rafa

[Ch3tan]

Does anyone else think the way benitez goes about his transfer dealings is very underhand?

Liverpool have got Robbie Keane now, and seemingly left Barry out in the cold.

 

[sayward]

I read this cos I thought you were talking about Nadal...............

 

[Wazzerphuk]

If Liverpool's attempt at breaking into the top 3 is going to consist of Robbie Keane, a Tottenham striker, Rafa must have really lost his nut.

 

[Yaka]

this nowt compared to shit he pulled trying to sign gabby heinze.

 

[Rubric]

This is liverpool trying to hang onto 4th. They can't even begin to imagine top three

 

[Scouse]

Does anyone else think the way benitez goes about his transfer dealings is very underhand?

Liverpool have got Robbie Keane now, and seemingly left Barry out in the cold.

Keane's a cracking player. Wish we had him a couple of seasons ago.

Maybe we'll still get Barry but frankly he's way overpriced.


As for the dealings being "underhand" - bear with me:

I've said for a long time that you can't run your sporting institutions based on the capitalist business model without ruining the competition.

The "Premiership" is perfect proof of this. You're certainly not going to be seeing Norwich, for example, winning it ever again.

Winning is everything ("taking part" sucks balls) - and there's only 4 clubs with realisitic ambitions of topping the league. It'd take a monumental run of exceptional luck or a VERY rich businessman to change this.

Now, nobody seems to be up in arms about this fact. That all the money in the game has fucked football for the fans of the other clubs - who know deep down that the height of their ambitions are the odd cup win. Even Newcastle, with their fanbase, and with Keegan's own admission know this.

No - what happens is people bitch and moan about transfer dealings because they're unhappy with the way things are. Doing so is futile when the actual problem is the money in the game which means that clubs CAN act like this.

Instead of bitching about this utterly pointless twaddle (ALL the big clubs *cough*mancscum*cough* do this and aren't going to stop) - bitch about the premiership being about as exciting as a night out in Scunthorpe instead...

 

[Scouse]

this nowt compared to shit he pulled trying to sign gabby heinze.

Lets see. You didn't want heinze. He hates mancs. Liverpool's a much more fun city for nightlife so he decides to play for us.

Rednose goes apeshit whilst Liverpool fans chuckle to their hearts content. If we'd have signed him it would have been both funny and great - but as it was it was just funny to watch Ferguson piss his kilt

 

[Turamber]

Does anyone else think the way benitez goes about his transfer dealings is very underhand?

I certainly do, as does every other Villa fan out there. Talking openly about other team's contracted players, leaking stories of bids to the press ... the man is a complete tool.

Thankfully he'll be out on his ear at the end of this season, he simply has to produce a title or a Champion's League win but he just doesn't have the squad to do it.

The guy has spent untold millions on some seriously average players.

I'm glad MON is playing hardball with him over Barry. Barry keeps both Hargreaves and Carrick out of the England squad so either pay up or go elsewhere Mr Benitez.

 

[ECA]

Those railing against the premiership/we because only 4 clubs have a shot are a bit spastic.

Look at other european countries where only 1 or perhaps 2 clubs have dominated the last decade or two, at least we have FOUR clubs that can compete for the top spot rather than one that wins 90% except when some freak statistical anomaly occurs and they lose a season.

 

[Scouse]

It'd be quite funny if the deal falls through.

We save £18million (which is 6million too much, frankly) and you get to keep a player who says "it's over" for him at Villa.

Get used to it. The bottom half of the premiership is now made up of "feeder" clubs. If you don't like it put salary caps and new ownership rules in place - that's the only thing that'll change it...

 

[Scouse]

Those railing against the premiership/we because only 4 clubs have a shot are a bit spastic.

Look at other european countries where only 1 or perhaps 2 clubs have dominated the last decade or two, at least we have FOUR clubs that can compete for the top spot rather than one that wins 90% except when some freak statistical anomaly occurs and they lose a season.

Those with longer memories remember football when it was competetive. The above is the opinion of someone who doesn't have those memories...

 

[ECA]

Those with longer memories remember football when it was competetive. The above is the opinion of someone who doesn't have those memories...

/zzzzzz

 

[Scouse]

good comeback

 

[ECA]

Well I thought your comment was beyond silly, so fnar.

 

[Turamber]

It'd be quite funny if the deal falls through.

We save £18million (which is 6million too much, frankly) and you get to keep a player who says "it's over" for him at Villa.

Get used to it. The bottom half of the premiership is now made up of "feeder" clubs.

Both the players I mentioned above went for around the £18 million mark, so it's not as if the figure was plucked out of thin air. We don't want to sell and Barry showed at the weekend that he was willing to play, no silly strike talk from him - he is too much of a pro for that.

And as for being from "the bottom half of the premiership" we finished two places behind Liverpool. Two places with a team with one of the worst goalkeepers I've seen in my life (Carson) and no right back. If MON would only pull his finger out this transfer window we'll see who laughs last this coming season...

 

[Scouse]

Both the players I mentioned above went for around the £18 million mark, so it's not as if the figure was plucked out of thin air. We don't want to sell and Barry showed at the weekend that he was willing to play, no silly strike talk from him - he is too much of a pro for that.

