August 22, 2005

Baros to Villa for GBP6.5m.: Does this open the door for favorite son Michael Owen to return from Real Madrid? Would it be a good move for the club? (Given that we've scored only 1 goal -- via midfielder Alonso -- against 10-man teams in the last two EPL matches after using all the strikers ... yes.) Or will Norberto Solano make the reverse trip from Villa to fill the gap on Liverpool's right-wing? (Maybe.) btw, Baros was really keen to make this move in order to avoid going to Lyon and joining up with former Liverpool boss Houllier. Ha.

posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 05:48 PM - 9 comments

First, I don't think Baros is any great loss...runs with his head down and either falls over or scores...succeeding in the former the vast majority of the time. 6.5M pounds seems an awful lot for this guy and I'm surprised O'Leary went for him at that price. I would love to see Owen back at Liverpool but I think if Mikey goes back to England, it will be with Arsenal. Solano to Liverpool?...maybe...but I'm guessing Rafa has yet another Spaniard lined up for that money.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 06:15 PM on August 22, 2005

Oh no, I'm glad they were able to get the money for Baros. We've yet to find someone who's scored as reliably as Owen, as patchy as that was. Looks like Rafa is more likely to spend the money (probably GBP2m each) on two Bundesliga defenders, 27-year-old Portuguese international Fernando Meira (Stuttgart) and 19-year-old Lukas Sienkiewicz (Cologne). Achtung! Meanwhile, Owen will need to take a paycut, and Real Madrid will need to get real about the transfer price.

posted by worldcup2002 at 06:40 PM on August 22, 2005

Given the likely purchase of the two defenders and the unlikely reduction of Madrid's transfer fee for Owen (they paid GBP8m), plus Liverpool's continued need for a right-winger, I'd say Solano to Liverpool.

posted by worldcup2002 at 06:42 PM on August 22, 2005

O'Dreary is saying he won't stand in Nobby's way if he wants to go, so I'd take that as a done deal. If the funds are available Benitez would be mad if he didn't strengthen both up front and at the back. Liverpool have a really thin squad in both areas what with injuries and inexperience/incompetence.

posted by squealy at 06:53 PM on August 22, 2005

Baros will go to Aston Villa and if he gets to play every game...(he never got that at Liverpool), he will be going for the Golden Boot. Remember this post!

posted by StarFucker at 08:42 PM on August 22, 2005

Golden Boot? Up his ass, maybe. His scoring record in the Premiership is 27 goals in 108 games...1 in every four. Hardly the stuff of legends. But gee...she is kinda pretty.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 10:28 PM on August 22, 2005

BigCalm will have to learn to love her, erm, his face.

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:08 PM on August 22, 2005

I think he's not a bad buy for us. We shall just have to wait and see.

posted by BigCalm at 04:05 AM on August 23, 2005

I have a feeling he'll flourish for AV, provided he is the de facto number one option up front. The guy is strong on the ball, and remarkably determined at that. I'm with SF on this one. ...said the guy who doesn't know much.

posted by garfield at 07:17 AM on August 23, 2005

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