I've never been impressed with Downing on the whole. Seen him play well once against United. But I do think he provides a massive need for Liverpool. It does make me question where Dirk Kuyt fit's into it all, also seems to be massive kicks in the balls for the new Jay "xavi" Spearing. I'm guessing that Kuyt will be the the third striker. Spearing will have Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Meireles and Adam in front of him. So much for the injetcion of youth that served them so well towwars the ends of last season.
He'll have Aquilani in front of him as well, if we don't cash in on him. Spearing to Liverpool is what Gibson is to United. The reason our local youth did so well for us last year was that they couldn't do much worse that Konchesky, Poulsen and Jovanovic. That's why we drafted Flanagan, Robinson, Kelly and Spearing in and they didn't let anyone down. They can now become good squad members and not be relied on like we had to last season.
I've said for the last umpteen years that if Liverpool are to be successful, Dirk Kuyt cannot be in the starting XI. I'm sure he will be but his good finish to the season can't make up for the utterly dreadful pre Christmas form he showed. I'd have him as back up to Carroll personally.
I As we were rumoured favourites at the time and City hadn't offered him £53 million a week at the time, I may have said that I thought we'd get him for £8 million and it looks like I wouldn't have been far out if he hadn't turned out to be a mercenary and gone to City for the cash.
We apparently offered the same wages as Liverpool.
Are you actually surprised that players would rather go to City than Liverpool? If you are, maybe you should give your a head a wobble.
We are a more attractive option than Liverpool, without a doubt.
We apparently offered the same wages as Liverpool.
Are you actually surprised that players would rather go to City than Liverpool? If you are, maybe you should give your a head a wobble.
We are a more attractive option than Liverpool, without a doubt.
Every player is different. In Clichys case, I'm not sure it's that clear cut you'd rather play for City than Liverpool, especially when your best player has just announced he is leaving. Clichy would be guaranteed 38 games for Liverpool next season who definitely won't win the league and could possibly qualify for the champions league. Clichy wont get 38 games for a team who definitely wont win the league and will probably qualify for the CL. Without your lynchpin though, I'll be very interested to see how City go, especially as your manager will be sacked at some point of the season.
Quite interesting to see how much of an attractive option Bellamy, Adebayor, Johnson, Milner, Boateng, Given, Dzeko, Wright Phillips and Barry think City is at the moment....I'm sure the extortinate wages help though.
Did you not see much of Villa last season? He was more consistent than Young (who I'm relatively happy with at United) and their player of the year. He is no Ronaldo, but he will offer much more to Liverpool than Henderson will next year. He can play wide and has the discipline to stay out there, or he can come inside if you need to pack the midfield. when I look at their squad, there really is nobody else who can fill that role.
I watched as much of I could of them, twice against Everton and each time they were on TV plus highlights but I still don't see what the Villa fans see in Downing, as I said I've never saw anything in him since he came on the scene at Boro. Last season Downing and Young both scored 7 each in the Prem but Young had 10 assists Downing had 7, I don't think that nakes him more consistent than Young, I don't think it makes one much better than the other overall. With Young he has a lot more pace, he much more direct and he can pass a ball plus he can cross too so I'd see him as a better all round player and would say he's worth more than Downing.
RedTez wrote:
Transfer fees are all about where the market is at a current time. Villa have just sold Young, don't want to lose another of their best players and have seen Liverpool pay 35m for Caroll and 20m for Henderson. They want top dollar for Downing and I don't blame them.
I agree, they will want as much as they can get and with Downing having 2 years left on his contract, I think it is, they'll be in no rush to sell. They value Downing in their side and they won't let him go cheap.
The clamour on here to rubbish any signing that Liverpool make or any player they're linked with is embarrassing (especially from Everton supporters).
Get a grip, it isn't because Liverpool are signing them it's because you're paying way over the odds for average players and people are making out like they're going to win you the league or get you back into the top four. Some of the comments I've seen on Facebook are embarrassing, we heard it all last year with Joe Cole signed and look how that worked out. Maybe the clamour to rubbish them is because Liverpool fans make out every signing is gonna get you a Premier League title again, there's always an added over enthusiasm from Liverpool fans when players sign.
Lord Tony Smith wrote:
We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one mate, each to their own. I s'pose the bottom line of what i'm trying to say is: these players aren't fantastically brilliant/world class, however they'll do a successful job for us in their posistions.
