Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed Jul 06, 2011 3:09 pm  

Reported that Liverpool and Arsenal are in negotiations for Mata as well. If we can nick him, I'll be over the moon and back again. Alas, CL football and Arsenal's style must have them favourites.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed Jul 06, 2011 3:18 pm  

Sthelens RLFC wrote:

Good question. It seems though that Henry hasn't really set out a kitty. EG, obviously hypothetically, if Messi came available we'd pay a set figure for him, whether that be £100 million or not just as long it represented value with regards resale values and what he could achieve for the club. It's widely stated that as long as we made £15 million on the Carroll-Torres deal we would be happy. Carroll being a lost cause for the rest of the season didn't end up mattering due to Kuyt and Suarez form and also the fact that the season itself was already a lost cause in many respects. I think we HAD to buy a striker in January to prove that we were not just becoming a selling club. As it's turned out we've swapped Torres and Babel for Carroll and Suarez and I know which I'd rather have.

Still, I see the point that players may have been more willing to come knowing we had a huge warchest. I still think that some of the players we have at the club are good enough to persuade others to join. The issue Liverpool now have is that United, Arsenal and Chelsea are ahead of us currently in terms of being an attractive proposition to sign for and City have money that will blow most teams out of the water. We'll have to be canny and hope that Kenny unearths some gems that other teams aren't yet looking at. I'm fairly confident he'll be able to do that.

Yeah you did well out of the signings of Carroll/Suarez, I just think the spending was over in the blink of an eye then it was back to the football, whereas a big summer spending spree would've galvanized the whole club ready for the new season. On the other hand it would probably have raised expectations to unrealistic levels, whereas they will probably be more realistic now, maybe lower than they should be, which is probably a good thing after Rafas 'our next title is round the corner' comments over the last few years.

Still not convinced by Downing though.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:00 pm  

Optimism is high at Liverpool then eh, I thought I'd gone back to last season for a moment to the 'last piece of the jigsaw' signing that was Joe Cole. Downing's shite and Adam is badly overrated roll on Christmas when Kenny is going grey and the pr1cks are way off the top 4, again

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:14 pm  

Dan_FC wrote:

:lol: Optimism is high at Liverpool then eh, I thought I'd gone back to last season for a moment to the 'last piece of the jigsaw' signing that was Joe Cole. Downing's shite and Adam is badly overrated roll on Christmas when Kenny is going grey and the pr1cks are way off the top 4, again

Jealously is a terrible thing Daniel, then again I s'pose it's hard being a bluenose watching us spend 20 million on one player and 8-10 mil on another, whilst Everton are sat on there backsides in the transfer window due to insufficent funds.

Downing is not sh!te. Admittedly, like I've said you could bring a better player in for less value but he'll do a job for us that we need him to which is create width and feed Carrol and Suarez. I'm not sure what you can base Adam being 'overrated' on? Frankly, he's stood out in a poor team and was shortlisted for POTY in his first season in the PL. He tore us apart at Anfield and looked one of the best players on the field versus United. He'll partly fill the void that Alonso left with his long passing, his drive and his ability at set-peices. I won't be making any predictions, as all I ask for is improvement.

If, and this is a big if, we can bring Mata in I'll be delighted. Very good player who'd work extremely well with Suarez I feel and you'd create width on both sides then with Mata & Downing. I wouldn't mind us spending £20mill on him as he's an awesome talent.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed Jul 06, 2011 5:22 pm  

Roonaldo6 wrote:

Downing was the difference between the two sides when we played them at Villa Park.

I think a lot depends on Liverpool shipping out the dead wood still. Jovanovic (£120k a week), nobody will pay him that, but thats football these days when you dont pay a transfer fee in the Bosman mamarket

According to the more reliable sources, at least half of Jovanovic's wages are made up of his signing on fee over the 1st year.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed Jul 06, 2011 5:25 pm  

Roonaldo6 wrote:

When did that happen ? Talksport only reported an hour ago about the Adam tweet.

Lol, Talksport is up there with "Sky Sports understands... " in the news stakes.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:06 pm  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

Jealously is a terrible thing Daniel, then again I s'pose it's hard being a bluenose watching us spend 20 million on one player and 8-10 mil on another, whilst Everton are sat on there backsides in the transfer window due to insufficent funds.

Full title, I like it To be honest mate, I'm even jealous of Swansea who are able to spend money. It's a pi$$ take what's going on at Goodison but Kenwright/Elstone and co don't seem to want to bother themselves, I'm fed up of the $hite they serve us every summer but we're used to it by now.

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

Downing is not sh!te. Admittedly, like I've said you could bring a better player in for less value but he'll do a job for us that we need him to which is create width and feed Carrol and Suarez. I'm not sure what you can base Adam being 'overrated' on? Frankly, he's stood out in a poor team and was shortlisted for POTY in his first season in the PL. He tore us apart at Anfield and looked one of the best players on the field versus United. He'll partly fill the void that Alonso left with his long passing, his drive and his ability at set-peices. I won't be making any predictions, as all I ask for is improvement.

Well I suppose you'll get that, it does seem an improvement on what you've had but whether Downing signs for you, United or any other club I'd be saying the same to be honest I've never liked him since he was the big thing at Boro, he's never been wonderful, not full of pace, struggles to beat a full back. Given space he can deliver a half decent ball but if I was a City, United, Arsenal or Chelsea fan your signings up to now wouldn't worry me. Adam had a good season in an extremely poor side last season, I can't see him doing it again. He'll score a few goals and get a few assists but he's a slightly better than average player, he'll been shown up for it next season.

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

If, and this is a big if, we can bring Mata in I'll be delighted. Very good player who'd work extremely well with Suarez I feel and you'd create width on both sides then with Mata & Downing. I wouldn't mind us spending £20mill on him as he's an awesome talent.

Now if someone like Mata came in then it'd be an eye opener. Quality player, think he'll got really well over here too. If he comes over here whoever gets him will have a top quality player, I'd guess he'd want Champions League football if he gets the offer though.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:34 pm  

I must admit, I have never really seen anything in Downing. I put him on a par with Milner, a winger but not really quick or skilful enough to cause any great problems.

In fact, the only decent english winger I can think of is Johnson.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:52 pm  

I rate Downing much higher than Adam. Much higher. Downing has been outstanding for Villa and has re-established himself after a few down years under Southgate at Boro. If Hendersons worth 18m the Downing is definitely worth 20m.

Saw some stats for Adam and for a "great passer" his pass completion rate is gash. Around 50%. Even including his Hollywood passes that is poor. Got a cracking corner on him though.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:56 pm  

Must be a season for shockingly bad shirts