BigSi13

Great to see that Roy Hodgson has left the Swiss training camp to visit Torres personally in Spain. It has also been mentioned that Torres was wearing a Liverpool scarf during the celebrations. As regards selling, to be more specific, Liverpool have stated that the top stars are not for sale, and the club do not need to sale to manage the debt. Yes, any new manager will want to trim the fat and beef up the squad. That is natural progression. Names like Babel and Reira have been mentioned. Ngog is going to West Brom on a season long loan subject to Liverpool signing 1 or 2 more strikers.

Until you then say Que? Directly contradicting yourself, or does that "it" refer to something else? The complete sentence was and was part of a bigger post responding to someone's paranoia about Torres being sold etc etc etc. I think conspiracy was used at one point. "It" refers to the usual toilet paper reserves commonly referred to as the print media. They will never change. Their reporting methods will never change. They put things into people's minds in order to sell their rags. That is what will never change. So, no contradiction as regards Liverpool's public stance of Torres not being for sale. As regards a "break clause", the new Chairman has publicly stated that all of the players who signed contracts in the last year - these included Reina, Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt and Carragher - did not have a "offer this amount and you can speak to the player" monetary get out clause.

That was my point, mercenary Owen keeps on getting injured and runs down his contract whilst taking high wages and then and walks away for minimal transfer/ free transfers from LFC to Real Madrid and then did the same at Newcastle. Owen played the system, hoping that Torres isn't doing the same just because maybe he has had a few injuries, girlfriend and kid want to move back to Spain etc. Owen was sold during the change over from Houllier to Benitez. Real Madrid had publicly courted him, and nothing was done to keep him at the club. Extremely bad man management in my opinion. Then, only used as a substitute in the main in Spain, it was not a shock when he moved back to England. As regards Newcastle, we can only go on what the media and club say publicly. MO was on high wages, and the club under Ashley was leaking money at an alarming rate. So, Owen is not the mercenary he is generally made out to be. He has been used and off loaded. I think his best move was to think of number one. Will Torres risk going to Barcelona or Chelsea where he will not be guaranteed a start? I think not. At Liverpool he is a big player. An integral part of a big machine. With the Euro qualifiers coming up, I can't see him risk going to either club and be just a commodity rather than a player. Benitez has gone, and Hodgson is a totally different style of Manager. Although I do not see trophies next season, I do see a major improvement in Liverpool's fortunes.

Torres' transfer fee is at a level only the selling and buying clubs can set and agree upon. No amount of media coverage can say that the recent tweak of his groin during the final has cost his value to drop by 10 to 20 Million Euros. As usual, the media are printing the usual complete tosh. Liverpool FC have clearly stated that Torres is not for sale. Like any business transaction, if a club comes in and offers a high amount, then that may change. It will never change, so live with the fact that the media rags have to print something in order to sell the toilet paper reserves. Conspiracy? Is this the same conspiracy that alleged Rafa had not spoken to him in 6 months? If Torres goes, and remember that injuries can and do heal, then it will be on Liverpool FC's terms. This past season has been a bad one for Fernando, but by no means the end of his career or an indication that he will end up periodically injured. If you look at the way the Liverpool squad was handled last season, then I am not surprised the injuries that were sustained. Maybe this season will indicate a new slate for a team with a very rich history.

I hope that lessons are learned for the reboot.

Good news for all Spurs fans...Harry Redknapp has signed a new contract to go to the end of 2013.

Being "easy to get" doesn't always mean that they want to do signing events..

I rated myself as a very loyal Rafa fan..until he started to do things that didn't make sense. He is the first Manager ever that I have wanted to go. Roy Hodgson is tuned in to how the English game works. I think he will be the tonic the team need.

Opening match of the season - Liverpool vs Arsenal...rock on!! What a baptism of fire for Roy Hodgson!!

Or, why don't we convert this to a general football thread for the upcoming season and start of the Euro 2012 Qualifiers.?

Never realised that they got medals or the play off.

Not sure if I am that bothered about watching the game on Saturday. It does seem a bit of an anti climax. This is the first World Cup final in my life time that I am looking forward to.

For those of you who have not watched Impact this week, it is headlined by a barn stormer of RVD vs Samoa Joe.