Evolution of the squad

[Neil Young]

If the inside right position still existed, Yossi would have to kill Steven Gerrard to claim that spot. That would actually be SG's natural position.

I still hope against hope that somehow Alves will finish up at Anfield.

--------------------Reina-------------------
-----------Finnan-----------Arbeloa---------
-------Carragher----Hyypia----Agger--------
Pennant---Gerrard--Torres---Babel----Er...--

So, we don't need Alonso or Mascherano. £17m saved plus about £13m for Alonso.

That should buy us a left-winger.

[Kopite_Colin]

--------------------Reina-------------------
-----------Finnan-----------Arbeloa---------
-------Carragher----Hyypia----Agger--------
Pennant---Gerrard--Torres---Babel----Er...--

So, we don't need Alonso or Mascherano. £17m saved plus about £13m for Alonso.

That should buy us a left-winger.

Sorry Neil but neither Carragher nor Agger are cpable enough to play at halfback.

[Red Chilli]

Do you think those players were his first choices?

Isn't that too convenient a cop out though?

He buys flops - they weren't his first choice.
He buys legends- he's a great manager.

He can't lose on that basis. I'm sure he would rather have signed C.Ronaldo than Pennant, I'm sure he'd rather sign Ronaldinho than Yossi, I'm sure he'd rather sign Kaka than Crow. They would probably have been his first choices, but life's not that easy is it, Rafa isn't playing Championship manager FFS.

[Sir Bob]

For all Rafa's brilliance in Europe, in the league little progress has been made. We were nowhere near winning the title before he came and we are nowhere near now.

People say we are only 1 or 2 players short of the title but I don't buy that, our squad is light in terms of both 1st 11 quality and backup.

The question to be answered is Rafa doing as well in the league as any manager could given the cash he's had to spend and the squad he inherited. For me the answer is no. However, I'm not unhappy if he continues for 2 reasons.

Firstly he's brilliant European record. Whilst Rafa may have under acheived domestically he has massively over achieved in Europe. 2 CL finals in 3 years, winning 1, is way beyond what anyone could reasonably expect our manager to achieve.

Secondly, i believe Rafa is a very good manager and that he's as likely as anyone to bring home no.19 in the next few years.

[Johnny]

What I do know is that for a club like Liverpool we are continually underperforming in the PL.

Because the manager we have is continually underfunded.Suggesting other managers that would also have their hands tied will not resolve the situation.I thought the idea of selling the club was to put it in the hands of people who could fund the squad and BACK the manager.

[Red_Al_77]

Because the manager we have is continually underfunded.Suggesting other managers that would also have their hands tied will not resolve the situation.I thought the idea of selling the club was to put it in the hands of people who could fund the squad and BACK the manager.

He is underfunded compared to the other big 3. Yet that doesn't explain why we still can't put away Wigan, Birmingham, Reading etc etc.

I totally agree that the idea of Moores selling was to put in place people who could fund the club. In reality he has put in place two people who are reasonably good at getting bank loans. I doubt for one second they have put any of their own money in the club. Now people will argue that all business do that...including Roman. Yes but G&H probably don't even have the ability or indeed the willingness to loan the club money from their own pocket thereby negating any issues with exchange rates and higher interest rates. I have seen nothing from the new owners to suggest everything is going swimmingly off the pitch. In fact the only positive thing that could be put down to them is the signing of Torres and that is still questionable. Rafa is the only thing holding us together and getting us going in the right direction.