Summer 2013 Transfer Thread

[J-V]

Lets buy Lamela before the Spuds do when/if Bale leaves.

[Bjornebye]

Costa is exactly what we need but the LIARS don't want to spend unless the sell more of our key players.

 

Apparently FSG are trying to sell Agger to Barcelona, as they can't sell Skrtel. Disgusting LIARS.

 

What have they lied about

[bossy]

From the grauniad apologies if its been posted before.

 

 

In retrospect, appointing Arrigo Sacchi as technical director of Real Madrid in 2004-05 was probably never going to be a raging success. He was the high priest of the team game, placing the structure of his pressing above all else, demanding players subjugate themselves to the system. The galácticos squad was a monument to individualism and celebrity, while the policy of "Zidanes y Pavones" was the definition of what Sacchi opposed in football.

 

"It was about managing the characteristics of individuals," he said. "And that's why you see the proliferation of specialists. The individual trumped the collective. But it's a sign of weakness. It's reactive, not proactive. We were like that at Real Madrid. There is no project, it was about exploiting qualities. So, for example, at Real, we knew that Zidane, Raúl and Figo didn't track back, so we had to put a guy in front of the back four who would defend. But that's reactionary football. It doesn't multiply the players' qualities exponentially. Which actually is the point of tactics: to achieve this multiplier effect on the players' abilities.

 

"In my football, the regista - the playmaker - is whoever had the ball. But if you have Makelele, he can't do that. He doesn't have the ideas to do it, though of course, he's great at winning the ball. It's all about specialists. Is football a collective and harmonious game? Or is it a question of putting X amount of talented players in and balancing them out with Y amount of specialists?"

 

Some clubs do stand for collectivity and harmony: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona all have a clear philosophy in which the team is paramount, and it is no coincidence that they have been the most successful sides over the past few years. But in the era of the superclub, as football essentially becomes the entertainment wing of the oil industry, it increasingly seems that transfers become almost an end in themselves, with little thought to the overall tactical picture.

 

For the new money that makes sense. How better for Monaco to alert the world to their arrival back in the French top flight than by picking up one of the most sought-after strikers in the game, signing Radamel Falcao for £50m or so. Look at us, that signing said: we are a major force, the sort of club who can attract top talent and pay big money. Manchester City did it with Robinho. It's the signing as advertisement.

 

Paris Saint-Germain, though, perhaps are still locked in the same mentality. Buying Zlatan Ibrahimovic last season was their way of announcing themselves, but with a squad that already contains Ezequiel Lavezzi, it's hard to understand where Edinson Cavani fits, particularly not given the presence of Javier Pastore, Lucas Moura, Jérémy Ménez and Marco Verratti at the club. Is there a rationale behind it, or did they just sign the Uruguayan because he was available and they know he's a good player?

 

But what's really baffling is when fans start demanding transfers almost for the sake of it, as though they need a £30m deal every summer just to convince themselves they still support a big club. You see it on deadline day each window, people taking to Twitter and comments sections to berate their club for not being involved - when of course the truth is that, in the vast majority of cases, deals done on deadline day are hurried and not necessarily well-conceived. Or take the reaction among some Manchester United fans to the signing of Shinji Kagawa last season: there was a discussion to be had about his ability and his capacity to adapt, about where he'd fit in the team, but at least some expressed frustration he was "only" an £18m player. The urge to sign Cesc Fábregas seems to follow a similar logic: that United must somehow "prove" they are backing David Moyes by making a glamour signing.

 

Or take Arsenal's sudden desire to spend, something so all-consuming that even Mikel Arteta has started talking about how exciting it is to be competing for big-name players. Arsenal, of course, have not actually signed anybody yet beyond the annual France youth international, but with others there is a horrible sense of clubs rushing around buying anything they clap their eyes on: a Mies van der Rohe chair here, a Turner seascape there, chuck in a Le Corbusier sofa, a Persian carpet and an Isamu Noguchi table - does it all fit together? Never mind, that's what Claudio's for.

