Benitez - Villa is "on our list"

kietotheworld · 9th July 2008, 00:25

Liverpool target Spain star Villa

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admits David Villa is on his list of potential striker recruits after Peter Crouch's impending departure to Portsmouth.

Villa, 26, was one of the stars of Euro 2008, scoring four times as Spain won their first major trophy in 44 years.

"We have Torres, Voronin, Kuyt, Babel and Steven Gerrard, who can play as a second striker," Benitez said. "But we will try to bring in another option.

"Villa we know all about. He is on our list. But maybe it will be difficult."

Fernando Torres scored 33 goals in a spectacular first season at Anfield, but the other strikers only managed a combined total of 17 goals to undermine any hopes of launching a sustained Premier League title challenge.

Villa scored 18 league goals for Valencia last season and was the top scorer at Euro 2008, notably scoring a hat-trick against Russia in a Group D match.

And he also proved he could form an effective partnership with Torres, despite pre- tournament concerns that Spanish coach Luis Aragones would be forced to leave one out in order to select a balanced team.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ol/7496686.stm
_______________________

If they sign him I'll begin to take them seriously.

uae · 9th July 2008, 00:27

no chance

Mad · 9th July 2008, 00:27

Oh! Well it's their year then.

KeyserSoze · 9th July 2008, 00:29

If he can play centre back, left back and left wing at the same time, I will be worried.

FlawlessThaw · 9th July 2008, 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeyserSoze

If he can play centre back, left back and left wing at the same time, I will be worried.

Well if they can keep Agger fit and I know that's a big if then that's the centre back area sorted, plus Carragher and Skrtel aren't that bad. They just signed a left back for £9 million in Dossena and so they shouldn't need a new player there. Play Babel down the left on a consistent basis and it's not that bad of a team, still lacks something though.

And that could be Villa, if I was Benitez I would put all my effort into signing him. Screw Barry, it's not like he is that much better than Lucas.

Brwned · 9th July 2008, 00:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlawlessThaw

Well if they can keep Agger fit and I know that's a big if then that's the centre back area sorted, plus Carragher and Skrtel aren't that bad. They just signed a left back for £9 million in Dossena and so they shouldn't need a new player there. Play Babel down the left on a consistent basis and it's not that bad of a team, still lacks something though.

And that could be Villa, if I was Benitez I would put all my effort into signing him. Screw Barry, it's not like he is that much better than Lucas.

They still miss a right back and a right mid then, and Babel isn't cut out to play on a consistent basis so they need another left winger too.

KeyserSoze · 9th July 2008, 00:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlawlessThaw

Well if they can keep Agger fit and I know that's a big if then that's the centre back area sorted, plus Carragher and Skrtel aren't that bad. They just signed a left back for £9 million in Dossena and so they shouldn't need a new player there. Play Babel down the left on a consistent basis and it's not that bad of a team, still lacks something though.

And that could be Villa, if I was Benitez I would put all my effort into signing him. Screw Barry, it's not like he is that much better than Lucas.

Dont get me wrong im not saying they are terrible, im talking about it finally being their year. They just do not have the quality in those positions that us and Chelsea do. Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic and Cole, Carvalho, BIGMAN are a considerable improvement. In fact Bridge and Brown could improve them for me.

Even with their clean sheet stats.

FlawlessThaw · 9th July 2008, 00:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brwned

They still miss a right back and a right mid then, and Babel isn't cut out to play on a consistent basis so they need another left winger too.

Well they've got Arbeloa who actually isn't that bad and just signed Degen. If I was Benitez I would quit faffing about with Gerrard and just play him in right mid, he's shown he hasn't got the awareness at times to play in the middle of a two man midfield. Liverpool have to take a gamble on Babel I reckon

FlawlessThaw · 9th July 2008, 00:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeyserSoze

Dont get me wrong im not saying they are terrible, im talking about it finally being their year. They just do not have the quality in those positions that us and Chelsea do. Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic and Cole, Carvalho, BIGMAN are a considerable improvement. In fact Bridge and Brown could improve them for me.

