Kostas

GOD is punishing TC for being full of infidels.

Not surprised about McEachran, he's got at least 3 more years at the club before having to think about leaving. Bertrand's new contract along with the one Van Aanholt signed a while ago creates an interesting LB situation. One of them has to become a real back-up to Cole and the other can be sold for a respectable fee.

It's more or less true for all cup competitions, although some might say that's what makes them interesting. The league format as you pointed out is the best way of testing a team's real quality, that's why in theory a European Superleague would be a much better competition than the CL.

Funny that you mention Benayoun. This does sound painfully similar to the Benayoun deal and the Pienaar case, I'd say those who supported those would like Parker now.

A player is regarded as home-grown if he has spent 36 months or more with a club associated with the English or Welsh FA before his 21st birthday - or the end of the season during which he turns 21.

Didn't ManUnited prove last year that that's what you need.?

I did point out a couple of times that he had never been tested on the transfer market as recruitment and sales at Porto was the domain of president Pinto da Costa and director-general Antero Henrique but calls for him to be given absolute control were inevitable. Not that I think there's anything to the Parker rumours..

The man loves London.

Knowing you I suspect that's not a joke. Did they try anything similar for defending the goalposts?

Thank fuck. Never made much sense anyway. Lock it. (along with all the potential CB threads)

A reliable and relatively experience number 2 steps up until Cech can play. Courtois apparently has the potential to be more than that.

They're not exactly skint.

I thought McEachran was also called for the U20s.

An Emenalo contact. Interesting.

That probably means no Kakuta or McEachran in Asia.

We.Are.Desperate.For.A.Signing.

From everything I've heard about him from reliable football people this must be a good deal for us. Shame about he's a goalie.

Bertrand is more than ready to be a back-up to Ash. If AVB thinks he's good enough don't see what's stopping him from being a real squad member.

How often have you had such (false) hopes in the past 4 seasons?

Apparently Derby County are interested in taking him on loan for the season.

I say we need to keep this discussion in one thread if we want it to progress.

Having read SwissRamble's analysis on Liverpool it seems those transfers might make some sense if the new players are on low wages. Despite their alarmingly high fees if we assume that the contracts of Henderson, Caroll, Downing and Adam will cost Liverpool less or equal to what Jovanovic, Cole, Poulsen etc cost then they will have added much depth and arguably known and proven quality to their squad while drastically reducing the wagebill. Add to that the usual arguments like after-sale value, potential, possible benefits of buying British(?) etc and those deals sound a bit less unreasonable.

Well if we are honest only 1 of the 10 youngsters we buy will manager over 10 PL starts for us (and that if we're lucky) while all the players Liverpool signed are going to be valuable and usable squad members. It's just that their fees are insane.

I have seen that argument a lot of times and I can't understand it. Their fees are going to get amortised anyway and any contract signed after June 2010 will be included under Financial Fair Play

Jesus recently registered on Talk Chelsea so he might know.