I'm speculating that there is a large element of once (maybe twice) bitten - twice shy when it comes to transfer fees. I also feel that we are taking a professional approach and not letting ourselves get caught up in a bidding war or a beauty contest (war for the fee/ beauty for the wages). There's a lot of very good players out there so missing those that have moved is not the end of the world. I don't think that you are being cynical regarding the Suarez situation and our approach to transfers and I wouldn't bet on a marquee signing before the window closes. With Suarez staying (even if for 1 season) then there is no need for such a deal. We are not in the same situation as either Arsenal or Spurs. But that is not to say that we should not still be busy looking at possible options and being prepared to spend IF the right target appears. From a purely strategic standpoint it would appear that Spurs are playing a high risk game. Even if they do sell Bale then they are lashing out big money on lots of players in the HOPE that they will gel. Add to that the imperative to build a new stadium and even I'm wincing at the level of financial risk!
The same thing was said in Jan about Sturridge and Coutinho, Undoubtly building a team on the cheap takes longer, but we haven't had much success with the spend spend spend approach either. As much I'd love another big name signing I'm happy to sit back and see how the new signings do. We probably do need a CB though before the season starts but other than that I think we have good cover.
Yeah but I think BR didnt want a DOF? I could be wrong At the end of the day though whoever is DOF you would still be playing for LFC, under that manager etc so does it make that much difference?
LFC don't blab information like that to the journos unless it's in our best interest. Transfer leaks which get about LFC potential signings tend to come from the clubs on the other end of the deal. Anyway, have people actually watched willian play? It seems there's a fair bit of annoyance/disappointment/unhappiness about us not bidding more. 30million is a massive amount of money and frankly, I don't think he's worth it. Neither do LFC. I think the owners, more particularly the transfer comittee, want value for money. They'll spend 30mill if a player is worth that much to us. Considering BR wants goals from all across the front line, I guess they would want a better goal/assist return for a wide forward for that amount of money. If Spuds want to bid that much, go for it. Move on. Mkhitaryan could choose between us and the CL runners up (if we even bid the same as them, which we didn't) so obviously that wouldn't happen. Muriel can't come to us (not that we've bid on him, just looked at him) because of work permit issues. Lamela is a long shot but other clubs are more attractive to him with european football or more money. Costa, who knows, but he signed an extension to his contract so clearly he wasn't that unhappy there. At least we're looking around these players and are willing to sign them but just not going to overspend. I'm fine with that. I just think that alot of LFC fans get caught up easily with the names and money and believe they'll a top quality player we need to sign and it just sets them up for disappointment/annoyance when the don't come through. Willian's good, but nothing special. We can do better for that money or less and that is what our scouts are for.
My entire stance on marquee signings (and my eye to pick a player for that matter!) can be summed up thus: I was delighted when Joe Cole signed. Mmm
I however was very cautious that we spent so much (£26m) on a Spanish kid who was well thought of, but hardly prolific. We could have got 2 and a half Ryan Babel's for that money because, to me, Ryan Babel was obviously the best signing we ever concluded. He was the next super talent. Hmmmmm
BR was adamant that he didn't want a DoF. I understand what you're saying but DoF's can attract players depending on their relationships with other clubs and players themselves. These relationships/contacts are crucial and I can't see Rodgers and Ayre having that many around Europe as they are relatively inexperienced in their respective roles. Apologies to keep bringing up AVB and Baldini but they are highly regarded around Europe so they already have that respect. In addition, they speak a number of languages between them and that can have an impact when attracting a player.
I have been impressed with the targets we've tried to sign this summer. Makes a big difference from the days of looking at Luke Young and Carlton Cole. And I agree regarding Willian. I do like him as a player but as with Costa, they were overpriced.
I think you're almost certainly right with regards to how LFC are viewing the market at present, I think there's also been players that you've been linked with that were most likely potential replacements for said player, as you will have had to make contingency plans. As for Spurs, I don't think they've taken any risk at all mate. Levy is a canny old fox & I'd have good money on him having a written agreement in place with RM over Bale already, but he's asked for a delay in completion until they've signed all of their incomings, to avoid having to overpay armed with a World record fee. By the close of the window their net spend will be next to nothing & they've shipped out a raft of squad players to free up the wages etc. I think they've done extremely well this window tbh & whilst you're right about the team gelling etc, they've bought quality & once they do bed in, they could be a formidable outfit.
The thing with Ryan Babel I never get is... why does he still hold the club in high regards? He worships us. From his comments to Eriksen, the Howard Webb picture in a Utd top. He's always talking about us in a positive way.
But remember who they are dealing with. Modric has been away for a season but it only became 'common knowledge' that Real still owed the Spuds for that deal this Summer. The advantage in the Bale deal has always lain with Real. I think the level of risk be carried at present is still very high. If Real do walk then Levy has big (nearly said real there!) problems. Either way they know that the player wants to go to them and is therefore very unsettled. They could even afford to wait until january to complete the deal. Squeeky bum time at WHL
I gotta agree with Tobes (I feel dirty..), said so myself earlier, but Levy doesn't come across as the sort of person that will be caught with his pants down, he's either got a written/legally binding contract that RM will pay X amount for Bale or the deal could actually already be done and as Tobes says, Spurs are waiting to conclude their business before announcing the sale, either way, Well played Mr Levy!
The Modric deal will have been in staged payments mate & I've no doubt the Bale deal will be the same. They'll have agreed a schedule & Levy has gone shopping armed with that schedule & will have committed the payments on his incomings to match. He's no mug & there's no chance he's gone out & spent £90m (odd how that figure matches the reported sale price for Bale...) without having some form of security around the Bale deal.
You'd better hope that your paragon of business expertise is behaving just as you have predicted. If he's not then his next stop may well be Las Vegas to try and recoup is losses.
Few media outlets are saying that Spurs prefer Pjanic over Lamela because he will be cheaper. And that also Roma are the ones trying to force a deal over Lamela. Hopefully we can get in there before anyone else ...
Whatever you might think of Spurs, you surely can't deny that Levy is a very shrewd operator? I reckon the banks / finance Director at Spurs, would maybe have asked for something more than "it'll be right mate, Madrid are gonna cough for chimp head shortly", as security against the £90m capital expenditure that he's embarked on this summer I'd love to have someone of his calibre at Goodison.
I'd take those 2 over Kenwright, at least they made funds available for Rafa to squander before taking you to the brink of administration........even then you landed on your feet, in typical kopite style.
