Committee & Rodgers wanted him. Klopp didn't necessarily want him & when he's played hasn't delivered for Klopp.
Hmm, Coutinho 9, Firmino 9, Benteke 8. Delivered about as much as you other attackers with less game time.
Coutinho MF Firmino MF Benteke ST Apples and Pears. Yeah he's scored a few goals, no disputing that... but the amount he's missed and poor performances in between those goals outweighs the good.
Firmino has played quite a bit as striker/false9 this season but yeah, I must admit Benteke has been very poor with 1v1 situations.
Stuart Downing is (or at least was) a very skilful footballer, especially at crossing, when he was on top of his game @ 5 years ago. Unfortunately he doesn't have the temperament nor bottle for big games and big clubs. We got him on the downside of his career. Even so, he still managed to have a good season or so under Allardyce at West Ham, mostly as he wasn't under the microscope. Even at his best he wouldn't fit into West Ham now as they've moved up a level in the Prem. He just can't deliver consistently at the top table . Sad, but true. Unfortunately, we've bought nine Stuart Downings for every Phillipe Coutinho for the last six years. Even sadder; even truer.
Traditional wide man.. get chalk on his boots, make space and deliver in the box. Ask him to do that and he'll do it.... but he's not a come inside and link up play winger which is what a lot of wingers are expected to be these days.
I'll go further and say his crosses were not that special. Stevie is the best crosser we've had in the last decade, but after him I'd say.... Dirk Kuyt (!) until Coutinho came along. Point us, none of those three are wingers. Have we ever had a winger who cross like Barnes since Barnes?
I'd say Gerrard was brilliant but only from dead balls. His crossing from wide position got gradually worse.. and he still never learnt how to take a corner From what I've seen, Brad Smith is probably the best crosser of the ball at the club atm! Milner can put in a decent ball, either side with either foot.. he's very much like Finnan, happy to cut back and deliver decent ball in with his left.
Mind you, he had to run a gauntlet of spit, coins and plastic bottles when he attempted a corner at The Gwladys St End. It became more an obscene version of Takeshi's Castle than a dead ball kick.
**** me sideways: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...y-lose-Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-Edinson-Cavani.html Er, I want to keep Studge. I still think he's utter class and there isn't a better fit with our style of play in England. But £45m? Come here, PSG, and prepare to get used to a hook were your hand was.
45 million for a ten game a season player?...Arsenes sharing with his compatriots.... So far then? PSG give us 45 for studge. Juventus give us 25 for Benteke We buy Morata off Real for 35 once they buy him back from Juventus and then sell him to the highest bidder. 35 mil left to play with lol
Firmino is not a natural striker Firmino has only played a handful of games as false 9 Firmino's first season in England
If anyone is prepared to give us that much for sturrdige he is gone imo... just gone ifwe get anything for benteke like that same we are not good enough for benteke
Still don't trust an Italian club to actually pay out right for someone like Benteke. I have more trust in the Chinese buying Balotelli.
chinese pay money up front in gold bullion. italians pay in old lira they pulle dout of their grannies sofa.. half now rest whenever.
