Liverpool FC Forum

[Bammo]

Just looked on RAWK and Shankslegend (ITK) reckons he's staying. One thing pointed out on there was that Xabi is still in South Africa so how did he say his goodbyes to the club staff?

[agoodmentality]

We must remember madrid paid £20M for Lass Diarra. not too long ago.

I really hope we do smart business this summer,if, as I assume, we're going to lose our central midfield .

The players I would accept in an exchange (plus cash) deal.

Hunterlaar  -
Lass Diarra - valued at £15M
Hienze - don't know if his legs have gone? but we're gonna need a left back cos Fabio's injured and Dossena can FO
Snijeder - maybey play in Gerrard position and move stevie back?
Drente? - Mabey can make Ryan Babel play some football?

As for Mashcerano, if Lass Diarra is worth £20M then he surely is worth £30-35M

Times they are a changin'

[Ciggy]

One thing pointed out on there was that Xabi is still in South Africa so how did he say his goodbyes to the club staff?

Reina, Reira and Torres?

[bigmick]

If he does go (and I hope he doesn't) 35 million quid is a huge amount of money for him and at that price, I think it would be a good deal. My own valuation of him would be 10-12 million less than that, so I think anything over 26-27 million quid means we are not absolutely getting shafted. For that amount of money, we ought to be able to find a replacement who doesn't weaken the team too much. Should it come to pass that Masherano was to leave as well though, the heart would be ripped out of the team in the space of a couple of weeks and that would be a hard body blow to recover from.

All that said, as far as the Premiership is concerned the Mancs have lost both Tevez and Ronaldo so it's hard to imagine them being much stronger than they were last season.

Equally, I'm unconvinced that Ancellotti is not going to do a "Big Phil" (and indeed to a slightly lesser extent a "Rafa") and come into the Premiership thinking he can impose his methodology from a different culture and that it will work in England. All this talk of the various Italian players he's going to bring in leads me to believe he might end up being a "five year plan" merchant as opposed to say a Mourinho, who bought the best English style centre forward of his era, played very direct and won the title at the first time of asking (with a record points total).

Arsenal are very much a work in progress (and perhaps always will be), whereas Man City must obviously improve if they continue to buy good players. They have the signing of the Summer so far in Tevez, there is talk of Eto, they have signed Xabi's natural successor from under our noses (fecking Parry ) and they already have Robhino if they can keep him. I keep thanking my lucky stars that they have Hughes as manager and not somebody more special.

Anyway, having considered all of that, despite the fact it's begining to look like the golden opportunity theory applies not only to the relative strength of our rivals but also how good our team was last term as well, my guess is we should still be able to be right up there.

[Alex G.]

Don´t forget Santacruz Mick, City is now a real threat.

[bigmick]

No I think Santa Cruz is a terrible buy mate. I think he's a sick note who is way over priced and way over rated. What with getting 15 million odd quid for David Bentley, and now getting 17 million for Santa Cruz, Blackburn are turning into the rob dogs of the Premiership. If they were selling futures or used cars, they'd be banged up.

That said Tevez is an excellent buy, and Barry is a top player too. I'm assuming that the fella they paid 18 million for who could have been bought for 12 quid if they'd waited a bit (De Yong or whatever is name is), is quite good as well. If they do get themselves an Eto, then obviously it's getting to the point where they are going to have to be taken seriously. It seems like they are also in for Lescott and for Koulo Toure who are both good players, so the whole project begins to come together.

Getting good quickly is one thing though, but actually challenging is another. Previously it has taken managers a couple of seasons to get a challenging team toigether regardless of how much money is available, and even then it sometimes needs a special manager to actually come in and lift the rich kids over the line. That said, the last part can be done at the first time of asking if you get the right bloke, so obviously in the very near future if they keep on spending they are going to be a serious threat. Not this season coming though I don't think, 5th is my guess, possibly top four if they sign Eto.

[Alex G.]

They must improve their defence. I want to see the Santacruz -Tevez partnership with Robinho behind of them. Looks a great team in the making.

                 
                 Ireland
  Elano                         Barry


                Robinho

       Tevez            Santacruz

[bigmick]

Yes it's wierd how Hughes has gone almost Keeganesque in his build from the front philosophy. He needs an absolutely top class centre half for a start (don't we all) and I wasn't surprised about the John Terry rumours. They aren't going to get him though realistically, none of ours or the Mancs are available (although a sneaky bid for Johnny Evans might work), which leaves you if you're looking in this country at the fella from Fulham who's name I really must write down because I can never remember it, or the likes of Lescott and Toure who although being good, aren't the very best. It's a tricky one is the centre half slot.

[bigmick]

I may even be tempted to ask at Chelsea if Carvallho fancies a wee look up North before he fecks off back to Portugal. Good centre back that lad, and alongside a Micah Richards might just make a pairing.

[Alex G.]

I´ve heard they are interested on Marquez from Barça and Ashley Cole.
This year City are doing it right, not trying to sign world class players like kaka or torres who turned their offers down. Top class players, it´s an intelligent decision.

[Alex G.]

I may even be tempted to ask at Chelsea if Carvallho fancies a wee look up North before he fecks off back to Portugal. Good centre back that lad, and alongside a Micah Richards might just make a pairing.

They want to do that with Materazzi (35 years old). According to the rumours.

[account deleted by request]

I have become bored with this whole saga over Alonso now. We should name a price we are happy with and give Madrid and whoever else is interested a week to cough up the cash, if they can't or won't then he will have to stay (at least till NEXT season )

All this uncertainty can't be helping our own transfer plans

[maguskwt]

I have become bored with this whole saga over Alonso now. We should name a price we are happy with and give Madrid and whoever else is interested a week to cough up the cash, if they can't or won't then he will have to stay (at least till NEXT season )

All this uncertainty can't be helping our own transfer plans

Personally, I would slap a 40 million price tag... and I believe in today's market and the way Real Madrid is overpaying, he might well be worth that amount... I meanwe just paid 18 million for Glen Johnson... I believe Alonso at the moment is one of premier midfielders in the world and he's also the type that real is looking for... but Xabi is not as Ad friendly as Ronaldo and Kaka and image rights is key for Real and this might be why they're hesitating to meet our price...

[NANNY RED]

He shouldnt be sold for anything less than 40 imo, look at how much they paid for that Diarea fella , xabi is twice the player he is, No more letting our players go on the cheap, weve been ripped off to many times, They need to pay me a bit of compo an all , to get over being traumatised of not seeing Xabi in the red shirt,

In my heart though i still think he will be here,

[tubby]

You will see him in a red shirt, but it wont have a Liverbird on it.

But I agree no more getting ripped off. If they can fork out money for Kaka and Ronaldo then they need to spend big for us. And anyway in a way Alonsos sigbiture is more wanted by the Madrid fans than Ronaldo or Kaka was. They want Spanish players so the pressure is on Perez to deliver. Xabi has 3 years on his contract so it's not like Rafa has to sell quick. Although in the interest of bringing players in Rafa would probably want a deal concluded quick.