Rafa - We must spend big and now

[D.Boon]

Unusually outspoken from Rafa. Exactly what we need though

 

link

[Magic8Ball]

It's been a weird week, there has been the over riding feeling of Deva vu for me - Houllier we are 10 games away from greatness Rafa we can be remebered for 100 years - neither can about

 

Now is Rafa's equivalent to 2002 and while he's right in saying we need to take 2 steps to every 1 of our competition in order to catch up I sincerely hope we bring in the right quality this time round.

 

Our entire offensive line needs to be upgraded BOTH wings and Strikers need to be upgraded - we need players of the like of Quaresma, Tevez, Eto'o ( who has committed himself to Barca) and quality backup for Kewell if we are to step up to the next level.

 

 

Home Games: the opposition normally sit deep and hope to defend against us hence we have more possession; here we need creativity against a packed defense someone with guile and the ability to produce magic

 

Away Games: here we are too slow on the counter Pennant often crosses to an empty box and our strikers cannot carry the ball and beat the defenders themselves - players who have pace and can score would make a massive difference here most goals away are scored on the counter

 

here's hoping Rafa gets the right personnel this summer

[JimmyF]

Likelihood is that the really big name targets we this summer are coming from Spain and their league doesnt end for a month so I dont know how Rafa will be able to wrap up all these deals quickly.

 

I think we need 2 strikers on the premise that Bellamy and Fowler are leaving and maybe Crouch as well, I would hope they sign one out and out box player (Eto'o if possible) and one player who can play in hole. The biggest problem is the wings, there are only a handful of world class players who can play on the flanks out thereand we need to address both wings. We also need cover at CB

[pipnasty]

Fairly brutal stuff from Rafa.

[Owen1978]

Its gonna be Torres i think, Rafa defo admires him, and he's the only world class forward available.

 

Like magic said Eto'o is staying put, and the prices flaunted for Villa are ridiculous plus hes stated many times he doesnt want to play here.

[Flight]

Rafa clearly stating 'Sack Parry, recruit David Dein.'

[Sion]

If Zenden is being allowed to talk to other clubs, Rafa obviously can't rate him that highly, so why the bobbins did he start the biggest game in club football. You could say there was nobody else. In my opinion, we should have started s***house gingey LM and Arbeloa LB.

[Owen1978]

If Zenden is being allowed to talk to other clubs, Rafa obviously can't rate him that highly, so why the bobbins did he start the biggest game in club football. You could say there was nobody else. In my opinion, we should have started s***house gingey LM and Arbeloa LB.

 

Yeh i would have perferred that @ LM - Riise > Zenden

[The_Adder]

Providing we keep Kewell (which I hope we will), I like to see exactly that - two new wingers and one if not two strikers.

 

Strikers: Eto'o would be a sensational signing, the best of the lot, not just in terms of ability, but he just seems to be exactly the kind of striker we need - a top class finisher, super fast, strong, determined, just brilliant.

 

Then I would love Tevez, just think he would be a great, great signing for us and a player who's attributes could fit into pretty much any system we play. If not then someone like Trezequet, Owen or Milito would be very nice thankyou - a finisher.

 

Wingers: The best options seem to be in Portugal at the moment, unless there is some silky Brazilian I dont know about?? Simao, Nani, Queresma - all top players. I'd probably favour Simao as I'd think he fit best into the 4-2-3-1 formation, but either of the other two would be excellent thank you very much... Throw Harry and Pennant into the mix and we'd be looking pretty healthy.

 

Still cant help thinking we need another CB, espesh if Sami goes (hope he doesnt), cause if Carra or Agger got injured for a long spell we'd be pretty messed up for a while...

 

Cant wait for the summer signings, pretty easy to tell from last night (f***ing gutted) match were we need to improve, the Keeper, Defence and Central Midfield can rival ANYONE in the world, really need that cutting edge... Show us ya warchest boys!!

[Magic8Ball]

Its gonna be Torres i think, Rafa defo admires him, and he's the only world class forward available.

 

Like magic said Eto'o is staying put, and the prices flaunted for Villa are ridiculous plus hes stated many times he doesnt want to play here.

 

I made an argument for Torres over Eto'o based on "apparent" mentality, meaning that Eto'o caused unrest in the Barca camp [also there are the African games when he would be on international duty ] not a recommendation to Rafa and Torres while being a similar player ( maybe not quite as good) has been his clubs captain - notice Rafa likes to pick players with the right mentality and intelligence and has a number of former club captains here.

 

The question is can Torres cope with the physical nature of the premier league?

 

If we were to get players of the ilk of Nani, Queresma, Tevez, Torres that would make a massive difference to us.

 

Some people would say that's too many players but I think "gelling" has a lot to do with the intelligence of the players, their ability to read the game anticipate outcopes and follow Rafa's instructions

 

Last night showed a supreme tactician as a manager and players not up to his level, players incapable of following his instructions - with many teams getting new owners this summer is the summer to capitalise on their valuations

 

 

I would want to keep Kewell

[Owen1978]

I made an argument for Torres over Eto'o based on "apparent" mentality, meaning that Eto'o caused unrest in the Barca camp [also there are the African games when he would be on international duty ] not a recommendation to Rafa and Torres while being a similar player ( maybe not quite as good) has been his clubs captain - notice Rafa likes to pick players with the right mentality and intelligence and has a number of former club captains here.

