With the imminent departure of Gerrard, the likely departure of Johnson, and the loss of experienced players like Carragher, Suarez and Agger, most of us agree we are in need of a new leader in our team, someone who has seen it all, been there and done it.
Sadly, with the money we spend last summer, and the players who could fill the gap, the choice is imo very limited.
So, how do you guys feel about putting in a bid for Wesley Sneijder? The guy is 30 years, should have a few good years left, and proved last world cup to be the fittest player in the Dutch squad. Played in a new role at the world cup, more as a serving player, and did most of the dirty work in midfield. But still managed to score a great goal, had some assists, and was very important for the Dutch squad.
Galatasaray are in financial problems, players hadn't been paid for months, and they apparently want to cash in on Sneijder and get him of the payroll.
Rumour in Holland is that Juve, Inter, and Southampton are seriously interested. A fee of 10 mill. could get him, and for me that is a bargain for a player of that quality.
Your thoughts?
experience
posted on 5/1/15
He's off to Juve, sadly, for a lot less than 10m
posted on 5/1/15
Didn't he sign for utd years ago, there was some poster confirmed it!
posted on 5/1/15
lol
posted on 5/1/15
He's supposedly on a minimum £200k a week !
Too much, sorry.
posted on 5/1/15
Schneider.
No thanks.
posted on 5/1/15
Sir Robert, why?
See the link below, this was only a couple of months ago, in the derby against Kuyt, arguably the biggest derby in Turkey. Tell me we couldn't use someone who can score goals like that out of nowhere from midfield...a bit like Gerrard used to do....
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/football/video-1128690/Wesley-Sneijder-scores-two-stunning-goals-Galatasaray-derby.html
posted on 5/1/15
Sneijder is still a world class player (on his day), but he doesn't fit our high energy style at all, that and his mega wage make him a ridiculous proposition to be honest.
Experience is important in a squad but can also be overrated.
Balotelli, Lambert and Lovren all have plenty of experience, but have arguably been the worst of our summer signings in terms of impact on the pitch. Konchesky and Poulsen weren't 'bad' signings when you looked at their experience, caps etc, but what they did on the pitch made that experience pointless.
If we sign older players they need to be the right ones.
Sneijder is a good one in terms of quality, but not other factors and I can't imagine he would be particularly successful with us.
We need more of a Litmanen, McAllister type but getting it right isn't easy.
posted on 5/1/15
Righteous, like I said, Sneijder was arguably the fittest player in the Dutch team in Brasil, and consistently was in the top of most miles run. Of course he could fit our high energy style. Moreover, as a product of the Ajax youth academy, he also grew up playing the kind of football Brendan would like to play best.
Yes, I agree, if he wants a wage of 150k a week, no chance.....but I don't see how Juve and Inter could pay that sort of wages, with the financial problems Italian clubs have been having. They even admitted they couldn't compete with fee's and wages paid in the Premier League anymore.
So, would you like him if he agreed lets say 100k a week?
posted on 5/1/15
Possibly.
Being able to run a lot is not the only pre-requisite of our style though, and Sneijder has often performed better for his country than his clubs.
I think he can be a bit if a luxury player, and I am not sure we need one of those.
It's not about his ability which is outstanding. Doesn't mean he is the right fit for us though.
posted on 5/1/15
The only club Sneijder has ever "failed", was Real Madrid. And you cannot call that a fail really, as he and Robben had to go, when the new Real president bought new players when elected, and room had to be made in the squad.
So, Sneijder was sold to Inter, Robben to Bayern....and the season after they were sold, Real was sh%te, and Inter played Bayern in the CL final. That season, Sneijder won the treble with Inter, and lost the WC final with Holland to Spain, and for many was the best midfield player that season.
Sneijder can pass the ball over 60 yards, or put someone in front of goal with a clever little ball through. He sure knows how to score. He can shoot with his left and right foot. You can always give him the ball when he's got a man in his back, seldom looses a ball.
For me, Sneijder is the kind of player I come to the football stadium for. You can always expect something brilliant from him, he's got that gift like Gerrard has to decide a game out of the blue.
And finally, I think signing a player like Sneijder will help Liverpool attract one or two other quality players, that we desperately need to get back in the top 4 again.