ohmelads

Not sure about that, he's rated far higher outside of Spain by people who don't see him week in week out and follow the media hype and highlights. In Spain noone has come near him because of his pricetag and he's largely considered 'decent, nowt special'. If he doesn't make the grade and you choose to resell him, I think you'll have to be prepared to make quite a loss. I've been speaking to my Spanish friends and they find it pretty funny the fee that Liverpool paid, but you have to remember that there's a bit of a backlash to his media hype. When a player is overhyped by the media, people then tend to underrate him. Look at Beckham, Raul etc over the years, the media overhyped them and then after a few poor games people said they were sh*te. Torres was brilliant for an 18-year old, touted as the next big thing, but hasn't developed much since. Now he's 23 he can't hide behind his age any more and I don't think he's moved on much at all in those 5 years. People said he was scoring well in a second tier team, but it's nothing Kanoute, Forlan, Tristan etc haven't achieved over the years and he's never performed for the Spanish national team. Whether he'll kick on with Liverpool remains to be seen, he'll give them a little bit of flair and finishing which they've been lacking up front but how he'll adapt is another matter. He winds up defenders a lot which could work for or against him over here.

It can make a big difference. Liverpool might not have made the Champions League final two years ago if this technology was in place as most people believed it hadn't crossed the line. It's the only technology I want to see introduced though. Once we start getting TV replays for refs the game will become more stop-start like American football or to a lesser extent rugby. That's not what football is about, football is about a constantly flowing game.

Marquez would be the right type of partner for Taylor, a classy composed defender with excellent reading of the game, someone who can play the ball out of defence. His partnership with Puyol has worked so well because of the contrast between Puyol's all-action defending and Marquez who anticipates danger early. A bit like Terry-Carvalho. He'd cost quite a lot for a centre back but to see Atletico in for him suggests he might be within our reach. They're only in the Intertoto and have just lost their star player, and if he moves clubs he may want a new challenge rather than take a sizeable step down the same division. As soon as Barca get Milito it's widely believed that they'll listen to offers for Marquez. An available top class player in a position we need, it's the chance for Ashley to make his big name signing (if indeed that's what he wants) while keeping with our efforts to improve at the back. Forget about Edmilson.

A quick look at Edmilson's history reveals he's had injury problems all the way back to his young days playing in Brazil. At 31 and out for another 4-6 months, I think it's fair to say those injuries probably aren't going to go away. We should really be looking at Marquez, who it seems will now be leaving Barcelona. They already have Puyol and Thuram and have put an 18M euro bid in for Milito. They're not looking to sell Marquez but it's widely predicted that once they get Milito (which now looks imminent) he'll be available. Atletico Madrid are linked.

If we're going to go for a big-name signing from one of the Spanish giants, why not Marquez of Barcelona? They've just put an 18m euro offer in for Gabi Milito and they already have Puyol and Thuram and it's looking like Marquez will leave. Atletico are linked with him and while they have the benefit of being a pretty big Spanish club, he wouldn't be unattainable.

You're making good points but you're clutching at the positives and ignoring the negatives. Where could he play in a 4-5-1? Do you see Sam benching Viduka after buying him? Do you see him benching Owen? Do you see Martins accepting a place on the bench? Can't see any reason why Sam would get him. At least with the Gudjohnsen rumours we know he can play in midfield.

Signing Raul would make people sit up and take notice, we'd be signing a first XI striker from the Spanish Champions and richest football club in the world. Thing is, up front is the last position where we could do with this type of big-name big-money signing. We have three big names to accommodate. I'm not sure where Raul could even play in Sam's 4-5-1. Sam didn't buy Viduka to bench him and he definitely won't bench Owen, and then there's Martins to think about. The Raul one sounds like total bollocks tbh. With the Deco story there's a tiny possibility it's true, as we've been in Barcelona for talks and it's a position where we could actually accommodate him. Deco would be every bit as big a gamble as Raul but we're lighter in that department, espescially if we play a 3 man central midfield, so he would make more sense. To sum it up: Raul = bollocks rumour tbh. Deco = could have some truth in it.

