Andy Carroll - Best Striker in the World

[RichC]

Dont think anyone would dispute that. I think matt's viewpoint is that the players we've signed arent of the quality required, to get us back into the top four.

Whether people agree or not, he's entitled to that opinion, without it having to be translated into there being a 'problem' with his calculations or his idea of where we want to be.

Sometimes i get the feeling that we could have signed Titus Bramble, and some people would've built him up as the next Baresi and a brilliant signing.

So you're agreeing people should and can have differing opinions on here ? interesting!

[Exiled_red]

Dont think anyone would dispute that. I think matt's viewpoint is that the players we've signed arent of the quality required, to get us back into the top four.

Whether people agree or not, he's entitled to that opinion, without it having to be translated into there being a 'problem' with his calculations or his idea of where we want to be.

Sometimes i get the feeling that we could have signed Titus Bramble, and some people would've built him up as the next Baresi and a brilliant signing.

I think realistically we can agree that the players we have signed aren't most technically gifted players out there. But I think there is more to the game than that. In the past we have signed some very gifted technical players but for a large part we haven't known what to do with them (in recent years Cole, Babel, Kewell etc) most of them have ended up playing out of position and as a result haven't performed.

I think that Kenny is trying to build a team that is greater than the sum of it's parts, in the past for me the problem with our side has been that the team has been less than the sum of its parts.

[RichC]

I think realistically we can agree that the players we have signed aren't most technically gifted players out there. But I think there is more to the game than that. In the past we have signed some very gifted technical players but for a large part we haven't known what to do with them (in recent years Cole, Babel, Kewell etc) most of them have ended up playing out of position and as a result haven't performed.

I think that Kenny is trying to build a team that is greater than the sum of it's parts, in the past for me the problem with our side has been that the team has been less than the sum of its parts.

Hard to say how this will all pan out though until we see them in a competitive game, got good feelings about this season but until we see the first game it's a bit of a guessing game both in terms of how much we've actually improved and even who the first 11 will be

[Craig_H]

So you're agreeing people should and can have differing opinions on here ? interesting!

Of course. Some things are pretty factual though - like the fact that hardly anyone was salivating at the idea of signing Downing - until we started getting seriously linked.

And as for henderson....the point is even more valid.

[Craig_H]

I think realistically we can agree that the players we have signed aren't most technically gifted players out there. But I think there is more to the game than that. In the past we have signed some very gifted technical players but for a large part we haven't known what to do with them (in recent years Cole, Babel, Kewell etc) most of them have ended up playing out of position and as a result haven't performed.

I think that Kenny is trying to build a team that is greater than the sum of it's parts, in the past for me the problem with our side has been that the team has been less than the sum of its parts.

The problem with Babel, Kewell, Cole etc, isnt that they were technical players and that technical players dont 'work' for us - it's that they just werent good enough.

[RichC]

Of course. Some things are pretty factual though - like the fact that hardly anyone was salivating at the idea of signing Downing - until we started getting seriously linked.

And as for henderson....the point is even more valid.

very true!

Be interesting to see how this all fits together this season, nobody we've bought in made me think - world beater this summer BUT it seems they've been brought in with specific roles/goals in mind.

Got a good feeling about this season but as I've said somewhere else, not really got a clue how it's going to pan out until we've seen them in a competitive match

[Exiled_red]

The problem with Babel, Kewell, Cole etc, isnt that they were technical players and that technical players dont 'work' for us - it's that they just werent good enough.

Kewell and Cole were good players though when we signed them, and alot of the fans were very happy. Similarly Babel was regarded very highly.

The problem for me is that in the past we have signed a series of players who in fairness were technically good players and they were often bought either without a position in mind or not to play in their natural positions; Cole, Babel, Luis Garcia, Smicer etc were all probably 'in the hole' players who ended up being played out on the wings and as a result not playing to the level they were capable of. You might say that all those players were better technical players than a Downing or a Riera. But Riera IMO had more of a consistent impact because he was signed to perform a specific role, hopefully it's the same with Downing.

[Craig_H]

That's actually a fair point.

[anfieldanfield]

The problem with Babel, Kewell, Cole etc, isnt that they were technical players and that technical players dont 'work' for us - it's that they just werent good enough.

Kewell and Babel had some good moments for us though.

Cole has just been complete and utter ****e from day 1.

[RedReet]

Kewell and Babel had some good moments for us though.

Cole has just been complete and utter ****e from day 1.

Day 1 he actually was quite good, shame it was a part-time team though.

[Mostar]

Andy vs Valencia




[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1uZumKgMlU"]‪Andy Carroll vs Valencia CF‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]

[Rich]

Kewell was excellent for us in the first 3 or 4 months. He gave us more than Cole has and arguably Babel.

What is true is that talent isn't enough to succeed at Anfield.

[Craig_H]

Kewell and Babel had some good moments for us though.

Cole has just been complete and utter ****e from day 1.

Werent really good enough overall though.

Cole has never got started, the sending off ****ed him up for a few games and then injuries, plus never getting a run in the side.

[little dave hedgehog]

i honestly don't see whether or not downing was a fan's first choice before he came is relevant.

[yamiedo]

I think realistically we can agree that the players we have signed aren't most technically gifted players out there. But I think there is more to the game than that. In the past we have signed some very gifted technical players but for a large part we haven't known what to do with them (in recent years Cole, Babel, Kewell etc) most of them have ended up playing out of position and as a result haven't performed.

I think that Kenny is trying to build a team that is greater than the sum of it's parts, in the past for me the problem with our side has been that the team has been less than the sum of its parts.

Totally agree with that.