Summer Transfers Mega-Thread

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I love it when people talk about Torres being some huge failure of the past few years. From what you've said Robbie his "decline set in" around the age of 26 in 2010. I guess you could be right, I mean since then he has only been part of a Spain side that has been described as the "greatest of call time", winning the World Cup, European Championships, Golden Boot at European Championships, Golden Shoe at the Confederations Cup, FA Cup, Champions League and Europa Cup - I tell you what, I'll take a decline like that any day <laugh>

True, in terms of hitting the back of the net he hasn't hit the heights of his first couple of years at Liverpool, but even before then he was never what you'd call a ridiculous goal-scoring machine, and anyone who doesn't appreciate what else he has to offer other than goals maybe needs to watch him a bit more.

I wouldn't put him in the top World Class bracket though, definitely not, however I would put Luka Modric onto the list - fantastic footballer and one of the very, very best that I've seen in the flesh <ok>

I stick by what I said Munky. When you look at Torres' list of Honours over the last three years it does indeed look impressive, but when you delve into the details the glitter all but disappears. For example, winning the Golden Shoe at the recent Confed Cup with 5 goals sounds hugely impressive until you realise that 4 of those goals came in one match, the 10:0 pasting of --- er, Tahiti. The Golden Boot at Euro 2012 was shared with 5 other players (3 goals apiece), who included Gomez, Mandzjukic, Balotelli and Dzagoev as well as the truly WC Ronaldo. So a good achievement yes, but not quite the glittering performance that "Golden Boot Winner Euro 2012" conjures up. Similarly, how much of a contribution did he actually make to Chelsea's Champions League campaign or Spain's World Cup triumphs? More bit part player than star billing I would say. When you think that the world appeared at his feet when he signed for Liverpool, it's become a rather sad story. Not finished yet though. <ok>
 
torres is a brilliant player, always has been, but because he's never recaptured his best and most scintillating form he showed at liverpool he's wrongly labelled a dud. the price tag was always silly - he wasn't worth £50m and never has been. his hamstring issues meant he lost a yard of pace so he has had to adapt his game, which he has achieved yet it appears to have gone unnoticed. just shows how little some 'experts' know about him. he's not world class but he is probably amongst the top 20 most decorated footballers to have ever lived.
 
Torres was a superb player and probably was world class for a couple of seasons at Liverpool however it is undeniable that he has benefitted from Wes Brown syndrome - i.e. a decent enough player but with many more medals than his ability would warrant due to the good fortune of playing in a team surrounded by brilliant players. Not that I am saying he is only as good as Wes Brown (obviously) but if he were playing for another nation I strongly suspect that he would have nowhere near the medal count. That said he is deemed good enough to play for Spain so he can't be all bad.
 
torres is a brilliant player, always has been, but because he's never recaptured his best and most scintillating form he showed at liverpool he's wrongly labelled a dud. the price tag was always silly - he wasn't worth £50m and never has been. his hamstring issues meant he lost a yard of pace so he has had to adapt his game, which he has achieved yet it appears to have gone unnoticed. just shows how little some 'experts' know about him. he's not world class but he is probably amongst the top 20 most decorated footballers to have ever lived.

Agreed 100% <ok>
 
Toivonen is on the naughty step though for Ajax and has played zero competitive for months.

I think Toivonen played in the game against Cambuur Leeuwarden(according to this match report):

http://www.7msport.com/video/20130902/6158.shtml

So he has had some competitive football recently, it's probably more that Elmander is just as good and they like his attitude better.

Edit:

Ah okay, here's a better report:

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/p...ur-leeuwarden/index/spielbericht_2342292.html

so has played recently.
 
Ji Sung Park now playing for PSV (a season-long loan from QPR). Two seasons ago he was featuring for Man Utd. One of the "big name" signings that had QPR fans ecstatic about the upward trajectory of their club. I feel a bit sorry for Park; he's a decent player and no doubt signed for QPR having been lavished with praise and hype (and of course money). <ok>
 
I think Toivonen played in the game against Cambuur Leeuwarden(according to this match report):

http://www.7msport.com/video/20130902/6158.shtml

So he has had some competitive football recently, it's probably more that Elmander is just as good and they like his attitude better.

Edit:

Ah okay, here's a better report:

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/p...ur-leeuwarden/index/spielbericht_2342292.html

so has played recently.

Toivonen's transfermarkt page reveals he has made six appearances this season, but all as substitute and averages under 17 minutes game time per match - so he has essentially played one match of competitive football this season...

I think Elmander is the marginally better player, more useful and is getting more game time, which is why he is starting for Sweden. That will definitely change in a year or two, which is why buying Toivonen would have been great, but as a stop-gap Elmander has been great, doesn't seem passed it and I can already see him becoming a bit of a late legend at Norwich! His form is in stark contrast to the aging "internationals" we had last time in the prem...
 
Sorry got the clubs mixed up it's PSV.

I have heard that his attitude stinks, Cove thinks he is bastard and I think we have been lucky to avoid by the sounds of it.

I am willing to be proved wrong though.................
 
He has also been informed unless he signs an extension with PSV that he will be dropped to the reserves for the remainder of his contract.
 
To be honest, I still wouldn't be completely surprised to see him turn up in January or next season. It sounds like he was demanding high wages and with his contract running down fast, the few million odd that would have gone to PSV could easily be allocated towards his contract.

I agree that he sounds like a bit of a prima donna, but equally I suspect it's also slightly exaggerated - after all, he simply doesn't want to sign a contract extension, it's not like he's going around punching the coach or undermining other players.
 
When we're 15 points clear at the top of the Prem by Christmas, he'll want to come.
 
Holey, crap whats my post doing there?!?!

No seriously that's not my page. I'm not on Facebook and you will never see me on a privately owned Mac ever.

And I see I made a couple of typos, gotta edit that **** out right away.