That's true, and Raul hasn't been nearly as bad as his stats suggest, but if we wanted that type of player I'd much rather go for Gudjohnsen. Two years younger and loads of Premiership experience. At his best perhaps not as good as Raul, but these other two points make him a much safer bet to actually succeed over here. I'd be willing to take a gamble on Deco however, at the right price. He might not fit into the Premiership but he's experienced playing in a 4-5-1/4-3-3 both at Porto and Barca so he'd slip right into Sam's formation. Big question marks over whether he could adjust over here (we don't have any Portuguese speakers in the squad, he's 30, he'd probably be coming for the money and he could find the game too physical over here). But I remember he was excellent on more than one occasion against Chelsea which is an encouraging sign. He's the type of player who, if we could get him playing to anything near his best, could have us up around the CL places.

Probably bollocks, but we thought that when we were linked with Rooney and Owen, so you just never know. I've never been a fan of Raul, and a quick glance at his scoring record in the league doesn't make good reading: 06-07 ... 7 goals 35 games 05-06 ... 5 goals 26 games 04-05 ... 9 goals 32 games And this is for one of the best teams in the league, surrounded by excellent attacking players in a side renowned for its attacking instincts. He did score well a few years back, twice scoring 25 goals in the league, but that was when Real Madrid were brilliant with players like Redondo, Figo, Ronaldo and Zidane. Raul was a good player back then, but he's 30 now and is well past his best. It's true his game is as much about setting people up as it is scoring goals, and he does often turn up in the big games, but his best days are long gone, he'd be coming here for the wrong reasons trying to settle into a league not suited to his game at all. Not to mention we already have 4 strikers and it's the last place we need this kind of investment. Deco makes more sense, and of the two I'd much rather see him here, but there are major question marks over him. He has all the signs of a player who wouldn't make it in England, but you never can tell for sure. I get the feeling he'd be either brilliant or terrible.

Think it was the Guardian mentioned £3.3M and one of the other broadsheets mentioned 100K a week more recently, after another had said he wants 80K a week. But the Chronicle/Journal in the last couple of days said we're still interested, so either those figures are really exaggerated or Big Sam is desperate to get him. The local rags have had their fingers on the pulse this summer with regards to transfer activity so my guess is we haven't heard the last of this one.

I agree but I think he'll look at Chelsea and see a team that will challenge for the title, will probably win a trophy and could go all the way in the Champions League. People might say he's not ambitious by staying, but you could say he believes in his ability and wants to be a part of a winning team. Some people would even say he'd be lacking ambition coming to us, a team where he's less likely to win things but could collect the same wages and enjoy less competition. All depends on the angle you look at it. Bottom line is he seems happy at Chelsea and they're more than happy with him. If we land him he'll be the signing of the summer for us though and I'd be happy to see us put a hefty bid in, even accounting for his injuries in the past. If not Bridge then I'd like us to go for Heinze. I definitely believe it is worth trying to get these players and then moving on if we're unsuccessful. I think we need a signing of that calibre to kick on, espescially in defence.

Well they moved on Crespo even though he's infinitely more marketable than someone like Kalou. Also players like Carvalho and even Essien were not household names until they arrived at Chelsea. In fact, since Kenyon arrived Cole, Ballack and Shevchenko have been their only 'galactico' type signings that come to my mind. He may or may not displace Cole, but I certainly think he's got a good chance and I think he knows that. Unless he asks for a move they won't be looking to sell.

Thing is Campbell only managed 20-odd games last season. Well worth it for free at the time, but a year on and a few million and I'm not sure. We missed a good opportunity to sign him and Roeder made a mistake to turn him down, but we should move on to other targets now. I think it's the most important part of the pitch to have consistency. The same two CB's playing week-in, week-out is essential IMO. Ferdinand-Vidic, Carragher-Agger, Carvalho-Terry. Split those partnerships up and you start to see problems. I'm sure Campbell would come and give us 15-25 games and he'd play well in most of those, but he'd be another short term fix who would disrupt the back four by coming in and out of the side. I'd rather bring someone in who will play practically every game of the season.

No he won't. Cole will be the starting left-back next season, it's blatantly obvious. Mourinho would rather play Cole and hope that he becomes the player he should be (largely due to the big-name status and whole hoo-har of actually getting him), rather than play it safe and go with Bridge. Bridge will always be on the fringe there and he needs to get out asap. Same goes for the likes of Wright-Phillips, Geremi, Sidwell, Ben Haim, etc. Wasted talent. Not sure about that, Bridge really did look the part last season and Chelsea fans would prefer him in the starting XI to Cole. That was never the case for Wright-Phillips, Geremi etc.

