Hyppia 4

I realise that is ironic but he is nothing like Mido. Mido doesn't have anything like the same attitude on the pitch, he attacks/threatens team mates and has a proper evil streak. Zaki did one stupid thing after getting on well with everyone at the club and playing out of skin. Wigan won't be seen to be treated like that but that is no reason why we shouldn't take the chance laying out clearly what we expect from him. If he goes AWOL again that is it for him, especially at a club like Liverpool.

People make mistakes, attitudes change. The point is what you might get if you spoke to the lad and outlined how big a chance this was for him could be worth it. Apparently he stayed at home because he was injured and homesick and has since apologised admitting it was a stupid thing to do.

Yeah you are right, let's continue to be linked with unproven players of lesser ability for higher fees who don't fit our formation half as well.

because sometimes the Xabi thread just isn't enough... Yeah I know, but hear me out. Who was the best player to come to Anfield last season? A player who showed work rate, desire, skill, vision, team work and an eye for goal? A player who proved even throughout that game he was just a natural footballer who was dangerous wherever he got the ball? I have heard about the problems and they are serious, but given that this lad was being touted at prices upwards of 12m and you could probably get him for half that now at least I reckon he could be worth talking to at least. Apparently Pana are looking to take him on loan! When he was happy and on form he was as good as anyone in the league and he tore us apart like nothing I can remember in an average side. He fits our criteria perfectly as people are hardly knocking down his door and he realises he has to prove himself and watch his attitude so I reckon he would be willing to play either wing in the 3 or up top when Torres is out. He is a better option for me than Tevez and the only thing Tevez has over him is his attitude OFF the field. He is 26 years old now so surely he realises that he needs to grow out of stupid things like missing training. I'd take the punt personally if I sat down with him and told him exactly what would be expected from him from the start. Ferguson has made a habbit of taking "bad boys" and settling them down and getting the best out of them. Could Rafa do the same? Zaki for the first half of the season was probably best forward in the league. Just one last question, I've noticed he isn't playing for Egypt anymore either. Why is that? Surely if the only problem was him returning from national side games and he is no longer playing for his national side, there is no problem? He wanted to go back to Wigan, imagine how he would jump at a chance to play for us!

All the Liverpool players go to Fazak for medicals. I work there as well and I've seen a few of them in the past.

I can't see Pogrebnyak sitting on our bench. Quality player but has "attitude problems".

Who?

I agree that Alonso would "make his game tick" as you say but having a pop at Rafa for not getting it right on the left side seems a bit harsh. He clearly has had to prioritise squad depth and other positions and to be fair to him, up to this point at least, his first choice players have been quality and he has got it right more often than not.

Yeah other than the fact he is. (I like this game)

Never seen the hype. Poor man's Lampard and that is really something we don't want. He could never do what Xabi does. If we sell Xabi we will replace him with a defensive midfielder, Rafa isn't stupid.

LP I just got the same info but from an indirect source but someone who has a good record from the past. Sad if the Alonso part is true, happy if the Silva part is true.

Where does this idea that Alonso has needs to be an olympic sprinter come from? Do people not remember he was actually a CM when we signed him and it was injury to Sissoko that brought about this wonderful DM we see before us today? Benitez deserves total credit for being able to accomodate Alonso and Gerrard in the same side and Mascherano is the perfect player to have between the two because of his acceleration, speed, tenacity and tackling ability. We have without a doubt the most balanced and where it not for Barca, the best central midfield in the world. Rafa allowed that to happen by moving Gerrard forward, Alonso back and signing Mascherano. I want all 3 to stay obviously and luckily one is not an issue. It looks like Alonso could be staying (I hope) so now it is just down to Mascherano. I'd rather he stayed than left but if I had to choose one to go, I think his is the position that has players were you could compensate best and even dare I say in the future improve. To be Alonso and Gerrard are one of a kind, gifted footballers with a great work ethic and perfect for their position. Mascherano as great at what he does when it comes down to it could be replaced by a strong, fast player with excellent tackling ability (Matuidi/M'Bia?) or someone who is maybe not as fast but more intelligent and better on the ball (Flamini?). Losing Alonso, who do you replace him with?

:D more good news on the Xabi staying line. Come on!

