I know Momo won a lot of deserved paludits

[sean]

very clever user of the ball. Can play it simple and has obvious reserves of pace. Seen him twice and I've formed a very positive opinion, wheras I'm still waiting for Harry to convince me on a regular basis. Offers fantastic balance and wiill be a decent outlet. Right and left flanks now covered, when last could we say this of Liverpool? Later 80's maybe?

[Cooldude]

Put in some nice crosses, can still do better though. You could see how f***in' quick he is out there.

 

Was more impressed with Aurelio, our left side's fine now

Edited August 14, 2006 by Cooldude

[sean]

Yes, he looked a player also. Riise has real competition there and he looks another option at left midfield.

[Stevie H]

made up with the left side now, loads of good options there. gonzalez was tidy without ever looking like he was out of second gear.

[Knox_Harrington]

Agree that the left looks sorted.

 

Still feel we need another option for the right.

[sean]

Agree that the left looks sorted.

 

Still feel we need another option for the right.

 

 

Oh for Regi Blinker

[Stevie H]

Oh for Regi Blinker

 

i don't believe in miracles.

[Barnesy_10]

Tell you what, we might have found the only other person who can hit a rocket with his left foot just like JAR. Some of the power in his shots was incredible.

Really like the way he cuts in for runs into the box. Hes got a smart head on his fast as f*** body.

[Guest westang]

Agree that the left looks sorted.

 

Still feel we need another option for the right.

 

pennant, gerrard and even garcia, kewell & FSP... our right flank is and will be alright. one more striker who is strong in the air and we will be sorted and ready to have a go

[fred milne]

Still feel we need another option for the right.

Nah. Pennant, Gerrard, Finnan and Kronkamp is enough.

 

Up front is the where we could do with one more player.

[Leo No.8]

Agree that the left looks sorted.

 

Still feel we need another option for the right.

 

See I actually feel we're going to struggle to keep the players we've got happy in midfield if we bring any more in.

 

Rafa already has the headache of having to not play one of Momo, Alonso, Pennant and Stevie in every game (hopefully we won't see anymore of Gerrard in the hole). Gerrard or Pennant on the right side for me is fine.

 

I think one more striker is all we need personally...

[Knox_Harrington]

See I actually feel we're going to struggle to keep the players we've got happy in midfield if we bring any more in.

 

Rafa already has the headache of having to not play one of Momo, Alonso, Pennant and Stevie in every game (hopefully we won't see anymore of Gerrard in the hole). Gerrard or Pennant on the right side for me is fine.

 

I think one more striker is all we need personally...

Thinking about full back as well, Leo.

[Cooldude]

If we do get the striker, the only thing we might need would be a left back, but at the moment we probably don't have the money and Riise can at times do a servicable job there.

[sean]

Riise and Aurlio are more thn capable of looking after left back. Don't forget Carra or Finnan could deputise if stuck.

[Leo No.8]

Thinking about full back as well, Leo.

 

I suppose it all depends what you think of Kromkamp Knox, presumably you're not a big fan if you still think we need further cover there.

 

I actually think he's decent back-up for Finnan in terms of his ability, but if he isn't settling as some reports seem to suggest then I suppose he'll go and someone else will need to come in...

[Knox_Harrington]

If we do get the striker, the only thing we might need would be a left back, but at the moment we probably don't have the money and Riise can at times do a servicable job there.

Servicable = Integral part of club record holding defence?

 

While I could see the logic, to cross reference the other thread, in accepting a very significant offer for Riise, he's a very good full back who, for whatever reason, was probably the best in his position in the league last season. There aren't many names that come screeching to mind who I'd consider as improving on him that we could sign.

[12twelve]

There's no left back who performed better than Riise last season. In this league probably Heinze and Cole are better in that position

[Knox_Harrington]

I suppose it all depends what you think of Kromkamp Knox, presumably you're not a big fan if you still think we need further cover there.

 

I actually think he's decent back-up for Finnan in terms of his ability, but if he isn't settling as some reports seem to suggest then I suppose he'll go and someone else will need to come in...

