Duncan Clench

I think there's a good chance Rafa will sign a couple of big names now (at least we don't have to listen to Houllier's bullcrap about how we've just '....signed a new player called Steven Gerrard!!') but I also understand he likes to make use of the squad/reserve team, so I think there'll be a fair few of the young lads getting their chance this season. New CM: Mannix? New RB: Otsemobor New CB: Carra I think Benni is the man to get the best out of players like Smicer, and I think he's probably delighted at the quality of our academy right now! AS for the style of play, I gather he starts with the defence and goes from there so I think we can expect a fairly boring start until he knows his best players going forward.....it's very exciting though.

Enjoy? In what way? In a 'bored me to shit' styleeeee?

Here here. He's staying, he'll have another great season, and hopefully(!) he'll have the players around him to do the business.

I didn't know he was DT, is there some inside information I'm missing out on here? Just because the press say something's hapening doesn't make it so. But if you know something that I don't, fairplay.

Does the manager come under the 'sportsman' title then? And don't they take the manager to court and not the club he went to? We got the man we wanted, perfect. No bastard wanted Ziege at the club anyway did they?

Honestly guys, you all sound like cheated husbands! We're never going to know the real truth but as far as I can make out Stevie has had zero contact with Chelsea. He thought about moving on because he wasn't pleased with the direction the club was going in, (I'm sure a lot of fans thought about moving on last season too!) but has had reassurances....and the fact he's staying now should make us all very happy because Rafa and Parry have obviously explained their plan, and Stevie thinks it's a good 'un! I don't feel that he's done anything wrong here. He's kept quiet for a few weeks so he can concentrate on playing for England, which he loves doing, and as soon as he's back he's put the whole thing to bed. Rather than have a go at the lad I think we should be very happy that he's staying, without a revised contract to keep him here. He's staying because he's convinced we can win things, and he's obviously heard who Rafa's got in mind to bring to the club... Happy days are coming chaps, let's not dwell on the fact that Stevie THOUGHT about maybe moving on, but loves and believes in this club too much to go anywhere. He didn't prostitute himself, I don't feel he's disrespected the fans in any way, quite the opposite in fact, and I'll be screaming his name louder than anyone come next season! STEEEEEEVIE GERRARD!!!!!!!

Yep, I had faith and got 66/1! Milan is a top striker and I'm really pleased he's staying. Benitez likes his squad rotation and all of our players will benifit from this, particularly Milan.

Have to say I thought it was hilarious that Houllier said this on the same day that Milan came out and said he was going to leave Anfield until he heard the GH was getting the boot! He said that Houllier sucked all his confidence out of him. Who can blame the guy when he comes on as sub and looks awesome, and then sees Heskey start the next match!?

Did he speak to Chelsea at all though? He may have read the speculation and though "..2 bad seasons at LFC, maybe now's the time........nah!" Nothing wrong with that is there?

He's staying, whether you like it or not Tom. I'm chuffed! It seems like you think you know a thing or two that we don't, and you're basing your opinion on that....fine. What's the big secret? You're still wrong IMO. Done nothing wrong. What's the big newsflash if the Chelsea manager and CE say they'd love to have Gerrard at the club? Who wouldn't exactly? The important thing is that as soon as they could, the club and player have put this to bed. Regardless of what you think about the 'club football ban' by the FA, no England player talked transfers. At all.

Tom, you're talking out of your backside! He has said NOTHING. Terry and Lampard have said.......wait for it........NOTHING! Being misquoted in the media is a far cry from talking about transfers in and out of Chelsea! And what the fuck to Terry and Lampard have to do with Chelsea's transfer dealings anyway? Let's wait and see what he has to say eh? I've heard it could well be a conference to say that Owen is staying-put anyway. Maybe we've signed Zidane!

Why exactly? For showing commitment to Liverpool? Just because he hasn't spoken out either way, the bandwagon had been rolling and you've obviously jumped right on it Tom! What's the problem? Did you miss the boat with Houllier and think you'd get in early on this one?! He's showing his true colours......RED.I for one am delighted about it. He's our best player, and he can see that we're going in the right direction. Now bring on Ayala and co! P.S. I'd like it to be noted that this was posted BEFORE the press conference so if he leaves, bugger!

