Robinho?

[AFII]

Robinho for £10m isn't a risk.

We could easily sell him for at least the same price if he isn't good enough.

[Red Chilli]

Sometimes you have to take a risk and with a player like Robinho he's one to take a risk on.
I've got doubts as to whether he could settle but he is definitely worth a try. He's the perfect player to play in that Beardsley role, he can take men on and leave them for dead, he's got a good shot on him and he is creative.
I'd rather 10-15 million on Robinho than 20 million on Torres.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Well, sure there is risk.
There are different levels of risk though, and I don't think he has it in him to succeed here, so for me he is a bigger risk than others.

And honestly, not much we can do but debate if a player will be a success or not, no matter what Rafa does. But we are debating it between fans,which is all we can do, and frankly, I am no blind follower of Rafa regarding transfers.

No, neither me.

The jury is out on Rafas buys from last summer in particular. But then again buying Pennant for £7m, how much of a risk was that, or Bellamy. Especially Pennant who hadn't cut it at Arsenal beforehand. I simply cannot see how they could be considered more or less of a risk than, lets say for example, signing Robinho.

That's just the way I see it. Any new signing has an equal chance of failing or succeeding. Naturally the normal assumption is that the more ability a player has the more likely he is to cut it. But you know what they say about assumptions.

[Red Chilli]

Well, that is not what i meant...

From what I have seen, I don't think that much of him. Skilled, lightweight and little end product. I think he would get crushed here. A 10 mill investment is always a risk, but would like to minimise that risk of signing another player that won't make it here.

Compare him to Lennon. Lennon sums up what you have just described there yet he is thriving at the moment.

Robinho is 10 times the player Lennon is and his end product is also at least twice what Lennon conjures up.

All opinion, but Lennon would be 15 million these days and Robinho is much better.

[tomasjj]

Robinho for £10m isn't a risk.

We could easily sell him for at least the same price if he isn't good enough.

The sell on value is a good point.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Well, that is not what i meant...

From what I have seen, I don't think that much of him. Skilled, lightweight and little end product. I think he would get crushed here. A 10 mill investment is always a risk, but would like to minimise that risk of signing another player that won't make it here.

Looking at other mooted signings you could say the same about many other attacking flair players. Franck Ribery, Quaresma - who lets not forget failed at Barca, as did Simao a few years ago.

And what of Cristiano Ronaldo? Until this season he was ridiculed for all those stepovers. Same thing happened to Robert Pires when he first arrived.

Sometimes you just have to accept certain players - namely their faults - for what they are. I mean would you rather have Luis Garcia giving the ball away but who has the ability to create or score, or some less talented second rater who should be gracing Woodison with his mediocrity?

[tomasjj]

No, neither me.

The jury is out on Rafas buys from last summer in particular. But then again buying Pennant for £7m, how much of a risk was that, or Bellamy. Especially Pennant who hadn't cut it at Arsenal beforehand. I simply cannot see how they could be considered more or less of a risk than, lets say for example, signing Robinho.

That's just the way I see it. Any new signing has an equal chance of failing or succeeding. Naturally the normal assumption is that the more ability a player has the more likely he is to cut it. But you know what they say about assumptions.

Sure, Robinho might be less of a risk than Pennant and Bellamy.
I have seen Robinho, and I don't think he is what we should go for. But as AF says, we are likely to recoup whatever we spend if he can't settle.
I doubt Real will sell, and I seriously doubt he wants to come here.

[Red Chilli]

Yes, I doubt he'll come here, surely he'll prefer to stay in Spain or go back to Brazil, but if Rafa could persuade him he'd be a great signing in my opinion.
I'm quite excited about the prospect.

[tomasjj]

Looking at other mooted signings you could say the same about many other attacking flair players. Franck Ribery, Quaresma - who lets not forget failed at Barca, as did Simao a few years ago.

And what of Cristiano Ronaldo? Until this season he was ridiculed for all those stepovers. Same thing happened to Robert Pires when he first arrived.

Sometimes you just have to accept certain players - namely their faults - for what they are. I mean would you rather have Luis Garcia giving the ball away but who has the ability to create or score, or some less talented second rater who should be gracing Woodison with his mediocrity?

hehe..

Well, of the players you list, I think Ribery has more chance to succeed here in the PL. He is tough, aggressive, direct and never stops running and trying to create. Quaresma has a lot of skill, and looks Ronaldo like, and could be the next great winger. Simao I don't rate much.

I totally agree on the need of having a flair players who have faults in their games, but who can change a game with a flick or turn...and that we have to be more patient with these creative players than others. They play the percentages with their constant attempts to carve out openings and play people in.

[tomasjj]

Yes, I doubt he'll come here, surely he'll prefer to stay in Spain or go back to Brazil, but if Rafa could persuade him he'd be a great signing in my opinion.
I'm quite excited about the prospect.

At least it looks like Rafa is looking out for creative players and goalscorers. That can only be good news.
And now, with the new owners, hopefully Rafa can stop shopping at Tescos and buy the ones he want.

[keniget]

I don't see how Robinho would fit into our team unless we decide to adopt a 4-3-3 system not too dissimilar from that at Barcelona.

As has already been said, Robinho is rather lightweight and struggled to adapt to the "physical nature" of La Liga - I think it'd be a BIG risk to bring him to the Premiership. Unfortunately for him, he's been caught up in the Real Madrid circus at a crucial stage of his development and apart from feeling more at home in La Liga, I've not seen him really move on as a player.

He thinks too highly of himself, his decision making needs a lot of work and his finishing is too poor to play as an out and out striker. If he were to come to the Premiership, there is really only one club he might succeed at and that's Arsenal.

[Red Chilli]

He'd fit perfectly into a 4-4-1-1 system IMO, being the link between midfield and the striker.
Still, the more I think about it, the more I think this is made up. Even looking at the link in the paper, it's only suggesting it might be Robinho who Rafa is looking at.
It just says a 10 million pound player.

[red g]

players like robinho, u buy now and work out how to play him later!! you cant buy his skill ....this is exactly the sort of player we need now

[keniget]

I don't believe for one second that Rafa was ever or ever will be in the running for Robinho.

As things stand, Kuyt is that "deep lying forward", "link man" or whatever you want to call it... I can't believe that he will be disposed of after one season.

What we need to be spending our money on is a world class finisher.

[desertscouser]

I have to agree with Keniget. Robinho is not a Rafa type player.