Villa ready to offer £20m for Carson and Crouch
By Jason Burt
A £10m deal is thought to be already in place for Carson to turn his season-long loan spell at Villa Park into a permanent move while the club's manager Martin O'Neill has told Liverpool he intends to bid for Crouch. He would also cost upwards of £10m. (Upwards of £10 million. £15 million more like it! After all he is English!)
With Daniel Agger injured, although soon to return to fitness, and Sami Hyypia an unconvincing replacement, Benitez desperately needs to shore up his defence for the rest of the campaign having been prevented, by an arbitration panel, from signing Gabriel Heinze (6 goals conceeded in PL, unbeaten in the league. Hypia has been a fine replacement. And why would Benitiz nee d to desperately shore up his defence if Hypia is the problem, Agger is returning, and the solution lies in a youth player who has played 38 games for Racing since 2005. Bollox!)
Garay, a 21-year-old and, like Heinze, Argentinian, is also likely to cost around £10m with Benitez expected to seek a buyer for John Arne Riise as he attempts to balance the books further and keep the club's American owners happy. Riise has just 18 months left on his contract and is unlikely to be offered a new deal.
It means that Liverpool could be one of the busiest clubs when the transfer window opens. It's also a clear sign that Benitez got his calculations wrong during the summer while selling two English players and buying another foreigner will only add more fuel to the growing debate over quotas – especially as the Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, has already expressed his concern. (What the fuck is that statement about! Seriously! Rafa got his calculations wrong. Like Parry, Gillet and Hicks didnt sanction and broker the deals. Fucking moron!)
The departure of Carson is wholly expected, given that the 22-year-old has spent virtually all of his Liverpool career on loan, including last season at Charlton Athletic, since he joined from Leeds United for £750,000 in 2005. The sale represents a tidy profit for Liverpool even if some will be disappointed Benitez never gave any indication that the highly regarded goalkeeper would be allowed to challenge Pepe Reina as the club's No 1. (Some...adequate numbers quoted there. Some...3 people is some. I dare anyone to contend that having Carson who is good, challenge Reina who is phenomenal in a time when Rafa was getting slated for rotating, and putting unnessecary rotation on the goalkeeper would have been a good idea. Seriously step up!)
No price has yet been discussed for Crouch (apart for the £10 this idiot pundit quoted above £20 mill minus £10 mill for carson leaving, wholly fuck , £10 million. If no price has been discussed then how can this guy claim that Villa will buy Crouch and Carson for £20 mill) although Villa will probably have to break their transfer record which was set only last January when they bought Ashley Young – who also made his England debut against the Austrians – from Watford for £9.65m.
Crouch has prospered since Liverpool beat West Ham to his signature two years ago with a £7m move from Southampton, winning 23 caps for England and scoring 12 goals for his country, (Purchased for £7 mill, become Liverpool's top goal scorer, and England international and this wanker adds £3 million to the value. Hasnt he heard of inflation!)
There has been some talk of friction within the Liverpool camp, and claims that Crouch has an attitude problem, but these are wide of the mark. (So why mention it?)
Benitez himself has rejected such suggestions and, even though he has used Crouch, who remains extremely popular with Liverpool fans, sparingly he said recently: "He's a nice boy, a good professional, a good players. It is clear that this team now, with four strikers, creates more competition for places, but I don't have any problems because Crouch is a good player."
It seems certain that his departure is driven mainly by economic reasons, given Liverpool's high spending under Benitez (I think there has been plenty discussion on this forum highlighting that Rafa has adequately balanced any spending. Why the fuck did we bring in Rich Americans if it wasnt to spend their money? For the benefit of their cultual experience?) , who will now use Babel more in his preferred position as a central striker rather than seek a replacement for Crouch. (What indication has there been that Rafa is going to use Babel as a striker to replace Crouch! Just because Babel keeps shooting from stupid positions rather than pass because HE thinks he is a striker doesnt mean he's gonna be one. What can Babel offer that Torres can't up front. Nothing. But Crouch can offer a different option, particularly when Liverpool need to play the long ball to break down teams)
Carson will go. That much is planned
Riise might go, but probably not until the summer.
Babel is a poor option up front, particularly for Crouch.
Hypia has been a great stand in. And a kid as his replacement with 38 games in 3 years under his belt as replacement. Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With Agger coming back. Hobbs in reserve. Bollox to the reporters reasoning.
Crouch might go, but it will be because he wants to leave, not Rafa selling him for economic reasons. And it wont be for a mere £10 mill. £15- £20 mill
I think I have ranted enough here. Apologies for the occasional swearing but the reporter of this article is a complete clampit!
