Sport Liverpool Football Club

[DeNeo]

Well I never expected the Keane deal to be done first Really looking forward to Wednesday's match - hopefully we'll see the likes of Keane, Ngog, Torres and Nemeth.

I have a feeling Benitez will stick it out until the last day of the transfer window to get Barry if he has to. It's quite obvious he's going to be stubborn and not pay the £18m (and quite right too).

The Arbeloa rumour is a bit concerning. I suppose we've got enough cover if we keep Finnan, and we could always get someone else in, but it could mean Carra gets a few games at right-back.

I'm still hoping for Silva too Torres, Keane, Gerrard and Silva up front - that'll do

[ras el hanout]

I was talking about the squad Benitez inherited, basically. You know, the squad that he won the Champions League with. You might have heard about it? And he turned Gerrard into a support striker! You realise I was using a bit of artistic license for effect, but our front line has really got a lot more class these days.

Also, try telling Italy (the world champions) how rubbish an attacker Kuyt is. And Babel has shown more promise than our Le Tallec, Mellors and Pongolles or countless others of the Houllier era.

Babel cost £10m million pounds.

Hey, tell whatever teams Baros scored all those goals against last Euros that Baros is a rubbish attacker.

But yeah, I know you were using artistic license. Just seemed a bit 'Rafa I Luv U' Our front line has more class that it had three years ago. You could have said, "just think, not long ago we had Crouch, Kuyt and Bellamy lol!" But Benitez bought those players. So you went back to Houllier.

[V3zna]

He's confirmed to have taken the no. 7 shirt -

In his first interview since signing for Liverpool, Robbie Keane talks cartwheel celebrations, Fernando Torres and the number seven shirt. The lifelong Red also explains why he initially rejected our overtures more than 14 years ago.

Robbie, you're a Liverpool fan – this must be a dream come true?

It is a dream come true. I have been a massive fan all my life and to be sat here today is overwhelming.

Why is now the right time to come to Liverpool?

Because the opportunity came along. You know, Liverpool came in for me and it was something I always dreamed about as a kid. I am at the stage now where I want to kick on a bit and win a lot of trophies. I believe that Liverpool can do that with the squad of players we have.

Is it right you had the opportunity to come here when you were a teenager?

I had the opportunity when I was 14. I could have signed but I just thought that, at the age I was, I might have a better chance of playing first-team football at Wolves – and that's how it worked out. I don't regret it, because I got into the Wolves team when I was just 17. I never regret things in life. By being at Wolves and going to the clubs I've been to – these things have led me to where I am today. There has been talk and speculation about a transfer since then but until now it has always been speculation.

What has Rafa Benitez told you about your role here?

I have spoken to him about the situation. He knows how I play and hopefully I can do a job for him. It is up to me to prove that I can stay in the team every week. You don't just come into a club and expect to walk straight into the team; you have to earn your place and I am looking forward to doing that.

You'll be working day in, day out with Rafa – was he a big factor in you signing?

Yes, he was. He is a fantastic manager and has done a lot for Liverpool Football Club. He has won the Champions League. That is a massive factor. But no one has to sell Liverpool Football Club to me. It sold itself a long, long time ago. When an opportunity like this comes along, you have to grab it with both hands.

You've played with some of the best strikers around in the last few years and I guess you are chomping at the bit to get out there and play with perhaps the best forward in the world, Fernando Torres…

He has been a revelation since he came to the Premier League. He was absolutely outstanding last year and also in the Euros with Spain. It is hard to leave Tottenham with some of the players they had – like Dimitar Berbatov, who I had a great relationship with – but Torres is probably the best striker in the world right now. Hopefully we can play a lot of games together and do well.

Do you see yourself as a second striker, someone who can play a bit deeper behind, say, Torres, or as a striker in your own right?

I see myself as a second striker. I can play off the shoulder, link things up and play in the hole. You are always judged on scoring goals as a striker and I have always scored a lot of goals. Hopefully I can continue that here at Liverpool.

How keen are you to pull on that number seven shirt here at Liverpool?

