2013 Summer Transfer Window Thread....Continued.....CONTINUED

[Crimey]

First topic message reminder :

Want a couple more big deals before it closes.

Rooney
Lewandowski
Bale
Suarez

May all still be leaving.

[Crimey]

If I was Stoke, I'd have just cashed in on Begovic. Butland really needs to find a club, or risk his career stalling badly. The thing is, goalkeeper is a position nobody really wants to loan in general, not for the first team anyway.

[The Special Juan]

I think Butland chose Stoke over Chelsea because of Courtois. He'd be 3rd choice there but only 2nd choice at Stoke.

[LastDamnation]

I think Gustavo is a very good signing, underrated at Bayern where he has been pushed out of the squad by some of the best midfielders in the world, he'll be a good addition to the Arsenal squad for £14 million.

The thing is, I'm not sure he's adding to an area which Arsenal need to desperately add to. Goalkeeper, defender, wingers and strikers are all areas that should be improved more.

a DM is definitely needed because although ramsey and arteta have done well together recently in a double pivot you can't play them both every game, diaby is always injured and wilshere should really be playing higher up the pitch. I'd put it as a priority position along with another striker and a CB (or RB if sagna is going to play CB more).

Gustavo has the added bonus of being able to play CB or LB when needed, which is useful with the current injuries to vermaelan/monreal.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

If I remember correctly Butland has said he would be open to a loan move abroad, so id imagine he could find a way out by September, or around Christmas. Won't matter, he'll be taken to the World Cup as third choice for the experience more than his performances

[Crimey]

I think Hodgson will take Hart, Ruddy, Foster is Butland doesn't play all year.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

The thought of Wilbraham and Chamakh potentially playing up top together for Palace makes me tingle inside

[GSC]

Shinji Kagawa, Mighty Pirate™, showing why he is the worlds greatest there.

[Fernando]

Luis Suarez has no plans to apologize after Brendon Rodgers said if he wants to get back with the 1st team he must.

Oh this is going to be fun

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Not sure what Rodgers expected when saying that

Of course he isn't going to apologise. He doesn't want to play for Liverpool anymore lol

[Guest]

Spot on Olly. Never been a fan of plastic gestures. Why make him apologise when he doesn't mean it.

Brenda's not helping the situation.

[Hero]

So it was basically

BR: Apologise to everyone if you want to play in the first team again.

LS: Erm that's the point, I don't want to play with your first team again.

BR: Oh. Kind of shot myself in the foot there then.

[Guest]

Rodgers  

Seriously Arsene, stump up £50m and end this pathetic story.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Seems to be a feeling Downing might be done tomorrow. 

And the Quagliarella rumours have started again! Today's other links at the Boleyn:

Hugo Almeida, Jiloan Hamad, scouts at the Bordeaux game (likely Sane).

[The Special Juan]

Seems to be a feeling Downing might be done tomorrow. 

And the Quagliarella rumours have started again! Today's other links at the Boleyn:

Hugo Almeida, Jiloan Hamad, scouts at the Bordeaux game (likely Sane).

Must be INsane to join West Ham.

Sorry.

[GSC]

Rodgers is such a knob

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Seems to be a feeling Downing might be done tomorrow. 

And the Quagliarella rumours have started again! Today's other links at the Boleyn:

Hugo Almeida, Jiloan Hamad, scouts at the Bordeaux game (likely Sane).

Quag linked with you lot and Sunderland as well as us now. From what reports say he isn't too keen on coming to England, although he wouldn't mind Sunderland. Don't think we want to pay what Juve want

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Today the link is he is an option on loan. Hes just not coming, I dont know why the papers wont give this one up!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Vydra to WBA to be confirmed tomorrow, with WBA renewing their interest in Sinclair on a loan to permanent move (2m up front, with 4m after the loan)

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Cant wait for the Agger saga to begin! Agger doo doo doo or Agger dont?!

[Guest]

Agger doo doo doo

Push Pineapple shake the tree.

Classic.

