Liverpool FC Forum

[Lee2k6]

if it was up to me,  a left winger would be next.

How about Vicente from Valencia?

What about Mancini?, i haven't seen that much of him but what i have done he looks something special, tbh i haven't seen much of Vincente either, what are they like in comparison?

[matrix]

if it was up to me,  a left winger would be next.

How about Vicente from Valencia?

good player manhattan...

but it would have to be mancini...

once the torres deal in dust,  expect a big bid from us...   

[JC_81]

Have to admit to having mixed feelings over Torres coming to us.  On one hand I'm excited that we are bringing in a big name player who might just solve our problems in front of goal.  I'm glad that the new owners are backing Benitez and I'm excited that we are flexing some serious muscle in the transfer market, showing we can finally compete with Chelsea and United on that front.

On the other hand I'm worried that if Torres doesn't do the business, then not only have we lost a fair whack of money, but Benitez will be heavily criticised by fans and press alike.  That sort of pressure and criticism coming the manager's way usually manifests itself as their team suffering as a result.  And that wouldn't be good for us.  If Rafa has got this one wrong then it might make the new owners, who are still learning what football is all about, very hesitant to back him big in the market again.

Finally, I'm also sad to see us lose Garcia, who was presumably the sweetner for the deal to go through.  With him and Fowler going this summer, we're losing the two best finishers at the club.

Overall am I excited?  Yes, but a bit apprehensive at the same time.  Torres coming could be the catalyst to us winning the league, or ultimately the nail in Benitez's coffin as far as LFC is concerned.  This is a pivotal, pivotal moment in Rafa's reign here, make no mistake.

[crazyhorse]

If we get him I will be delighted. He will score goals from day one, if we set the side up to play to his strengths.
I have read that Garcia is being valued at 4.5 million in the deal - a couple of million too low I say. This lad will do well back in Spain, I hope we have a sell on clause inserted into this part of the deal because i can see him having a really good season and being snapped up by one of the big guns.

[bigmick]

It's a good post John and one I agree with pretty much most of. For my part, not having seen much of Torres and having listened to Sabes and the like, there are obvious concerns but mostly just anticipation. From what the people who know kid are saying, we may actually be about to get a "two for the price of one" deal. Not only will we be aquiring somebody who can link the play, run at people, create chances and score his share of goals in the form of Torres, but my suspicion is we may be about to see the real Dirk Kuyt as well.

Released from his extremely unconvincing role as a Dennis Bergkamp impersonator, the Dutchman can at last be the striker the was bought to be. He has gamely tried to make up for his shortcomings in that role with unbelieveable amounts of effort and sheer endeavour, but now he can be let off the leash to do his stuff. Sometime before the first ball is kicked in the new season, somebody will do a predictions for the new year thread. In it, I will be making the bold claim that Kuyt may well be challenging for top golascorer in the Prem next season. My heartfelt hunch is that he is a very fine player indeed who has so far shown only a small portion of what he is capable of. The sad  but ultimately ineveitable passing of his father and the signing of a player who can genuinely fill the role which he has toiled away manfully trying to fill could be just what he needs. Mark my words, Kuyt is a good player and a steal at what we paid for him. Trust me on this one         

[Sabre]

I trust you on that one, I think Kuyt will score lots of goals sooner rather than later.

I also agree most of the opinions about Torres are mere anticipation, after all the relevant thing is to coment his games after he has played them, all this is summer talk.

But I'm concerned pretty much for the same reasons John Craig comments.

I can see people criticising Rafa for bringing a player that has scored 15 goals, if we don't win the league this season, they'll say "he brought another Spaniard", "he failed once again and this time with money", so I don't see Torres as the best option in order to avoid this. I think he's a good player, very good in a good day, but I don't see him as a saviour.  Very useful he will be, for sure. Better than Bellamy of course he'll be. Provide things that Crouch and Kuyt do not, as well. But scoring lot of goals? as in 25 ? I'm not so sure.

It's perfectly possible that kuyt scores more next season yes. Torres is a dangerous bet because many people already expected Kuyt scored a lot of goals his first season. He hasn't, but he hasn't been criticised too much because he was not that expensive. But if Torres does a season like the one that Kuyt has done, decent-good one, it will be a massive failure for many, because of the money we're going to pay for him, because he'll be regarded as a Spanish caprice of Rafa... and that's my fear: I don't think Torres is the best option for this kind of high expectations for this season, after all he's a 23 year old lad.

Hopefully, Torres or Kuyt or Crouch, will make an excellent season, we'll win the league and Rafa can continue making the team stronger. If he doesn't win the league, many people will ask to sack him. This is anticipation aswell, but this season I've seen the first signs of impatience in the Liverpool fandom and the press surrounding the club.

[The Ace1983]

I had this terrible dream last night that we loaned Peter Crouch to Chelsea and they won the league.

Dunno what that has to do with the Torres thing, I just had to tell somone. My God, it was awful...
Oh yeah, that's what it had to do with Torres! If we had those three (Kuyt, Crouch & Torres), all the commentators in my dream were saying that we would have won the league. I'm not saying that this was some sort of prophecy, but who knows, right? Maybe I have a gift? Or maybe I just drank too much Gin last night. Still, now I'm convinced.

