MFletcher

I think Pennant is a perfectly decent player who was dire for the first half of last season and picked up significantly in the second half of the season. Unfortunately, he still doesn't do basic things that a winger should. He doesn't get to the byline anywhere near as much as he should, he tends to cut in instead of taking on his man and his crossing is erratic at best. He can play some great crosses in, but he also seems to just hoof it into the box and hope at other times. Take the CL final - people point him out as being one of our better players on the night. That's true. He was on the ball a lot, but he did very little with it. His final ball was lacking. He's not a Beckham who can cross the ball with more accuracy that anyone in world football - he must work on his delivery and goal threat or he will never cement his place in the side. As it is, he's shown enough potential at the back-end of last season and in pre-season to justify another season at the club. If his delivery is still erratic, he only scores one goal (no matter how spectacular) etc. then I'm not sure he'll improve with another season. He needs to step up - and the competition will be even fiercer with the arrivals of Lucas (further increasing our quality central midfield options and pushing Gerrard onto the right) and Benayoun. He'll need to work hard and impress whenever he gets his chance.

Momo's qualities will be useful in tough away games in the Premiership and Europe - i.e. any game where we won't dominate possession. However, we're in a position where we'll control possession in the vast majority of games and Momo's destructive qualities are wasted. He can't pick a pass properly and is more likely to give it back to the opposition - thus giving us less scope for meaningful attack. I'd much rather see a central midfield of Alonso/Gerrard or Masch/Gerrard - even Masch/Alonso with Xabi pushing further up in games. What Momo brings is stamina, work rate, an excellent tackle and a determination not to lose. Unfortunately he also brings a bluntless in attack that severely hampers us. Also, given his rather dire positional discipline he requires a holding midfielder behind him who can also pass. That player is Xabi, and we saw last season that Sissoko/Mascherano doesn't seem to work. The way I see it is that if Momo is going to play, then Xabi has to play behind him to make sure we have someone who can hold the midfield and pass for two men. I think we should have cashed in on him this summer, but Rafa must see a role for him. He only got a four year contract in comparison to Xabi's five year contract and he's younger. Maybe we're planning to sell him if he doesn't improve his overall game this season? He was excellent in his first season, but he seems to have suffered since his second long term injury since coming here. He'll probably injure himself again this season, but that's just part of the way he plays and throws himself about. Regarding Pennant, he's looked useful this pre-season and was showing some real glimpses of form towards the end of last season. Hopefully he'll keep it up into the new season.

Give it time. The way the bloke plays I'll be amazed if he doesn't get himself injured again during the season.

I felt we did quite well today. We should've won in normal time, but it's a pre-season game and I'd much rather Torres and Benayoun screw up now rather than when it actually matters. And I really don't understand how anyone can stick the boot into Kuyt. He had a decent season last year, considering it was his first season. He works his socks off for the team and I can refer to a good number of chances last season when he showed excellent technique and reactionary skills to score (Reading, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Arsenal (FA Cup), Milan) or when his play outside the box was pivotal to a victory (Bolton, home - he ran with the ball before playing it to Pennant who crossed for Crouch, he set up Gerrard and then scored himself). I'm a big Kuyt supporter and it disgusts me to see people criticise him for a performance in pre-season. Even in pre-season he's chasing after the ball. Apart from that, I was pleased with overall performance. The game was played at a good tempo and we seemed to be pretty good fitness-wise. Kewell is looking sharp and he'll be like a new signing on the left of midfield. Pennant was getting crosses in - good crosses and Momo was a bundle of injury and was running well with the ball and he played one or two excellent longer range passes - one to Babel (I think it was) sticks in the mind which was a brilliant ball over the defence to him on the edge of the box. It was also good to see Lucas get a run out as well. I have high hopes for him. And while it's disappointing to lose on penalties in pre-season in a meaningless game without three of our key players, a bit of perspective would be nice.

Great goal from Riise. I'd like to see Xabi continue what he's doing here into the new season. He's had a couple of quality shots from the edge of the area that have went just wide. Maybe with the security of Masch behind him he'll have more confidence to come forward and shoot more. Kewell has did quite well as well, as has Voronin. A shocking error by Carson though - even if it is only "pre season". No keeper should be beaten from there.

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=361382 I remember reading an interview where Rafa claimed he liked Bojinov, Iaquinta, Amauri and someone else who's name escapes me. I thought it worth posting anyway, considering that he'd probably be available for much lower than his current value. Not that I expect us to buy him of course.

