Hooray for "King" Kenny

[Kalimantan Gull]

Forget money, it doesn't seem to mean anything anymore in football. Downing is a good player.

I think for the first time in a long time I'll want Liverpool to do well this season. Since Owen left and Houiller / Benitez went there I've wanted them to consistently lose. But I like Adam, and I like Downing, and I like Dalglish, and I'm interested in seeing Carroll develop, and that ponce Torres has gone, so yes, I hope they do well.

 

[astevens76]

I'd rather £20 million spent on Eden Hazard

He's class on football manager

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

One day, the English football mindset might move on a few decades.

So teams should NEVER cross it?

Im not saying hit it LONG. I'm saying having the best left footed crosses + the best header of the ball in the league is PROBABLY effective.

 

[saafend_seagull]

I always thought he was useless.

Went to West Ham V Villa, and he was sensational! Very good player infact, just doesn't perform at international level. Much like Lampard, Gerrard, etc.

 

[MattBackHome]

Good signing IMO. Underrated player.

 

[Munkfish]

If your Going to spend £20million on an English Winger, Sign Adam Johnson.

 

[Simster]

I always thought he was useless.

Went to West Ham V Villa, and he was sensational! Very good player infact, just doesn't perform at international level. Much like Lampard, Gerrard, etc.

Funny how multi million pound English players don't perform at international level, but do manage to perform for their clubs when surrounded by world class players.

Anyone would think it was because they were made to look better by being surrounded by other good players in their club sides.

 

[sten_super]

Funny how multi million pound English players don't perform at international level, but do manage to perform for their clubs when surrounded by world class players.

Anyone would think it was because they were made to look better by being surrounded by other good players in their club sides.

...and the fact that they are much better drilled in their club sides as they play week-in-week-out together and spend at least 30 weeks of the year training together?

 

[Pavilionaire]

I think that, once again, Liverpool have paid over the odds, but the £50m Chelsea Torres fee helps mask this transfer ineptitude.

Man Utd have managed to get the better player - in Ashley Young - for less of a fee. Young is at the top of his game and in all probability a starter for England. Downing, on the other hand, has been warming the England bench for 5 years just grateful no other decent left-sided players have emerged in that time.

These sort of signings might get Liverpool above Spurs next season, but Arsenal would have to have a monumentally disastrous summer in the transfer window for Liverpool to even get a sniff of 4th spot.

 

[sten_super]

I think that, once again, Liverpool have paid over the odds, but the £50m Chelsea Torres fee helps mask this transfer ineptitude.

Agree - they've paid over the odds for all of their summer transfers, but as you say it's mitigated to a degree by the ridiculous fee they received for Torres. Still Kenny has spent a net £50m since coming in, not bad work.

Man Utd have managed to get the better player - in Ashley Young - for less of a fee. Young is at the top of his game and in all probability a starter for England. Downing, on the other hand, has been warming the England bench for 5 years just grateful no other decent left-sided players have emerged in that time.

This is largely down to their contract situation though. Young had one season left on his contract; by January his worth would have been naff all. Downing had two years left, and I'd suggest that if Villa had held on to him his value next summer would have been around £10m, which is a more accurate reflection of his and Young's relative values.

These sort of signings might get Liverpool above Spurs next season, but Arsenal would have to have a monumentally disastrous summer in the transfer window for Liverpool to even get a sniff of 4th spot.

I don't agree; unless Wenger makes some serious moves in the next month or so (very much not his style) they'll probably start this season weaker than last. Liverpool have clearly strengthened, and have concentrated their recruitment in areas they were weak last year. I think Kenny's got a decent chance of competing for 4th spot; in fact I wouldn't be surprised if Arsenal finished as low as 6th next season (if Spurs can keep hold of Modric).

 

[Falkor]

think its a good buy myself, nice to see a club with alot of decent British players, i think they will make top 4 next season at Arsenal expense myself.

 

[Falkor]

just singed Roma keeper Doni BBC Sport - Liverpool sign goalkeeper Alexander Doni from Roma

 

[Walkers Cajun Squirrel]

Downing at £20million? Really? What a waste. No wonder why others (arsenal etc...) go abroad. You could get a player three times better than downing (gervinho, amongst other) for less.

 

[Sam Ovett]

He's class on football manager

Yes, but he also won Ligue 1 player of the season I believe. That's what I based his goodness on

 

[Falkor]

Downing at £20million? Really? What a waste. No wonder why others (arsenal etc...) go abroad. You could get a player three times better than downing (gervinho, amongst other) for less.

yes but like others have said there are rules now so this cant happen all the time

 

[Walkers Cajun Squirrel]

yes but like others have said there are rules now so this cant happen all the time

So you just buy them young and bypass the rule.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Paying well over the odds for an England reserve team is not going to get you very far. Fact.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I'm saying having the best left footed crosses + the best header of the ball in the league is PROBABLY effective.

It's 2011.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Downing at £20million? Really? What a waste. No wonder why others (arsenal etc...) go abroad. You could get a player three times better than downing (gervinho, amongst other) for less.

and how much was Caroll? It's a joke.

 

[beorhthelm]

Funny how multi million pound English players don't perform at international level, but do manage to perform for their clubs when surrounded by world class players.

Anyone would think it was because they were made to look better by being surrounded by other good players in their club sides.

Scoles (and someone else?) has commented on this. he reckon it was due to pressure and fear/anxiety of not performing well enough. only the ManU players would go out with the attitude that they were the best and could beat anyone, others shied away. has to be said, Scholes, Neville and Beckham were always stong performers, along with the likes of Sheringham, Shearer, Owen (of Liverpool era); Adams and Keown, though old cart horses, were strong in the mind; Gerrard until recently (i think he try too much); Cole is slated for his ego but is one of the most consistantly good performers for England. recent players who've done well are young confident players like Micah Richards, Adam Johson, Wilshire who just grab the game and play well for first game or two then the attention seems to get to them. too many player try to move the ball on too quickly, and always looking for the killer or hollywood pass, rather than keeping it simple and controled. so shit teams are made to look good against us, when if the same players met at Anfield, Stamford bridge, Old Trafford with a normal crowd, they run rings around them individually.

on this note, and to drag us back, i see it as positive for England that Dalglish is pulling together English players and hopefully giving them some of that same attitude that Liverpool had 20 years ago and ManU since, that they the best and can beat anyone.