Is that all for Liverpool? Or is there more?

With the unveiling of Babel and Benayoun today, Liverpool is showing a sign of intent. A quick comparison of the squad of the top 4 teams in the EPL, we will notice Liverpool has a really big squad.

But IMO, I still feel our left side is the weak link. Riise, although a good servant of the club, is a very limited player. Other than his powerful shot, his one-footedness is unbelievable. Each and every time when a defender blocked his path when he goes forward, he will cut back. A normal player will try to look for teammates to pass to INFIELD. But that will require him to use his right foot, which is a big 'NO!' to him, you will find that he will prefer to pass the ball backwards to Agger or Mascherano who positions themselves behind him.

No big deal? What he has done is broken up the momentum in attack with Gerrard, Kuyt Crouch etc all waiting infield infront of him. I really hope Rafa bring in another LB and if Christmas came early, can we have Queresma please?

What's Next?

Now that the Torres deal is done... and Rafa saying he is looking at WINGERS now.. on can only think.

I will really like to see Mancini playing for us. And unlike in previous threats, I changed my opinion on Malouda, doesn't think a player with the 'money first attitude' will be good enough for Liverpool. He better goes to Chelski, It will be good for him and for us. End of.

Back to Mancini, It was rumored that Inter has a first option on him (a clause in previous dealing) for £12M. I really hope it is not true. Mancini is a winger I rated higher than Simao and Queresma and of course Malouda. He is both-footed and is at his peak now.

And after Mancini, I think we will see Benayoun coming in as a squad player. Remember, 2 player in every position. And 25 names to be registered for the Champions League.

Imagine this:
-----------------Reina------------------
Finnan---Carragher--- Agger---Riise
-------------Mascherano---------------
Mancini------Gerrard--------Kewell
---------Kuyt---- Torres-------------

And 2nd team:
-----------------Carson------------------
Arbeloa---Hyypia---Palletta---Aurelio
----------------Sissoko---------------
Pennant------Alonso--------Benayoun
---------Voronin----Crouch-------------


Not too bad.. not bad at all.. YNWA.

EL NINO!! TORRES SIGNED

Fernando Torres has today completed his move from Atletico Madrid to Liverpool after putting pen to paper on a six-year deal.

In his first interview in English football, the Spaniard confessed his sadness at leaving the club he supported as a boy – but claimed a move to Anfield was too good to refuse.

He admitted the prospect of working with Rafa Benitez and playing in front of the Kop were key in his decision to move to Merseyside.

"This was the biggest decision of my footballing life but this is a club of champions - one of the biggest there is. I now want to play my part in that and be a champion too," said Torres.

"Just to know Rafa has confidence in me is massive for me. I feel honoured because Liverpool could have signed anyone.

"I have seen all the DVDs but you can't possibly know what it feels like to play at Anfield until you have experienced it. I am dying to play in front of the Kop."

Still awaiting any concrete news + Torres rumours

For once I doesn't want to go about giving prediction and 'dream team' stuff.. Just wanted to wait for some concrete news about Liverpool FC before posting opinion.

In this past 2 weeks, anything of significance will be Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher signed new extended deals. (And Stevie got married, not that it was any of my business).

The common belief is that we are waiting for the Premiera Liga to end as most of our target are in Spain. So now it has ended, we shall see. Will the owner put the money where their mouth is? And walk the walk instead of talk the talk? The latest one that appears just a few hours ago is that Rick Parry jetted of to Madrid, presumed to be in talk with Fernando Torres.

Fans on forum are split down the middle on this, some think he is too lightweight and doesn't score enough, others think he is a good finisher and is still young and quite pacy too.

Here's what I think. He is one of the youngest world class strikers out there in my humble opinion. He is quick and has a very high workrate. Despite not scoring over 20 goals at A. Madrid, we need to understand that he is carrying the team on his own and drag them into an UEFA Cup placing. I do believe that with Gerrard, Alonso and maybe some additional world class wingers, he can really mature at Liverpool.