Consider the following matches: Liverpool 4 - 1 Arsenal Liverpool 1 - 0 Chelsea Liverpool 1 - 2 Milan In all of those games, Mascherano was imperative to our success (well, nearly in the CL final anyway). Against Arsenal, he had their midfield completely under control. There's a piece on YouTube showing his role in the game (I watched the game, so don't think this is a trial by YouTube). But perhaps the best two games he played for us were the final two games of our CL run. Against Chelsea, he didn't have the security of another CM. With Gerrard and Pennant playing to provide a more attacking threat, Masch was there as the sole player to disrupt their attacks. He was one yellow card away from a suspension but that didn't stop him flying into tackles and holding Chelsea at bay. He was incredible that night and against Milan in the final he had Kaka completely under control. The only time Kaka did anything to affect the game was after Masch had been taken off. There was one part I remember where Kaka ran down the wing and Masch chased him all the way back before hitting him with an inch perfect tackle and taking the ball. I really doubt that Rafa would have went to the trouble of going to see him and explaining his role in the team if he didn't anticipate him being here for a while. I also don't believe we'd have negotiated a fee that could have been out of our reach. At the time, Masch was rotting in the West Ham reserves and his career was stagnating. For us to go through all the effort of signing him, picking him in the important matches etc. only to let him go? I can't see it. As good as Alonso is, he'd struggle to hold a midfield together by himself. Masch demonstrated his abilities in the semi against Chelsea and he's only 23. Everything about him shows that he will be the best defensive midfielder in the world and I can only hope that we don't pass up the opportunity to sign him, regardless of price.

I thought I read that Rafa was considering giving Le Tallec one final chance in the first team squad?

Even if he didn't get an Italian passport, we'd still get one based on him being an outstanding young talent. The work permit regulations in this country baffle me sometimes. Quality players aren't allowed in because their countries aren't in the top 70 of the FIFA rankings etc etc etc. Surely there is a legal case for unlawful discrimination somewhere in there?

Considering your correct prediction about Markus Babbel's dyslexic son moving to us, I'm inclined to believe what you say is true. So quite seriously, any interest in Chiellin for me to get excited about? I really do rate him.

It would be different if United had to sell, but I can't see Ferguson sanctioning the sale of Heinze to us simply to claw back £6M - especially when there are plenty of European clubs who would pay that for him. If he insists on moving to us, then he could easily force him to play in the reserves and Heinze - as a regular Argentine international - probably wouldn't accept that (you never know). I still think he'll move to Juventus and we'l sign Chiellini for the same price they pay for Heinze. Of course I could be wrong, but I would consider a successful move for Heinze most unlikely.

Riise is suspect defensively and lacks the ability to delivery consistently good crosses to our strikers. For every long-range goal he scores, there is a pretty high number that go nowhere near the goal and he has a dreadful tendency to shoot from ridiculous distances. Having said that, he's quick, strong, has stamina and will work for the team. It means that he is reasonably solid against poorer players, but if he's faced with someone with a real change of pace and trickery, he'll be torn apart. He may well have been part of our excellent defence for the past few years, but that doesn't mean we can't criticise him. We can improve on him, but it is not a priority position as he is capable. However, he is nothing more than that. He isn't the left sided Finnan - who I believe to be the best right back in the league. He's neither good nor s***e. He's capable.

Appparently there were reports linking Kewell with a move to Olympiakos in the Greek press today. I can't remember where I read it, although I think it was from a Cypriot fella on RAWK. I think it's a load of rubbish myself, but I thought it worth mentioning.

Due to his height and game awareness, Crouch is excellent at flick-ons and cushioning headers for teammates. Unfortunately, he rarely executes headers with both pace and accuracy whenever the opportunity arrives. Given his height and the fact that our wide players look for him whenever they're crossing, he should score more often. I can remember four instances last season, three in one game against Blackburn (Boxing Day) and once when we were 3-0 up at home (against who escapes me - we were at home though) and he had four excellent chances in or around the six yard box and he either powered it straight at the goalkeeper or aimed it towards the corner but it didn't have sufficient power to beat him. He should score more with his head, but he is a much better player than when we bought him and I'd be very disappointed to see him move on. If he can start heading the ball with pace and accuracy then he would be completely unplayable because no defender is able to mark him given his height. As it stands though, he is capable header of the ball but he should do much better. He scores nowhere near the amount he should with his head.

The entire Argentine team were poor. But Masch didn't have a right back knock it past him in the box, have him go round the other side and collect the ball. Honestly, in the three Argentine Copa America games I've watched, along with with some Man Utd CL matches, the Argentne WC matches and some Utd PL matches, I've formed the opinion that Heinze is gash. He may have been United's player of the year in the year before his injury, but since it he has been nothing short of a liability for both club and country. I fail to see why we would spend £7M on a 29 year old like this when we could be picking up someone like Chiellini (well, according to the highly reliable goal.com) for roughly the same fee. I'm hopeful that United will block the move. However, I do think Heinze is better than Riise - but I don't rate Riise. That debate is for another time though.

I know people hate them. It's what encouraged me to post it in the first place. Either way, what's the deal with Heinze then? Is he forcing his move through or is he moving to Spain? Honestly, his performance in the Copa America final was worryingly poor. He's been pretty shocking - for lack of a beter word - for over a year now.

