Liverpool FC Forum

by **A.B.** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:31 pm

Rafael Benitez maintains any player looking to sign for Liverpool during the transfer window must buy in to his Anfield revolution.
The Spaniard knows he needs new faces if his squad are to build on an impressive haul of three wins from their four Barclays Premiership matches over the hectic festive schedule.

The 2-1 victory at Norwich City on Monday saw the Reds close the gap on the top four - temporarily at least - to just three points.

Benitez can now turn his attentions to strengthening his squad. Liverpool’s main target remains Fernando Morientes, although that move could now depend on whether new Real Madrid coach Wanderley Luxemburgo has his own plans for the striker.

Valencia defender Mauricio Pellegrino is hoping to negotiate an exit from his contract with the Spanish champions while Real Zaragoza’s David Villa also appears to be a possible name on the Anfield boss’s shortlist.

Benitez, though, wants to make sure whoever he brings in will be the right men to help move the club forward.

“I have been thinking about the games, but now we have two or three days to think about new faces, if it is possible,” said the Liverpool manager.

“I am very happy with the players and the team, but sometimes you need more experience or have only one player in a position.

“If we find the players, we need to have the money for them.”

He added: “We have some names, and my idea would be to sign good professionals - not just the best players, but the best players for us.

“Sometimes it is not necessary to sign the best players - it is more important to sign the type of players that you need.

“And when I decide to sign a player, I always think about the mentality.

“We are closer on some of them, and the question is 'when will they sign?’

“Only when we sign the player can you say 'okay, it is finished'. Sometimes you talk, talk, talk - you need to sign the player.”

Meanwhile, defender Stephane Henchoz could be on his way out of Anfield with Rangers believed to be keen to sign the Switzerland international.

Benitez could certainly do with some extra numbers, having seen Xabi Alonso added to his ever-increasing injury list following a broken ankle against Chelsea on New Year’s Day and the news that Harry Kewell (groin) is still some six weeks away from a return.

Milan Baros is also struggling for fitness because of hamstring problems, and so it was no surprise to see highly-rated young defender David Raven included on the bench at Carrow Road on Monday.

And the Liverpool manager reflected: “In my mind, I have to be able to use all of the squad.

“If we want to play in all four competitions, we need to have options, to be able to use all the players. All the players know that they will be involved.”

He added: “If you lose a lot of players over the year, it is going to be difficult.

“We try to use all the players of the squad, if we are to able to compete in the second half of the Champions League. Then if we can use different players at the end of the season it will be very good for us because we can then have players with fresh legs and new ideas.”

Liverpool may now have a break from the Barclays Premiership, but they will soon be back in action for Friday night’s FA Cup third-round tie at Burnley, before facing Watford in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup and then hosting Manchester United in the league on January 15.

Benitez, who made four changes to his starting XI against Norwich, admits he may freshen up his team at Turf Moor.

“We will see after two or three days how the players are,” the Liverpool manager added.

“If some of them are tired, then we might need to change.

“If it is five, then I will change five; seven, I will change seven, or one - I don’t know at this moment.”

by **Leonmc0708** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:32 pm

I presume you plagurised that AB, where is it from ??

by **A.B.** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:37 pm

Unlike StMick I don't copy and paste and then claim it my own. It's from PremierLeague.com.

by **Leonmc0708** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:38 pm

A.B. wrote:Unlike StMick I don't copy and paste and then claim it my own. It's from PremierLeague.com.

Yeah not until you get rumbled anyway....

by **A.B.** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:40 pm

Leonmc0708 wrote:
A.B. wrote:Unlike StMick I don't copy and paste and then claim it my own. It's from PremierLeague.com.

Yeah not until you get rumbled anyway....

Either post something relating to the subject or shut the ****** up and don't say anything at all. It's a simple concept, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand it.

by **Leonmc0708** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:45 pm

A.B. wrote:
Leonmc0708 wrote:
A.B. wrote:Unlike StMick I don't copy and paste and then claim it my own. It's from PremierLeague.com.

Yeah not until you get rumbled anyway....

Either post something relating to the subject or shut the ****** up and don't say anything at all. It's a simple concept, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand it.

AB and Simple, have ever two words been more reflective of one another ?

by **liamac** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:48 pm

Priceless

by **A.B.** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:53 pm

Leonmc0708 wrote:
A.B. wrote:
Leonmc0708 wrote:
A.B. wrote:Unlike StMick I don't copy and paste and then claim it my own. It's from PremierLeague.com.

Yeah not until you get rumbled anyway....

Either post something relating to the subject or shut the ****** up and don't say anything at all. It's a simple concept, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand it.

AB and Simple, have ever two words been more reflective of one another ?

Recently I looked up "jackass" in the English dictionary and they didn't have the definition for the word, instead they had your name next to it.

by **Leonmc0708** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:56 pm

Anyway, back on topic, and so as to stop this degenerating into another argument thread:

I agree, we dont need to desperatley seek out half decent players.

We dont need two bit foreign imports like GH brought in. Its all about quality and not quantitiy.

by **A.B.** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:58 pm

David Villa, haven't seen him play how good/bad is he?

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