You're right, even if they signed Villa I think only the Liverpool supporting media would back them to win the league. They would still have too many deficiencies compared to the Big Two.

I just feel at the moment, Liverpool aren't even a threat. If they signed Villa, I would be a tad more worried.

e.cantona · 9th July 2008, 00:54

Dont think he'd be a big hit in England

Brwned · 9th July 2008, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlawlessThaw

Well they've got Arbeloa who actually isn't that bad and just signed Degen. If I was Benitez I would quit faffing about with Gerrard and just play him in right mid, he's shown he hasn't got the awareness at times to play in the middle of a two man midfield. Liverpool have to take a gamble on Babel I reckon

Degen is a fairly awful player, but he can run all day long. Still, he's a shite defender so he won't get many games I think. And if Arbeloa was good enough Carragher wouldn't have been playing right back and Hyypia wouldn't have been playing at all, he's fairly mistake prone.

Gerrard's done great in his current role so I wouldn't want to drop him from there. He can do the job well at right mid but I'm sure he hates it by now after having so much freedom in his current position.

They will end up taking the gamble, but I'm just saying there are still plenty of weaknesses in their team which won't be fixed this summer.

Brwned · 9th July 2008, 00:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by e.cantona

Dont think he'd be a big hit in England

Why?

FlawlessThaw · 9th July 2008, 01:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brwned

Degen is a fairly awful player, but he can run all day long. Still, he's a shite defender so he won't get many games I think. And if Arbeloa was good enough Carragher wouldn't have been playing right back and Hyypia wouldn't have been playing at all, he's fairly mistake prone.

Gerrard's done great in his current role so I wouldn't want to drop him from there. He can do the job well at right mid but I'm sure he hates it by now after having so much freedom in his current position.

They will end up taking the gamble, but I'm just saying there are still plenty of weaknesses in their team which won't be fixed this summer.

I always thought Arbeloa did well against us and did quite a good job at handling Ronaldo and Giggs even when Mascherano got sent off. Not sure why he was dropped in favour of Carragher and Hyypia but Benitez's tactics always bemuse me.

Gerrard can't stop going on about not playing in central midfield, where he frankly can go missing. He can have the same kind of freedom a couple of years ago where he did perform outstandingly.

Brwned · 9th July 2008, 01:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlawlessThaw

I always thought Arbeloa did well against us and did quite a good job at handling Ronaldo and Giggs even when Mascherano got sent off. Not sure why he was dropped in favour of Carragher and Hyypia but Benitez's tactics always bemuse me.

Gerrard can't stop going on about not playing in central midfield, where he frankly can go missing. He can have the same kind of freedom a couple of years ago where he did perform outstandingly.

He's a good defender but seems to get himself in bad positions.

He just isn't intelligent enough to play there, he doesn't no when to sit and when to pick and choose his runs and plays all at one pace. When he played 'outstandingly in right mid two years ago' the stats came up that he actually played less than half of his games there, while playing at left mid and centre mid a lot. He's definitely better on the right than right in the middle though, much better.

Tony7 · 9th July 2008, 01:08

I'll be a bit miffed if they get villa I still think we should have out bid em for Torres we need a striker Villa is the best even remotely available by a country mile i'm sure we have more financial muscle than the scousers when they are still struggling to pay off what they spent last year. I know Villa & Torres play well together for Spain but I would have thought Liverpool would be looking at finding a more creative striker to partner Torres to give them more options up front in the same way as we need a finisher to play with Rooney or Tevez.

Brwned · 9th July 2008, 01:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony7

I'll be a bit miffed if they get villa I still think we should have out bid em for Torres we need a striker Villa is the best even remotely available by a country mile i'm sure we have more financial muscle than the scousers when they are still struggling to pay off what they spent last year. I know Villa & Torres play well together for Spain but I would have thought Liverpool would be looking at finding a more creative striker to partner Torres to give them more options up front in the same way as we need a finisher to play with Rooney or Tevez.

