steve finnan is one of the few proper footballers at liverpool. You know, a guy who doesn't actually have a heart attack when given the ball. he's also a very consistent defender. He's not hugely athletic, but I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be in the liverpool team. He's so much better than that pencil chested geek arbeloa.

Left back is quite well covered, for Italy, but Dossena has played for them before and I understand is expected to feature more in future, with Grosso in particular not getting any younger.

Neither is dosena. he's 26.

Dossena has a grand total of one Italian cap.

If Grosso maintains anything like the form he displayed this summer, he won't be getting many more.

QUOTE:
No thanks, although I might think about subscribing to Setanta.

No, no, no, no, no!!! The level of Customer Service is shockingly worse than even the former NTL. They are still sending me letters saying I owe them money 3 months after I wrote to them to cancel. They ignored me. The only way I was able to cancel was to stop the Direct Debit. Hence the letters started... the phone line you can't get through on and they ignore email. They are toxic, don't touch them with a barge pole. Use Sopcast and a lead to connect to your PC. The quality of the picture is about the same anyway.

As for the coming season, well the defence is in better shape but I worry where the goals will come from. We can't rely just on Torres who has been involved in a summer tournament. When he missed a chunk of last season the goals dried up.

As for "contrive to pull fourth place out of the hat again?" - the last 4 season finishes have been 5th (2004/05), 3rd (2005/06), 3rd (2006/07) and 4th (2007/08). So that's er... once out of the last 4 seasons. Hardly calls for italics does it?

the 3rd place in 2007 was on goal difference and by two goals only...

so hobbes isnt too far out...

Eh? What? Wasn't me, ale.

QUOTE:
Anyone who doesn't like celebratory bragging served with a large side-order of sanctimony better take cover.

You can't stifle healthy Liverpool v Theatre of Dreams threads like that. It's what this board loves. In sly homage to every other football messageboard in the world.

How does one begin?

MAN U HA HA HA U R STILL SHIT ULL NEVER WIN 5 EURO CUPS AND U KNOW U WONT U TWATS CLAYTON REDS 4EVA HA HA

Something like that, isn't it?

QUOTE:
Liverpool v Theatre of Dreams

I think you'll find it's "Youllneverwalkalonethatnightinistanbul vs Theatre Of Dreams".

There's loyalty to your compatriots and there's blind loyalty. I can only surmise that AIATL has not actually seen Finnan play over the past year and a bit. He was utterly abject last season for Liverpool. He's been a good player for them in his time, but he's spent now.

I would be surprised if there are any Liverpool fans out there who wouldn't think that third place would be an achievement next season. At least all pretence that they are going to be able to compete for the same players as Chelsea and Man United has gone, that acceptance of their status might be a positive for them as these overreaching expectations have probably hindered them. Indeed, I see the big four becoming the big two and th next two - Chelsea and Man United competing for the title and Arsenal and Liverpool competing for third place.

I'll disagree with the consensus on Crouch. Beyond Torres, Liverpool don't have a decent striker to my mind, but by mere dint of nationality Crouch at least can bring in the most cash to be spent elsewhere on possibly a good striker.

Agger coming back will help the defence, I think that Reina should be due a better season too so they'll not be easy to score against as ever. I still hope for their sake the Barry thing doesn't happen and they're stuck with Xabi Alonso. He's worth persevering with. They still have nothing on the flanks unless Babel can step up and show he can play for 90 mins week in week out. He could also be a second striker but they do need a good partner for Torres.

I'm pretty sure that Benitez will play with two strikers again if he has two decent ones available to him.

QUOTE:
As for "contrive to pull fourth place out of the hat again?" - the last 4 season finishes have been 5th (2004/05), 3rd (2005/06), 3rd (2006/07) and 4th (2007/08). So that's er... once out of the last 4 seasons. Hardly calls for italics does it?

OK.... Surely they can't contrive to pull 3.75th out of the hat.

At least all pretence that they are going to be able to compete for the same players as Chelsea and Man United has gone, that acceptance of their status might be a positive for them as these overreaching expectations have probably hindered them.

hmm, not sure about that. Man utd have signed er...... and chelsea have bought what looks like yet another incredibly overrated right back, and a 30+ year old that barcelona couldn't get rid of quick enough. Last season Liverpool signed mascherano, torres, babel, skrtel (hahaha) lucas and a couple of others for a shade over £70 million.

I'm pretty sure that Benitez will play with two strikers again if he has two decent ones available to him.

haven't you been paying attention. Steven gerrard is now firmly established as the new Kenny Dalglish of Anfield.

That's Saint Steven, to you.

The Gerrard - Torres thing may work against the Fulhams of this world but it doesn't work against the good teams like Chelsea and Man United.

Liverpool play too directly for that, Torres chases stuff and gets too isolated. A successful player playing in the hole needs to be able to hold the ball up with his back to goal to bring other players into the game. Gerrard can't do that.

The single striker thing was by necessity of having one one decent forward but plenty of good midfielders to slot in somewhere. Same thing with Kuyt at right midfield, little more than a fudge because there were no other candidates of worth for that position.

I don't think Benitez actually has the first clue about how to win the Premier League. Yes I know he's won the European and UEFA Cups, and the Spanish title and the FA Cup, but his signings for Liverpool have been patchy, and he seems to get bored of them very quickly. I think the transfer policy has to be looked at when you're shipping players out a season, or -in the case of Kronkamp- six months after bringing them in. Hicks & Gillette haven't given him much money this summer, although probably for reasons other than crap signings. I wouldn't trust him with a big kitty.

Oh, and Gerrard is vastly overrated.

A big kitty today.