Torres' goal today...

[Roboklopp]

Basically Fredo is conducting his internet grooming.

If you do meet him for that drink DJS, just dont let him put that "Bellamy" emblazened LFC top on you, & watch your pint for a certain date-rape drug...

[Skillz]

Alves would be a lovely signing, and if we hadnt gone around buying people like Leto, Gonzalez, Pennant etc for a total of close to £15m, we might not have struggled to find the extra £3m required to sign Alves back in the day. Been and gone now, i'd like to see us stop making those mistakes though.

As for Insua, he may need to bed in a little, but that can be achieved with more first team experience. In the meantime, you have Aurelio (fitness permitting) who can do the job well.

Naturally, rafa may well surprise us this summer, so we wait with baited breath. It certainly WOULD be a surprise to me, that's for sure.

I do not think we would of signed Alves at all. Sevilla pres (Del Nido?) was a cunt and just kept upping the price. I do not think we should be ****ed around like that as it was getting embarrassing. He wasn't going to sell fullstop and credit to him, he kept a very good player at his club and Rafa/Parry, quite rightly said enough is enough.

Alves could of been found out in this league, who knows and we bought Arbeloa for **** all and he has been a great signing.

Remember, so far for all of Rafa's buy's that have been consequently sold we are in front. This is good

[Skillz]

No, my main point is that we need top class players, instead of mediocre ones (who are invariably cheaper).

Normally, a top class player will cost you about £20m or so these days. If we can get one for £10m, excellent. Get two of them!

Well i will add that the 20M players command massive contracts/wages these days. So we have to be sure they will work, at least until the Stadium is built. Rafa knows who he wants and will do his best to get him. He is selling Alonso (hope not but I think he is) so for me he knows what he wants and has a clear vision because I could never envisage Rafa selling Xabi.

BTW I think if Xabi does go it will be his benefit, even if he doesnt want to leave. He will dominate La liga, IMO

[disco]

I'm not sure i could comfortably drink something you'd bought me, for fear of poisoning or the less serious 'starting to talk nonsense' disease i'd most likely catch.

'likely to catch'?!

[Skillz]

Basically Fredo is conducting his internet grooming.

He's got poor taste but DJS deserves to be molested

[DeeTheDog]

I thought this thread was about Torres; excellent goal on Sunday and phenomenal signing. He has exceeded even the wildest expectations. Can someone dig up a pre signing Torres thread, I'm pretty sure there were many (including myself) that had reservations about him. His goal-to-game ratio at Atletico was good yet not spectacular, when we were crying out for 20 goal a season front man.

This highlights the risk of investing big cash on one player, top of many Liverpool fans' lists was Eto'o, who may have cost even more, yet look at his season. Two seasons ago many would have happily parted £30 million plus on Ronaldinho, Adriano was seen as many as the ideal player to have just a few years ago.

Bringing new players in, always contains an element of risk, the risk is only increased when bringing in players from different leagues and countries. The risk may be lessened in relation to the money you pay; however, there are no guarantees.

The Houllier reign highlights the risks, after two promising campaigns and finishing second we were due to make the next push, big money invested in Diouf and Cisse yielded little returns and both players were sold at big losses. It was these mistakes which led to the whole first team and reserve squads falling further behind the front runners and meant that Rafa needed to be frugal, especially in his first few seasons.

One £20 million signing would have left the squad severly unbalanced and meant we would fighting with the likes of Everton and Villa. The whole squad required surgery and without Abramovic likes billions, it was simply not possible.

If Rafa spends £5 - £10 million on three or four players, it is because that is what the squad requires and that is all the money there is to spend as demonstrated with Alonso, Torres and Mascherano, if the player is required and we can afford it, then the money will be invested in that player.

[ELNINO 9]

id let torres suck me off

[Craig_H]

[Nic83]

Enough of the gay ****, it's not funny anymore. I bet half you are actually serious.

[Marky]

Can't wait till he fully adjusts to the Premiership.