January Transfer Window - rumours, chinese whispers, and FACTS

[The Baron]

So Who, What, Where should Rafa be looking in the Summer?

Same as last summer, two decent attacking full backs and a good replacement/compliment for Torres (we wont get Villa but oh how I wish!)

None of last summer's signings have worked.

[The Baron]

So Who, What, Where should Rafa be looking in the Summer?

Same as last summer, two decent attacking full backs and a good replacement/compliment for Torres (we wont get Villa but oh how I wish!)

None of last summer's signings have worked.

Except Riera who ironically was Rafa's 2nd choice.

[amcgrath1uk]

So Who, What, Where should Rafa be looking in the Summer?

Same as last summer, two decent attacking full backs and a good replacement/compliment for Torres (we wont get Villa but oh how I wish!)

None of last summer's signings have worked.

Except Riera who ironically was Rafa's 2nd choice.

which is all the more surprising as in his half season at City he was awful

[The Baron]

So Who, What, Where should Rafa be looking in the Summer?

Same as last summer, two decent attacking full backs and a good replacement/compliment for Torres (we wont get Villa but oh how I wish!)

None of last summer's signings have worked.

Except Riera who ironically was Rafa's 2nd choice.

which is all the more surprising as in his half season at City he was awful

Yup - the last one I'd have picked to do well out of the 4 outfield players.

[amcgrath1uk]

So Who, What, Where should Rafa be looking in the Summer?

Same as last summer, two decent attacking full backs and a good replacement/compliment for Torres (we wont get Villa but oh how I wish!)

None of last summer's signings have worked.

Except Riera who ironically was Rafa's 2nd choice.

which is all the more surprising as in his half season at City he was awful

Yup - the last one I'd have picked to do well out of the 4 outfield players.

Against Liverpool ( having seen them a few times this season).. most teams play very narrow, so it allows him some space to play which always helps...

[maldini32]

The way Rafa treated Keane was an absolute disgrace imo, whatever you think of Keane as a player i have a lot of respect for him as a person cos there would have been a shit load of 20 mil signings going to the press moaning and whinging. He just stayed quiet and got on with it when ever he got a chance. Personally i think if your not playing him you might as well get your money back and Rafa just didn't fancy him.

As far as Babel is concerned, the guy would show hes true class if he actually got a proper run in the side in his natural position (up front). I'm a big fan but giving him 10 Min's here and there, then giving him one game and going back to the same routine isn't really gonna help him. I feel he will be a big player for us in the 2ND half of the season.

Dirk Kuyt is a great worker but absolutely no ability, i really don't know what sort of relationship him and Rafa have but Rafa obviously has feelings for him that aren't football related!

As far as signings go which ever striker we buy he's gonna have to be satisfied with a place on the bench, and were not really gonna be able to sell that to someone like villa. What we do need is a right winger who can go past players and deliver a cross and that ain't Dirk. I like our first choice full backs, Aurelio and Arbeloa i personally think arbeloa is very underrated good in possession and decent defensively.

Finally the conundrum that is Rafael Benitez. Sometimes i think hes just making the decisions to piss off every liverpool fan in the world, its fairly obvious hes a very single minded manager and doesn't like to cave to press/supporter pressure when making player/formation decisions. For example the Chelsea game he bought Babel on way too late in the game and its not the first time hes done something like that.

AND PLZ GET RID OF LUCAS HIS A BAG OF WANK!

[kinboshi]

The way Rafa treated Keane was an absolute disgrace imo, whatever you think of Keane as a player i have a lot of respect for him as a person cos there would have been a shit load of 20 mil signings going to the press moaning and whinging. He just stayed quiet and got on with it when ever he got a chance. Personally i think if your not playing him you might as well get your money back and Rafa just didn't fancy him.

As far as Babel is concerned, the guy would show hes true class if he actually got a proper run in the side in his natural position (up front). I'm a big fan but giving him 10 Min's here and there, then giving him one game and going back to the same routine isn't really gonna help him. I feel he will be a big player for us in the 2ND half of the season.

Dirk Kuyt is a great worker but absolutely no ability, i really don't know what sort of relationship him and Rafa have but Rafa obviously has feelings for him that aren't football related!

As far as signings go which ever striker we buy he's gonna have to be satisfied with a place on the bench, and were not really gonna be able to sell that to someone like villa. What we do need is a right winger who can go past players and deliver a cross and that ain't Dirk. I like our first choice full backs, Aurelio and Arbeloa i personally think arbeloa is very underrated good in possession and decent defensively.

Finally the conundrum that is Rafael Benitez. Sometimes i think hes just making the decisions to piss off every liverpool fan in the world, its fairly obvious hes a very single minded manager and doesn't like to cave to press/supporter pressure when making player/formation decisions. For example the Chelsea game he bought Babel on way too late in the game and its not the first time hes done something like that.