I think "back-up" is becoming null and void in this squad and that's part of the reason why I don't fancy him. Everywhere else in the squad we have options (with the possible exception of Xabi/Zenden and the goalkeeper) whereas all Kromkamp is is a lad who will play second fiddle to Finnan and can't do anything better than him. While he's not a bad player, he is, indeed, a good player, I think that as Finnan is remarkably defensively sound we could do with a player in the squad who offers perhaps a smidgeon more going forward than both Finnan and Kromkamp do.

 

I understand that it might not be possible this window and it's something of a luxury but it would be nice to get that player. He would, for instance, have helped enormously against Haifa although Finnan played well.

[12twelve]

IMO Kromkamp is an 'option' for us when we play with wingbacks in a 5-3-2/3-5-2. He can get up and down the pitch much quicker than Finnan and is a better option for that particular formation.

Edited August 14, 2006 by 12twelve

[Knox_Harrington]

IMO Kromkamp is an 'option' for us when we play with wingbacks in a 5-3-2/3-5-2. He can get up and down the pitch much quicker than Finnan and is a better option for that particular formation.

Lacks the ability to beat a man and put a consistant good ball in for me. I'd rather have Finnan's excellent quality of delivery than any increased pace. He doesn't make a case to play that shape if you know what I mean.

[fred milne]

I think "back-up" is becoming null and void in this squad and that's part of the reason why I don't fancy him. Everywhere else in the squad we have options (with the possible exception of Xabi/Zenden and the goalkeeper) whereas all Kromkamp is is a lad who will play second fiddle to Finnan and can't do anything better than him.

He's a back-up player in the same way that Warnock is at LB. Not a world-beater but can do a reliable job.

 

I don't see the full-back positions as ones were we need the "options" that you are talking about. Yes they'd be useful to have but we have other priorities.

[12twelve]

Lacks the ability to beat a man and put a consistant good ball in for me. I'd rather have Finnan's excellent quality of delivery than any increased pace. He doesn't make a case to play that shape if you know what I mean.

 

We'll see. I like Kromkamp as a player and he's a much better wingback than Finnan because he's the sort of an overlapping fullback who is eager to go forward IMO. Finnan is a very good crosser of the ball but he's nowhere near as athletic, if its a 442 Finnan would no doubt be first choice. If we're playing with wingbacks I know who'd be first choice for Rafa, the requirements of these 2 positions are very very different.

[Knox_Harrington]

He's a back-up player in the same way that Warnock is at LB. Not a world-beater but can do a reliable job.

 

I don't see the full-back positions as ones were we need the "options" that you are talking about. Yes they'd be useful to have but we have other priorities.

Oh it's an absolute luxury. We have to have priorities and the centre forward totally has to come first.

[MickeyDocs]

Lacks the ability to beat a man and put a consistant good ball in for me. I'd rather have Finnan's excellent quality of delivery than any increased pace. He doesn't make a case to play that shape if you know what I mean.

 

 

I have a suspicion that we'll be back in for Alves

[Knox_Harrington]

We'll see. I like Kromkamp as a player and he's a much better wingback than Finnan because he's the sort of an overlapping fullback who is eager to go forward IMO. Finnan is a very good crosser of the ball but he's nowhere near as athletic, if its a 442 Finnan would no doubt be first choice. If we're playing with wingbacks I know who'd be first choice for Rafa, the requirements of these 2 positions are very very different.

This is my point. You could shoehorn him in at wingback - and that really isn't clear cut - but 442 you're immediately thinking "Finnan". He isn't strong enough to make a case to shift to wingbacks on anything other than rare occasions. We could do with an attacking fullback who doesn't make everyone conclude "Finnan" as soon as we are playing four at the back. At the moment there's now way anyone would consider, for any top flight game, playing anyone but Finnan at right back if he's fully fit. We have that everywhere else in the squad. Why not here?

 

The answer is of course money, and that's fine, but unless he comes on leaps and bounds then I can't see the situation changing.