We talk and talk but we never finish

[Guest]

This is what I saw in a snippet from The Telegraph today and it quotes Rafa:

''A striker is not a priority," he said. "Kuyt and Crouch can score goals. Andrei Voronin is coming from Bayer Leverkusen. We need to improve in other areas. We have targets. I'm not sure about how many, exactly. It depends if we get big offers for other players here. It's not about one player scoring 20 goals. We need more players scoring 10 to 15 each season. What happens if you spend £40 million on one striker and he gets injured?"

[AFII]

I have said the same all the time. We need to sign two new top class strikers and not only one.

A right winger and a left winger, even if Kewell stays, a central defender, a backup goalkeeper, a left back, two strikers and one attacking playmaker.

That is what we need IMO.

Maybe Rafa has signed Lucas to be the attacking playmaker.

[rage]

at the very least bellamy will be replaced with someone with pace, a bit more composure and less of a headcase.

[Guest]

I have said the same all the time. We need to sign two new top class strikers and not only one.

A right winger and a left winger, even if Kewell stays, a central defender, a backup goalkeeper, a left back, two strikers and one attacking playmaker.

That is what we need IMO.

Maybe Rafa has signed Lucas to be the attacking playmaker.

Rafa won't be splashing out all his kitty on strikers, it's clear judging from the quotes I posted above.

[AFII]

If you take some of the quotes from Rafa about secured targets, how much they will cost and now this about strikers not a priority, then the two secured targets must surely be two wingers.

Two of Alves, Simao and Silva. They would probably cost the quoted price.

We can rule out that the two secured targets is a very expensive striker, like Villa, Tevez, Eto'o or Huntelaar.

[Guest]

If you take some of the quotes from Rafa about secured targets, how much they will cost and now this about strikers not a priority, then the two secured targets must surely be two wingers.

Two of Alves, Simao and Silva. They would probably cost the quoted price.

We can rule out that the two secured targets is a very expensive striker, like Villa, Tevez, Eto'o or Huntelaar.

Secured targets if we splash the money.

As for a striker, I feel we could go for Tevez actually, based in what Rafa has said yesterday. He clearly wants the players to share the load of goals. Leiva is one who will bring just that, Tevez could bring 15 goals, Kuyt the same, Crouchie the same, Stevie G at his best could also.

[keniget]

I despair of Rafa if that quote is true. We need a goalscorer of real quality.

[Darth Marty]

id be happy with 1 big name striker and crouch/kuyt if we did buy 2 bloody good wingers, let crouch /kuyt play as strikers and they will do well, very well. im optimistic.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

we new shiny world class strikers, Mr RAFA!!!!!
STRIKERS!!! mr Rafa!!!!

[JCase]

I despair of Rafa if that quote is true. We need a goalscorer of real quality.

This is somewhat true. However if I remember Rafa's Valencia did not have a prolific goal scorer. I would not classify Mista as prolific. Howver he did have several players chip in 10 or more goals per season.

[kemm1]

I think what Rafa is also saying in those quotes is he thinks Rick Parry is absolute crap at his job.

Here is a similar article but I think this one's better:

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/european/article2581119.ece

[Lecter]

Rafa is a methodical man. He probably has already verbally tied down some deals, but the cash is still not forthcoming and deals still not concluded (apart from Leiva).

Probably because we have been waiting for Gillett & Hicks to transfer over the cash

No way would the club continue to increase its overdraft facilities

[Lecter]

And I can see a similar conclusion to what happened at Valencia, with Rafa resigning in tears ... If things don't change ... quickly.

People said this after his first season and last summer and yet hes still here

[Lecter]

and that is down to Parry. It's more or less a "start to do your job your lazy git or I'm off" talk from Rafa.

You must have a VERY good source

Even better than Bascombes who said in one of the recent Football Echo's that the club is still awaiting the financial cash injection from Hicks & Gillett

[JCase]

People said this after his first season and last summer and yet hes still here

Surely he must be getting very frustrated and his pateince wearing thin. Having said that I don't think he'll leave until he's accomplished his goals.