From far fetched to minor details.

Do they have enough money ? Wasn't one of their owners selling the Montreal Canadiens to help pay debts off at Liverpool ?

villa wants to stay in spain lazy journalism

I think Liverpool have a bit of money left. Though I'd expect either Alonso or Mascherano to leave OR at least the sales of the likes of Dossena and Arbeloa to fund the deal.

I'm quite surprised Glen Johnson is going to Liverpool tbh. We know what Rafa is like with English/ British players as openly stated by Crouch and Pennant who are two of his 'current' team mates.

Surprised they've not talked him out of a move there.

Why? What's Rafa like with English/British players?

Quote ="Robbie Rotten"Why? What's Rafa like with English/British players?'" www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 14294.html www.goal.com/en/news/1713/liverp ... verpool-ca

Quote ="Robbie Rotten"Why? What's Rafa like with English/British players?'" www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 14294.html www.goal.com/en/news/1713/liverp ... verpool-ca

Villa's transfer is looking very likely now but unfortunately it looks like it could only be funded by Alonso and Arbeloa going to Madrid which is looking increasingly close now.

Real in buying defender shocker aswell.

Quote ="Fresh Prince of Chesh-air"www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/pennant-claims-benitez-is-biased-against-english-players-1514294.html www.goal.com/en/news/1713/liverp ... verpool-ca'" Rafa brought Crouch to Liverpool, he wasn't better than Torres so Rafa didn't kill his career, he was just left behind by an improving squad. Keane wasn't good enough, it happens, he didn't fit. Pennant's attitude was pretty poor and I'm pretty sure we tried to get rid of him in the summer but he decided to stay to fight for his place, or something silly, but I doubt he fought for his place at all. I don't really say what Rafa's supposed to be like with British players, is he the same with Dutch players because Babel never starts? What about Chilean's because Mark Gonzalez only got a year at the club? The Welsh because of Bellamy? I just struggle to understand why it's 'British' players. I doubt Rafa would spend £17m on a British player if he didn't like them or anything.

Quote ="Fresh Prince of Chesh-air"www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/pennant-claims-benitez-is-biased-against-english-players-1514294.html www.goal.com/en/news/1713/liverp ... verpool-ca'" Rafa brought Crouch to Liverpool, he wasn't better than Torres so Rafa didn't kill his career, he was just left behind by an improving squad. Keane wasn't good enough, it happens, he didn't fit. Pennant's attitude was pretty poor and I'm pretty sure we tried to get rid of him in the summer but he decided to stay to fight for his place, or something silly, but I doubt he fought for his place at all. I don't really say what Rafa's supposed to be like with British players, is he the same with Dutch players because Babel never starts? What about Chilean's because Mark Gonzalez only got a year at the club? The Welsh because of Bellamy? I just struggle to understand why it's 'British' players. I doubt Rafa would spend £17m on a British player if he didn't like them or anything.

Latest rumour is Barca have offered £45m for Villa, I would be surprised if he left Spain.

Why?

Ive just seen that on MARCA aswell, they'd be unbeatable if he signs aswell.

Robbie Keane anyone?



It was the fans who wanted Keane not Fata.

you know what when i did that team a totally forgot about tevez lol been told that he will be signing the contract on monday another good signing happy with how the team is looking now a couple ov defenders and we will be very hard to beat this year. The only place i can see Villa going is Barca tbh that will spell the end for eto i think

Tevez has to wait until July 1 until he can sign for any other club.

True tha true tha will be a pre contract agreement then he has already commited just has to wait it out now

I think the Keane situation is hard to explain. I think Rafa wanted him, but he wanted Barry equally, or maybe even more. From what I've read on things that seem clear, the board were making the decisions for him, promising him things but doing the other. When we said we weren't going to bid for Barry, we even said we had the money, we were just declining to match their valuation. I think that p*ssed Rafa right off, because he wanted Barry and Keane, and was told he was allowed both, but didn't get them.

I honestly think if Keane fitted in and hit it off, Rafa would have kept him, but he was struggling and Rafa would rather have the money instantly back, than an unhappy player sat on the bench.

Two words
Rick Parry.

Thats who was making the transfers at Liverpool not Rafa

I think that's BS to be honest, sure Parry does the negotiations, but I think it was a decision by the board. Rick Parry didn't just decide who we did and didn't sign, did he do all the scouting for our players? Did Parry sign Alonso, Masch, Skrtel, Agger and Torres?

I think what was happening was Rafa would identify a player, then the board would decide on if we signed him, even if we had the money. At other clubs, if the money is there the manager is allowed to spend it freely.

There's not a chance Rick Parry would have been allowed to just spend £19m of the club's money for the crack of it, there's just no way that would happen. Rafa had even said at the time we were interested. The whole Rick Parry problem covers a lot of things, not just his inability to tie up our transfer targets quickly, things like lack of communication between him and the manager, and him and the owners. Other things like the commercial side of our club has been a shambles, something Parry was apparently brought in to change.

I believe Keane was a Rafa signing, but he didn't fit in and Rafa thought it was best to get rid, futhermore, I think Rafa wanted Barry and I've read in a few places (can't remember where) that he was told he could have both, only for the people above him to decide he can't have Barry, so he was stuck with Keane and he was unhappy. Also, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Parry/whoever came close to selling Alonso for like £13m, but for Rafa to step in and say he wanted something around the £18m mark.

To be honest, I don't think Sturridge will ever be as good a player as Bellamy.

I think he and his advisors have serious delusions of grandeur and that's why I haven't met a one person bemoaning his loss.

Much like Micah Richards, and possibly Michael Johnson, he was over-hyped, too soon, and outsiders thought they were better players than those on the inside did.

The players that will end up being the better ones are those that have developed more slowly, have not peaked at a contemporary level too soon and didn't let the attention go to their heads; i.e. Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha.

Ireland and Onuoha are the two players who I would be gutted about losing. The others, whilst good Premier League players, are probably not good enough to sustain a regular first team slot in a top four side and are expendible, even if I wouldn't mind keeping them as squad players.

Brazil vs South Africa 2nd semi Conf Cup 19.30.

Quote ="Fresh Prince of Chesh-air"www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/pennant-claims-benitez-is-biased-against-english-players-1514294.html www.goal.com/en/news/1713/liverp ... verpool-ca'" I think their lack of ability did for them more than anything else, it's easier to blame Rafa rather than their own lack of ability/poor attitude. Especially Pennant, who did nothing but whine whilst he was at the club.

Quote ="Fresh Prince of Chesh-air"www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/pennant-claims-benitez-is-biased-against-english-players-1514294.html www.goal.com/en/news/1713/liverp ... verpool-ca'" I think their lack of ability did for them more than anything else, it's easier to blame Rafa rather than their own lack of ability/poor attitude. Especially Pennant, who did nothing but whine whilst he was at the club.

agree about johnson and sturridge not to bothered. But id be very dissapointed if Richards goes hes still young played out of position and wasnt fit most of the year this is hes make or break year for me

I know I said this over two weeks ago, but I hope this finally stops the Liverpool fans claiming it's just a matter of time till they get Villa

[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/06/25/SOCCER_David_Villa.html[/url

To be honest, he's always been like that, even when Benitez wanted him back in '04. I remember him saying something along the lines of "I don't speak the language and I don't like The Beatles" as his reasons not wanting to move

Hopefully it will dry our fans' dreams up a little