Liverpool FC Forum

by **Kopboyau** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:43 pm

It seems to have become the norm at Liverpool, that we are rumored to be signing so many players and yet we sign no one. I mean Rafa says he is interested in Lucas Neill and then when we obviously get a bit of competition(from West Ham), we say heres your deal take it or leave it. Gee makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. If we are losing out to teams like West ham in the transfer market, when the player is only a small player, how do we convince a player like Ronaldo (example) to join our club. And what about the people that are interested in taking over the club what will they think ?. We need to have strength in our convictions and actively sign players we are interested in and not stop until we have got them, I mean we obviously want the player for a reason. I will be interested to see if we actually sign any players in the transfer window.

by **Effes** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:54 pm

The wage (50K a week) didn't befit the quality of the signing.

He was bought to be a squad player really, we couldn't give him 50K a week as it would have bumped everyone
elses wages.

We don't want to end up like another Leeds - granted, this signing wouldn't have done that, but we
dont wanna go down that road.

We should have got Lauren.

by **Sabre** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:08 pm

how do we convince a player like Ronaldo (example) to join our club

Jokes aside, when I remember cases like Victor, Alves, or recently Neill I must say that's understandable to have doubts about if we're managing well this issues.

But then I'm reluctant to give a strong opinion without knowing all the facts, for instance what Neill says is not enough, as his opinion is biased obviously.

ANyway it's interesting to know your thoughts. In Spain things work differently, the coach is just a coach and it's the club who manages that. In the case of Liverpool I'm not so sure who's the real culprit so I'd love to hear your thoughts.

by **adamnbarrett** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:08 pm

Sabre wrote:
how do we convince a player like Ronaldo (example) to join our club

class

by **dward** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:40 pm

Sabre wrote:
how do we convince a player like Ronaldo (example) to join our club

by **Bad Bob** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:56 pm

Kopboyau wrote:We need to have strength in our convictions and actively sign players we are interested in and not stop until we have got them, I mean we obviously want the player for a reason.

You make the transfer market sound like one of those Hollywood romantic comedies where the self-absorbed loser always gets the hot girl as long as he doesn't take no for an answer and puts in the effort to basically stalk her for the entire film.

We need to have strength in our convictions? Trust me, lad, we do. When a mediocre player like Lucas Neill thinks he can hold a club like this to ransom just because some relegation-fodder team is willing to give him silly wages on the hopes of staying up, Rafa and Rick Parry have the strength of conviction to do the right thing and tell said player to get to f.uck. It is simply bad business to pay well over the odds for players of the quality of Lucas Neill.

Now, I know what you're going to say: 'it's not just Lucas Neill, it's also the likes of Daniel Alves or Luis Figo!' Well, when the player is of that sort of calibre strength of conviction means exactly f.uck all. If we don't have the dosh to pay the transfer fee and their lofty wages, we ain't getting them...end of. Do you really think that a thoroughly commited pursuit of top players would amount to anything without the cash to back it up? If it was just about strength of conviction the likes of Watford and Charlton would be taking out full page ads daily, wildly proclaiming their love for Ronaldinho and Kaka.

In the real world, it takes exciting footballing prospects (which we can offer) and shedloads of cash (which we, as yet, cannot) to sign top players. It generally doesn't take either to sign the likes of Lucas Neill but some players are just too thick to recognize what's in their own best interests. Personally, I'd rather have a manager and a board who have the strength of conviction not to reward selfishness and an inflated sense of self-worth just for the sake of completing an widely-expected--if seriously underwhelming--transfer. :cool:

by **azriahmad** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:03 am

I'm glad we missed out on the thug who used to be Blackburn's captain due to his own greed. In fairnes, he was never as good as he may have thought of himself, despite giving a good account himself in the World Cup finals.

He asked for astronomical wages for someone of his quality and a desperate club like West Ham, with new owners and a new manager appointed in mid-season who are desperate to stay in the Premiership, and we did not budge. Good luck to him and West Ham in their relegation fight.

by **Kharhaz** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:32 am

I think its quite clear, if your deserving of a bigger wage (Steven Gerrard) then eventually you will get it. Even if we had the money to sign the likes of Alves or Figo, I still dont think Rafa would have signed them because its down to money. I like his current attitude of, if they love us they will come !

by **red_guy** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:30 am

Glad we missed neil. IMHO we don't need that kind of a player. I mean one day he said it's a dream to play for Liverpool, my childhood club bla,bla,bla..etc. The next day he came with reasons like ' West Ham appreciates him more than liverpool and :censored:

