A Top Four Finish for LFC....

[Tom]

Is it just killer instinct we lack?

We dont seem capable of playing that direct, quick-paced attacking football that just suffocates opponents.

Or at least, if we do, it's very rare.

Sadly, the simple fact is that we dont have (enough) quality players to do it.

Look at players like Robben, Ronaldo, Giggs, Van Persie and now even Walcott. They make things happen, they EXCITE.

Look at some of ours. Pennant. Aurelio. Gonzalez. Bellamy.

I KNOW it's early for the new boys and i'm really trying not to jump to conclusions, but the difference in quality seems to stand out like a sore thumb.

I agree with this, and it's something I've been thinking for some time. Our progressive players are second division compared to ronaldo, rooney and the others you name. A top four finish is by no means guranteed I'm afraid.

Midfield we're top notch - despite gerrard and alonso being off form.

I'm worried about our defense too. Sooo many errors this season - including slack defending for yesterday's goal. We need to tighten up all round.

[Joe Le Toff]

We just dont PLAY the kind of decisive football that the other 3 do, often enough.

Thats it in a nutshell for me, and its why i think we'll be sweating on 4th place for most of the season, same as almost every other fcuking year.

Whether we will get it or not is too early too call IMO, but on current form its a clear no.

[Tom]

It's shed-loads of money that buy that kind of cutting edge - or very astute buying (see Wenger) unfortunately we seem to lack both.

[Rosco]

It's shed-loads of money that buy that kind of cutting edge - or very astute buying (see Wenger) unfortunately we seem to lack both.

I don't think a lack of money can be blamed. Rafa has had more money at his disposal than everyone bar Mourinho since he joined us.

[Tom]

We couldn't compete for Ronaldo, robben or rooney. We weren't prepared to pay the rate for alves. Money definately has something to do with it.

[Rosco]

We couldn't compete for Ronaldo, robben or rooney. We weren't prepared to pay the rate for alves. Money definately has something to do with it.

I'll repeat, we've spent more money than EVERYBODY except Chelsea since Rafa's arrival.

If anything it's a reluctance to shell out big for one player, but there has been plenty of money available to Rafa.

[Tom]

I wouldn't call alves a *big* player nor ronaldo at the time either.
If the most you're going to shell-out on a forward player is 12 million, you're not going to win the league if you're trying to compete with utd or chelski. Which takes me back to my original point.

[Rosco]

I wouldn't call alves a *big* player nor ronaldo at the time either.
If the most you're going to shell-out on a forward player is 12 million, you're not going to win the league if you're trying to compete with utd or chelski. Which takes me back to my original point.

Rafa has had more than £80m to spend, surely if he wanted a big name player he could have bought at least one out of that ?

[Tom]

But that money has been spread throughout the team, replacing houllier signings with benitez signings. It's a lot of money but it's been for a major re-structuring of the team back to front. Not for purchases of single players. He's also had to sell to finance - utd and chelski don't have to do that. Huge difference.

[Rosco]

But that money has been spread throughout the team, replacing houllier signings with benitez signings. It's a lot of money but it's been for a major re-structuring of the team back to front. Not for purchases of single players. He's also had to sell to finance - utd and chelski don't have to do that. Huge difference.

Man United don't have to sell to buy ?

If you sell one player for 11m (RVN) and one for 12m (Obi Mikel) and buy one for 18m what's your net spend ?

[Red_Polo]

But that money has been spread throughout the team, replacing houllier signings with benitez signings. It's a lot of money but it's been for a major re-structuring of the team back to front. Not for purchases of single players. He's also had to sell to finance - utd and chelski don't have to do that. Huge difference.

I agree, but then it's just that restructuring requires the money to be spread thinner, not that we have an unacceptable amount of money to spend in the transfer market. In the future given the same budgets we will be able to bid higher sums for fewer players.

[Tom]

Man United don't have to sell to buy ?

If you sell one player for 11m (RVN) and one for 12m (Obi Mikel) and buy one for 18m what's your net spend ?

Who'd they sell to buy rooney? 33 million he cost. Totally beyond us, a transfer like that.

[Dunk]

Well, if I had £100,000 burning a hole in my pocket and had to place, I would put the money on a draw.

However, we've had some abysmal luck this year (what with the amount of woodwork we've hit) maybe, just maybe luck will go our way at Old Trafford.

Just found £100,000 down the back of the Sofa at K*ptalk HQ.
I'm going for a Man Utd win. Bring back Diao and Cisse.

[Jayesh87]

Just found £100,000 down the back of the Sofa at K*ptalk HQ.
I'm going for a Man Utd win. Bring back Diao and Cisse.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Just found £100,000 down the back of the Sofa at K*ptalk HQ.
I'm going for a Man Utd win. Bring back Diao and Cisse.

FLMAO