The Transfer Thread

[Rexis]

Re: The Transfer Thread

For around $15-$20, I can have dinner and drinks at Applebee's. Doesn't mean it's a good idea.

This is going in my signature.

[Salhus]

Re: The Transfer Thread

Me either.

I'm beginning to think Mr. Henry should have stuck to baseball. Overpaid for both Adams and Carroll and for what? So they can get a Europa spot. They could have gotten 3 or 4 players the caliber of Carroll and Adams if they waited until the Summer.

Jeez. It's been 3 months for Henry. Yes, 35 mil is ridiculous, but it is the last day of January. The Carroll signing isn't to go for a Europa spot. He's 22. The plan is for him to be the main striker at Liverpool for some time.

[Perceptor]

Re: The Transfer Thread

True, but 35 million for someone who's only proven himself for half a season?

My thoughts:

Chelsea paid a lot of money for Torres, but he will sell lots of shirts and if healthy, is arguably the best striker in the world. While I didn't want to see Torres in a blue shirt, he will get CL football and if he can stay healthy, will really help Chelsea. They also got Luiz - Roman means business....

Liverpool did well to get Suarez, but 35 million is a huge gamble on Carroll. People will say Chelsea overpaid for Torres and they did, but to sign someone who's 22 and played half a season of Premier League football for 35 million is ridiculous. Yes, they paid for potential, but Carroll is no Wayne Rooney and he cost less. I sure hope Comolli and Henry know what they're doing because this to me looks like a bust signing. At most, Carroll is 20 million and if they paid that much, I'd say it was a decent piece of business. They would have been better off waiting until the summer to see who else is available (eg Aguero, Rossi) before splashing that type of money.

Chelsea better finish in the top 4 and win the CL after these signings. No more excuses now Mr. Ancelotti, Mr. Terry, and Lamps

[Krebstar]

Re: The Transfer Thread

Best part about Chelsea signing Torres? It puts them in even rougher shape when it comes to the 'Fair Play' rules. No more sugar daddy's, Roman. Build a new academy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/01/chelsea-fernando-torres-transfer

[Salhus]

Re: The Transfer Thread

Chelsea paid a lot of money for Torres, but he will sell lots of shirts and if healthy, is arguably the best striker in the world. While I didn't want to see Torres in a blue shirt, he will get CL football and if he can stay healthy, will really help Chelsea. They also got Luiz - Roman means business....

Liverpool did well to get Suarez, but 35 million is a huge gamble on Carroll. People will say Chelsea overpaid for Torres and they did, but to sign someone who's 22 and played half a season of Premier League football for 35 million is ridiculous. Yes, they paid for potential, but Carroll is no Wayne Rooney and he cost less. I sure hope Comolli and Henry know what they're doing because this to me looks like a bust signing. At most, Carroll is 20 million and if they paid that much, I'd say it was a decent piece of business. They would have been better off waiting until the summer to see who else is available (eg Aguero, Rossi) before splashing that type of money.

I can't defend the 35 million.

As for waiting until summer and goin after a guy like Aguero or Rossi...I think style of play has a lot to do with it. A target man like Carroll with a more technical/finisher like Suarez could work wonders. Better than two shorter guys. Not going to work in England.

The fact that Carroll looks like the next great 'classic English striker' played a pretty big role, too.

[ZM Punk]

Re: The Transfer Thread

I can't defend the 35 million.

As for waiting until summer and goin after a guy like Aguero or Rossi...I think style of play has a lot to do with it. A target man like Carroll with a more technical/finisher like Suarez could work wonders. Better than two shorter guys. Not going to work in England.

The fact that Carroll looks like the next great 'classic English striker' played a pretty big role, too.

I mean just wait to the Summer for the simple fact that you won't have to spend double what the guy is actually worth. It says a lot when Harry Redknapp, the king of overspending for English talent, wouldn't go over 20.

Obvious panic buy by Liverpool.

[striper_43]

Re: The Transfer Thread

This is why Sir Alex and Wenger didn't make any moves. Carroll is worth probably half of the 35. Liverpool spent more than they got for Torres on two guys (Carroll and Suarez) that basically play the same position as Torres did. Liverpool have so many holes to fill. Should have bought either Carroll or Suarez and then waited until the summer.

Newcastle had to sell Carroll for 35. No other team would have paid that much for him.

Although sometimes I wish Arsenal would spend some money in January, I know it's for the best because at least their not making rash decisions that could end up bankrupting the club.

Chelsea picked up two really talented footballers (torres and luiz) but they will not be in the title race this season. 10 points back! Why spend all this money now when you could wait for the summer and get players cheaper?

I guess they wanted to jump on Torres before any other teams bid on him.

Still, the smart teams don't panic in January.