. I mean if , if you're really a fan of the club, you will go and sign without too much to ask.Just look at Fowler and i salute him because he puts Liverpool above anything else. Afraid that he (Neil) can't play? Hey...as a professional, he should take a challenge and fight for his place. Don't make excuses. Wages? Yup, West Lamb promised him more money than Liverpool. It's all about money. That's why, i wouldn't blame Rafa or the club for not getting THAT player.

by **Anfield rapper** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:53 am

red_guy wrote:Glad we missed neil. IMHO we don't need that kind of a player. I mean one day he said it's a dream to play for Liverpool, my childhood club bla,bla,bla..etc. The next day he came with reasons like ' West Ham appreciates him more than liverpool and . I mean if , if you're really a fan of the club, you will go and sign without too much to ask.Just look at Fowler and i salute him because he puts Liverpool above anything else. Afraid that he (Neil) can't play? Hey...as a professional, he should take a challenge and fight for his place. Don't make excuses. Wages? Yup, West Lamb promised him more money than Liverpool. It's all about money. That's why, i wouldn't blame Rafa or the club for not getting THAT player.

Yeah just look at what his fellow countryman Harry Kewell did. He decided to come to Liverpool and wasn't too bothered about maybe earning another £10-15,000 a week at another club. It was his childhood ambition that he wanted to play for Liverpool surley that is worth more than money. I'm glad we missed him and hope we can go some way to getting him relegated next tuesday night.

by **Elchris** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:03 am

Effes wrote:The wage (50K a week) didn't befit the quality of the signing.

He was bought to be a squad player really, we couldn't give him 50K a week as it would have bumped everyone
elses wages.

We don't want to end up like another Leeds - granted, this signing wouldn't have done that, but we
dont wanna go down that road.

We should have got Lauren.

Lauren would have been a decent addition.....but rafa said he had other player in mind if neill din work out i wonder whooooo

by **monkey 20** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:59 am

Anfield rapper wrote:hope we can go some way to getting him relegated next tuesday night.

by **Leonmc0708** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:04 pm

Rafa will not pay over the odds for players, fee's or wages.

You have got to admire him for that.

by **azriahmad** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:54 pm

I already admire him for his successes but I'd admire him more if he can do a Wenger - find players cheap at a young age and groom him to be a world beater. Wenger had done this too many times to be said as a fluke - Anelka, bought for 500,000 sold for 22 million, Vieira bought for 4.5 million at 20 years old, nurtured him into a world class player and got the best of him but still managed to sell him just past his prime 9 years on for 13.5 million, Henry bought for 10 million, converted him into a very unorthodox yet effective striker from being a pacy winger and could have sold him for 30 million 2 years ago and now Fabregas, bought for a platry 2 million, still only 19 and already set to eclipse cultured players like Xavi of Barcelona and even our own Alonso in the Spanish national team midfield in a few years, if he does not get a serious injury.

by **Anfield rapper** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:27 pm

Just found this Article by Ian Rush :buttrock

You must be joking, Neill

Jan 23 2007

by Ian Rush, Liverpool Echo

LUCAS NEILL’S decision to join West Ham above Liverpool smacked of lack of ambition.I read Neill’s comments about Liverpool ‘not wanting him enough’ and was staggered, as well as disappointed.I seem to remember Rafa Benitez was working until midnight on transfer deadline day last August to negotiate a deal. Hardly the actions of a manager who didn’t want the player enough.

As for remarks concerning a guaranteed first team place, show me any footballer at Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United, who doesn’t have to fight for his position?Surely, Neill would have backed himself to challenge for a starting position and stay in the team?

He’s only 28 and has four or five good years ahead of him, but his attempt to deflect attention from the financial reasons for his decision don’t wash.I’ve just never heard of anyone rejecting Liverpool for a club fighting relegation.

There have been plenty of players who have turned us down, of course.I remember Ian Snodin moving to Everton when they were champions, and Mikael Silvestre picked Manchester United ahead of Liverpool a few years ago.That was disappointing at the time, but not exactly controversial. This seems unprecedented.Such a decision says more about a player’s character than any scout report, and it’s Neill’s loss more than Liverpool’s.

Look at other players who’ve put football interests first. Craig Bellamy was offered more money to stay at Blackburn in the summer, and others would have paid more than Liverpool.He decided it was honours he wanted, not a bigger salary. And, as a striker, he also recognised he would have more competition for a starting place than he would have had at Ewood Park, where he was first choice every week. The same applies to Robbie Fowler, who took a pay cut to go back to Anfield.

At least these examples show not every modern player is like Neill, whose decision defies logic.I respect West Ham and understand they would want to do as much as they could to sign the player. But what’s Neill thinking?If he earns the big money for six months but West Ham go down and allow him to leave in the summer, does he seriously believe he’ll get similar wages elsewhere?It makes more sense to sign a longer deal at Liverpool, especially as you would have imagined he is settled in the north west already.

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