I'm sitting in America at the minute (laptop - wifi zone - view of the Gulf of Mexico out the window - lovely), but I still watched the Copa America final on some obscure Spanish channel where the only words I understood where "gol" and the player's names. Either way, I thought Heinze was shocking and was so easily skinned at one point it was laughable. Tevez wasn't much better. He's three years older than Messi but is so inferior to him it's ridiculous. He always seems to be offside as well. He was pretty poor in the semi against Mexico - which I also watched on the same obscure Spanish channel. Since I left, we've signed Babel and Benayoun. I haven't had a chance to read what was said in the press conferences, but I'm assuming that we've signed them for the left and right wings? I also had a brief look at an Echo article talking about Lucas needing the right documents before joining. Does anyone have any idea what the deal is there? Either way, I'd be very happy with Chiellini as mentioned earlier in this thread (had a quick flick through the last five pages or so) but goal.com aren't exactly a completely accurate source. And did I hear Dudek was moving to Real Madrid? Anyway, I read in the Mail (which you can get here) that Heinze was going to buy his contract with Utd out because Ferguson refused to sanction his transfer here. I may be mistaken, but surely this only applies when they're moving to another country?

It's a mystery really. I rate Carragher as the best centre-half in the league. His performances in recent seasons have been absolutely incredible, and yet two injury-prone players who aren't half the player he is come into the team in his place? And then a Man Utd reserve takes the right back spot? It's ridiculous. I'll be delighted if he retires though, because it will mean that when the rest of the international teams are playing two matches in five days, he'll be sitting in Liverpool with his feet up in front of the TV.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...d=1779&ct=5 Liverpool star quits England Carragher fed up after failing to win McClaren's vote By BOB CASS - More by this author » Last updated at 22:12pm on 7th July 2007 Comments Jamie Carragher is ready to quit the England team after being left out of the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia last month. The Liverpool centre-half, who played in four of England's five games at the World Cup last year, has made just five appearances under Steve McClaren. He has never started in his favoured position in a back four, even when John Terry and Rio Ferdinand have been injured, despite winning rave reviews as he helped his club to a second Champions League final appearance in three years. His likely decision to retire from international football, which mirrors Paul Scholes' self-imposed England exile,was brought to a head when he was left out of the side who defeated Estonia 3-0 in Tallinn. A source close to the 29-year-old said last night: "Jamie does not want to sound like a big-time Charlie. He just feels that at this stage of his career it would be better if he concentrated his efforts on helping Liverpool become the No 1 team in England again. "He has always regarded it as a tremendous honour to represent his country and he has happy memories of pulling on the shirt. But things have to end some time and he thinks this might be a good time to bow out." Against Estonia, the euphoria surrounding David Beckham's England return overshadowed Carragher's huge disappointment at being dropped to the bench. He had accepted the fact he was behind the likes of Terry, Ferdinand and Jonathan Woodgate in the central defensive pecking order but, in a match when both Ferdinand and Woodgate were unavailable, McClaren's preference for the injuryprone Ledley King came as a bitter personal blow. The situation was made worse when the England manager picked Wes Brown at right-back, a role Carragher has filled in the absence through injury of Gary Neville. McClaren, having failed to talk Scholes into returning to the international scene, has not given up on persuading Carragher to reverse his decision and has been in constant touch with him. He will seek to meet the player on his return, before he names the squad for the friendly against Germany on August 22 at Wembley. Carragher has collected 34 England caps since he made his debut as a substitute against Hungary in April 1999, ironically in the game that also signalled Brown's nternational arrival. In that time, the Anfield favourite has earned a reputation for being a wholehearted player who rarely let the side down, despite being asked to play all across the back four. Eriksson once tried him as a holding midfield player, but McClaren has used him at right-back, left-back and as one of three centre-halves in a 3-5-2 formation, as well as, briefly, in his favoured position. Carragher won 27 caps during Eriksson's reign, but his appearances have been restricted to just three starts since McClaren took over.

He signed a new contract a week back. Silva that is.

I would agree with this, but the cupboard is rather bare when you think of left wingers who could provide that. The only player who comes to mind for me is Vicente, but the man is permanently injured. Of course, we could go after Downing - but he's absolutely rubbish. I reckon it's the reason we've tolerated Kewell's injuries for so long. If he gets back to 80% of the player he was at Leeds, then we'll have one of the better left wingers in world football. There really is no stand-out left winger who we would be able to sign.

Did the Echo not claim the Cisse fee was £8M last night?

I was amazed when he moved to Hamburg actually, I thought he'd move to a big European club. Again, all I have is hearsay, but he seems to be highly rated and I'd be very keen to sign him.

I meant the "speculation in the Dutch media" part.

Can anyone confirm those reports though? Anyone can edit Wikipedia.