[CharlotteSometimes]

I was hoping you'd reply.

As for his strength (or lack of), I'm largely going by what I've read in the Liverpool Echo & Football Echo, from various writers and supposed experts on the Spanish league, and a few video highlights. The fact that he's done reasonably well in Spain despite not playing for one of the big boys, and was appointed captain at such a young age, sounds promising. But comments such as 'he's not the strongest', or 'he's not an out-and-out striker' don't at all. I think when the figure we've paid absolutely shatters our previous transfer record, it's reasonable to have a few doubts. Obviously I want us back where we belong, whether United et al. will be forever in our shadow or not. But we've been stung too many times in recent years (Heskey, Diouff, Cisse, etc.) not to be a little sceptical. As for Voronin, I suppose his 1 in 3 tally for Bayer Leverkusen sounds promising. But the general buzz here seems to be that he'll be a peripheral figure who'll be gone in a season or two.

And we do need to up our quota of English players soon too, hence Bent & Owen. I think Bent was far more interested in playing for England than anything else, so location wouldn't have been of that much importance to him. Playing for his country aside, it's pretty obvious which club of the two is likely to earn him a medal collection. Owen's injuries are a worry, of course. But he's far and away the best English striker around at the moment, as well as being available at a bargain price. I think his return would be like Xmas coming early for most of us, and there's just no way a player of his calibre either wants or needs to be stranded at a club that has few realistic hopes beyond UEFA Cup qualification.

I hope all of our summer signings go on to become Anfield legends. But right now, the signing of Lucas Leiva and hopefully a quality winger or two to come excites me more.