RedHarvest

It's always been about his attitude, or his percieved attitude,, he's not that bad a player and would absolutely suffice as a third choice striker if he didn't appear to preen and moan so much. It's funny, cos Rafas recruitment policy has always been as much about attitude as ability..still, I guess we got him for free,,3 mill for him would be a total result.

Riise was a Liverpool scapegoat legend - spectacular OG in CL semi, chronically one footed, crap defending, pointless shoot on sight policy AND a ginge!! - we'll never see his like again. .............

"In Holland we say: “Be a man in the night and a man in the morning.” That means if you want to stay out until the early hours having a drink, don’t be a sissy the next day. Be a man and get on with your work. Irish players are like that. " - Martin Jol Martin obviously hasn't watched any League of Ireland football

He's red, he's green Alone he'll never walk He's Rob-bie Keane He's not that c*** from Cork

I'd tend to agree, we'll have to wait and see... but Keane being a premiership veteran and a clever link man bodes well for him. 20M is a lot all the same. Pretty excited about this.

Not the same situation as crouch was in the last year of his contract and could have walked for free next year. In the light of that 10M is great business. I'm sure Rafa would take crazy money for Alonso if someone was prepared to pay it. As it stands anything between 16 and 20M is a fair price for a player of his ability. The transfer market being so artificially distorted makes it very difficult to judge a players true worth but Xabis price is slightly more realistic than the English players who's worth is fantastically overestimated.

12 is my evaluation Rafa rates Xabi at 16M, Rafa obviously wants Barry for tactical reasons but he's not a better player than Xabi. United always pay over the odds.

Despite that we will still probably end up paying around 17M including Finnan, for a player worth no more than 12M. I obviously hope not - but all this flack aimed at O'Neill is not only pointless but probably what he wants in the eyes of his club and supporters.

Not into this Arsenal link at all, especially as I see Xabis move being tactical and all to do with his saleability and our cashflow...we'd be mad to sell one of our best players to a main rival.

Aidan McGeady...Shaun Wright-Phillips

I hope there's some truth in these Silva rumours, we need to buy in some creativity in the forward positions. I'm not familiar enough with the player to know if he'll make it in the prem but if he has anything like the attitude of Luis Garcia he'll be alright, Luis was frustrating and a little lightweight at times but his application and hunger were spot on.

Good post. I agree that this is the kind of tactical fluidity that Rafa's been striving for. Also, Alonsos "sacrifice" for Barry is purely down to the latters positional adaptability (as well as Alonsos worth if we're really so broke). I still think we're missing some real creativity though - an Aimar or Litmanen type lockpicker.

O'Niell will get his asking price for Barry, a player whose true value is in the 10-12mill bracket, that's a good piece of horse trading for his club, we'd be applauding Rafa for the same reason - and I will if he manages to prise Xabis true value from Juve. I do mean Sidwell, he's a capable player not far behind Barry in ability. He could emulate Barry at Villa within a few seasons. I realise that Man U and Chelsea pay way over the odds for players and that we need to do the same to keep up. That's what I find depressing.

I'm sure he was smoked out by the press on those questions and to be fair to him he doesn't say anything we dont already know. Having said that I think he and Parry have been completely outmanouvered in the Barry deal by O'Niell and Lerner, two very clever men playing a blinder for thier club. I find it a bit depressing that we're probably going to hand over 16Mill plus Finnan and they've replaced Barry already with a player quite capable of emulating him.

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I remember similar posts about Sami last summer...think it's a little premature to jettison Finnan based on his post injury form; we still dont know how Degen is going to work out.

:lol: class...it was a good solid tournament from the RTE boys.

IMO Keane is worth about 14/15m, at least 10m cheaper than Villa, he'd be a great buy - I'm getting more excited about this as it gathers in plausability. Makes you wonder who Spurs have lined up if they're letting their 3 strikers go?? As for Crouch we should hold out for at least 12m

I'd love Keane here but does anyone think Rafa will really splash the 20mill asking price if Spurs dont want Crouch? I get the impression Crouch is dead set on Pompey and wont be the makeweight in either the Barry or Keane deals.

2 or 3 million for his guile and experience would be excellent business, a Gary Mac style signing. Also we'd all be able to use the phrase "Juninho territory" anytime we get a free kick in the oppo half

I agree, and the same goes for Iniesta. Senna was way more consistant but a holding midfielder would never get it unless they're among the goals. Villa was very unlucky too,he was great in every game he played.

Keane is a realistic target, moreso than David Villa (plus he's a foreigner so not subject to "English player tax" )...but I cant see Spurs letting him go as well as Berbatov....if he has any ambition at all he'd jump at the chance to play in the Champions league and alongside Torres. Anyone know what his contract situation is? Presume he's in the middle of a lengthy contract with them.

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He's chronically one footed and a beans-on-head to boot but lets give JAR his due - he did a good job for us for several seasons and became a victim of our improvement. He really should've been shipped out two seasons ago but Rafas frustrations in filling that position kept him here. Fair play to him for the odd rocket goal and the right footed finish against Barcelona. Good luck to him.