Liverpool FC Forum

[stmichael]

while this proposed investment looks almost certain to go through i would like to know the honest views of other members on here.

bottom line. do you TRUST our manager to spend 50-60m on players who are good enough for this football club? going on his past record i have my doubts. ok, cisse is arriving and possibly mexes, who are both good players. however i still worry about how the rest of the money is going to be spent.

am i just being pessimistic?

[ICE-MAN]

yes cos he spent it wisely last summer in kewell finnan (established quality players) and le tallec and pongolle (for future)
we have enough for the future so he knows we just need more quality established players who can bring the team up to a new level, this is with the likes of cisse i believe!

[115-1073096938]

Right for gods sake.

There has only been one summer where he failed to sign players that were good enough. It happened once.

He's learnt from that, get over it.

Last summer he signed two proven quality players, one was a steal and one of the worlds best in his position. Before that the signings of McAllister, Babbel, Hyypia, Henchoz, Hamann, Dudek, Kirkland, etc etc etc.

We know this summer he wants to sign Cisse. So he sees we need a striker. We know for a fact he wanted Boumsong who is conincidentally a pacey centre half with good defensive quality's, people are now linking us with Mexes who is suposedly a pacey classy centre half. Again something we need and us fans see. These are the two MAIN areas which need improving and Gerard wants to improve them.

We also know that Houllier likes Steed Malbranque as a player and we also know as he's admitted he likes Joe Cole. All of these players Houllier has been interested in at some point and ALL of them would improve the side and give us something we don't already have.

Even Alan Smith wouldn't be a bad addition and thats another we've been linked with.

Houllier will get it right if he's given the support he deserves.

[Leonmc0708]

I think you are being pessemistic, for every bad player houllier has signed, I can name you one who has either been a success or looks like being a snip.

Think Hyppia, Henchoz, Dudek, Kirkland, Kewell, Hamman, rather than thinking Diouf, Diao, Biscan and Diomede.

ALL managers make mistakes, even Bob Paisley signed Avi Cohen from Macabbi Tel Aviv, and Shanks signed Jack Witham from Sheff Wed. Also managers today sign duds. Its difficult to judge what the players are going to be like.

HAVE FAITH

[115-1073096938]

ICEMAN well said.

Also the thing with Cisse is, he'll improve the side and can still improve himself.

Who hasn't been impressed by Pongolle and Le Tallec?

Pongolle looks the better player to me but both have shown glimpses this season of what they have to offer in the future. If Sinama had a bit more confidence infront of goal he'd have made a major impact this season. He's impressed alot and i think once the timing of his runs improve, his composure, confidence and physical and mental strength we'll have a hell of a player on our hands.

[stmichael]

yeah they can both be very good imo. they've both been unfortunate with injuries this season to be honest.

[Dalglish]

Some cracking opoints there. GH has made mistakes but he's made a few quality buys as well and made this club into teh 3rd most successful club in his 5 years at the club. We have fallen behind the so called big 3 but they have all had massive invesment in their clubs, Sir Andrex spent nearly 100 M on 3 players and it could be argued that only 1 (Van) has been good value. Veron and Rio weren't value for money either.

Chelski despite their outlay have failed to win a trophy this season leaving only Arsenal who lets face it have been possibly the best team in Europe this last season.

60M will go a long way to procuring quality players............

A word of caution .........lets not become a club that attracts mercenaries playing for the pay packet

[stapo1000]

FIRST YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER HIS PAST AND POSSIBLE FUTURE SIGNINGS THAT ARE GOOD AND BAD:

PAST:
GOOD- HYYPIA, HENCHOZ, HAMANN, MACALLISTER,DUDEK, FINNAN, KEWELL, LE TALLEC, PONGOLLE.
BAD- DIAO, BISCAN, TRAORE, DIOUF, SMICER, CHEYROU, BABBEL, VIGNAL.

FUTURE: CISSE, MEXES, WRIGHT-PHILLIPS, SMITH, J. COLE, MALBRANQUE... THE LIST GOES ON. MOST OF THE NAMES YOU HEAR ARE GOOD BAR 1 OR 2.

