rlLiverpool Set to Complete Excellent £18m Swap and Has Rafa Benitez Quit?rl

rlGary Lineker

rlUnited fans must stop taking the negative baitrl

Pretty lazy from Lineker, he can have his own opinion but he's just stirring.

As for Jones, fingers crossed it isn't true. I've never rated him, although I'd like to get rid of Babel, Jones wouldn't strike me as a good replacement.

Kenwyne Jones isn't worth £18m, but Liverpool desperately need a new striker especially now Torres is out. He'd fit in well at Liverpool with his inconsistencies.

Agree with you on both counts. Where would you like to see Liverpool strengthen?
Is it true that Hyypia is playin in the Bundesliga? Why on earth was he allowed to leave if the best you could replace him with was Kyrgiakos?

Hyypia's playing well. Last time I looked at the bundesliga table, which was a few months back, Leverkusen had the best defence in the league. I think Hyypia was allowed to leave because the club only wanted to give him a year extension, whilst Leverkusen had offered two years. Naturally, Hyypia accepted the challenge and we wished him well. Was gutted to be honest, he wasn't quick but the fella was so underrated. I think Rafa hoped a better replacement was available, we made moves for Shawcross and Turner but the board wouldn't finance such moves.

Where would I like to see us strengthen? I don't think January is the time to do it, but, if we're after a quick fix, a striker is needed, but not somebody like Jones who I don't think is good enough. The Echo says we're close to agreeing a deal for Chamakh, but that won't be until the summer so we're still lacking something. Ideally, Babel would step up to the plate and we wouldn't need anybody, but that won't happen so I'd like to get a striker who could possibly play out wide. I'd like to see Nemeth brought back from his loan, too. However, come the summer, I'd like to see a massive clear out. Kyrgiakos, Degen, Kuyt, Lucas, Babel, maybe even Riera, I'd like to see leave. Problem is, unless the owners dip into their own pockets, then I can't see how the club could possibly strengthen on those positions.

One of the better Premier League defenders in my opinion.


Wouldn't go out of my way to hold on to any of those players. Aren't they all Benitez buys?
What about N'gog? When will Pacheco get a run?

MUFC v Burnley.

N'Gog I actually like and I feel he gets some harsh criticism from non-Liverpool supporters. When he's asked to do a job like today, to lead the line on his own, have no support and no help, he'll struggle. He's still lightweight, he's inconsistent and he needs help if he's to make it. However, against other sides he's impressed, he's shown he has decent touch and skill, as well as quality shooting ability with either foot. If he can add strength and power to his game, he'll easily be good enough.

As for Pacheco, well, he's definitely lightweight but he definitely has the ability. It's hard to predict with Rafa as he could just throw him in like he did with Insua, or he could keep him wrapped up in cotton wool all season. Hopefully it's sooner rather than later.

The problem with Liverpool is they need to strengthen in practically every area apart from the goalkeeper and they have little funds to do it.

They need a quality left back. Aurelio is decent, but inconsistent and Insua is the slowest player I've seen for years. They need a good back up Centre Half. Agger and Carragher are a good pairing, but Agger seems to be injured alot. Skrtel is average IMO.

In midfield they are desperately short of creativity. They need two quality wide players (although Maxi could solve one of those positions) and someone who can control the game from the middle of the park like Alonso did. Gerrard could probably fill that role to be fair, but only if they played a 4-4-2, which of course would require a new striker to partner Torres.

After that they are criminally short of depth and there isn't alot coming through the academy apart from the odd one or two.

Players like Degen, Insua, Lucas, Babel, Kyriagkos and Skrtel simply aren't good enough to be Liverpool players.

Liverpool need rebuilding from bottom to top if they are to compete with United, Chelsea and Arsenal. They need some serious investment and they need the stadium issue to be resolved.

I agree. At least £100m on top of player sales is what we need. I think your criticism of Skrtel is harsh. Since he's arrived here, he's been our best defender. He's struggled this season but for me, he's still a fantastic player who's just struggling for form. Agger and Skrtel could easily be our defensive partnership for the next 5 years if they stay here.

Sounded pretty much a done deal if you listened to the commentary on City today? They were all very positive about it as well. Alridge commenting, "Hopefully they can get rid of a few more of them"

They mentioned Deggen today, saying he's "Just not a Liverpool player".