Quote ="Roddy B"
Lastly, the biggest problem I have with this transfer, and most of our transfers of late, isn't just the player, it's our determination to overpay for players who aren't actually worth what we pay. It isn't a great business model to build around. I thought we were going into the market to be clever, to try and outwit our opponents, but we've entered it with a careless attitude. You shouldn't overpay for any player, you should be good enough to find other options and have back up plans, [iit seems once we decide, we don't backtrack[/i. We've now gone out and spent close to £70m on Carroll, Downing and Henderson, possibly more than £70m according to some, whilst I personally believe that money could have been used strengthening other areas of the squad. I feel we're a left back, two centre backs and a right winger lite. Furthermore, the money we've spent on Downing probably won't be recuperated in a future sale. It's not like when we signed Crouch for a small-ish fee, Downing's in his peak, we've overpaid and his value will only drop now, unless Real Madrid suddenly deem him di Maria's superior (probably is now he's signed for us).
'"
Tut tut. Bit of revisionism there pal, expect better from you!
Wickham and Marveaux ring a bell?
The money doesn't have to be recuperated from a future sale. If Downing helps Liverpool to get in the Champions league twice in the next 5 seasons his fee will have been recuperated. Would Man U get their £18m back if they sold Michael Carrick tomorrow, or would they think the success they have had as a team during his spell has balanced the fee, which many thought was too much. If Man U spend £35m on Sneijder and replaced Carrick (as an example), would that money be recuperated in a future sale or would Man U deem it a price worth paying if they went on to win the League twice in the next 4 seasons?
Quote ="Roddy B"We (Liverpool) rated Young over Downing. We tried all January to get Young, Villa refused to budge (probably agreed a Whelan-esque deal with United) so we left it until the summer, but United got him over us, so we ended up going for Downing.'"
I'll think you'll find Dalglish has wanted and tried to sign Downing in January. Did it ever cross your mind he wanted both?
