Finnan signs 2 year deal with Espanyol

[anfieldanfield]

Good luck Steve Finnan.

An honest, hardworking professional and at his peak a top class right back.

I think he'll do well out there.

[Nicey]

Good luck Steve a great servant to the club .. solid as a rock

[Shaggy]

That's a load of bollocks. Watch this video and you'll see how much he gets forward and whips in crosses.

The season before last he racked up a fair few assists and constantly supplied the forwards with ball.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXXbh-G442E

Ok there's a video of Pascal Cygan on youtube making him out to be a world beater but still it's nonsense to say Finnan doesn't offer enough going forward.

I don't need to watch a YouTube compilation of Finnan.

"The season before last", you say.

Exactly.

Anyway...

[Lee]

I'd have shipped Arbeloa & Degen out before Finnan.

Anyway, good luck fella

[redwien]

Good luck Steve. Have a good couple of years in Spain. I'd be up for living in Barcelona.

[JPK]

Best of luck Steve. Class act and one of the better players since Rafa took over.
Espanyol have got themselves a very good player. He will suprise their fans with just how good he is.

[kemm1]

Moving to the city of Barcelona at the age of 32 to play some footie!

I don't think Finnan is shedding any tears over this move.

Anyway, good luck to him and he was great for us but I think the time is right for him and LFC.

[Assassin]

Moving to the city of Barcelona at the age of 32 to play some footie!

I don't think Finnan is shedding any tears over this move.

Anyway, good luck to him and he was great for us but I think the time is right for him and LFC.

I also think he will be better suited to the Spanish league now, as seems to have lost a little pace over the last year or two

[Warren]

Is this in P/Ex with Reira?

Paco Herrera

No it's a separate deal, and yeah Paco Herrera is the reason for it.

[Dirk07]

Moving to the city of Barcelona at the age of 32 to play some footie!

I don't think Finnan is shedding any tears over this move.

Anyway, good luck to him and he was great for us but I think the time is right for him and LFC.

I know...... sounds **** doesnt it

maybe as im 31 later this month and starting to realise i'm getting older and playing football myself is getting more difficult by the week

What a place to finish your football life, Barcelona

[JPK]

Espanyol sporting director Paco Herrera has admitted there is nothing flashy about new signing Steve Finnan but expects the Republic of Ireland international to make a big contribution to the team.

With highly-rated Argentinian defender Pablo Zabaleta leaving for Manchester City over the weekend, Espanyol moved quickly to bring in cover at right-back and today signed Finnan on a two-year deal from Liverpool.

When asked about the 32-year-old Herrera told COM Radio: “He brings balance to the right side. He doesn’t make mistakes, gives good passes, defends well and is correct in everything he does.

“He is always worth a ’seven’ in ratings, he doesn’t call attention to himself, but the coach and the squad will appreciate him.”

Aside from Zabaleta, Espanyol have also seen Spain international Albert Riera leave the club for Liverpool today, and Herrera admits the situation was looking worrying for the Primera Liga outfit not so long ago.

But the signing of Finnan comes hot on the heels of fellow new boys Nicolas Martin Pareja and Nene, and former Liverpool coach Herrera believes Espanyol coach Bartolome Marquez’s squad is now better than ever.

“Fortunately we have been able to close the signing of Finnan. The coach is happy because we have been able to respond to a situation that three days ago was alarming,” Herrera said.

“I think that we have the best squad since I’ve been here.”

Finnan will be on international duty for the next week or so but Espanyol hope he will be available to make his debut for Marquez’s side in the home match against Getafe on September 21.

No fee was disclosed for the former Fulham, Notts County and Birmingham defender.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/mhqlojidqlsn/

[Rashid]

I hope he enjoys life in Barcelona, I ****ing love Stevie Finnan. Good luck lad.

[Parm]

bit of bolt from the blue but good luck to Finnan, always did a solid job for us.