I THINK GIVEN SOME OF HIS PAST SIGNINGS YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE PESSIMISTIC. BUT HE DIDN'T SIGN ANY FLOPS LAST YEAR REALLY. I THINK HE WILL BUY THE RIGHT PLAYERS THIS YEAR. I JUST HOPE HE KNOWS THAT THERE ARE MANY PLACES TO FIND NEW TALENT OTHER THAN ****** FRANCE.

[anfieldadorer]

I believe at least he's learned a lot from the past, Mike...
Anyway, he's done such a great job for such a "stubborn" man like him... 

[adayinthelife]

Cmon lads you seem to forget houllier's big buys which were heskey 11m,diouf 10m and biscan 5m.
What a complete waste of money and yet you trust him with 30+million?
He has bought some good players but most of his better buys have been defenders or keepers anybody else notice that?
As for Kewell he was offered a world class player for 5m and even houllier couldnt say no and yet will not leave him in his best position.
If these players are so good why do we always need so many players behind the ball?
He is basically saying he doesnt trust the defence to do its job and needs help, and goes way beyond defending as a team.
Yet when it comes to attacking we never manage to get more than 2 or 3 players in the box in open play.
It was mentioned that houllier knows the main area of the team that need to be strengthened was the defence and up front but I disagree and what we really need are 2 quality midfielders.
We need a creative midfielder alongside Gerrard and Van Der Vaart is the man.
He has all the skills required and I believe will become 1 of the best players in the world in a few years.
Cost 15-20m.
We also really need a proper right winger and the man for the job is Jaoquin.
This guy is an awesome sight in full flow,beats left backs for fun and would give us some real balance in the team.
Cost 12-15m.
To those who say we could never sign these players seem to forget we are signing 1 of the hottest properties in french football so what is stopping us from signing 1 of the hottest properties in spain and holland?

[ICE-MAN]

here mate, look at man utd and chelski, they both signed veron for massive money!

man utds bad signings: veron forlan djemba djemba kleberson taibi barthez
chelski: stanic veron mutu bogarde

houlliers signings have not been that bad compared to these, yes hes made a few mistakes but who hasnt! theres not enough space in the forum to mention all of evertons

he has learned though from his mistakes and i would completely trust him with the money!

[ICE-MAN]

btw cisse scored again last night as auxerre won 3-1, he's top scorer in france for third season in a row!

[115-1073096938]

BAD- DIAO, BISCAN, TRAORE, DIOUF, SMICER, CHEYROU, BABBEL, VIGNAL.

Smicer, Vignal, Traore and Babbel cost a combined fee of 5million.

How are they bad signings?

As for Heskey, at the time you were not saying that, if you were you were simply an idiot.

Heskey has served his purpose 11m for 4 major cups and 2 other cups. I'd go for that. He played his part but hasn't done what he should have. He wasn't a complete waste though. In hindsight i'd still go out and sign him for 8 or 9 million.

[Paul C]

All managers make bad signings but Houllier has made more bad signings than good: 

Good: Henchoz, Hyppia, Hamman, Riise, Pongolle, Le Tallac, Kirkland, Dudek

Bad: Ferry, Traore, Vignal, Dundee, Meijer, Biscan, Cheyrou, Heskey, Diomede, Ziege, etc.

Unsure: Finnan, Diarra (never even seen him play), Smicer

[115-1073096938]

All managers make bad signings but Houllier has made more bad signings than good: 

Good: Henchoz, Hyppia, Hamman, Riise, Pongolle, Le Tallac, Kirkland, Dudek

Bad: Ferry, Traore, Vignal, Dundee, Meijer, Biscan, Cheyrou, Heskey, Diomede, Ziege, etc.

Unsure: Finnan, Diarra (never even seen him play), Smicer

Thats ******.

Its not as simple as good and bad.

Vignal and Traore cost 1million between them and both signed as prospects. Neither were signed for the first tea, Heskey's had his moments aswell, you can see why Houllier spent 11m on him.

What about other signings like McAllister, Babbel, Riise and Kewell.

Its easy to be selective and petty.

The only poor signings i'd say he's made were Biscan, Diomede, Diouf and Diao. The rest have ability and have been useful.