ponsaelius

I can barely remember us scoring a headed goal from crosses into the box all season. One near the end from Cisse and one right at the start from Ba. Yes we've put crosses into the box that have been finished by forwards and we've cut balls across the box but I hardly think putting quality aerial service in is the strength of our players and particularly not Ben Arfa's strengths. I certainly don't want to bring in a static forward who thrives on crosses into the box especially when we finally hit on something far more dynamic in our best run all season. Again I see him nothing more as an option from the bench or a squad player who we have to build the side around when he plays, which wouldn't be worth the investment that it would ultimately take to get him (now or at the end of a loan).

Just because he scored a goal with his left foot rather than his head doesn't mean it's the result of clever movement or a finish on goal like I have described. His goals for Liverpool that weren't headers include an admittedly good finish from a cross in a 6-1 win over Brighton, the goal in the cup final well taken from a lose ball, a far post tap in from a cross against Wolves, a snapshot from the edge of the box in a 5-1 win vs Oldham, a snapshot vs Man City from the edge of the box, a strike from the edge of the box against Exeter and a finally a finish in on goal vs WBA. Only one I'd say was a finish when he was in on goal was against WBA. He's a fairly static forward with excellent aerial ability and a powerful left foot who is effective from a crossing game. That is the player he was for us and that is the player he still is now, only not utilised anywhere near as well and hasn't shown his best for 18 months. I don't think he's suited to us or worth sacrificing our game that was so successful towards the end of the season for.

I've watched all of his goals for us in the Championship, Premier League and all goals for Liverpool again since we were linked with this move. He's scored a lot of headers from wide service and set pieces, finishing off lose balls in and around the box and a few powerful left footed finishes. There is almost no occasion where has he scored a goal because of an incisive through ball, through clever movement to create space and a composed finish in on goal. That's not his game and it's not snobbishness or doing him a disservice to suggest so. It's the main reason he has failed at Liverpool so far and the main reason they are getting rid IMO and also the ultimate reason I don't see how he'd fit in here in our line-up or mesh with our current crop of players. Everytime he's played for Liverpool they have been criticised for NOT playing to his strengths enough and they've consistently looked better when he's not on the pitch. I fear exactly the same thing will happen here. Everybody keeps saying how can you forget what he did when he was here - I'm not, I'm judging what he did here objectively without black and white specs on and combining it with the 18 month sample of football we've seen since he left in a different team, plus looking at our squad and the strengths of our current team. It's my conclusion that it won't work and is a bad idea. It's my opinion that he won't fit other than as a useful option off the bench and to add imputus to our set pieces, attributes not worth the investment as far as I'm concerned and we'd be better off looking for somebody who fits our team better.

None of our wingers/midfielders are seemingly the type to be putting crosses in for him. Ben Arfa cuts inside and prefers to shoot, take players out of the game, play a through ball, cut a ball across the box etc. By all accounts (I'm trusting madras on this) Marveaux is a similar player if he can keep fit. Cabaye loves to look for incisive passes. Jonas for me is far better at that side of the game than he is the traditional crossing. Even Santon if he's played at left back is liable to cut inside and run towards goal then look for a pass to a teammate (Cisse's first vs Chelsea). The only player in our potential set-up next season that may be in a prominent position to swing crosses over is Debuchy and he's not even an NUFC player as of right now. Thing is - Ben Arfa for eg can put a good cross in because he has the technique and skill to do so, like for Cisse's first against Liverpool. But it isn't any of those players strengths and we shouldn't be asking them to set up like that on a regular basis. Broken record but I see him adding to nothing to us but as maybe an effective plan B which is what he is right now at Liverpool anyway.

He only gots a year left. Sounds about right. Hand him over, Tukkers.

It's easy to suggest "someone pacey and able to operate wide in the 4-3-3", it's proved a lot harder to actually come up with a name that's a major improvement over what we have and who is willing to come here. It looks like Hoilett's just turned us down for crying out loud, so I would like to challenge you: name names. Also, you seem to have fallen face first for the "tall = needs crosses" fallacy. Thought you were better than that. Of course Carroll needs crosses. I thought you were bigging him up on the basis of how he played for NUFC first time round. His aerial prowess was about £30m worth of that £35m. People should watch his goals back. I got mocked for analysing the type of the goals he scored for us. How many of them were running onto through balls through clever movement? Finishes with either foot when in on goal? How many goals of that type has he scored for Liverpool? Fact is for Carroll to be successful he does need crosses into the box. Played into dangerous areas from the wings or from set pieces, they are his bread and butter and if you build your team around them then he will score goals and be a good player as he proved with us. Yes he has a decent touch and shooting technique which is overlooked because of his size, but one thing he's never had is intelligent movement or an ability to run onto through balls, drags defenders about etc. That is not 'big man snobbishness' that is just fact and probably the main reason why Rodgers is dumping him at Liverpool. I'm with you all the way Wullie. I don't think he fits and I don't think he's worth it as a bench option.

Krul da fly

Where you get that from mate? http://www.nordeclair.fr/Actualite/Depeches/2012/07/17/seydoux-debuchy-losc.shtml

Seydoux says Cabaye is a fly that has bitten Debuchy.

Experienced that shit at work today from a Liverpool fan btw. 'He fits your game better' - fuck off, open your eyes. Obviously busy living in a cave April 1st 2012.

He's have to be absolutely unbefuckinglievable for it to be worth US paying £17 million. And even then it could probably be better spent. Would be a pointless situation, if he does well all we've done is butter him up for Liverpool.

Lucas is a good player. They missed him massively when he was injured.

Quite cheap you'd think.

Still not digging it. Even 'worse' players would be better options if they were better fitted to this team. Walk away and sign some flash cunt from the continent maaaan. The bonus that he is local is overuled by the fact he's also a twat who left once already. Ba hasn't even done it yet and he gets more stick in some parts.

Good news. Ligue 1 is fucked so players will be even more interested in joining us.

I was generally impressed with them in a number of games, but I agree they were easily the most negative team at SJP all season. Absolute turd and they weren't much better down there. Pards

dan_bu ‏@dan_bu Borussia Mönchengladbach sign Twente's Luuk de Jong on a five-year deal. Reported fee of about €12.5m + €2m add-ons. getting cheaper

Jamie Sanderson ‏@YoungGunsBlog M'Baye Niang has completed his trial at Arsenal. Club are impressed. No deal with Caen. Host of clubs want him on trial. That bairn we were linked to. Wonder if we're one of the clubs wanting to give him a trial.

What the fuck

Quite a few names on there we've been linked to. Payet, Sissoko, Martin, Varane, Matuidi, Feghouli, Ecuele Manga, Gouffran, Sulejmani, Traoré, Kondogbia... what a coincidence.

Same agent as Ben Arfa according to this http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/mondial-sport-management--consulting-sarl/details/berater_2106.html

4 oclock

sold

Actually using Giggs? wtf