Your thoughts on Rafa's new signings?

[Bootle Buck]

After the CL Final it was clear we needed a goalscorer and more creativity in our team. We can control games and have a really stingy defence. However, we lacked the cutting edge to break teams down and in many games wasted our dominance of the game. Do you think our signings so far have what it takes to bring us the attributes we lacked last season. We certainly have a big enough squad with a lot more depth than ever. I like the look of Torres and Voronin and Babell is certainly a talent. The jury is still out on Benayoun. I also still have concerns over Rafa's insistance on sticking with Kuyt over Crouch but hopefully he will start knocking them in.

 

I'm disappointed we didn't go after Tevez and Alves but I am not sure if they were realistic targets this summer anyway.

[Clay Davis]

Brazilian 17 year old, Portuguese winger, Italian left back, Welsh centre forward.

 

RaFa KnoWZ WUrsT!

[Maldini]

The jury is out more on Babel than Benayoun for me. I know what Benayoun can do, but Babel has never played left-midfield before.

[Swipe]

Think there's been - not so much good and bad, but good and jury-still-out in our summer spending.

 

Torres was my first choice striker. I think he can score the goals we need, and mroe importantly he's got the skill, flair and vision we've been lacking.

 

but i thought we'd get two crack wingers - good enough to go straight into the team.

 

Babel could be an amazing signing but I don't know enough about him.

 

Benayoun is a useful replacement for Garcia, but not sure if he's what's needed to bring us the title.

 

Still hopeful he'll bring in more players. A left back (who doesn't play for Man U) and a right winger.

 

Not sure if it'll happen though.

Edited August 3, 2007 by Swipe

[honourablegeorge]

I had hoped we'd buy an out and out winger of realy quality. We didn't. We've bought two strikers who can sort of play wide in Babel and Voronin, and Benayoun who's not really a wide player either.

 

I don't think any of them are bad players, or bad signings, but overally I'm pretty disappointed. You couldnt say that any of those three is a guaranteed start, or one of our best eleven. They're squad additions, not first team improvements.

 

Torres will add quality, I hope, but there's plenty question marks over him too.

Edited August 3, 2007 by honourablegeorge

[Walrus]

but i thought we'd get two crack wingers - good enough to go straight into the team.

 

I had hoped we'd buy an out and out winger of realy quality. We didn't. We've bought two strikers who can sort of play wide in Babel and Voronin, and Benayoun who's not really a wide player either.

 

I don't think any of them are bad players, or bad signings, but overally I'm pretty disappointed. You couldnt say that any of those three is a guaranteed start, or one of our best eleven. They're squad additions, not first team improvements.

 

Torres will add quality, I hope, but there's plenty question marks over him too.

In a way I agree and would have liked to see someone like Quaresma or Mancini if I'm completely honest.

[honourablegeorge]

Whether Quaresma or Mancini were available, good enough, etc, I dunno - and Rafas plans are rarely what we expect - but I'd still have rathered two signings of real quality versus four or five squad men.

[Romario]

Personally I think we've spent an impressive amount of money but I don't think we bought what we needed. Could be wrong but if we're 20 points off ManU come next summer I won't be too surprised.

[honourablegeorge]

Don't think our spending's been particularly impressive either.

[Kahnee]

I'd wait until the poor f*****s have settled in and shown us what they are capable of before judging them, but that's me

[Benitez]

I'd wait until the poor f*****s have settled in and shown us what they are capable of before judging them, but that's me

 

 

don't be daft!

[Romario]

Don't think our spending's been particularly impressive either.

I guess with new owners, tv money, champs league money and the amount we got for players we could have spent more but I'm not fussed about the amount if the players are the right players. I'm just not sure they are but I guess that's what'll make next season very interesting. If Babel hit the ground running and Harry stayed fit then we could be in for some interesting times.

[Widnesian]

I'd wait until the poor f*****s have settled in and shown us what they are capable of before judging them, but that's me

Where's the fun in that. I think we should slate them now before the season has even started, so we can say I told you so six months from now.

[crisps]

Not that pleased really, Torres I'm over the moon with but alot of people thought we need about 3 world class players to pretty much go straight into the starting eleven. Torres is the only one...

 

Babel is a gamble and never really set the dutch league on fire, thought we'd have got Sneijder if anyone from Ajax.

 

Benayoun like many say will probably play a Garcia style role...

 

Voronin is pretty much an un known quanity over here but liked what I've seen him in pre season.

 

It seems with the wingers, benitez is hoping kewell will be back to his best and hoping Pennant will give us a good full season, but I don't think any of them are top quality wingers, they'll probably have good games against wigan and derby then everyone will be happy.

 

...it probably doesn't help though looking at how much of an effective winger ronaldo was last season, but we do need someone nearly as effective and none our wingers are half as good...

