Pepe Reina

[MrMichael]

So much over reaction over the last couple of pages

Yes it does, if Reina doesn't want to sign permanently for anyone (except perhaps for a team that doesn't want to buy him right now).

Exactly. We can't just magic up a buyer, especially if the player does not want to move to many other teams (who so happen not to want him right now). Not sure what else we were supposed to do, we had to buy a replacement for a player who flagrantly has been wanting to move away (and not been in form for some time), and there is no point having a keeper on Reina's wages on the bench for a season.

Is Athletico's keeper any good? I'm wondering if Pepe might go there next year. I'm sure he's on record as saying he wants to play for them.

They have had Courtois on loan from Chelsea for the last 2 (and next season). So yes, really good, but he's not theirs. Would make sense.

I heard there was a loan fee but no contribution to his wages.

That surely would be the first loan in history where the recipient club has not even paid a fraction of the wages?

[Fredo]

This just shows that we put all of out eggs in one basket here.

On the assumption that Reina was off to Barca we've splashed 9 or 10 million on a GK to play it safe. Valdes has then said he isn't leaving, meaning that we've pissed Pepe off and he doesn't want to play second fiddle.

Or he could have stayed on and fought for his place without anyone telling him to go? We don't really know.

[MrMichael]

This just shows that we put all of out eggs in one basket here.

On the assumption that Reina was off to Barca we've splashed 9 or 10 million on a GK to play it safe. Valdes has then said he isn't leaving, meaning that we've pissed Pepe off and he doesn't want to play second fiddle.

How would not having bought another keeper not also have been "putting our eggs in one basket"? Only in that case it would have been a basket with holes in it (wanting to leave and ready to the minute a top Spanish side came calling, plus been rather dodgy for the last couple of years). At least this way we have a hungry, improving keeper who really wants to play for us.

[Reece]

Here's what I think, all based on guesses perhaps but at least that's keeping in the spirit of the thread

1. We were hoping that we'd be able to sell Reina to Barcelona, and he really wanted to go there so it was win-win for both parties. For us - age and wages were an issue (rightly or wrongly).

2. Valdes put a spanner in the works there.

3. We could have persisted with Reina, but we really rated Mignolet and didn't want the opportunity to sign him go by and lose him to someone else, so we did that deal regardless.

4. Reina has made it clear that he would not move permanently to anyone but Barcelona, and that was moot as no one else bid for him anyway.

5. Barcelona have told him/us they'll buy him next summer.

6. Rather than sit on the bench with us, Reina agreed to be re-united with Rafa at Napoli for this season.

7. We get a loan fee which covers his wages, and then a transfer fee next summer when he moves to Barca.

8. Mignolet excels this season and everyone realises what a masterstroke it all was

Simple really

On a separate note, did Pepe ever have his own song? And are we get to nick Sunderland's Mignolet song?

[Fivex]

Here's what I think, all based on guesses perhaps but at least that's keeping in the spirit of the thread

1. We were hoping that we'd be able to sell Reina to Barcelona, and he really wanted to go there so it was win-win for both parties. For us - age and wages were an issue (rightly or wrongly).

2. Valdes put a spanner in the works there.

3. We could have persisted with Reina, but we really rated Mignolet and didn't want the opportunity to sign him go by and lose him to someone else, so we did that deal regardless.

4. Reina has made it clear that he would not move permanently to anyone but Barcelona, and that was moot as no one else bid for him anyway.

5. Barcelona have told him/us they'll buy him next summer.

6. Rather than sit on the bench with us, Reina agreed to be re-united with Rafa at Napoli for this season.

7. We get a loan fee which covers his wages, and then a transfer fee next summer when he moves to Barca.

8. Mignolet excels this season and everyone realises what a masterstroke it all was

Simple really

On a separate note, did Pepe ever have his own song? And are we get to nick Sunderland's Mignolet song?

It's very simple. How anyone can assume otherwise with the limited clues available is beyond me.

Still, it's not as fun when you can't go ape**** at the club for no reason.

[Fredo]

And world cup year has probably put pressure on him, so he has to make sure he plays week in week out. The guarantee wasn't there anymore here.

[spider-neil]

And world cup year has probably put pressure on him, so he has to make sure he plays week in week out. The guarantee wasn't there anymore here.

Pepe has to start week in week out to ensure he is on the bench in Brazil.

[Mark79]

This just shows that we put all of out eggs in one basket here.

On the assumption that Reina was off to Barca we've splashed 9 or 10 million on a GK to play it safe. Valdes has then said he isn't leaving, meaning that we've pissed Pepe off and he doesn't want to play second fiddle.

I think its a combination of Reina wanting to go and LFC thinking his form no longer justified his high wages anyway. I doubt he'd be pissed off at LFC if it was Valdes who caused the move to fall through.

It seems that one way or another, both Reina and the club were in agreement that he would be leaving this summer, so a new GK was brought in.

[Mattimetal]

Good move all round I believe.
I think Reina has not been as good these last 2-3 seasons, making really basic keeping errors, and pulling out very few of his world class saves he was renowned for under Rafa's tenure. It all started going downhill slowly after he chucked the ball in to his own net against Arsenal in Bodge's 1st game. Also Reina has been open to leaving Liverpool for two years now anyway.

I think Mignolet is ready to step up now, particularly since he is in competition for a world cup spot next summer, and he's at a good age to be mature enough with this big move for him.

[Reece]

OptaJoe @OptaJoe 13h
4 - Pepe Reina made 4 errors leading directly to a PL goal last season, only 4 keepers (Al-Habsi, Federici, Hart & Vorm) made more. Loaned?

On the other hand

OptaJoe @OptaJoe 30m
0.47 - Of goalkeepers to play 50+ PL games, Pepe Reina has the second best clean sheet rate (134 in 285 games). Secure.

[paulc]

Well it would give us an idea of how big a bunch of mugs we are.

We?? you dont own the club or sanction deals! you follow a company that just so happens to play football along with making money from people

more important things in life!

[Jaymo]

How would not having bought another keeper not also have been "putting our eggs in one basket"? Only in that case it would have been a basket with holes in it (wanting to leave and ready to the minute a top Spanish side came calling, plus been rather dodgy for the last couple of years). At least this way we have a hungry, improving keeper who really wants to play for us.

I didn't necessarily say that was a bad thing at all, in fact I'm quite happy that we bought Mig. However, at this time it seems that we could have used the money elsewhere

[Red_Polo]

We?? you dont own the club or sanction deals! you follow a company that just so happens to play football along with making money from people

[football:end]

[dom9]

I've just read the last few pages of this thread.

[Mostar]

Na don't buy that, we should sell and reinvest in the first team, if he goes on loan for a season he will never be our first choice again.

Personally that would be only way I'd let him go.

We clearly thought we will have a buyer for him and loaning to Napoli is definitely plan B.

Makes more sense than him sitting on the bench, picking up £100k + week in, week out.

What makes you think that he would be automatically a sub?

Unless BR made up his mind and doesn't care what he sees during training etc Pepe would have as good chances as Mignolet to be a starter next year if he was staying.