Gus K
You said:

"Sorry..
I said sellings and I meant transfers.

In that summer Liverpool transferred out: McAllister, Redknapp, Barmby, Wright, Litmanen.

And transferred in: Diouf,Pongolle, Le tallec, Cheyrou, Diarra, Diao.

I think the quality of those who left were better than those who came in.
gus-keri"

In hindsight you are probably right. However, Ged was right to let the 5 go as Rednapp and Litmanen were permanently crocked. The other three had lost their legs.
Of those that arrived, Diouff was bought off the back of a good world cup and the rest were 'yoof' and for the future. We know SP was too short, but has turned into an half decent striker in Spain. Diuoff went on to star at expectorating and paid the price. Diao is injury prone and now stars at Stoke. But for his injuries he is still an half decent midfielder.
Less said about Cheyrou the better. Nothing like his brother.

I am seriously hoping that as the players return to training this week that Rafa and co sit down and discuss new contract extensions with the core players who have not yet signed on until 2013. Torres and Gerrard have already done so. If Rafa lets either of the midfielders go it will have to be at a price that will buy a similarly gifted alternative. Trouble with that is there are not so many around.

I do not see JM and XA leaving as LFC won nothing last season and teams like Barca have a rather well stocked midfield already. Time will of course tell. Here's a hoping.

LH-JS: Bingo! Yes, indeed, the cycle ends with the WC. And, with the abrupt end that our lackluster performance brought to our qualification efforts this time ‘round, we now have a unique opportunity to get an early start on the next cycle. There is an argument to be made that, in light of the disarray into which our national program has descended, getting an early start on 2014 would be a very good idea. This shortsighted, tunnel-vision focus on silverware, at which we have another shot in just two years, will only continue to delay achieving the kind of breakthrough that we need.

Moreover, we don’t even have our best, at least in terms of a full complement, available -- no Friend and no De-Ro. And, frankly, from what I saw on Friday, I’d have to say that the likes of Simpson and Jackson have probably already become our best. No, it seems we’ve done it your way for too long, and, to the extent that we fail to take this early opportunity to get vital senior international experience for our younger talent, we will remain trapped in a cycle of “close, but no cigar.” We don’t yet have the sort of program, or tradition, where can afford to work inside of a four-year cycle -- as I pointed out in my previous post, there’s good evidence that for the last go-round even Germany took a longer-term approach to developing their national side, and just what makes you think that we know better than them?

Anyway, I already know that you disagree, but I would be interested in Bobby’s perspective (beyond the very pragmatic observation that Hart is understandably maneuvering for a permanent appointment to the top job).

msebold; I don't agree with you. The cycle ends with the world cup. This is the time to play our best. In two years 2011 we try a young team to prepare them for the 2014 WC qualification round.
RRedDevil; I agree the gold cup should be played every four years. What I would really like is the Unification of the Americas into one Group. But the South Americans see no financial gain in that so it probably will not happen.

A close second: French League Cup (Coupe de la Ligue) - looks like a decorative lighting fixture you would see on someone's patio.

The Gold Cup should go back to being an every four years event. That would end this kind of debate, because if it were held 2 years before/after a World Cup like the Euros are, it wouldn't interrupt World Cup qualification. Also, like the Euros, it would be something to look forward to at the midpoint between World Cups.

Ugliest trophy: undoubtedly, has to be the German Cup (DFB Pokal). It looks like someone took a gold chalice and bedazzled it.