Rafa to poach another kid

But for money this time.


Liverpool are on the trail of Athletic Bilbao's brilliant young midfielder Javi Martinez.


The Basque playmaker has been outstanding this term at San
Mames, carrying on from his successful campaign last season - which was
his first in La Liga.

Athletic
raised a number of eyebrows in Spain when they splashed out 6 million
euros (£4.2million) for him as an untested 18-year-old playing with
Osasuna's second string.

But 18 months on, some of Europe's biggest hitters are now
tracking the 19-year-old who is also a regular in Spain Under 21 side.

Liverpool and Fiorentina are both tracking Martinez very
carefully and scouts from both clubs have been present at recent
Athletic games.

The Reds are currently well stocked with pivotal midfielders as
Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso and Mohamed Sissoko are all able
partners for captain Steven Gerrard in the centre of the park.

But Rafa Benitez has never been afraid to bring fresh talent
into his squad and so, with Sissoko reportedly unhappy with life as a
squad man at Anfield, there could be room to bring Martinez in.

Big price



But Benitez also knows he is not the only man looking to land
Martinez - whose current get-out clause stands at 24 million euros
(£17.1million) as he has more than four years remaining on his
contract.

Fiorentina boss Cesare Prandelli was hugely impressed by
Martinez in pre-season after the two sides met in a friendly and he has
been following him closely ever since.

Now a battle could ensue, although Benitez would always be seen as favourite given his continued close links with his homeland.

Liverpool are also known to have been impressed by Martinez's
team-mate Fernando Amorebieta and a double bid could yet be a
possibility.

Sissoko , Xavi,Lucas,Masch and Gerrard , how many do they need.

Javi Martinez ?

Doesn't sound like a Basque

Dark Savante wrote:Sissoko , Xavi,Lucas,Masch and Gerrard , how many do they need.

It's stops anyone else getting him, that's the thought process.

Rafa see's people as robots. Get as many robots as you can and eventually you will stumble on a gem. Can he actually spot young talent

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Javi Martinez ?

Doesn't sound like a Basque

Javier Martínez Aginaga

Anyhow, Rafa should f*ck off and leave the basque players to Athletic. If he wants so many Spanish players he should come back to la liga (but not to Madrid )

This guy is indeed a bright talent, but others are right - how many central midfielders does Benitez want to accumulate?

L r d wrote: Can he actually spot young talent

He's not after a job as Dario Gradi's number 2. There's no exact science with developing players, people develop physically and mentally at different stages. Some players look excellent in $h!t teams, some players look excellent in excellent teams, both can be misleading. Are you about to get all cocky because Fergie "spotted" 4 teenage wonderkids and spent £100m on them?

kas wrote:This guy is indeed a bright talent, but others are right - how many central midfielders does Benitez want to accumulate?

You are right

This deal has clearly been finalised and another kid will be stolen and brought to liverpool very soon

Christmas Glenn Hysén wrote:

L r d wrote: Can he actually spot young talent

He's not after a job as Dario Gradi's number 2. There's no exact science with developing players, people develop physically and mentally at different stages. Some players look excellent in $h!t teams, some players look excellent in excellent teams, both can be misleading. Are you about to get all cocky because Fergie "spotted" 4 teenage wonderkids and spent £100m on them?

Christmas Glenn Hysén wrote:

L r d wrote: Can he actually spot young talent

He's not after a job as Dario Gradi's number 2. There's no exact science with developing players, people develop physically and mentally at different stages. Some players look excellent in $h!t teams, some players look excellent in excellent teams, both can be misleading. Are you about to get all cocky because Fergie "spotted" 4 teenage wonderkids and spent £100m on them?

Think Fergie has a great record with young talent. Pque and Rossi another two excellent ones he picked up. Rafa has signed about 300 and i don't know of any thats come off as of yet

Stevie G won't be happy

“Something has got to happen otherwise there will be more and more foreigners and they will take over. There is a big danger that we stop producing quality young kids because of the amount of foreigners in the game. If foreigners do take over completely, it will affect the national team even worse than maybe it is now."

Does anyone think Rafa will still be Liverpool manager in 3-5 years time to see these kids break into the first team?

L r d wrote:

Christmas Glenn Hysén wrote:

L r d wrote: Can he actually spot young talent

He's not after a job as Dario Gradi's number 2. There's no exact science with developing players, people develop physically and mentally at different stages. Some players look excellent in $h!t teams, some players look excellent in excellent teams, both can be misleading. Are you about to get all cocky because Fergie "spotted" 4 teenage wonderkids and spent £100m on them?

Think Fergie has a great record with young talent. Pque and Rossi another two excellent ones he picked up. Rafa has signed about 300 and i don't know of any thats come off as of yet

Most of them are only 16 or 17 lrd. benitez has only been at the club for 3 years. Are you going to give him just a little bit of time to have a chance for the kids to develop ?