AND PLZ GET RID OF LUCAS HIS A BAG OF WANK!

For the last 6 months of last season and the start of this season, Kuyt was our most consistent player.  Can't agree with your assertion that he has no ability.   Lots of Liverpool fans agree with you, but his contribution to the side is huge.

Lucas is useless, and I still don't agree that Babel is good enough for us.  I thought Rafa brought him on too early against Chelsea.  He's a liability.  He can't hold on to the ball, he lacks the intelligence to do the right thing when he has it, and off the ball he does bugger all.

[maldini32]

Im questioning Kuyts ability not his contribution to the side, He'll run forever but the amount of times he gets the ball wide with time and space i just hope he gets some quality in the box instead of expectig it. Against Chelsea he fucked up so many of our attacks by hitting the first man/running into Ashley Cole. Tbf he does nick a few important goals for us.

Babel livens us up whenever he comes on, he makes things happen, gives the croud a lift something which we dont really have with anyone else coming of the bench.

Rafa today saying it maybe a risk selling keane. Whatever you do rafa please dont bring back voronin.

[kinboshi]

Im questioning Kuyts ability not his contribution to the side, He'll run forever but the amount of times he gets the ball wide with time and space i just hope he gets some quality in the box instead of expectig it. Against Chelsea he fucked up so many of our attacks by hitting the first man/running into Ashley Cole. Tbf he does nick a few important goals for us.

He had an under-par effort against Chelsea in terms of his final ball.  But usually it's far better than that.  Also, against Chelsea he wasn't poor overall.  How often did Ashley Cole get forward as an attacking force?  Why was that?  A lot of it is to do with Kuyt.

Babel livens us up whenever he comes on, he makes things happen, gives the croud a lift something which we dont really have with anyone else coming of the bench.

If he comes on up front, I think he might work as an impact player.  But he's certainly no better than Cisse in that regard.  Maybe Rafa is playing him out of position and that's why he's not shining.  But he's certainly not half the player Torres is, and whilst Torres is playing, Babel will not be up front.

Someone mentioned that Torres is injury prone?  He's had one injury whilst at Liverpool, and then a recurrence of it.  Other than that, he's fairly robust and injury-free.

Rafa today saying it maybe a risk selling keane. Whatever you do rafa please dont bring back voronin.

Voronin - NO!!!

It would have been nice to have Keane on the bench in case he's needed - but he's a better player than one who should be resigned to a place on the bench (in the same way Crouch was).  Hope he does well at Spurs, especially against our rivals and not against us!

[mondatoo]

Robbie Keane is a Top Bloke FACT

Also Benitez is a knob for not giving him more of a chance whatever the reason

[The Baron]

Babel livens us up whenever he comes on, he makes things happen, gives the croud a lift something which we dont really have with anyone else coming of the bench.

If he comes on up front, I think he might work as an impact player.  But he's certainly no better than Cisse in that regard.  Maybe Rafa is playing him out of position and that's why he's not shining.  But he's certainly not half the player Torres is, and whilst Torres is playing, Babel will not be up front.

Babel has all Liverpool fans split I think. I think I both love him and hate him.

As for Keane it seems that today Rafa has pretty much come out and said he didn't click with the players around him on the pitch. (I guess he means after 6 months of watching him in training too)

Hopefully the gem that is El Zhar will get a few more games now.

[kinboshi]

Robbie Keane is a Top Bloke FACT

Also Benitez is a knob for not giving him more of a chance whatever the reason

Titus Bramble might be a top bloke.  Doesn't mean he should be given a chance, whatever the reason.

[boldie]

Babel will be fine...if Liverpool get a decent manager who'll give talent a run rather than what he's doing now.

Selling Keane was of course stupid...and I hope Liverpool choke on it...they don't deserve to win the title. It's a club with no vision anymore..the owners are only thinking about selling and the manager can only complain about other managers, even when they are top of the league (FFS!).
WP GG and all that.

[The Baron]

Babel will be fine...if Liverpool get a decent manager who'll give talent a run rather than what he's doing now.

Selling Keane was of course stupid...and I hope Liverpool choke on it...they don't deserve to win the title. It's a club with no vision anymore..the owners are only thinking about selling and the manager can only complain about other managers, even when they are top of the league (FFS!).
WP GG and all that.

Stupid?... remains to be seen and if we aren't champions come may I wont be saying it's because we sold Keane. His impact was minimal.

I'm sure Rafa likes Babel (he wouldn't let him go when he asked and he'd played less than Keane at the time) I just dont think he realised how good Riera would be. Riera's had a good run in the side becuase he's more consistent... does that mean Rafa is a decent manager for letting him have a run? Honestly Boldie, would you start Babel on his games played so far over Riera? I doubt anyone with eyes would.

[Rooky9]

LOL, Rafa must be feeling a little sick at letting Keane go right now. Ideal replacement for Gerrard for a few weeks!