Liverpool FC Forum

[Sabre]

Forgot to mention that at the end of the day we are talking about the future of Torres because we have no matches to comment, and it's summer. It will be the season what will matter.

However, if we buy this guy, something we'll be proven, it will be a record fee for Liverpool, and that means that the Americans can help Liverpool to reach players that weren't available before. And bearing in mind that Torres won't be the last signing up, that's great news.

It also would confirm why the important players are signing up long contracts happily, because they see in this club they can reach as high if not higher than in the likes of Chelsea, Barcelona, or Madrid. And that's good news aswell. No more dissapointed Owens of Gerrards.

The future is red!!

[mikopool]

I am less then excited about seeing him come to Liverpool, don't get me wrong, flash striker, good skill, good pace, but $27 million for a player who is GOOD, not the best in the world, thats alot of cash, at this point all that does is show a signal of intent from the owners to invest. Then again with a better supporting cast, who knows.

[Bad Bob]

I am less then excited about seeing him come to Liverpool, don't get me wrong, flash striker, good skill, good pace, but $27 million for a player who is GOOD, not the best in the world, thats alot of cash, at this point all that does is show a signal of intent from the owners to invest. Then again with a better supporting cast, who knows.

Unfortunately, that's the state of the market for strikers at the moment.  Henry to Barcelona for 16 million was an abhorration--an exception that proves the rule.  Top strikers cost over the top money.  How much money would it take to prise Eto'o away from Barcelona?  Thirty-five million?  How about getting Villa from Valencia?  If Darren Bent can have a 17 million price tag you know all you need to know about the transfer market at the moment.  If we need to buy a striker (and we do) and we want to buy a young, skillful player that many people rate (like Torres), we'll have to just bite the bullet and stump up the cash because, rest assured, if we pass someone else will soon come along and take a punt.  Look, we've waited years to get the funds needed to sit at the big table so there's no point in counting our chips and fretting about the ante now.

[Wilhelmsson]

I have seen very little of Torres, so I am not going to pass judgement on whether or not he is terrible or fantastic, but from what I have seen of Torres he looked fairly impressive. I watched him during the World Cup and I thought he looked like a player with potential in his game. His goal scoring record doesn’t seem overly impressive from the statistics shown.

I gather the team he is playing for a club which isn’t one of the most dominant teams in Spain, so there is time for this to change. If Cisse can score 19 goals for Liverpool, then there is no reason Torres cannot score more because he seems to be a much better player than Cisse (he had best be if he costs £27m).

If Torres arrives for £27m, I won’t be expecting him to deliver the goods from the off. I wouldn’t like to be in Fernando’s shoes, it must be hard enough signing for a club with such a mammoth status as Liverpool FC, but to then come as our record breaking transfer signing, must add a lot of expectations on his shoulders. I will certainly give him time to settle, if he does sign for us and I hope the weight of expectation won’t prove to be too much of a thorn in his side. 

I wanted us to sign Miroslav Klose and Chippen Wilhelmsson this season. It’s ashame that both players have been sold already. The duo are very accomplished players.

[Sabre]

You're writting some good stuff in your first posts Wilhelmson

I gather the team he is playing for a club which isn’t one of the most dominant teams in Spain, so there is time for this to change. If Cisse can score 19 goals for Liverpool, then there is no reason Torres cannot score more because he seems to be a much better player than Cisse (he had best be if he costs £27m).

However, I must point out that Atletico hasn't been dominant in the pitch, but when it comes to spending budget mate, they've been about next to Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Atletico Madrid might be upper or lower in the table, but they're IMHO the third team in size in Spain. Sevilla, for instance, has been spot on in the buys and the sells, and have done great deals like selling Sergio Ramos to Madrid, but they're a smaller team than Atletico when it comes to budget. Next year for instance, Atletico is going to spend about 40M € in signing ups, which will be more than Villareal, Sevilla, Zaragoza, or even Valencia.

[dawson99]

Well im excited if and when we land torres. We need abig signing at the club to show that we mean business. what was our last 'big' signing? (no crouch puns people)

I know, ability means so much mroe than cost, but to get a player sought after all over europe would be a great coup and show the premiership we are ready to take it by storm.

