Calum

If Rafa is looking for Central Defensive Cover, he would be well served if he signed Richard Dunne :

Hobbs always looked like throwback to the days of the large lummbering centrehalf aka, Larry Lloyd. Guess he was a bit slow ! Agree on Kelly and Ayala.

Not sure that we need to rush out and buy either Turner or Shawcross. We have 3 Top Class Centre backs in Skrtel, Agger and Carragher. The chances of two of them being injured at any one time is a risk that we can live with as long as we have good lad's coming through from the reserve and youth teams. The three boys who have appeared in the pre-season games all look as though they have the ability, all they need now is big mathch practice and confidence. Signing mediochre, lower team premiership players is no encouragement to our youngsters and only serves to stoke up resentment and unrest in the Squad about who is playing and who is on the bench, as we have not had enough already with Agger last season. Rafa needs to save his money and look at strengthening our striking options we have no adequate cover for Torres.

The Transfer Fee for Aquilani, should probably be dependent on the the number of games he is available for ! Something like £10m down, then £250k per game during the first season. Total £20m. If he stays fit he could be just the job, sounds a bit like the lad Xavi from Barcelona, who runs the midfield for them We will miss Alonso’s long range distribution, but if Alonso had a fault he dwelt on the ball on occasions looking for the long pass and lost possession, sometimes with devastating results. If this guy can move the ball swiftly and incisively, varying the tempo, we will be on a winner. Currently we have a midfield that is good at quick short passes, keeping possession, but too many of the passes are sideways allowing the opposition to fall back. If this lad can push through the quick ‘killer’ passes, then we will have a new dimension.

Know absolutely nothing about Aquilani, but if he moves the short passes quicker than Xabi, then we are on a winner. Alonso was good, but he did dwell on the ball on occasions and sometimes lost possession with devastating results. Doubt that we will ever see the precision of his long game again but a snappier, more incisive move from the middle of the back can be just as effective.

Nemeth, looked very acomplished in scoring his two goals! Personally, I would like to see him play a game or two. He looks stronger than Ngog and certainly has an eye for the goal. Some of his movement was reminiscent of Robbie Fowler!

Latest from RM on the Wires: Real Madrid sporting director Miguel Pardeza has admitted the free-spending Madridistas may have to miss out on long-time targets Xabi Alonso and Franck Ribery this summer. "Xabi Alonso is a great player and we can't deny that this team would greatly benefit from his work, but it looks like the situation may not end up well for us. "We'll nevertheless keep fighting for him and hope negotiations become reasonable again. Munich haven't even shown interest in transferring Ribery. "It doesn't seem to be reasonable to keep insisting when so much money is asked for a player." Don't be fooled by the press releases, this is just the well oilled Madridistas player purchasing team using tactics to reduce the price by delaying and creating confusion. Rafa, knows the score here, if they really want him they will either cough up or wait until next summer and test their appetite for Alonso after the World Cup. Either way if Rafa stands firm we can't lose. We pull a big wad now or we buy a years breathing space to find a suitable replacement! We only lose if we panic and sell now at a price which does not reflect current market values.

Just to up the ante! City are sniffing, which may help Rafa screw a good deal out of Madrid: The Daily Mail suggests Mark Hughes is ready to join the race for the player. The Mail suggests Hughes acknowledges his chances of signing the former Real Sociedad star are slim, but there remains a nagging doubt over the La Liga side’s remaining finances available to sign the Spanish international, whereas City have plenty of money available to them. Liverpool reportedly want £35 million for the player, which is reduced from an initial £40 million. Poke in the eye coming for Madrid, I reckon.

The agenda here is not Alonso. Sadly for him, he is merely a pawn in a game of football power and politics. Real Madrid, were the first 'mega club' with the ability to attract the very best players and were the first club to have repeat victories in the European Cup, with all the resultant publicity! As a result they became the biggest name in club football. In the last 15 years, their reputation and dominance has been challenged, most recently by the wealth of the Premiere League. They have also suffered notable humiliating defeats by rivals, Barcelona and of course LFC. They need to restore their pride and what better way than by improving your team and at the same time demonstrating your your power by unsettling and signing players from your rivals. Rafa, must stand strong and resist their arrogance. Better, that we keep Alonso and poke Madrid in the eye or at the very least make them pay 'through the nose' if they wish to 'steal' Alonso. We owe them at least one, after the humiliation of Macmannaman, Owen and the added insult of Nunez!

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Sensible comment. It is also a World Cup year and Xabi cannot afford to let his game slip in case he misses out on selection for the Spanish squad. I think Rafa will hold out on this one.

Play hardball Rafa ! Hold out for the £35m and if they will not cough up, then he plays out his career at Prenton Park and warming the bench until he comes to his senses, apologises and commits to the cause. Alonso cannot afford to be a benchwarmer in a World Cup year! We hold all the best cards in this current game with Real Madrid! Screw them Rafa, we have a score or two to settle with arrogant RM.

Not sure that Rafa isn't grasping at straws by playing the 'loyalty card'! Much better that he should just get down and personal with the lad's, understand their concerns and either answer them or let them go for the best fee possible. Not a lot of point in keeping players who are feeling 'arsie'! In todays game, the difference between success and failure is held in the players emotions and attitude, training and skill levels are very similar at most of the top clubs. The differentiator is in the players attitudes and collective spirit.

Don't think he had the right attitude! No sad loss, infact I would say that we wasted £6m and some salary on him. What is it with Rafa, that he believes he can straighten out bad boys like Bellamy and Pennant? Given the chance, I half feel that he would have enjoyed the challenge of Lee Boyer and Robbie Savage!! :whistle:

The arrogance of Real Madrid is unbelievable! Well done to Rafa for not bending to them. They are most certainly past masters at playing the transfer process, unsettling players then manipulating clubs into selling on RM's terms. (as evidenced by the fact that they have now reamed Fergie for two of his stars) Hold the line Rafa, remember the 3 card trick they pulled on us with Owen, the winger and Morientes.