Transfer Deadline Thread *part two*

[Oncy]

So they have paid over 10m for a player 7 times?

Javier Mascherano
Fernando Torres
Alberto Aquilani
Glen Johnson
Raul Meireles
Robbie Keane
Ryan Babel

Fair play.

I am madder at them for not building the stadium and saddling us with debt than i am about our transfer expenditure.

 

[Khalido]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=41702.msg1168207#msg1168207 date=1283294388]
If before summer started i was told we would keep Gerrard and Torres AND sign -
Joe Cole
Milan Jovanovic
Christian Poulsen
Paul Konchesky
Danny Wilson
Jonjo Shelvey
AND
Raul Meireles

I'd have bitten yer fucking hand off.

Additionally if Chelsea or Manchester United had in this transfer window signed -
Joe Cole
Milan Jovanovic
Christian Poulsen
AND
Raul Meireles

I would have been ridiculously envious. In particular Cole and Meireles who are very VERY good players on their day.

The worry seems to be that we didnt sign a forward, but as has been alluded to, the problem last year was not nescessarily that we didnt have cover for Torres when injured, but that Rafa didnt trust them (certainly in the cases of Pacheco, Babel and Kuyt).
Roy clearly wanted another striker or there wouldnt have been links to Trez, Tovainen, Cole etc but the fact we didnt get one doesnt fill me with as much dread as it seems to others.
We still have one of the best strikers in the world. And hopefully we have a manager now who will try to counter his absences with a change in philosophy. We can play TWO up front if needs be. We can play Babel up front where he is meant to be played if needs be. We can give the youngsters a chance if needs be. We have options, the concern seems to stem from the fact that Rafa didnt use them very well.
As pointed out earlier, Jovanovic has a better goalscoring record than almost all of the targets we were linked with this summer. So perhaps the plan will be to play him up front if needs be. I just dont think its as dire as it was last year. I really wanted a striker and honestly thought we would get one but we didnt, so we go in with Babel, Jovanovic, Kuyt, Pacheco, Eccleston.......and FERNANDO TORRES. Thats a lot of options. Coupled with them playing with forward thinking players behind them instead of Lucas and Mascherano then perhaps we have plenty.

Realistically we are aiming to get top 4 again this year and i think we have hopefully done enought to do that. A lot depends on the manager of course.

Im looking forward to seeing Cole and Meireles in tandem.

Im excited. We've really done some good business and importantly not crippled us any further in our 'Palsied fiscal state' theres little point moaning and decrying the fact we didnt pay 20m for a new striker if that tips us into recievership. We did some good business and we shaved a mint off the wage bill in the process and we did it all without spending millions.

Maybe we should have not announced the Cole and Meireles signings until today to give everyone a lift.
[/quote]

Thats a really positive post, and I agree that things could have been a lot worse, especially as far as players leaving.

This transfer window is another example of how Roy tends to talk too much. He announced in his press conferences he was looking for a striker. Managers are always reluctant to declare publicly where they need to strengthen the team specifically (unless there is an injury already to a key player/or if one is sold), this tells the players already vying for those postions (Ngog, Babel etc) that he doesn't think they are up to the task, hardly a confidence booster.
IF he had a deal on the table for a striker at the time, fair enough, I wouldn't be too concerned about their confidence taking a knock because we'd have another, hopefully better striker coming in. The fact the manger (thankfully) knows our back uop strikers aint good enough, yet failed to get something sorted, will obviously leaves us all feeling down, and its' hard to get away from that.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=41702.msg1168236#msg1168236 date=1283297615]
So they have paid over 10m for a player 7 times?

Javier Mascherano
Fernando Torres
Alberto Aquilani
Glen Johnson
Raul Meireles
Robbie Keane
Ryan Babel

Fair play.

I am madder at them for not building the stadium and saddling us with debt than i am about our transfer expenditure.
[/quote]

Me too. Benitez takes much of the blame for our weak and depleted squad. It shouldn't be anywhere near as poor as it is.

 

[peterhague]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=41702.msg1168251#msg1168251 date=1283302581]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=41702.msg1168236#msg1168236 date=1283297615]
So they have paid over 10m for a player 7 times?

Javier Mascherano
Fernando Torres
Alberto Aquilani
Glen Johnson
Raul Meireles
Robbie Keane
Ryan Babel

Fair play.

