Rich

I think both Gosling and Obertan will be ahead of Marveaux in line for a start, to be honest. Hopefully it's just Barton though, so there's no issue. Jonas has looked lively in pre-season and he ended last season strongly, I don't see any reason to shift him from the left just yet, but he's going to need to keep that level up and then some to keep his place from here on out - barring his competition getting crocked again, of course.

It's because Sunderland's the second match, innit?

We'll have no chance without him tbf. Gervinho vs Raylor or Perch... Exactly, that was my point. Absolutely imperative. Most definitely. Disagree. One man does not a team make. Won't make it any easier, but "no chance" against half of Arsenal is going a bit too far. We won games with two-three of Ramage, Huntington, Taylor and Edgar involved in the defence. We drew 2-2 at home to Man Utd with a back four of Solano, Taylor, Edgar and Huntington, for example, and beat Spurs away with Solano, Ramage, Taylor and Huntington... plus Pattison in midfield... Keep the faith. Always good to remember how poor it got in parts under Shepherd, btw, for all those who keep saying these are the worst of times (not saying you three do that, not at all.) It was Solano, Taylor, Huntington, Edgar Of course, sorry, big Dave scored after marauding up from left-back.

That's what I'd like to see, but as Dave suggests I do think it'll be Shola ahead of Best.

We'll have no chance without him tbf. Gervinho vs Raylor or Perch... Exactly, that was my point. Absolutely imperative. Most definitely. Disagree. One man does not a team make. Won't make it any easier, but "no chance" against half of Arsenal is going a bit too far. We won games with two-three of Ramage, Huntington, Taylor and Edgar involved in the defence. We drew 2-2 at home to Man Utd with a back four of Solano, Taylor, Edgar and Huntington, for example, and beat Spurs away with Solano, Ramage, Taylor and Huntington... plus Pattison in midfield... Keep the faith. Always good to remember how poor it got in parts under Shepherd, btw, for all those who keep saying these are the worst of times (not saying you three do that, not at all.)

But the money will all be put back into the club?

Just for the record, looks like he's been linked to Hamburg and Schalke today too and their fans are talking about £6M+ in terms of a price (not sure if there's any real substance there). Maybe just be his agent getting his name about?

Aye, like that Pistone lad.

Predominantly a right-back, yesh? Bound to be tosh, but it would be another FIFA/FM-tastic buy.

39 years old man. I wonder if there's any more outfield players of that age still clogging away? Mad to think he was playing professionally before I'd even seen my first game live (1993). He'll have been in the first sticker book I owned and everything, I'll bet they even made one of those disproportionate models of him (huge head, little body). For some reason I had Kevin Ratcliffe and Mark Robinson player in those, only. Tight-fisted parents

Fuck off.

I've went for a gentleman's 3, don't want to be too cocky.

Fail.

And signed: Krul Kuqi Beye Coloccini Bassong Jose Barton Cabaye Tiote Jonas Ben Arfa Ba Krul was earlier wasn't he? My bad.

Tbf there's been talks of this move being imminent for weeks and it now seems it'll eventually go through due to movement in our pursuit of Pieters. Which would be fine. As long as we're not left without a LB is fine. As if we would sell an important player and not replace him, i mean we replaced Carroll..............i'll get me coat See my signature.

Where's this from? Is it accurate? They were "official" stats from a reputable source, if I remember rightly. They're in here somewhere. http://www.anfieldindex.com/2685/liverpool-fc-transfer-scouting-stats-left-backs.html There you go sausage. Taken from Opta. http://www.anfieldindex.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LeftBack_Defend.png

Where's this from? Is it accurate? They were "official" stats from a reputable source, if I remember rightly. They're in here somewhere.

Paul Huntington was a centre-half being played at left-back. Aye, he was piss-poor, but he was out of position like. Scored against Spurs in one of my favourite games in recent memory, for that he'll always hold a special place in my heart. /brushhairacrossforehead

For me its the thing about their supposed great wit, only ever met aggressive, foul mouthed arrogant ones, obviously their not all like that, but the ones to do with football i've met have been. me aswell. been to merseyside about a dozen times for football and all bar 2 have been bother. the pattern of being sociable with you till they have you heavily outnumbered is mentioned up and down the country. Fair enough if there's some actual base around it. Most Scousers I've met have been spot-on in football terms, but I haven't had the pleasure of big fuck off groups of them.

I'm still puzzled by the Liverpool hate on here, I relate to them a lot more than I do Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd. The thing that I hate most about them is how eye-wateringly boring they've been to watch over recent years.

I've seen people on here claiming Newcastle can get into the top 6 this season and someone on the Arsenal game thread quite unbelievably claims that it will be an "easy and comfortable" Newcastle win. Can we have some guidelines on what is and what is not high levels of confidence. Piece of piss this wind-up merchant lark, like. 100% bite ratio from the Mackems on this board.

I can't remember ever being so confident about a signing doing the business for us and for once I believe the optimism is well-founded. He just appears to be a quality footballer. Oozes class.

Ah, memories. The word "shan" alone is epic, but you've just took it to a whole 'nother level with that primary school shout.

Gutted to see Jose go, if it happens this time of course, but I will be mighty impressed if we manage to replace him in time for Arsenal. Will take the edge off it.

Aye, confidence is definitely growing down there again. I like it.