I like the formation, though I don’t share your view on Barry v/s Xabi – although, to be fair, it’s only our financial position that’s got Rafa having to sell one to get the other: they are not straight swaps!

Goalie – 4 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 1 would be a change from Rafa’s preferred formation would it not? So I wonder whether Rafa will actually go with it. For sure Keane provides sufficient flexibility/variety for Rafa – as does Kuyt, Babel, Benayoun, Aberloa etc. – but his role is to find a perfect blend with Torres and Stevie G in my book and occasionally with Kuyt.

Keane offers that unpredicatability that we so lack – apart from Babel, in my view. Just hope his legs last the 3/4 years so that we can make a few pounds back off him……hopefully after we’ve ran United/Chelsea close for the league (if not won it).

Now to see what happens with Voronin and Pennant, I think, and then what Rafa does with the funds….winger or Barry? I suspect Barry……..although doesn’t he only have a year left on his contract? How can he be worth more than Crouch if that’s the case???

I don’t doubt that he can score goals, I’m just not expecting him to be prolific or anything, just as long as he weighs in with his fair share (5 or 6 in the Prem?.).

Don’t be concerned about where Keane will fit in.

He’ll slot into where Gerrard played last season and Stevie G will play his atacking (with some box to box) midfield role he loves so much. Now we’ll have huge attacking options. Keane is a very team oriented player. He’ll slot in when Stevie wonders into no-mans – or hopefully goal scoring – land. He’ll link up with Torres when required. He can also play on the right hand side. The options he provides is significant – plus he can score goals and goals out of nothing too.

The issue now is Barry. I really can see why Rafa wants want’s him. He would make our left-side better balanced. He links well with Stevie G and he scores goals – unlike Xabi. But, and this is where I have a problem, I can’t see him improving us enough for me to want rid of Xabi at the prices that are being quoted – i.e. with our club having to pay more for Barry than we’d get in for Xabi.

@ Yossa’s point about the youngster’s, particularly in central midfield means we’re well-resourced there. Now if Rafa made the point that we were to allow Xabi to go to fund a winger of real quality, then I might be tempted. But it’s not the point that’s being made……..

@ anyone – could someone point to the difference our owners are making to the club during this transfer window? Rafa – through the league and CL and sale of players – seems to have made all the money himself. What are they contributing? My question is only a slight dig at them – as I really want to know if I’ve missed what their contribution has been or is…

Reina

Carra Agger or Skrtel

Masch
Stevie

Torres Keane

All would die for the cause. Fit the rest around them

Keane’s deal has been the highlight for us so far, as most of the players we have bought are unknown boys to the EPL, my only concern is where will he fit in, that’s all!

We have three or four young players that are on the verge of at least being on the bench with the new substitute rules, who knows if Rafa does not farm them all out on loan we could see some of them in the near future.

I do think that Rafa will wait to see who else we can trade away before going for Barry, if Arsenal don’t grab him first which would not be a bad thing to happen.

Correction accepted…….on this occasion

Crouchie for Berbatov. Now that’s an interesting thought. You’re not suggesting that United could get the better of any transfer deals out of Spurs? If you are, is this another year where we’ll be at best 2nd?

PS – Did you see Wenger’s quotes the other day about paying for the Emirates and Arsenal being a selling club. Is this where we’re at now, hence all these young guys we’re buying?

One small correction: Berbatov is not older than Keane – he is half a year younger. In fact he was born on the same day as Crouchie; too bad we didn’t swap those two

I agree about the price but that’s the market for players who have proven EPL and international experience, leaders on the pitch, versatile players and overall good players. The other benefit of course is that they have the experience to help our young guns to come on and also, if Lampard’s about to get a whopping 5 year deal at 150,000 a week and Berbatov to Man Utd for around £25k, both older than Keane and Barry, then we’re only paying the going rate to keep up amongst the top 4!

Where I do I agree with you is on forgetting our interest in Barry, if it means Alonso being forced to leave. Barry is definitely a top quality player and we certainly need help on the left. But Alonso’s not worth less than Barry – he’s worth more. So the maths do not add-up.

I’m sure Rafa knows what he’s doing though so in him I trust!