Glad to see someone else realises the value of Alonso compared to that of Mascherano and more importantly WHY. As I've said "mobile" is to vague. The only reason I jumped on it was the context it was being used which as per usual with Speedy was to put Xabi down. The same people who are saying sell him now are the same people who were saying sell him for 12m, just how many times do they have to be wrong?

Because the business plan he drew up obviously means when he gets us to where he wants us to be he will earn far more off Liverpool's bat. I see this as good news either way personally because I am still yet to see a realistic viable alternative to these two no matter how much people hate them and they will have to put more money into the club to get the results they need.

It is too ambiguous fullstop. That isn't the point anymore though. Now Speedy is saying despite the fact Xabi game after game is shown by OPTA to cover more ground that Mascherano, he doesn't in a "footballing context". If you can work that one out then you are a better man than me.

Yeah let's forget the fact there was little to no movement in that game and Brazil were playing off a clearly unfit Ronaldinho. Argentina had a much better team and Hernanes got lost in his first appearance for a shit team, so much so I didn't even remember he was on the park. Lucas was so frustrated by how shit Brazil were he got sent off. Speaking of shit one offs, ever see Mascherano at West Ham? Non issue wouldn't you say?

You are Andy Gray and I claim my five pounds. What utter bollocks that is. Being mobile is far too vague for you to define it as the speed at which ground is covered, I'm sure there is another word for that though... oh yeah SPEED.

Sawyer but this one was much closer than the average Georgie. Isn't she with Ant/Dec? Says it all for me.

It doesn't matter how much you say Xabi isn't mobile you are still talking utter shite! Check out the distance Xabi covers, if he was any more fuckin mobile he'd come with a free ringding you belter. Nice of you to trot out the "time and space" line as well, that never gets old for foreign players.

Full games - 2. Highlights - a few. Strikes me more as a Gerrard than a Kaka. Excellent work rate (in the games I saw, one was against Flu), two footed, good in the tackle, skilKful and pacey in a Gerrard way in that he is more direct than most brazilians, same goes for his shooting. Like Gerrard he started deeper and is moving his way forward due to his deadly long range shooting and the abillity to bring players into the game. I believe he missed a trick, unlike his predecessor Kaka he didn't move to Europe and as a result he didn't improve aspects of his game by playing with better players. Players with his talent need to be in the best leagues pushing themselves or they go backwards or at the very least don't improve and become the players they should be. Talent wise he has it, question is who will take the plunge? Dentinho is another one who is constantly on the highlight reel and from the 2 games I've seen of him he looks a prospect. Haven't seen Neymar yet though....

Don't be fooled that the Madridistas don't want Xabi, in 2004 he was their most wanted player according to polls and they still would love to have him and his shirt would sell make no mistake. The problem is that Madrid believe they can get him cheaper. They knew they wouldn't get Ronaldo cheaper, they tried and the price got hiked up again. They knew they wouldn't get Kaka cheaper, especially given there were other clubs prepared to pay more. No one is in for Xabi and his last valuation was 15m by around Rafa himself. As great as Xabi is (and Madrid know it or they wouldn't be after him) paying over double the price you could have got him last season based off one good season is not something you would be urging us to do. Add to that the fact they have other irons in the fire with Ribery and Villa (to some extent) and also perhaps Silva and it is about spreading the money. Madrid may come across as stupid in signing Kaka and Ronaldo but both give them something they didn't have and they will pay for themselves as you said (within a few years).

I don't see the point in sending him on loan when he is our best back up for Johnson if Arbeloa goes, the money would be better served elsewhere and he is also one of the most mature and consistent performers we've had in years in defence. This lad reminds me of Carragher in that I just believe he will make it because he has done things the right way and has talent. His covering of the centre back is excellent and his last ditch tackling (ala Carra) is his "trademark" if you like. The lad has more than earned his chance for me and sending him on loan just doesn't make any sense, he is either good enough to be given a chance as a back up or not.

Teams have tried to sign him but he hasn't pushed for a move and Sao Paulo don't want to let him go. As for Brazil, well Ramires gets a game so I wouldn't say that is the best indicator at the moment. Another reason is because Dunga seems to prefer work horses in the centre who are great in the tackle with Kaka and Robinho as his playmakers.

When have Arsenal ever put an 18 year old straight into carling cup games? What they do is buy them young play them together for at least a season and then play them in the carling cup.