out

Not surprisingly, with the departure of Rafa Benitez, it wasn't going to be long before Javier Mascherano wanted out from Liverpool.....

The thing is, if Rafa asked Mascherano to stick his head in a gas oven and light it....well, you get my point. Some people are just made for each other.

When Mascherano goes, which he will to Inter Milan very, very soon, it will free up a one-dimensional Liverpool midfield so lacking in attacking ideas last term.

Our kid will disagree, but the one player who will benefit more than anyone will be his bezzie mate Lucas. Last season, both Lucas and Mascherano were doing the same job - and they were both, in effect, replacing one player - the great Didi Hamman. Lucas is more than capable of doing a defensive midfielder's job in front of our back four. He can't tackle for crap, but that's okay because a more free-spirited forward line will keep the opposing team more than occupied so not to worry about anybody getting anywhere near our 18 yard box.

The below player is more than capable of providing Gerrard, Torres and Kuyt with the sort of space and chances they all so sadly missed last season.....

Joe Cole's signing is a masterstroke for Hodgson. What a wonderful player. Though I wonder what went through the player's mind before deciding to come to Liverpool? The cynical side of me suggests Joe took a leaf out of Gareth Barry's book and went to the club offering the money rather than the challenge. The positive in me feel the reverse in that he's here for the challenge and the cash comes second?

It's probably a bit of both. The money in football is too much of a distraction not to be tempted by it. I think a lot of us would be in awe. The truly great footballers are too single minded to bother themselves with contracts and money.

The sale of Insua to Fiorentina is probably just as well, but re-signing of Fabio Aurelio is a strange move. No one doubts the lad's ability - he has a peach of a left foot. But getting a decent left-back with a limited budget must frustrate Hodgson immensely?