Reports suggesting Real are ready to pull the plug on the Alonso deal. Hope so.

I'm not sure, really. If Aquilani develops a more aggressive side to his game, and shows more will to get stuck in and battle, then I'd rather him over Defour. I'd probably rather Aquilani, I think he has more potential than Defour, he's naturally much bigger and I don't like the idea of Masch and Defour in the middle, a little short IMO. Furthermore, Aquilani has more attacking ability than Defour which I think we'll need, it's just about him developing his aggressive side, something Defour already has.

I would imagine the Aquilani deal is subject to Alonso joining Real, which seems to be stalling so you could yet end up with Alonso staying put. Whilst I would imagine most Liverpool fans would be happy with that it would raise a question mark over keeping a player who is not 100% happy at the club, a little bit like Ronaldo last season.

Possibly, then I stand corrected. But it's still a strange comparison.







Multiple times, either highlights or live games. And your post said midfield was THE problem, singular, and that defence wasn't. Over the course of the season your team was poor all over the pitch, as proved by your relegation. Frankly, it's about time you admitted it and dealt with it as you're starting to make yourself look silly otherwise.

IF that's true, I wonder the state of mind Alonso will be in for the forthcoming season. Don't want him if he's going to be seething at missing out on his dream move.

Spot on, but it was always going to be the case that he'd be judged on the previous year. He started slowly, granted, but was still United's most important player throughout the year. And their best for the second half of the season.



It's the danger of Alonso staying at Anfield, but he's a true pro. If he could turn in his best season after a summer of Benitez trying to get shut of him, I don't see why he can't do the same this season with the whole of Liverpool hoping he stays. Add to that he has to preserve his spot in Spain's midfield, and it should be okay.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 183638.stm

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 183638.stm

Ok, I missed a word out. The midfield was the [imain[/i problem, and that's by a long way. For years our defence has been awful and the root cause of our problems. Last season, this wasn't the case. Our midfield created very little in attack and barring Jonas, hardly offered any support in defence. Nicky Butt is meant to be the defensive midfield type player in our side, yet the only time he decided to track back was when he thought it'd be a good idea to give away yet another penalty. The amount of times last season he was caught out of position and not tracking back was unreal. He constantly gave the ball away to the opposition (as did most of our midfield, but he was the main culprit). All of which heaps pressure on the defence. Our best three players last season were defenders (Bassong, Enrique and Taylor). The defence did make some errors at times, who doesn't? The strikers also missed a few decent chances between them, mainly towards the end of the season. Out of the three units on the pitch though, the main blame lies with the midfield.



Owen, for example, will do well at Man Utd because he will have lots of chances created for him. We didn't create enough for him, hence why he struggled for goals.

why keep a player that wants to go

No quotes? What did he say?

Where are these reports?

This is the only report there is on it. SKY arn't even reporting anything just yet. BBC trying to pull and exclusive out the bag.



Until anything official comes out I won't believe it, more in hope than anything, but it is worrying.

Ash, how many more times? Taylor is cack.

Shut it daft lad.

I like the sig mate its the first time I have seen it

All very interesting, but still missing the point. The fact that your midfield was worse does not mean your defence was any good. They were still pap as well. And with you being a Hull fan as well, I thought you'd have realised by now that looking ok in a poor side doesn't exclude you from being a duff player.



Bassong looks decent, I agree.

You know I speak the truth

and stop blaming Nicky Butt for everything that is wrong at Newcastle



Also I wouldn't say your midfield was the main problem. You actually passed the ball far better than the likes of Hull City.

Beckford to the baggies

Quinton Fortune to Doncaster

Barca's new stadium [url=http://www.cnplus.co.uk/5205577.article#here[/url

SSN say Liverpool are in for Christian Poulsen from Juventus.

Looks like the Lescott deal is going to happen





Poulson too Liverpool maybe 2 year ago would of been good he will be a big big step down from Alonso

Which part mate?

I'm not missing the point, I just don't agree that our defence was 'pap'. Ryan Taylor was awful when he played at right back, Coloccini faded badly at the back end of the season and rightly lost his place in the side. Beye was injured for most of the season so can't really include him. Bassong, Taylor and Enrique all played well throughout the season.

Where's this? I can't find it on the site.