Come on lads and lasses

[Rich]

I think Crouch can cause all kinds of problems aerially for teams, and as such he is a threat. However, for us he isn't a strong header of the ball and does not seem capable of attacking the ball.

[Kiwi]

Really looking forward to some proper footie after the WC. I think we will improve on last year, as the loss last year of proper break and preseason certainly seemed to
affect the start to the season.

[FaganK]

i actually think we will sign alves and pennant with kromkamp going out. which would leave us with finnan/alves as attacking right backs and pennant/alves as out and out right wingers. you need 2 people for each position.

as for striker i also think we'll bring someone in. possibly kuyt or a surprise name. problem is if bellers gets injured we dont have an out and out striker and im sure rafa is aware of that.

having said that with garcia, zenden and kewell able to play a supporting role behind the striker rafa might be happy with that.

i think rafa will want to have all signings in before we go away on our pre season tour or at least before it ends. so i expect some movement in the next 10 days.

think this season will be a great one for us. in reality chelsea's squad is unbeatable. the only thing we can hope for is if they have a mediocre start to the season and the media get on their backs and there is a bit of unrest in the camp.

chelsea will find it tough this season as lots of teams will just play for the draw and play 11 men beind the ball.

but i think we should get 2nd place and who knows abot 1st. we do have a genuine chance this season of winning it, which is, in reality, the 1st time we can say that in years.

arsenal will be strong again this season. not sure about united. think this will be fergie's last season in charge.

we need our defence to be as solid as last season, if not more so, and if that happens then we have a major chance of challenging.

we also have a great chance i europe without the italian teams

[Pacman]

I don't know Fagan mate I think Chelsea are now becoming a bit of a laugh stock. It was in the papers today that they are trying to sign both Ashley Cole and Carlos. They are turning into another Real Madrid without the fan base or the history. I can't see Mouriniho being there next season it's obvious he isn't in total control of the transfers.

I can't see all those star players being happy and I think it could back fire on them. If we can get off to a good start and stay the pace I have a feeling we could really have a chance. We just need our guys to hit the ground running.

[Resu]

He is a threat with his height, but I think a lot of it are down to the fear opponents have for his height. As soon as he comes up against a central defense the are comfortable (sp) with that he struggles in the air.
The biggest advantage he has is that a lot of people underrates his skills with the ball on the ground. He`s far more effective with ball at his feet, the and in the air I think he really should be only a back-up solution the get the ball in the area.
The thing that might change this season is that he`ll play with Ballamy, a player that knows how to position himself to get to the ball Crouch head on. Cisse don`t know how to do this, and Morientes was to slow to capitalise on it.

[Rich]

True about Morientes, at times you could see, he knew where the ball was going to, but his legs wouldn't get him there quick enough. Bellamy shouldn't have that problem.

[LFCman]

He is a threat with his height, but I think a lot of it are down to the fear opponents have for his height. As soon as he comes up against a central defense the are comfortable (sp) with that he struggles in the air.
The biggest advantage he has is that a lot of people underrates his skills with the ball on the ground. He`s far more effective with ball at his feet, the and in the air I think he really should be only a back-up solution the get the ball in the area.
The thing that might change this season is that he`ll play with Ballamy, a player that knows how to position himself to get to the ball Crouch head on. Cisse don`t know how to do this, and Morientes was to slow to capitalise on it.

Personally I think Crouch is actually quite good in terms of getting knock downs. It is his heading on goal and general attack towards the ball in the box that isn't as good. But still he is a threat and worries opposition defences.

Kuyt on the other hand isn't as tall but is much stronger and better at heading at goal.

[FoxForceFive]

If you are talking about unknowns, how about Momo Sissoko last year.....

Touche!

I'm sure you see my point though!

It just seems strange that hardly anyone has seen that much of him (relatively speaking), yet the world & their mother raves about him.

[dww]

The thing is I think we might need to have Crouch and Kuyt play together (as Robbie and Bellamy are quite injury prone) at least some times next year. Do you think this could work.

Can't see why not, but somehow it doesn't seem a natural partnership.

[AnfieldForever]

The thing is I think we might need to have Crouch and Kuyt play together (as Robbie and Bellamy are quite injury prone) at least some times next year. Do you think this could work.

Can't see why not, but somehow it doesn't seem a natural partnership.

Bellamy loves playing with a target man, i know Crouch has more to his game but i think they'll hook up well.

[Howard_lfc]

are there any fit lasses in this forum ??

yeah - one or two of them even have guide dogs - so even the ugly guys such as yourself have a chance with them!!

[Howard_lfc]

I'm gonna buck the trend here - I think we WILL sign Alves and Kuyt.

Alves is/was/has been Rafa's top target for ages now - we just can't give up when we've got so close.....
As for Kuyt - I think he'd be ideal for the Prem - and different option for us than what we already have up front (where I believe we are still weak). If you listen to what his agent has been saying - it sounds like the deal will happen.

As for the cash side of things - I reckon we have more cash than we're letting on.

[BobTheCharmer]

Christmas Bump

[Buzzo]

Are you just attempting to bump the most random threads you can find?

[BobTheCharmer]

Are you just attempting to bump the most random threads you can find?

Yeah guilty.

Makes interesting reading. Wonder what happened to some of these posters?