I am madder at them for not building the stadium and saddling us with debt than i am about our transfer expenditure.
[/quote]

Me too. Benitez takes much of the blame for our weak and depleted squad. It shouldn't be anywhere near as poor as it is.
[/quote]


the squad was in good shape in 2007, and has steadily been depleted since then, which basically coincides with the owners spending our transfer budget on interest costs. do you really think £20m 'invested' in 4 years for a highly successful champions league side is acceptable?

i'd suggest it's the owners who are far more to blame for the state of things than benitez's mixed transfer record.

 

[gene hughes]

I'm inclined to agree - but if 3 of Benitez's 7 choices of players over 10m hadn't been complete flops things just may have been better too.

 

[peterhague]

[quote author=gene hughes link=topic=41702.msg1168256#msg1168256 date=1283306315]
I'm inclined to agree - but if 3 of Benitez's 7 choices of players over 10m hadn't been complete flops things just may have been better too.
[/quote]


3 out of 6 actually. oh.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=peterhague link=topic=41702.msg1168255#msg1168255 date=1283306182]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=41702.msg1168251#msg1168251 date=1283302581]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=41702.msg1168236#msg1168236 date=1283297615]
So they have paid over 10m for a player 7 times?

Javier Mascherano
Fernando Torres
Alberto Aquilani
Glen Johnson
Raul Meireles
Robbie Keane
Ryan Babel

Fair play.

I am madder at them for not building the stadium and saddling us with debt than i am about our transfer expenditure.
[/quote]

Me too. Benitez takes much of the blame for our weak and depleted squad. It shouldn't be anywhere near as poor as it is.
[/quote]


the squad was in good shape in 2007, and has steadily been depleted since then, which basically coincides with the owners spending our transfer budget on interest costs. do you really think £20m 'invested' in 4 years for a highly successful champions league side is acceptable?

i'd suggest it's the owners who are far more to blame for the state of things than benitez's mixed transfer record.
[/quote]

I think it's enough to keep the squad stable and not lose ground on our rivals - yes.

You just have to be smarter with your money, and we haven't been. If the reports are true that Benitez didn't bother seeing some of these players personally then whilst it not would surprise me, given how they turned out, I'd be greatly appalled at how frivolous he would throw money at someone, with seemingly no place in our first eleven for them, or a thought out plan of why this player would be great for Liverpool football club.

The simple fact is, Benitez has wasted too much since 2007, leaving us in this position. Other managers would have made better use out of what they had, because as it stands, Benitez has never proved himself capable of building a squad.

 

[Markeh]

It can't all be blamed on Rafa, Fergie for example has made a lot of wank signings too. We just couldn't afford to make mistakes.

The summer where we wanted Kuyt and Alves and ended up with Kuyt and Pennant says it all, Rafa could have done a whole lot better if we had a little bit extra to give him

 

[Squiggles]

I'm not blaming it all on Rafa, but he shoulders much of the responsibility.

It's not like he enjoyed lavish spending under Moores. He simply picked up good players and good prices; Reina, Garcia, Kuyt, Alonso, and co. Benitez simply got worse at his job at a time when the pressure to perform increased.

Anyway, it's all been discussed to death.

 

[Markeh]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=41702.msg1168262#msg1168262 date=1283309714]
I'm not blaming it all on Rafa, but he shoulders much of the responsibility.

It's not like he enjoyed lavish spending under Moores. He simply picked up good players and good prices; Reina, Garcia, Kuyt, Alonso, and co. Benitez simply got worse at his job at a time when the pressure to perform increased.

Anyway, it's all been discussed to death.
[/quote]

he done a 'Houllier' 🙂

 

[Avmenon]

[quote author=peterhague link=topic=41702.msg1168257#msg1168257 date=1283306538]
[quote author=gene hughes link=topic=41702.msg1168256#msg1168256 date=1283306315]
I'm inclined to agree - but if 3 of Benitez's 7 choices of players over 10m hadn't been complete flops things just may have been better too.
[/quote]


3 out of 6 actually. oh.
[/quote]

Restricting the list to players above 10 million is a bit misleading when a whole pile of shit was bought at less than that.

Which was kind of why I posted that list, Peter.

 

[Avmenon]

[quote author=Wilko link=topic=41702.msg1168201#msg1168201 date=1283294116]
Cole and Babel miss out on deadline day moves
Published 23:00 31/08/10 By Alan Nixon



Carlton Cole and Ryan Babel missed out on massive £10 million moves yesterday in a double deadline day farce.

