Luis Garcia

[Roboklopp]

His problem was that like Benitez most his signings come from his home country. However whilst Spain is a strong league that Rafa can tap in too, France was and still is a poor league - meaning that even the most successfull of players could not guarantee success in the English league.

There was one club in France who tended to take all the best talent (Lyon) and yet we never bought a player of them. We signed players with no experience of being tested in Europes top competitions and as such were unable to see the real quality of the players we signed.

The same problem Wenger had at the time?

[little dave hedgehog]

The same problem Wenger had at the time?

OUCH!

(respect)

[DannyMan2006]

The same problem Wenger had at the time?

Wenger played it safe though.

He signed youngsters at little risk (Anelka), players from his time at Monaco (Grimandi, Petit, Henry) and players already aboad in a top league (Viera and Henry again).

Houllier had been coach of France and created their great youth teams that went on to rule the world. He should have been signing those players who he knew about. Not gambled on players like Diouf and Diao.

[little dave hedgehog]

oh god, diao. the horror.

[Rowan]

Wenger played it safe though.

He signed youngsters at little risk (Anelka), players from his time at Monaco (Grimandi, Petit, Henry) and players already aboad in a top league (Viera and Henry again).

Houllier had been coach of France and created their great youth teams that went on to rule the world. He should have been signing those players who he knew about. Not gambled on players like Diouf and Diao.

I was rather excited about Diouf and Cheyrou when they signed. I remember seeing Cheyrou in Europe a few years before he signed for us and thinking he looked an absolute world beater. Pre Season against Lazio he was phenomenal as well.

Just goes to show, you never know.

[little dave hedgehog]

did win us that game at chelsea....

[Roboklopp]

Wenger played it safe though.

He signed youngsters at little risk (Anelka), players from his time at Monaco (Grimandi, Petit, Henry) and players already aboad in a top league (Viera and Henry again).

Houllier had been coach of France and created their great youth teams that went on to rule the world. He should have been signing those players who he knew about. Not gambled on players like Diouf and Diao.

Like Diomede?

[DannyMan2006]

I was rather excited about Diouf and Cheyrou when they signed. I remember seeing Cheyrou in Europe a few years before he signed for us and thinking he looked an absolute world beater. Pre Season against Lazio he was phenomenal as well.

Just goes to show, you never know.

Houllier wrecked his confidence by calling him the "New Zidane". This type of praise raises the bar and expectations meaning the crowd got on his back fairly early. He never recovered from that.

[meffin]

the doctor who fan says yes! and he's well smart, you know!

on a side note, i'm rather ashamed to admit that while i was hunting for my avatar i found out that christopher ryan played the sontaran commander and i felt kinda bad.

hope you mean dr who as red hot isnt a he

[little dave hedgehog]

Like Diomede?

when i saw him drive to anfield in a big mercedes suv tank, i wanted to hit him. that's daylight robbery.

[little dave hedgehog]

hope you mean dr who as red hot isnt a he

yes, i meant the doctor.

not sure about that harkness guy, though....

[DannyMan2006]

Like Diomede?

He was an exceptionally young talented footballer when he first came through. But by the time we signed him he was already on the way down. In 1998 he started the three group games in the world cup France won which showed how good he was. But after 1998 he never played for France again. Showing if you like that by the time we signed him in 2000 he was already passed his best - daft as it sounds some players peak too early.

So whilst Wenger signed someone like Robert Pires who was proving himself by breaking into the France squad, Houllier was taking gambles on a player who had slipped way of the pace.

And if you're no longer the player you were in France, I find it unlikely that you will suddenly reproduce it at a higher level at Liverpool.

[rezaeos]

Benayoun?

I was very sad to see Luis go. Wasn't his departure due to family reasons? In any event Benny has done a great job in Luis' footsteps. No point in doubling up.