[GSC]

West Ham agree a deal for Downing and he will have a medical.

He and Carroll should form quite the tandem in prospect

[Guest]

He and Carroll should form quite the tandem in prospect

That's what Liverpool thought. But we've already seen how spectactularly that £55m gamble backfired

[GSC]

#thatbethejoke

[CFCNick]

But the thing is..... Carroll and Downing are awesome for mediocre teams. Not saying Liverpool are great but they're a great deal better than Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Villa and West Ham.

[GSC]

Liverpool just ruin England players nowadays. Carroll, Downing, Cole. If Johnson had ever learned to defend he'd be next

[Guest]

Awesome is stretching it. Carroll scored a handful of goals for Newcastle, Downing occasionally puts in a decent ball. Neither has actually done anything with their careers, other than the rare purple patch. West Ham could be the place it all clicks for them, but I doubt it.

[Guest]

Liverpool just ruin England players nowadays. Carroll, Downing, Cole. If Johnson had ever learned to defend he'd be next

Yeah because Steven Gerrard has been utterly dreadful hasn't he?  
Liverpool do have a frustrating habit of picking up players who had a decent season for their old club and LFC think they might be able to replicate that for them but it fails miserably (Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and to a lesser degree Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen).

And when they DO find a decent player to set the Kop alight, they end up wanting to leave (Torres/Suarez and no doubt Coutinho if we don't qualify for CL).

[CFCNick]

Ok, so not awesome (although compared to days at Liverpool could be accurate), I'd change it to being the big fish in the small pond. At Liverpool they were the small to medium sized fish in a medium sized pond.

[GSC]

#nowadays

[Guest]

Basically, both Downing and Carroll ended up playing at a level that was above them, and have now climbed back down the ladder to a height that's more comfortable for them.

And this is exactly why neither should be anywhere near the England team!

[Guest]

Basically, both Downing and Carroll ended up playing at a level that was above them, and have now climbed back down the ladder to a height that's more comfortable for them.

And this is exactly why neither should be anywhere near the England team!

Why is that Liverpool's fault though? Surely they weren't really good enough for England anyway?

[Guest]

When did I say it was Liverpool's fault?

[GSC]

Well they did blow over 70m on those 2 and Henderson

[Guest]

When did I say it was Liverpool's fault?

Didn't say you did (settle down) but I figured you'd be reading the posts above yours and keeping up with the flow, so you'll see that GSC said it, but I wondered if you (or anyone else) could answer the question as to why it's Liverpool's fault.

You don't have to answer if you don't want but feel free to get involved

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Because they've handled those players terribly

[GSC]

By all accounts Carroll and Cole have both flourished before and after Liverpool.

Coincidence?

[Guest]

Hey hey, this lad's on fire

It's not Liverpool's fault. They bought players based on their performances with other clubs, those players weren't up to it, so they sold them. Playing with Suarez, Gerrard, Lucas, Agger, Reina etc gives you the very best chance of becoming a better player, and neither Carroll nor Downing were up to the task.

It was Mourinho who ruined Joe Cole btw, not Liverpool.

[CFCNick]

It's Liverpool's fault because these players are happy enough to plod along at their club playing well and gaining confidence. Then in step Liverpool with their £20m for Henderson, £35m for Carroll and these players haven't and won't ever live up to that price tag. That's how Liverpool can have some fault. Their over the top transfer fees for British players puts too much pressure on the players and in turn taints their rep and stunts their growth.

[GSC]

Or they just buy crap like Allen

[Guest]

Wouldn't say Cole flourished in France. Different pace of the game and more suited to him and his hands on hips looking knackered after five minutes style. Also, wouldn't say Cole flourished at Chelsea or even West ham. He was touted as the new Gazza and failed to live up to that hype long before Liverpool got hold of him.

