Gaizka Mendieta

[rushscored4]

I understand Gaizka Mendieta is available as Middlesborough are keen on cutting their wage bill (hence Parlour and Ehiogu have been released and Maccarone is also on his way). I know he's nearly 33 but a few years ago he was probably the best right midfielder in the world, Beckham included, and was one of the best passers of a ball I've ever seen. He played in 2 CL finals before being sold by Valencia to Lazio for €43 million (about £30m) in 2001. He's won almost 40 caps for Spain and also played for Barcelona in the 2002/03 season.

I'm not sure if he left the Mestalla before Benitez's tenure but Rafa and Pako will certainly know all about him. He is friendly with fellow Basque Xabi Alonso and our other members of the Spanish squad. He's also a good professional off the pitch (have you ever heard anything bad about him?) and is happy to be part of the squad. I'm sure he'd jump at the chance of joining us and is eligible to play against his old club Barca.

Considering he is available on a free or on loan and we need experienced cover on the right of midfield (he can also play in the centre) is Mendieta worth a shout or does he fall into the Fowler "has been" or Zenden "never been" category?

[Tee]

He was my favourite player when he was at Valencia - awesome in his prime I am not sure he could do a job for us. CM seems a bit overloaded now.

[Rocket]

where did you cut and paste that from fella

[disco]

where did you cut and paste that from fella

Agreed, about 8 sentences too long to be a RS4 post

[Rich]

and where's the mention about supercars?

[redlancer]

my Boro mate say's his legs are gone
and considering they had the Branco a few seasons back that's saying something

[Maestro]

It's certainly not a case of "never been", because he used to be an awesome player. I can't comment on him now, as I haven't seen him play in ages.

[rushscored4]

where did you cut and paste that from fella

Agreed, about 8 sentences too long to be a RS4 post

and where's the mention about supercars?

All my own work with help from the web for research purposes! Honest!!

Oh and he drives a 911 Turbo as well...

[Shaggy]

Remember that volley he scored at the Nou Camp?

[Slim]

Bit injury prone now isn't he? Some occassional flashes of brilliance though - he was great when Boro beat Chelski last season.

[Tee]

He ****ed his career up by moving to Roma(?) - should have stayed at Valencia. The grass is not always greener - ask Michael Owen.

[simey85]

don't think he would be worth getting his legs are gone but he was an OUTRAGOUS player a few years back!

[Shaggy]

Regarding Mendieta to Liverpool…..well, I’ve seen him play for Boro a few times in recent seasons and he looks a totally different player. He is utterly unrecognisable from the one that strutted his stuff in that Valencia side (I think he’d gone by the time Rafa took over). I dunno what the hell’s happened to him, but he’s **** now.

[Maestro]

He ****ed his career up by moving to Roma(?) - should have stayed at Valencia. The grass is not always greener - ask Michael Owen.

You did spell Roma wrong - the correct spelling is L-A-Z-I-O.

[Neil Young]

and where's the mention about supercars?

And that pic.