Liverpool FC Forum

by **JC_81** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:17 pm

The ECHO mentioned that Rafa may be interested in Malbranque from Fulham. We were heavily linked with him during Houllier's days, and it seems to have resurfaced with Rafa also a fan of his.

Personally I think Malbranque is a very good player, and I think he'd do a good job down the right. I think I'm right in saying that he's right footed even though he often plays on the left.

He's not an out and out winger but he's proven in the premiership and gets a fair few goals from midfield. I'd be happy enough if we signed him to be honest.

by **barnesrush** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:48 pm

yeah ive always quite liked malbranque aswell, and as u say hes less of a risk as he is premiership proven. havent seen enough of him really to have a judged opinion but would welcome him without doubt. can fill a few roles aswell

by **109-1093441336** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 7:09 pm

Nobody has proper links to any wingers so they're goin whatever fits right for the time being - Malbranque. i dont have anything against him as he would be a great addtion to any team but Rafa has never seen him (was injured when we played fulham) so the Echo are just guessing too. The Echo also mentioned Figo too, another way to understand they have no real links so they're diggin up previously linked players.

From his comments today in .tv rafa has put pressure on Parry to find a CB and RW by the end of next week. he's given his list and, like rafa ,we'll know by the end of next week who we get.

by **mikopool** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 7:16 pm

john craig wrote:The ECHO mentioned that Rafa may be interested in Malbranque from Fulham. We were heavily linked with him during Houllier's days, and it seems to have resurfaced with Rafa also a fan of his.

Personally I think Malbranque is a very good player, and I think he'd do a good job down the right. I think I'm right in saying that he's right footed even though he often plays on the left.

He's not an out and out winger but he's proven in the premiership and gets a fair few goals from midfield. I'd be happy enough if we signed him to be honest.

I think rafa is looking to someone who can feed Cisse, Morientes and Crouch, I believe Malbranque wouldn't be the best option, Luis Garcia is already capable of bagging goals from midfeild, so basically we would be signing another Garcia, unless Malbranque picked up the ability to cross the ball in the last couple months, signing him wouldn't really solve problems, just fix already fixed problems. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see him come, I would just be a little more happy if we got someone with loads of pace and a wicked cross.

by **JC_81** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 7:57 pm

mikopool wrote:I would just be a little more happy if we got someone with loads of pace and a wicked cross.

Yep, in an ideal world mate!!

There aren't many of those around though, let alone being within our price range and a realistic target

Also, garcia and malbranque offer totally different things to the team. I see where you're coming from as they both bag goals from cutting in from the wing, but Garcia is a flair player who can make things happen in a tight game, especially in europe, but is more of a luxury, and often disappears in away games in the prem. Malbranque is more a workhorse, not as much skill as garcia, but as well as getting stuck in when it's backs to the wall, he's also capable of chipping in with his fair share of goals and is a technically good player (More an english style player than French really)

If Rafa signs him, you can bet it will be with our prem performances last year in mind (as with the crouch and zenden signings). I believe that even if he didn't play every week, Malbranque would be used more in the premiership away games, with Garcia featuring more in home games and in europe. He's proven quality in the prem and wouldn't cost an arm and a leg. Bring him on I say.

by **76-1115222408** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:12 pm

john craig wrote:
mikopool wrote:I would just be a little more happy if we got someone with loads of pace and a wicked cross.

Yep, in an ideal world mate!!

There aren't many of those around though, let alone being within our price range and a realistic target

Also, garcia and malbranque offer totally different things to the team. I see where you're coming from as they both bag goals from cutting in from the wing, but Garcia is a flair player who can make things happen in a tight game, especially in europe, but is more of a luxury, and often disappears in away games in the prem. Malbranque is more a workhorse, not as much skill as garcia, but as well as getting stuck in when it's backs to the wall, he's also capable of chipping in with his fair share of goals and is a technically good player (More an english style player than French really)

If Rafa signs him, you can bet it will be with our prem performances last year in mind (as with the crouch and zenden signings). I believe that even if he didn't play every week, Malbranque would be used more in the premiership away games, with Garcia featuring more in home games and in europe. He's proven quality in the prem and wouldn't cost an arm and a leg. Bring him on I say.

Thanks John you saved me the trouble of answering the same point!!! Phew!!!!

by **JC_81** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:14 pm

LIVERPOOLANYTIME wrote:
john craig wrote:
mikopool wrote:I would just be a little more happy if we got someone with loads of pace and a wicked cross.

Yep, in an ideal world mate!!

There aren't many of those around though, let alone being within our price range and a realistic target

Also, garcia and malbranque offer totally different things to the team. I see where you're coming from as they both bag goals from cutting in from the wing, but Garcia is a flair player who can make things happen in a tight game, especially in europe, but is more of a luxury, and often disappears in away games in the prem. Malbranque is more a workhorse, not as much skill as garcia, but as well as getting stuck in when it's backs to the wall, he's also capable of chipping in with his fair share of goals and is a technically good player (More an english style player than French really)

If Rafa signs him, you can bet it will be with our prem performances last year in mind (as with the crouch and zenden signings). I believe that even if he didn't play every week, Malbranque would be used more in the premiership away games, with Garcia featuring more in home games and in europe. He's proven quality in the prem and wouldn't cost an arm and a leg. Bring him on I say.

Thanks John you saved me the trouble of answering the same point!!! Phew!!!!

No bother chief :laugh:

by **JBG** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:22 pm

Van der Meyde made some waves in England a couple of years ago when he and Inter destroyed Arsenal in the Champions League at Highbury. He has since fallen down the ranks at Inter and to be fair, I don't know much else about him to comment any further.

I think Benitez will sign a relatively unknown speed merchant from La Liga. Figo is no longer in the equation and I'll wager that our new right winger will be an unknown Latin, either Spanish or South American, much in the same way as Gonzalez is an unknown.

by **mistyred** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:43 pm

I would take a chance with an unknown from south America some real diamonds in the rough over there but for some reason they all seem to end up in Spain or Italy.

by **A.B.** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 11:01 pm

I think Benitez will sign a relatively unknown speed merchant from La Liga. Figo is no longer in the equation and I'll wager that our new right winger will be an unknown Latin, either Spanish or South American, much in the same way as Gonzalez is an unknown.

I think we're going to sign Juanfran from RM, young talented winger, Spanish U-21 international.

by **JohnBull** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 11:04 pm

For Christ's sake !!! Wait and see - it will all turn out right in the end.

by **mikopool** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 11:08 pm

JBG wrote:I think Benitez will sign a relatively unknown speed merchant from La Liga.

Liverpool FC Forum

Andy vandermeyde or another right winger? - Whats the peoples choice?

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