Yes, as a Liverpool fan the number seven jersey is massive. It is a fantastic opportunity for me that obviously I'm relishing. The people who have worn the number seven here, like Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish – if I do half the job they did at Liverpool I will be happy.

Was the lure of the Champions League a big factor?

I have only played in Champions League qualifiers before but, you know, it's the whole package. I have always wanted to come here but, yes, the Champions League and being able to win things is a major factor.

At 28, would you say you are in your prime?

Yes, I think so. The last four years have been great for me and I believe I am at my peak. I am at a good age and if I didn't come to Liverpool now, maybe the opportunity wouldn't come again. It has worked out perfectly for me and, hopefully, for Liverpool Football Club as well.

You scored two against us last year – was that strange, as a Liverpool fan?

It is difficult. I support Liverpool but you have to blank that out of your mind. It was nice to score at the Kop end but now I am looking forward to scoring at the Kop end in a red shirt.

It's Villarreal on Wednesday, then Rangers at the weekend. Either of these would be great to make your debut, wouldn't they?

Regardless of who it's against it will be fantastic. It's something I am really looking to. I'm not too bothered who it is against, I'm just looking forward to pulling on that red shirt and playing for Liverpool. It's something I've always dreamed about and sometimes dreams do come true.

You are famous for your cartwheel celebration – might we see that at Anfield any time soon?

I will probably bring it out once for the Liverpool fans as I've done it down the years, but after that it will probably go back in the box.

And this must be a nice way to end a brilliant summer for you, what with you getting married as well?

Yes, it's been a fantastic year for me all in all, with Tottenham doing well and winning the League Cup, then getting married and now coming to the club I love. I will never, ever forget this year.

Was it a difficult decision to leave Tottenham?

It was, because of the relationship I had with everyone there, and being vice-captain. Ledley King has been injured quite a lot, so I've had to take on the role of captain quite a bit. The relationship I had with the fans and the chairman meant it was difficult to leave. I am leaving good friends behind, but if there is one club that could take me away from Tottenham it is Liverpool.

Do you have a message for the Tottenham supporters?

Sometimes in life you don't get many opportunities to go somewhere you have dreamed of going. The Tottenham fans have been absolutely brilliant with me and I want to thank them for their support over the years. I look forward to seeing them again and I will never forget the way they treated me.

And what would you say to Liverpool fans who are obviously very excited about seeing you here?

I can't wait to put the jersey on and hopefully they are looking forward to it too. I will always give 100 per cent for this club and hopefully score and create goals.

[Chewylegs]

Well its confirmed and the more I come to terms with it the more I like the idea. He really will give us extra options, extra dimension and and extra goalscoring ability. God knows what ramone is on about as this is the most dynamic Liverpool FC's attack has looked for years.

I say he should bring back the cartwheel as its been a good while since he used that celebration!!

Surely if Barry comes in then thats the shopping done for the summer?

[V3zna]

Surely if Barry comes in then thats the shopping done for the summer?

Arbeloa's probable departure may have changed a few things in that regard. Finnan may need to be kept? Darby may need to step up? A new right back to be brought in?

[Chewylegs]

Must admit I've not seen anything of Arbeloa going. It would be a real shame if he did but I would expect him to use Degen and Finnan more over Darby. I doubt we'd buy another right back.

[V3zna]

Must admit I've not seen anything of Arbeloa going. It would be a real shame if he did but I would expect him to use Degen and Finnan more over Darby. I doubt we'd buy another right back.

Finnan was offered to Aston Villa. Degen is currently injured and barely played last season due to injury.

[Hoodedclaw]

was a rumor that benitez may well go for Silva too but i cant see it myself

[DeNeo]

Must admit I've not seen anything of Arbeloa going. It would be a real shame if he did but I would expect him to use Degen and Finnan more over Darby. I doubt we'd buy another right back.

There's an 'exclusive' on the Daily Mail website, saying a Liverpool source has said he's no idea where the Arbeloa reports have come from and that he's 'definitely, definitely staying'.

So hopefully that's right.

[dizogg]

I'm pretty surprised we've just spent £20m on Keane, theres obviously something going on with the Barry transfer. I assumed we only had barely enough to cover a £18m possible Barry transfer, nevermind a £20m Keane transfer on top of that!

