Liverpool agree Arbeloa transfer

[Guest]

Degen who is never fit, Darby who Rafa has never felt is ready for 1st team footie, and Carra who refuses to play RB.

Maybe we'll pounce for another RB but at the end of the day those players need to be given a chance. What's the difference from last year when we had Arbeloa, Degen, Carra, Darby competing for places. Just swap Arbeloa with Johnson and it's the same thing mate, with £3.5m in the bank which will probably go towards securing another signing.

[EwarWoo]

and Carra who refuses to play RB.

Carra didn't refuse he requested to be excused as he felt his fitness wasn't up to it at that point in the season.

Even if it was Carra if he'd just refused he'd be playing for Siberia United right now, this is Rafa, the most stubborn man in Europe.

[DannyMan2006]

£3.5m is bollocks all though danny, that's the point. What are we actually going to do with that cash? You think £3.5m is going to make 'the' difference here?

It's not a major amount of cash, though it should be pointed out that we have lost out a lot of signings down the years over a refusal to pay a couple of million or so more. So it can make a difference in some instances.

But whilst I would love to have kept Arbeloa, next season he can leave for nothing and would still need replacing (if you're of the opinion Darby and Degen are not good enough). In that case are we not better of selling him now for what we can get and then replacing him now?

Personally I think we are okay at full back, unless a disaster occurs. But I would apply that to most positions.

[Craig_H]

Maybe we'll pounce for another RB but at the end of the day those players need to be given a chance. What's the difference from last year when we had Arbeloa, Degen, Carra, Darby competing for places. Just swap Arbeloa with Johnson and it's the same thing mate, with £3.5m in the bank which will probably go towards securing another signing.

Same thing with £3.5m in the bank, you say?

Are you not forgetting the £17m it took to get Johnson?

FWIW, i'm not suggesting we were 'covered' at RB last season, to an extent, i think we got away with it. So signing Johnson solved this. But now selling Arbeloa puts us back to square one.

[Jack D Rips]

Maybe we'll pounce for another RB but at the end of the day those players need to be given a chance. What's the difference from last year when we had Arbeloa, Degen, Carra, Darby competing for places. Just swap Arbeloa with Johnson and it's the same thing mate, with £3.5m in the bank which will probably go towards securing another signing.

No its just knocking £3.5M off Johnsons fee.

We have replaced Arbeloa with a better and equally versatile player.

We have the same cover for Johnson next season as we had for Arby last season plus Darby and Spearing have a years more experience

[Craig_H]

It's not a major amount of cash, though it should be pointed out that we have lost out a lot of signings down the years over a refusal to pay a couple of million or so more. So it can make a difference in some instances.

But whilst I would love to have kept Arbeloa, next season he can leave for nothing and would still need replacing (if you're of the opinion Darby and Degen are not good enough). In that case are we not better of selling him now for what we can get and then replacing him now?

Personally I think we are okay at full back, unless a disaster occurs. But I would apply that to most positions.

As i said before mate, i think what he would've brought to the table is worth more than the £3.5m.

If we get someone of equal or better quality for that amount, then great. But i dont think it's likely.

In a summer where fees have gone mental, we're letting him go for half of what he's worth IMO. Better to keep hold.

[JohnDoe]

I'll throw the name Lucas Neill in just to open a hornets nest, don't want him to join myself but I'll just put that out there.......

I'll join in

[MrMichael]

Degen who is never fit, Darby who Rafa has never felt is ready for 1st team footie, and Carra who refuses to play RB.

I think the appropriate word in that post though was "cover". Johnson has a pretty decent injury record iirc.

I get your point Craig, I would have liked us to have kept Arbeloa too, but I don't think that was ever on the cards as soon as Madrid's interest was clear (and before Johnson signed). Its a shame the fee is pretty low but its still a profit, that'll just have to do us really.

[DannyMan2006]

As i said before mate, i think what he would've brought to the table is worth more than the £3.5m.

If we get someone of equal or better quality for that amount, then great. But i dont think it's likely.

In a summer where fees have gone mental, we're letting him go for half of what he's worth IMO. Better to keep hold.

And as I said before, next season we would have been in the same situation, but down £3.5m in cash.

How can keeping him make sense?

[Craig_H]

I think the appropriate word in that post though was "cover". Johnson has a pretty decent injury record iirc.

I get your point Craig, I would have liked us to have kept Arbeloa too, but I don't think that was ever on the cards as soon as Madrid's interest was clear (and before Johnson signed). Its a shame the fee is pretty low but its still a profit, that'll just have to do us really.

I dont think i go along with the notion that we somehow had no choice but to release Arbeloa. The lad had a contract and if we'd have decided to keep him, that would've been the end of it - regardless of Madrid's interest.

Personally - and i never thought i'd say this - i'm quite liking Ferguson's feelings of not selling 'that mob a virus'. Even though it was empty talk in the end.

[Rich]

Disappointing move, I feel Rafa's been forced into this by Arbeloa - it can't be a money driven thing as £4m for getting a season out of a top quality fullback isn't much.

Strange for Arbeloa though as he's heading back there as a "nobody" who cost the club next to nothing, there will be no boardroom clamour to see him in the team.

[Redspin]

So will he be back up to Sergio Ramos?

He'll never get game.

I'm pretty sure he's been signed because of this 6+5 rule. Madrid (and Barcelona for that matter) have fewer Spaniards in the Spain squad than Liverpool, so signing more Spaniards (including Alonso if that happens) is important for Real. I suspect he'll be a bench-warmer most of the time.

[Shaggy]

He's out of contract in the summer and it seems he doesn't want to sign an extension, weren't there reports a while back saying he wanted to move back to Spain?

I also think Rafa grew increasingly exasperated with him last season. With Riise gone, Arbeloa seemed to be the main target for Rafa on the touchline. Gave him numerous bollockings.

Steady player, a total bargain. At the time Rafa bought him, Sunderland paid £3.5m for Danny Higginbotham.

[Craig_H]

And as I said before, next season we would have been in the same situation, but down £3.5m in cash.

How can keeping him make sense?

Because i think the impact of having him would be worth more in terms of the team's achievements, than £3.5m.

This time next year, it's possible that one or two of the younger players might've proven their worth, or that Degen might've gotten over the injuries, in which case there'd be no need to bring in a new RB.

[DannyMan2006]

I'm pretty sure he's been signed because of this 6+5 rule. Madrid (and Barcelona for that matter) have fewer Spaniards in the Spain squad than Liverpool, so signing more Spaniards (including Alonso if that happens) is important for Real. I suspect he'll be a bench-warmer most of the time.

Seasoned observers of Real Madrid have stated that Arbeloa will play RB and Sergio Ramos will play centre back.

Where that leaves Pepe and Raul Albiol is anybodys guess. I guess the main point is that if Arbeloa performs he will be in the first team.