But in the meantime, all just rumours. We shall all wait and see.

GERRARD AND CARRAGHER SIGN UNTIL 2011

Finally.. after 2 weeks of negitivity at Anfield with all the.. "talking and talking and not walking the walk.." comments. This will come as a well timed good news.

From Liverpoolfc.tv:
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher this afternoon put pen to paper on new deals that will see them devote the prime years of their careers to Liverpool Football Club and immediately set their sights on bringing the title back to Anfield.
The club captain and vice-captain returned to Merseyside from England duty just after lunchtime on Monday and met Chief Executive Rick Parry to add their signatures to new four-year contracts which will see them extend their stay at Anfield until at least 2011.

All these still does not hide the fact that Rafa will want to see the new owners back him with swift movement in the transfer activities. With the ManScum spending over £50M as of now, Rafa must be feeling that Liverpool is being left behind again.

LFC new kit 07/08

LFC away kit 07/08

LFC UCL away kit 07/08

Hmm.. new kit.. i actually like the white one but I why is the shorts not white? full white kit with red lining will be a really nice away kit, it will be something like the reverse of the home kit isn't it?

The black kit wasn't too bad to be honest. Just that it looks alittle like our training kit. But going by Liverpool tradition, I do wonder if we should really have a kit black in color. Still it is better than the yellow kit we are currently having. LOL.

REDS AGREE DOUBLE HUNGARIAN SWOOP

Liverpool have moved swiftly to bolster their reserve ranks by agreeing deals to sign Hungarian pair Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon from MTK Hungaria.

Nemeth, 18, and Simon, 17, appeared for Hungary in last year's UEFA Under-17 Championships. The duo are both strikers, although Nemeth also plays in midfield.

Eto'o loves KOP.

Barcelona and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o has admitted that he would love to play for Liverpool FC, also saying that their fans are the best around.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has already stated his desire to bring the Cameroonian forward to Anfield as one of the players on his transfer wish-list during the summer close season, with Eto' also hinting that such a move would be ideal for him.
Speaking to The Sunday Mirror, 26-year-old Eto’o said: "It is their fans who win matches for Liverpool because they have so much power.
"They are fantastic. Any player would love to have those types of fans behind him."
Despite a well publicised disagreement with Barça manager Frank Rijkaard earlier this season, Eto’o says he has had no contact with any other clubs and he still believes he will still be a Barcelona player next season.
"I have not heard anything from Liverpool or anyone else. These things don't come through to me.
"English football has changed a lot for the better over the past few years. I've seen English teams playing matches which have been very exciting.
"I love the way the fans in England get behind their team. I respect their mentality," finished Eto'o.

If I can only dream...

The stuff dream are made of... feeling bored today so looking through some of the circulating rumors about Liverpool transfers and I came up with this team.. considering a great team will need 2 players in every positions, players being able to play in multiple roles and the UEFA's rule of 25 players registered for the Champions League.. here goes:

GK: Reina, Padelli

RB: Alves, Finnan, Arbeloa

LB: Lahm, Risse, Aurelio

CB: Carragher, Agger, Milito with Arbeloa being able to play here if needed.

DM: Mascherano, Lucas

CM: Gerrard, ALonso

RM: Simao, Pennant

LM: Malouda, Kewell

CF: Garcia, Voronin

ST: Eto'o, Trevez, Kuyt, Crouch

That makes 25.. 10 new arrivals.. hahaha.. dreamz.

Rafa speaks.. Gonzo, Zenden off

Benitez has already outlined his plans to the new regime, and he was brutally frank in outlining Liverpool’s future on Thursday morning at the team hotel ahead of the flight back to Merseyside.

He said: “We must not waste this moment. We must move quickly to sign our number one targets.

“If we wait we will be chasing the players who are second and third on our list. We need to change the structure of the club on and off the pitch.

