pjwy

You make a very good point about Jol's and Rafa's assessment of Defoe.I'd trust Rafa's judgement way more than Jol's..and what is more,is it not the case that most of us consider also that Defoe is a better all round player than Keane so wonder why Jol seems to prefer Keane of the two?

Thing is we dont know if there are any other options available.It's difficult to decipher what links are realistic and which are fabricated when the window is open.Talk of Kuyt for instance is exciting but he may not even be an option..similarly David Villa or Torres because of the fee for example.In any case,I reckon Johnson must be worth a few bob since three clubs are said to have offered £8.5m (market forces?)I'd say Defoe ought to be worth more because he's probably a better player but if we've got him for less than AJ,that would be good business imho.

Dont agree..it's an honest assessment of Peter Crouch as I see him.If I was to slag off or rubbish the player then that would be a disgrace..but I'm not doing that! I fully support him when he's in the team as with every other Liverpool player but I simply think he's nothing special at all other than being a useful player to bring on to perhaps change a game or give another option.

I dont think Crouch has any 'wonderful qualities' ! He's a very ordinary player who would not look out of place in the championship league imho. Likeable guy mid you but surely this player is not a Liverpool player?

Average footballer..not in Liverpool's league imho.That said,he's been useful at times in giving us another option and confuses the opposition at times but overall,we could have done much,much better.

Well said mate! A guy stood next to me today at Ewood berated Cisse all the game long but for me,Cisse was the only player on our side with any real pace and this caused endless problems for Blackburn's defence.He should have done better with those two chances but in saying that,who else would have got to the ball in those situations anyway? I'd have definitely marked him at least a 'seven'.

Morientes has been poor throughout his spell at Liverpool although his work rate tonight was very good.Simply not good enough for us..and neither is Crouch.This very average footballer tries hard enough but for me is the worst 'striker' ever to don our shirt in RECENT times with the possible exception of Dundee and Mad Erik.

The thing is though..we get the ball into scoring positions and can't put it away because our strikers are simply far too slow to react for whatever reason..in short we have four strikers at the club and none are good enough for Liverpool imho.OK..you can win things with a low scoring ratio but in our case it's a low scoring ration because we dont convert the half chances which we create which would make life a lot easier for us on the pitch!!

You are right about our strikers.like I said,I sincerely believe we could find a couple of far better strikers even in the lower divisions but certainly in the lower reaches of the PL.I personally happen to believe that Crouch for instance is a very average footballer and Morientes was a class player but looks past it and Cisse's touch makes him nowt but a fast runner with boots on and that lot cost £27m.I'd rather have Baros and Pongo honestly.BUT what is compounding the problem is that with Gerrard on the right,we lack any real drive and creativity in the middle of the field as tonight's procession of long balls illustrated.Xabi playing with Sissoko just dont provide enough imho and it has to be making things even worse.Tonight we had plenty of possession and passed ball about a lot but created precious little.We were lucky not to get beat 4-0.

I thought he was woeful tonight..gives the ball away most of the time..rarely plays a decent ball through to the front men..and his shooting?well,for a pro footballer it's pretty hopeless tbh.His work rate is high nevertheless but,as I'm sure Shanks would have said,his energy is mostly wasted.

One thing watching the game tonight..our midfield of Alonso and Sissoko created virtually nothing in the way of chances for the strikers other than the Xabi pass to Crouch in the first half which he should have scored from..Xabi's free kick which was perfectly placed but nobody bothered to get on the end of and Nando's one effort in the second half. For the most part it was one long ball after another lobbed into the box and their defenders had no difficulty there.I am CERTAIN that our current crop of strikers is one of the worst in the PL but it's not helped by the fact that without Gerrad in the middle we have zero creativity either. I know we might not be the finished article but this 'blip'is now beginning to look like the start of a real slip-up for whatever reason and,for me anyway,there are real concerns that we may see our improved form and recent challenge peter out.

I dont really see why we would not have gone for Pennant..he seems to have settled down well after his problems some time ago.Anyway,we should not be overly concerned with that latest episode imho.He looks a really good right sided player and he gave Riise,for one, a torrid time at Anfield last week..he was MOTM I reckon.

True.and I'd sooner have him than Crouch if I'm absolutely honest even though he is a much different type of player!At least he would put defences under pressure and was reasonably quick unlike any of our current strikers.(Cisse runs fast but is'nt as nimble and 'quick').

I've always said that..Crouch is a very average player,working his socks off,but simply not good enough for Liverpool FC.He is supposed to be good in the air but does'nt even have the technique odf a good header.He does'nt even watch the ball when he's going up for it.I'd even say that Garcia is a better header of the ball and he's a foot shorter!Not only that but Crouchy badly lacks pace and sharpness as was illustrated when Gerrard crossed in the 50th minute and he was nowhere near reading it.Frankly I'd rather see Mellor up front.That said,our strike force as a whole is the worst in the top half of the PL by a stretch and it's beginning to cost us dearly.

I can only say that none of Morientes,Crouch or Cisse are good enough for Liverpool FC and if we dont strengthen up front we will struggle much harder than we should have to.If I had to be lumbered with one of them I'd choose Cisse and play him wide right only because of his pace and ability to get a cross in..but the othres are of sub standard and nothing more imho.

I'd have to agree with the author of this thread though.Saying that,Morientes is not soley to blame.This strike force of ours is the poorest crop I can remember at Liverpool for a long time and I'd go so far as to say,the poorest in the top half of the premiership imo.Unless we can get more sharpness (not neccessarily speed)of mind and body up front AND a decent right sided midfield player (how we could have done with Pennant tonight) we will never seriously challenge for the title this or any other season!

The pass from Gerrard tonight was typical of Nando imho..he reacted slowly,then could'nt make it before the keeper and the chance was lost.He is'nt the answer up front for us and neither,imho is Cisse.In Crouch we have a different option but even he is slow and poor in the air as well! We need a complete overhaul of our weakest department..up front!

That's spot on! Cisse has pace but it's wasted because his touch is abysmal and his shooting wayward..he does'nt even read the game right! Morientes has great touch but his reactions are slow and he painfully lacks pace.Pongo is lightweight but possibly,on current form,best of the bunch.Crouch is a useful player to have come on in games but he lacks pace too and is'nt that good in the air either..an average player at best! We desperately need at least one striker who can finish,if we are going to seriously threaten Chelsea.

If the payments are structured..say £5m up front and the balance on performances etc then we SHOULD be interested in this apparently very special player.He looks to be the best and most potentially valuable prospect since the likes of Rooney and Owen.In a couple of years,barring injuries,he could be worth £20m.Why should we not in forefrunt for signing this allegedly Red fanatic?

I've read all three..they are all well worth buying.However,I've also read Guillem Ballague's book entitled 'A season on the brink' and this is absolutely special imho and gives a really intimate insight into Rafa's current work at the club.Buy all these books but if you can only buy one then I'd recommend the latter!

We have to realise that we have just lost another strike option last night in Pongo who we may not see again this season.Bellamy is a very good player..he may appear a bit of a t*** as someone above puts it but if our manager can handle that then he'd be a superb addition..or should we just try to soldier on with a half fit Mori..a threequarter fit Baros..and Niel Mellor?? pj.