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10 Best Signings of the Season

245

Comments

  • Posts: 14,379 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    joe123 wrote: »
    You cant compare Santa cruz's goal tally to torres.

    The simple fact is when teams go out to play liverpool (apart from the big three) they set there team out to defend a HELL of a lot more than they would if they were playing blackburn. Thus torres would be marked tighter and have less space than santa cruz would.

    How many times do you see a player bag 15 goals for one club, he moves to a bigger club and it just doesnt happen. Alot of its down to teams tactics.

    The counter to that is that Torres gets better service and playing in a teamlike Liverpool means opposition defences have more players to watch out for.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    Indeed, Anderson being that high on the list is stupid.

    Look, which is a more impressive feat?

    Buying a world class player that everybody knows is world class for 26.5 million, and then him turning out to be top class?
    OR
    Buying a relative unknown in these shores for 3.5 million, and then him turning out to be very very good?

    Which was a better signing? Solskjar or Yorke?


    Of course I'd prefer Torres in my team, don't be stupid, but this is about what the best signings were, which includes the price you paid.
    Torres cost 6 times the amount of Santa Cruz, yet only scored 10 goals more. Cop on like!

    Very good players for low prices:

    Two outstanding buys of the season:
    Santa Cruz - 3.5 million - 18 goals!
    Sagna - 6 million - Best player in his position in the league for 6 million!

    Tevez and Zarate should also be included, because they were loan signings, that said, Mascherano is included so?
    Then Defoe and Diarra for Portsmouth, however they were January deals.

    Very good players for high prices:

    Torres - 26.5 million
    Mascherano - 10-18 million
    Anderson - 17.5 million
    Nani - 16.5 million

    Good players for average prices:

    Jones - 6 million
    Petrov - 5 milllion
    Muntari - 7 million

    I don't know why Yabuku is in there, 11.5 million for a good player? Just a standard transfer


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    The counter to that is that Torres gets better service and playing in a teamlike Liverpool means opposition defences have more players to watch out for.

    Also he scored quite a few goals against teams when Liverpool were just dominating. Something that doesn't happen to Blackburn.


  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 15,001 ✭✭✭✭Pepe LeFrits


    ibh wrote: »
    I will ask again, if value for money is such an important feature of this, then why are Anderson and Mascherano 3rd and 4th on the list???
    It obviously isn’t otherwise Torres and Anderson wouldn’t be placed so high. Hence the discussion…

    Mascherano shouldn’t be there as he is inelligible – if a loan like Zarate is included, then Mascherano should be counted as a 2006/07 signing. Anderson is placed much too high.

    When considering his overall value, Liverpool could have signed 4 of the other players from the top 10 – Muntari, Sagna, Petrov and Santa Cruz – for what they paid for Torres.


  • Posts: 14,379 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    PHB wrote: »
    Also he scored quite a few goals against teams when Liverpool were just dominating. Something that doesn't happen to Blackburn.

    Yea that reminded me, my friend pointed out that most, not all, but most of his goals this season were against teams in the bottom half of the league.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,103 ✭✭✭estebancambias


    PHB wrote: »
    Also he scored quite a few goals against teams when Liverpool were just dominating. Something that doesn't happen to Blackburn.

    Exactly. He's a great player but only 2 goals away from Anfield.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 921 ✭✭✭Shaque attack


    Buying a world class player that everybody knows is world class for 26.5 million, and then him turning out to be top class?

    Torres was hardly thought of as world class when he first came to anfield though, was he? i seem to remember a good number of people being highly sceptical of him. his goal records were hardly amazing either.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 495 ✭✭Sajan


    Exactly. He's a great player but only 2 goals away from Anfield.

    Scored against Marsielle and Inter both away from home.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,537 ✭✭✭joe123


    PHB wrote: »
    Also he scored quite a few goals against teams when Liverpool were just dominating. Something that doesn't happen to Blackburn.


    thats a good point...but torres is an all round better player.Torres has scored in BIG games where we really needed him.

    Liverpool paid the 26 million so we would have a striker able to score against the likes of inter milan and arsenal. It would be interesting to see what teams Santa cruz has scored against this season. I know torres has only 2 away from anfield but I think its fair to say hes a much more dangerous player than cruz...

