How much do we need to spend this Summer?

[Rich]

I wouldn't want us to spunk £50m+ on players.... I'd like to spend LESS than our rivals and beat them to the title. Romantic and naive, I know.

[Rich]

Well yes, i am. It was Rafa's preferred formation at Valencia and everything is gearing towards him keeping it for most of our games too.

Aye, that's fair enough. I have a different opinion I reckon playing two up front will still be seen next season.

[Craig_H]

I think we'll still see 2 up front for some games, but IMO he's been waiting to have the right personnel for 4231, and he's quite close to that now.

[Rich]

I think we'll still see 2 up front for some games, but IMO he's been waiting to have the right personnel for 4231, and he's quite close to that now.

I agree. The other argument is going into a season with all our eggs in one basket with Torres, if the worst was to happen and he picks up a long term injury then it leaves 4231 in tatters, unless we have someone that can fill the void.

Hate to look at other teams, but United play a similar 3, with Rooney usually spearhead, but Tevez can and does play there, and Saha is able back-up in the lesser games. We don't really have those kind of options.

[knockers]

Back in the real world...

....Those are some of the most important personal attributes that Rafa seems to look for when buying in new players, so I think those attributes would be high up on his list when bringing in a new striker. Those are probably some of the contributing factors to why Owen and Anelka didn't come back to Liverpool and why Bellemy was moved on.

[AFII]

Rafinha....£11.5m
Diego.......£20m
Capel.......£8.5m

£40m

[Craig_H]

....Those are some of the most important personal attributes that Rafa seems to look for when buying in new players, so I think those attributes would be high up on his list when bringing in a new striker. Those are probably some of the contributing factors to why Owen and Anelka didn't come back to Liverpool and why Bellemy was moved on.

They might well be, but unless a player is a Liverpool fan, it's unlikely to swing it for him that we're Liverpool.

[Craig_H]

Rafinha....£11.5m
Diego.......£20m
Capel.......£8.5m

£40m

In a 4231, where would you put Diego? Cos it surely means Gerrard would have to be shifted out to the right again...which would piss him right off.

[Craig_H]

I agree. The other argument is going into a season with all our eggs in one basket with Torres, if the worst was to happen and he picks up a long term injury then it leaves 4231 in tatters, unless we have someone that can fill the void.

Hate to look at other teams, but United play a similar 3, with Rooney usually spearhead, but Tevez can and does play there, and Saha is able back-up in the lesser games. We don't really have those kind of options.

I agree that we need additional options up there and i'd love for them to be of the Torres calibre, but realistically, i dont think that's likely to happen.

[AFII]

In a 4231, where would you put Diego? Cos it surely means Gerrard would have to be shifted out to the right again...which would piss him right off.

----------------------Reina
Rafinha--------Skrtel---------Agger-------Insua/Arbeloa
------------Masch-------Lucas/Alonso----
-----Gerrard----------Diego--------Capel/Babel--
---------------------Torres---------------

I don't care if it piss him off. All the three attacking players would have a more or less free position, just like they have now.

and yes, no Carra

[Craig_H]

How much of a goal threat does Capel carry? Because in that system, the front four must all carry a serious goal threat.

[knockers]

They might well be, but unless a player is a Liverpool fan, it's unlikely to swing it for him that we're Liverpool.

Of course it does, we have won the CL in the last few seasons, also been in another CL final and also progressing nicely again this year, that is a huge draw for top players. Liverpool F.C are once again a top destination for player across the world.

[Craig_H]

Of course it does, we have won the CL in the last few seasons, also been in another CL final and also progressing nicely again this year, that is a huge draw for top players. Liverpool F.C are once again a top destination for player across the world.

We could go round in circles here, but the fact remains that you're looking at it from a fan's point of view, unlike most players.

Being objective, LFC are also in with zero chance of winning their own league and are in a slight danger of not even contesting the CL next season. It's easy to spin it in a positive way, but unbiased players wont do that for the sake of it, like a fan does.

[AFII]

How much of a goal threat does Capel carry? Because in that system, the front four must all carry a serious goal threat.

He has scored a few goals this season and added a few assists. The big plus is that he is a very hard working player.

[Craig_H]

Unless he's capable of scoring 10 goals a season, there'd be little point.