Do you think he'd survive against the back 4 of Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic and Neville/O'Shae/Hargreaves/whoever they stick there?

I, myself am impressed by Arshavin, very much so, in fact, but I think that regularly taking on English defenses will take a toll on him if he does join us.

I knew he had been up against these defences when I made my oringinal comments. When has he done well against one of the worlds GREATEST defences? No way can Rangers and Bayern claim to have that. He played fantasticly well against the Dutch but they cant claim to have one of the worlds greatest defences either.

That Rangers back four from last season will be remembered for years to come won't it??? Real world class!! Broadfoot - Weir - Cuellar - Papac, must stike fear into the hearts of any strike force in the world.

Arshavin has had some very impressive displays, but why are we spending so much time talking about him? We're not after him, and I honestly think that he'll be forgotten about by the end of this season, especially If he stays with Zenit. A good performace in a major tournament doesn't guarentee a successfull signing- El Hadji Diouf, Karel Poborsky and countless others that I can't be bothered to mention.

Football's all about opinions, and while some of you rate him, some of us don't - end of subject as far as I'm concerned, cos most of this thread has been back and forwards about Arshavin. Your not gonna agree on it are you??

Let's get back to Liverpool transfer talk. Do you think the delay in signing anyone else is down to the Yanks doubting we'll get through in to the group stages Champions League?

Bayern Munich have a very formidable defence. Definitely in the top ten in the world with Lahm, Sagnol, Mertesacker and Lucio. Rangers while not a defence are possibly the most defensive team in the world. Sweden again are a very organised respectable defensive team and Holland may not have the names but they held Italy to a shutout and are still a great team.

But aisde from Spain who are actually shaky in defence he has never actually played another top defensive team.

People make too much of an issue out of the Spain match. The man single handedlly orchestrated the destruction of a very good and a respectable international side. Yes he was poor against Spain but what do you expect? He's one man attempting to win a midfield battle against Senna. Xavi, Fabregas, Iniesta and Silva whilst playing alongside very run of the mill players. He can't be expected to beat the worlds top teams every single time by himself. Yet he did beat some top sides by himself and so put him in a team with other good players and see the difference.

Having said that stick with Robbie Keane and Vidic will be laughing all the way to 6 points home and away this year.

I find it laughable that from what you have just said you claim Arsharvin to be 10 times the player that Robbie Keane is. You claimed he when?!! So then you to try and justify it by saying Rangers are one of the most defensive teams around. so it was hard. Sweeden are really organised. Rubbish. In Europe, on the International stage all teams are going to be organised and when up against a team better than themselves they are going to be more defensive. It is common sense.

If he is as good as you claim he is, then he should be able to put in a performance against some of the best palyers, yet when he came up against Spain where was he? Dont say he had to do it on his own cos apparently he is able to do it on his own against the best defences around of Sweeden, Bayern and Rangers.

You then contradicted yourself by saying he hasnt actually come up against another top defensive side. Your argument is pretty poor.

And if he really is as 'wrold class' as you say he is, why does it seem that only Spurs want him?? I know Barca enquired, but soon backed off. But why aren't the premierships Big 4 fighting it out for him, Real, AC, Inter etc etc Why????? Cos he's alright, but not great!

good call!!

I def do not think it has anything to do with that. There are a few possibilities.

1) I personally think it has alot to do with the breakdown of relationships between Rafa and Rick Parry. Rick Parry has for a long time now continously failed to finalise deals. However much i despise the man Peter Kenyon is ruthless, gets the transers done and dusted. That can not be said for Rick Parry. Rick Parry clearly does not see Barry to be worth the money and has broken down the deal. Rafa is now apparently going over Rick Parrys head and heading straight through to the owners to discuss tranfer plans. How can that be good for the club?
I honestly do not understand why it would be the owners who said no to the transfers. They have said the money is there. They trust rafa (now - or so they say). They know he knows about the game 1 million times better than they do. THey obviously want to be succesful and make money. We need players to do so. Why would they deny us that? Well to be fair they have lied countless times before so.......

2) another rumour is that DIC were interested again thus the owners didnt want to splash out on barry if they were going to be up and leaving soon. I dont see this happening.

What do you reckon?

I think that the DIC thing is a real possibility. Don't know how true it is, but I'd heard that the next repayment on the loans is due in September, and if the yanks are struggling to pay it, then they may have to turn to DIC and sell up.

But the Parry thing has to be an issue. He was the one responsible for getting the Yanks in instead of DIC, and seems to be the one responsible for all the latest transfer mess. When Hicks did that interview a few months back slating Parry, he was spot on. He pointed out things like marketing that Parry has not produced the goods on. Like the advert board behind the players at Anfield for the post match interview, we have about 4 companies on there - United have about 10. As much as I hate Untited, they will cash in on any marketing opportunity going. Football clubs are no longer just a sports club, They are business's and we need to move with the times, and start exploiting the great Liverpool name to our financial benefit.