Eto'o?

Actually, up until the Euro's they really couldn't click. And even then it was just Spain using Torres as a battering ram and Villa picking up the pieces, that wouldn't be the case at Liverpool.

FlawlessThaw · 9th July 2008, 01:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brwned

He's a good defender but seems to get himself in bad positions.

He just isn't intelligent enough to play there, he doesn't no when to sit and when to pick and choose his runs and plays all at one pace. When he played 'outstandingly in right mid two years ago' the stats came up that he actually played less than half of his games there, while playing at left mid and centre mid a lot. He's definitely better on the right than right in the middle though, much better.

Well thinking for the team I would argue that Villa-Torres would be better for Liverpool than Torres-Gerrard. Then Gerrard could go back to his outstanding form on the wide flank where he play about half a season there.

Brwned · 9th July 2008, 01:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlawlessThaw

Well thinking for the team I would argue that Villa-Torres would be better for Liverpool than Torres-Gerrard. Then Gerrard could go back to his outstanding form on the wide flank where he play about half a season there.

Well we might get to find out next season, I doubt it though since he has already said he wants to stay in Spain. Would be good to see though, at least they would have some element of entertainment in their team.

RedKaos · 9th July 2008, 01:19

hmm remember morientes?

Brwned · 9th July 2008, 01:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedKaos

hmm remember morientes?

Who?

Sarni · 9th July 2008, 01:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brwned

Eto'o?

Actually, up until the Euro's they really couldn't click. And even then it was just Spain using Torres as a battering ram and Villa picking up the pieces, that wouldn't be the case at Liverpool.

They couldn't click? I swear I saw both of them playing very well at the last World Cup. Villa scored 4 in the competition while Torres got 3 as far as I remembers.

Dumpstar · 9th July 2008, 01:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedKaos

hmm remember morientes?

He's right, Spanish strikers are sh*t in the prem.

RedLiam · 9th July 2008, 04:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benitez

"Villa we know all about. He is on our list. But maybe it will be difficult."

Yes, at least £32m too difficult.

WAZZA-UP · 9th July 2008, 08:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dumpstar

He's right, Spanish strikers are sh*t in the prem.

Torres!!!

Can't see why Villa wouldn't work in the prem. Also can't see why he wouldn't work at Liverpool, think he's a quality player who has recently proved his abilities more than people alredy knew about.

If he came to the PL would be more than happy to see him at OT

redman5 · 9th July 2008, 08:33

I personally think Torres operates best as a lone striker. As good a player as Villa is, I'm not convinced they'd be an effective partnership for us.

I'd like to see Robbie Keane up front with Torres. He can play that little bit deeper, & has a good eye for the clever little through ball that can unlock defences.

Red-Indian · 9th July 2008, 08:36

Doubt if they can make a working combination out of Mascherano, Gerrard, Barry, Torres and Villa. They'll have no width whatsoever - especially if they play either Kuyt or Babel alongside and will be easily contained.

I don't think we should be particularly worried if this unlikly transfer materialises.

As somebody said, they have too many other weaknesses in their team for one world-class player to make the difference in winning the league.

Marcus · 9th July 2008, 08:53

Isn't this "tapping up"?

Drifter · 9th July 2008, 09:25

They'll be linked with Huntelaar next.

Moston Red · 9th July 2008, 09:34

Wanting a player and getting him are 2 totally different things...besides he's already said he wants to stay in spain.