West Ham's England striker Cole was due to join Liverpool in a stunning deal after the Kop finally made an offer that was acceptable to their struggling rivals.

And Dutchman Babel was even flown by helicopter to London to speak to either West Ham about a swap or Tottenham about a £10 million sale.

But Hammers pulled the plug on the Cole sale and Liverpool called off the Babel move to either West Ham or Spurs with an hour to go before the 6pm cut-off point to leave two clubs, three managers and three clubs in despair.

Cole had been put on red alert to move to Anfield while he was with the England camp. But arguments about the fee and meddling by agents held up the transfer.

Boss Roy Hodgson has wanted Cole for some time - as Mirror Sport revealed - and he was willing to let Babel go to finance the move and make space for him in his squad.

Babel was given the all-clear to leave Liverpool at lunchtime when Tottenham made their cash offer for him, but by the time he was airborne he also had the chance to head for West Ham on loan.

The Dutchman weighed up the choice between fighting for a place in the Spurs side - with all of the competition Harry Redknapp has when they are fit - or join the struggling Hammers.

Babel was tempted by the glamour of Spurs and the challenge of the Champions League, but was also interested by the chance to play every week for Avram Grant's team - and put himself in the shop window.

Liverpool's decision to let him go despite his brief scoring appearance in the Europa League qualifier against Trabzonspor made sure that he took off and looked for a new home.

However as Babel landed in London he was told he could not go to either club because Liverpool had failed to push through the deal and he chose to head back by train at the end of a crazy day.

Now Cole knows West Ham were willing to sell him, Babel is also aware that his Liverpool days are numbered - while wheeler-dealer Harry Redknapp missed out too.



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-West-Ham-s-Carlton-Cole-and-Liverpool-s-Ryan-Babel-miss-out-on-deadline-day-moves-article569203.html#ixzz0yE3jadXX
Sign up for MirrorFootball's Morning Spy newsletter Register here

[/quote]

I dont quite get it tho.

'Liverpool failed to push through the deal'

Did we change our minds, did a lawyer forget to sign a contract, was the pilot lost?

 

[Insignificance]

[quote author=Avmenon link=topic=41702.msg1168278#msg1168278 date=1283321590]
[quote author=Wilko link=topic=41702.msg1168201#msg1168201 date=1283294116]
Cole and Babel miss out on deadline day moves
Published 23:00 31/08/10 By Alan Nixon



Carlton Cole and Ryan Babel missed out on massive £10 million moves yesterday in a double deadline day farce.

West Ham's England striker Cole was due to join Liverpool in a stunning deal after the Kop finally made an offer that was acceptable to their struggling rivals.

And Dutchman Babel was even flown by helicopter to London to speak to either West Ham about a swap or Tottenham about a £10 million sale.

But Hammers pulled the plug on the Cole sale and Liverpool called off the Babel move to either West Ham or Spurs with an hour to go before the 6pm cut-off point to leave two clubs, three managers and three clubs in despair.

Cole had been put on red alert to move to Anfield while he was with the England camp. But arguments about the fee and meddling by agents held up the transfer.

Boss Roy Hodgson has wanted Cole for some time - as Mirror Sport revealed - and he was willing to let Babel go to finance the move and make space for him in his squad.

Babel was given the all-clear to leave Liverpool at lunchtime when Tottenham made their cash offer for him, but by the time he was airborne he also had the chance to head for West Ham on loan.

The Dutchman weighed up the choice between fighting for a place in the Spurs side - with all of the competition Harry Redknapp has when they are fit - or join the struggling Hammers.

Babel was tempted by the glamour of Spurs and the challenge of the Champions League, but was also interested by the chance to play every week for Avram Grant's team - and put himself in the shop window.

Liverpool's decision to let him go despite his brief scoring appearance in the Europa League qualifier against Trabzonspor made sure that he took off and looked for a new home.

However as Babel landed in London he was told he could not go to either club because Liverpool had failed to push through the deal and he chose to head back by train at the end of a crazy day.

Now Cole knows West Ham were willing to sell him, Babel is also aware that his Liverpool days are numbered - while wheeler-dealer Harry Redknapp missed out too.



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-West-Ham-s-Carlton-Cole-and-Liverpool-s-Ryan-Babel-miss-out-on-deadline-day-moves-article569203.html#ixzz0yE3jadXX
Sign up for MirrorFootball's Morning Spy newsletter Register here

[/quote]

I dont quite get it tho.

