Loblaw

Spot on. Delighted to see it tbh. Bit of fight. Biggest disappointment for me is we seemed to have slipped back into the start of last season mode, where we only start playing we we have to. There was no desire at all to attack when the score was nil all. And that is hugely disappointing.

Oh surprise surprise, see we can play Rafa if you'd just allow it.

Riiiiight, and i'm sure you'd have applauded him for that.

Looking at the bench you'd nearly have to agree.

Cringe when people start singling out individuals in what is a totally inept team performance. Babel picks up the ball just over the half-way line, three Spurs players are on top of him, and no one is showing for the ball, i mean really, what in the f*** is he supposed to do?

*Sigh* Really, naively, thought we'd see a shift in our philosophy this season. But nope, it's the same rigid, turgid scared tactics from us. Of course we'll start to play now we absolutely have to and there's no other option. I'll never be able to fathom why Rafa doesn't set us out to be a bit more adventurous though. Playing this way, we absolutely need a player like Xabi, so without him, and give that we haven't signed a like for like replacement, what is the plan? Aqulani is the sort of player Lucas too actually, that will thrive on movement in and around them, we've seen f***ing nothing of the sort.

Different players really, Yaya is far more effective going forward but still no slouch in the tackle. And would be absolutely perfect for the Premier League.

FWIW, i wouldn't be totally upset to see him go if Yaya Toure came the other way. Rate him very highly.

We'd miss him for sure. But i wonder if part of him wanting to go to Barca is that they would play him in his most natural role? Simply anchoring the mid-field with two other mid-fielders in front of him. With basically zero onus on him to attack, which he never looks comfortable in doing, but playing in our system sometimes requires him to do? I've asked this earlier, and maybe no-one knows for sure. But what is Masche's contract situation does anyone know??

Disappointed by the commenst on Masch, and it's unusual for Rafa to be so honest in saying that basically "yes, Masch wanted to leave". What is Masch's contract situation anyway? 2.5 or 3 years? If it's two and a half, surely it would have been wise to ell him this season, and keep Alonso? Because with only a year and a half left on Masche's contract next Summer, that's surely going to massively effect the price we'll get for him?

Huge sympathy for Sami, he wasn't really treated as an equal at all the last couple of seasons. Whenever he played, he was our best defender, but he was always fourth choice no matter what. Can easily imagine him being more than slightly peeved about that after so many years loyal service. And while i think being fourth choice at his age is no bad thing in possibly prolonging his career, i think he deserved better.

All lovely. But not a priority in my eyes. We're got three CB's that have unfortunately picked up a few knocks at the same time. Would be a panic buy.

Yeah but they probably work on their set-pieces, and have someone that isn't Steven Gerrard demanding to take all of them despite being woeful. Free transfer is what we should be looking at imo. Carra has a few years left, Agger and Skrtel are at the perfect age, Kelly looks very promising. Turner isn't needed. Get in a stop-gap and spend the money elsewhere, or you know, don't spend it at all. Don't spend just for the sake of it.

We don't need a replacement for Carra though. We have Skrtel, and Kelly is going to go on and become a player for us for many years, i'm certain of that. They are the replacements for Carra. We need someone to fill the role Sami did last season. Not someone that's going to come in and step on the toes of Agger, Skrtel and eventually Kelly. So get someone in for very little, a free if possible, keep those funds for positions in far greater need of strengthening. Tuncay is going to sign for Villa for around the ballpark we're talking about for Turner. Imo, another option in the final third should be the priority, and he'd be perfect. Maybe we'll still get both, who really knows. I'd just be disappointed if we spent our last few million this Summer on a centre-back that you'd hope would barely feature for us.

have we? doubt it.

We scored more than anyone else though right? My worry is that those last minute winners don't happen next season, those late goals masked so many petty rubbish Livrpool displays. Plus we more than likely won't have such a good record against Chelsea and United either. I just don't see where we've made up any significant ground on last season, and unless we change our approach i can see it being a long frustrating season for us. I just hope we start the season as we finished it. Show the same kind of ruthlessness, each game being a must-win.

No the signing in general. Legendary.

What happens if Aquilani fails his medical, seeing as it's going be so stringent like? Just seems an unnecessary gamble to me.

Fair enough then. I'd of gone for a bit more experience. Think anyone who didn't see this coming though was being more than a little bit naive. And it's just frustrating to see those able replacements move to clubs for decent money.

Why didn't we see this coming? Why did we sit by and watch Tymoschuck join Bayern? Lucho Gonzales join Marseilles? Barry to City?

So Rafa said we could buy again after Johnson without having to sell. No one else thinks that was a message simply for Real? When it's the opposite people immediately cry "SMOKESCREEN!!". I think we have only the Xabi money to spend, plus what we get for Dossena and whoever else. That's it.

Nah, he seems a right git. Not sure where he'd slot in either. Doesn't have the legs to play wide, and isn't going to displace Gerrard. Much rather Sneijder.

Interesting. Would like to know what kind of training he has them doing though.

Should be a chance to try new ideas. This whole notion for instance that we'll be going into this season with a new style of play because of the loss of Xabi. Would these friendlies not be the ideal time to put that kind of idea into practice? Yes would be my answer, but it's obvious that's not what is going to happen, so in that way i do worry about the impact losing Xabi will have over the course of the season.

Doesn't bother me too much when the yellow card is warranted. What really irks me though is when the diving cheating fannys do it.