Pique and rossi are two more examples of what fergie was talking about last week when having a go at arsenal's foreigners as are the new roberto carlos and cafu

Stevie G won't be happy

“Something has got to happen otherwise there will be more and more foreigners and they will take over. There is a big danger that we stop producing quality young kids because of the amount of foreigners in the game. If foreigners do take over completely, it will affect the national team even worse than maybe it is now."

I doubt benitez will care about that

Does anyone think Rafa will still be Liverpool manager in 3-5 years time to see these kids break into the first team?

Yes unless he some sort of miracle happens and he becomes a $h!t manager

Another midfielder? Surely rafa you should be looking at guys like Gay Asulin for your wings!

robert wrote:Another midfielder? Surely rafa you should be looking at guys like Gay Asulin for your wings!

I rate Assulin more then Dos Santos dont know how Barca management rate him though.

Look, no one complained when Rafa poached his eggs the other morning

Luis wrote:Look, no one complained when Rafa poached his eggs the other morning

Another luis classic

L r d wrote:

Christmas Glenn Hysén wrote:

L r d wrote: Can he actually spot young talent

He's not after a job as Dario Gradi's number 2. There's no exact science with developing players, people develop physically and mentally at different stages. Some players look excellent in $h!t teams, some players look excellent in excellent teams, both can be misleading. Are you about to get all cocky because Fergie "spotted" 4 teenage wonderkids and spent £100m on them?

Think Fergie has a great record with young talent. Pque and Rossi another two excellent ones he picked up. Rafa has signed about 300 and i don't know of any thats come off as of yet

This the same Rossi that he sold to Villarreal? The guy I saw at Newcastle?

And Pque? I assume you mean Gerard Piqué, who is behind O'Shea, Brown, Simpson and Evans in the pecking order. Put that trumpet away.

Rafa's signings have largely been for the under 18's so we wont know how good they are for a few years. I'm not sure if 300 is an accurate figure, but even if only 5% of them make the first team it's still paid off.

Rafa hasn't been at the club long enough to be judged on this and it's arrogant of you to try.

Behind OShea Evans Simpson?
Same guy who has played instead of Ferdi and Vidic in their absense ?
Same Rossi who has scored 7 in La Liga ?
Get your windups right.

@Dark Savante: They rate him highly, judging from recent comments from the B team coach Guardiola.


@Glenn: Ferguson has finally realised Pique's talent, and he has now overtaken all of them in the pecking order, bar perhaps Brown.

Just came to me here but does not one think when it comes to the midfield situation, Rafa is changing the formation possibly.
Though I hope de doesn't and if he did 4-3-3 is the one I wouldn't mind, or in some games a 3-5-2.

And as well, maybe Rafa doesn't want wingers anymore. Perhaps he'll go with a more centerally attacking/defending team who are good techincally(which Martínez is) a la Aresnal style.

Maybe(sigh) he'll play Gerrard for more regularly just behind Torres.

Just a thought.

Plus can ppl chill, we all know papers are in overload coming up to and during the transfer window and names galore will be mentioned and continously linked with purely on the basis of a wim let alone fact.

Fergie goes english again



Man Utd linked with Norwegian prodigy Skjelbred
Published: 29 October 2007

Manchester United are keen on Rosenborg's youngster Per Skjelbred, .

20-year old Norwegian, who is labelled as "Norwegian Beckham" in his homeland, might be joining the former club of a player he is being likened to. Reports in Daily Mirror suggest Sir Alex Ferguson sent scouts to watch Rosenborg's star and the Red Devils could be returning to the Norwegian market of the second time in last three seasons. After the capture of John Obi Mikel who was later transferred to Chelsea, Man Utd are now linked with a swoop for Skjelbred, who also has suitors in Italy.







Fabio and Rafael Silva have both signed pre-contract agreements from Brazilian side Fluminese.


The youth internationals will join up with United on July 9, when they turn 18.

Rafael revealed it was Cristiano Ronaldo who sealed the deal.


Rafael Silva (right-back) said: "When we were negotiating, Cristiano Ronaldo phoned us saying that Manchester United was a tremendous club and it was a wonderful place to play football."

Left-back Fabio said: "We were there to be familiar with the club and we played part of a friendly match.

Dark Savante wrote:
Same Rossi who has scored 7 in La Liga ?

clearly Pellegrini > SAF

Didnt realise the desperation of Liverpool fans.

Dark Savante wrote:Didnt realise the desperation of Liverpool fans.

Certainly not desperate for cups!

Coffee?

Dark Savante wrote:Didnt realise the desperation of Liverpool fans.

A nonsense thread is created and the normal windups come to the fore and WE are the desperate ones

Dark Savante wrote:Coffee?

3 sugars love