Defoe to sign this week

[Le Chacal]

And he could play with Crouch and Fowler or come as sub for Bellamy...lots of options with him. I'd prefer him than Kuyt.

[Peter]

This "Smokecreen" stuff is just a load of bollocks, I reckon. It's just used by some fans to persuade themselves that players they don't want to come aren't really targets.

twas sarcasm. I have no opinion on the Defoe rumour - until it becomes plausible that is.

[MrMichael]

Please point out where anyone - other than the cosmically hapless murder inc -has "kicked off".

Which is why I've only removed his post. Turn of phrase, but you have been sniping at him (and he at you) since you both arrived here and all this **** is doing my head in to be honest.

[brendan]

Which is why I've only removed his post. Turn of phrase, but you have been sniping at him (and he at you) since you both arrived here and all this **** is doing my head in to be honest.

He's actually exploded in an infantile rage at me less often than I expected, but he's got a lot of baggage that lad. And it doesn't contain brains.

Anyway, that Defoe rumoour eh?

[MrMichael]

Yeah, Defoe

I hope not myself, although I can see it happening. He's not a bad player like, although I do feel he was significantly over-hyped the season before last, and I'm not sure comparissons with Cisse are that far off the mark. I'm not sure he would contribute much more to the overall tactical "possibilities" of the team except perhaps to score a bit more (but his strike record isn't stunning). Between Bellamy and Fowler we seem to have his attributes quite well covered to me.

I'd much rather we went for Kuyt, I know he isn't the quickest but the overall potential he has to add something to what we already have is much greater in my eyes, even if it would also be a bit more of a risk.

[red g]

Two short-arsed, diminutive, speedsters playing as a partnership?

Don't see it.

cant think of any other instances it worked either??

[brendan]

Yeah, Defoe

I hope not myself, although I can see it happening. He's not a bad player like, although I do feel he was significantly over-hyped the season before last, and I'm not sure comparissons with Cisse are that far off the mark. I'm not sure he would contribute much more to the overall tactical "possibilities" of the team except perhaps to score a bit more (but his strike record isn't stunning). Between Bellamy and Fowler we seem to have his attributes quite well covered to me.

I'd much rather we went for Kuyt, I know he isn't the quickest but the overall potential he has to add something to what we already have is much greater in my eyes, even if it would also be a bit more of a risk.

Someone on KT - might be that Swiss divvy Le Chacal (xx) - was positing that Bellers used to play more as a provider, roaming about behind the striker. ie suggesting that a Defoe/ Bellers partnership isn't as menkle as it sounds.

Not convinced.

I think Rodders is fcuking abysmal (really Brendan?) so I would also prefer us to buy a big, strong target-man to ensure that he plays less.

Is that Dirk? Well, maybe.

[MrMichael]

Now this really isn't an invitation... but I think you will be pleasantly suprised this season by how well Crouch and Bellamy might play together. In any case, Rafa obviously considers Crouch as one of his senior strikers, and if we assume that he will play 2 upfront for most of the season, Crouch + one of Bellamy/Fowler/Defoe would seem the most likely partnership combinations if we bought him. Bellamy + Defoe...? Maybe, but Defoe likes to wander a bit too, I wouldn't like the idea of that too much at all. Don't think its particularly likely either given Rafa's tactical history. Crouch/Kuyt + Bellamy/Fowler would seem to provide better balance to the choice of partnerships, whatever you think of the respective merits of the players involved

[Howard_lfc]

The signing of Pennant disappointed me - coz I really liked the idea of Alves finally sorting out the right hand side. Pennant is a good player - but that's it; nothing special for me.
Now once again we appear to be looking at our fallback option (Defoe) when our primary target is sitting over there in Rotterdam waving a bleeding flag saying 'come and get me reds!' and we haven't got the balls to go and get him. IMO Kuyt would be perfect for us and to lose out on him is gonna seriously piss me off. Big time.

Board: Well Rafa - we'd like you to win the premier league this year
Rafa: ok - we'll strengthen the squad and give it a good go
Board: ah yes - money - we've been meaning to talk to you about that.
Rafa: no more lampshades please!
Board: well not exactly - we'll back you all the way for your backup targets. We'll still act like a big club - being linked in the press with top class signings- its just that we wont give you the money to buy them. Don't worry about the fans - they're too thick to see the bigger picture; the fact we can't compete with Newcastle (and soon to be Villa) in the transfer market.
Rafa: right - so you're not gonna back me in the transfer market but you still wanna win the league?
Board: That's right Rafa. Close the door after you please.

You know what REALLY pisses me off? The fact that the board saw fit to back Houllier to the fecking hilt when he went cap in hand looking for new signings and look what happened. We made some progress - and stopped. Now we have arguably the best manager in the world (honestly) and the board can't see what's right in front of their fecking noses. It's not as if Rafa is asking for the earth either; Alves and Kuyt should both be well within our budget but we've now got this small club mentality/insecurity and it's slowly eating away at us. Gnawing away at our very fibre - and it's doing my fecking head in. Seriously.

