Well normally I would be grateful for a point if we were lucky...







...however, as we will be donning our brand spanking new classical quality home Kit, I hope we nick this 2-1!

Unfortunately our season doesnt go beyond this game. I love the feeling of having something to look forward to at the end of the season and the expectations of a final that we've become accustomed to over the last three years. All we can hope for now is that we close that gap between us and whoever finishes top, so this game against Spurs is important in that respect.

As it's been said in this thread there's a few players that will be featuring in their last game this weekend so it will be good if they play. One player that could be leaving is Xabi Alonso, he's been superb for us over the last four years but I feel he needs a change. This hasnt been his best season, he's been injured, he's struggled to find form at times and he featured on the bench on occasions. Also there's been talk of a rift between him and Rafa over missing a match to be at the birth of his baby, I don't think there's much truth in that but it could be a factor in Xabi leaving if it is in fact true. Alonso should start on Sunday but I think he should play in his best position, centre-midfield in a more advanced role. He's been wasted as the holding Midfielder for a few seasons now, he's much more more effective in centre-midfield but Rafa has prefered Gerrard, Masherano and Lucas there.

Also in this game I think it's time to stop playing Dirk Kuyt right midfield, If he continues to play there next season I will have no hair left... it's so frustrating! When he's running down the wing he reminds me of an old steam train trying to leave the platform. I know he works hard but at the end of the day that isnt enough. We need a pacey winger with skill that can put a few good crosses in. I think Pennant deserves his chance... in this game anyway.

Another player that should be selected for this game is Emiliano Insua, I don't think he's quite ready to be our permanent left-back but with Aurelio being injury-prone like Ben91 has said in the past and Riise on his way it will be good for Insua to get more first team experience.



I didn't realise Finnan's contract was up this summer Ben? He's one of our older players but I still think he has a lot to offer.

It's not Tez - i've just had the impression for a while now that Finnan will be leaving in the summer. He's been used scarcely this season... started poorly in my opinion against Aston Villa and has not shown the form of his past great seasons, seeing both Carragher and Arbeloa being preferred. His one good game, which admittadly was very good, came at home against Inter Milan. That's all i can remember.

I'm not 100% certain anymore, 'cause he could be kept to provide more depth, as i doubt we'd replace both Riise and himself, but we'll have to wait and see. There are a lot of players on the edge of leaving and i reckon he's one of them, regardless of what eventually happens.

Looks like this will be the last Spurs game for a number of players, namely Teemu Tainio (legend) and Dimitar Berbatov.


Lets hope they both get a good send off, especially Teemu as he is a real fan of Spurs and has done his best for the vlub whenever asked.

And I hope Berbs is given a well mannered send off and not any abuse for leaving.

And another note, Robinson is ruled out of his last game for Spurs by injury, hope he gets out there with the team at the end so everyone can see him off, been a great servant of the club over the years.

I agree with some of what you say, I was going to mention that one Champions League game but I couldn't remember if it was against Arsenal or Inter. It hasn't been a good season for Finnan but he's had a few niggling injuies to deal with. I missed the Villa game so I can't comment on that but maybe if he gets a good pre-season he'll come back stronger and with more confidence. We can't write him off after one poor season, look what happened with Big Sami.



Robinson is leaving? With him off and Radek Cerny going to the mighty Queens Park Rangers who will Ramos buy Big guy?

Edit: Just seen your post in the other thread.

Robsinson is 100% leaving.

Yeah i'm less convinced he'll be sold in the summer now. It depends how much we have to spend i think... whilst Finnan has been excellent in past seasons, Benitez is losing patience with players (generally, rather than specifically) and with his age may feel he's unlikely to return to prior heights. I don't think Rafa'd be unhappy if we had to keep him though, as i say, depends what we have to spend.

I'd rather we just spent more on more urgent issues, like the wing, than replace Finnan. If he continues into next season we can find someone in January if need be. But with Arbeloa and Carragher we're not really in much danger of being caught short.

I agree Benj, We need to spend some money on a winger. I seen in the other thread before that you mentioned Mancini of Roma, I don't watch European football... I don't even have much time to watch Premiership football but ive caught Mancini playing two times in the Champions League and he looks to fit the bill.

Personally i think Liverpool should go in for Shaun Wright-Phillips, hes a very good player and looks like he is almost certain to leave as he doesnt even make it onto Grants bench.

Its a tough one to call this, as lots of the players have been saying we want to go out on a high and we must show what we can do in this game, if they do go out with that sort of mentality we have a good chance of taking some points out of this game. They might of just being saying that to try and motivate eachother but knowing that all of them just want the season to be over so they can go on their Holidays. The only one i think wouldnt want the season to end is Darren Bent he has been in good form over the past few weeks getting a few goals and generally playing well. Id like to see him play, but i think Berbatov needs to play so he can say Goodbye to the fans. Id be angry at him if he was a young say early 20's, but he is 27 so he probably is at his best now so if he wants to go and win the Champions League and be a main part of the team that does win it he needs to leave now as if he left it much longer the team he joined would probably have better more youthful players.


Depends which Spurs side shows up, the resiliant one that played in the Carling Cup Final, or the one that doesnt care because its near the end of the season the team that showed up against Newcastle.

Tottenham Team to Face Liverpool

-------------Cerny*

Hutton--Woodgate--Dawson*--Chimbonda*

--Lennon*--Zokora--Malbranque

--Keane--Berbatov*--Bent

*Will it be ther chance to say goodbye or will we see them at the Lane next season ?