    Saying this though I wouldnt mind seeing liverpool pick him up in the summer.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,714 ✭✭✭✭LuckyLloyd


    Agree that Santa Cruz is signing of the season. In fairness though, I think a lot of people aren't surprised by the impact he has made. That price was beyond ridiculous for him.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    People are really missing the point.
    Torres is a better player than Santa Cruz. However, he is not 6 times better than him! Yet he cost 6 times as much.
    In the leagues, the only places that they both have played,
    Santa Cruz: 15 goals 6 assists in 33 games
    Torres: 22 goals 3 assists in 31 games.
    That means Santa Cruz is a better signing! It doesn't mean he's a better player.

    Santa Cruz has scored twice against Arsenal (H), once against Liverpool(A), once against Everton(A)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,097 ✭✭✭✭Tusky


    kryogen wrote: »
    tbh lads PHB has a point, in terms of value for money Cruz is a better deal the Torres financially speaking... Torres i a better player though. no question in my mind about that.

    If it was titled 'bargain signing of the year' then I would agree, Santa Cruz would be number 1. Its not just about how much was paid for the player.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,535 ✭✭✭Raekwon


    joe123 wrote: »
    It would be interesting to see what teams Santa cruz has scored against this season.

    Clicky


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,714 ✭✭✭✭LuckyLloyd


    To put a different angle on things, how much do people reckon Santa Cruz would have cost (with the same profile obv) if he was English and coming from a premiership team? He makes the Bent signing for 16m look very lol.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 848 ✭✭✭armour87


    Eduardo :o

    No seriously, its Sagna for me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,911 ✭✭✭✭whatawaster


    Can people stop falsely claiming Torres cost 26.5 million? Rafa himself said it was 20 and that's including Luis Garcia.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    Rafa said that the total cost of the deal, i.e. the net spend, was 20 million.

    Torres went to Liverpool for 26.5 million
    Luis Garcia went to A. Madrid for 6.5 million


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,097 ✭✭✭✭Tusky


    PHB wrote: »
    People are really missing the point.
    Torres is a better player than Santa Cruz. However, he is not 6 times better than him! Yet he cost 6 times as much.
    )

    So by that rational you just divide how much they cost by how many goals they scored and whoever has the most favorable stats is a better signing ?

    Torres - 26.5 m - 30 goals. So just over a goal per million

    Yakubu - 11m - 19 goals. Almost 2 goals per million

    Yakubu must be the better signing then. Its a retarded way at judging. As I said, its not the list of the top 10 bargains, its a list of the 10 ten signings. For this reason, the price should not be the most important factor.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 198 ✭✭I-Bleed-White


    Although he was a Jan signing I don't think Defoe is getting enough credit for the outstanding displays he has turned out for Pompey.

    Another Jan signing Woodgate should defo get a mention. Although Spurs have recently been leaking goals he has been superb for games where spurs have been in contention for something.As evreyone knows shoring up the spurs defence is no easy feat.

    Anderson should be in the signing with the most potential list. Yakubu has been a beast for the Toffs. McFadden was also a really astute signing. Birmingham did well to get him.

    Vote for the biggest waste of a signing has to be Sidwell at Chelski.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,478 ✭✭✭Bubs101


    I think Defoe definitely warrants a place on that list. He has been quality since he moved. Also think Alex deserves a mention. Whenever we have used him he has been brilliant


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,418 ✭✭✭JimiTime


    Whatever way you want to do the Maths. Torres has been an outstanding signing! What a player. I'd have much preferred to see him in an Arsenal or Man U shirt though. Imagine him playing in an exciting attacking side, rather than a dull defensive one:eek: Drools.....


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,315 ✭✭✭Jazzy


    PHB wrote: »
    Sorry, this is actually a list of who is the best player from those signings, not who is the best signing.

