It does feel strange that last year we buy a player from Madrid. This summer it looks like we are

[Pat Vegas]

buying a Barcelona player.

What's the catch? are they rejects?

[the splendor of antigone]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Players that perhaps need to be moved on because of new arrivals at the club.

Not sure this constitutes being a reject.

[Monty91]

And when they do, someone, however good, will usually leave to make way.

[Luis Anaconda]

It's a consequence of big clubs stockpiling top players there is always going to be some movement. Remember when Italian clubs were probably pre-eminent in Europe we picked up Vieira, Bergkamp and Henry from them for prices (in the latter two cases) that are probably comparable to today's fees

[Pat Vegas]

Premier league title next. and a more competitiveness in the top 4 rivals games please.

CL will come one day but it's going to take a lot of special run of luck.

But most importantly hopefully some very exciting football.

[7evens]

Plenty of world cup top performances will be followed by overwhelming mediocrity, once the spotlight falls and these blokes pull on a club shirt for 38 games http://www.awimb.com/images/smiley_icons/ohwell.gif

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Luis Anaconda]

[Peter]

Not being as good as ronaldo then i think we can safely ignore the alarm bell.

[The Tony]

Think these clubs are looking for quick sales and got no time for people wanting to deals based on appearances etc....straight cash and we're starting to be in that special group of teams that can blow ¤40m on the likes of Ozil.

[7evens]

[Pokster]

some bright sparks on here wanted us to sign him in 2010... he would be the best signing i can remember us making... and I include Bergkamp on that list

[Pat Vegas]

Bale for Madrid (worked out great for them)

Saurez for Barcelona.

[Peter]

Bit pedantic i know :hehe:

[Ben.]

I wouldn't read anything into it, f.

[Pat Vegas]

[7evens]

as usual :-)

[Peter]

[Classic Jorge]

Unless you're doing that irritating, wedknappian "top, top, top..." stuff, of course.

If that's the case then carry on

[Peter]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

" he would potentially be the best signing i can remember us making"

The success of any signing can only really be seen in hindsight.

Personally I am more intrigued by who we sign from the Bender / Khedira / Schneiderlinn triumverate.

[Luis Anaconda]

[Pat Vegas]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Though harsh to label Vieira as such given his age at the time.

Sanchez has not been a failure at Barcelona, think he was simply f**ked by the revolving door of management and now the need to accomodate Suarez.

[Monty91]

[Peter]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Anyway anything Milner can do I suspect Chamberlain can do x 10.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[7evens]

and they're not even in administration.

[Pat Vegas]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

£25m for Lallana, potentially £20m for Lovren. Well played.

[Pat Vegas]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Seen him the odd time in CL, not really noticed.

Similarly the lad at Southampton, not really noticed.

I do believe however that a top level replacement in the side is of more importance than the potential signing of your man.

If we were willing to spank ****loads of cash on a classy Chilean much rather that lad was Vidal.

[Pat Vegas]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

12 and rising.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

Don't watch much of Juve but in the world cup seemed like he was quite high up the pitch pulling the strings, so to speak.

[Ben.]

if you define "reject" as the club could have keep them but didn't then you could make a case for all of them.
You're right though the reasons are different, Vieira was behind Desailly and Boban in the foreign quota, Sanchez has been really harshly treated and I wouldn't apply it at all to Mesut.

[Classic Jorge]

Though he scored 18 goals last season

[Billy Goat Sverige]

that Herrera chap.

[Ben.]

It wouldn't be my choice of phrasing though.

[Classic Jorge]

It's the closest thing I've seen to a perfect duo since petit/vieira

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

He could do what Arteta does with ease as could any top level footballer with intelligence and tactical awareness. He would also bring a level of mobility that Arteta no longer has, which I suspect messers Bender etc also will bring to the party.

[Ben.]

surpised no-one is going for him tbh (unless I've missed it).

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Correct signing at the time, great signing at the time also but time to be improved on especially if we are flush.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Outrageous.

[Luis Anaconda]

to Galatasaray

[Ben.]

[Witharby 2-3 weeks]

Were played out of position and in teams whose tactics were the opposite of their talents. Neither had any time at the clubs either

[Bergkamp's Brain]

[Witharby 2-3 weeks]

[Witharby 2-3 weeks]

crap

[Luis Anaconda]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

#matchfixing

[Classic Jorge]

[Witharby 2-3 weeks]

and international football is crap.

[Witharby 2-3 weeks]

If found guilty I become qualified to own them I think