Also, torres can play, you can tell tho from last season that he just doesnt wanna play for A Madrid anymore, he needs to move on... and to us would be nice thank you very much

[mikopool]

I am less then excited about seeing him come to Liverpool, don't get me wrong, flash striker, good skill, good pace, but $27 million for a player who is GOOD, not the best in the world, thats alot of cash, at this point all that does is show a signal of intent from the owners to invest. Then again with a better supporting cast, who knows.

Unfortunately, that's the state of the market for strikers at the moment.  Henry to Barcelona for 16 million was an abhorration--an exception that proves the rule.  Top strikers cost over the top money.  How much money would it take to prise Eto'o away from Barcelona?  Thirty-five million?  How about getting Villa from Valencia?  If Darren Bent can have a 17 million price tag you know all you need to know about the transfer market at the moment.  If we need to buy a striker (and we do) and we want to buy a young, skillful player that many people rate (like Torres), we'll have to just bite the bullet and stump up the cash because, rest assured, if we pass someone else will soon come along and take a punt.  Look, we've waited years to get the funds needed to sit at the big table so there's no point in counting our chips and fretting about the ante now.

Don't get me wrong, this is as you put a very unfortunate reality, I am just not a huge fan of Torres, but like I said, with a decent club playing around him, who knows. If we end up signing him, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to say " fookin right!!! " Maybe I just said what I said because I am a huntelaar fan :P

[Red Soul]

He's still just 23. About the same age as Pongolle and Le Tallec. Whatever his weaknesses are, he's got the time to address them, and as he's younger he should also be more able to adapt to the English game.

If he does sign on the dotted line, I believe that shows ambition and a defiant mentality which will serve him very well. It would be much easier for him to remain at a club where he is idolised and revered by the fans, rather than leave his homeland and try to prove himself all over again.

And I reckon it says something about the man that Athletico have such a big budget and yet their club captain is a 23-year-old who came through the youth team, rather than a player that Athletico have splashed the cash on. And the fans, who see him perform week in week out, are staging protests in Madrid to convince the club not to sell him.

[Scottbot]

Unfortunately, that's the state of the market for strikers at the moment.  Henry to Barcelona for 16 million was an abhorration--an exception that proves the rule.  Top strikers   If we need to buy a striker (and we do) and we want to buy a young, skillful player that many people rate (like Torres), we'll have to just bite the bullet and stump up the cash because, rest assured, if we pass someone else will soon come along and take a punt.  Look, we've waited years to get the funds needed to sit at the big table so there's no point in counting our chips and fretting about the ante now.

That's the crux of it mate. If you want to buy one of the 'perceived' marque name (and Torres is one of them) strikers out there in Europe then you HAVE to pay top dollar. I think the idea of spending this kind of money is almost lost on us as Liverpool fans because the club has NEVER ventured anywhere near this kind of outlay for just one player. We're not used to spending this kind of money so it had better be someone bloody marvelous! Because of this it does mean that Torres (or whoever else) comes in will arrive to the greatest expectation they could possibly imagine.

[The Manhattan Project]

Come on Torres.

For 25M I want at least 25 goals this season.

Including the winning goal when we get the European Cup back!

[Scottbot]

From today's Independent


Atletico fight to keep Liverpool's hands off Torres
By Andy Hunter
Published: 28 June 2007
Liverpool have made a renewed attempt to prise Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid but face a severe test of their patience, persuasiveness and financial ambition to provide manager Rafael Benitez with his leading transfer target this summer.

Atletico rebuffed initial enquiries from Liverpool about their 23-year-old striker last week and president Enrique Cerezo remains loath to lose his club captain or be seen acquiescing in a transfer that would turn supporters against him. An estimated 350 Atletico fans staged a protest against the club's hierarchy in the Spanish capital on Tuesday night, when they chanted Torres' name. His possible sale and another disappointing season in La Liga prompted their demonstration.

It is against this backdrop that Cerezo continues to insist Torres will not be sold even if a club meets the €40m (£27m) release clause inserted into his contract last year. That club will not be Liverpool, who are reluctant to spend almost their entire transfer budget on one player, but they have returned to the negotiating table under assurances from Benitez that the Spanish international is keen on a move to Anfield and is available at a lower price.