[connoll3]

Re: The Transfer Thread

Interesting, short BBC piece on the hemming and hawing over spending in the last window, and what it portends for future attempts to bring balance sheets into line...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9384289.stm

[Perceptor]

Re: The Transfer Thread

I can't defend the 35 million.

As for waiting until summer and goin after a guy like Aguero or Rossi...I think style of play has a lot to do with it. A target man like Carroll with a more technical/finisher like Suarez could work wonders. Better than two shorter guys. Not going to work in England.

The fact that Carroll looks like the next great 'classic English striker' played a pretty big role, too.

I agree with this - I used those 2 as examples as they are also hot names on the movement list. I really hope for Liverpool's sake that Carroll has a Fowler-like career as opposed to a Heskey-like one. Suarez will be a quality player though IMHO.

Hard to believe that Carroll has cost more than Dzeko, Rooney, and Bent - all 3 are arguably better strikers.

[ZM Punk]

Re: The Transfer Thread

I agree with this - I used those 2 as examples as they are also hot names on the movement list. I really hope for Liverpool's sake that Carroll has a Fowler-like career as opposed to a Heskey-like one. Suarez will be a quality player though IMHO.

Hard to believe that Carroll has cost more than Dzeko, Rooney, and Bent - all 3 are arguably better strikers.

Arguably?

There is no argument to make. At least not at this point in their respective careers.

[KG]

Re: The Transfer Thread

Interesting, short BBC piece on the hemming and hawing over spending in the last window, and what it portends for future attempts to bring balance sheets into line...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...pe/9384289.stm

Losses will be reduced further if the club complete the sale of the naming rights to Stamford Bridge, which could net them £10m per year.
Because the transfer fees for Torres and Luiz are spread over their five-and-a-half-year contracts in terms of the club's financial figures, the £75m spent will not come in one big hit.

That's what a lot of folks don't realize. It's not like a signing bonus in the NFL where you get hit that year. Do folks really think that someone like Roman isn't going to find a way to balance the books? Dude is obsessed too obsessed with the UEFA CL to let that happen.

Same thing with Citeh. They are going to get more $ from TV rights for guaranteed European Action (most likely CL) which means more $ in naming rights and advertising.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Transfer Thread

Yeah, the more I read about the Financial Fair Play rules, the more I suspect that either UEFA will relax the rules or teams will find ways around it.

I don't think it's going to change teams' behaviors as much as I thought when I first read them.

[ZM Punk]

Re: The Transfer Thread

Yeah, the more I read about the Financial Fair Play rules, the more I suspect that either UEFA will relax the rules or teams will find ways around it.

I don't think it's going to change teams' behaviors as much as I thought when I first read them.

Figured as much.

UEFA's bark has always been bigger than its bite.

[Krebstar]

Re: The Transfer Thread

That's what a lot of folks don't realize. It's not like a signing bonus in the NFL where you get hit that year. Do folks really think that someone like Roman isn't going to find a way to balance the books? Dude is obsessed too obsessed with the UEFA CL to let that happen.

Same thing with Citeh. They are going to get more $ from TV rights for guaranteed European Action (most likely CL) which means more $ in naming rights and advertising.

On Monday Chelsea announced total losses of £70.9m for the year ending 30 June 2010, up £26.5m on the previous year.

That is still a pretty big number to lower. I'm not saying we will see teams such as Chelsea and City out of European action, but spending sprees like this can not be occurring in order for them to break even over a three year period.

Break even over a three year period. How many clubs have done that in the past three years? This means things will change. I recall when the rules were first being established, there were talks also of them stopping billionaire owners from just pumping their own money into the club to make them break even.

Should be interesting.

[Perceptor]

Re: The Transfer Thread

Well now that the window has slammed shut, we can look at who were the big winners and losers out of this window:

My opinions of course:

Winners:

1. Chelsea - yes they spent a lot of money, but they got 2 good players in Luiz and Torres. They rejuvenated an aging squad and put themselves in position to win this year and in future years. We can talk Fair Play Rules, but at the end of the day, they got a lot better

2. Man City - Edin Dzeko at 27 million was steep, but he's got huge upside as a striker. Built perfectly for the Premier League. Once he settles, he should be a big part of Citeh's future

3. Aston Villa - upgraded their dire striking situation by getting a proven goal scorer in Bent. Also got rid of Carew. Not bad Lerner and Houllier

Losers:

1. Spurs - I don't put them at the top because I'm a Gooner, but they really did nothing to upgrade their squad while their other rivals spent big. Harry spent too much time talking Becks instead of getting a real striker to help out van der Vaart, Bale, and Lennon. Everyone knew they wanted another strike option, but nothing came through. They will be hard pressed to finish in the top 4 this season

2. Sunderland - Ouch. They lose Bent to Villa, Welbeck to a knee injury and are suddenly thin in front of goal. No replacement for Bent could ruin a solid first half of the season.