Liverpool sign Ba(Humbug): the winter transfer thread

Agreed.

Walcott's is the most poorly labelled player in the EPL? What do I mean by that? Well I think him being deemed as being "overrated" is absurd. The guy scores plenty of goals for a winger, and links well with his strikers...oh, and he can also play striker if need be. He'd be perfect on the right side of Suarez.

 

I'd take Walcott at the drop of a hat.

 

The forward version of Glen Johnson, then? You know the oft-repeated "good going forward but suspect defensively"? Walcott is derided as having no-end product to his game and yet he score all those goals. Having said that, Walcott has for whatever reason seems to have stagnated at Arsenal. Maybe a fresh challenge (hello, Fernando Torres!) will do him good.

 

I doubt that rumour has got any legs- most likely Blackpool trying to get excite a bidding war. Remember he's been linked with a move to United, Arsenal and the usual suspects. He is doing fine at Blackpool which for the time being is his level. You only need to see for the U21 to realise that.

 

I think Walcott is a great player, but he has two major problems in his game. He is a liability defensively and very inconsistent. I'm under no ilusion that Sterling is better than Walcott going forward yet, but his tracking back is what makes the diference for me.

I would love to have Walcott at the club, but to form a partnership with Sterling and Suarez and no way use the kid as a "squad player". Take the load off him a bit and replace sterling with suso once in a while is great. Plus, i have great faith in Assaidi but he needs time to work in his physical condition if he really wants to make an impact at anfield.

Signing Walcott and a Striker (a proper Nº 9) and i would be very happy in Jan.

 

Hmm .... I worry that we're about to spunk money on a past reputation. , once again. Is this Huntelaar fellow really good?

 

That is how I've seen it as well. Taking the Dempsey saga further, despite his being a year older, he had have several upsides such being Premier League-proven, lower fee and wages and able to play across the front three.

 

Werner says Suarez is here to stay...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...d-deliver-in-the-January-transfer-window.html

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...orentina-win-5th-straight;-inter-held?cc=5901
I read about this Aquilani kid from Italy that seems to be doing well. Just scored two goal and had an assist as well. Maybe we should look into picking him up, I'm sure 20mil would do it.

 

Rumors that we're monitoring Giuseppe Rossi's situations at Villareal. He's on a big contract and has had two major ligament injuries, so they're hoping to clear him off their bill.

I don't like it and I doubt the rumors are true because this would be a Joe Cole type of signing. Two ligament injuries means he's lost a lot of pace that he'll never gain back. You can't just miss out on extended periods of training in your 20's and hope to ever fulfill potential. It will also take him a long time to get his touch back. And just because he's on big wages now doesn't mean he'll sign for a team for far less wages. There will always be some stupid wealthy team who will bid for him just to add him to their collection.

He's not at all what we'd need in a January transfer window that must produce goals. This would be similar to signing Aquilani when he's injured just because Alonso is gone and hoping he'd become Alonso as soon as he's healthy.

 

Arsene Whinger insists Walcott won't be sold in January regardless of Theo's contract:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20394509

He can sign a pre-contract agreement with a new team in January. He did turn down 75 grand/week though so he might be out of the FSG picture already. Who knows. He's Le Arse's leading scorer this season.

 

We paid Downing 7ok/week. I'd be fine if Walcott wants a little more than that.

 

I don't think, despite popular wisdom, that money is the issue at Arsenal.

 

Its quite strange that we went all out on Carroll, Henderson, and Downing.
And then refused the purchases of Dempsey and Siggurdson.
The owners want to be much more careful and cautious but at some point they will have to allow one or two massive signings even though we are building for the future.

 

Yes, no more massive signings of injured players (Aquilani, and Carroll fell into this boat as well).

 

I might be wrong (about the wages) but I think the reason why Arsenal hasn't sealed the deal has to do with the fact that he wants to play in the middle and not the wings.

By the way, did FSG set a wage ceiling? If so, what is it?

 

A friend who supports Middlesbrough claims Downing will return to the North-East. Loan, perhaps, and then permanent if Middlesbrough gets promoted.

 

I'm sure he'll thrive in the championship. A permanent move will mean a huge pay cut though.

 

I think we'll pay a portion of his wages as we did with Cole, Konchesky, Poulsen and Aquilani before him.

 

The pay cut would be after his permanent move.