 

The question is can Torres cope with the physical nature of the premier league?

 

If we were to get players of the ilk of Nani, Queresma, Tevez, Torres that would make a massive difference to us.

 

Some people would say that's too many players but I think "gelling" has a lot to do with the intelligence of the players, their ability to read the game anticipate outcopes and follow Rafa's instructions

 

Last night showed a supreme tactician as a manager and players not up to his level, players incapable of following his instructions - with many teams getting new owners this summer is the summer to capitalise on their valuations

I would want to keep Kewell

 

Just signing 3 of those players would make us a scary proposition, would love to see this team role and next season

 

-----------Reina------------

 

---Fin---Cara---Aga----Riise

 

Quaresma--Stevie---Mash--Kewl

 

-------------Tevez----------------

 

-------------------Torres----------

[Sion]

I've always been pretty sceptical of Torres' goalscoring ability, but recently I've come round to the idea he may be a target of ours. He plays in a suprisingly poor Athletico side (considering the variety of talented players they have) and is consistently used as the lone striker in a 4-5-1 system. Saying that there are 8-10 players I would prefer before him.

[Extraordinary Swindle]

Daniel Alves your time has come!

[Guest JV]

Ribery, Quaresma and Torres please

[John am Rhein]

In a sense buying cheaper players (say 8 million instead of 20 million) is a false economy.

 

If you buy a proven top level player, as Man U did say with Veron, then even if it proves to be a failure then you stand to get a big chunk of the money back because someone else probably wants to buy him off you. If you buy players like Cheyrou, Diouf etc. who have huge potential but are a bit of a gamble then, should that gamble not pay off, you effectively lose ALL the money.

[Guest Finnan3]

Have my doubts over Torres. Would prefer Etoo (or Henry, ya like that will happen )

[Magic8Ball]

In a sense buying cheaper players (say 8 million instead of 20 million) is a false economy.

 

If you buy a proven top level player, as Man U did say with Veron, then even if it proves to be a failure then you stand to get a big chunk of the money back because someone else probably wants to buy him off you. If you buy players like Cheyrou, Diouf etc. who have huge potential but are a bit of a gamble then, should that gamble not pay off, you effectively lose ALL the money.

I dont know if that argument truly applies, (it may do ) what matters more is the timing, now point in buying 1 top striker when the other 10 are poor - NUFC take note, in such circumstances you would be better buying 2 good defenders - I guess I'm saying you should only buy big when you have the players in place who can take advantage of the extra quality - finally after many years of only having 1 or 2 good players we have 7 or so now - now is the time to buy the missing 4 we need to challenge.

 

now is the time to gamble on quality, we've not been in this position since the 70-80's

[D.Boon]

Like almost everyone else i feel we need 2 new wide players and 1 top striker and all 3 to be ready to be in the starting 11.

 

Regarding strikers i have a feeling we may see a bid for Darren Bent.

[Guest AdamS]

It's been like 14 hours plus since Rafa said "now". I'm getting restless.

[John am Rhein]

I dont know if that argument truly applies, (it may do ) what matters more is the timing, now point in buying 1 top striker when the other 10 are poor - NUFC take note, in such circumstances you would be better buying 2 good defenders - I guess I'm saying you should only buy big when you have the players in place who can take advantage of the extra quality - finally after many years of only having 1 or 2 good players we have 7 or so now - now is the time to buy the missing 4 we need to challenge.

 

now is the time to gamble on quality, we've not been in this position since the 70-80's

 

Well I don't think there's been a time since summer 1988 - and very rarely even before that - when the addition of a top class player or two couldn't have improved the squad dramatically.

 

I don't think buying big/top quality is necessarily about buying a striker. A top quality player in ANY position would be a huge bonus. We're probably already there in central midfield, but the left side is a bit ropey.

[bazz]

IF rafa signs number 1 target Alves this summer - who loses out in midfield if we play 2 upfront?

 

Alves Gerrard Masch Alonso Kewell??

 

or is Rafa's overall play (as displayed last night) to have a sole striker i.e.:

 

 

----------------Masch

 

Alves Gerrard Alonso Kewell

 

----------------Eto'o

 

 

?

[abc]

Like almost everyone else i feel we need 2 new wide players and 1 top striker and all 3 to be ready to be in the starting 11.

 

Regarding strikers i have a feeling we may see a bid for Darren Bent.

 

Bent will be a good replacement for Bellamy, perhaps even an improvement. Good pace, can play alone up front, and is a goalscorer.

 

Unless I'm totally off the mark Charlton can't hold off for a crazy amount as they have been relegated.

[McBain]

rAFa WAntS BiG naMeS!!

[D.Boon]

Bent will be a good replacement for Bellamy, perhaps even an improvement. Good pace, can play alone up front, and is a goalscorer.

 

Unless I'm totally off the mark Charlton can't hold off for a crazy amount as they have been relegated.

 

Bent would be an interesting signing he has all the physical ability we need and Rafa could potential work wonders with him

[McBain]

Bent would be an interesting signing he has all the physical ability we need and Rafa could potential work wonders with him

 

Much as i love the fella. His record with forwards aint something that inspires huge confidence. Lots still to prove in that respect