'Liverpool failed to push through the deal'

Did we change our minds, did a lawyer forget to sign a contract, was the pilot lost?
[/quote]

I dont care. I am just happy. Very happy. We are short on striking options. That is true. But we need to settle the team in a more attacking manner before any striker can solve any problem we have. We went through one season last year begging that Torres alone should shoot us to a CL spot while the rest of the team closed down opposition all over. When he got injured we were exposed as a middle of the league team unable to scare anyone. If we think that Carlton Cole would in any sence help us out we are idiots. it is not about stirking options, cause there are quite a few internationals in our squad who hare able to fill that role. It is all about tuning our team to start attacking as a team, find some sort of attacking pattern and setlle down as a a team with a more attacking approach. There is no viable alternative to Torres. And Carlton Cole is surely not a more exciting or interesting optoin to play up front than the bunch allready on our books. Stupid fucking silly move by Hodgson who s looking more and more lost to me.

 

[TheBunnyman]

I agree that Carlton Cole is probably no great loss, and that we need to attack more (and more intelligently and purposefully) as a team. I think I'll give Hodgson more than three league games before I start making judgments though.

 

[Buddha]

Cue a disinterested Babel for the remainder of the season.

 

[Insignificance]

[quote author=Buddha link=topic=41702.msg1168327#msg1168327 date=1283327018]
Cue a disinterested Babel for the remainder of the season.

[/quote]

Well it is not like he is pulling out 90 mins shifts week in and week out is it? He has played one half this season, and he did score a nice goal. If he does that every time he plays a half this season he can be as disinterested as he fucking wants for me.

 

[Avmenon]

[quote author=Buddha link=topic=41702.msg1168327#msg1168327 date=1283327018]
Cue a disinterested Babel for the remainder of the season.

[/quote]

Insig has a point.

He's got a chance now, if he's too upset to want to take it then it can't be helped.

He could have gone to Brum for 10 million last year and he chose not to, so fuck it.

 

[the_khl]

[quote author=Buddha link=topic=41702.msg1168327#msg1168327 date=1283327018]
Cue a disinterested Babel for the remainder of the season.

[/quote]
Well.. at least the helicopter is gone.

 

[jexykrodic]

I'm glad we missed Cole. I don't think he's very good and it smacked of desperation.

 

[the count]

I think one of our most imprtant transfers in this summer will be Peter Brunkner.

If he is as good of medic as is claimed and he is able to keep Nando, Stevie et all fit for the maojority of the season, then he will be worth his weight in gold.

With Torres and Gerrard in the team we are a top four side, without them the standard of the team falls of a cliff and is probably at best mid table.

Do your stuff Peter.

 

[Fabio]

[quote author=the count link=topic=41702.msg1168364#msg1168364 date=1283330502]
I think one of our most imprtant transfers in this summer will be Peter Brunkner.

If he is as good of medic as is claimed and he is able to keep Nando, Stevie et all fit for the maojority of the season, then he will be worth his weight in gold.

With Torres and Gerrard in the team we are a top four side, without them the standard of the team falls of a cliff and is probably at best mid table.

Do your stuff Peter.
[/quote]

completely bang on. This is why i'm optimistic we could get 3/4 a season out of torres

 

[LadyRed]

[quote author=Loch Ness Monster link=topic=41702.msg1168155#msg1168155 date=1283287990]
Come on Wilko, this renegade impression does not suit. Leave that to the likes of Grjt or Anita.
[/quote]

Whaaaa?

 

[kingjulian]

As some one rightly said....it's just fucking Carlton Cole anyway.

Much ado about nothing.........

 

[grjt]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=41702.msg1168147#msg1168147 date=1283287570]
Wilko - you were asked to pack it in mate so please do so.
[/quote]

Poster not allowed to tell other poster to "Fuck Off"....Mod allowed to call posters "Dickheads" AND to "Fuck Off". I want to be a mod - theres nothing like a good "Fook off, ya fuckin dickhead".....or double standards.

At the risk of aggravating Brendan et al more with the "Yes theyre not the best signings, but COMPARATIVELY...." line, it really hasnt been the worst transfer window, and its certainly a hell of a lot better than I expected it to be (due mainly to the players we kept than the players we signed).