[Red H]

I think signing Torres (fingers crossed) signals our intentions for the future.  In short we needed to sign a big name not just for their ability on the pitch, but also to show we are serious as a club.  I hope there will be no more signings of nearly men, or temporary fixes.  We are no ones second best. 
If we intend to get the best players this will not be cheap, but I am confident we will make the correct purchases, and hopefully bring more players through the youth, and reserve system.

[JC_81]

It's a good post John and one I agree with pretty much most of. For my part, not having seen much of Torres and having listened to Sabes and the like, there are obvious concerns but mostly just anticipation. From what the people who know kid are saying, we may actually be about to get a "two for the price of one" deal. Not only will we be aquiring somebody who can link the play, run at people, create chances and score his share of goals in the form of Torres, but my suspicion is we may be about to see the real Dirk Kuyt as well.

Released from his extremely unconvincing role as a Dennis Bergkamp impersonator, the Dutchman can at last be the striker the was bought to be. He has gamely tried to make up for his shortcomings in that role with unbelieveable amounts of effort and sheer endeavour, but now he can be let off the leash to do his stuff. Sometime before the first ball is kicked in the new season, somebody will do a predictions for the new year thread. In it, I will be making the bold claim that Kuyt may well be challenging for top golascorer in the Prem next season. My heartfelt hunch is that he is a very fine player indeed who has so far shown only a small portion of what he is capable of. The sad  but ultimately ineveitable passing of his father and the signing of a player who can genuinely fill the role which he has toiled away manfully trying to fill could be just what he needs. Mark my words, Kuyt is a good player and a steal at what we paid for him. Trust me on this one         

Hope you're right about Kuyt Mick.  If I'm being completely honest I have my doubts about Kuyt cutting it as a top class striker in the Premiership.  I'd love nothing better than for the lad to prove me wrong though.  As you say, strangely he may feel that a weight has been lifted off his shoulders given what's happened in his personal life recently and maybe Torres will be the man to get the best out of Kuyt.  Who knows?

[7_Kewell]

this is the first time i've actually got excited about a new player for a long time....it shows we're now with the big boys as far as money is concered and now lets wait to see what affect he has on the pitch.

[JC_81]

this is the first time i've actually got excited about a new player for a long time....it shows we're now with the big boys as far as money is concered and now lets wait to see what affect he has on the pitch.

You're post got me thinking there, probably the last time I was genuinely excited about a signing until now was when we signed Kewell.  I was convinced he was going to be the player to take us to the next level back then, but who'd have predicted he'd play so few games in the last 4 years?  Just goes to show that even the transfers that get you excited the most won't necessarily be the ones that work out.

To a slightly lesser extent, Morientes was a pretty exciting signing and look what happened there.

If the Torres deal goes through though, it will eclipse any signing we've ever had in terms of the anticipation and hype surrounding it.  This is a player that all the big guns in European football have tried to sign at some point over the past few years, and failed.  It's not as if he's over the hill or even close to it either.  At 23 we're getting one of the best prospects in world football with his best years ahead of him - of course you have to pay top dollar for that.

[Sabre]

Marca says that the negotiation is close to an end and the details are being decided. They comment that Gerrard will remain the better paid player with his 9M € a year (have those wage numbers appeared anywhere?) and Torres will be paid less -- which makes sense in my view because giving more money to new players doesn't help to settle the dressroom.

The only point in there's a slight disagreement is the lenght of contract. Liverpool  wants 6 years, according to Marca, and Torres doesn't want a so lenghty contract.

Normally they get this numbers right in Marca, but you never know with this papers.

[7_Kewell]

this is the first time i've actually got excited about a new player for a long time....it shows we're now with the big boys as far as money is concered and now lets wait to see what affect he has on the pitch.

You're post got me thinking there, probably the last time I was genuinely excited about a signing until now was when we signed Kewell.  I was convinced he was going to be the player to take us to the next level back then, but who'd have predicted he'd play so few games in the last 4 years?  Just goes to show that even the transfers that get you excited the most won't necessarily be the ones that work out.

To a slightly lesser extent, Morientes was a pretty exciting signing and look what happened there.

If the Torres deal goes through though, it will eclipse any signing we've ever had in terms of the anticipation and hype surrounding it.  This is a player that all the big guns in European football have tried to sign at some point over the past few years, and failed.  It's not as if he's over the hill or even close to it either.  At 23 we're getting one of the best prospects in world football with his best years ahead of him - of course you have to pay top dollar for that.

agree with the Kewell thing...he was the last player we signed that made me think "this guy is the real deal"

Torres will have a LOT to prove at 26 million...but he's young and willing. Somthing that the likes of Shevchenko lack.

[The Ace1983]

6 year contract? Can't see that happening, but it might be a way of compromising on 5. Good to see further evidence of the clubs ambitions though.

[JC_81]

Marca says that the negotiation is close to an end and the details are being decided. They comment that Gerrard will remain the better paid player with his 9M € a year (have those wage numbers appeared anywhere?) and Torres will be paid less -- which makes sense in my view because giving more money to new players doesn't help to settle the dressroom.

The only point in there's a slight disagreement is the lenght of contract. Liverpool  wants 6 years, according to Marca, and Torres doesn't want a so lenghty contract.

Normally they get this numbers right in Marca, but you never know with this papers.

6 years Sabre?

That seems very long.  What happens if he gets a bad injury in his first season?  I'd stick with the standard 4 years - if things work out and he's playing well and enjoying his football then he'll want to extend it.  Offering a 6 year contract is a big risk imo, he better be having the most stringent medical in history this week!