Being serious for a minute

[Exiled_red]

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

I think we need to match them in quality not in the price we pay in transfer fees, it's the big match winners that they have that we don't. Also we are still behind them so in quality terms we have to buy better than them this summer to close the gap

[Exiled_red]

...Should have also said that I do think Keane and Barry are expensive and we could probably find similar ability players cheaper abroad, but I think these two will get stuck in quicker and won't take as long to adapt. Having said that if we are to close the gap on the scum I think we also need one other big signing

[Craig_H]

I think we need to match them in quality not in the price we pay in transfer fees, it's the big match winners that they have that we don't. Also we are still behind them so in quality terms we have to buy better than them this summer to close the gap

That was my point. The comparison of matchwinners doesnt paint us in a very good light and whilst Keane will bridge some of that gap, i feel we could be getting a world 'superstar' (who'd actually deliver, as opposed to just being a big name) for that kind of cash.

Not to mention the fact that Keane will perform at his best for what, 2 or 3 more years max?

[-V-]

Craig where are you getting these figures from?

We offered Villa £14m for Barry and have refused to pay the £18m they demand. Not happening

The Keane fee as far as im aware is £15m.

Not sure where your getting £38m from

[Venton]

We won't buy them both, for sure. Whether either of them are worth their price is a different question. It might be worth overpaying for Keane - as things stand a striker is more important than a midfielder I think.

[Woobus]

Craig where are you getting these figures from?

We offered Villa £14m for Barry and have refused to pay the £18m they demand. Not happening

The Keane fee as far as im aware is £15m.

Not sure where your getting £38m from

Think the rumours for Keane is 15 mill at the start rising to 20 if we win the league. Not a bad player for 15 million and if he helps win the league then very worth that extra 5 mill. Mind yoo who knows been so much crap talked this TS.

[Craig_H]

Craig where are you getting these figures from?

We offered Villa £14m for Barry and have refused to pay the £18m they demand. Not happening

The Keane fee as far as im aware is £15m.

Not sure where your getting £38m from

I was going by the most commonly reported figures quoted in the media. Granted these arent always accurate.

You're right about us offering £14m for Barry but it looks as though we'll have to pay more to get him.

As for Keane, everything i've read has suggested it'll end up being close to £20m.

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.

[stuartb]

This is a very interesting position. For the most part we havent bought 'proven Premier league Performers' Many of us have consistently said that its time to buy quality - not unknowns - players who know the Pl and can do it week in week out. Almost all foreigners have that adaptation period (Torres aside) and both of these guys dont - price aside we know they can deliver week in week out. but dont you pay for known quality? Less risk equals higher price...

We are finally buying players who we know can perform at our level and not potential players. To me that tells me Rafa has realized its time to fill some gaps. Yes - wingers and full backs are still in question but we are finally looking to buy proven players to help us for the next year or four to make us real contenders

What im trying to say is that we are no more looking at players with 'potential' but players with known qualities - albeit at a Premier League inflation ramped up price but we are finally getting close - fill the missing pieces with quality - not adding unknowns with 'potential' (Gonzalez anyone?)

I think its a great step as weve said many times - Manure bought Ferdindand and Rooney at stupid prices along with Carrick and Hargreaves and now I think Tevez at a ridiculous amount but if it wins you things wtf who cares after close to 20 years without a title!

I say we should be greatful to be linked with proven players in the English League who know what a cold day away in the North East is like. Good on Rafa - hes realized these are the final pieces and hes going for it.

Im all for both of them - yes Keane over Barry for many reasons already stated but the fact that we are in for this proven quality puts us right up there.

Go on I say and take some risks. Ill be delightd if we land Keane - Over the moon if we get them both

In Rafa I trust - 110%

[kris90210]

I was going by the most commonly reported figures quoted in the media. Granted these arent always accurate.

You're right about us offering £14m for Barry but it looks as though we'll have to pay more to get him.

As for Keane, everything i've read has suggested it'll end up being close to £20m.

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.

The thing is mate, their values arent dropping for 1 very good reason. They are arguably both clubs most important players. Both captains, both consistant performers in the premiership.