I think that the squad is, overall, stronger than it was - put it this way, mid summer - my feeling was we had no chance of top 4, now - reasonable chance.

 

[peterhague]

[quote author=grjt link=topic=41702.msg1168666#msg1168666 date=1283352173]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=41702.msg1168147#msg1168147 date=1283287570]
Wilko - you were asked to pack it in mate so please do so.
[/quote]

Poster not allowed to tell other poster to "Fuck Off"....Mod allowed to call posters "Dickheads" AND to "Fuck Off". I want to be a mod - theres nothing like a good "Fook off, ya fuckin dickhead".....or double standards.

At the risk of aggravating Brendan et al more with the "Yes theyre not the best signings, but COMPARATIVELY...." line, it really hasnt been the worst transfer window, and its certainly a hell of a lot better than I expected it to be (due mainly to the players we kept than the players we signed).

I think that the squad is, overall, stronger than it was - put it this way, mid summer - my feeling was we had no chance of top 4, now - reasonable chance.
[/quote]



i don't give us any chance of the top 4, personally. utd, chelsea and arsenal are virtually certain to finish above us, leaving one place to fight for. as spurs and man city are both better than us, we're left hoping for city to completely implode under the weight of their squad, and spurs to do likewise under the weight of their CL commitments.

i just can't see any realistic chance of the top 4, but hopefully europa league qualification should be within our means.

 

[grjt]

[quote author=peterhague link=topic=41702.msg1168671#msg1168671 date=1283353668]
[quote author=grjt link=topic=41702.msg1168666#msg1168666 date=1283352173]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=41702.msg1168147#msg1168147 date=1283287570]
Wilko - you were asked to pack it in mate so please do so.
[/quote]

Poster not allowed to tell other poster to "Fuck Off"....Mod allowed to call posters "Dickheads" AND to "Fuck Off". I want to be a mod - theres nothing like a good "Fook off, ya fuckin dickhead".....or double standards.

At the risk of aggravating Brendan et al more with the "Yes theyre not the best signings, but COMPARATIVELY...." line, it really hasnt been the worst transfer window, and its certainly a hell of a lot better than I expected it to be (due mainly to the players we kept than the players we signed).

I think that the squad is, overall, stronger than it was - put it this way, mid summer - my feeling was we had no chance of top 4, now - reasonable chance.
[/quote]



i don't give us any chance of the top 4, personally. utd, chelsea and arsenal are virtually certain to finish above us, leaving one place to fight for. as spurs and man city are both better than us, we're left hoping for city to completely implode under the weight of their squad, and spurs to do likewise under the weight of their CL commitments.

i just can't see any realistic chance of the top 4, but hopefully europa league qualification should be within our means.
[/quote]

I understand your stance, but the fact that we now actually have a left back, options so that we dont have to pick Lucas, and someone who is creative in the final 3rd, has got to have improved our chances.

 

[Sunny]

Actually grjt, I received my warning yesterday from the rest of the mods. Just like any other poster. So you're wrong on the double standards. I'm sure thats very dissappointing for you.

 

[peterhague]

hmmm, i'm not sure really. i think it's possible that our first XI is better than last year, although only very marginally given mascher's departure, but city have strenghtened hugely. i think our best chance is hodgson proving a much better manager than i and a lot of other people give him credit for. if his management can galvanise a team that seemed lost last year, then that benefit could be enough to give us the 10 or so extra points we need to make a fight of it.

the problem with that, though, is that we'll probably be halfway through the season before it takes effect, and too far behind.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=peterhague link=topic=41702.msg1168683#msg1168683 date=1283354717]
hmmm, i'm not sure really. i think it's possible that our first XI is better than last year, although only very marginally given mascher's departure, but city have strenghtened hugely. i think our best chance is hodgson proving a much better manager than i and a lot of other people give him credit for. if his management can galvanise a team that seemed lost last year, then that benefit could be enough to give us the 10 or so extra points we need to make a fight of it.

the problem with that, though, is that we'll probably be halfway through the season before it takes effect, and too far behind.
[/quote]

I think our season is more dependent of the fitness levels of the key players than the management of roy (no disrespect to roy meant).

 

[grjt]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=41702.msg1168677#msg1168677 date=1283354365]
Actually grjt, I received my warning yesterday from the rest of the mods. Just like any other poster. So you're wrong on the double standards. I'm sure thats very dissappointing for you.
[/quote]

No feelings either way - you were the one that wigged out mate.