Re: The Football Chat Thread : Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:06 pm  

Think Arsenal have done really well and could now really challenge Liverpool for the fourth place championship.
Gervinho, Park, Santos, Mertesacker, Arteta and Benayoun for about the price of Andy Carroll I think.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:33 pm  

I'm a bit mixed on our activity this summer. We seem stronger for it, but I'm unsure if we've really got value for money. The true test will be this season, if we finish 4th, then it's well spent, if we don't, questions will be asked. Still think we should have kept Raul, he's a good player who offers versatility and strong technical ability. Henderson and Adam will eventually struggle for periods, having him here as an assurance - add Gerrard's sketchy fitness into the equation - would have made us stronger than £12m sitting in the bank, but ah well. A lot of money off the wage bill this summer, which is definitely good news.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:34 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

Think Arsenal have done really well and could now really challenge Liverpool for the fourth place championship.
Gervinho, Park, Santos, Mertesacker, Arteta and Benayoun for about the price of Andy Carroll I think.

Much better looking squad, a lot more solid and much improved. Arteta will be a good signing for them, he's obviously not Fabregas but he's a good player, he's a game changer and can pick out a pass. He'll look much better in their midfield than ours, Evertonian's will look to his post injury form and the injuries he's picked up but he's playing in a midfield which has a lot less ability than Arsenal have.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:38 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

I'm a bit mixed on our activity this summer. We seem stronger for it, but I'm unsure if we've really got value for money. The true test will be this season, if we finish 4th, then it's well spent, if we don't, questions will be asked. Still think we should have kept Raul, he's a good player who offers versatility and strong technical ability. Henderson and Adam will eventually struggle for periods, having him here as an assurance - add Gerrard's sketchy fitness into the equation - would have made us stronger than £12m sitting in the bank, but ah well. A lot of money off the wage bill this summer, which is definitely good news.

I don't think it's all that bad losing Meireles, he's been sketchy form wise hasn't he? his best days seemed to be in the games from the derby onwards when he had his scoring run and didn't seem too bad. I've always thought he seemed a solid player who'd do a good job when needed but you were over ran with midfielders and it isn't a bad fee, had it come earlier in the day you might have been able to do something with it. A good mate of mine is a season ticket holder and he's said for a while he seemed an average sort, good squad player type. He's not over fussed on seeing him go.

Meireles aside Ngog, Poulsen and Cole going are good deals, some deadwood offloaded and as you say some money off the wage bill. Not a bad looking squad you've assembled.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:31 am  

Catalancs wrote:

Steal that. Liverpool fans claiming he was nothing more than a decent squad player

Benitez prodigy Phillipe Degen contract mutually cancelled and allowed to leave.

What was he then? Because he wasn't getting the 11 everyweek.

Hope it goes well for him ala Torres and Yossi..

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:35 am  

Roddy B wrote:

I'm a bit mixed on our activity this summer. We seem stronger for it, but I'm unsure if we've really got value for money. The true test will be this season, if we finish 4th, then it's well spent, if we don't, questions will be asked. Still think we should have kept Raul, he's a good player who offers versatility and strong technical ability. Henderson and Adam will eventually struggle for periods, having him here as an assurance - add Gerrard's sketchy fitness into the equation - would have made us stronger than £12m sitting in the bank, but ah well. A lot of money off the wage bill this summer, which is definitely good news.

Just a little bit stronger Rob just a little bit..

Its a totally different side to 12 months ago and if we need to add someone in Jan we will.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:07 am  

Liverpools summer has been just as much about getting rid of all the deadwood as it was to get new players in.

You've only got to look at the transfers out to know they've been pretty successful.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:02 am  

Roddy B wrote:

I'm a bit mixed on our activity this summer. We seem stronger for it, but I'm unsure if we've really got value for money. The true test will be this season, if we finish 4th, then it's well spent, if we don't, questions will be asked. Still think we should have kept Raul, he's a good player who offers versatility and strong technical ability. Henderson and Adam will eventually struggle for periods, having him here as an assurance - add Gerrard's sketchy fitness into the equation - would have made us stronger than £12m sitting in the bank, but ah well. A lot of money off the wage bill this summer, which is definitely good news.

Is it true you are paying 60% of Cole's wages?

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:04 am  

PAUL M wrote:

Is it true you are paying 60% of Cole's wages?

Yep, however it's still a saving of £2.5m I believe.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:09 am  

PAUL M wrote:

Is it true you are paying 60% of Cole's wages?

Yes, I read also online that we get first refusual on Edin Hazard for 2012 as part of the loan deal.