Stewart Downing - West Hahahaham player

[saj]

Does he stick out that much? There's quite a few on there who moved and flopped.

Yes but regardless of whether they flopped or not, all the transfers and the value of them seemed justified bar one and that's Big Andy. A lot of them had proved for many seasons they were great players. Andy Carroll more or less had 6 months of playing football at a decent standard and cost £35 MILLION POUNDS!!!! 6 ****ing months! I wonder how much Grant Holt is worth

[Craig_H]

Ah, they seemed justified. Oh that's alright then

I'll be delighted if Carroll, whose fee didnt seem justified when we signed him, has 12-18 slow months before hitting form. Compared to someone like Shevchenko or Kaka, who 'seemed' good value but turned out to be major flops.

[Daniel 7]

Probably Gaizka Mendieta was the biggest flop on there, given the inflation index since he was signed. Another one that isn't on there, but if you factored it up would be Gianluigi Lentini, he was £14m in the early 90's - phenomenal money

But those players had played at the highest level to almost justify that cost. Big Andy had as good a season in the Championship as Nugent, and half a Premier League season as good as Marcus Stewart. Now I'm not saying he won't improve, but there can be no argument that he's the most ridiculous of the players in that list.

[Craig_H]

It just means that most of them were bought at the peak of their career and ability, while Andy wasnt.

[danperkins]

Probably Gaizka Mendieta was the biggest flop on there, given the inflation index since he was signed. Another one that isn't on there, but if you factored it up would be Gianluigi Lentini, he was £14m in the early 90's - phenomenal money

But those players had played at the highest level to almost justify that cost. Big Andy had as good a season in the Championship as Nugent, and half a Premier League season as good as Marcus Stewart. Now I'm not saying he won't improve, but there can be no argument that he's the most ridiculous of the players in that list.

[Daniel 7]

Yes, its ridiculous to spend peak world class level money on the possibility he might end up being worth it at some point. Maybe. If he doesn't get injured. Or if his head isn't turned at a young age.

i know there were circumstances, its been regurgitated ad nauseum, I just wish we had waited for a real statement of intent on an adequate replacement for Torres. Someone who could come in who was proven.

[Craig_H]

Yes, its ridiculous to spend peak world class level money on the possibility he might end up being worth it at some point. Maybe. If he doesn't get injured. Or if his head isn't turned at a young age.

i know there were circumstances, its been regurgitated ad nauseum, I just wish we had waited for a real statement of intent on an adequate replacement for Torres. Someone who could come in who was proven.

Of course. But i think rcasemore made the point earlier, after the previous owners, people were going to be sceptical and i can only imagine the reaction if Henry and co had 'pocketed' £50m for Torres and not spent it. We'd have been waiting for 6 months, nervously waiting to see if we'd got Gillett and Hicks II.

[Buzzo]

Shevchenko and Torres.

[Daniel 7]

Yup, there was always the debate between prudence and expectation. I would always have gone for prudence myself.

Looking back, it seems so wildly out of character given the two windows after Carroll, and the lack of progress on the stadium - which concerns me far, far more than the signing of a placatory striker.

[Craig_H]

Shevchenko and Torres.

The parallels are frightening. Both clear candidates for the best striker in the world as Chelsea were signing them. Both utter **** at Chelsea. Both 'broken' by Liverpool

[red g]

Does he stick out that much? There's quite a few on there who moved and flopped.

but they were talented.......

[Craig_H]

Yup, there was always the debate between prudence and expectation. I would always have gone for prudence myself.

Looking back, it seems so wildly out of character given the two windows after Carroll, and the lack of progress on the stadium - which concerns me far, far more than the signing of a placatory striker.

You say that now, and it's easy to do so with hindsight. But go back to then, we didnt really know about Henry and co, we were still burnt from Hicks and Gillett and bearing in mind that people go ape**** calling Kenny a cunt for not making the right sub, can you seriously not imagine the carnage and mayhem, just on here for starters, if Henry hadnt sanctioned the spending back in January 2011 after Torres left?

[Craig_H]

but they were talented.......

Oh give over FFS.

[Daniel 7]

You say that now, and it's easy to do so with hindsight. But go back to then, we didnt really know about Henry and co, we were still burnt from Hicks and Gillett and bearing in mind that people go ape**** calling Kenny a cunt for not making the right sub, can you seriously not imagine the carnage and mayhem, just on here for starters, if Henry hadnt sanctioned the spending back in January 2011 after Torres left?

Myself, I would rather have waited than spent the money on Carroll.

I remember vividly the deadline day, myself and the other Liverpool fans in work all going "Carroll, FFS, no!" Most of us were crying out for Llorente (they were making me update them with what was happening from EST, ffs )

Yes, I appreciate the need to be seen to be moving to replace Torres, and the gesture was epic - but really if the press had been leaked a story about how we were in for all the best talent across Europe, I think most would have been happy with that and Suarez in the bag, given the short turnaround of Torres's departure.

[Mostar]

Ah, they seemed justified. Oh that's alright then

I'll be delighted if Carroll, whose fee didnt seem justified when we signed him, has 12-18 slow months before hitting form. Compared to someone like Shevchenko or Kaka, who 'seemed' good value but turned out to be major flops.

In fairness to Shevchenko and Kaka they were great players ( and Kaka still is) while playing for Milan at the peak of their career and if Andy could come any close to their skill level we would have an outstading player on our books.

I understand that you firmly believe that Andy will turn to be a very good signing for us but, if you don't mind, can you say what do you see to warrant that optimism.

Personally I think he has so many holes in his game in terms of his mechanics and technical abilities, which makes me very doubtful that time will change anything.