 

This is the transfer as comfort food. Would Real Madrid be talking about breaking transfer records for Gareth Bale if they'd won la Liga or the Champions League last season? Or is this a way of convincing themselves that, despite the rise of the Bundesliga and the wave of cash running through the Premier League as a result of the new TV deal, they are still the big boys? There's a reason the curve rises so steeply when it comes to the most expensive players and that is vanity: the value of the deal is itself part of the value and so at the top end of the market there is a self-inflationary effect.

 

In no direct sense - footballing or commercial - can Bale be worth getting on for double Falcao or Cavani, but for pumping the self-image of Madrid he's ideal. But what seems to have been overlooked is the issue of exactly how he would fit in a side with Cristiano Ronaldo, or what the impact for Real Madrid might be of losing the industrious counterbalance of Angel di María.

 

Even Barcelona have perhaps gone down that route. After the embarrassment of losing 7-0 over the two legs of their semi-final against Bayern Munich, they brought forward the signing of Neymar from Santos: a star name to soothe a bruised ego. Talented as he undoubtedly is, though, there has been little evidence in his performances either for Brazil or at club level that he can become a cog in the wheel, that he can perform his defensive duties responsibly.

 

Dortmund and Bayern both seem to have bought sensibly, answering specific needs in their squad, while the Brendan Rodgers project at Liverpool, however clouded it may be in guruspeak, has the virtue of being a project, of buying a particular type of player to fit an overall scheme. But actually, the club who have probably performed best so far in the transfer market are Manchester City.

 

The club were much mocked for saying Roberto Mancini had been sacked as part of a drive to a more "holistic" approach, but the coherence of their philosophy is becoming increasingly clear.

 

The chief executive Ferran Soriano said in March that City would look to bring in "three or four players" and that he felt they had made the squad bigger but not better the previous summer. Sure enough, four major players have arrived: none of them perhaps are absolutely stellar names but the role of each in the squad is clear.

 

Fernandinho adds a creative edge from deep and can release Yaya Touré; Jesús Navas adds pace and penetration on the right; Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic relieve the pressure on Sergio Agüero, Negredo offering muscularity and goals and Jovetic technical ability and cover not just at centre-forward but as a second striker or a wide man.

 

Theirs has been a calm, coherent spree. Perhaps, given the determined Luddism that still governs large parts of English footballing culture, "holistic" wasn't the wisest choice of words, but as others snatch at stars, they have taken a major step towards the harmonious style that has brought success to Barcelona and Bayern.

[PaulMcC]

What have they lied about

 

We can compete with anyone for any player.

[shouter]

We can compete with anyone for any player.

 

Kenny Dalglish position as manager is safe.2 weeks later he's on his way to Boston to pick up his p45

[FrenchEyeGlass]

Brendan has come out today (well, on an interview with lfc.tv) and said that we want to bring in some top quality signings and we have the money to do so. He added the caveat that it depends on the 'talent being there' and that he won't spend the money for the sake of it.

 

Personally I find it hard to believe that throughout the whole world of football there isn't a player who can improve us and that we could sign - especially when Stewart bloody Downing is a starter. Surely our scouts have got a few targets in mind - what else do they get paid for?

[Dr. J]

What if people simply don't want to come here? If the club inquires about a player and they are told he doesn't want to come they're not likely to report that - it would make the club look bad.

 

No matter what Rodgers says, or believes, we certainly look like a club in decline. That's a tough sell, unless we're willing to pay massive wages.

[Batigol]

We could easily improve on a number of players so the line can't attract players just doesn't wash.

 

There wasn't even a bid made for the one 'marquee' player we've been heavily linked with. Starting to believe we spent the budget in January tbh.

[dickie mint]

Brendan has come out today (well, on an interview with lfc.tv) and said that we want to bring in some top quality signings and we have the money to do so. He added the caveat that it depends on the 'talent being there' and that he won't spend the money for the sake of it.