The Carrick / Hargreaves comparison is a good one. Fergie also spent about the same ammount on Anderson and Nani - two players who werent even bought for the first team! This is what we're up against.

I think Keane will be a fantastic signing. I think Barry would do well too, but everyone can see we need a winger more than a new central midfielder.

[DannyMan2006]

The thing is mate, their values arent dropping for 1 very good reason. They are arguably both clubs most important players. Both captains, both consistant performers in the premiership.

The Carrick / Hargreaves comparison is a good one. Fergie also spent about the same ammount on Anderson and Nani - two players who werent even bought for the first team! This is what we're up against.

I think Keane will be a fantastic signing. I think Barry would do well too, but everyone can see we need a winger more than a new central midfielder.

Ledley King is the Spurs captain but I get your point. I don't agree with the fess but you either pay it or you buy someone else. The fact that the Barry deal has dragged on so much shows we will NOT pay over the odds for him.

If Rafa thinks those the best players to improve us then so be it. I said back in January after the purchase of Skrtel that we now had a good enough squad to compete with cover all around. Now it is a question of improving the first XI.

Dossena is an improvement at LB. The keeper is someone we urgently needed if Carson was not willng to stick around. Degen was a no brainer on a free. Barray would be an improvement on Alonso and Keane is an improvement on Crouch. I expect Keane to start in the first XI and I would expect the same of Barry. I'm just unsure of the system Rafa is thinking of.

Personally I'd have Keane in the hole and drop Gerrard into the centre. I'd then buy a left winger and forget about Barry. Babel and Kuyt can fight it out for the right and act as back up to Keane and Torres.

This way our LB, CM, LW and secondary striker positions will all have improved. We'd still get Stevie chipping in from midfield whilst Keane will bring as much as Stevie did to the attack.

I have a horrible feeling Barry is being brought in to play LW.

[Leyton388]

I dont think we will end up with Barry now. I think MON has well and truly ****ed himself over now and we will not be back. Keane looks bang on to sign and i think we will end up with someone like Silva or may go for VDV. Either way i do not buy into the bull**** that we have to sell to buy. Were one of the biggest clubs in the world FFS not Blue****e.

[Guest]

It's not about buying world class players but about buying the players we need. Rafa is the manager so he should know better. We're all assuming things about what's been printed in the press. What if we're pursuing other targets !?

[Jack D Rips]

The thing is mate, their values arent dropping for 1 very good reason. They are arguably both clubs most important players. Both captains, both consistant performers in the premiership.

The Carrick / Hargreaves comparison is a good one. Fergie also spent about the same ammount on Anderson and Nani - two players who werent even bought for the first team! This is what we're up against.

I think Keane will be a fantastic signing. I think Barry would do well too, but everyone can see we need a winger more than a new central midfielder.

I thought he paid 50 mill for those two

[rage]

rafa's on borrowed time. come on robbie keane and gareth barry won't make the difference but if things work out we may get closer and this may buy rafa more time.

still cannot work out how both keane and barry will fit into the team. keane is a striker. f we continue to play 4231 then he needs to play behind torres in the same role as gerrard last year. he does not have the pace to play on the flanks of the 3.

barry will line up next to masch so is that gerrard on the right with babel on the left? what happens to kuyt?

no way are we spending 18 million on keane and at least 15 on barry for them to be rotated. if you look at our lineups our best players are not really rotated often - rested yes but not rotated.

[kris90210]

rafa's on borrowed time. come on robbie keane and gareth barry won't make the difference but if things work out we may get closer and this may buy rafa more time.

still cannot work out how both keane and barry will fit into the team. keane is a striker. f we continue to play 4231 then he needs to play behind torres in the same role as gerrard last year. he does not have the pace to play on the flanks of the 3.

barry will line up next to masch so is that gerrard on the right with babel on the left? what happens to kuyt?

no way are we spending 18 million on keane and at least 15 on barry for them to be rotated. if you look at our lineups our best players are not really rotated often - rested yes but not rotated.

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.