“We must make progress, and make it now to take us up two or three levels straight away.”

Benitez has his scouting department working overtime, despite the fact that the club’s chief scout Frank McParland is joining Bolton Wanderers and former Liverpool coach Sammy Lee.

But Benitez will not want to mark time in the wake of the Athens defeat, and he said: “There will be several players leaving. We will wait for offers."

“I have been told by the new owners that they will back my plans. But when you look at the champions Manchester United spending £20m on a midfield player, and we have been paying just £8 to £9m for our strikers, you know what must be done."

“We must spend big and spend now. Our fans know what we need to do and so do I. We need to pay the price needed for each position."

“We have a deal nearly completed for Gonzalez and I have told Bolo (Zenden) that he can talk to other clubs. We know the situation we have now."

“We have finished 21 points behind United and 15 behind Chelsea."

“They will both spend big money again and we will just be marking time. If we continue the way we are we will be fighting for fourth spot again at the end of the season, and we cannot have that all the time.”

He added: “Everybody can see what we must do to compete at the top level and we must move as quickly as possible not to lose this opportunity."

“Two seasons ago we got 82 points, a club record, and we could not get into the top two. If we do not improve now we will always be fighting for fourth spot."

“It is obvious we do not have enough players for nine months competing in four competitions.”

Courtesy or RolandG on SCM.

Crazy season starts...

After the Champions League Final... now is the time for the silly season to start...

Here are a few rumors floating around at the moment and my own opinion on them..

1) Gabriel Milito :- Real Zaragoza Center-Back. Strong in his tackles with a good anticipation on the game infront of him. Hail from Argentina says a lot. The down side is his height which will be a worry in England. But it seems in Spain, he is able to win most of his headers, scored a few too. £10M + Gonzalez (swap).
2) Simao Sabrosa :- Captain of Benfica. Able to be deployed on both wings and have a cracking freekick and long shot in him. Like Milito, Rafa has been counting him since 2005 close season. The down side about him is his ability to cover his defence, typical of Portugal attacking flair players but could add to Liverpool’s attacking flair. £ 12-15M
3) Carlos Trevez :- Strong, low center of gravity, intelligent. His great vision and workhorse attitude make him one of the greatest player to play in the hole behind the striker. His first turbulent year in England at Westham sees him back to his best at the closing end of the season. A lot of big clubs will be fighting for his signature. £20M
4) Daniel Alves :- Another target Rafa has been pursuing for over a year, now with financial backing, we might see this come through. Star player of Sevilla who is deployed at right back but can play anywhere on the right. Claim to fame in the match against Barca when he kept Ronaldhino in his back pocket. Will be an exciting signing. £14M

Of course the most important thing is for Rafa to trash out a deal for our existing star players to keep the core of the team intact. Gerrard, Alonso, Carragher, Finnan, Reina and to tie down a permanent deal for Mascherano.
An exciting team with 2 players in every positions is possible :-
GK: Reina, Padelli, Carson
CB: Carragher, Agger, Milito, Hyypia, Abeloa
RB: Alves, Finnan, Abeloa
LB: Risse, Aurelio, Abeloa, Insua
CM : Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Sissoko
RM: Simao, Pennant, Gerrard, Garcia
LM: Kewell, Simao, Risse, Voronin, Garcia
ST: Kuyt, Trevez, Crouch, Voronin

PS:- We can only wait and see how the youngsters from South America will turn out.

After the performance of Kewell in the Champions League Final.. how many will want to give him a chance? Or should Hicks and Gillett allow Rafa to splash out even more on a LM? We can only wait and see.

Beaten but proud

UEFA Champions League Final... Liverpool was beaten 2-1 by AC Milan. But lads, hold your chin up high as we are all proud of you. And when all the dust has settled Rafa will be looking to make some fine-tuning to the squad.

And here... the crazy rumor mill begins to turn...