Bernard Futter

1st Wizard, your own criteria was who was the ''best'' striker and then you field an individual who''s style/instincts are of a lower division scrapper (Iwan Roberts) and omit to even mention a class act who in different times, would have assuredly made an impact on a deregulated world stage (Ron Davies). I in no way wish to diminish the telling contribution made by Iwan Roberts over the Club''s recent past, but we are talking artisan again artist here.

Between the two of them (Allcock & Roberts) and all too briefly, was the figure of Ronald Tudor Davies, assuredly the most complete centre forward ever to play for the club. Boots and lacing come to mind especially in comparison with the wholehearted but technically limited Iwan Roberts I can only think 1st Wizard was suffering from a severe attack of amnesia during the mid-60s.

Jari Litmanen, the man who was never given a decent opportunity to inject creativity and inspiration into the most boring Liverpool team ever, will be available on a free transfer from Ajax at the end of this season. It would be wonderful to have another free spirit in the side who could anticipate Darren Huckerby''s moves.

Given the tremendous enterprise shown by the board/management in recent weeks, I feel chary pointing out that if forward cover were needed until Matt Svensson returns, Jamie Cureton is currently back in the UK trialling with Sunderland. Seems like a real opportunity to audition proven quality with no strings attached. It would also appear that the Club do hold a genuinely special place in the player''s thoughts.

Playing in a poor side that doesn''t get results does not in itself a poor player make. What it does say is that the process of winning a cap is generally devalued by average players getting a game they wouldn''t otherwise get in better times. Also I''m not saying Mulryne and McVeigh are not capable of influencing the course of games - they shouldn''t be on the field if they are not capable of this in their positions. It''s just that Huckerby looks as though he''s going to do it nearly every time he gains possession. I''ll leave you with final a point re your assertion that a full cap is somehow an automatic measure of a players ability. David James has innumerable England caps, Kevin Keelan never got one. Nuff said?

What an absolutely ridiculous measure of player quality ''full'' international caps are. So our two Northern Ireland internationals who have played in a poor side, that haven''t found the net in a hundred years, are automatically better than someone with lower grade England honours? What tosh. Darren Huckerby is a maverick who would never be trusted by any England manager in a long line that includes the likes of Stan Bowles, Frank Worthington and Glen Hoddle. The man is demonstrably someone who can singlehandedly change the course of a game and from your list of ex City internationals, I would think perhaps around half of them are/were genuinely in that category.