That, however, may well depend on Torres' willingness to agitate for a transfer upon his return from holiday on 10 July. Benitez believes a deal worth £16m plus a player can secure Atletico's leading goalscorer for the past five seasons, though the Spaniards are expected to demand around £22m before they consider Liverpool's offer seriously.

Even then, the ramifications of selling the club's icon means the Atletico board will require Torres to declare his intentions to leave, thereby forcing their hand and reducing the fee below the get-out clause.

Benitez is prepared to wait for a prized signature that would meet his ambitions for Liverpool and demonstrate intent from owners George Gillet and Tom Hicks to release the transfer funds their manager demanded in the wake of the European Cup final defeat to Milan. Through his extensive contacts in Spain, Benitez is confident Torres is ready to sever his boyhood allegiance to Atletico.

Djibril Cissé and Luis Garcia have been mentioned as possible makeweights, and although the latter professed interest in a return to Madrid during a Spanish television interview this week, the Liverpool manager is reluctant to include his compatriot in the offer. "I would like to return to Spain. Not to Barça. I would like to return to Atletico Madrid," said Garcia when asked about his future after Anfield.

Liverpool have extended their sponsorship deal with Carlsberg for another three years. Carlsberg have been the main club sponsor since 1992 and their new agreement extends that to 2010.

[Happy-Punter]

I'm new to the forums so hello to all. The deal is not done yet but I am confident it will go through. Also a text message from my aunties sisters next door neighbours brother in laws window cleaner has me convinced. And I have to say I'm very excited about the transfer and the upcoming season. Hands up I would prefer Tevez than Torres but I still think it will be a good addition to Liverpool.

I have not watched much spanish football for a few years so youtube, what Sabre says and the fact that Rafa is prepared to smash our club record transfer fee is enough for me. Ok Sabre is not his biggest fan because of his finnishing, but Torres is young, skillful, has pace and will work hard. IF we get him I'm sure he will get 10 plus league goals and im sure Kuyt will be nearer to 20 than his 12 league goals he got in his first season.

Left hand side I hope for a good signing and also another CB. Right hand side I think Pennants form will keep him there for another season but he just does not score enough goals for me, and I dont think he ever will.

Little less rotation forced or not, get off to a flyer and who knows... maybe we will be in with a shout this year. I cant fecking wait till it kicks off.

[GOAT]

I'm new to the forums so hello to all. The deal is not done yet but I am confident it will go through. Also a text message from my aunties sisters next door neighbours brother in laws window cleaner has me convinced. And I have to say I'm very excited about the transfer and the upcoming season. Hands up I would prefer Tevez than Torres but I still think it will be a good addition to Liverpool.

I have not watched much spanish football for a few years so youtube, what Sabre says and the fact that Rafa is prepared to smash our club record transfer fee is enough for me. Ok Sabre is not his biggest fan because of his finnishing, but Torres is young, skillful, has pace and will work hard. IF we get him I'm sure he will get 10 plus league goals and im sure Kuyt will be nearer to 20 than his 12 league goals he got in his first season.

Left hand side I hope for a good signing and also another CB. Right hand side I think Pennants form will keep him there for another season but he just does not score enough goals for me, and I dont think he ever will.

Little less rotation forced or not, get off to a flyer and who knows... maybe we will be in with a shout this year. I cant fecking wait till it kicks off.

10 league goals? Best get more than that for that f.uckin price

[Happy-Punter]

Berbatov only got 12 league goals this season i think.

[Happy-Punter]

Top 10 Prem Goalscorers 2006/2007

Drogba Chelsea 20
McCarthy Blackburn 18
Ronaldo Manchester United 17
Rooney Manchester United 14
Yakubu Middlesbrough 14
Bent,D Charlton 13
Doyle Reading 13
Berbatov Tottenham 12
Johnson Everton 12
Kuyt Liverpool 12

Ok I said 10 plus goals. Lets say Torres gets 12 league goals in his 1st season the same as Kuyt. Would you see that as a flop and a waste of money?