Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

zing wrote: »

Have you considered that maybe Rafa couldn't buy anyone in this window - regardless of what happened with Keane ? The club is skint - that should be obvious to anyone (considering the loans, extensions on loans, etc..). We got very little in cash back for Keane (the bulk of the initial fee was paid by canceling the money we still owed to Spurs for him) and there's no guarantees that money would have been made available to Rafa but even if it had - a couple of m wouldn't have gone very far. Sure he could have bought in another bit part player but then people would have slated him for buying more dross.

I'm disappointed we didn't get anyone in on loan but I'm not in the least bit surprised that we didn't buy. From what I've seen & heard we did make enquiries about Quaresma on loan but obviously that didn't work out. That we didn't go for anyone on loan earlier in the window makes me wonder if the wages bill was an issue.

If you think things were bad during the January window you'll be in for a shock in the summer unless there's significant 3rd party investment in the club.

tbh - who gives a flying f$#% what Utd are doing ?

RAFA TO LEAVE IT LATE ON SPAIN DUO
Jimmy Rice 06 February 2009
Rafa Benitez will wait until the last moment to decide if Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso are ready to play their third game in a week against Portsmouth.
Alonso picked up a knock during the extra-time defeat to Everton on Wednesday, while his international teammate lasted 101 minutes despite a lack of match sharpness following his hamstring troubles.

Benitez will put his players through their paces late on Friday afternoon before deciding if the pair have recovered sufficiently.

He told his weekly press conference: "Torres is fit but tired. We will see if he can be ready for tomorrow. When you have some players playing a lot of games in a row - normally two games in a week - it is difficult for them to manage. You have to rest players and, if you cannot, there is a big risk.

"It depends on him. We will talk with him in training today. All the players are a little bit tired so we have to make decisions - Torres will be one of the big decisions.

"Xabi had a knock on his ankle so we will have to see. We are also without Lucas (suspended) and Degen is injured."

One man who definitely won't be fit for Fratton Park is Steven Gerrard, who limped out of the Goodison defeat after 16 minutes with a hamstring injury.

Benitez is confident Liverpool have enough quality to cope without their 15-goal captain.

He said: "It will be around three weeks. It depends on each player if they can be ready sooner. The doctors and physios are working really hard with him and you never know.

"We have enough quality. Kuyt, Babel, Torres, Ngog - we have a lot of different options up front. Benayoun played as a second striker the other day.

"They have the quality to play against Portsmouth and win, and we'll think about the other games after that."

Meanwhile, Benitez spoke of his respect for Tony Adams, who took over as Pompey boss following the departure of Harry Redknapp earlier in the season.

"He's doing a good job and working hard in a difficult situation. They have now signed some players with quality. Maybe they'll need time," said the Liverpool boss.

"Always with a new manager you need experience and it's not easy, but I think he has a great future as a manager.

"He has experience as a player and assistant manager. He will need more time. This year he is under pressure but if he can cope with that then he'll be a very good manager.

"He is clever and calm. When you talk to him, he tries to think in a different way, and that's positive."