I was very happy when we signed Parker, but things just haven't turned out. When you watch him week in week out you quickly identify the faults in his game and I'm sure opponents did too. It seemed neither Souness nor Roeder knew how to use him. Off the ball he's a useful player, full of energy and always closing down, a real grafter and an excellent tackler. He seems far better defensively than he is going forward, but he has a couple of major weaknesses which you don't want to see in a DM. Firstly he wanders way too much. This happened far more when he got the captain's armband, because he tried to be everywhere and this left major gaps in midfield. He lacks discipline and if a side passes it in triangles he'll chase the ball and leave his position. His other major weakness is that with a ball at his feet he just doesn't know what to do. It's not that his technique or passing is poor, it's more that his decision making is terrible. He's not instinctive. He takes three, four or five touches and does that little pirouette looking for options. In the meantime any chance of a counter-attack has died and we have to try and pass our way through or, more frequently, he'll pass it back to someone like Bramble who'll lump it up the field and hope for the best. I think his best position would be the Makelele role in a 3-man central midfield. Here he could also have problems though because he dwells on the ball and likes a few touches to assess his options, whereas Makelele just keeps the ball moving and is ice cool under pressure. And that's not a position where you can wander either, Makelele again provides the perfect example of discipline. Parker has the qualities to be a decent, top 6 player. But he's too indecisive for a central midfielder and that'll always hold him back IMO.

I'd be amazed if they decide to sell Bridge or if he decides to leave after the season he's just had. If he stays he'll keep Cole out of the team sooner or later and he knows he could become England's main left back. Sounds like this Drenthe guy is seen as one for the future if they're agreeing to farm him out on loan straight away. If there is any opportunity for us to sign Bridge though we should go all out to get him.

From what I've seen, Bellamy's best form was for us before Souness started messing him around. He was getting better and better. Since then he's had three different clubs in as many years and seems to have stagnated a bit. As Shearer's influence began to wane, I thought Bellamy revelled in being the new fans' favourite, there was a time when he was the first name on the teamsheet. At Liverpool he was never going to be the star of the show and the lack of regular football hasn't helped him. We don't need another striker. We have three big name strikers and Ameobi as backup. Gudjohnsen is only a possibility because he can play in attacking midfield, if we did bring him here I'd regard it as a midfield signing and an excellent one at that.

Try telling that to players like Queudreu though. If Sam can convince him to come here and play second fiddle all season with a few runouts in the Carling Cup, without offering im obscene wages to do so, I'll be mighty impressed.

To even be compared to players like Cantona, Shearer, Bergkamp, Henry and Van Nistelrooy you have to earn it. Half a good season and only one goal against a top half team does not earn you the right to be compared with these players. It's ridiculous that we're even discussing this.

Mine so far (may change it before the season starts): Given Finnan Ferreira G.Neville Mellberg Scholes Alonso J.Cole © Fabregas V.Persie Owen Subs: Wright, Reo-Coker, Luque, Parnaby

Are you on about when Drogba moved the free-kick from a crossing position into a shooting position and then curled it into the top corner to put us out of the cup. I was more annoyed that our own players just let him to do it than anything else, we had more than matched them the whole game.

All depends on the team we assemble between now and September. In recent years we've often given Chelsea and Arsenal a game, but we've struggled against Man Utd and Liverpool. To have a chance of winning the FA Cup we'd need to meet the right teams and turn up on the day, but if we got an 'easier' run of teams to the semis (entirely possible) then anything can happen. I actually think it's a good thing we're not in Europe this season. I don't think the UEFA Cup has the player pulling power people are making out and we can focus our energy on the domestic cups and most importantly, the league.

Fabregas is a lot better than Robinho. Different positions I know but I know which one I'd much rather have. Considering Fabregas has said he'd like to stay, I'd take this one with a pinch of salt.

That's true but now they've become the club paying those fees.

But surely the money they're spending year on year isn't sustainable without decent money coming in. Everybody else is getting this money too but you don't see them spending over 30M on Bent, Bale and Kaboul. The only other side going around like that are West Ham who have wealthy new owners. I get the impression Spurs are speculating to accumulate as they feel they are not far off the Champions League so they have taken their chances spending big to try and make it.