James Milner

[red g]

torres 100m

Villa 40m
Chamakh/negredo 15m
Lennon 20m
quality quick right winger 15m
Shawcross 10m

might be tempted then

[DannyMan2006]

we need pace therefore he is not the answer imo.

We don't need pace. We need players who can beat a man and get a cross in. And Milner can do that. £12m was big money, as was £12m on Young. They were both gambles by O'Neil and I would say both have paid off, just like the signing of Downing will pay off.

Through out my team supporting Liverpool it has always seemed to be on the wings where we've really struggled. Okay, initially we had Barnes, but as we come into the 90's it's only really Steve McManaman that springs to mind and he was best in a free role.

I think the chelsea of this year and us of last year are the first top premiership teams to have some real success without top class wingers, or wide midfielders if you prefer.

I've been saying for years that Liverpool need to take a gamble on a top class wide man. Add that kind of player and a good back up striker and I hink this team would compete at the top end once again.

[Darkon]

Ok, how about this as a scenario:

Sell Torres for £70m

Buy Milner £20m, Lennon £20m, and say Džeko for £20m.

Tempted?

Nope - would basically just leave us with one world class player less and three decent PL players instead - it wouldn't take us one step forward, it would just help us getting a squad closer resembling spurs and villa in quality.

We need better players than those three if we are talking our first eleven (Dzeko might be strong enough). They would be good addons to supply / supllement a Torres and Gerrard etc.

We need a better overall squad quality but not at the expense of our world class players, then we are just another mid-table club.

[DannyMan2006]

torres 100m

Villa 40m
Chamakh/negredo 15m
Lennon 20m
quality quick right winger 15m
Shawcross 10m

might be tempted then

Wages and Agents fees would mess that dream up. Villa would want the same wage Nando is on, whilst the rest would not be on buttons.

[Rich]

Nope - would basically just leave us with one world class player less and three decent PL players instead - it wouldn't take us one step forward, it would just help us getting a squad closer resembling spurs and villa in quality.

We need better players than those three if we are talking our first eleven (Dzeko might be strong enough). They would be good addons to supply / supllement a Torres and Gerrard etc.

We need a better overall squad quality but not at the expense of our world class players, then we are just another mid-table club.

In an ideal world we'd supplement the squad with quality additions however it doesn't look like we are able to fund that, so would we be better overall by spreading the talent and the money across the front 3 positions rather than just up top?!

Just playing devil's advocate here.

[DannyMan2006]

Nope - would basically just leave us with one world class player less and three decent PL players instead - it wouldn't take us one step forward, it would just help us getting a squad closer resembling spurs and villa in quality.

We need better players than those three if we are talking our first eleven (Dzeko might be strong enough). They would be good addons to supply / supllement a Torres and Gerrard etc.

We need a better overall squad quality but not at the expense of our world class players, then we are just another mid-table club.

If we replaced Voronin and Babel with players Rafa would be willing to play then we would have a much stronger looking squad.

If Babel could be the player we thought he could be we would not really need another wide player, whilst we are really only lacking one striker which has come as a result of Voronin not being good enough and Torres too injury prone.

[Darkon]

In an ideal world we'd supplement the squad with quality additions however it doesn't look like we are able to fund that, so would we be better overall by spreading the talent and the money across the front 3 positions rather than just up top?!

Just playing devil's advocate here.

I honestly don't think we would. It would just leave us at the level of spurs and villa - decent teams but not top-4 material.

We would basically just be settling for the players villa and spurs are interested in, which is not the way forward.

[Darkon]

If we replaced Voronin and Babel with players Rafa would be willing to play then we would have a much stronger looking squad.

If Babel could be the player we thought he could be we would not really need another wide player, whilst we are really only lacking one striker which has come as a result of Voronin not being good enough and Torres too injury prone.

Agreed

Our wage bill and squad is filled up by players Rafa have no interest in any longer as they havn't worked out.

Voronin, Babel and Dossena would free some handy ressources!

[DannyMan2006]

In an ideal world we'd supplement the squad with quality additions however it doesn't look like we are able to fund that, so would we be better overall by spreading the talent and the money across the front 3 positions rather than just up top?!

Just playing devil's advocate here.

At the moment I am struggling to think of a top team who has sold their best player and improved as a result of this.

Plenty of smaller clubs who have sold a top player and improved their squad with the cash influx. But if Liverpool sold Gerrard and Torres tomorrow for £120m we would be losing the two players that seperate us from the Spurs and Villas of this world.

There is no way Liverpool would be able to sign better players than those two, so our first XI would become worse. We'd have a stronger squad if we spread the cash around, but that would only be if the new players settled.

[Exiled_red]

I think Lennon has been brilliant this season. His major weak point previously was his crossing, but that has improved 10 fold.

He's developed an end product which was his problem for a while, and could now develop to his potential

[rudedog]

At the moment I am struggling to think of a top team who has sold their best player and improved as a result of this.

Plenty of smaller clubs who have sold a top player and improved their squad with the cash influx. But if Liverpool sold Gerrard and Torres tomorrow for £120m we would be losing the two players that seperate us from the Spurs and Villas of this world.

There is no way Liverpool would be able to sign better players than those two, so our first XI would become worse. We'd have a stronger squad if we spread the cash around, but that would only be if the new players settled.

Arsenal sold Anelka and bought Henry with the money - that definately improved their team.

[Vermilion]

Torres is our Jewel, he's our next Gerrard, our truly world class player that can lead this team for many years. He'll be one of the reasons other good players will wanto come here.

Selling him would be a bad bad idea. imo.

[Mike]

Ok, how about this as a scenario:

Sell Torres for £70m

Buy Milner £20m, Lennon £20m, and say Džeko for £20m.

Tempted?

No. I would be a right mess if we sold torres, i love him

[red g]

Torres is our Jewel, he's our next Gerrard, our truly world class player that can lead this team for many years. He'll be one of the reasons other good players will wanto come here.

Selling him would be a bad bad idea. imo.

great point!!!

[BillobShaisley]

We don't need pace. We need players who can beat a man and get a cross in. And Milner can do that. £12m was big money, as was £12m on Young. They were both gambles by O'Neil and I would say both have paid off, just like the signing of Downing will pay off...........

You nearly had me there