Liverpool FC Forum

by **RED BEERGOGGLES** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 9:17 pm

What’s to say Anelka wont throw one of his sulk fests when hes at Liverpool, its widely known that Benitez doesn’t rate Anelka that highly and may be loathe to take a chance on such an unpredictable player .
Anelka is a player of undoubted ability with proven calibre ,but he is not a team player and some of his displays this season have been nothing short of disgraceful .
Keegan has shown great patience with him and has been rewarded with petulant dummy throwing surely a player like Johnson would be better value ,someone who has the same methodical approach to the game as Owen and will not throw a tantrum when hes left on the bench .

by **liamac** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 9:30 pm

I have a feeling that Moro is the only striker we are signing until the summer .If you think about it this way , We now have 2 world class strikers and 2 reserve strikers that are fit.
Yes it would be great to have another one signed but do we have the cash ? and if we do , would it be better used else where like a winger or a goal keeper? I personally think its just the rumour mill of the media because Raffa is so good at keeping his cards close to his chest. :blues:

by **bigmick** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:04 pm

RBG when you say that it is well known that Rafa doesn't rate Anelka, how do you know this? I'm not saying its bull, just how do you know?
As for the sulk-fest or potential thereof, who knows? I guess thats why Anelka is relatively cheap. If he had the dedication of, say, an Owen he'd probably be worth four times what Man City will take for him.
Johnson? not for me to be honest though he's playing well right now. If you could get him for 2 or 3 million then perhaps but you won't. Not in a million years, 10 million at least and he simply isn't worth it.

by **LFCFan4Life** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:09 pm

Johnson is overpriced, Crystal Palace value him at 8 million pounds and as soon as plays his first game for England, that price will go up. He's not worth that much, I'd rather buy an experienced and class player such as Anelka. Johnson could be a good player this season but could be garbage next season, it's a risk.

by **JBG** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:09 pm

Anelka is renowned as a very serious and competitive trainer Mick, and there's never been a problem with his physical condition.

Andy Johnson is having a decent season but he's no better really than James Baettie and Kevin Phillips. He'll probably get a few England caps and maybe a big-ish move eventually, but the real test of the player would be to go to a top 6 club and keep banging in the goals.

Everything at Palace suits him as he is very comfortable there and very much the main man, but its very hard to pluck a guy from a (relatively) small club like Palace and dump them into the middle of a huge club: many times that guy chokes on the bigger stage, and we, of all clubs, know that, after Graeme Souness' and Roy Evans' signings.

by **bigmick** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:12 pm

Thing is A.B., Palace haven't put a valuation on him at all. They just stone-wall and say he's not for sale. He isn't for sale, if they sell him they go down. They know this as well as everyone else which is why it would take a ridiculous bid to get him in the window.
End of the season? maybe 8 million then, so Dowie can buy five players but in the window no chance. At 8 million I totally agree with A.B., he is way way overpriced.

by **RED BEERGOGGLES** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:20 pm

Big Mick would you say Anelka has played with anything resembling loyalty for Man City this season ?and it is patently obvious Benitez's Primary concern is for team players with the right attitude for Liverpool Football Club ,that much is just common sense so my judgement on Anelka has been made purely through observation and it hasnt been pleasant viewing and if you think for one minute this has escaped the astute brain of Rafa Benitez then your deluded fella

by **LFCFan4Life** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:22 pm

You do have a point there.

by **bigmick** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:30 pm

I live in a delusional world red, sorry mate. Please don't misunderstand me about Anelka. He is a disloyal ponce, no argument. Benitez likes team players, no argument. The cynic in me however says that despite everything, Benitez's shrewd football mind will tell him that if he can unlock the complexities of the Frenchmans bonce he will have a true world-class performer on the cheap. The double cynic in me is not entirely convinced that Anelka's current mood-swing is not a direct result of his head been turned by a contact from another club, maybe us. Let's face it, if we were going to sign him, his antics have probably saved us a couple of million sofar.
On the question of Johnson, I get the picture. You rate the guy. Nothing wrong with that plenty of people do. FWIW I think he looks quite good right now and at the right price i wouldn't be averse to taking a punt (FFS, I'm the guy who rates Robert Earnshaw. I'm all for taking a punt on a guy who's not Columbian and who knows what a Sherbert Dab is) but it has to be at the right price. 2 or 3 million yes, 10 million no. Delusional? maybe. But if andy Johnson is worth more than Fernando Morientes then the world has truly gone mad.

by **stmichael** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:32 pm

the old argument of english players being overpriced comes to fruition again. this is also backed up by the fact that norwich have just paid 3m for dean ashton.

by **RED BEERGOGGLES** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:36 pm

Meant no offence Mick I guess deluded was too strong a description

by **bigmick** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:40 pm

Nah mate none taken, I'll give you deluded

you should hear what the missus calls me!

by **RED BEERGOGGLES** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:19 pm

i havent been on this forum for sometime now so in hindsight i can say i was deluded on the qualities of Johnson, and i applaud you bigmick for your foresight

by **bigmick** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:49 pm

If you're being sarcastic Red (and I think you are) it's a fair one. I saw him live a couple of weeks ago and was impressed. His movement is very good and if you see Palace play, they really are very poor so to score the goals he has is no mean feat at all. I for one would have bet that his goals would have dried up before now, but he keeps scoring.
I still think the original point about the fee holds water however. He has come out and said he's staying at palace come what may which would push the fee even higher. I still stick to my 8 million asking price and think that for that much money we could do better.
I'll be there on Saturday and I expect he'll give us plenty of problems. I reiterate, he is certainly better than i originally gave him credit for, so I applaud you sir for your forsight. :;):

by **RED BEERGOGGLES** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 8:30 pm

No sarcasm Mick I honestly believe you were right ,when you stated there were better players out there for Liverpool to buy and for less money.

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