.....am I to take it that Owen is going to stay now? A lot of people are assuming that the Gerrard deal is done and dusted, but weren't we all talking in the same way about Owen a few months ago? I just get this feeling that all of this is press speculation and perhaps Stevie and the Club don't feel it's worthy of comment. I don't know, I'm ever the optimist, but surely things aren't signed and sealed yet! It seems that the media do the best they can to try and make transfers happen but I'm not convinced that he's going anywhere ....and I'd be made up if he stayed. Too many people are criticising the boy at the moment, he's our best player by a long way....however you choose to look at it. If he does want out, that's up to him....but it would seem like a very silly decision to make at such a young age. He wants to win things here and I think Rafa can persuade him to stay because we will be winning things with him. Naive? Maybe. So, anyone know the situation with Owen, or is that not happening now that the newspapers aren't talking about it?

I heard Razorlight in the live-lounge on Radio 1 and thought they were excellent, then I heard the proper recording of the song and thought it was a bit naff! Like music? Then go to: http://www.mrsmithmusic.com Free songs when you register!

Swedish sausage I rekon!

....and what a great season he had!

Thank you guys, I've just officially pissed my pants with laughter!!!!

Woohoo!!!! Bring it on!!!!!!!!

Yep, turned down United cos he wouldn't play very often by all accounts. £15 million?! Those Mancs love paying too much for people don't they?!?

Rooney's a good player but I think Vassell gets overlooked too easily. Yes, Rooney got 2 goals, and one of them was a scorcher..........but so did Vassell! Does that make Vassell world class too?!? With Vassell, you know what you're going to get. 100% effort, a good finish when it's needed, and blistering pace that will scare the bejeesus out of any defenders. Unfortunately, you never know which Rooney's going to turn up. The fat munter who couldn't score in a brothel, or the 'genius' world-class international striker! Anyone else concerned that both of our strikers are likely to be short-arses? If Beckham manages to get his crosses beyond the first defender (unlikely!), who's going to be leaping like a salmon to knock it in? Emile Heskey????

I wouldn't say he's set the place on fire but at the same time I don't think he's had a bad game for England. Admittedly, he wouldn't get in before Gerrard in the Liverpool team but he give him a season playing along side Stevie and I think we'd have a little gem on our hands. He does the Didi job, and because of Didi we could get him for bugger all....and he's young...seems like a good deal to me. Someone said that the English press hasn't felt he's done anything worthy of a mention. Well when exactly does German football get a mention? I wouldn't read it if it did! Yes, there are better players than him I'm sure, Baraja's getting a lot of mentions but I know nothing about him. I'll take your word for it that he's a good player. We need to strengthen in midfield and I think Hargreaves would do just that. I've lost track...... what is Smicers natural role again? Seems to me that his natural style of football involves wandering around the pitch at walking speed, standing still with his hands on his hips when he loses the ball, having a poor first touch and not scoring goals!!

So Tom, how does he get in the Bayern Munich 1st team every game? He can't be that bad! I've been quite impressed when I've seen him for England. You don't get to see that much but he's got a good touch, good fight, can take pretty tasty free kicks and can pass a ball ncely too. If he was at the club, he'd be my 2nd choice central midfielder after Stevie. Add to that, he's young and English, so I think he'd be a great addition to the squad.

One year left on his contract and no new one in the pipeline, could we use Hamman's desire to join Bayern as a way to get Owen Hargreaves on the cheap? I'd be disappoointed to see him go, I think he's done a lot for the club and rarely gets the credit he deserves. Im a big fan of Hargreaves though and I'd love to see him at Anfield. Also, saw Vladi on Eurosport being interviewed and he was saying that he wants to stay at the club, but personally I'd have him on a list with names like Heskey, Traore, Biscan et al! Anyone think he's worth keeping?

I couldn't give a shit about this anymore. Fed up with all the speculation. One minute it's on, the next it's off. Thaskin sounds like a cock anyway. I'll be happy if someone does come in with a lot of money for the club, but I'm more happy that Benitez is on his way, Heskey and Traore are out, and we look like we're going forwards again. Thai money for Thai people.

He can bring who he likes, as long as the clear-out happens first! Aimar and Ayala are both quality players and from what I've seen they'd both fit in well here. Let's just wait and see though eh? All will be revealed next week!