I think that's BS to be honest, sure Parry does the negotiations, but I think it was a decision by the board. Rick Parry didn't just decide who we did and didn't sign, did he do all the scouting for our players? Did Parry sign Alonso, Masch, Skrtel, Agger and Torres?

I think what was happening was Rafa would identify a player, then the board would decide on if we signed him, even if we had the money. At other clubs, if the money is there the manager is allowed to spend it freely.

There's not a chance Rick Parry would have been allowed to just spend £19m of the club's money for the crack of it, there's just no way that would happen. Rafa had even said at the time we were interested. The whole Rick Parry problem covers a lot of things, not just his inability to tie up our transfer targets quickly, things like lack of communication between him and the manager, and him and the owners. Other things like the commercial side of our club has been a shambles, something Parry was apparently brought in to change.

I believe Keane was a Rafa signing, but he didn't fit in and Rafa thought it was best to get rid, futhermore, I think Rafa wanted Barry and I've read in a few places (can't remember where) that he was told he could have both, only for the people above him to decide he can't have Barry, so he was stuck with Keane and he was unhappy. Also, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Parry/whoever came close to selling Alonso for like £13m, but for Rafa to step in and say he wanted something around the £18m mark.

To be honest, I don't think Sturridge will ever be as good a player as Bellamy.

I think he and his advisors have serious delusions of grandeur and that's why I haven't met a one person bemoaning his loss.

Much like Micah Richards, and possibly Michael Johnson, he was over-hyped, too soon, and outsiders thought they were better players than those on the inside did.

The players that will end up being the better ones are those that have developed more slowly, have not peaked at a contemporary level too soon and didn't let the attention go to their heads; i.e. Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha.

Ireland and Onuoha are the two players who I would be gutted about losing. The others, whilst good Premier League players, are probably not good enough to sustain a regular first team slot in a top four side and are expendible, even if I wouldn't mind keeping them as squad players.

Brazil vs South Africa 2nd semi Conf Cup 19.30.

Fresh Prince of Chesh-air wrote:http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/pennant-claims-benitez-is-biased-against-english-players-1514294.html http://www.goal.com/en/news/1713/liverp ... verpool-ca I think their lack of ability did for them more than anything else, it's easier to blame Rafa rather than their own lack of ability/poor attitude. Especially Pennant, who did nothing but whine whilst he was at the club.

Fresh Prince of Chesh-air wrote:http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/pennant-claims-benitez-is-biased-against-english-players-1514294.html http://www.goal.com/en/news/1713/liverp ... verpool-ca I think their lack of ability did for them more than anything else, it's easier to blame Rafa rather than their own lack of ability/poor attitude. Especially Pennant, who did nothing but whine whilst he was at the club.

agree about johnson and sturridge not to bothered. But id be very dissapointed if Richards goes hes still young played out of position and wasnt fit most of the year this is hes make or break year for me

I know I said this over two weeks ago, but I hope this finally stops the Liverpool fans claiming it's just a matter of time till they get Villa http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/06/25/SOCCER_David_Villa.html

I know I said this over two weeks ago, but I hope this finally stops the Liverpool fans claiming it's just a matter of time till they get Villa http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/06/25/SOCCER_David_Villa.html

Catalancs wrote:I know I said this over two weeks ago, but I hope this finally stops the Liverpool fans claiming it's just a matter of time till they get Villa http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/06/25/SOCCER_David_Villa.html To be honest, he's always been like that, even when Benitez wanted him back in '04. I remember him saying something along the lines of "I don't speak the language and I don't like The Beatles" as his reasons not wanting to move Hopefully it will dry our fans' dreams up a little

Catalancs wrote:I know I said this over two weeks ago, but I hope this finally stops the Liverpool fans claiming it's just a matter of time till they get Villa http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/06/25/SOCCER_David_Villa.html To be honest, he's always been like that, even when Benitez wanted him back in '04. I remember him saying something along the lines of "I don't speak the language and I don't like The Beatles" as his reasons not wanting to move Hopefully it will dry our fans' dreams up a little

Brazil scrape through 1 - 0 with a late winner.

Cracking free kick from Alves, but that pitch was a disgrace.

I bet that was a thriller