MFletcher

Xabi's a great player, but he has looked disinterested at times this season. There's no word on whether he's going to sign a new contract either and I wouldn't be remotely surprised to see him move to Barcelona. In fact, I wouldn't be taken aback if we sold Momo and brought in another midfielder like Zapater from Zaragoza. I'm afraid I don't rate Sissoko very highly, because there are very few games where his skills can really be of use to us. But this is about Alonso. I feel that a Mascherano/Gerrard partnership with proper wingers would give us a greater attacking threat. I've always thought we were fairly limited through the centre when Alonso/Sissoko or Alonso/Mascherano are playing together because there is no-one breaking through. That's the reason I could see both Xabi and Momo moving. Lucas has been compared to Gerrard and if Xabi leaves, we'll need a holding midfielder as a back-up to Masch. Momo needs a holding midfielder beside him. Maybe I'm completely wrong, but I could certainly see it happening.

The only players I would definitely keep are: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt. Eight players out of a squad of 20+ that you'd definitely want to keep? I'd be open to offers for everyone else.

That may be the case, but why put up with inferior players if we can aim higher? I'd much rather wait for, say, Simao and Alves to settle on the wings that perservere with Gonzalez and Pennant. Gonzalez going is surely an indication that we'll be signing that a recognised left winger.

Exactly. I've no doubt we'll get around 8M from Villa for Bellamy. West Ham might make an inflated bid for Pennant. As Mondavi says, we can't let them hang around if they're not going to play. Their value will fall, we'll be paying their wages and it doesn't benefit anyone.

Did we not accept a bid from West Ham in January but Pennant rejected the move? If we can get around 6M for him I'd be very pleased indeed.

My mistake on Finnan mate. And Bellamy is as good as gone. And as I, and someone else, have said, Crouch will move on if we get a good offer.

Finnan will definitely be here next season as well.

I believe that if we get offered around 10M for Crouch we'd sell. Rafa only gave him fifteen minutes last night. I wouldn't be surprised if he was sold this summer. Bellamy is s good as gone though.

5M is good business. It's 5M back into the kitty for a new player. I reckon Marseille will buy Cisse now they've qualified for the CL. Maybe we won't get the 8M we want, but I'd imagine we'll get around 6M. I just want Cisse gone more than anyone else.

Does Simao not play on the left for Benfica?

My understanding is that we bought him from MSI for 1.5M for an 18 month period. In the contract there is a set price to enable us to make the deal a permanent one (probably between 12-17M).

I could look a threat if the team were playing the ball to me all the time. A better right winger would have had Jankulovski chasing his tail around the pitch. But he didn't attack him once and cut back and inside far, far too often. Coupled with his poor delivery all night, I fail to see what he ultimately offered us during the game.

No. But my judgement is being clouded by my complete disappointment at last night.

You're arguing your point very well here. He played poorly and his decision making was bad and his crossing pretty dire all night.

I'm more than capable of giving players credit where its due. I don't rate Zenden, but I felt he did well against Chelsea in the semi final second leg and he put away his penalty was great ease. You seem to believe that Pennant did well simply because he had the ball a lot. The two "chances" - and I use that term loosely - that Pennant created were never, ever going to give Stevie a real chance on goal. Pennant did not play well. I'm more than capable of arguing my point here. Pennant was never going to score that chance. He provides no real goal-scoring threat and one goal all season is testament to that. And using the Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match as a point of reference is not good. As someone else pointed out, they must just give it to the player who had the ball the most. Mascherano was the reason Kaka was anonymous and deserved the Man of the Match award. Unfortunately because he didn't have the ball a lot it goes unnoticed. And I think you are far too optimistic when you say "90%".

The first one was a whack across to Gerrard. The second one was hardly a chance. Why did he lift it up into the air? What was wrong wtih a nice simple pass along the ground?

He was on the ball constantly because we were playing through him. Now, what did he do with the ball that created a chance or a likely goal scoring opportunity? I can't think of ONE incident where he provided a telling pass.

That is how it should read.

I thought Mascherano was fantastic last night. Brilliant tackling and positioning. He kept Kaka in his backpocket all game. It's no coincidence that as soon as he went off, Kaka actually did something and setup the second goal. I really do think the only reason Alonso was kept on was because taking him off would have been saying "Javier is more important than you now" and it probably would have made him decide to go back to Spain. Either way, the players will learn from this defeat - Agger especially. We'll be back again next year.

I felt Pennant had a poor game last night. Everyone here seems to think he "stepped up to the plate" and so on, but what did he actually do? The reason that he had so much of the ball is because we were constantly looking for him. He was the outlet. When he got the ball, he refused to take on the full back, didn't make a single good cross all night, cut inside far too often and provided no goal threat whatsoever. I'm a very average player when kicking the ball about with my mates. But even someone with my limited ability could get the ball on the right and run back into our half whilst running across the pitch as he did on a couple of occasions. I can recall three crosses alone that were just awful. We need better quality if we are to challenge on all fronts next season. I'm happy enough for him to stay here as second choice RM (well, third considering Stevie will be there a lot).

This doesn't surprise me. As much as I wanted Gonzalez to stay for another season, I'm pleased that Rafa has moved so quickly to correct any "mistakes" he feels he has made in the transfer market. It's one of the things that makes Rafa a fantastic manager. If a player doesn't prove his worth, he's out the door. No more hanging around in the reserves until your contract runs out. I'm glad to see Zenden leaving as well. I wonder what kind of fee we'll get for Gonzalez. Would 5M be too hopeful?

I'd take Huntelaar any day of the week.

I'm glad the Djib has scored some goals. It means we'll get more money for him when we finally ship the lazy so-and-so out the door.

I'll take any scrap of information regarding a possible Tevez arrival. It would be wonderful for the club - and a real signal of intent - for us to break our transfer record for a player of his quality.

Regardless of what anyone says, Gillett and Hicks really are making the right noises. Did anyone see the level of debt the Glazers have saddled on United? 663M apparently - with 62M in interest payments a year.