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[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by Stichman

No weaknesses? Come on.

Having composure and not losing possesion doesn't mean you have ability on the ball. Sure, when he gets possesion he can pass it short quite effectively, but I don't think he has any particular skill on the ball.

And no, he isn't a terrier of midfield, you're right. Which I think is a weakness. Reading the game is hugely useful up to a point, but there are times when you've got to roll your sleeves up and fight for the ball - that's not something he's particularly effective at.

Don't get me wrong, he does what he does well. But he's far from the complete player.

Not being a super star on the ball is not a weakness. The fact that he is composed and picks out simple and efficient passes is all he needs to do! He's not technically gifted, but his technical ability is not in doubt. It's definitely not a weakness. If he was a forward, winger, or offensive midfielder then yes, it would be a weakness. But he's not; so it's not. You don't sign for Manchester United if you're not technically adept.

I'll argue with you on the terrier front too - Hargreaves never EVER shirks a tackle, yet he's not what you would describe as tenacious. Again, I'll compare with Makalele; he wasn't a terrier but he knew where and when to be to break up play. Hargreaves is similar.

And for the record, I never said Hargreaves was a complete player - I merely stated he has no real flaws. I'd like to point out that distinction. He has his strengths, sure, but every single 'basic' skill or attribute that a professional footballer requires, he possesses: he can kick a ball cleanly, he has a decent touch and control, he can win the ball in the air, he can pass, he has good stamina, he's not slow, he has a footballing brain, he works for the team, he can tackle. To me, that spells pretty much flawless.

[stuartmaxwell]

top of the table clash at links park this weekend. east fife come to town. although we have won 3 on the trot without conceding including arbroath & stranrear this will be a tough match.

if anyone ever wanted to see a good division 3 match, this is it! (or our 5 - 0 over arbroath a few weeks ago )

[Bigsby]

Originally Posted by idol_wild

Not really, given that the Henry transfer and the Bent transfer happened within weeks of eachother. So we're speaking about the same transfer climate. .

Maybe the same climate, but completely different situations. One is undoubtedly a world class player, but also one who is coming to the end of his career and whose best form is behind him, as subsequent events have shown.

No way would I try to defend the Bent purchase, but it was a completely different situation, young player, coming into his best years, decent goalscoring record with crappier team etc. In terms of comparisons I would say perhaps Yakubu to Everton was a fairer one in terms of where their careers were. With Henry you could make a comparison with Schevcenko.

[delboy]

Originally Posted by Bigsby

Maybe the same climate, but completely different situations. One is undoubtedly a world class player, but also one who is coming to the end of his career and whose best form is behind him, as subsequent events have shown.

No way would I try to defend the Bent purchase, but it was a completely different situation, young player, coming into his best years, decent goalscoring record with crappier team etc. In terms of comparisons I would say perhaps Yakubu to Everton was a fairer one in terms of where their careers were. With Henry you could make a comparison with Schevcenko.

the whole transfer thing has gone way out of control. but the clubs themselves are just being ridiculous especially the rich ones. why sign huge money for strikers approaching their 30th birthdays??? (e.g. shevchenko and henry). bent at 16 million beggers belief as does 8 million for hutton. clubs could learn a lot from the shrewd dealings of arsne wenger, i'm sure there must have been a couple but i can't think of an overpriced signing whose flopped in wengers nearly 12 years in charge

[Bigsby]

Originally Posted by delboy

clubs could learn a lot from the shrewd dealings of arsne wenger, i'm sure there must have been a couple but i can't think of an overpriced signing whose flopped in wengers nearly 12 years in charge

I'll do it for you, "Franny" Jeffers.

[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by Bigsby

Maybe the same climate, but completely different situations. One is undoubtedly a world class player, but also one who is coming to the end of his career and whose best form is behind him, as subsequent events have shown.

No way would I try to defend the Bent purchase, but it was a completely different situation, young player, coming into his best years, decent goalscoring record with crappier team etc. In terms of comparisons I would say perhaps Yakubu to Everton was a fairer one in terms of where their careers were. With Henry you could make a comparison with Schevcenko.

I still think Henry would have been class for three more years in the EPL. It was never a good move for him to go to Barca in my eyes. But to pay £16.5m for Bent is insane. I had him down as maybe a £6m striker. At most. He's seriously fucking limited.

I still feel comparing the prices of Henry and Bent is a fine example to indicate how wasteful Spurs were with the signing of Bent.

I take your point regarding Yakubu though. He's a funny player. He looks utterly useless, then two minutes later he'll pull something out of the bag. Similar level to Bent, though distinctly more mercurial! Yakubu will always score goals; Bent will not.

[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by Bigsby

I'll do it for you, "Franny" Jeffers.

Good call. I'm also tempted to say John Hartson, but he could have been there before Wenger...

[Lucky Rathen]

The same could be said for Fergie though, can you name the last player to flop at Man U? Fergie has an eye for young talent and manages to get the best out of his players. He signs youngsters who are showing promise and moulds them into world class players, look at what he's done for Ronaldo, Rooney, Anderson, Ben Foster, Nani et al, and they're still managing to bring through their own youngsters which isn't easy in this day and age. Of the current squad, Neville, Brown, Scholes, Fletcher, O'Shea, Bardsley and Evans have all come through the academy, and although I can't justify this claim but I would suggest that that's probably more than the rest of the "Big 4" have in their squad. Plus 7 Englishmen in the starting XI, puts the rest of the big 4 to shame, and most of the rest of the Premiership probably, and it'll probably go up to 8 once Foster is fit again.

BTW I'm not a Man United fan, but I think Fergie is a legend

[Lucky Rathen]

Originally Posted by calum

I think that's true of a lot of Old Firm players. They'd rather stay and be idolised and overrated in Scotland than go to England and get found out for the shite they are. .

*ahem barry ferguson ahem*

Though at least he tried, and got found out.

[Lucky Rathen]

Originally Posted by Murrr

If you're talking over-rated fullbacks here, you might as well throw in the Grand Daddy of them all: John Arne Riise.

At least he can take a good free kick!