Ian Brown

Personally I think the loan option hasn't proven to be the best for us over the last couple of seasons. None of them have led to concrete deals and we end up with the same situation each summer. I'd rather take £3M and invest it in squad improvements than send him out on loan myself.

I can see what you're saying but I think he's referring to the £14M price tag more than anything. That's how I read it anyway and if so I agree with him. Cisse has proven not to be good enough and as such we need to replace him. If the next question is, 'would you accept £3M?' then i'd have to say that's a difficult question to answer. If that's the maximum we can get, then what's the alternative? Keeping a player we know not to be good enough, who won't play regularly only to sell him for the same fee (or lower) the following year?

JAR has a lot of improving to do defensively, but if his rate of improvement next season matches that of the season just gone, then he'll be a hell of a left back. I've always thought LB was his position long-term and he's starting to prove it. If and when Aurelio signs, they will have a big battle for the place in the team I reckon.

I'd play Gerrard on the right, with Sissoko and Alonso in the middle. As Cardie says though, the formation will change depending on the opposition. That's why he's beefing the squad up in my opinion. At home against the poorer sides we'll probably go with Gerrard/Alonso in the middle and Alves (or Pennant or whoever) on the right. Then in the more difficult games, such as CL and 'big' teams in the league, Momo will come into the middle with the new right sided player dropping out. Gonzalez and Kewell will rotate on the left. That's how I see it anyway - Rafa keeping his squad fresh without letting it adversely affect the strength of the side.

So after our best ever Premiership season, Benitez is gonna totally change the system for next year?

People are judging Crouch on what other people were bought to do I feel. Going into the season we had Crouch, Morientes and Cisse as our main strikers. Now who do you think Rafa expected to score the goals out of those three? Crouch was bought to improve the overall functionality of the side, especially to ensure that possession wasn't surrendered as easily as the previous season. Initially he was played up top on his own with breaking midfielders behind him - Rafa saw that this didn't work and changed the system to give him a partner. When you have a front combination of Crouch/Morientes, or Crouch/Cisse, it's the latter player you'd expect to carry the burden of the goalscorer. That's not to say that Crouch shouldn't score goals, he should, and I think a tally of 13 is decent enough although he definitely can improve on that next term. The when Fowler came in we saw how Rafa would like it to be - a goalscoring striker playing alongside Crouch. That's pretty much what happened towards the end of the season too, Crouch playing his role and Robbie scoring the goals. There's no doubt in my mind that Crouch needs to improve, but I think his signing has been totally justified by the overall improvement of the side. Anyway, it's not even about indivivduals, it's about the team. Reina, Sissoko and Crouc hwere bought in to improve the side and they undoubtedly did.

I'd say the complete opposite in all fairness - for every bad game there's been 3/4 good ones.

Quality thread, nice one lads.

I've seen Hamill twice for the U18's and he reall needs to hone his decision-making. Time after time he refused simple five yard passes to try and skin his opponent. It's great when it comes off but he tries it too much and generally infuriates most people watching him. Unless he addresses that side of his game, he's got absolutely no chance of making it here.

The bottom line with Morientes is that he's not been good enough since he signed. He looked good before he came here but has struggled ever since he played his first game. He definitely has ability, there's no doubt about it, but he hasn't shown enough of it and as such will probably be sold. The miss on Saturday has nothing to do with all of his other performances - you have to judge it in isolation. In my opinion he should have scored - it was a decent save but the keeper shouldn't have had the opportunity to save it. It's a shame about him because you get the impression that he COULD be a cracking player for us but too often he's lethargic and lightweight - things which you can't really get away with in English football.

Can't believe some people are saying Heskey! Short memories indeed. Crouch, Owen, Fowler, Anelka for me. Baros not far behind.

Hamill is the most frustrating player i've ver watched. Ever. When he's good he's good but far too inconsistent.

Oh ok nice one mate - bet you couldn't do that again eh!

Que?

Looks like it will be an early kick off on the Saturday which sucks a bit seeing as I play football on Saturdays. Any chance of it being the 5.30 game or do you think the police would'nt allow it?

Wrong choice of term then eh! Striking personality better? ;-) Also for the record by the way in reference to that thread from earlier - somebody questioned his reliability as a source. In the past week he broke, Raven to Tranmere, Potters' move to Hearts breaking down, the Victor deal being off and Fowler signing (as people who made money from it will testify). Anyway back to topical discussion, Gary Nevilles' favourite past-time is incest...

It is cringeworthy like but can't help smiling when reading it - still on a high after Fridays events...

Needless to say that I disagree. Mr Usher is sound as they come, and i'm also top notch so how can I be wrong? ;-)

Not sure he'd be content with such a minimal role though.

Oh yeah I forgot he was negotiating a new deal. Must have been majorly peeved at the initial offer then eh?!

Shhhhhhhhh you'll get the thread closed! ;-)

Yeah me too - i'd be extremely shocked if he was though to be honest. He's very fond of Liverpool these days. Anybody hear that blurt of a striker saying how when he's fit he's unplayable? Oh wait....

No mate how come? Just got a phone call about it. He'd be well up for coming here but can't see how it would be feasible. He wouldn't be the right player for our weakness (right hand side).

Good player I reckon, although it's hardly like we need to strengthen that area of the team. He'd jump at the chance though...

You don't half seem angry today, you got the sh*ts or something?