Reds agree Aquilani deal

[Shaggy]

Players we don't really need? WTF? We've lost our first-choice right-back and replaced him with a better one, and lost our playmaker and replaced him with another, younger one.

[DannyMan2006]

These comments echos my thoughts completely, I'm just being lazy by copying it.

But we did need a right back as Arbeloa was refusing to sign a new deal, plus RB was one of our weakest positions (along with LW) when our strongest XI was fit.

We also needed a CM in the style of Aquilani as Rafa wants to keep reasonably close to the successfull system we used last year.

Whilst I would ideally not have spent £17m on a RB, I have long said that when we sign a player for the first XI we should only sign the very best we can get. And Johnson fits the bill.

[Shanks]

I took it as, 40mill being a lot of money for those two positions.
When the priority was IMO a winger and second striker. Although our hand was forced.

I wouldn't see it as a good transfer window, if this is how we are starting the season.

We'll just have to wait and see.

[kingfunk]

"we can't go into yet another season with Fernando Torres having to carry the burden on his own upfront."

[Mattshark]

And who can we afford to spend a lot of money on as just back up for Torres exactly. Two players left and NEEDED replacing. Who ever wrote the blog is a muppet.

[Marky]

x2

[Shanks]

And who can we afford to spend a lot of money on as just back up for Torres exactly.

So based on that, David Villa shouldn't even be an option?

Maybe we let Arby go too cheaply and the fact we HAD to spend that much money on a RB leaves a slightly horrible taste for me.

I'm sure all things taken into account with player sales, we still have enough to bring in another signing or two.

[DannyMan2006]

So based on that, David Villa shouldn't even be an option?

Maybe we let Arby go too cheaply and the fact we HAD to spend that much money on a RB leaves a slightly horrible taste for me.

I'm sure all things taken into account with player sales, we still have enough to bring in another signing or two.

We bid £25m for Tevez after we had already signed Johnson. Maybe you should wait until the transfer window closes and make your mind up then?

As for RB, would you rather we kept Arbeloa and let him leave for nothing next summer, whilst hpoing their was a decent replacement on the market? Remember that in Johnsons case, £7m of the fee was what they owed us, money we would not have recieved this season. So it is only £10m of this seasons budget we spent on Johnson. Add the money we spent on Aquilani and they're both covered by the Alonso fee.

Reasonable business, no?

Maybe that leaves us with a pot of cash, and maybe not. But we needed to buy the two players we did.

[Guest]

Arriving at Heathrow, apparently...

And it seems he's arrived at Terminal 5.

[CincyRed]

First its not 40m. Its 17m on GJ and according to reports as low as 15m on AA. Thats 32m. I agree with the comments that RB was our weakest position in the first XI and that also the sentiment that in the past we have missed out on big targets by not stumping up the cash and am glad we did this time. I mean is there a big difference between 12m turning into 15m a few seasons ago for Dani Alves and Glen ultimately going for 17m in the summer of Real Madrid and Citeh? And to me the bottom line is he's been very impressive in preseason and if he can bring that form into the season then we'll be glad we put up the dosh to sign him.

I do however, think that its important what Rafa does next. So far I willing to say that he has played a blinder in this market, but that depends on him spending 15-20m on a left sided attacker. To me that would make the summer very very acceptable. Ideally, I like to see someone like Silva, Arda Turan, or maybe Mata. I really think that despite the fact that we havent added any strikers to the club that we really do have sufficient cover for
Torres. I think that Babel has been excellent so far in preseason and that this will have to be the year that he steps up. I also think he possesses all the attributes to fill in at the top of the 4-2-3-1. I think the purchase of AA quite rightly confirms that we will stay with that formation, ruling out any big striker purchase. I also think that between Babel, Nemeth, N'Gog and Kuyt we can cover for the absence of Torres.

But what we really need is a more direct LW. I think that Reira can provide the width and if he can score more goals like the one in Singapore that he will be a valuable asset, but that we truly lack invention on that flank.

As to AA, two things really excite me. He seems to truly be two footed and capable of scoring on his left from distance. And he seems to have a much better engine that XA with the ability to get into the box and finish moves. After thinking earlier today that I couldnt remember the last time Xabi made a surging run into the box, I coincidentally watched the 2-1 win over the arse at Anfield in 2004/5. I decided to watch it for the Mellor goal, and had forgot about Alonso's goal. It was his first season with us and at the end of the first half he got on the end of a lovely central ball from Gerrard that split two defenders. The ball was hit so slowly, yet into such space that it seemed like xabi was running forever to catch up with it. He just about gets there before the defender, right at the top of the box, and finishes strongly into top corner amidst a tough challenge. It was a poignant moment coming unexpectedly and so close on the heels of his departure. And now I wonder if that is the last time that xabi got (almost) into the box like that. It was a brilliant goal, but it was not what would become classic xabi. its also not like the runs AA seems to be capable of: ghosting past defenders to slot home. it seems to me that AA might be the perfect balance to play in our midfield between gerrard and masher. I also think that there may be some apt comparisons between him and Torres in that they were both local lads that seemed to have been asked to carry their club on their shoulders. I know that AA wasnt captain there, but from what I have read it seems that whenever he came on he was expected to save them. I think that just like nando was able to explode by having some of the responsibility and expectation taken off his shoulders, AA could well do the same.

