Being serious for a minute

[Sarb]

The Gareth Barry signing if it happens will start the end for Rafa at Liverpool IMO. It won't make us any closer to winning the title and he will come under a lot more criticism as a result.

This is his last season to get it right and rightly so

[Mattshark]

It does seem strange that we would buy two players that wont really slot straight into a formation that was working really well for us last season. The only thing I can think of is that Keane would play off the striker wide left or wide right. Speaking to a Spurs mate, he says Keane can play anywhere, even though that probably wouldnt be his best position.

How would Barry not slot into that formation?????

[rage]

How would Barry not slot into that formation?????

go on then matt? imo if barry plays it'll be next to masch (i've heard lots of bull**** about him being versetile etc but we're not gonna play him left back for 15 million)

so keane also plays, it'll be behind torres - why spend 18 million and play this guy out of position? i know he can play either right or left side in the front 3 but really 18 million for a 27/28 yr old striker and play him out of position, i really don't think so. that leaves gerrard where? on the right maybe.

really don't get the pursuit of barry and keane. easily the other side of 30 million for what? is keane better as a second striker than gerrard? is barry better than alonso or lucas in midfield never mind gerrard?

[Mattshark]

go on then matt? imo if barry plays it'll be next to masch (i've heard lots of bull**** about him being versetile etc but we're not gonna play him left back for 15 million)

so keane also plays, it'll be behind torres - why spend 18 million and play this guy out of position? i know he can play either right or left side in the front 3 but really 18 million for a 27/28 yr old striker and play him out of position, i really don't think so. that leaves gerrard where? on the right maybe.

really don't get the pursuit of barry and keane. easily the other side of 30 million for what? is keane better as a second striker than gerrard? is barry better than alonso or lucas in midfield never mind gerrard?

I think Barry is better in the role next to Mascherano than Gerrard is. Gerrard is not disciplined enough and I think he has been a more consistent performer than Alonso has been and Lucas and can be rotated occasionally. But you answered my point about Barry anyway, I question how someone could think Barry would not fit into our system and you managed to turn it into argument despite agreeing me. Seriously wtf?
Did I mention Keane btw?

[rage]

I think Barry is better in the role next to Mascherano than Gerrard is. Gerrard is not disciplined enough and I think he has been a more consistent performer than Alonso has been and Lucas and can be rotated occasionally. But you answered my point about Barry anyway, I question how someone could think Barry would not fit into our system and you managed to turn it into argument despite agreeing me. Seriously wtf?
Did I mention Keane btw?

what on earth are you on? why would i make it into an argument? i was simply asking your opinion whilst considering how it could possibly play out. ffs get a grip its called a discussion forum.

so the question remains where do we play gerrard. i refuse to believe that we will spend 18 million on keane and play him out of his favourite position as a second striker.

i also don't think that barry will make enough of a difference in a position we're already strong in. do you?

[Mattshark]

what on earth are you on? why would i make it into an argument? i was simply asking your opinion whilst considering how it could possibly play out. ffs get a grip its called a discussion forum.

so the question remains where do we play gerrard. i refuse to believe that we will spend 18 million on keane and play him out of his favourite position as a second striker.

i also don't think that barry will make enough of a difference in a position we're already strong in. do you?

Maybe then you should be less aggressive in you posting form mate .
I am not sure how Keane will be used but I personally think he'll be fine as right sided forward rotating with Kuyt and we will obviously occasionally go with 2 up front imo and Keane is ideal to partner Torres.
As for Barry I really rate him and think he is a good solid player and will help sure up our midfield as well as provided imo a greater goal threat than Xabi.

[rage]

I think Barry is better in the role next to Mascherano than Gerrard is. Gerrard is not disciplined enough and I think he has been a more consistent performer than Alonso has been and Lucas and can be rotated occasionally. But you answered my point about Barry anyway, I question how someone could think Barry would not fit into our system and you managed to turn it into argument despite agreeing me. Seriously wtf?
Did I mention Keane btw?

buying keane has an impact on where gerrard plays. of course if we don't get barry then gerrard can simply move back into a deeper midfield role but with both keane and barry then there is a potential problem

[rage]

Maybe then you should be less aggressive in you posting form mate .
I am not sure how Keane will be used but I personally think he'll be fine as right sided forward rotating with Kuyt and we will obviously occasionally go with 2 up front imo and Keane is ideal to partner Torres.
As for Barry I really rate him and think he is a good solid player and will help sure up our midfield as well as provided imo a greater goal threat than Xabi.

matt i really wasn't being aggresive at all

i'd hate to see keane played on the right of the three but i do agree he would be ideal next to torres.

barry being more of a goal threat than alonso - i'm not sure of if you take away the set pieces. also in the villa team he has a free role alomost. alonso is played as a defensive midfielder and i think in a 4231 he'll not have the freedom he's enjoyed at villa.

as always time will tell

[El Jefecito]

buying keane has an impact on where gerrard plays. of course if we don't get barry then gerrard can simply move back into a deeper midfield role but with both keane and barry then there is a potential problem

Mate, I don't think Rafa trusts SG to play in that position on a permanent basis. If he did he wouldn't be going after Barry.

I think we'll continue to see SG in the 3. Right, Center, Left. Matters not he'll be as dangerous in any of those positions.

[Darth Marty]

If the signings of Keane and Barry do go ahead, that'll be something like £38m we'll have spent on that pair.

So, £38m on Barry and Keane...

Really?

£38m?

On those two?

Am i wrong in thinking that, for £38m, we should be expecting 'world class' player(s)? Not being funny here, but £38m is a f*cking **** load of cash.

Keane's good. But he isnt world class and he isnt young. And i feel the same way about Barry.

I know we wont get another Torres class player for £20m, but for £38m i feel we should be able to get ONE Torres calibre player and one 'very good but not world class' player - which is incidentally what i'd describe Barry and Keane as.

If they werent British/Irish, they would never cost £20m and £18m respectively.

£25m on a world class player and £13m on a very good, not yet world class, but potential to be kind of player, eg a Babel type - that would be a better way of spending £38m in my opinion.

I think for two want-away players who arent really 'world class', Barry and Keane are being vastly over priced - and worse of all, we look like we're actually going to pay it.

Anyone agree or have i got it wrong?

yes, i completely agree.

[kris90210]

I think Barry is better in the role next to Mascherano than Gerrard is. Gerrard is not disciplined enough and I think he has been a more consistent performer than Alonso has been and Lucas and can be rotated occasionally. But you answered my point about Barry anyway, I question how someone could think Barry would not fit into our system and you managed to turn it into argument despite agreeing me. Seriously wtf?
Did I mention Keane btw?

Its not that either one couldnt fit into the system. Its how both of them will fit in bearing in mind the players and the blatent fact that its width we are lacking.

[Mike]

I thought he paid 50 mill for those two

30 mil it was, 18m for Anderson and 12m for Nani.

[shanks69]

Even if we put aside the hair-splitting over a few million, £30m is still shed loads for 2 players whose values should be dropping, given their obvious desire to quit their clubs.

but there clubs don't want to sell and the players havent put in a transfer request.

[El Jefecito]

30 mil it was, 18m for Anderson and 12m for Nani.

Nani was 17m

[RedSince1964]

scum spent only marginally less on 2 average/good players in hargreaves and carrick. this is where the competition is at.

Spot on