It just doesn't make sense...

[mooha]

Is that why we tried & came very close to signing him in 2005 only for Leverkusen to pull out of the deal when we drew them in the C League?

Yes, I saw that Maddock article about Berbatov "almost signed", but bearing in mind his obvious low-workrate for Spurs in the prem, IMO Rafa would not consider him a good option anymore.

[redlancer]

Xabi IMO is the better player, and from all his comments it looks like he doesn't want to leave.
So Rafa must see Barry as the better player for his system and the PL.

It can all come down to which foot you kick with to make the team more balenced.
If we are going to play with wing backs its helps to have a left and right sided midfield.

I'd be sorry to see Alonso go but think Barry would be a great player for us in the Ronnie Whelan mold.

As for Keane, he's exactly the sort of player we need and the player we though Belamy could and should fo been.
As for Crouch if money was no object you'd hope he wouldn't be surpless to requiremennt and he does offer a lot

[-V-]

Robbie Keane is a top quality and highly consistent premier league performer. He could strike up a great partnership with Torres. Id love to have those 2 upfront for the next 4 seasons or so.

Barry is basically a straight swap for Alonso which is fair enough because he can contribute goals and assists. I def understand it. You want to win the Premiership or not? These 2 players will improve us massively.

Add 8 goals and 8 assists from Barry this season and lots more up front from Keane and we are in business big time

As for the other players we are being linked with 90% of the rumours are bull**** anyway

[Exiled_red]

I like Alonso I really do, but the last couple of seasons he hasn't shown the same kind of form as he did before, maybe that's because he's not given as much time on the ball as he'd like now, I don't know. Barry has been a consistent player for Villa over the past few years, and the level he's been consistently playing at is probably higher than that of Alonso. Alonso's top performance for me is better than Barry's, but it's been a while since he's been anywhere near that.

[Woobus]

The only people it needs to make sense to is Rafa and his players. Rafa will know what qualities he needs for the different positions, and if he thinks Keane and Barry would make us better then I am happy.
All last season people were moaning because we dont buy the finished article, when Rafa decides to buy Premiership proven quality he still gets grief. The man really cant win no matter what he does.

[Skillz]

Barry is better than Xabi for the Premiership. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't watched the last 2 season when Xabi has been average at best and Barry has been the best English midfielder of his type.
Barry also gets in the England team ahead of Carrick and Hargreaves who cost about 20 mill each so whether we like it or not his price will be around 15-17m.

If we were buying Garethio Barritiso from a Spanish or Italian club and we looked at his assists, goals and the way he keeps the ball moving quickly with short passes no-one would be arguing. Because he's from Villa some are being snobbish and suggesting he isn't good enough.

Xabi looks good because he sprays 40-50 yard passes but they don't shift the defence about because they organise while the ball is travelling, plus a couple of 50 yard shots a season doesn't make you the right player.

Keane is a massive improvement on Crouch, not least because he fits in with how we play, whenever Crouch comes on he alters everything because he isn't mobile, takes up Torres's space and we resort to lumping it 60 yards which generally is easier to defend against.
Keane is mobile, can drop short 'between the lines' as they say, run in behind to stretch defences and drags people into wide areas leaving space for Gerrard, Babel, Kuyt or whoever to come through.
In short with Xabi and Crouch I think we're a little one dimensional and easier to defend against. With Barry and Keane we're more mobile and they provide variety in our attacking options without comprimising anything defensively

You make some good points but for me, Xabi looks good because he is.

[The Birdman]

You make some good points but for me, Xabi looks good because he is.

Looking good or playing crowd pleasing passes is different to be effective and better for the team!

[PTP]

with regards keane - he would be able to do two things for liverpool, with the current system (now before people jump the gun and start screaming he could ner replace them, think about it)

Firstly, the sytem we play, are two best players gerrard behind torres - have zero cover!
I reckon someone like keane could play upfront on his own with gerrard behind him (resting/covering nando) and also play behind torres in the 'gerrard' role resting stevie.

