Liverpool FC Forum

woof woof ! wrote:We have spent £18 million this summer but pulled back £8.5 mill through the sale of Baros and Diarra . Total expenditure £9.5 mill .

Don't forget we also sold Diouff to Bolton for a few million.

I don't think we are short of cash.

If today's signings go through

Simao £10m
CB £5m

That takes our spending to around £35m with around £10m back in players sold.

We also cleared a load of wage bill with the likes of Smicer, Igor, Kirkland etc.

I would imagine that signing players is a very long, complicated process these days, with agents etc...so I don't think cash has been the problem.

I think we could have signed MO...but I agree with Rafa that £16m is way over the odds and our cash is better spent elsewhere.  Plus we get to keep Cisse.

Bottom line on MO....he wanted to come to Liverpool, but RM wanted us to match the £17m, which was never going to happen.

I hope all the NUFC fans are happy that Owen ended up at his third chioce club 

matrix wrote:sky sports on our web site have said liverpools bid for sabrosa when up to 12.3 million just 1.3 million short of there asking price  if thats true im even more off now    benficaaaaaa      

MightyLFC wrote:This is old

Well you learn something new every day. 

Ciggy wrote:

MightyLFC wrote:This is old

Well you learn something new every day. 

bavlondon wrote:Does anyone know how things are progressing with Daniel Bonera (CB) Also we were supposed to have signed that Danish youngster from Brondby.

That Danish youngster from Brondby! 

Whatever happened to that lad?   

Yankee17 wrote:

banana wrote:As it is right now we are desperately short in some positions. Assuming Rafa favours 4-4-1-1 i'd gusee this is the current status:

GK:
1st Reina
2nd Carson
3rd Dudek

Position obviously well covered. 3 quality players, possibly 1 big name goalie too much. Wouldn't be surprised to see Dudek walk out the door in January.

RB:
1st Finnan
2nd Josemi

And we could switch Carra to RB if a crisis is coming or even use Barragan. Finnan was ok last season, but to be honest he must do at least as good this year if he want to secure his future at an european top team. Josemi is below average. Position not as good as I think necessary.

CD:
1st Carra
2nd Hyypia
3rd Josemi?
4th Traore?
5th Whitbread
6th Riise?

Only 2 real centre backs in our squad. I guess that is why Benitez has tried Josemi in that position lately. Josemi is maybe a bit small and rash to play there. If there is a crisis (and I fully expect our centre backs to get injured or suspended at some part during the season) I wouldn't be surprised to see Traore or even Riise covering at centre back. Whitbread is a rookie and should only play against Carlisle or Hull in cup competitions.

LB:
1st: Traore
2nd: Warnock
3rd Riise

Well covered

RM:
1st: None really
2nd: Garcia
3rd: Cisse
4rth: Zenden, Pongolle, Finnan, Potter, Barragan,,,,,

No real winger at our club. Garcia will probably play there a lot, and also Cisse. I would expect a big number of players being tried in that position.

CM:
1st: Gerrard
2nd: Alonso
3rd: Sissoko
4th: Hamann

Covered!

LM:
1st: Riise
2nd: Zenden

A bit frustrating this is. No wingers on the right, and on the left not enough flair and pace to threathen the defenders. Both players are solid, don't get me wrong. Let's gat some chilean pace and flair in january.

AM/F:
1st: Gerrard
2nd: Garcia
3rd: Cisse
4th: Pongolle

Benitez will use either a midfielder or an attacker in this position.

S:
1st: Crouch
2nd: Morientes
3rd: Cisse
4th: Pongolle

Maybe enough if Crouch becomes a success, if not a potential disaster area.

Best 11 4-4-1-1

Reina

Finnan
Hyypia
Carra
Traore

Riise
Sissoko
Alonso
Garcia

Gerrard

Crouch

Thanks to the one who bumped this post from two years ago.
It is helpful to be reminded again just how far we have come, and Rafa has done for our team.  Two years ago at the end of the summer signing period we were moaning about the depth of our squad and crying out for drastic measures.  Two years on, the depth of our squad is unbelievable, and we finish the summer signing period without any fear or nervousness.  A few things of note....

1. The core of the team has remaind relatively the same for 2 years. i.e. Reina, Finnan, Carra, Hyypia, Riise, Alonso, Sissoko, Gerrard, Crouch.  There is strength in this.  I am aware that some (Hyypia, Crouch) are not getting the playing time they once did, but this is a strong core to keep together.

2. The strength in depth is outstanding.  Look at our current team compared to this one two years ago.  The differences are apparent and obvious. 

3.  I am amazed that Rafa accomplished so much in so little time.  Considering the sqaud he inherited, and the budget he had to work with, he has done an outstanding job bringing us to the point of strength in the League and Europe.  I know that we want to go on and win the League, and that nothing short will suffice.  But many here should simply stop and take a look, and be reminded of where we were as compared to where we are now. 

In Rafa I Trust.

Good post, mate...you should do it more often!