Steve Finnan

[-V-]

Has been left back in Liverpool. Not travelled with the squad. Now the BBC is reporting that Rafa and Finnan have had a row and thats why he is not involved.

From what i heard previously Rafa wanted Finnan to go to Villa as part of the Barry deal and he refused at the time. Villa have now signed Luke Young so Finnans move is def off. Surplus to requirements it seems.

Im sure we will hear more very soon. Perhaps someone else can shed some more light on this?

Personally i think he's past his best but would make a decent back-up player. Don't blame him for not wanting to leave but he's got the pace anymore to cut it at Liverpool

[Vermilion]

Well to me, if Rafa, or any manager tells a player that they no longer figure in his plans for the team, and that they have the chance to join a club like Villa in a swap deal, they should say ok, Rafa will have told him he won't play, the club is asking him to leave so i expect a player in Finnan's situation would be paid up by us, and still get a half decent wage from Villa.

[red g]

dont think rafa has ever rated finnan, we have had nearly as many right backs as defensive centre mids and keepers!!

[-V-]

Well to me, if Rafa, or any manager tells a player that they no longer figure in his plans for the team, and that they have the chance to join a club like Villa in a swap deal, they should say ok, Rafa will have told him he won't play, the club is asking him to leave so i expect a player in Finnan's situation would be paid up by us, and still get a half decent wage from Villa.

Ofcourse but if you personally still had a contract to run would YOU want to leave Liverpool? Trust me nobody in that squad wants to leave and Finnan obviously thinks he can force himself back in

[Vermilion]

I don't like players doing this, Finnan came from Fulham, had a good run at a top club, he should go quietly, ok it's his perogative to do as he wishes, we offered him the contract he's on, he signed it.

But Liverpool as a team needs to move on, to evolve, and we can do without these obstacles, dead weight being carried by the club, paid to be where he's not wanted, and taking up the place of a player that's needed.

[dww]

I think Finnan convinced Rafa when he first came but last season he was poor - worse than Riise was and he got endless stick. I do think he has always had weaknesses that when confident and playing well he overcame and has at times been obviously targeted in the air. Having said all that he has been an excellent servant to the club and a good player even if it is now time for him to move on IMO.

[Vermilion]

Ofcourse but if you personally still had a contract to run would YOU want to leave Liverpool? Trust me nobody in that squad wants to leave and Finnan obviously thinks he can force himself back in

But he knows Rafa, if he's been told he wont play, then he wont play, so he sits around waiting for a load of injuries??, and even then i reckon Rafa would play Kuyt in Finnans position before him.

[Vermilion]

I think Finnan convinced Rafa when he first came but last season he was poor - worse than Riise was and he got endless stick. I do think he has always had weaknesses that when confident and playing well he overcame and has at times been obviously targeted in the air. Having said all that he has been an excellent servant to the club and a good player even if it is now time for him to move on IMO.

I just think players should know when it's time to take a step down, for the good of the club, and to play football regularly.

He would have his contract paid up in full would he not, as we are asking him to go??.

[-V-]

I think Finnan has been good quality for us over the years, at his peak he was one of the best right-backs in the Prem. That time is passed now and he was indeed poor last season. Rafa has brough in Degan now to be an understudy to Arbeloa and we also have Carra who can play RB so Finnan is effectively 3rd/4th choice

[RedSince1964]

I think Finnan convinced Rafa when he first came but last season he was poor - worse than Riise was and he got endless stick. I do think he has always had weaknesses that when confident and playing well he overcame and has at times been obviously targeted in the air. Having said all that he has been an excellent servant to the club and a good player even if it is now time for him to move on IMO.

I've got to agree bud

[JPK]

I think Finnan convinced Rafa when he first came but last season he was poor - worse than Riise was and he got endless stick. I do think he has always had weaknesses that when confident and playing well he overcame and has at times been obviously targeted in the air. Having said all that he has been an excellent servant to the club and a good player even if it is now time for him to move on IMO.

Finnan was not playing as consistently as before last season but nobody was worse than Riise. He was horrible and knocked us out of Europe.
Finnan will be a very good signing for whoever gets him. He is vastly experienced as is in good shape and has a good few years yet.

[rage]

finnan can still do a job in the premiership but not at a team that wants to compete for the title. add to this the way rafa is shaping us up to play with attacking fullbacks and the lad has no chance.

at his age if i was in his position i'd look back on my liverpool career with pleasure and still gain as much playing time elsewhere as possible - didi hamman is the best example of this.

all good things come to an end

[Elvoz]

he was touted about to villa and others without being told
i cant blame him for taking the hump but also as you say he is imo too slow for our team nowadays. a good tidy player for us but you cant fight father time

[friedk]

finnan can still do a job in the premiership but not at a team that wants to compete for the title. add to this the way rafa is shaping us up to play with attacking fullbacks and the lad has no chance.

at his age if i was in his position i'd look back on my liverpool career with pleasure and still gain as much playing time elsewhere as possible - didi hamman is the best example of this.

all good things come to an end

he was touted about to villa and others without being told
i cant blame him for taking the hump but also as you say he is imo too slow for our team nowadays. a good tidy player for us but you cant fight father time

Agree with all of this, he has been a good player for us, but his time is up.

Being touted to other clubs must be annoying, but that is part of football these days, much the same way players make approaches to other clubs when they want to go.

[lucas]

[B]I think Finnan has been good quality for us over the years, at his peak he was one of the best right-backs in the Prem. That time is passed now and he was indeed poor last season. Rafa has brough in Degan now to be an understudy to Arbeloa and we also have Carra who can play RB so Finnan is effectively 3rd/4th choice

Finnan has been the best right back Rafa has had at the club. He is also one of the best crossers at the club. Better than any of the right wingers Rafa has played over the last 4 seasons.

Don't even compare Finnan to Riise. At least he was never afraid to use his bad foot.