    How do you know this?
    Santa Cruz - 3.5 million - 18 goals
    Torres - 26.5 million - 28 goals

    To me, it's very clear who the better signing is, like it's just stupidly obvious.

    i dunno, i think its sorta like "the best signing for their club" if ya get me. pool have been missing a top goalscorer since owen went out and Djibril "POWER DRIVE!!!" Cisse came in. Torres was exactly what liverpool needed and actually makes them a credible team that can compete with the other big 3... its just a pity that our form was completely terrible for 2 and a half months. but torres shows now that we can actually compete in the future instead of harking on pointlessly saying "this is our year".
    not saying santa cruz isnt needed by blackburn, im just saying in regards to stepping their club up a level he doesnt do that as much as torres. not his fault, more the rest of the blackburn team


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,456 ✭✭✭stick-dan


    Some of those inclusions are stupid!!!! Zarate has gone on a good run in the last 3/4 games but prior to that he didn't really do anything.

    Why is Mascherano on the list?

    You have to be joking right? You'd even ask that question. Quality springs to mind!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,097 ✭✭✭✭Tusky


    To add to my earlier point, Torres only needs one more goal to equal the best ever first season of a foreign striker in the premier league.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,255 ✭✭✭anonymous_joe


    I'm a United fan, so I can't believe I'm saying this, but... How can anyone doubt Torres deserving his place?

    He was a massive gamble by Benitez, given the fact his talent was undoubted, whether he'd ever be a proven goalscorer, or whether he'd make it in the Premiership were truly major doubts.

    He has brought something Liverpool have needed for a while - fear. Like Ronaldo, Henry at L'Arse, Drogba on form, players like that can be the difference on the day. Cissé wasn't of that calibre, Crouch is brilliant, but only good at scoring week-in week-out (as opposed to excellent).

    Liverpool have added dimensions to themselves with the Spaniard, and have a lot to build on now. Seems pretty much perfect to me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,606 ✭✭✭✭Mitch Connor


    stick-dan wrote: »
    You have to be joking right? You'd even ask that question. Quality springs to mind!

    Yeah, quality signing last season:rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,456 ✭✭✭stick-dan


    Some-one stated above that santa-cruz was a relative unknown to these shores but maybe thats a bit of a generalisation, Santa-Cruz was very well known to those who wished to pay attention and if we are comparing the player's it's pointless because you can't put cruz beside torres. Bargain no doubt but by no means at all of the equal or better quality. Torres Undoubtidly deserves his place!No other player signed this season has made such a difference to a team. That's what it should be measured on the difference they made to the team they joined not their price. Torres was bound to be dearer because other big clubs were in for him and that allowed athletico to dictate their price because huis persuers were bound to start a bidding war.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,456 ✭✭✭stick-dan


    Tauren wrote: »
    Yeah, quality signing last season:rolleyes:

    Correction quality loan last season! Signed this season!:D:cool:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB



    i dunno, i think its sorta like "the best signing for their club" if ya get me. pool have been missing a top goalscorer since owen went out and Djibril "POWER DRIVE!!!" Cisse came in. Torres was exactly what liverpool needed and actually makes them a credible team that can compete with the other big 3... its just a pity that our form was completely terrible for 2 and a half months. but torres shows now that we can actually compete in the future instead of harking on pointlessly saying "this is our year".

    Sorry, but that would make Carrick the signing of the season last year.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,825 ✭✭✭Charlie


    Another mention for Beye, quality quality signing. If I was trying to show someone how a full back should play, this is the man I would direct them to watch.

    How is Lassana Diarra not on this list. Truly awesome player and I genuinely believe he would have given Arsenal a massive boost when they needed it most. Had they not sold him I think they would still be contending for the title.

    Technically Defoe is not a signing, he is on loan, but that's just being padentic.

    Can't agree with people putting forward Kenwyn Jones. He's been good, but went missing for large parts of the season.

    I would agree with PHB. The amount of money involved in a transfer is a determining factor (is that not why people are slting Bent as a bad singning??). That's why if Ronaldo went to Real for 100 million, he would never be the best signing of that given season. Torres has been quality.

    For £26 million you could have gotten Petrov, Santa Cruz, Sagna, and Yakubu, is that not an indication itself? Torres has been superb for Liverpool, but they had to pay for that. Put it this way, had he only scored half those goals this season people would be questioning the amount paid, so in a sense, he's only justifying what Liverpool paid for him.


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