[Chewylegs]

Just looking back at last years summer chat.........this one is a beaut!

I've got to be honest here and, you know, call me a Grumpy Gus if you will but I'm not excited at all at the prospect of Torres. In fact I'm willing to go on record here and say I think he will be a massive flop. Somebody said he was powerful but he doesn't look powerful.

Now don't call me names just yet. I'm only being honest about my feelings, my intuition if you will.

[Chewylegs]

Edit - Double post.

It is amazing how many of us doubted Torres though and how quickly he came to us from when it was first reported. I like that much more than 3 month drawn out sagas!

[V3zna]

It is amazing how many of us doubted Torres though and how quickly he came to us from when it was first reported. I like that much more than 3 month drawn out sagas!

To be fair Torres goalscoring record for Athletico Madrid wasn't great. Anyone could see he was talented but few expected a spectacular 33 goals in one season.

[DeNeo]

I'm pretty surprised we've just spent £20m on Keane, theres obviously something going on with the Barry transfer. I assumed we only had barely enough to cover a £18m possible Barry transfer, nevermind a £20m Keane transfer on top of that!

I think a lot of it's down to we paid £18m for Mascherano, so Benitez thinks Barry's overpriced at what Villa are asking for.

Of course we only paid £20m for Torres, so it could be said Keane is a bit overpriced too.

Plus we've not ended up selling Alonso, which is what would've probably covered the Barry transfer. Apparently Benitez has been chasing Keane all summer, so the transfer was completely independent of the Barry one. Gonna be interesting to see if Benitez has anything to say on whether we'll be signing any more players. We need one more at the very least.

[ras el hanout]

Just looking back at last years summer chat.........this one is a beaut!

Yeah, and I admitted I was wrong before the season started. That's the difference between men and boys.

You want me to go and find stupid stuff you said, it won't take long.

And fair play to the owners btw.

[Chewylegs]

Sorry guys just having a bit of a about last summers amazing signing. This year we have a new number 7

And here's what I said

Morning everyone. I've been away with work so not been able to get on here for a while. I'm WELL HYPED about Torres signing for us. I've been reading Ceefax for the last few days just to see the headline 'Torres signs' and finally its fucking happened. He's gonna be immense for us! .

I'm well sorry to see Garcia go but he wanted to go back to Spain so I can't blame him. He used to frustrate me like mad until he pulled of something exceptional but he was always someone that could change the game. I'm hoping this will be the same for whoever gets bought now. There's nothing worse than being down in a game and you look at your bench and see that no one on it could change the situation.

But today, I'm just smiling at the thought of Fernando Torres at just 23 years old wearing the No.9 shirt next year. 'God' has given his approval and thats enough for me!

[DeNeo]

Ack - that brings back the memories of Garcia going

Maybe we can get him back for a couple of million, especially if Pennant goes. He'd be a good, cheap squad player anyway.

[Chewylegs]

Yeah, and I admitted I was wrong before the season started. That's the difference between men and boys.

You want me to go and find stupid stuff you said, it won't take long.

Boo hoo just because I happened to come across your post first. Get a grip you big girl.

Do you want me to get my dad to beat up your dad, cause he could you know?!

[dogsout]

And fair play to the owners btw.

I don't want to side track the whole thread with this, but why? Once again Rafa is having to sell in order to fund purchases. I'm not saying they've wronged him during this window or anything but we're still in the same position we were in under Moores. He's spent £30.5m on first team signings so far and has pulled back £22.5m of that through player sales. It seems as though Xabi will have to be shifted on in order to fund the Barry transfer; I just don't see what they have to be proud of. Net spends of £20m were common when Moores was in charge. I suppose the possibility remains that we'll swoop for a couple of players at the last minute and bring our spending up but it doesn't seem like we'll even get Barry without shifting Xabi out first. As I've been saying all along I think things are very much under control and Rafa has seemed pretty upbeat all summer but I'm far from convinced by the 'backing' he receives from the board.

