Can anyone explain why we are looking to buy

[Duncan Disorderly]

Please?

[smicer07]

Good proven Premiership players with the potential to improve (Downing) and ability to increase our options in central areas and set pieces (Barry)?

[Guest Prongsy]

I know, it's baffling. Obviously it's English players with experience in the league, but is experience for mid-table (average over the past few years) enough for us to take a step up to win the league.

 

The answer is no, in my opinion.

 

What about value? 15-18m for Barry and 12-15m for Downing. Best players we can get for 30m?

 

The answer is no, in my opinion.

[Bootser]

Barry, yes.....maybe. Downing ........ em, er, maybe maybe?

[Ramón Benítez Hernández]

It's that bulldog spirit innit.

[fyds]

Barry yes - I can see that one. Strong, consistent, gives it the full throttle and has brains and some pace. He could add attacking nouse as well as defensive stregth to the middle as required.

 

Downing - no - I just don't rate him.

[Berger]

Barry-Yes.

Downing-No.

Barry formed a good partnership and have a good understanding with Stevie. Stevie recommended him and he's Stevie's mate. He will improve our set pieces greatly. He also will fit the bill to replace Alonso.

Edited June 28, 2008 by Berger

[Jiggy Hates Jazz]

1) We don't know that we are after Downing.

 

2) If Rafa wants him or Barry then he either thinks they are good enough or they are the best available/he can afford. :cliche: Trust in Rafa :cliche:

 

Can I claim my £5?

[Stevie H]

Barry formed a good partnership and have a good understanding with Stevie. Stevie recommended him and he's Stevie's mate. He will improve our set pieces greatly. He also will fit the bill to replace Alonso.

this partnership thing is a poisson rouge imo. gerrard and barry have played well together largely as a midfield two for england, and we've surely established by now that we don't want to see gerrard playing that deep?

[Leo No.8]

Trying to answer the question why very simplistically, I'd take the model of far and away the most successful club currently (ouch) and the number of British players who feature regularly:

 

Brown

Ferdinand

Scholes

Rooney

Carrick

Hargreaves

Fletcher

 

That means six of the usual starting line up are English with just Fletcher as a squad player.

 

Ferguson is totally old school but it works. People would look at those players and say 'I'd rather have Alonso than Carrick', 'I'd rather have Arbeloa than Brown' etc but the simple truth is they are the ones winning the league, and Ferguson clearly has the blueprint for winning the Premier League title again and again - his way works.

 

He has his team playing in a direct but fluent way that suits English football perfectly but needs an British core. They are all about pace, strength and moving the ball quickly from one end to the other. Even his foreign superstars are all about pace and work rate as well as skill (Ronaldo, Tevez, even Evra).

 

I think Barry and Downing who are both direct, energetic British players would move us more in this direction and also improve as individuals playing here. The two who are pretty much signed Dossena and Degen are both aggressive full backs so as far as I can see this is the plan, to play more like United in style which requires more players with an English style.

 

The two superstars we bought last season in Torres and Mascherano have perfect games for England, pace and power.

 

From what I can see of his transfer dealings Rafa really wants the league title challenge this year more than anything including the Champions League, possibly for the first time since he arrived. He is trying to put together a team who can do this and I believe personally he's going the right way about it.

 

I still believe a great deal in Rafa; I think now the league has become his priority he'll give us our challenge if supported well enough in the transfer market.

Edited June 28, 2008 by Leo No.8

[surf]

it'a because we're broke and can't afford decent players

[lawrie]

I can see the sense in Barry, but Downing is a bit baffling (although it releases Babel from a position he looks uncomfortable in)

[Gunga Din]

it'a because we're broke and can't afford decent players

 

that might make sense if the figures being bandied about for those two players wasnt 30mil, which isnt exactly buttons, and we hadn't already spent another 30 mil since the start of January. Personally, i can see the sense in Barry, but not Downing at all. but then, we dont even know for certain if we are in for Downing.

Edited June 28, 2008 by Gunga Din

[Guest ziggystardust]

Please?

 

because yo mamma told him to......zing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest Kaizer]

this partnership thing is a poisson rouge imo. gerrard and barry have played well together largely as a midfield two for england, and we've surely established by now that we don't want to see gerrard playing that deep?

 

Exactly, Barry has played well for England in the Mascherano role.

[MFletcher]

Barry's quite capable of adapting to play the Alonso role. Maybe he won't hit as many long balls, will be more willing to come forward with the ball at his feet and play short, simple balls that get our players into better positions?

 

Besides, a Xabi/Masch partnership leaves the entire impetus of going forward with Masch. Whilst he's not bad at it, it's not his game and someone like Barry - who can deliver balance to the midfield as well as an excellent ball delivery - alongside him may make a far better partnership than Masch/Xabi currently do.

Edited June 28, 2008 by MFletcher

[Guest Kaizer]

Barry's quite capable of adapting to play the Alonso role. Maybe he won't hit as many long balls, will be more willing to come forward with the ball at his feet and play short, simple balls that get our players into better positions?

 

Besides, a Xabi/Masch partnership leaves the entire impetus of going forward with Masch. Whilst he's not bad at it, it's not his game and someone like Barry - who can deliver balance to the midfield as well as an excellent ball delivery - alongside him may make a far better partnership than Masch/Xabi currently do.

 

Whats all this about Barry`s excellent ball delivery, its decent at best for a CM.

[Kahnee]

Whats all this about Barry`s excellent ball delivery, its decent at best for a CM.

 

If that doesn't prove his worth, nothing does

[Guest Kaizer]

If that doesn't prove his worth, nothing does

 

Barry should be worth around £7-8 mill, if you pay more you could just as well throw the money in the toilet and piss on them, it would make just as much use.

[Knoxy]

Because they're decent players who will improve our squad and team

 

Obviously

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

As everyone says - Barry, yes. He's a good player & would deffo improve us as a team. You can't really compare him to Xabi, so if it is one in, one out you can't say "but Xabi is better"

 

Downing - just rumours at the mo, we're after about 12 players if you believe the press, but FFS nooooooooooooooooooooo! He's bobbins on a good day

[Kahnee]

Barry should be worth around £7-8 mill, if you pay more you could just as well throw the money in the toilet and piss on them, it would make just as much use.

 

According to you. According to Villa, he's worth more. According to Rafa, he's worth more. As both parties have far more detailed information on the subject than you, I'd say he's worth £15m.

 

How much should Itandje be worth, out of interest?

[stressederic]

According to you. According to Villa, he's worth more. According to Rafa, he's worth more. As both parties have far more detailed information on the subject than you, I'd say he's worth £15m.

 

How much should Itandje be worth, out of interest?

 

I've got some magic beans and a yo-yo

[Kahnee]

I've gpt spme magic beans and a yp-yp

 

Hpw dare ypu - he's brilliant and everything

 

 

..

 

 

..

 

 

 

..

 

 

What cplpur's the yp-yp?

 

(edited for spelling mistakes)

Edited June 28, 2008 by Kahnee

[stressederic]

Hpw dare ypu - he's brilliant and everything

..

..

..

What cplpur's the yp-yp?

 

(edited for spelling mistakes)

 

It's yellpw