And as for being from "the bottom half of the premiership" we finished two places behind Liverpool. Two places with a team with one of the worst goalkeepers I've seen in my life (Carson) and no right back. If MON would only pull his finger out this transfer window we'll see who laughs last this coming season...

Both players went for £18 million because they're English - and English players are overpriced. They also went to Man U who can afford to blow 70 million/season over and above what they recoup in sales. Only Chelski can outspend them.

Villa finished sixteen points behind us - the same massive gulf that exists between Liverpool and Man U at the moment. You need to beat that this season to beat us. If that's realistic in your mind then I'm very happy - because that gives Liverpool a shot at the top!

The job's bigger than just buying a couple of players. It's all about money and biggest pot wins.

Even Liverpool and Arsenal can't compete at the very top of the market so both clubs are investing in strong youth teams and are relying on their scouting departments to do great work there - no point in spending heavily there if your scouts can't pick out talent.

They then introduce youth talent and sell first team players to create funds for the big money transfers.

For this level of investment they get to finish top 4 and still have a squad to compete in the Champions League and both domestic cups.


Your Villas and Man City's and below may well be able to break top four in the premiership but don't have the level of investment to be able to fight successfully on four fronts. Too add to that - even if you've got a first-team squad of superstars the current top 4's strength in depth mean that over the course of the whole season injuries can play a big part.

Not saying it can't happen, just saying that it's getting harder as time and aggregation of wealth goes on.....

 

[Draylor]

Those railing against the premiership/we because only 4 clubs have a shot are a bit spastic.

4? Bollocks you do.

3.

Max.

 

[Scouse]

Reds and Villa 'agree Barry fee'...

 

[Stimpy]

Reds and Villa 'agree Barry fee'...

I hope thats not true 17.5mil plus Finnan is way overpriced, I'd prefer we waited until next season when Barry can buyout his contract for 2million and we can save ourselves a hell of alot of cash.

 

[Calaen]

I hope thats not true 17.5mil plus Finnan is way overpriced, I'd prefer we waited until next season when Barry can buyout his contract for 2million and we can save ourselves a hell of alot of cash.

Over priced? rafa asking for 15 million for Crouch (granted they only got 10)they also asked for a silly amount for Alonso as well.

 

[Stimpy]

Over priced? rafa asking for 15 million for Crouch (granted they only got 10)they also asked for a silly amount for Alonso as well.

You said it yourself he asked for 15million and only got 10, as for Alonso hes priced at about 15million I'd say hes worth about that much - Barry certainly isn't worth 5million more.

 

[Draylor]

A fiver for Crouch would be overpriced.

 

[gohan]

unfortunatly


BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Aston Villa | Villa call off Barry move to Reds


also i rate keane, but id much rather of used that 20 mill and a bit more and go for some1 thats pure class like david villa, buying good players at med-highprices wont get you the same results at buying 1-2 exceptional players at extortionate prices



yes it means you can fight on 4 fronts


but not win any of them

 

[Ch3tan]

david villa is not pure class compared to Keane though, Villa is unproven in the premiership and could be a total flop. Keane was delivering the goods for spurs even when they were playing shite (read about 3/4 of last season )

 

[Trem]

I like Keane, have done since his Leeds days.

He goes out, tries his heart out and goes home. None of the other bullshit that comes with most footballers nowadays.

I can see Arsenal struggling this season though, maybe top 6 is being generous.

I also think Alan Smith is under rated and often over looked as well, he reminds me of a cross between Scholes and Keane.

 

[DaGaffer]

yes it means you can fight on 4 fronts


but not win any of them

Don't think its as clear-cut as that; the best managers can can do more with the merely good than an average manager can do with a few really greats. Benitez is poor at getting the most out of his players over the full course of a season (witness his dodgy early-season rotation policy and over-reliance on statistical analysis); Fergie is generally better at keeping a keeping a spine of a team and rotating around that; and he also invests in making average players into good utility players; United have a better knack of playing players "out of position" than just about anyone else; Rafa doesn't seem to want to develop players in the same way. Its why Fergie and Wenger are a cut above the rest.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

The "Premiership" is perfect proof of this. You're certainly not going to be seeing Norwich, for example, winning it ever again.

Norwich have never won the Premiership. Are you perhaps thinking of Blackburn?

 

[Scouse]

Norwich have never won the Premiership. Are you perhaps thinking of Blackburn?

I was waiting for that. Some people seem to think that the Premiership has somehow reset the scores for league wins. I'm forever hearing Manc fans saying "yeah, but you've never won the premiership"... like it's some "special" trophy that's better than winning the league.


It doesn't matter what it's fucking called. It's the top division. And yep, Norwich never won it but that's hardly the point and I think you know it

 

[JingleBells]

I was waiting for that. Some people seem to think that the Premiership has somehow reset the scores for league wins. I'm forever hearing Manc fans saying "yeah, but you've never won the premiership"... like it's some "special" trophy that's better than winning the league.


It doesn't matter what it's fucking called. It's the top division. And yep, Norwich never won it but that's hardly the point and I think you know it

But Norwich have never won the top division either

 

[Yaka]

I like Keane, have done since his Leeds days.

He goes out, tries his heart out and goes home. None of the other bullshit that comes with most footballers nowadays.

youre rright about the bullshit bit. when edgar davids was at spurs him and robbie keane had a spat, davids asked him out side for a fight and keane floored him with one punch