Liverpool squad ruminations

I know it's strange to say this but I'm somewhat elated that Rafa Benitez has been told to sell if he wants to buy this offseason. Rafa's history in the transfer market has been mixed at best (Momo Sissoko was his best signing up until recently -- a tall, lanky, hard-tackling player who was good at winning balls in the midfield but had little idea what to do it once he had possession) and given Liverpool's stature and expensive wage structure, it becomes difficult to offload substandard players to other clubs. However, since Rafa has already been given an ultimatum this season, he has no alternative but to get rid of non-contributing players and replenish the quality in the squad.

That said, here is my categorization of the current level of talent in the Liverpool squad:-

Fixtures: Reina, Carragher, Gerrard, Torres, Mascherano, Finnan, Agger, Skrtel, Babel, Benayoun, Hyypia

Out: Kewell, Pennant (simply not Liverpool quality), Crouch (not a fit), Riise (good make-weight for potential trades), Alonso (I know news of his potential sale to Juventus emerged today but I've always felt this should be his last season re: his rift with Rafa before the Inter Milan game in the Champions League and the competition for places in the midfield)

Wishlist: Gareth Barry, an overlapping full-back to help widen the field of play, a quality striker to sub for Torres, no South American players unless they are established in their respective national teams

Gareth Barry transfer saga

So the tug-of-war for Gareth Barry ('Gaz Baz') is degenerating into a he-said, he-said between managers Rafa Benitez and Martin O'Neill, with some especially tough words by the Villa manager for the Spaniard. O'Neill has the upper hand in the public bickering given Rafa's lack of cultural nous and his limited English skills. Nevertheless, there should be no doubt that a move to Liverpool would best serve Gareth Barry's interests -- what with the Liverpool cachet, the promise of regular top-level European football, and the opportunity to play with the best players in the world. The wage packet shouldn't be too shabby either. And while I understand his reluctance to part with his best player, surely O'Neill has to accept these realities. In my view, the Villa boss should make the best of the situation and finagle the best possible deal for his club -- Rafa has offered GBP 10M in cash, as well as a possible player exchange involving, apparently, John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch. Let's also not forget Liverpool loanee, goalkeeper Scott Carson, who also features regularly in the England lineup and could become part of the deal since he has indicated in the past he would welcome a permanent move to Villa.

Liverpool transfer hubbub

With the Reds in the thick of transfer speculation, with talk of players moving in both directions, I thought I'd chip in with some thoughts:
(i) Gareth Barry - Must-buy. Liverpool probably have the weakest squad of the "top four" and I'd like to see some improvement in quality as well as some added British steel in the team. Plus at GBP 10M he would be a relative bargain. If we can engineer a part-cash, part-player exchange deal to send Riise or Crouch to Villa Park (and perhaps get a discount on the price), even better!

(ii) Peter Crouch - A bit of an unfortunate situation. Rafa has slapped a GBP 15M price tag on him that I am sure has scared of any potential suitors. Crouch is unlikely to find a spot in Liverpool's starting line-up and if he is to entertain any chance of playing in the English national team, he needs to find another club where he sees regular action on the pitch. Portsmouth or Aston Villa would be ideal destinations but for that to happen Rafa needs to ease up on the rhetoric. Personally, I think somewhere in the range of GBP 9M, what Liverpool paid to acquire him, would be fair -- a market reflection of the limited tactical advantage he brings to any team, plus thanks for his service and loyalty to the club. I mean, it's not like Liverpool need the money and a move to a different team should allow a decent individual like Crouch a fair professional opportunity to express his talents.

You Will Never Walk Alone

Barnes and Beardsley weaving through defenses, Rush sticking them in by the basket, Molby spraying inch-perfect passes, no-nonsense Nicol manning the rearguard, Grobelaar between the posts. These recollections form the bedrock of my affections for the Liverpool Red of Anfield and this forum intends to express the continuation of a 20-year old affair with my favorite Scousers.