Torres

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Based on todays display alone, again I repeat that, based on todays display alone, he has overtaken Kuyt as the second striker in my mind.

Doubtful.

Rafa seems to have a very worrying obsession with Kuyt.

God knows why.

[JPK]

I think it shows that when you spend some serious money on a player like Torres, you get a class act.

When you spend 5-6 million on a player, you get something different entirely.

The trouble is that we have too few class acts in the squad.

[peekay]

As for Torres
I shudder to think how our season would have been if we had not got him and had to settle for our second choice Darren Bent.

[El Jefecito]

Doubtful.

Rafa seems to have a very worrying obsession with Kuyt.

God knows why.

how many goals does the crow have. how many times have his tackles saved us?

[peekay]

Doubtful.

Rafa seems to have a very worrying obsession with Kuyt.

God knows why.

I know mate thats why I added "in my mind" in the end of the post. For the right or wrong reason I am pretty sure Kuyt is the second striker in Rafa's mind.

[Abro100]

Voronin played better than him today, he was very very good, he would be my choice along side torres.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I think it shows that when you spend some serious money on a player like Torres, you get a class act.

When you spend 5-6 million on a player, you get something different entirely.

The trouble is that we have too few class acts in the squad.

We got Alonso for £10m, but I take your point though, he was a steal at that price and there are few of those around.

You only get what you pay for nowadays unless you manage to find a young player with talent who hasn't had much exposure, like an Agger or any of those kids Wenger has signed.

Look at Pennant for £7m, mediocre or similarly Kuyt for £10m. Then look at Berbatov for £11m or Rosicky for £7m. Fact is those are just 2 bad signings by Rafa.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

how many goals does the crow have. how many times have his tackles saved us?

I know he was bang out of order following in that Gerrard free kick. He should've been standing watching like a rabbit in headlights at the edge of the D.

[El Jefecito]

I know he was bang out of order following in that Gerrard free kick. He should've been standing watching like a rabbit in headlights at the edge of the D.

He seems to be a la Garcia, the only one who follows up in those kind of situations.

[andyinswinton]

I just think there are far too many mediocre players in the squad. They aren't bad players but they aren't world beaters either.

Rafa earns his cash by employing tactics that play to the strength of the players at his disposal. He has done that very well in the past 3 seasons, especially in Europe where he hasn't really got it wrong. The trouble is that Rafa doesn't get it right as often in the league.

[flyboy]

thats what a 20 million pound man will or can do for a team. you gotta spend to win nowadays. simple as that unless you are wenger

[El Jefecito]

thats what a 20 million pound man will or can do for a team. you gotta spend to win nowadays. simple as that unless you are wenger

Wenger has a 5 year head start on Rafa, so don't write Rafa off yet.

BTW Don't forget he bought the finished article in Hleb, Rosicky and Adebayor for "undisclosed" fees. Fabregas aside, what quality players has he brought through?

[Biff]

I'd list our strikers as

1 Torres
2 Voronin
3 Kuyt
4 Crouch

3 and 4 should be moved on for better players, we now have the financial nous to not have to scratch around.

I would keep Voronin because he shows all the 'game intelligence' that Rafa looks for in his strikers but also seems to get himself into nice positions. Needs to be a bit more selfish.

Kuyt and Crouch whilst decent players don't nearly threaten the opposition box enough for a top club

[Dan]

Wenger has a 5 year head start on Rafa, so don't write Rafa off yet.

BTW Don't forget he bought the finished article in Hleb, Rosicky and Adebayor for "undisclosed" fees. Fabregas aside, what quality players has he brought through?

Henry

[El Jefecito]

Henry

He bought him!!!!!!!!!! After he's played in the semi of the world cup!!!!!!!!!!