[ras el hanout]

I don't want to side track the whole thread with this, but why? Once again Rafa is having to sell in order to fund purchases. I'm not saying they've wronged him during this window or anything but we're still in the same position we were in under Moores. He's spent £30.5m on first team signings so far and has pulled back £22.5m of that through player sales. It seems as though Xabi will have to be shifted on in order to fund the Barry transfer; I just don't see what they have to be proud of. Net spends of £20m were common when Moores was in charge. I suppose the possibility remains that we'll swoop for a couple of players at the last minute and bring our spending up but it doesn't seem like we'll even get Barry without shifting Xabi out first. As I've been saying all along I think things are very much under control and Rafa has seemed pretty upbeat all summer but I'm far from convinced by the 'backing' he receives from the board.

Mascherano and Skrtel too don't forget! Torres and Babel last year.

[DeNeo]

Mascherano and Skrtel too don't forget! Torres and Babel last year.

Which were only financed thanks to loans they took out, which the club are now paying the interest on. Which is why we've got hardly any money - the Americans haven't paid a penny this summer, whatever prize money we got last season paid the interest, and what was left is probably that extra £10m we've spent after sales.

We can probably only get Barry (or whoever) if we sell Pennant, Voronin, Itangie etc. Probably why we've been linked with Downing etc, because if we can't sell everyone, we won't be able to afford Barry.

Fair play to Benitez, he's doing the best he can, but it's heartbreaking how the likes of Spurs and Sunderland are spending so much more than us. And we look no closer to getting rid of the Americans

[redbloodcell]

Fair play to Benitez, he's doing the best he can, but it's heartbreaking how the likes of Spurs and Sunderland are spending so much more than us. And we look no closer to getting rid of the Americans

It does seem like you guys are getting royally screwed over by them, is your new stadium any closer to being started?

[DeNeo]

It does seem like you guys are getting royally screwed over by them, is your new stadium any closer to being started?

God knows, it's apparently meant to start in September I think. But according to Chris Bascombe at the weekend (he used to write for the local paper, so has ties with the club) they've been refused a few million by the NWDA because they can't prove how they're going to finance the stadium.

[ras el hanout]

Which were only financed thanks to loans they took out, which the club are now paying the interest on. Which is why we've got hardly any money - the Americans haven't paid a penny this summer, whatever prize money we got last season paid the interest, and what was left is probably that extra £10m we've spent after sales.

We can probably only get Barry (or whoever) if we sell Pennant, Voronin, Itangie etc. Probably why we've been linked with Downing etc, because if we can't sell everyone, we won't be able to afford Barry.

Fair play to Benitez, he's doing the best he can, but it's heartbreaking how the likes of Spurs and Sunderland are spending so much more than us. And we look no closer to getting rid of the Americans

Spurs and Sunderland are spending more than us? Is this even true???

Last summer we spent 30m on two players. At Xmas we spent 25m on two players. This summer we've spent, what, 30million on a few players? And you're moaning that we've had to sell players we don't need to finance this? And you're also moaning that the Americans didn't buy the players seperate from the club with cash from their own pockets?? You guys are hard to please!

[DeNeo]

Last summer we spent 30m on two players. At Xmas we spent 25m on two players. This summer we've spent, what, 30million on a few players? And you're moaning that we've had to sell players we don't need to finance this? And you're also moaning that the Americans didn't buy the players seperate from the club with cash from their own pockets?? You guys are hard to please!

Yes I'm moaning that we've had to sell players to finance our spending. We should've got £30m+ from competition money, TV rights etc, and it's all gone on paying the Americans' interest on buying our club. Something they said would never happen.

I'm sorry, but if you're going to buy a football club, you better be damn sure you can actually afford it, especially when the likes of Utd and Chelsea can just splash however much money on whoever they want. If we want to be successful, and remain competitive even, we have to have the means to be able to compete in the transfer market. Ok, so the players we've sold would've probably gone anyway - but the fact is, we should've been able to get transfer targets without having to wait for that to happen. And that's just with the money we gained from last season, not even any extra from the Americans. We're going to have to sell to buy Barry, there's no getting away from that. The problem is, if we can't generate the cash, then we'll have to go for cheaper targets. Which we all thought would never happen again when we got bought, no more missing out on the likes of Alves just for the sake of a couple of million, and then end up with Pennant instead. And the problem with selling a few squad players in order to buy 1 big player is that suddenly your squad becomes very small, and we'll be relying on young players who are probably a couple of years away from being able to play week-in, week-out.

