I would say that those examples say more about Liverpool's spending policy than Walcott being mediocre, but the average fee that people are suggesting on here is around £15m. If people are saying he's worth £15m, then to me it seems ludicrous to suggest that he's not a good player.
That is what I was getting at. If people think he's ****, then his price should reflect that. How much for an ineffective, inconsistent winger with no football brain? If that's what you believe, would you also baulk if someone reflected that with a £5m - £8m bid ?
No PISKIE - he's English so that immediately bumps his price up, its as simple as that. Walcott on the continent would cost £10m
Well it was a question, rather than an argument. But I would say that your examples reveal more about the mentality of true panic buying, than an honest appraisal of a player's value.
I think he's about 12 - 14m personally. Nothing much makes him stand out from alot of players in that range other than speed. But add in the messed up market and the "English player tax" and he could be 25m+ If Bent is supposed to be worth 24m then Walcott can match that.
Not sure if anyone has ever said he is our best player (Although as an aethiest, surely you would agree that he has got more assists than God ?) You're probably right, someone could come in with a £15m+ bid - Whilst I wouldn't sell him for the reasons Toledo outlined, I do think that would reflect his true value. I just think that if someone came in with a bid around £8m, the same people who think he's ****, would also be saying that would be an insulting offer.
The key is consistency, Walcott doesn't put in quality performances on a regular basis and is often useless. However, his occasional good performances and pace would lead another manager to believe he could be turned into a world-beater, hence the 15-20million possible price tag. Look at Torres, he wasn't bought for his amazing form.
Well it was a question - 'If he's worth £20m, then how can he be mediocre?' - you've offered a fairly acceptable answer, the market is overinflated. This would also explain why Wenger is right not to pay over the odds for players whose true value is much less. Personally, whilst Toledo has correctly pointed out why we shouldn't sell him, I think Walcott's true value would be around £12m-£15m.
I would say it's much better to develop unknown players and end up with a Wlishere and an RVP, than spend £35m on someone like Carroll simply because the market is overinflated.
But I didn't think it was the prices of players that cost the money, it was the wages. £100k per week is £5.2m per year. You can recoup transfer fees when you sell a player, but wages are wages ! And ours is over £100m per season.
Liverpool are a point ahead of us. Other than that, we have exactly the same chances as you're outlining for them.
yeh about £10-15m, i just want him out the club, he offers nothing and is the most frustrating player to watch, hopefully him arshavin squillaci and chamakh are gone by the summer.
Even if Liverpool have under performed this season, with the players bought nor having the impact desired (Looking at you Downing) We are still in a final, a point above and possibly on the road to another final. I don't think Liverpool actually improved on last season, I think Arsenal are just awful at the moment , especially if you consider the downward slide of other teams. I think Liverpool are a work in progress. A trophy would be nice as would top 4 but I don't think we are good enough yet.
Oh, and 15mil for Walcott is about right. Up to 20 if he puts in a few good shifts in this latter half of the season. His actual value has to be closer to 10mil, but he is young and English, so it'd be bad business to get anything below 15-20 mil.
Perhaps. Piskie has a point in saying that you don't know if the players bought in would of made an impact (again, see Downing).
K3 - so do you just do nothing ? Hell no. If that was the case no club would EVER buy players because you don't know if they'll make an impact.
Exactly. Can you imagine his agent now .. on the phone pimping out his player to the highest bidders. I guarantee you he's been quiet for the past month or so though
