Henrikh Mkhitaryan

[Cormack74]

We've completely outsmarted Platini & FFP by avoiding European competition

[Fivex]

It's got the feeling of Alonso's arrival imo. Virtually unheard of generally but those in the game and the armchair geeks really seem to rate him.

[little dave hedgehog]

cue argument about whether or not xabi alonso was virtually unheard of when he arrived.

[Fivex]

I was under that impression?

[Lisburn Red]

I want Xabi back............

[Tee]

It's got the feeling of Alonso's arrival imo. Virtually unheard of generally but those in the game and the armchair geeks really seem to rate him.

Yep, I was thinking exactly this.

[MrMichael]

We've completely outsmarted Platini & FFP by avoiding European competition

By the end of the summer I'm quite sure our net spend won't be over ~£20m, possibly less if we sell Suarez. Its good we're getting significant business done early though and can then let the inevitable outs happen in due course.

[MrMichael]

cue argument about whether or not xabi alonso was virtually unheard of when he arrived.

He played for almost 4 full seasons (100+ games) in La Liga from age 18-22, and even if some people didn't watch Spanish footy quite as much back then he was nowhere near as unheard of as anyone playing in Ukraine.

[little dave hedgehog]

i'm not arguing here, i'm awaiting the arrival of the guy who's going to take it as a personal affront that somebody has the gall to suggest that alonso was unheard of before he arrived in liverpool. the nerve.

[Fosterbloke]

I really want the season to start now... I might even pony up for a Foxtel online subscription...

[Fivex]

i'm not arguing here, i'm awaiting the arrival of the guy who's going to take it as a personal affront that somebody has the gall to suggest that alonso was unheard of before he arrived in liverpool. the nerve.

But Craig doesn't post here any more.

[Bender]

But Craig doesn't post here any more.

Actually he does under the username Hi my names Caroline

[DannyMan2006]

He played for almost 4 full seasons (100+ games) in La Liga from age 18-22, and even if some people didn't watch Spanish footy quite as much back then he was nowhere near as unheard of as anyone playing in Ukraine.

For LDH.....

HM is a far more established played than XA was. He's been playing at the top level for longer and has not looked out of place in the CL when competing against the best.

With regards to how well known each was, it would depend how many people watch Spanish football on a regular basis and how often Real Sociedad were on TV. It would also depend how many people watch Ukrainian footy and the CL in which HM was competing.

I think the comparison to Xabi is a fair one, in that most wouldn't have seen a significant amount of either on TV and both seem more than capable of coming to the league and excelling based on the opinion of those who know the players in the media.

[Fosterbloke]

Fooking excited again!

I'm going to keep saying that until I reach 10,000 posts...

[spider-neil]

Do we at least have a back up plan if this deal goes tits up?