As I said, Benitez looks like he's done well so far, getting the likes of Degen for free and Ngog on the cheap, they'll flesh out the squad a bit - and then managing to get Keane was brilliant. But we shouldn't be in this position where, 2 weeks before the season starts, Benitez probably still isn't 100% sure how much he'll have to spend. He's already had to let some go on the cheap, just to get a bit of cash. I still can't believe Carson only went for £3.25m - that smacks of desperation.

Oh and the Spurs/Sunderland thing - only a tad exaggerated there, mainly because not all deals have gone through. But our net spend this summer is less than £10million. Sunderland have had an offer of £23m accepted for 4 players from Spurs, bought Diouf for £2.5m and are making an offer of £10m for Saha - that's £35m already. Spurs were able to buy Modric (£16m), Gomes (£10m) and Dos Santos (£5m) without any of our's or Sunderland's cash.

And all that's without even getting into the stadium fiasco. The Americans have been a disgrace to our club - the sooner they're gone, the better.

[ras el hanout]

The money we gained last year? Without money from the Americans?

The Americans own the club. Their club made money. You understand that, right? They could have kept all that money to service the debts. Players sold, they could have kept that money.

Listen, an Abramovich would be nice, but it's not going to happen. Let's be happy that in the last three transfer windows we've bought a player for £20m. This has never happened before. For those last three windows the Americans have been in charge.

I mean, since when were we concerned with net spend?

[DeNeo]

The Americans own the club. Their club made money. You understand that, right? They could have kept all that money to service the debts. Players sold, they could have kept that money.

They could have also not made their club pay their interest, all because they realised couldn't actually afford to buy us. They could instead have made sure their club would be successful by giving the manager a decent transfer budget without having to sell their players.

Yes they've allowed us to spend £20m on three players. But 2 of them were added to the loan they bought the club with and 1 was with money gained from sales - so they haven't paid a penny of their money at all.

[ras el hanout]

They could have also not made their club pay their interest, all because they realised couldn't actually afford to buy us. They could instead have made sure their club would be successful by giving the manager a decent transfer budget without having to sell their players.

Yes they've allowed us to spend £20m on three players. But 2 of them were added to the loan they bought the club with and 1 was with money gained from sales - so they haven't paid a penny of their money at all.

What players are you upset were sold? For me Crouch but he wanted to go because Benitez wouldn't play him. Who have we sold that we should have kept? We had a massive squad, eh? Do you think we should keep Alonso and buy Barry?

And why wouldn't their club pay their interest? If you bought a business you'd probably get a loan from the bank. You'd then hope the business serviced that debt. That's generally how it's done.

[DeNeo]

What players are you upset were sold? For me Crouch but he wanted to go because Benitez wouldn't play him. Who have we sold that we should have kept? We had a massive squad, eh? Do you think we should keep Alonso and buy Barry?

And why wouldn't their club pay their interest? If you bought a business you'd probably get a loan from the bank. You'd then hope the business serviced that debt. That's generally how it's done.

It's not that I'm upset at the players we've sold (though I still don't think we got the best deal out of selling Carson, mainly as we were scraping for funds). It's the principle that we need to sell in order to buy - as Liverpool FC we shouldn't have to do that. We should be earning enough revenue to be able to afford to buy players. (Yes, some of that is Parry's fault, but I mean in terms of TV rights and Champions League payments too.)

Ok, so we've only got rid of 4 so far, but more will follow. And yes, if Benitez wants to keep Alonso and also buy Barry, he should be able to. We shouldn't have to sell a good midfielder just to buy a slightly better one.

Football is completely different to business. You can't go in and expect to be making a profit straight away. A lot of outlay is needed. Especially if you're wanting to build a new stadium at the same time as building a title-winning squad.

But anyway, this is detracting from the Keane buy. I don't think we're going to agree on this one, so let's just leave it

[dizogg]

Where is the Villarreal game gonna be on TV?