 

Personally I find it hard to believe that throughout the whole world of football there isn't a player who can improve us and that we could sign - especially when Stewart bloody Downing is a starter. Surely our scouts have got a few targets in mind - what else do they get paid for?

 

 

 

He said yesterday

"We want to have top players here but if for whatever reason we don't,we will always know we can rely on the team and each other.

They'll probably be another interview tomorrow.

[Dracco]

Report: Martin Skrtel set for £1.7m Napoli loan move with £8.6m option to buy - Liverpool FC This Is Anfield - Liverpool FC This Is Anfield

 

Reports in Italy this afternoon (Thursday) suggest Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is nearing a season long loan-move to Napoli, with a €10million option to make the deal permanent at the end of 2013/14.

 

Calciospot24.it report that Sportmediaset say Skrtel will complete the move in the next few days.

 

Skrtel looks to be following goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who swapped Anfield for the Serie A club earlier this week. Former Reds boss Rafa Benitez has been linked with bringing Skrtel to the South Italy side for some time.

 

The Slovakian international defender fell out of favour with Reds boss Brendan Rodgers last season, starting just four League games since the turn of the year.

 

Veteran defender Jamie Carragher was preferred to Skrtel to partner Daniel Agger in the Reds’ central defence, before his retirement at the end of the season.

 

Skrtel has made 206 appearances for Liverpool since signing from Zenit St Petersburg in January 2008, scoring 9 times.

 

Should Skrtel complete the move, as we proved yesterday, Liverpool will have slashed a massive £500,000 off their weekly wage bill.

Rodgers will surely make a new central defender his priority in the transfer market, with speculation increasing on a move for Schalke’s Kyriakos Papadopolous .

 

Liverpool signed up Ivorian international defender Kolo Toure on a free transfer from Manchester City earlier this summer, but the 32-year-old is expected to be used as back-up to Agger and a younger central defensive partner.

 

Is Skrtel on 100+ weekly?

[Bjornebye]

Report: Martin Skrtel set for £1.7m Napoli loan move with £8.6m option to buy - Liverpool FC This Is Anfield - Liverpool FC This Is Anfield

 

Reports in Italy this afternoon (Thursday) suggest Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is nearing a season long loan-move to Napoli, with a €10million option to make the deal permanent at the end of 2013/14.

 

Calciospot24.it report that Sportmediaset say Skrtel will complete the move in the next few days.

 

Skrtel looks to be following goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who swapped Anfield for the Serie A club earlier this week. Former Reds boss Rafa Benitez has been linked with bringing Skrtel to the South Italy side for some time.

 

The Slovakian international defender fell out of favour with Reds boss Brendan Rodgers last season, starting just four League games since the turn of the year.

 

Veteran defender Jamie Carragher was preferred to Skrtel to partner Daniel Agger in the Reds’ central defence, before his retirement at the end of the season.

 

Skrtel has made 206 appearances for Liverpool since signing from Zenit St Petersburg in January 2008, scoring 9 times.

 

Should Skrtel complete the move, as we proved yesterday, Liverpool will have slashed a massive £500,000 off their weekly wage bill.

Rodgers will surely make a new central defender his priority in the transfer market, with speculation increasing on a move for Schalke’s Kyriakos Papadopolous .

 

Liverpool signed up Ivorian international defender Kolo Toure on a free transfer from Manchester City earlier this summer, but the 32-year-old is expected to be used as back-up to Agger and a younger central defensive partner.

 

Is Skrtel on 100+ weekly?

 

fucking hell

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

fucking hell

 

Considering we've spent quite a bit on wages at the same time, we've not made the £26m a year saving. We might have knocked that off, but we've also signed several players and given several contract extensions. We've definitely saved, but I'd imagine, at best, it's half that. I'd say we've improved whilst doing it, so I'm quite happy with it.

 

If Skrtel is going out, I'd be surprised if we don't get somebody like Papadopoulos in. That'd probably be both a wage saving and an upgrade in quality. I care much less about the former and much more about the latter.