Subs

Robinson-Could come on near the end to say goodbye aswell if you believe all the rumours
Jenas
Hudlestone
Taarabt
O'Hara

Would be very nice to go out with a bang and maybe even finish above West Ham, although im not too bothered. We need to win and WestHam not too win and then we will finish above them, so i think the Guys should go out and give it there all and hopefully our league place wont look to shabby.

I was thinking Shaun Wright-Phillips the other day but I just can't picture him in a Liverpool kit for some reason. I think if he does leave Chelsea he'll probably go to another London club because I get the idea he's settled in London. I agree Wright-Phillips should do something about his situation at Chelsea because Grant is overlooking him.

There has been rumours about Lennon leaving so maybe we could go in for him, but maybe with Arsenal looking to maybe replace Hleb, his Dad may convince him Arsenal are the best choice.

Mancini hasn't had a good season i hear this year, but a change of scene could be good for him and revitalise his game - if he could earn the form of prior seasons he'd be quality the sort of quality we'd relish to have. We did in fact try enquiring about him last season, offering around the £12m-£14m mark, but i think Roma declined; this season however he could go for £4m as he can buy out his contract. At his original price it'd be a little risky, but at that price he'd be an absolute steal.

I'd still like us to sign another winger as well though, a real high quality one. The wings have really let us down in each of Benitez's seasons and we need to add excellent players to these positions if we're going to contend, we need depth so we can change things if we're struggling against stubborn defences, we need options like Chelsea and United have. Plus Babel at his current state doesn't convince me in the big matches against the other 3 - that's precisely when i think someone like Mancini would come in useful.

Personally i'd love to see us sign David Silva of Valencia, who’s rumoured to cost about £15m because of his clubs' financial plight. One of the most promising left-wingers in the world, at 22... him, Babel, Mancini and Benayoun would set us up superbly, with Pennant and Kewell both with a good chance of leaving.

My thinking in the summer is that a winger of Silva's calibre is needed, as a quality left-back is, and Barry would be a fine addition to bolster our centre of midfield, then if we have a few mil over someone like Mancini would top it off perfectly.

Silva - £15m-£17m
Mancini - £4m
Barry - £10m-£14m
Left-Back - £6m-£8m
TOTAL: £35m-£43m

More than affordable, given we could comfortably recoup around £20m from the sales of Carson, Riise, Guthrie, Pennant and Voronin. I know we say it every year, but those signings would put us in fantastic stead to challenge for the title next year - considering, from my perspective, we weren't amazingly far off this year. I doubt we'd win it, regardless, as it's tremendously difficult having not done so for so many years, but we need to be in a position of at least contention.

Now let's just hope Benitez is on my wavelength. ... Damn, i need to stop playing fantasy football.




I have two problems with Wright-Phillips to be honest:

i) His price. The combination of him being a) English and b) a Chelsea player is going to make sure his price soars. No doubt they'll want at least £15m for the player they bought for £21m. We can get the better, such as Silva, for the same price, who, like Silva, is younger.

ii) His end product. Like too many English wingers, he has a load of pace and great dribbling, similar to Lennon and Pennant, but isn't the best when having to produce something in the last third. To be fair to Wright-Phillips, he has little problem on the shooting front, but crossing is not his forte to say the least.

In short, i'd take him but not for the extortionate price Chelsea would force.

Great post Ben, You've given Rafa something to think about

Ive never seen David Silva play so I'll take your word for it.

As you'd probably imagine from my forum ID I'd be gutted to see Xabi leave but the whispers seem to be gathering more pace this summer and we may actually see him leave should a club come in with an appropriate bid. Lets just hope he leave for foreign shores, I wouldnt like to see him run out at Spurs next season!

Id love us to go for Joaquin from Valencia but I think whoever we go for will be dependant on player sales and the money recouped there in.

Idealy next season I'd like to see the gentle introduction of Kristian Nemeth as 3rd or 4th choice striker in place of Voronin who lets face it is a waste of space and looks vastly overpriced even on a free!!!

Riise should move on too allowing Insua to push on as second choice left back.

I'd imagine Crouch will go which is a sad but at the same time if we could get a decent fee we might as well look to improve. I doubt it would happen but one other player I'd love with the money from Crouch and is never really mentioned as a target is Robbie Keane, I see him as a modern day Sheringham who can drop off a main striker and create while scoring his fair share too. I think him and Torres would be electric together! especially backed up by Joaquin, Babel and Gerrard!

Oh well keep dreaming!

I'll go for 2-2 on sunday.

It's good to see you posting again Xabi.

Cheers Tez, In reality ive never gone away just like to dip in every now and again with tupence worth

Will you become a Spurs fan when he signs for us Xabi?

erm...in a word NO!

He would certainly fit in there tho mate, He's a quality player and im sure the Spurs fans would love just as much as us reds do. But I see Spurs as a re-emerging side next season so any sale of quality players to you will only go against us hopefully if he is going to go he'd prefer to return to spain.

I for one will be giving Berbatov a good reception. Obviously I hope he doesn't leave, but everybody knows that he will

I hope Lennon doesn't go, and I will be sad to see Tainio leave, as I feel he is better than Zokora.

I never thought id say this but Zokora has been outstanding recently, Tainio is versatile and gives it his all but he is a bit of a sick note, good player tho, great fella!

Is definitely off tho, read a interview with him in a finnish paper that said it.