Roy Keane - Worst Transfers Ever?

[Maestro]

Oh dear.

Well did you see which filthy rag was reporting it? That's a perfectly acceptable headline for those *****

[Gordy Boy]

Well did you see which filthy rag was reporting it? That's a perfectly acceptable headline for those *****

Ah. No, I hadn't as it goes. Well spotted.

I'll **** the link off and see if someone else has the same story.

[Joe King]

Really?!

Yup its on Yahoo

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/30082007/1/knight-arrested-during-drug-raid.html

[dww]

I think Chopra will do well for them. His movement against us was excellent and he seems to have the right attitude. Some of the other signings are a bit odd but I think some of them will surprise people but in general he has been forced to over pay for all of those players - thats the problem when a chairman comes out and says you have lots of money to spend I guess.

Just thought I would see what I thought of Sunderland's signings I vaguely remembered defending Richardson at some point but I had forgotten this. I can't believe it to be honest - I must of been really impressed by his first few PL games as I wasn't a fan of his at Newcastle or Cardiff.

[dww]

That is a ridiculous value but I would back Keane to make him a decent player. He has great positioning, it's what he does with the ball he needs to work on. I think he is currently a very poor player but he has a lot of potential. £5.5m says more about the market than his ability in my opinion.

The Chopra thing is interesting. There is a real dearth of good strikers about, particularly those capable of handling the physicality of the PL. I suspect he will struggle but I think you have to take a gamble this season as a promoted team on at least one striker who if it works out will make all the difference. I think that Chopra had a better goal record that Nugent in the Championship - who went for a similar fee.

£10m for those two does seem like madness though.

I think as a squad Keane will make them do well. It is going to be a very competitive lower half of the table this year though. I think the fact that Keane has clearly gone for athletic players like Etuhu means that he will look to fight for games and use the pace of Richardson and Chopra on the break.

Um a slightly less daft looking analysis from before the season started I think - makes me feel (a little) better to have found that

[red g]

I was beginning to rate Keane after last season's heroics; however, after his summer spending I'm not too sure.

A fool and his money are easily parted:

Player From Fee Date
Michael Chopra Cardiff £ 5000000 13-07-2007
Kieran Richardson Man Utd £ 5500000 16-07-2007
Dickson Etuhu Norwich £ 1500000 17-07-2007
Paul McShane West Brom £ 2500000 26-07-2007
Craig Gordon Hearts £ 9000000 08-08-2007
Andy Cole Portsmouth Free 24-08-2007
Kenwyne Jones Southampton £ 6000000 29-08-2007
Ian Harte Levante Free 29-08-2007
Danny Higginbotham Stoke £ 2500000 29-08-2007

Total: £ 32000000 on who?

I would say kenyne Jones will be worth 10million in todays crazy market....and will be a hell of a player in a few Years
Etuhu is really finding his feet and starting to look a really good player.
Gordon..Overpriced, but may be quality
Mcshane.....another good purchase

Not convinced on any others......

[Shaggy]

McShane started the season well but he's been absolutely woeful for a good while now and has lost his place in the side.

Keane clearly thinks he’s better than he is. It’s all well and good him posturing as the hardman on the touchline but he’s buys have been predominantly abysmal.

[Tee]

McShane has to be the worst defender I have ever seen in the Prem. Seriously. He is ****e. Makes Bramble look like Bobby Moore.

[Resu]

I can`t understand why he doesn`t look outside the UK. There are a lot of players capable of playing in the PL available at a OK price. It could be he doesn`t have the necessary network, but it shouldn`t be impossible to get better player for the same money.

[Slim]

McShane has to be the worst defender I have ever seen in the Prem. Seriously. He is ****e. Makes Bramble look like Bobby Moore.

Nah, that Brazilian fella at Newcastle who looks like Errol Brown from Hot Chocolate is the worst defender I've seen in ages.

[Gingawaria]

Nah, that Brazilian fella at Newcastle who looks like Errol Brown from Hot Chocolate is the worst defender I've seen in ages.

Cacapa?

Never has there been a more appropriately named footballer! I had to laugh when the guys on Setanta where pronouncing it as Cassapa.

[Tee]

Cacapa?

Never has there been a more appropriately named footballer! I had to laugh when the guys on Setanta where pronouncing it as Cassapa.

I know, that winds me up. But IMO McShane is worse by a long way. He even looks totally lost and out of it.. and being ginger doesn't help either....

[Alpha]

Cacapa?

Never has there been a more appropriately named footballer! I had to laugh when the guys on Setanta where pronouncing it as Cassapa.

Casapa is the correct pronounciation.

The portuguese 'ç' sounds like the English 's'.

[dww]

McShane started the season well but he's been absolutely woeful for a good while now and has lost his place in the side.

Keane clearly thinks he’s better than he is. It’s all well and good him posturing as the hardman on the touchline but he’s buys have been predominantly abysmal.

Looking back now and having seen more of the Sunderland team the gambles on Jones and Richardson (although the latter was expensive) were the type they needed. Adding a lot in terms of attacking play.

They threw money away in a lot of the other transfers on average players seemingly because they were more athletic than the ones they already had. I agree generally his purchases considering the outlay he has made have made a minimal difference to his side.

Resu raises an interesting point about the lack of foreign players. Although Keane has several times bemoaned that a lot of his targets have not come as they aren't fans of Sunderland. Maybe they are paying bigger fees and lower wages as a deliberate policy and as such just can't attract good enough foreign players. Or possible Keane feels it is easier to integrate players who have already been in English football or as was suggested doesn't have the scouting network to identify good targets.