I know we didn't sell a very good Torres. That's why I said the good Torres rather than just Torres. Sheesh, somebody give Sky a hair to split.
Andrej Voronin anyone? "I'm not a Sheva." True. He was worse. Sheva scored a cracking goal against Valencia in the CL.
Looks like he's on his way out of Chelsea now. Would you take him back if the price was right? I can imagine him linking up brilliantly with Suarez with those little through balls.
Of the names I see on here: Xabi: Definately. I don't think we would have had our two bad years if we had him- there again, if we hadn't lost Rafa (who I rate very highly) we wouldn't have got Kenny (who I think could be even better for us- although hard to compare two very different styles) Benny: Yes, he was very usefull- didn't score quite as many as Maxi (who seems to kinda be his replacement)- but I thought he gave more to the team. Arbeloa: At the time, yes... but I've come to regret this less over time. I think Kelly is already looking better- Johnson is better at attacking but not as good at defending. Garcia: No, he was good. Creative, scored good goals, etc. But he was a luxury player and wastefull at times. Benny was better.
Sissoko: Definately at the time was bummed- but he hasn't set the world alight since. Mascherano: This was a HUUUUGEEEE loss- I think he was more important to us than Gerrard to be honest... We played better with him in the squad than without- we noticed more when he was absent. Lucas is filling that hole now- but it was a big hole! Hyypia: at the time No- thought he was getting on. His last couple of seasons we hardly used him. It was only after he was gone and we needed him that I missed him. Rush: I was Rush on the playground footie field- of course we should never have sold him!!!! Finnan: He was past his best- it was time for him to move on. (same can be said about Riise- who I'm surprised no one has mentioned yet- both good players at one time and good servants of the club) Biscan: The worlds greatest ever player. No wonder we haven't won the Champions League since he left. Pongo: I had huge aspirations for Pongo- he really did remind me of an Henry- don't know why he wasn't higher rated- he could score with any part of his body- always looked classy. He never set the world on fire after he left... could he have with out staff and resources? We'll never know- but over time I've decided- perhaps he wasn't the star I had him pegged for... defo thought it was a mistake selling him at the time... and he COULD have been doing a decent job for us (better than N'Gog) during the years we've been short of strikers. I still believe Pongo HAD the potential to be a world beater- he just never reached his potential. Cisse: Went to fund other strikers. I had mixed feelings. I miss his hair. Torres: Was devastated at the time- now in hindsight think it was a fantastic sale.
I agree on two names.... alonso and hyppia. mascherano was a mercenary so he can toddle off cos he was going to do a tevez no matter what.... alonso was a huge huge error
He may have been a mercenary- but he was the worlds best defensive midfield mercenary. At the time we had no-one anywhere near as good at him in that position. He actually made a pretty handy defender on the few times Rafa played him at right-back too.
Yeah, he's CB for Barca- but I don't think he ever played there for us. DM all the time, RM at least once- RB several times- but I don't think he ever played CB for us... unless I'm just forgetting it.
He never did, but that was that defensive quality he had about him, could play anything in back or DM and still be very usefull.
I don't think Mascherano could play CB in the prem. He get's away with it in Spain as teams vary rarely attack Barca. Can you imagine him CB against the likes of Stoke?
you are all right but STILL he wanted to go and if you look at tevez he was exactly the same, the agent got west ham relegated maneauvered several moves and made a fortune. Mascherano played 100% every time he took the field but he was also a guy who got sent off quite a bit so..... at least with lucas in there now we've a guy with character who's likely to be loyal despite the abuse, funny how it works out. Sure in an ideal world we'd have alonso and mascherano playing... and torres (fit) with squarez but like the owners say if they don't want to play for us we're bette roff without. I'm more than happy with the squad spirit and togetherness now even if there's room to improve
I agree if he wanted to leave you have to let him leave... but I still wish he never wanted to leave and that we still had him.
all true but in the end the measure is this; 95% of those who leave us are on the down hill slope..... since g&h took over they reversed that and arbeloa, alonso et al went to better situations in spain.... torres ruined his career...
Riera. He gave the team width and creativity. His only full season was the best in our recent history. Sadly underrated.