As to AAs injuries, assuming the poster who posted the dates of his injury record is correct, he has had two injuries in the last three seasons when he did miss a significant amount of time. However, for both injuries they clearly brought AA back too early as he was back out again very quickly. His injuries were thigh and ankle related; it seems its been long enough without a recurrence of the thigh problem, and he just had the surgery for his ankle. I think the bigger problem is that he wont have a real preseason and wont be fit for spurs.

[Assassin]

I took it as, 40mill being a lot of money for those two positions.
When the priority was IMO a winger and second striker. Although our hand was forced.

I wouldn't see it as a good transfer window, if this is how we are starting the season.

We'll just have to wait and see.

Its called continual improvement!

It is also nearer £25 mill paid out GJ 17 + AA 15 - PC 7 = 25. Decent business as I see it.

Plus there is still money at least £18 mill in the kitty from the XA of AA sales, as GJ was bought well before the sale of XA, presumeably with RB's transfer budget from GG & TH

[SK]

First its not 40m. Its 17m on GJ and according to reports as low as 15m on AA. Thats 32m. I agree with the comments that RB was our weakest position in the first XI and that also the sentiment that in the past we have missed out on big targets by not stumping up the cash and am glad we did this time. I mean is there a big difference between 12m turning into 15m a few seasons ago for Dani Alves and Glen ultimately going for 17m in the summer of Real Madrid and Citeh? And to me the bottom line is he's been very impressive in preseason and if he can bring that form into the season then we'll be glad we put up the dosh to sign him.

I do however, think that its important what Rafa does next. So far I willing to say that he has played a blinder in this market, but that depends on him spending 15-20m on a left sided attacker. To me that would make the summer very very acceptable. Ideally, I like to see someone like Silva, Arda Turan, or maybe Mata. I really think that despite the fact that we havent added any strikers to the club that we really do have sufficient cover for
Torres. I think that Babel has been excellent so far in preseason and that this will have to be the year that he steps up. I also think he possesses all the attributes to fill in at the top of the 4-2-3-1. I think the purchase of AA quite rightly confirms that we will stay with that formation, ruling out any big striker purchase. I also think that between Babel, Nemeth, N'Gog and Kuyt we can cover for the absence of Torres.

But what we really need is a more direct LW. I think that Reira can provide the width and if he can score more goals like the one in Singapore that he will be a valuable asset, but that we truly lack invention on that flank.

As to AA, two things really excite me. He seems to truly be two footed and capable of scoring on his left from distance. And he seems to have a much better engine that XA with the ability to get into the box and finish moves. After thinking earlier today that I couldnt remember the last time Xabi made a surging run into the box, I coincidentally watched the 2-1 win over the arse at Anfield in 2004/5. I decided to watch it for the Mellor goal, and had forgot about Alonso's goal. It was his first season with us and at the end of the first half he got on the end of a lovely central ball from Gerrard that split two defenders. The ball was hit so slowly, yet into such space that it seemed like xabi was running forever to catch up with it. He just about gets there before the defender, right at the top of the box, and finishes strongly into top corner amidst a tough challenge. It was a poignant moment coming unexpectedly and so close on the heels of his departure. And now I wonder if that is the last time that xabi got (almost) into the box like that. It was a brilliant goal, but it was not what would become classic xabi. its also not like the runs AA seems to be capable of: ghosting past defenders to slot home. it seems to me that AA might be the perfect balance to play in our midfield between gerrard and masher. I also think that there may be some apt comparisons between him and Torres in that they were both local lads that seemed to have been asked to carry their club on their shoulders. I know that AA wasnt captain there, but from what I have read it seems that whenever he came on he was expected to save them. I think that just like nando was able to explode by having some of the responsibility and expectation taken off his shoulders, AA could well do the same.

As to AAs injuries, assuming the poster who posted the dates of his injury record is correct, he has had two injuries in the last three seasons when he did miss a significant amount of time. However, for both injuries they clearly brought AA back too early as he was back out again very quickly. His injuries were thigh and ankle related; it seems its been long enough without a recurrence of the thigh problem, and he just had the surgery for his ankle. I think the bigger problem is that he wont have a real preseason and wont be fit for spurs.

very good post

[Cormack74]

Eyes don't look as narrow, perhaps he's had an op.

But his thumb looks strangely large.

[Guest]

So, has he signed yet?

[Darkon]

So, has he signed yet?

According to the daily post he should have signed yesterday.

Also in the article today he is speaking like he has signed, but it says nothing about when it will be official.