[Wheels]

Re: Football Chat Thread : Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:16 am  

The transfer window gets more and more like fantasy football every time it's open. Madness.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:22 am  

This signing of Downing gives me an odd feeling, a feeling not experienced since the surprise when we went all in for Robbie Keane. I actually rated the signing of Keane back then, quite blindly, but now I'm more cautious.

People compare Downing to Young. If both were under long contracts, Young would definitely go for more. Many say Downing had a better season last year, but there's no doubting that Young is a better player on his day who is more versatile. Some are saying the signing is 'risk free' and he'll adapt straight away, but the signing of Keane was risk free and he lasted a few months. The thing is, every signing in football carries a risk, it's the ability to judge how big the risk is, and whether it's worth taking, that many seem to struggle with in modern football. Downing could turn out to be a well taken risk, but I know that, in 2-3 years time, I'll look around Europe and I'll see better players go for less, and I'll see unknown players become known and become better. Considering we have somebody whose only role is to scout and find players, I am mystified that after covering all corners of the globe, Stewart Downing was the one that aroused us the most.

Lastly, I am very confused by the shape of the current squad, I just can't understand how it all fits. With no European football this year, rotation isn't needed as much as it's usually claimed, so we should be looking at a settled first XI for periods.
Tell me, where do Henderson, Gerrard, Adam, Lucas, Downing, Meireles(?), Aquilani(?), Suarez, Kuyt, Carroll, and possibly a few others, fit in? Not only that, but where's the prolific speed in there? I'm confused by everything at the moment, hopefully when a few players finally go, things will take a better shape, but for now, we seem overcrowded in some spots, yet lacking in others.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:30 am  

I reckon you need to strengthen left back, centre back and right wing. Thoughts?

Re: Football Chat Thread : Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:53 am  

Catalancs wrote:

I reckon you need to strengthen left back, centre back and right wing. Thoughts?

Yeah, definitely. If I'm being honest, I don't think I'm the only Liverpool fan who feels this way, but I haven't fancied any of our signings this summer. I dunno why, maybe it's due to my love of football on the continent, but this way of approaching transfers doesn't seem too clever for me, as I said at the start of the summer, it's reminiscent of Sparky at Citeh, without Kompany.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Thu Jul 14, 2011 7:23 am  

Catalancs wrote:

I reckon you need to strengthen left back, centre back and right wing. Thoughts?

LB - I think Dalglish will play Johnson there. Kelly seemes to be his first choice RB when fit (and rightly so), and Johnson's defence improved at Left Back as he realised he couldn't got walkabout as much in an unfamiliar position.

CB - Undoubtedly need someone. Agger is too injury prone to be expected to play 30 games a year, which is a shame as I really like him, and fits in with Dalglish's style well. Carra is too old now to play every game, meaning Skrtel needs a partner he can play with most weeks.

RW - Can't see anyone coming in due to the system we'll play. We have a lot of central midfielders, and I don't think Carroll and Suarez will go upfront on their own as a classic 4-4-2. If fit, I expect the front 6 to look something like - Gerrard, Henderson, Adam/Lucs, Downing (L), Carroll, Suarez (R).

Re: Football Chat Thread : Thu Jul 14, 2011 7:36 am  

Renia

Johnson
Agger
Carra
Kelly

Gerrard
Lucas
Adam

Downing
Carrol
Suarez

Re: Football Chat Thread : Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:23 am  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

Renia

Johnson
Agger
Carra
Kelly

Gerrard
Lucas
Adam

Downing
Carrol
Suarez

Might have a chance of Europa League with that team.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:29 am  

Mark wrote:

Might have a chance of Europa League with that team.

Everyone knows European football is a hindrance that only serves to distract from the league.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:12 am  

I can understand people/fans having an issue with the amount we are paying for Downing. £20 million or thereabouts (hearing rumours of £17 million, to go with the £13 million we spent on Henderson...not bad when it's reported we've spent £40 million on the pair) seems like a lot for a 27 year old. As far as I am concerned though, it isn't my money and again it shows that the owners are backing Kenny's judgement in the transfer market. We still have at least £6-£7 million to recoup in selling Konchesky, Poulsen, Jones, and possibly Ngog and Cole, which will hopefully be put towards signing Cissokho.

What I am puzzled by is fans reaction to the signing of Downing. For YEARS all we have heard is that we need a good winger. Therefore Kenny goes out and buys a lad who got 7 assists last year, put in more crosses than any other player in the league, scored a decent amount for a midfielder and who, importantly, should hit the ground running. Who were the alternatives? Mata is/was looking like a pipe dream and although his ability and skill would definitely shine through at Liverpool, he would need a settling in period. Downing won't need that, he'll know his job and will be putting balls in for Carroll all day long.

On a side note, nice to see a St Helens lad scoring for the reds yesterday. Coady looks to have a decent future with us if he continues to progress.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:48 am  

Sthelens RLFC wrote:

I can understand people/fans having an issue with the amount we are paying for Downing. £20 million or thereabouts (hearing rumours of £17 million, to go with the £13 million we spent on Henderson...not bad when it's reported we've spent £40 million on the pair) seems like a lot for a 27 year old. As far as I am concerned though, it isn't my money and again it shows that the owners are backing Kenny's judgement in the transfer market. We still have at least £6-£7 million to recoup in selling Konchesky, Poulsen, Jones, and possibly Ngog and Cole, which will hopefully be put towards signing Cissokho.

What I am puzzled by is fans reaction to the signing of Downing. For YEARS all we have heard is that we need a good winger. Therefore Kenny goes out and buys a lad who got 7 assists last year, put in more crosses than any other player in the league, scored a decent amount for a midfielder and who, importantly, should hit the ground running. Who were the alternatives? Mata is/was looking like a pipe dream and although his ability and skill would definitely shine through at Liverpool, he would need a settling in period. Downing won't need that, he'll know his job and will be putting balls in for Carroll all day long.

On a side note, nice to see a St Helens lad scoring for the reds yesterday. Coady looks to have a decent future with us if he continues to progress.

His name isn't Stewardo Dowdiniho and he doesn't do 20 stepovers before beating a man seven times and crossing into row Z.

That fact he has pace (contrary to what the clueless think), he's intelligent, can play on either flank, can cross a ball and beat a man just seems to be forgotten these days.

I love it when people say we should sign player x from abroad. They don't know if he'll want to come, how much he'll cost, if the club will sell, how much wages he'll want, will he adapt and most importantly, is he someone the manager wants. Too much Football Manager going on these days and not enough realism. Personally, and I've said this before, doesn't matter how much he costs, if they can't afford it they wouldn't have paid it. The manager has a player he wants and even if he cost £20m, that's still half of what we'd have had to pay in interest payments this time last year. Some people have very, very short memories.

There'll be better players go for less and worse players go from more, that's just the way it is.