We are Liverpool Football Club; it's about time we started acting like it.

H

[brendan]

The signing of Pennant disappointed me - coz I really liked the idea of Alves finally sorting out the right hand side. Pennant is a good player - but that's it; nothing special for me.
Now once again we appear to be looking at our fallback option (Defoe) when our primary target is sitting over there in Rotterdam waving a bleeding flag saying 'come and get me reds!' and we haven't got the balls to go and get him. IMO Kuyt would be perfect for us and to lose out on him is gonna seriously piss me off. Big time.

Board: Well Rafa - we'd like you to win the premier league this year
Rafa: ok - we'll strengthen the squad and give it a good go
Board: ah yes - money - we've been meaning to talk to you about that.
Rafa: no more lampshades please!
Board: well not exactly - we'll back you all the way for your backup targets. We'll still act like a big club - being linked in the press with top class signings- its just that we wont give you the money to buy them. Don't worry about the fans - they're too thick to see the bigger picture; the fact we can't compete with Newcastle (and soon to be Villa) in the transfer market.
Rafa: right - so you're not gonna back me in the transfer market but you still wanna win the league?
Board: That's right Rafa. Close the door after you please.

You know what REALLY pisses me off? The fact that the board saw fit to back Houllier to the fecking hilt when he went cap in hand looking for new signings and look what happened. We made some progress - and stopped. Now we have arguably the best manager in the world (honestly) and the board can't see what's right in front of their fecking noses. It's not as if Rafa is asking for the earth either; Alves and Kuyt should both be well within our budget but we've now got this small club mentality/insecurity and it's slowly eating away at us. Gnawing away at our very fibre - and it's doing my fecking head in. Seriously.

We are Liverpool Football Club; it's about time we started acting like it.

H

I find your "Rafa = Great, Board = Bad" attitude simplistic, boring and inaccurate.

Try adding some "complex shades of grey" to your binary, black & white world.

[Rosco]

The signing of Pennant disappointed me - coz I really liked the idea of Alves finally sorting out the right hand side. Pennant is a good player - but that's it; nothing special for me.
Now once again we appear to be looking at our fallback option (Defoe) when our primary target is sitting over there in Rotterdam waving a bleeding flag saying 'come and get me reds!' and we haven't got the balls to go and get him. IMO Kuyt would be perfect for us and to lose out on him is gonna seriously piss me off. Big time.

Board: Well Rafa - we'd like you to win the premier league this year
Rafa: ok - we'll strengthen the squad and give it a good go
Board: ah yes - money - we've been meaning to talk to you about that.
Rafa: no more lampshades please!
Board: well not exactly - we'll back you all the way for your backup targets. We'll still act like a big club - being linked in the press with top class signings- its just that we wont give you the money to buy them. Don't worry about the fans - they're too thick to see the bigger picture; the fact we can't compete with Newcastle (and soon to be Villa) in the transfer market.
Rafa: right - so you're not gonna back me in the transfer market but you still wanna win the league?
Board: That's right Rafa. Close the door after you please.

You know what REALLY pisses me off? The fact that the board saw fit to back Houllier to the fecking hilt when he went cap in hand looking for new signings and look what happened. We made some progress - and stopped. Now we have arguably the best manager in the world (honestly) and the board can't see what's right in front of their fecking noses. It's not as if Rafa is asking for the earth either; Alves and Kuyt should both be well within our budget but we've now got this small club mentality/insecurity and it's slowly eating away at us. Gnawing away at our very fibre - and it's doing my fecking head in. Seriously.

We are Liverpool Football Club; it's about time we started acting like it.

H

Nice rant.

It's a pity that it's a bit flawed. Rafa has spent £76m since he arrived here a little more than two years ago. That's more than everyone except Chelsea.

Houllier spent £125m over 5 years. Rafa is way ahead in terms of spending if you look at the average spend per year.

[brendan]

Nice rant.

It's a pity that it's a bit flawed. Rafa has spent £76m since he arrived here a little more than two years ago. That's more than everyone except Chelsea.

Houllier spent £125m over 5 years. Rafa is way ahead in terms of spending if you look at the average spend per year.

You're the new Ritchie3!!!!!!!!

(Soz)

[Rosco]

You're the new Ritchie3!!!!!!!!

(Soz)

Cheers.....:whatever:

[brendan]

Cheers.....:whatever:

Hahaha.

Soooo touchy

[Rosco]

Hahaha.

Soooo touchy

I put up with a lot of stick Brendan, I can take it when people say I talk ****e (particularly when they back down immediately when I reply to them ), I can take it when people call me a fat, an Irish cnut, a "barrack room lawyer" and lots of other things.

I won't tolerate being called the new Ritchi3 though, we all have our limits Brendan.