Edited August 3, 2007 by crisps

[fred milne]

The priority was always going to be up front and I'd like to think that in Torres we now have a striker worthy of the quality of our midfield and defence.

[Romario]

Not that pleased really, Torres I'm over the moon with but alot of people thought we need about 3 world class players to pretty much go straight into the starting eleven. Torres is the only one...

 

Babel is a gamble and never really set the dutch league on fire, thought we'd have got Sneijder if anyone from Ajax.

 

Benayoun like many say will probably play a Garcia style role...

 

Voronin is pretty much an un known quanity over here but liked what I've seen him in pre season.

 

It seems with the wingers, benitez is hoping kewell will be back to his best and hoping Pennant will give us a good full season, but I don't think any of them are top quality wingers, they'll probably have good games against wigan and derby then everyone will be happy.

The longer Kewell stays fit the more time it gives Babel time to fit in. Gerrard on the right and Kewell on the left is as good as anyone so fingers crossed. I can't wait to see how we play this season.

[Hassony]

Personally I think we've spent an impressive amount of money but I don't think we bought what we needed. Could be wrong but if we're 20 points off ManU come next summer I won't be too surprised.

 

it really depends on How quickly torres (and babel) gets going, and if the rest of the permiership can actually manage to get points out of united and chelsea.

[sean]

I'd have bought Robbie Keane, or similar. A left back, which he still might do. A genuinely class wide player, which he still might do, cover for the centre back areas and that's it, give us the league.

[Kahnee]

don't be daft!

 

Silly me.

 

 

THEY'RE ALL CRAP

[yellow jumper]

any of our rivals would have looked stronger for signing torres. babel and lucas are in the same envelope as anderson and nani, and a host of other unproven young foreigners.

 

ridiculous to make judgments before a ball's been kicked in anger. who's summer signings would people take before ours?

[The_Adder]

Good post.

 

Looking at the squad now I still think we are a top winger, a deadly finisher and a left back (one who plays CB too would also be nice - I rate Heinze a lot) to truly be up there with Chelski's and the Scums squads.

 

Really surprised we didn't sign one of these 'crack' wingers too, was sure we'd get one of Malouda, Simao, Mancini or Queresma, but maybe Babel can be as good if not even better than all them (if he is going to be a winger!). He's certainly got the ability and is only a baby in comparison.

 

Torres could be an inspired signing. Which ever way you look it hes still averaged 15 goals a seasons in a side that hasnt even qualified for Europe once in that time and the boy has talent, a lot of it.

 

I'm really excited about the lad Lucas, Brazilian Footballer of the Year and for as little as £5m. About 90% of articles on our spending doesnt even mention him either, madness! Could be some player, just hope he gets the chances this season, can see him getting us some much needed goals from centre mid given the chance.

 

Benayoun I rate, hope he can step it up now he's landed at a big club and Voronin looks a bit of a bargain so far, could be a surprise package.

 

All in all happy, would of been happier with a top winger and still think we are a true goalscorer short, maybe next summer tho eh!

[David Hodgson]

The job is only two thirds done. Good signings, but we need, and may well get, more.

 

Those celebrating our work in the transfer market thus far are either naiive or lack ambition. Sorry, but it's true.

[crisps]

any of our rivals would have looked stronger for signing torres. babel and lucas are in the same envelope as anderson and nani, and a host of other unproven young foreigners.

 

ridiculous to make judgments before a ball's been kicked in anger. who's summer signings would people take before ours?

 

Don't think it's about other teams strengthening really...

 

Basically what we lacked last season and before etc was someone to kill of games, those 0-0's when we dominate etc, Torres may be able to do that but imagine if he gets injured or takes time to adapt, we'll probably look the same as last season. Pennant doesn't score much and maybe Harry may chip in a few but I wouldn't be too confident in him doing that. Then it'll probably be back to hoping Gerrard will deliver for us...

 

Hopefully Benayoun will be a good addition though feeding balls through to the strikers, one of our problems in the prem last year was playing two defensive midfielders against cack teams who wouldnt score if we had 6 men on the field.

Edited August 3, 2007 by crisps

[Sion]

Don't think Babel is the answer to our wide play issue, not saying he's a bad player like, just don't think that playing on the wing is his best position, and therefore doesn't make him stand out more than Kewell or Pennant. I'm not the manager - he clearly has a better idea than clueless al me, so hopefully i'll be proved wrong,

 

Would have, or still would like a more out and out winger - not Quaresma - doubt we'll get one mind.

[Dan]

The jury is out more on Babel than Benayoun for me. I know what Benayoun can do, but Babel has never played left-midfield before.

 

It's where he played most of his games for Ajax.