Fabio Borini

[Fivex]

Sunderland fans are loving him. Great to see him doing well now. Problem is Suarez and Sturridge are just too good for him having the faintest hoping of ever getting a game. If he's happy to be sub every week I'd be happy to have him around but the guy wants to play.

Yep, Mackem mate of mine reckons they won't be keeping him because he's too good.

Really rates him.

[baitman]

its really good to hear he is putting the graft in and he has focussed all that 'good running'
is he mostly playing on the left?
it shows the value of loaning out players.

[Corndog]

He deserves another crack at it here from what ive seen in the last two weeks.

Looks faster and like he has more conviction with the ball, If he could improve his first touch and decision making he would be a very good striker.

Give him six months to see if he can do a jordan Henderson and if not move on this time next yr.

A real hard worker though so definitely would have value off the bench, more so than aspas imo.

[dom9]

How much did he cost?

[Kenneth]

About £10.5m.

[Vermilion]

How much did he cost?

11.704.000 ?

Apparently now worth... 7.500.000

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/fabio-borini/transfers/spieler_96754_748858.html

[dom9]

Hmm... That's quite a lot.

Even in his current spell of good form, I'm not sure he's worth that much.

[Vermilion]

Sure is. I wonder what BR plans are for him, will he bring him back in the summer, or cut his losses.

[dom9]

He seems like a likeable fellow and he is improving. But he's not at the level of a top club. He looks to me like classic journeyman material, and that is borne out by the sheer number of clubs he has played for in a short career. He's like a Robbie Keane, but less good (when Keane was that age).

To those who complain that we sign these players, I think I understand why it happens. You have Suarez and / or Sturridge. The starters. Superstars. But you need understudies in case of injuries (Sturridge) and bans (Suarez).

Budgets are limited so you have about £10m to spend. It really doesn't get you a lot forward these days. But it does give you a reasonably low risk gamble. What you can't do is not have any back up at all. But I guess people see £10m spent here, £8m spent there and so on. They add that up, and instead want Mata (OK, I'm exaggerating, but you get the point).

We've always had **** back ups. Ngog, Mellor, Sinama Pongolle, even Baros. Look at them now to see how good they were. But they did a job at times when we needed them. And that's it really. We need people who can fill in and hold the fort.

OK, I'm rambling.

[RedReet]

Having had a quick look at some of the earlier pages, it seems Borini was a bit more accurate with his description when he first signed than Rodgers was about his signing that would 'excite the fans'.

Borini when asked 'what sort of player would you describe yourself as?'...

I'd describe myself as a player that never gives up and I run a lot. I had difficult times at Chelsea when I was younger because I came from Italy. It was very difficult, I tried to be strong for myself and demonstrate to people I could do it. That is an achievement I have made and why I am here.

Rodgers on Borini...

"He's technically strong, he's a good finisher with both feet, he can play central or on the sides in a 4-3-3 up front, he's quick, and he's tactically very good.

"He is arguably the best physical player I've worked with in terms of his pace, power and fitness. Mentally, he's very strong. We've got a player who is on the up and someone who I think Liverpool will benefit from."

[dom9]

It's not too dissimilar to what he said about Sterling this week:

"He's one of the strongest players I've ever known - that's what people find remarkable. I don't think he's got bones in his body, it's like he's made of steel. He has an incredible physique for a young guy.

"He also has toughness in his brain. Mentally, he's very strong. He is improving his technique and he needs to improve his goal return but that will come.

[RedReet]

TBF, had I quoted it in another thread you'd be certain he was talking about Sterling, haha.

That was why I actually looked for it because when you mentioned buying a squad player for £10m, it reminded me that I thought Borini was the next Suarez when we signed him thanks to BR, certainly not a squad player.

I suppose it's as close as Aspas being teh new Bellamy.

[Liverpel]

How much did he cost?

£10 million plus Duncan Jenkins tax.

[baitman]

[dom9]

£10 million plus Duncan Jenkins tax.