At the moment, we have either crouch(looks to be on his way) or Voronin(****ing wank) to cover torres, and an argument for say yossi(average) or lucas(young) to cover gerrard.

[Skillz]

Looking good or playing crowd pleasing passes is different to be effective and better for the team!

Fair enough. Xabi has been a very good player for us. His last 2 years not being his best. Injuries have played a part but he has not raised the bar as I would like to see. Fact is though, he is a good player and when in form World class.

IMO he is leaving on his own accord and I will miss him when he is gone. However I do recognise that he will be a better player in Italy or Spain as well as Barry being more effective in the league.

The urgency he showed in his game in the final when he came on is what he needs to do every week for us.

Good luck Xabi and go easy on us in the CL.

[Skillz]

with regards keane - he would be able to do two things for liverpool, with the current system (now before people jump the gun and start screaming he could ner replace them, think about it)

Firstly, the sytem we play, are two best players gerrard behind torres - have zero cover!
I reckon someone like keane could play upfront on his own with gerrard behind him (resting/covering nando) and also play behind torres in the 'gerrard' role resting stevie.

At the moment, we have either crouch(looks to be on his way) or Voronin(****ing wank) to cover torres, and an argument for say yossi(average) or lucas(young) to cover gerrard.

Well said. Bennie can play SG role, but how well? Look at it this way, if we lose Torres for any length of time we are royally ****ed. Keane can play that role and infact he would do a fair job in any of the front 4 positions in our
4-2-3-1 IMO.

I also expect us to play 4-4-2 against ****e at Anfield.

[Roboklopp]

Barry is better than Xabi for the Premiership. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't watched the last 2 season when Xabi has been average at best and Barry has been the best English midfielder of his type.
Barry also gets in the England team ahead of Carrick and Hargreaves who cost about 20 mill each so whether we like it or not his price will be around 15-17m.

If we were buying Garethio Barritiso from a Spanish or Italian club and we looked at his assists, goals and the way he keeps the ball moving quickly with short passes no-one would be arguing. Because he's from Villa some are being snobbish and suggesting he isn't good enough.

Xabi looks good because he sprays 40-50 yard passes but they don't shift the defence about because they organise while the ball is travelling, plus a couple of 50 yard shots a season doesn't make you the right player.

Keane is a massive improvement on Crouch, not least because he fits in with how we play, whenever Crouch comes on he alters everything because he isn't mobile, takes up Torres's space and we resort to lumping it 60 yards which generally is easier to defend against.
Keane is mobile, can drop short 'between the lines' as they say, run in behind to stretch defences and drags people into wide areas leaving space for Gerrard, Babel, Kuyt or whoever to come through.
In short with Xabi and Crouch I think we're a little one dimensional and easier to defend against. With Barry and Keane we're more mobile and they provide variety in our attacking options without comprimising anything defensively

You see this paragraph lets down an otherwise very good post. The foreign comment is patronising & just not true. People have had the benefit of watching GB for a while in the prem & can draw their own conclusions. Most of his goals are from pens (which he wont get with us cos Stevie takes em) & whilst we lack someone for freekicks (where I'd wager most of his assists come from), that isnt reason enough alone to "swap" Xabi. Nonetheless, I'm not rabidly against the transfers of the 2, just diffident & a little disappointed.

Am all for Keane tho, been thinking that for a while but just couldnt see it coming off.

[Montana]

People are missing the point with Barry IMO. Rafa wants him because not only is he a good player and very versatile but most importantly he's the best at delivering corners and freekicks in the PL and that is one area where we have been very poor. With Barry delivering we can have Gerrard in the box too which will make us much more dangerous.

Also defensively Barry is definitely better than Alonso. Ideally we'd have both in the squad though.

[senorbutch]

17m seems a lot for barry, but if we consider what the mancs paid for hargreves and carrick then its about right, and i bet its only 15m we end up paying. he has been great in the prem, far better than alonso imo and also links up with gerrard extremly well.

keane would also be a great addition, crouch isnt getting the games, and robbie can bang in the goals. 20m seems way to high though