Liverpool agree Arbeloa transfer

[Neil Young]

He may have wanted whatever, the point is, he signed a contract and if it's to the benefit of the club that he honours it, then that is what should happen.

And i believe it is.

By and large you've got to treat players fairly. Arbeloa is a Spanish international, it's World Cup year and it's clear he would be back-up to Johnson, all being well, so if he doesn't play much it could really damage his career. When you add in the strong rumours he wanted to go back to Spain last year, the fact that it's a sideways move from one big club to another (something which may not be on offer if he delays a year) and the fact he's out of contract soon then it's perhaps not ideal but then the only ideal world is FM2009 (or whatever the youth play these days).

[FatTony]

This comes as no surprise really. He put in some very half arsed performances towards the end of the season, I remember saying to a mate I can see him off back to Spain next year as his enthusiasm seemed to just nosedive. I suppose the spat with Carra didn't help.

A very good player though when in form.

[Craig_H]

No point in keeping a player who doesn't want to be here IMO. Rafa asked him to stay last yr, he's done that and we get a fee for him. If as suggested on here he and Carra haven't patched things up after the set to, it makes sense for him to leave.

Move on, time is up!

Plenty of point in it. The main one being that he's a fantastic member of the squad who consistently puts in solid performances.

Why is there no point keeping him?

[Craig_H]

See this is what I think/thought, but if you factor in wages then it works out at £5m for one season; albeit as an overly simplistic and somewhat naive way of looking at it

But I'm not sure that Arbeloa for one season is worth £5m

I'd rather spend the £5m on that, than signing another Dossena for more.

[Craig_H]

By and large you've got to treat players fairly. Arbeloa is a Spanish international, it's World Cup year and it's clear he would be back-up to Johnson, all being well, so if he doesn't play much it could really damage his career. When you add in the strong rumours he wanted to go back to Spain last year, the fact that it's a sideways move from one big club to another (something which may not be on offer if he delays a year) and the fact he's out of contract soon then it's perhaps not ideal but then the only ideal world is FM2009 (or whatever the youth play these days).

The club comes first. We'll have nearly 60 games next year - Arbeloa (and Johnson) can play LB. Insua is still young. Dossena is useless. And Aurelio is injury prone. There'd be plenty of games for everyone.

It's a world cup year and Arbeloa wants to go, so if we'd kept him, it would've been in his best interests to play well.

I'm sure plenty of people want plenty of things, but as you say, life isnt ideal. Why should it be ideal for the player, but not the club?

[Neil Young]

The club comes first. We'll have nearly 60 games next year - Arbeloa (and Johnson) can play LB. Insua is still young. Dossena is useless. And Aurelio is injury prone. There'd be plenty of games for everyone.

It's a world cup year and Arbeloa wants to go, so if we'd kept him, it would've been in his best interests to play well.

I'm sure plenty of people want plenty of things, but as you say, life isnt ideal. Why should it be ideal for the player, but not the club?

Yes, the club comes first. And if the club and its management gain a reputation for treating players like **** then the club suffers.

[DannyMan2006]

I'd rather spend the £5m on that, than signing another Dossena for more.

I do not see your point.

If we keep him we will be in exactly the same situation next year, but without £3.5m coming in.

IMO you have adopted the small time mentality of many of our fans who seem to think we should forget about the future of the club and concentrate on just next season.

I want us to be in a position we are challenging for the title every year and to do that difficult calls need to be made. But selling Arbeloa now to recieve a fee is not one of them.


EDIT:

Actually that's very harsh. Small time mentality is not the correct choice of words that fits the situation. But you see my point Craig.

[The Birdman]

Decent player nothing more, massively at fault for the Chelsea home defeat in the CL and certainly very replaceable.
The same people slagging off us selling him were probably regularly on here after one of his many average performances beasting him.
He was good for us but was never top quality in any position, final ball was mostly terrible so while I'd have preferred he stayed it would only be to bolster the squad and Rafa is bound to have someone else lined up.

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.......

[EwarWoo]

Yes, the club comes first. And if the club and its management gain a reputation for treating players like **** then the club suffers.

[Guest]

He's a good player but we've good adequate cover at right back. Degen, Darby and Carra.

[EwarWoo]

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.......

[DannyMan2006]

All this talk is irrelevant if degen steps up and becomes the player Rafa thought he was getting. An international right back who is very capable of filling in at right back when required.

I actually thought he may challenge Arbeloa for first choice when he initially arrived. I think that estimation was probably way off, but I still think he is capable of providing cover if he stays injury free.

[Craig_H]

Yes, the club comes first. And if the club and its management gain a reputation for treating players like **** then the club suffers.

I dont think it's quite as black and white as that.

[Craig_H]

I do not see your point.

If we keep him we will be in exactly the same situation next year, but without £3.5m coming in.

IMO you have adopted the small time mentality of many of our fans who seem to think we should forget about the future of the club and concentrate on just next season.

I want us to be in a position we are challenging for the title every year and to do that difficult calls need to be made. But selling Arbeloa now to recieve a fee is not one of them.


EDIT:

Actually that's very harsh. Small time mentality is not the correct choice of words that fits the situation. But you see my point Craig.

£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?

[Craig_H]

He's a good player but we've good adequate cover at right back. Degen, Darby and Carra.

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