Luis Suárez

[el matador]

That's the only way I could see us doing a deal with them. Unless they offer ridiculous money again of course.

which we all know chelsea arent averse to.

if he;s not playing for us i dont care where he plays. he's only got to ask torres what sort of reception he got from us and he already gets a **** load from every other ground too.

I would love mata in our team, he'd be ****ing awesome.

[Baracus]

If Real Madrid can spend 60m+ on 2 as of yet unproven kids ( Well Isco is not quite unproven but still)...They can spend that much again on Luis.

[MrMichael]

We are a stepping stone club these days. We seem to be happy to do just enough to keep us where we are and allow players to join, up their profile and leave after a few seasons while we lower the wage bill and make a profit.

I totally disagree. Other than Torres name one other player who has used us as a "stepping stone". Indeed Torres stayed for what, 3 1/2 years and only decided to quit after Rafa was replaced by Bodgeson. Suarez main reasons for wanting to leave have seemingly been that he is not happy in England after everything that has happened, unless he actually goes to another English club, which I still don't believe he will, we've no reason not to believe that. So I don't see the evidence for this stepping stone thing at all. Unlike maybe Arsenal; Fabregas, Toure, Nasri, Adebayor, RVP. Flamini... not that all those really used them as such, players move on in football, but still, far more appropriate to level that at them than us imo.

[Sarb]

I totally disagree. Other than Torres name one other player who has used us as a "stepping stone". Indeed Torres stayed for what, 3 1/2 years and only decided to quit after Rafa was replaced by Bodgeson. Suarez main reasons for wanting to leave have seemingly been that he is not happy in England after everything that has happened, unless he actually goes to another English club, which I still don't believe he will, we've no reason not to believe that. So I don't see the evidence for this stepping stone thing at all. Unlike maybe Arsenal; Fabregas, Toure, Nasri, Adebayor, RVP. Flamini... not that all those really used them as such, players move on in football, but still, far more appropriate to level that at them than us imo.

[Imy]

I totally disagree. Other than Torres name one other player who has used us as a "stepping stone". Indeed Torres stayed for what, 3 1/2 years and only decided to quit after Rafa was replaced by Bodgeson. Suarez main reasons for wanting to leave have seemingly been that he is not happy in England after everything that has happened, unless he actually goes to another English club, which I still don't believe he will, we've no reason not to believe that. So I don't see the evidence for this stepping stone thing at all. Unlike maybe Arsenal; Fabregas, Toure, Nasri, Adebayor, RVP. Flamini... not that all those really used them as such, players move on in football, but still, far more appropriate to level that at them than us imo.

Mascharano
Alonso
(Reina and Suarez flirting with other clubs)
Basically anyone good in recent years (bar Gerrard)

[BrooklynRed]

I totally disagree. Other than Torres name one other player who has used us as a "stepping stone".

I agree with you, but Arbeloa.

[Tee]

Mascharano
Alonso
(Reina and Suarez flirting with other clubs)
Basically anyone good in recent years (bar Gerrard)

The point is we are going down that road, and we need to stop before it becomes the norm and acceptable to supporters.

[MrMichael]

Mascharano
Alonso
(Reina and Suarez flirting with other clubs)
Basically anyone good in recent years (bar Gerrard)

No way did Alonso ( 5 years, 2 CL finals, we tried to sell before he wanted to leave) use us as a stepping stone. I'd argue about Masch too. Players normally moving on is not the same thing whatsoever.

[Dessy]

Players move on, accept it.

[MrMichael]

I agree with you, but Arbeloa.

Ok, maybe him. Though I don't know that he saw joining us as putting himself in the shop window, just that wirhout Rafa and with Madrid calling leaving was an easy choice. I really think we need to draw a distinction here betwen the normal business of players coming and going with us somehow becoming a feeder club to others.

Meireles is the one player I think fits this description, and he was rubbish anyway.

[Rich]

We aren't a feeder club or even a "stepping stone" club but there is a pecking order in European football and until we are back in the CL we will find that some players will either not join or want to leave when a CL club comes calling.

[fah-q]

Konchesky?

[Gibbo]

Insua

[Tee]

Poulsen

[MrMichael]

We aren't a feeder club or even a "stepping stone" club but there is a pecking order in European football and until we are back in the CL we will find that some players will either not join or want to leave when a CL club comes calling.

Of course, absolutely, that's just how the world works. In the general hierarchy we're still closer to the top than the bottom though and a lot of players would atill love to play for us, even if a few of the most established, top earning or top rank players would not see us as a huge draw without CL footy etc.

I just don't personally see that getting all woe-is-us about it (edit - not meaning anyone specific here) and making things out to be worse than they really are does us any favours. Fans of most clubs in this league would love to be linked with the talent we are, and as Sturridge & Coutinho proved, we can buy players who will have a positive impact on our team. As long as that is true then we can get back to the highest levels, and that is all that really matters.