[Josef Svejk]

If true, I'd imagine the Greek is signing...

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

Whilst we're at it, we should snap up Gustavo who would slot into midfield alongside Allen and Gerrard like a dream. Ah, a man can fantasise, can't he?

[dickie mint]

Considering we've spent quite a bit on wages at the same time, we've not made the £26m a year saving. We might have knocked that off, but we've also signed several players and given several contract extensions. We've definitely saved, but I'd imagine, at best, it's half that. I'd say we've improved whilst doing it, so I'm quite happy with it.

 

 

 

What's with the obsession to save cash on wages you still pay the same in the ground and you get no money off it's not fucking Tesco's,the owners are cleaning up not you.

It's getting embarrassing loaning out and loaning in,start giving them praise when they start getting top quality players for the first 11 and less of the praise for their wages cutting.

[Gym Beglin]

If they do sell Bale, they'll pay through the nose for anybody they want. I can't see, say, the mancs selling Rooney to them for less than 60-70 million. I'm not saying he's worth that but that's what they'll demand.

 

They'll have to replace Bale's goals and presence with someone - Soldado may or may not be the one - and that's going to cost.

 

Sometimes the best thing to do is to do nothing.

 

All very true.

 

Spurs are marked, everyone knows they can extort another £10m+ out of them for each signing if they play hardball.

 

So Spurs will have £100m in their pocket, but no CL and no Gareth Bale.

 

Sorry, I fail to see the increased threat. Spurs looked laboured without Bale last season. Soldado, cool, but he's a poacher, he's not remotely a Suarez.

 

How will Spurs line up?

 

------------------Lloris-------------------

Walker-----Vertonghen-Dawson-----Assou Ekotto?

Chadli------Paulinho--Dembele-----Lennon

-------------Soldado--Defoe-----------------

 

Subs: Holtby, Parker, Kaboul, Dempsey, Sigurdsson, Livermore, Sandro, Huddlestone?

 

Sure, they can throw £100m around for the next month but it won't stick on anything quality, and they might squeeze 3 signings out of that money. I'm not at all convinced that Dembele and Paulinho can play in the same team. And they have two strikers, neither of which is World Class, IMHO.

 

I could be proved wrong come May 2014 (please dont come on here in September, after Soldado has 3 goals in 4 games and expect to 'win' the argument based on 4 weeks), but Spurs got into the CL on the back of Bale the first time, and then last year when he was at his peak...they still couldnt qualify for the CL. So losing Bale is one thing, but they also needed to build before he went, let alone after he goes.

 

Exactly the same with us and Suarez, but we've been down for 5 years now, our players are sticking around without CL football each season, whereas it's a new thing for Spurs. If they dont get CL next season then I can well see Dembele and Vertonghen, and perhaps Llori, going bye bye.

[FrenchEyeGlass]

If we're selling Skrtel in order to fund Papa, where in the world has our transfer budget gone?

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

What's with the obsession to save cash on wages

 

It's a vital part of building a successful football team. The first part is to get rid of players who are costing a shit load of money but aren't performing anywhere near the level of the pay.

 

Maybe some are happy for us to pay Aquilani, Maxi, Cole, Aurelio, Degen and Jovanovic earning the best part of £30m every year, but it's one of the main reasons why we were sinking like a stone as a team.

 

It's getting embarrassing loaning out and loaning in,start giving them praise when they start getting top quality players for the first 11 and less of the praise for their wages cutting.

 

Yeah, all this embarrassing loaning of players. Like Reina... and... erm...

[WhiskeyJar]

 

------------------Lloris-------------------

Walker-----Vertonghen-Dawson-----Assou Ekotto?

Chadli------Paulinho--Dembele-----Lennon

-------------Soldado--Defoe-----------------

 

Subs: Holtby, Parker, Kaboul, Dempsey, Sigurdsson, Livermore, Sandro, Huddlestone?

