Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:07 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

I can't stress enough how frustrated I am to see us overspend. I was of the belief we'd be sensible in the market, or we'd at least sign top players with re-sale value. We could spend close to £30m on Adam and Downing. This is reminiscent of Hughes at City, signing homegrown players for inflated fees because we can.

I wanted Adam at United. Seeing as we haven't gone for him makes me think we may be close to either Sneijder or Nasri. I think by signing him it puts you just behind Arsenal.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:10 pm  

Adam and Downing are good players but they aren't going to get Liverpool the title. Is Kenneth building for a title push in say 2013, 2014?

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:51 pm  

Nikaed wrote:

I wanted Adam at United. Seeing as we haven't gone for him makes me think we may be close to either Sneijder or Nasri. I think by signing him it puts you just behind Arsenal.

If you get Sneijder, you may as well say hello to a 20th league title. The guy is superb and would be an asset to any club.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:55 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

I can't stress enough how frustrated I am to see us overspend. I was of the belief we'd be sensible in the market, or we'd at least sign top players with re-sale value. We could spend close to £30m on Adam and Downing. This is reminiscent of Hughes at City, signing homegrown players for inflated fees because we can.

And that is the three words that says it all Rob, "because we can". I wish someone at the club would just realise that just because we can, does not mean to say that we have to.

Even if the money is there, I would rather see us use it wisely, think about purchases, instead of throwing wads at anyone that's available. As you say, it's got that City-esque arrogance about it, which is something that I do not like in the slightest.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:57 pm  

WireFanatic III wrote:

If you get Sneijder, you may as well say hello to a 20th league title. The guy is superb and would be an asset to any club.

You think? I'm very mixed on him. You can't doubt his ability: two great feet, passing, shooting, dribbling and even industry on occasions, but there's something about him that I can't put my finger on. In his first year at Madrid, he was immense wherever he played, but, in his second season, for various reasons, he wasn't as great and was shipped out. At Inter, the story is similar. Immense in his first year, his second season less so. I can't make my mind up on whether he's inconsistent, struggles to settle, has a big ego or has simply been unfortunate in his second season at clubs.

Another problem with Sneijder is where to play him. United seem to be going with this 4-4-2 formation with Rooney and Hernandez, so where does he fit? IMO, you have to question his ability to play deeper in the premier league, purely from a physical and discipline stand point. If I was Fergie, I'd go for Modric over him, purely because I feel he'll improve them as a side more, and, with United having enough individual quality in players like Berbatov, Rooney, Nani and Young, somebody who's there to improve others would, IMO, be more suitable.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 25, 2011 2:22 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

You think? I'm very mixed on him. You can't doubt his ability: two great feet, passing, shooting, dribbling and even industry on occasions, but there's something about him that I can't put my finger on. In his first year at Madrid, he was immense wherever he played, but, in his second season, for various reasons, he wasn't as great and was shipped out. At Inter, the story is similar. Immense in his first year, his second season less so. I can't make my mind up on whether he's inconsistent, struggles to settle, has a big ego or has simply been unfortunate in his second season at clubs.

I think out of those possible scenario's, the inconsistency is more plausible. He doesn't seem to be one of these Mario Balotelli type players where it's all about him all the time, I don't see him with an egotistical streak. Second season syndrome is a possibility, but whenever I've seen him play, he's either had good games or bad games, so I personally would put it down to inconsistency. I've never heard him say he's having problems adapting, he's homesick etc.

Roddy B wrote:

Another problem with Sneijder is where to play him. United seem to be going with this 4-4-2 formation with Rooney and Hernandez, so where does he fit? IMO, you have to question his ability to play deeper in the premier league, purely from a physical and discipline stand point. If I was Fergie, I'd go for Modric over him, purely because I feel he'll improve them as a side more, and, with United having enough individual quality in players like Berbatov, Rooney, Nani and Young, somebody who's there to improve others would, IMO, be more suitable.

I agree about his ability to play deep. He's more of an attacking element, so I can't see him making much of an impact above the defensive line, as he's not really known for those particular traits. If he did have a defensive side to him though, that would be a perfect position for him, as he has the stamina, the passing range and the vision to link the midfield up with the strikers, whilst still having the ability to hold as a possible anchor man between the engine room and the back 4. (whether that makes sense to anyone else I don't know, but it made sense to me when typing it out. )

I just think he's a tremendous player who would be a great coup for any team in the Premier League, though the fact that he has a contract till 2015 IIRC, may put potential suitors off as it would cost potentially a bit of wedge for him to get out of that contract. I would love to see him at Liverpool, but if he does come over here, it will probably only be to Chelsea or Man Utd (and City, dependant on how much green they chuck at him!)

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 25, 2011 5:35 pm  

Pfff. All you kopites complaining because your club is splashing the cash...how about having a transfer embargo like us

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:03 pm  

Fresh Prince of Chesh-air wrote:

Pfff. All you kopites complaining because your club is splashing the cash...how about having a transfer embargo like us

It's not quite complaining, it's just struggling to understand the outlandish attitude. When we brought in Comolli, all the talk was about acting smart, 'strategically' and out-thinking our rivals in the market. However, since then, our transfer activity has been anything but smart. £35m on Carroll, £16m-£20m on Henderson (depending on who you believe), allegedly £16m+ on Downing and, last of all, £10m (plus?) on Adam with 12 months left on his deal playing for a Championship club.

Considering we've sort of struggled over recent years financially, I'd have thought our club would have learnt the values of money, but paying uber-extortionate fees on players, largely because they already play in the premier league, is absolutely crazy. This strategy of 'we'll spend loads to get there' won't work in a league with Chelsea, United and Man Citeh in it, as they will all spend more than us and they're already ahead of us in the present.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:16 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

It's not quite complaining, it's just struggling to understand the outlandish attitude. When we brought in Comolli, all the talk was about acting smart, 'strategically' and out-thinking our rivals in the market. However, since then, our transfer activity has been anything but smart. £35m on Carroll, £16m-£20m on Henderson (depending on who you believe), allegedly £16m+ on Downing and, last of all, £10m (plus?) on Adam with 12 months left on his deal playing for a Championship club.

Considering we've sort of struggled over recent years financially, I'd have thought our club would have learnt the values of money, but paying uber-extortionate fees on players, largely because they already play in the premier league, is absolutely crazy. This strategy of 'we'll spend loads to get there' won't work in a league with Chelsea, United and Man Citeh in it, as they will all spend more than us and they're already ahead of us in the present.

Best not bring up the spends your club have had over the past few seasons? Struggled financially over the past few years? Just poor investments.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:19 pm  

Fresh Prince of Chesh-air wrote:

Best not bring up the spends your club have had over the past few seasons? Struggled financially over the past few years? Just poor investments.

You know what I mean. The way we were plummeted in debt up to our eyeballs.