Baps

Charlie Nicholas "I really don't enjoy watching Liverpool play without Torres and Gerrard"

Didn't DIC speak with the SOS group recently? Maybe they could shed some light on the situation and whether DIC are confident that a deal will go ahead. Or why would they bother approaching the fans?

I think it proves that right back is a position he feels is already strong enough with Arbeloa and Jamie if need be, and the funds are better spent elsewhere. He also needs a good left back, as it's obvious Riise will be gone, and Aurelio can't be relied upon, so there's another good chunk to be put aside.

What's this obsession with wingers, and are there any good ones out there these days? Strange that Rafa feels full backs are his main priority and then decides to sign the least proven one on a bosman.

Nice little NOTW combo there.

You really think full backs are going to make the difference and should be our main priority? Look at the league table, we've lost just 4, have one of the best defences in the league, and a healthy goals for column, but have drawn 12, which should tell you what you need to know about where our real problems lie.

So what do you want Rafa to do, taking into account budget and positions that need strengthening, who are these world class right backs that are going to be make the difference in wining the league?

Probably because they were desperate for a right back and we aren't, and Rafa wants to spend the majority of his budget on a position that needs strengthning the most.

Not when you're competing with that kind of financial clout, no. You can't have it both ways, it's one or the other, or keep chopping and changing managers, but you'll just be making the same arguments in 5 years time.

If it was all about spending huge sums of money, Arsenal wouldn't be anywhere near the top 4, and Spurs would be the most succesful club of all time. Rafa has built a great side, and now has a tried and tested system which just needs fine tuning with one or two injections of quality, which is by no means guaranteed, and a smattering of better cover.

One European Cup and two semi's in 4 years, not bad for a guy with no 'tactical nous' Great manager, one of the best, but a horrid little man.

:D

Thank god Comolli moved fast enough to sign Darren Bent.

And what are you doing exactly?

You can only say that if he was one of Rafa's main targets. If he was, I'm sure he'd have put up a better fight and it would have dragged on for a lot longer.

Is there any evidence that Rafa was actually after him, or was it just rumour? For one of the most sought after names at the moment, you'd think one of the super clubs would have snapped him up at that price.

I've barely seen him play, he was just a name that came out of nowhere on the back of a good game at Wembley and, as is usually the case, was then whored around by his agent to the highest bidder. Sounds like most top clubs were scared off by the price or they would have snapped him up, surely.

Modric has signed for Spurs for 16 million, cue mass suicides of bedroom managers everywhere

The only position I feel needs big money throwing at is the right side. If we can bring in a top drawer right midfielder to play in Kuyt's current role, and a good left back, then I think we're pretty much set. You never know with Rafa though. He could be settled on Dirk for the right and looking to strengthen other areas, hence the Barry rumours.

Ah, that explains it. Hopes dashed again.

Doubt Hicks would let them anywhere near the plans to be honest. Hope it's true like, but there's so much misinformation surrounding this subject.

Why would DIC hold meetings with the management team for the new stadum when they don't own any part of the club?

Can you really see a pragmatist like Rafa signing someone as maverick and disruptive as Henry?

I fancy us to get another win. Intanje Finnan Carra Hyppia Insua Pennant Lucas Plessis Benayoun Voronin Crouch

I've seen plenty of him in Germany and he's a talented player. Big, strong, quick, loves to bomb forward. I thought he was the standout player for the Swiss in the last WC, but his career has just stagnated a bit. Right back isn't that problematic a position for us, and I think he'll just be cover for Arbeloa so Rafa can spend the majority of his money elsewhere, hopefully on a top drawer wide player and left back.