Carroll is playing with a team now that is happy to hoof it up field and play to his strengths however, he's hardly knocking them in like Messi is he?. He had the potential to play well at LFC under Dalglish and was beginning to get a foothold in the team but Kenny got the sack and Rodgers decided he didn't fancy taking Carroll under his wing (fair enough if you ask me)

[Guest]

Downing was dire in his first season (and part of the second) but strangely, after Rodgers told him he could leave it lit a fire under his butt and he started showing flashes of why he was purchased in the first place. Strange that they've let him go now he's started playing "well" again but given I didn't really rate him that highly, I don't see how he's been ruined.

Lucas was one of the least popular players when he first came over and yet he's knuckled down and was looking like a real quality player before he was injured. Hopefully he can regain that fitness and form as I think he allows Gerrard the freedom to get further upfield. However, the point is that Lucas stuck with it and it's more a testament to his strength of character that he's flourished.

All this guff about LFC ruining players is baffling. Perhaps some of these guys simply lack intestinal fortitude

[Guest]

Wages might be the thing with Downing. Knowing how Liverpool were flashing the cash around, he could be on anywhere between £50k and £80k a week (probably closer to £80k). He's worth getting off the wage bill.

[CFCNick]

To be fair to Liverpool Joe Cole was already on the downturn at Chelsea after he got crocked at Southend.

[Guest]

Joe Cole came to Chelsea as a fantastic attacking midfielder. Mourinho stuck him out wide, never got him the ball, and he was expected to track back. All that running ruined little Joe, and his confidence was sapped. I'd have said 'you play off the striker, we'll give you the ball, score us some goals'. And England would have had its new Gazza.

[Holymiky]

I would disagree that Jose Mourinho "ruined" Joe Cole. In fact i don't actually think that Joe Cole is "ruined" personally but I can understand why someone might say it.

[Guest]

Joe Cole came to Chelsea as a fantastic attacking midfielder. Mourinho stuck him out wide, never got him the ball, and he was expected to track back. All that running ruined little Joe, and his confidence was sapped. I'd have said 'you play off the striker, we'll give you the ball, score us some goals'. And England would have had its new Gazza.

Again, I'd say that's down to Cole's lack of bottle than the team. How many times has Giggs been played here there and everywhere and he's knuckled down and got on with the job?

Too many whingebags in the game all complaining that the boss isn't playing them in their favoured position. FFS at £80k a week, if the boss tells me to stand by the corner flag and Riverdance, I'll put on a smile (and a pair of sparkly emerald green boots) and Flatley for my life.

[CFCNick]

Jose made Joe Cole better than he was. He was a hogger and not a very good team player. Joe Cole was the answer to England's left wing problem after Jose worked his magic and some two bit part timer at Southend ruined his career. He'd probably still be at Chelsea if that never happened.

[Guest]

I would disagree that Jose Mourinho "ruined" Joe Cole. In fact i don't actually think that Joe Cole is "ruined" personally but I can understand why someone might say it.

When a player is hyped to the high heavens and given titles such as "The New gazza" it's always going to be hard to live up to those expectations. Naturally when Cole failed to become Gazza the Second, it couldn't be because the media had gone waaaaaaay overboard with the hyperbole, it had to be someone else's fault.

[Guest]

But the difference with Giggs is that he's only moved position once his body has lost its pace. He was a LM for years, until he couldn't get up and down the wing like he used to, now he players wherever he can.

Cole was always a ball-playing playmaker, a dribbler, a thinker. The kind of player England are crying out for, that the FA and Trevor Brooking are saying they want coming through the youth setups in this country.

But Jose had to change him, to mould him into something he wasn't, to essentially break Joe Cole. You don't ask your prize-winning greyhound to become a police dog and sniff round bushes for drugs, you let the rabbit go and ask it to chase it down. Jose took what could have been the greatest English greyhound of the last 20 years and asked it to something not in its nature. He is solely to blame for Joe Cole's demise.

Funny how all these players are ending up at West Ham

[Holymiky]

I understand what you are saying. Personally I think that Joe Cole played some of his best football at Chelsea. I'm not saying that he didn't play some of his best football at other clubs aswell though.

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