Chris Bascombe has a "scoop".... or not!

[AFII]

I hope we get a big clear out in the summer. Sell the above mentioned players and buy a few high quality players instead that will make a difference when it comes down to challenging for the title.

[Roboklopp]

Rafa plans summer blood-letting
£40m KOP OUT FOR BENITEZ
By Chris Bascombe

RAFAEL BENITEZ'S plan to keep a grip on his Liverpool job involves a £40million summer bloodbath at Anfield.

As many as 10 players are earmarked for the cull, providing the Kop boss can convince new-owners-in-waiting DIC to give him another season to transform Liverpool's Premier League form.

Benitez's patience has finally run out with the enduring mediocrity of John Arne Riise, Peter Crouch, Harry Kewell and Andriy Voronin.

Most surprisingly, Benitez will allow Xabi Alonso to return to Spain after the midfielder fell out of favour with the boss.

Alonso signed a new long-term contract last summer and is valued at over £15m by Liverpool — but he's long attracted the interest of La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Visit

And the capture of Javier Mascherano on a permanent deal will keep Alonso below the Argentinian and skipper Steven Gerrard in the pecking order.

Alonso, Riise and Kewell were all left out of the Liverpool squad for Saturday's visit of Sunderland.

And although out-of-form Steve Finnan, who only recently signed a new contract, still has time to change Rafa's mind, long-serving legend Sami Hyypia is out of contract in June.

Striker Dirk Kuyt's position is under threat after a poor goal return since his £10m move from Feyenoord two years ago. Injury-prone Fabio Aurelio and calamity reserve keeper Charles Itandje are also in line for the axe.

Whether Benitez can convince his employers he's the man to lead yet another summer of rebuilding is a different matter altogether.

Chaos

Players such as Crouch were denied a January move because of the continued uncertainty surrounding the boss.

Matters off the pitch have been echoed by ongoing chaos on it — and while Benitez is inevitably making long-term plans, whether he'll be given the chance to see them through looks less certain.

A change of ownership AND manager remains more likely before the start of next season.

After admitting the plot to sack Benitez, revealed by the News of the World last November, co-owner Tom Hicks has now delivered a U-turn and promised he'll allow Benitez to see out the last two years of his contract.

However, few at Anfield believe the relationship between the Americans and Benitez is workable.

Prospective owners Dubai International Capital also recognise Benitez's popularity on The Kop and may give him a final chance — but that's not guaranteed.

Ally

The off-field political battle is crippling the club, with Hicks believing he's overcome the initial storm of protest against his leadership.

The Texan's chief ally at Anfield is commercial director Ian Ayre, who was appointed last summer with a view to eventually replacing chief executive Rick Parry.

Ayre has been briefing Hicks the fans have been won over by the recent £350m refinancing package — a claim which will be undermined by further demonstrations in the coming weeks.

The scale of the Anfield turmoil is unprecedented, but there remain hopes a DIC move will happen in ‘days rather than weeks'.

Yawn, how tedious.

Parry will have egg on his tie if he ousted wont he?

Unsurprised about Xabi to be honest, if pretty sad. Not really had any luck this year with injuries has he? We should be looking at getting more that £15m for him as he cost £13m in the end.

Why the **** Rafa is looking at the "mediocre" Crouch above the woefully inept Kuyt & Voronin tho I'll never ever ever understand.

Hicks can **** right off the puffy-faced father-felcher.

[MascheredUp]

Not surprised if Xabi will be sold. His body don't seem to cope with the PL anymore. Better to sell him in the summer and get a good price for him.

He doesn't look remotely interested any more.

Swap for Iniesta perhaps?

[AFII]

He had 18months

What's that?!


£7-12m depending on which paper you read? And that his contract expired in 2009, not 2008.

My mistake.

[AFII]

He doesn't look remotely interested any more.

Swap for Iniesta perhaps?

Iniesta have signed a new contract until 2014.

[MascheredUp]

Iniesta have signed a new contract until 2014.

Swap for Messi it is then.

[Harv]

****ing hell.

Bascombe is a bitter little cunt.

That match report is rediculous, utter utter bull****.

Skrtel needs games, and what better game than Sunderland at home? Did he forget how ****e Carra has been many times this season?

[Roboklopp]

****ing hell.

Bascombe is a bitter little cunt.

That match report is rediculous, utter utter bull****.

Skrtel needs games, and what better game than Sunderland at home? Did he forget how ****e Carra has been many times this season?

Aye

[MascheredUp]

To be honest, if Bascombe is accurate in what he wrote, getting rid of that amount of players and then replacing all of them and expecting a serious title challenge next season is never gonna happen.

I'd rather start with a clean sweep including Rafa as well. He has bought a ****load of those players and others (that have been moved on), most of which have been failures.

How the **** can we expect to make any progress when we have such a high turnover of players every summer?

We're just going round in circles every ****ing summer.

We've also bought a ****load of youngsters, none of which look remotely close to challenging for the first team, not that they would be given a look in.

It's a complete ****ing mess IMHO.

[paulcooper4]

Bascombe is a little tithead, still being used by people to get **** out for them.

He is a gob****e.

Turned on rafa like he turned on houllier. Both occasions when he was no longer seeing them every day. ****bag.

[Darth Marty]

If what Bascombe says is true then we should applaud Rafa, **** me its what all of us have been wanting on numerous threads all year. Why now kick off at this then?
That said id categorise bascombe and hicks in the same drawer for bull**** to be honest....**** me though, that was a "shocking" world exclusive wasnt it?:whatever:

[paulcooper4]

If what Bascombe says is true then we should applaud Rafa, **** me its what all of us have been wanting on numerous threads all year. Why now kick off at this then?
That said id categorise bascombe and hicks in the same drawer for bull**** to be honest....**** me though, that was a "shocking" world exclusive wasnt it?:whatever:

not kicking off at that pointless droos of an article mate, how the **** can someone use that many words to say we might sell some players?

no mate, i was kicking off at his so-called match "report" the ****house little bent ****

[Marky]

"Calamity keeper Charles Itandje"?

Thought that was a bit harsh myself. Charlie's done alright i think, bitdgy coming for crosses but that can be worked on and he's made some very impressive and crucials saves when called upon. Good shot-stopper.

[Harv]

very harsh on Snipes. He has hardly played a game, and when he has he has looked decent.

[Roboklopp]

Bascombe is a little tithead, still being used by people to get **** out for them.

He is a gob****e.

Turned on rafa like he turned on houllier. Both occasions when he was no longer seeing them every day. ****bag.