyone in to an already packed midfield.

[Stevie H]

Is Vogel still with Milan? Would make a very decent backup

that's a great shout. plus he'd be happy with 25 - 30 games a season as well.

[Rimbeux]

It's more cover for Alonso, someone who can sit deep, protect the back four, mop things up and distribute well. Would also have to be someone able to be part of a squad, someone like Edu

[Knox_Harrington]

It's more cover for Alonso, someone who can sit deep, protect the back four, mop things up and distribute well. Would also have to be someone able to be part of a squad, someone like Edu

Precisely. We are looking for cover for Alonso, not a replacement for Hamann. That's not Sissoko or Gerrard who are more effective for different reasons higher up the pitch.

 

I'd even venture that the most important part is ability to dictate play rather than win a tackle.

[fred milne]

Precisely. We are looking for cover for Alonso, not a replacement for Hamann. That's not Sissoko or Gerrard who are more effective for different reasons higher up the pitch.

 

I'd even venture that the most important part is ability to dictate play rather than win a tackle.

Rafa may think that if necessary Gerrard could sit in midfield with either Sissoko or Zenden as his CM partner - especially if we have more potent wide midfielders and forwards.

 

It wouldn't be my preference, as you know.

[Knox_Harrington]

Rafa may think that if necessary Gerrard could sit in midfield with either Sissoko or Zenden as his CM partner - especially if we have more potent wide midfielders and forwards.

 

It wouldn't be my preference, as you know.

He may think that. But only on one occasion have Sissoko and Gerrard been partnered in the middle of the park and that was forced by Xabi's injury.

 

Zenden and Sissoko may not be a bad partnership but I do think that if Didi goes we need to bring someone in there.

 

The other alternative is someone who plays just off the fron dictating the play a la Riquelme. But those players cost serious money and would mean we'd be a forward light.

[Stevie H]

whither gary mcallister?

[yellow jumper]

jamie redknapp

[Knox_Harrington]

whither gary mcallister?

Yep.

[Guest mht1892]

whither gary mcallister?

 

I went on the lash with Gary Mac last night, picked up his FA Cup winners medal and dropped and it dented he wasnt happy but did laugh about it, anyway Fowler joined us along with Ian Rush and we had a great night all ended up getting smashed and we went back to Fowlers house then for a game of snooker and more beer, what a night*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*that was the dream I had last night and I remembered it all this morning, if only it was true.

Edited June 23, 2006 by mht1892

[Awrence]

I went on the lash with Gary Mac last night, picked up his FA Cup winners medal and dropped and it dented he wasnt happy but did laugh about it, anyway Fowler joined us along with Ian Rush and we had a great night all ended up getting smashed and we went back to Fowlers house then for a game of snooker and more beer, what a night*

*that was the dream I had last night and I remembered it all this morning, if only it was true.

 

 

Was there touching?

[hideNseek]

Keep the Kaiser.

[Guest chuck]

definately Momo for me.

[Clay Davis]

i almost forgot how good Sissoko was.

what a signing

[Ste M]

i almost forgot how good Sissoko was.

what a signing

 

Dig out your FA Cup Final DVD, skip to the second half, then sit back and relax whilst watching one man do the work of 10 in the name of Liverpool FC. His energy levels come extra time must have had the drug testers licking their lips in anticipation of another high profile case.

 

His last 10 games or so of the season were absolutely magnificent.

[Guest Jack Bauer]

I don't think we'll bring in anyone.

 

I agree.

 

We still have Zenden, his injury was the main reason Hamann got so much time on the pitch.

[Ste M]

I agree.

 

We still have Zenden, his injury was the main reason Hamann got so much time on the pitch.

 

Another point here, if we do indeed sign Aurelio, then he is another option for central midfield as he has played there in the past. I get a feeling that may be part of Rafa's thinking on the subject.

[floyd]

Like Rafa said,

''I now have a new holding midfielder signed for Liverpool with Jamie Carragher".

Case closed, so we can spend the money saved on Torres.

Edited June 24, 2006 by floyd

[Mad_Fer_It]

having (if we do) alves on the right will also have an effect on that void we have to fill...

[Knox_Harrington]

I disagree, I suspect the new guy will be as close in style to Didi as he is to Xabi.

 

It might be what a lot of manager's do - find copycat like for like replacements for the squad - but Rafa isn't like that. He's probably looking for someone a little different to Xabi to complete a quartet of four very different midfielders, giving us a squad with many tactical 'possibilities'.

In any other area of the pitch I'd agree with you totally. But when Xabi doesn't feature we don't have a player who dictates the tempo and direction of play in the same way. Hamann is pretty much the best in the world at what he does. Certainly the best we'll get within reason. However we're interested in getting shut.

 

We need to have a second player who can do what Xabi does. Easier said than done, however.

[jimmylibel]

If we do sign a central midfielder I'd expect them to be young, relatively cheap and on not very big wages. Most of the names mentioned in this thread don't sound too realistic to be honest, can't see those players coming in and being content with a squad role.

 

Is Zenden not the cover for Xabi though? Isn't that the role he filled when playing centre mid for Boro, keeping the play going (well as much as Boro could keep the play going).

[Knox_Harrington]

If we do sign a central midfielder I'd expect them to be young, relatively cheap and on not very big wages. Most of the names mentioned in this thread don't sound too realistic to be honest, can't see those players coming in and being content with a squad role.

 

Is Zenden not the cover for Xabi though? Isn't that the role he filled when playing centre mid for Boro, keeping the play going (well as much as Boro could keep the play going).

Played next to Boateng? Boateng is a deeper player but I agree that Zenden could be in with a shout in that position. Can't get it wrong though.