Bayern are a top defensive side. Only Chelsea, Man Utd, Inter and AC Milan are as good as them defensively. They are a top top European side and Arshavin ripped them apart and along with Spain that was his only chance to do so. He was poor against Spain but that's because he's playing with much much weaker players than he's up against. There isn't a single player in the world who have won that match against Spain playing in that Russian side. Senna a world class midfielder man marked him all match. When you are the only good player in your team it's extremely difficult to do a lot because you will be marked out of the game. Just look at how much weaker Torres was for Athletico than for Liverpool yet look what became of him instantly on playing with better players. You can't tell me Torres actually got that much better between the end of his Madrid career and the start of his Liverpool yet instantly he was better because he wasn't being sandwiched every match because Liverpool have other threats to occupy as well as Torres and because the movement of others and his service is better.

The same is true for Arshavin. If he is that good playing with those players then he is going to be brilliant when he's slotting balls in for a man with Torres's runs as opposed to Pavluchenko.

Ronaldinho is another great example. He was good at PSG but not great yet when you put him alongside quality players at Barcelona he became godlike overnight.



Incorrect. It is because he is that good playing at a team like that. There are very few players of Arshavin's class who will sign for Spurs but conversely there are quite a few who will sign for Barcelona because unlike Spurs they have the pick of the worlds players. His age is also another big factor, not that affects his quality but I can see why they wouldn't to pay £20m for someone who is that age and isn't that well proven against top opposition. Spurs on the other hand get few chances to sign players of his ability (Berbatov is the only one in the same class as him in their side) and so are much more willing to risk it. When you consider that Real paid £10m for VDV you can see why they wouldn't pay twice that for Arshavin because he's older.

Almost all the big clubs did want him though, they just know they can get better value elsewhere. It wasn't his skill but his price that put them off.

Can't we just re-name this thread - "The Arshavin debate"

Let's change the subject, this is boring me now. Its got sod all to do with Liverpool so why are we even discussing it.

I think we are losing sight of our discussion. I have never once said that he is not a talented player. I am not ignorant. From what I have seen he is very impressive and has tremendous ability. However, what I picked you up on was the fact you said he is ten times the player Robbie Keane is and can rip world class defences apart. How do you know he can rip world class defences apart when he has not even come up against any. You mention Bayern's world class defence and that only Chelsea, Manchester United, Inter and AC Milan better defencively? This is just your opinion. I imagine many would disagree. But even if that was the case, that is 1 example! 1 time has he performed against a 'world class' defence. Emile Heskey has played well against some fantastic defences yet I am not going to say he can rip world class defences apart.
I guarantee you had not even heard of him before last season, yet a 27 year old that no one heard of a year ago is ten times the player of a proven premiership player is he? Fair enough. Your logic seems strange to me.

That is once out of two shots which is a good ratio for me. If he were to destroy every second defence he played I'd be pretty damn happy. And if we're talking EPL standards he destroyed four of the last five he's played (Sweden, Rangers, Bayern, Holland).

I have heard of him for at least three seasons because he's been awesome on FM for at least that long.

Enough of this Arshavin rubbish - please!!! We've all only seen him a handful of times, cos you keep referring to the same few matches. Your not gonna agree so drop it and get back to talking Liverpool - please!!!

fair enough. I will try and leave it there. I dont really understand what you mean by once out of two shots but anyways. I still disagree and I dont know how you can say he is 10 times the player Robbie Keane is but each to their own. He must be one of the best players in the world then, even though he has not played in the Champions League or in one of the Worlds best leagues. We are not going to change each others minds.

Benraul I totally agree with all of you comments above re Arshavin. You've saved me the hassle of having to pick them posts apart mate.

Arshavin unproven full stop.

Well actually, Cuellar was in Eursport's European team of the season, along side Ferdinand i believe. That's nothing to stick your nose up at!

Also, Bayern have a world class defence. One of the finest around.

As rdownes9 keeps on saying lets leave the Arsharvin bumming alone. We are not interested in him. If we were we are not going to get him. Its over!

Lets concentrate on things Liverpool related, however depressing those things might be.

So, Riera and Downing we're being linked with now.


Happy days...


They're like consolation prizes for Silva or Ashley Young.

Better than no one though.

Tbh i wouldnt want riera - what a waste of money in my opinion... but downing if i remember right was wanted by sir alex a couple of years ago and if fergie is/was interested then i dont see why we shouldnt. He is english, has decent pace, good left foot, can cross,shoot, dribble ball and takes a decent free kick or 2 and he is still young as well. Also he has done well for a rather average boro side - so imagine what benitez could do with him!!

But whenever put on the big stage for England, has looked like a lost sheep.

Remember, Fergie once signed Djemba-Djemba and Kleberson...