9th July 2008, 00:25	#1 (permalink)
kietotheworld Reserve Team Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Airstrip One..... Useful Posts: 4 Posts: 4,012	Benitez - Villa is "on our list" Liverpool target Spain star Villa Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admits David Villa is on his list of potential striker recruits after Peter Crouch's impending departure to Portsmouth. Villa, 26, was one of the stars of Euro 2008, scoring four times as Spain won their first major trophy in 44 years. "We have Torres, Voronin, Kuyt, Babel and Steven Gerrard, who can play as a second striker," Benitez said. "But we will try to bring in another option. "Villa we know all about. He is on our list. But maybe it will be difficult." Fernando Torres scored 33 goals in a spectacular first season at Anfield, but the other strikers only managed a combined total of 17 goals to undermine any hopes of launching a sustained Premier League title challenge. Villa scored 18 league goals for Valencia last season and was the top scorer at Euro 2008, notably scoring a hat-trick against Russia in a Group D match. And he also proved he could form an effective partnership with Torres, despite pre- tournament concerns that Spanish coach Luis Aragones would be forced to leave one out in order to select a balanced team. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ol/7496686.stm _______________________ If they sign him I'll begin to take them seriously.

9th July 2008, 00:27	#2 (permalink)
uae Desperately wants a tagline under his name Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Back in Dubai Posts: 4,782	no chance

9th July 2008, 00:27	#3 (permalink)
Mad Reserve Team Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Location, Location. Posts: 1,006	Oh! Well it's their year then.

9th July 2008, 00:29	#4 (permalink)
KeyserSoze First Team Sub Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Batigol Posts: 7,224	If he can play centre back, left back and left wing at the same time, I will be worried.

9th July 2008, 00:54	#10 (permalink)
e.cantona Reserve Team Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,043	Dont think he'd be a big hit in England

9th July 2008, 01:08	#15 (permalink)
Tony7 Reserve Team Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Rotherham Posts: 614	I'll be a bit miffed if they get villa I still think we should have out bid em for Torres we need a striker Villa is the best even remotely available by a country mile i'm sure we have more financial muscle than the scousers when they are still struggling to pay off what they spent last year. I know Villa & Torres play well together for Spain but I would have thought Liverpool would be looking at finding a more creative striker to partner Torres to give them more options up front in the same way as we need a finisher to play with Rooney or Tevez.

9th July 2008, 01:19	#19 (permalink)
RedKaos Reserve Team Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chad Warden Posts: 4,360	hmm remember morientes?

9th July 2008, 08:33	#25 (permalink)
redman5 - 18 years without a title and shit at maths. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Living next door to Alice Posts: 1,205	I personally think Torres operates best as a lone striker. As good a player as Villa is, I'm not convinced they'd be an effective partnership for us. I'd like to see Robbie Keane up front with Torres. He can play that little bit deeper, & has a good eye for the clever little through ball that can unlock defences.

9th July 2008, 08:36	#26 (permalink)
Red-Indian Reserve Team Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Supposedly working in office Posts: 1,143	Doubt if they can make a working combination out of Mascherano, Gerrard, Barry, Torres and Villa. They'll have no width whatsoever - especially if they play either Kuyt or Babel alongside and will be easily contained. I don't think we should be particularly worried if this unlikly transfer materialises. As somebody said, they have too many other weaknesses in their team for one world-class player to make the difference in winning the league.

9th July 2008, 08:53	#27 (permalink)
Marcus Couldn't buy a clue Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Dream Team: Ole - reserve coach, Cantona - Asst Manager, Schmikes - Goalie coach Posts: 2,428	Isn't this "tapping up"?

9th July 2008, 09:25	#28 (permalink)
Drifter First Team Regular Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 17,356	They'll be linked with Huntelaar next.

9th July 2008, 09:34	#29 (permalink)
Moston Red Formerly Giggs1973 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,418	Wanting a player and getting him are 2 totally different things...besides he's already said he wants to stay in spain.

9th July 2008, 09:59	#30 (permalink)
Feed Me bobbobray - hits women. Big man Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Berbatov has Cantona’s knack of being the man amid a stampede towards the door who stops to notice a side exit that nobody el