 

So losing Bale is one thing, but they also needed to build before he went, let alone after he goes.

 

Exactly the same with us and Suarez, but we've been down for 5 years now, our players are sticking around without CL football each season, whereas it's a new thing for Spurs. If they dont get CL next season then I can well see Dembele and Vertonghen, and perhaps Llori, going bye bye.

 

Somehow to me, that does not seem like a top 4 team to me. Take Bale out of the equation and they are an average side.

 

Question: If you take out Bales goals last season, how many points would Spurs have amassed?

[dennis tooth]

If we're selling Skrtel in order to fund Papa, where in the world has our transfer budget gone?

 

Shh, how the owners meant to pull the wool over the fans eyes if youre going to ask daft things?

[moof]

 

Somehow to me' date=' that does not seem like a top 4 team to me. Take Bale out of the equation and they are an average side.

 

Question: If you take out Bales goals last season, how many points would Spurs have amassed?[/quote']

 

It's a similar ratio to us with Suarez I think. About 51% of their goals were scored by Bale. He also scored a ridiculous amount of opening goals, winning goals, equalising goals, almost all of his goals last season were important. Crazy season he had. It was almost every week he was winning games for them with world class goals. Hard to replace that.

[Sangria]

Considering we've spent quite a bit on wages at the same time, we've not made the £26m a year saving. We might have knocked that off, but we've also signed several players and given several contract extensions. We've definitely saved, but I'd imagine, at best, it's half that. I'd say we've improved whilst doing it, so I'm quite happy with it.

 

If Skrtel is going out, I'd be surprised if we don't get somebody like Papadopoulos in. That'd probably be both a wage saving and an upgrade in quality. I care much less about the former and much more about the latter.

 

Agree too long we have had overpaid players contributing next to nothing.

 

Surprised i will be amazed. I always thought he would be moved on and another brought in, who I do not know but the one you mention seems to be getting mentioned a lot.

[FrenchEyeGlass]

It's a vital part of building a successful football team. The first part is to get rid of players who are costing a shit load of money but aren't performing anywhere near the level of the pay.

 

Maybe some are happy for us to pay Aquilani, Maxi, Cole, Aurelio, Degen and Jovanovic earning the best part of £30m every year, but it's one of the main reasons why we were sinking like a stone as a team.

 

 

 

Yeah, all this embarrassing loaning of players. Like Reina... and... erm...

 

All very true, but then the second part is reinvesting that money saved in top quality players who are worth it and will win you honours.

 

Until the latter happens (and it certainly hasn't happened in this window thus far), then it means little really. Its similar to sacking a manager. Its only the right thing to do if his replacement is any better, ask Hodgson.

 

I find it astounding that we've not really signed anybody who has seriously improved last year's first team yet. I mean you could argue the case for Mignolet but even that is debatable.

 

Just over two weeks until the start of the season. Not filled with confidence, if i'm honest.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

It's a similar ratio to us with Suarez I think. About 51% of their goals were scored by Bale. He also scored a ridiculous amount of opening goals, winning goals, equalising goals, almost all of his goals last season were important. Crazy season he had. It was almost every week he was winning games for them with world class goals. Hard to replace that.

 

He seemed to earn them a lot of points, and places in the league. If Suarez wasn't in our team, we'd still have finished 7th. I wonder what percentage of our goals Suarez scored after Coutinho and Sturridge started playing for us.

[dickie mint]

It's a vital part of building a successful football team. The first part is to get rid of players who are costing a shit load of money but aren't performing anywhere near the level of the pay.

 

Maybe some are happy for us to pay Aquilani, Maxi, Cole, Aurelio, Degen and Jovanovic earning the best part of £30m every year, but it's one of the main reasons why we were sinking like a stone as a team.

 

 

 

Yeah, all this embarrassing loaning of players. Like Reina... and... erm...

 

 

We are sinking like a stone because of what's on the pitch get that right and it's full steam ahead.