This isn't just about strengthening the squad for LFC. There have been major ownership and managerial and court issues which have all been since resolved.
Can always rely on a Spurs fan to get their arse and their mouth mixed up. We haven't strengthened that much? We have effectively done the following since the start of last season: N'Gog>Bellamy Poulsen>Henderson Cole>Downing Mereiles>Adam Kyrgiakos>Coates Konchesky>Enrique Torres>Suarez +Carroll add to that the fact we have Gerrard back to fitness, our talented youngsters are all a year older and Dalglish is now settled into his role as manager. Spurs barely finished above us last season after our worst start in decades and huge ownership turmoil. How have Spurs strengthened? Well they've let a significant number of players go and have effectively replaced Crouch with Adebayor and Palacios with Parker. Modric is unsettled, Bale has yet to prove he wasn't something of a flash in the pan and you have several players such as Krancjar and Defoe who wanted to leave at the start of the summer, and Bassong who was told he only had a palce at the club because they couldn't get Cahill in. Adebayor i think is a good signing, but at the end of the day both Arsenal and Man City wanted rid of him and he is only on loan. Parker i think is overrated, but that is an unfashionable point of view i know. Either way given the above how do you expect to maintain last year's difference? Madness.
Add to this the fact that VDV looks like he's gonna be a sulker AND the fact that the whole squad knows 'Arry will be offered the England job at the end of this season if Capello does jack it in. This all adds up to the sort of instabilities we had last season (not as severe maybe but issues nevertheless) and although they are good enough on their day to beat most teams, over the course of a long hard season I think we are now better equipped to deal with the rigours of the prem than Spurs are
I agree with this. Spurs advantage over us the last 2 years has been squad depth. Here are their significant incomings and outgoings: In: Friedel Parker Adebayor Out: Woodgate O'Hara Keane Palacios Hutton Crouch Bentley Jenas
But that doesn't affect his ability. He had 5 years to run on his contract, so despite not being 'worth' £20m, that's how much he cost to buy. If you wanted to buy him from us now, he'd cost you even more. He may grow to be among the top few midfielders in the PL, in which case £20m will look a decent buy. Also, consider he could feasibly give us 10 + years of service. I think everyone would be happy to have paid £2 million a year for Gerrard's service, or Carragher's, on top of their wages. You paid £10m for Arteta, and are probably looking at a maximum of 5 years out of him, so the fee breaks down the same.
What I find unbelievable is that Spurs fans trying to justify their poor start by loosing to the 2 Manchester teams. What excuse is that? You were hammered by City and you practically gave up at Old trafford, for a team you fans think will finish 5th or higher...these aint the type of performances that will get you there no matter who you play. Wake up.
True but the guy evaluating your buys is doing it now, not in 5 years time. As you don't know how good he will turn out to be the writer is basing his opinion on whether Henderson was a good buy on his early performances, which in my opinion don't scream of future top prem midfielder. Therefore I think his assessments are more based on hope than reality.
if we all analysed a signing on the first 3 games then i'm afraid oops most of arsenals are bad. oh you've not played the panic buys yet.... but seriously... all jokes aside and all that.. Evaluating a 20 year old... (or shock chamberlain) on the basis of now is utterly pointless they are not aguero, not torres, not young, not even close! its like some fool saying lucas at 7mil was an awful buy or even anderson or nani at utd for 17mil each... if a club rationally makes a decision to spend its money in a way to gets both a player for now, a homegrown talent AND a player who is in all likelyhood to radically improve over the next 5 years then its very short sighted to focus on the fee. simple. fees are only good for wumming.. anyone who comes to a clubs board and talks fee is most likely wumming.
People have to remember when Man City first got money. They paid £20M+ for the likes of Lescott and Milner whilst also bringing in the likes of Carlos Tevez who is comparable to our Luis Suarez in some ways. Now players like Milner are squad players and offer great depth, once we secure Champions League qualification we can only further strengthen our team
But that was an obscene waste of money though, especially considering the other players they could get for the same amount. Don't you think they would be happier getting Luis Suarez instead of Milner if they both cost the same?
I do admit to being optimistic in my opinions but if you read it fully you'll find my reasoning as to why they player potentially could become a good signing, of course it's not a guarantee of how he will turn out to be but there's no harm in judging and giving my opinions on things
But my point is not at the actually money but the players, the likes of Lescott and Milner were over-priced but they were home-grown and arguably top half players that could help them improve as a team in areas, now that they've served their purpose they have been able to attract bigger players such as Aguero to replace them. My point is even though none of our players may be regarded as 'word class' and we still aren't up to the same standard as many other European teams we have improved and it will certainly help aid our quest for Champions League Football which will be step 1 completed, once we've done that we'll re-evulate our ambitions for next year, get in more appropriate and better players to improve our squad etc.
Just seems like we have a difference in opinion over how promising his future will be based his start to his liverpool career. Its what this site is for I guess and its nice to have a debate this long without personal insults coming in to it .
Yup, you seem like a sensible guy. The way I see Henderson is a player who can tidily link up the midfield with a number of short passes with the ability to pull of a great cross as well, he doesn't seem anything like Gerrard and I'm certainly not expecting 'fireworks' as such in the future but I feel that with him he offers a nice amount of balance in a contrasting midfield.