I think we will mate. I agree with that, they will do a job for you but for the money that they're costing I'm not sure just doing a solid job is justified. But I could be proved completely wrong once August comes around I suppose
Lord Tony Smith wrote:
Meireles is rumoured as to be leaving this window, so I find it very interesting as to who will fit in where in centre-midfield. Obviously, Gerrard will start and I think Lucas too for his short, direct passing game. I just wonder who Kenny' prefered other man will be if that's the case: Adam, Henderson or Aquilani (?) I reckon will go with 4-3-3 this year with Downing-Carrol-Suarez up top.
I thought overall last season Meireles had a decent season, a burst of goals from about Feb onwards and seemed very consistent. Out of them three it'd have to be Adam, surely. Henderson it would be a lot to throw him in and expect something out of him ahead of Adam. Aquilani has to be on his way if a deal can be agreed? I'd be surprised if he's still playing for you come September.
A lot of teams beat us, do a lap of honour and don't stop running. They live too long on one good result. I remember Jimmy Adamson crowing after Burnley had beaten us once and that his players were in a different league. At the end of the season they were.
WireFanatic II wrote:
Why, if it isn't Catalancs, RLFANS answer to a question no-one asked!
I watched as much of I could of them, twice against Everton and each time they were on TV plus highlights but I still don't see what the Villa fans see in Downing...
Isn't that something you was trying to explain to some on here, who follow other clubs, regarding that Fellatio fellow who runs around in your midfield?
Every player is different. In Clichys case, I'm not sure it's that clear cut you'd rather play for City than Liverpool, especially when your best player has just announced he is leaving. Clichy would be guaranteed 38 games for Liverpool next season who definitely won't win the league and could possibly qualify for the champions league. Clichy wont get 38 games for a team who definitely wont win the league and will probably qualify for the CL. Without your lynchpin though, I'll be very interested to see how City go, especially as your manager will be sacked at some point of the season.
Quite interesting to see how much of an attractive option Bellamy, Adebayor, Johnson, Milner, Boateng, Given, Dzeko, Wright Phillips and Barry think City is at the moment....I'm sure the extortinate wages help though.
I honestly think Liverpool have a truly brilliant squad. Adam? Class. Carroll? Incredible. Henderson? Brilliant. Lucas? Eat me.
I think you are putting yourselves down by saying you are as equally as good as City. I actually think Liverpool are the only team that could have stop Barca winning the CL for the next five years. There’s no way they could cope with the creativity, technical ability, speed and football intelligence of Spearo. Now you also have the EVEN better Super Hendo. Both of them are miles better than Nasri, Yaya Toure, NDJ, Sandro, Wilshere et al.. As for your strikers….Carroll was a steal.
IMO it’s mainly down to King Kenny. He transformed the team. Didn’t he have something like a 100%win record? Awesome. I am surprised he wasn’t knighted. It must be an anti-scouse conspiracy.
Liverpool favourites for all trophies IMO. Great players, Incredible team. Bestest manager. Perfect combination.
I honestly think Liverpool have a truly brilliant squad. Adam? Class. Carroll? Incredible. Henderson? Brilliant. Lucas? Eat me.
I think you are putting yourselves down by saying you are as equally as good as City. I actually think Liverpool are the only team that could have stop Barca winning the CL for the next five years. There’s no way they could cope with the creativity, technical ability, speed and football intelligence of Spearo. Now you also have the EVEN better Super Hendo. Both of them are miles better than Nasri, Yaya Toure, NDJ, Sandro, Wilshere et al.. As for your strikers….Carroll was a steal.
IMO it’s mainly down to King Kenny. He transformed the team. Didn’t he have something like a 100%win record? Awesome. I am surprised he wasn’t knighted. It must be an anti-scouse conspiracy.
Liverpool favourites for all trophies IMO. Great players, Incredible team. Bestest manager. Perfect combination.
Come on mate. We're allowed opinions. City are currently a better proposition to players who are guaranteed a start. At Liverpool there are 6/7 places up for grabs currently and a player signing can push themselves forward and get a start every week. Clichy would have walked into our team and bolstered an already decent defence. He's walking into City surely not expecting to start each week?
You don't need to have a strop because I dare suggest that City won't win the league. You won't but neither will we.
Quite why you chose to spend your whole rant pretneding I was making Liverpool out to be some sort of Harlem Globetrotters baffles me. I never said we were going to do anything this season. If we can get in the top 4 it will be a huge achievement. If we don't at least we won't have Hodgson, Poulsen, Konchesky, Gillett and Hicks and the like cheapening our name.