[oxcart]

Originally Posted by YeahBee

waht was that germans name? the one who got sick and paralyzed?

Marcus Babbel. But he had quite a few really good seasons too.

The figure for Kewell was worked out to include wages and the transfer fee. It was in a few of the papers about a week ago.

[oxcart]

Originally Posted by Coster

My calculator makes it closer to £38k per match.

I think it's ridiculous we even had to pay this guy for the last 3 years.

He's been linked with Juve for a couple of months now - Ranieri is a fan. He'll go there and be amazing, just wait and see. Jammy bastard.

Rumour was that they tried to negotiate him down to £30k per week from £60k-odd pw and he refused it.

[Enzuguri]

Originally Posted by YeahBee

Liverpool have 3 better CM's in Gerrard, MAcherano and Alonso and Lucas has looked great the few times I have seen them

Dude, what are you talking about? Lucas has been TERRIBLE in the few times hes played this season...And to think that this guy is capped for Brazil. He's too small to play the Mascherano role, not attacking enough to play the Gerrard role and his passing vision is terrible to he can't play the Alonso role. He always gives the ball away and unless he improves will probably be shafted like Sissoko in a couple of years.

Originally Posted by YeahBee

DAvid Villa could never join Spurs, c'mon Wenger he says he loves our stylke of play

Would suit us well to he could play with both RVP and Ade

Frees up players for the wings with Walcott, Vela and even RVP no need for a winger purchase

A hard nosed DM Diarra(dream!) Lorik Cana

and a centre Back I read that we might sign Dunne o na cheap.

Micah is avaiuble to maybe he could fill two positions

Some sources say that Wenger only has 25 million to spend this summer, which would be about the asking price for Villa. Wenger has already had talks with (and will probably sign) Ben Arfa, which will take a fair chunk out of that 25 million. He'll obviously sign a defensive midfield as well and maybe a defender. I would LOVE to see Villa in the team next year but i just don't see it happening as taems like Barca (who are also interested) and easily outbid Arsenal. I think the only way i can see us getting him is Villa is appose to moving to any other club except Arsenal.

Originally Posted by DangGaDa

Actually, there's a rumor that Ronaldinho and Zambrotta + 20 million euros for Kaka.


Probably not true though.

Ronaldinho+Deco+Zambrotta for Kaka...OR Ronaldinh+Zambrotta+20 million...I actually posted this on here yesterday, it's on about page 17.

Originally Posted by Coster

Thing with Modric I don't really believe any of the top teams were intersted in signing him, at least not for the amount Spurs paid. Seems to me a case of his agent, or somebody at the club spreading round rumours in order to gain the most money. Because though Arsenal, Barcelona etc. were supposedly hot on his case when it came to crunch time only Newcastle & Spurs were in line. I think he's a good player don't get me wrong but he's going to have a lot of adapting to make it in the Premier League.

Of course that's why he went to spurs, other teams were interested, they just out bid everyone else. Personally i think paying 16 million for an unproven player is a bit high but i guess we'll just have to wait and see. Tottenham will have a very different looking first team next season.

Originally Posted by Coster

My calculator makes it closer to £38k per match.

I think it's ridiculous we even had to pay this guy for the last 3 years.

They didn't really have a choice man. It's almost impossible to offload a player that is so injury prone and besides, when kewell does play, he's a fantastic player and Rafa likes him, which is also probably part of the reason. Similarly, I'm sure that Fergie would be more than happy to offload Saha as a makeweight for a new target man striker, but he's injured every other match as well. Whatever club Kewell ends up at, i hope he stays healthy.

[Coster]

Marcus Babbel was a legend, we wouldn't have had such a great 2001 without him.

I wouldn't say Lucas has been 'terrible' by any stretch, I'd say he's had a decent season. Nothing more, nothing less. Gerrard was just singing his praises a couple of days ago.

[oxcart]

Anyone know why we are linked with Malouda this morning? I know we wanted him this time last year, but he's had a pretty mediocre season. And Babel has been doing a good job.

[The Hug Dog]

Originally Posted by oxcart

Anyone know why we are linked with Malouda this morning? I know we wanted him this time last year, but he's had a pretty mediocre season. And Babel has been doing a good job.

Yeah I just saw this on Sky Sports News, £10 million apparently. I Have no idea why'd they come in for him after the season he's just had. I think Babel has massive potential anyway.

[Enzuguri]

Originally Posted by Coster

I wouldn't say Lucas has been 'terrible' by any stretch, I'd say he's had a decent season. Nothing more, nothing less. Gerrard was just singing his praises a couple of days ago.

Well terrible was a bit of a stretch but he hasn't done a whole lot and as a fan of the game, was sometimes frustrating watch (coming from a gooner). He does have a few things that go in his favour though - he had to move to a new country and settle into a new area, learn a new language, learn to bond with new teammates, catch up to the speed of the EPL, he's young etc etc etc...I think this time next year will be a good time to make a more accurate assessment of him. I don't know how much he cost but i imagine it was somewhere around 10 million and so far he hasn't been worth it.

Originally Posted by oxcart

Anyone know why we are linked with Malouda this morning? I know we wanted him this time last year, but he's had a pretty mediocre season. And Babel has been doing a good job.

Malouda's a good player, he was just never given a chance at the bridge and i can't for the life of me figure out why. If the deal were to go through, than Chelsea will probably sell him for less than they paid (which will be the case with most of their players) and Malouda will have to take a pay cut. Babel has settled in nicely on the left but I think if Malouda were to join, than Babel would be shifted to the right. Babel is right footed isn't he? I use to play on the wing and can tell you from experience that as long as you're equally adept at using both feet, than swapping sides is not an issue at all.

[Coster]

Originally Posted by Enzuguri

Well terrible was a bit of a stretch but he hasn't done a whole lot and as a fan of the game, was sometimes frustrating watch (coming from a gooner). He does have a few things that go in his favour though - he had to move to a new country and settle into a new area, learn a new language, learn to bond with new teammates, catch up to the speed of the EPL, he's young etc etc etc...I think this time next year will be a good time to make a more accurate assessment of him. I don't know how much he cost but i imagine it was somewhere around 10 million and so far he hasn't been worth it.

The initial fee was under £5m I'm pretty sure, and could rise to about the 7m mark. I know he didn't exactly take the league by storm but he showed glimpses of what he can do. Hopefully will step it up a bit next year.

[oxcart]

Originally Posted by Coster

The initial fee was under £5m I'm pretty sure, and could rise to about the 7m mark. I know he didn't exactly take the league by storm but he showed glimpses of what he can do. Hopefully will step it up a bit next year.

I read the fee was about £8M; I know there's been quite a few offers since he joined - clubs still trying to get him or loan him.

It's a typical introduction from Rafa. For the first 6 months or more, he tries to bed players in slowly - Agger was the same, and if not for Agger's injury, Srktel would have been treated similarly. He builds up game time quite slowly, especially if you are young.

I genuinely believe that Lucas is going to be a success. He'll be looked after and will eventually prove to be a good buy. From what I've seen of him this year, he's confident on the ball and tries to get involved as much as possible.

[oxcart]

Chelsea wouldn't sell Duff to us. They'll not sell Malouda to us.