If only we had spent 20 million on a decent striker this summer!

[Attilladahun]

We have not invested in quality

We probably could have got Bezema for £20M who would have been a proven international striker for years. It's no surprise the SCUM are after him now -they invest in quality.

Santa Cruz is a quality striker we should buy so that Torres is not put under undue pressure in terms of volume of games -mini rotation

Now I appreciate the reality -we have no £ -if Keane goes back what would we get
pennies after taking a loss and writing off the £10M still to be paid

Dubai interest ended to put maximum pressure on Yanks which will leave the Banks to apply pressure and effectively drive down the value.

Well actually the owners are fortunate we are top of the league that could be their saving grace BUT they need to get some money together to ensure quality signings are made not a stop gap Heskey type signing.

Rafa is correct there will ineviteably be an adjustment to value of players and transfer fees post crunch BUT sadly when sides are chasing a title and/or staving off relegation market forces inevitably mean Club Chairman will pay a healthy "premium" to effectively protect preserve or increase the value of their investment. In these troubled time we really are talking about "preservation" of their asset the only "added value" is the increased value of the "Brand" so greater investment /sponsorship etc can be attracted.

Even that strategy has no guarantee of success.

[Crazy-Horse]

Shane Smeltz - Wellington Phoenix

Leading the A-League Golden Boot this season. You would get him for a transfer fee equivalent to a weeks salary for Keane.

[Warren]

Shane Smeltz - Wellington Phoenix

Leading the A-League Golden Boot this season. You would get him for a transfer fee equivalent to a weeks salary for Keane.

He wasn't too bad at AFC Wimbledon but was **** at Halifax

[Crazy-Horse]

We have not invested in quality

We probably could have got Bezema for £20M who would have been a proven international striker for years. It's no surprise the SCUM are after him now -they invest in quality.

Karim Benzema
91 appearances for Lyon 36 goals
18 appearances for France 5 goals

A goal every 2. 65 matches

Santa Cruz is a quality striker we should buy so that Torres is not put under undue pressure in terms of volume of games -mini rotation

Roque Luis Santa Cruz Cantero
224 Appearances for club (46 matches in England) 67 goals
61 appearances for Paraguay 20 Goals

A goal every 3.27 matches

Robbie Keane
368 appearances for club (all but 6 in England) 131 goals
85 appearance for RoI 35 goals

A goal every 2. 72 matches

Which player represents less risk for 20m?????

(Figures taken from Wikipedia, so may be slightly out of date)

[Shanks]

It's no surprise the SCUM are after him now -they invest in quality.

Hmmm..

Hargreaves, Veron, Kleberson, Djemba Djemba, Taibi.

[Crazy-Horse]

Ok , so Rafa bought Keane because in the year 2007 he was the most prolific striker in the league.

Patience is a virtue, Little Grasshopper!

Peter Crouch - 19 matches without a goal for us. Then a total of 124 appearances for 36 goals.

Robbie Keane - 22 matches 4 goals

Robbie is already ahead of the stats, but some people still want to write him off as a failure.

[rage]

Patience is a virtue, Little Grasshopper!

Peter Crouch - 19 matches without a goal for us. Then a total of 124 appearances for 36 goals.

Robbie Keane - 22 matches 4 goals

Robbie is already ahead of the stats, but some people still want to write him off as a failure.

comparing crouch and keane doesn't work. crouch didn't cost 20 million. we sold crouch at a profit. crouch wasn't 'proven'.

i hope keane gets a run out against hull alongside babel. he ain't a lone frontman and keane and kuyt are too similar.

[Crazy-Horse]

comparing crouch and keane doesn't work. crouch didn't cost 20 million.

No, I agree in playing style they are both quite different.

However, in the attitude of some people, that are prepared to write off a player after roughly a third of a season after they transfer in, the scenario is quite similar. Some of these people who were screaming for Crouch to be dropped, and Rafa to get his head read for persisting with playing him in the early days, are now saying Rafa made a mistake in getting rid...

I think it is the advent of computer/console games and fantasy football which has opened up the instant gratification requirement of the modern fan. Score every week or you're gone!!!!

[Joe King]

Because Babel isn't all that good (yet)?

We needed an extra goal threat and with Keane not performing we probably still do.

Surely if he was given the time to prove himself as a striker more than a wide player - he could come good.

[Mattshark]

Surely if he was given the time to prove himself as a striker more than a wide player - he could come good.

If he would make the effort and have the game intelligence. Right now the only time he is effective is as an impact player coming off the bench.

[rage]

No, I agree in playing style they are both quite different.

However, in the attitude of some people, that are prepared to write off a player after roughly a third of a season after they transfer in, the scenario is quite similar. Some of these people who were screaming for Crouch to be dropped, and Rafa to get his head read for persisting with playing him in the early days, are now saying Rafa made a mistake in getting rid...

I think it is the advent of computer/console games and fantasy football which has opened up the instant gratification requirement of the modern fan. Score every week or you're gone!!!!

well i for one didn't want to sign crouch and was disappointed that once he proved his value rafa sidelined him and he ended up leaving.