By Rob Barron
April 3 2006

Rafa appears to have gotten the makings of an excellent squad now and with just a few more players in the Summer we could be a force to be reckoned with I don't think we need any more cover for defence and we could even let Traore go. We have Finnan at right-back and playing the best football of his career... long may that continue.

Jamie Carragher is of course the absolute bees knees and the centre of everything that happens in defence. Hyypia is still doing decent work but I think will be second order to Aurelio come next season. At left-back we have got Riise, and Stevie Warnock does very well when covering for him. Add to these the other signings of Kromkamp, Agger and Paletta and we really don't need any more in the back line. Traore is to me surplus to requirements so if Everton want him, they can have him... for a few quid of course.

In midfield we are also strong with Captain Marvel, Xabi Alonso (stunningly good player!) and Momo Sissoko all strong in the centre. On the right we already have Luis Garcia and Cisse who plays better there than as a striker and Rafa is happy to use him there.
Stevie can also play there when required but I prefer him to dominate from the middle. Let's not forget the ever-dependable Hamann who has never let us down when called upon. He is a true defensive midfielder but how much longer he has at the top level is hard to say.

I think we will still sign another right winger if an out and out winger of proven class is available. The need is nowhere near as strong as it was. On the left we are well covered. Kewell has finally proven over a decent period that Rafa's faith in him was not misplaced. He is playing his best football for us and I think next season he could be huge. We also have Zenden who is out for this season but will be back for next. Add to those two the lightning fast Gonzalez who is the equal in speed of Cisse down the right, and we could have all the width and attacking power we have needed to develop for so long.

For me, the area of most importance is the strikers. If Cisse stays, he needs to accept he is going to be an attacking right winger more than a striker. Robbie must stay, not because he will get 20 goals a season (he won't) but because of the fantastic impact he has on the whole side, especially in the dressing room. You can't buy that sort of influence! Crouch gives us something very different and I am very happy with what he has achieved this season. Even when not scoring, he has been a valuable member of the striker force and defenders just can't handle him. I am no big fan of Morientes and cannot see him really becoming a big hit in English football. He has now had 16 months to settle so all the old excuses about not playing much before he came as he was 4th choice at Real are wearing thin. We all know he is well capable of getting goals as we saw him at Monaco but he is not showing an ability to cope with English football and the goals he has scored have been unspectacular. He has missed a load in spectacular fashion as well!

I think we should try to bring in Jermaine Defoe as he has the striker's brain that knows how to get goals. He has not been used to greatest effect at Spurs but I think Rafa would get the best out of him, especially working alongside Robbie and Stevie. I am not over keen on bringing the much-vaunted Ronaldo in as I am not sure he would be anything like as good in English football. He is not the fastest striker now with his extra weight and Spanish football is considerably slower than English. You don't get the time on the ball here that he (or Morientes!) is used to.

I still think Dirk Kuyt would make it if he was bought but his stock has increased and he might be priced out of the market for us, especially if Mr Greedybags Imsorich decides to scupper our plans by buying at stupid prices just to stop the rest of us.

One thing I am certain of: Rafa can be trusted. He knows the type of player he wants and he won't care whether it is someone we have all heard of as long as he feels he can fit this person into the squad and get goals. Close season after the WC will be very interesting!



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