Couple quick things, one being news outside of LFC, the other being news about it.
I’ll start outside of the club very quickly just because I find this to be absolutely brilliant. Credit to the Guardian for this report:
Manchester City’s new owners are ready to spend a staggering £135 million to bring Cristiano Ronaldo across town.
The new owner of Manchester City, Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, has intimated that Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ADUG) could back a bid for Manchester United winger Ronaldo as early as January.
“Ronaldo has said he wants to play for the biggest club in the world, so we will see in January if he is serious,” Al-Fahim said in The Guardian.
“Real Madrid were estimating his value at $160million (£90m) but for a player like that, to actually get him, will cost a lot more; I would think $240million (£135m). But why not? We are going to be the biggest club in the world, bigger than both Real Madrid and Manchester United.”
Al-Fahim added: “We want a team who can win the UEFA Champions League. We’re not just going to spend money on anyone, but if we can get the biggest players in the world, and of course if the manager wants them, then we will get them.”
Anil Bhoyrul, the Editorial Director of Arabian Business.com and friend of Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim told TalkSPORT: “I have a list of the players Dr Sulaiman wants to go out and bid for. One is Ronaldo. He says he doesn’t have a problem tabling a £120million bid, just to do it and see what the reaction is. His tactic is to say to Manchester United and Chelsea, ‘hey, we’re in town’.
“He also rates Torres and Fabregas. With Ronaldo, he thinks they are the three best players in the world.”
Sorry for the offroad posting topic there, but I would severely love to see them sell Ronaldo to Man City. I think that may be the one side I could stomach doing anything outside of ourselves, just as it would stick it to the Scum, straight to the heart.
Now speaking of transfers, as we’ve all seen Albert Riera did indeed come in at the buzzer of the transfer window, and it seems that we managed to do so for only 5.5 million front. Considering Everton were willing to put up the full 12 million, I think this says a few things. First, that Riera desperately wanted to come to Anfield. Having played in front of the Kop before and in the Premier League in general he showed no hesitation in wanting to put on the red shirt. I know that doesn’t necessary translate into success on the pitch, but it speaks volumes about where his priorities lie. He took what I’m sure is a smaller cut of the much smaller transfer fee in the process.
Also what this does is something else that I don’t think can necessarily be quantified scientifically, but it shows our little neighbors just who is where and what the tale of the tape will read at the end of the day. Mindless dragging in the offseason is one thing for us with a fairly loaded squad but for a team of that depth to carry on until now without reinforcements is just bad business. If you can be called on that by anyone from Liverpool these days that’s a merry achievement indeed!
As I’ve posted in the comments before, we’re at 3 matches played and 7 points taken from them. That is nothing to sneeze at for a collection of the first few fixtures. I think we all can agree that our performances will improve as we go on, so having this base to start from is important. We have to keep the right attitude and right behind our heroes out there fighting for all of our hopes and dreams. We’re all Liverpool players, that’s just our first XI. It’s our goal their defending, our ball they’re holding onto, and our hearts and minds driving to victory and success. They truly do not walk alone, nor do we as long as we do continue to keep that hope and that belief strong. They deserve at least that much from us considering what they put in for us every single day.
Now, the Torres situation is indeed a blow, but not nearly as severe as it might have been should we have failed in our bid for Riera. The width he should provide will allow our other strikers more room to operate. I think this may be just what Robbie Keane needs to step up and assert himself. I’m sure it must be difficult to step into a side with Fernando Torres and not be at least subconsciously deferential. I agree with many that Babel should go up top, as I think the two of them with Keane coming on from behind could work some magic. Should Stevie be ready for the the Mancs and Sir Rudolph Ferguson (had a very shiny nose) they both play into his strengths as well.
By no means will El Nino not be missed, but it just might be what this team needs to learn to score on their own. Anfield, Scum coming to town, early season top of the table up for grabs, it doesn’t get any better than that.
Now if only we could avoid these silly international breaks so early in the season. There’s simply no need to be breaking up squads in August and September when they’re gelling and figuring each other out.
YNWA
This is going to be the downfall of football. There needs to be some salary cap. This is ludicrous. I cannot believe that football is heading in the direction where the highest bidder gets the trophy. Forget them. I’m happy with our team and I know we would never go out and try to BUY the CHampions League like Wank City or Chelski.
YWNA
I imagine it will lead to a similar situation as we have here in America. Buying the best players does not necessarily mean the beat team. Anyone remember the Galacticos? How about the Yankees in MLB here? $232 million and no playoffs while teams with 1/4 the spending are in contention. It just means player development will become more and more important. Us, along with Arsenal Barcelona and several other clubs are already on the road to self sufficiency, just give it time.
I honestly can not see Ronaldo going to Man City neither Fabregas or Torres. Man City’s success depends on which other players they buy and if they fit in. There is no point buying all the best players in the world and they do not gel like at Real Madrid. They also need a strong coach and I do not think Hughes is the right man.
As for us, it would be great if the Dubai guys took over and we had an unlimited budget. I think Rafa would not go crazy and start splashing out on every player. I think even with a blank cheque Rafa would go out and get Alves or Rafhina for the right back position and maybe another world class left back (cant think of one off hand). In central midfield we are covered, then he would go get David Silva and probably David Villa and a world class right winger and thats about it. At most Rafa would spend about 100m and thats it.
I hate to say it but I’d sell Torres to Man City for 100 million, simply because of the team we could build with that, we’d be set for the next 5-10 years easily with our youth system to complement outside buying.
Selling Torres for 100 million would make great business sense but hopefully it does not need to go that far. I fear if Torres were to be sold for 100m then the potential replacements we would buy i.e. Villa, Eto’o etc would cost over 50m as they would have huge price tags put on them if they know we got 100m for Torres.
sell Gerrard and Torres for £150 million! Then we’re in business big time, provided we don’t sell at the point where all player valuations are driven through the roof. Sell them in January before inflation kicks in, get rid of Rafa, and then immediately buy a whole new squad! I can only dream!
Are you being serious Bobaldo?
I think he’s being a bit over the top, but it’s understandable to not want to sell even at those prices. The question is though, are players larger than the club? I think that’s an answer that varies by individual preference.