Liverpool FC Forum

by **JBG** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 11:51 pm

Maybe its the drugs I've being taking lately, but has anybody else considered the possibilty of signing Wiltord and/or Butt?

Both of these players on the market.

I know that both Gerrard and Hamman are better players than Butt, and we probably could do with buying a creative or right sided midfielder, but Butt is probably every bit as good as Murphy and certainly better than Diao. He would be excellent back up to both Hamman and Gerrard and given our recent injuries and squad rotation, he'd probably get a lot of starts. Also, he strikes me as being a sort of player Houllier likes.

On the minus side, there's no way Butt would come here to sit on the bench.

Wiltord is available on a pre-Bosman in the summer, as Arsenal haven't (yet) given him a new contract. I would see him as medium term alternative to signing Cisse in that he is proven in the Premiership and we could play him until Baros and Pongolle come on a bit.

Also, he would be a better bet on the right wing than Diouff.

I know people might laugh, but maybe we could do worse than checking one of them out as they are experienced and proven at Premiership level, and wouldn't cost the earth. They might do a job for us for a year or two until some of our young players establish themselves.

by **ROBtheRED** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 11:54 pm

Nicky Butt is a manchester utd player, Liverpool shouldn't and won't sign him on that basis! good player though he is.

by **jonnymac1979** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 12:21 am

Wiltord is a proven player. He could do an excellent job for us, and he's French, LOL. Instant plus point for Houllier

When players have left Liverpool in the past, they have always said they have taken some of the Liverool magic with them. Whatever they learned at the club, it stays with them.

You have to argue that Wiltord has learned, and will take something with him from playing day in day out with the squad Arsenal have built. He is an established goalscorer, both on the home and International front.

I agree, he'd be an excellent signing.

by **columbia** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 12:26 am

ive never really been a fan of wiltord although i suppose he could be quite a good squad player.

Nicky Butt is an excellent midfielder as he proved in the world cup and id be happy if we got him. I have always felt he's got more talent then he shows at united because of a lcak of games he's been given. I doubt that he would join us though just because he plays for united.

by **115-1073096938** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 12:53 am

Can see your point. Butt has quality.

Kewell, Hamann, Butt and Gerrard. Maybe?

But lets be honest, is he the sort of player we need? I doubt it to be honest. Welsh will become a better player with the right growth and developement. He also wants GARENTEED regular first team football so he's not gonna come here.

Wiltord... decent player also but wants to play upfront. Not much of an improvement on Baros, not enough to bother with. Maybe sign him then sell him to make a few bob like on Championship Manager

Neither would improve the first 11 greatly tho and this is the area that needs improving. We need class. Not squad players. At least 2 players that will walk straight into the first 11.

by **RedSi** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 9:53 am

Wiltord, no thanks.....Butt, yes please as I'm not sure Gerrard and Hamann will ever both be fit at the same time....

by **Bring Dalglish back** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 11:33 am

RedSi wrote:Wiltord, no thanks.....Butt, yes please as I'm not sure Gerrard and Hamann will ever both be fit at the same time....

There is NO WAY ON THIS EARTH THAT LIVERPOOL WILL SIGN A PLAYER DIRECT FROM MANCHESTER UNITED.

I believe that there has only been one player in the history of Liverpool Football Club who has signed direct from the rogues at Old Trafford.

Take Paul Ince as an example, he had to go to Inter before he could sign for Liverpool.

by **RedSi** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 12:12 pm

I agree with you BDB, it was more of a theoretical observation.....

by **JBG** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 12:39 pm

I wasn't suggesting that Butt and Wiltord would be long term answers to the Pool's problems, but there might be an arguement that they could do a job for us for 2 years or so.

Butt is a very good player and would add a lot of stability, but as Stu rightfully says, maybe it is time we gave John Welsh a chance. He scored again for the reserves last night and he's raring to go.

Wiltord has proven to be a very good player at times at Arsenal, although he might be disappointed by this season. He is a good forward, but a 15-17 goals a season guy rather than a 20-25 plus. I know when Arsenal played him out on the right he wasn't very happy, but at times he looked very dangerous in that position.

What I'm saying is that signing Wiltord could be an alternative to spending big on Cisse as we could use him for a few years while Baros and Pongolle mature.

by **Owzat** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 2:46 pm

I don't rate Wiltord that highly, better than Heskey but not as good as Baros. Butt would be ok but a) I wouldn't sign anyone from the mancs and b) he isn't so good that we really need to sign him. We certainly shouldn't be signing average players from teams

by **big al** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 3:00 pm

JBG I was thinking about Butt. Then I remember Paul Ince that turned me right off. If Butt is a Man U reject do we really want him playing for liverpool. Our Aspirations should be to get the best players available, £5 million would be a good deposit for younger player. Butt is 29 which is not really that old however you've mentioned players in the past with more long term potential for the club.

As for Wiltord I think the guys a great player but if I had money to spend
Steed Malbranque and the guy Parker from Charlton would be high on my list.

by **greenred** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 3:13 pm

or andy reid of forest.Plays all across midfield and scores goals for fun.Not french though.....

by **115-1073096938** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 5:01 pm

JBG Houllier doesn't have a few years for Pongolle and Baros to mature and if a new Manager comes in Baros and Pongolle may find themselves out the door.

We need quality now that will walk into the first 11 and improve the team. Not first division wingers, not first division centre halfs. We need proven class. Malbranque, Cisse, Boumsong, the two latter having played international and europian football.

We can't afford more squad players who can do a job untill... we need class now otherwise we aren't going to move forward.

Houllier HAS to assume now all the younger players aren't going to improve and look at ways to improve the team right now.

by **JBG** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 11:59 am

Thats what I'm saying Stu.

By the way lads, I wasn't saying: "Butt and Witltord will massively improve Liverpool".

I was merely asking what people thought of them seeing that they're on the market.

I think both players could do an ok job for the short term, and I think that signing Wiltord on a Bosman is an "alternative" to signing Cisse, allowing us to spend the Cisse money on Scott Parker and Stted Malbrnaque.

Even if Houllier improves and stays, in a few years time we will have Heskey, Owen (if he stays), Baros, Pongolle and Mellor up front. Houllier has also said that Diouff will eventually be returned to the front line.

The questuions that we need to ask are:

1. Will the above be good enough?

2. If yes why do we need to buy more forwards?

3. How are we going to keep them all happy?

by **columbia** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 12:34 pm

Maybe players like Heskey mellor and diouf dont have a long term future at the club. Mellor is an ok player but he's our worst striker and will never be good enough to play week in week out. There are reports in the paper today about diouf and heskey possibly exiting in the summer. Next season if cisse arrives and those two leave then our strike force will be....

owen
cisse
baros
pongolle

With the money we have left over from cisse and the money gained from the transfers we'll be able to go into the market for another midfielder and defender.

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