This week saw one major transfer in the British market - Robbie Keane (pictured below), prolific Irish striker and captain of Tottenham, was transferred to Liverpool for 20 Million Pounds (Sorry, BT). Yes, that's about $40 Million to us Yanks - and that was just for the transfer. Robbie likely gets a very small percentage of that, if anything, but he'll be OK. I think he's getting about $160,000 a week to play for them for the next 4 years, so he won't go hungry.
I think few people anticipated this transfer at the beginning of the summer, as Keane was a fixture at White Hart Lane, all the talk was about Dimitar Berbatov, Keane's world-class strike partner going to Manchester United or to one of Europe's big teams, and Liverpool apparently didn't have any money and really wanted Gareth Barry or a world class winger. However, never count out the impact of a player's desire to play for the club he supported as a boy. This transfer is Keane's dream come true and I don't doubt that the thought of him partnering up front for Liverpool with Fernando Torres - last season's top scorer among strikers in the EPL and the scorer of the winning goal for Spain in the UEFA 2008 tournament this summer - causes many fans to salivate. The minute I heard about this transfer, I had to put Keane on my fantasy team, as he is relatively affordable, is extremely intelligent, and I am willing to bet will be a top 5 striker this season due to the goals and assists that his partnership will create with Torres.
This is easily the best move that Rafa Benitez could have made for Liverpool in his charge for the premiership. Torres was a world class pickup last summer, but Kuyt, Crouch and Voronin were no good and didn't give Torres the service he needed (although he still scored 20+ goals). Keane is an equally intelligent player and sees passing routes and places himself very well on the pitch, as does Torres. I picture the Keane - Torres - Gerrard triumvirate to be one of the most effective in the EPL this year. As it compares to striker/midfield combos from the other top EPL teams, Liverpool has the only group that is healthy and has proven EPL class. I can't wait to see what happens.
I think few people anticipated this transfer at the beginning of the summer, as Keane was a fixture at White Hart Lane, all the talk was about Dimitar Berbatov, Keane's world-class strike partner going to Manchester United or to one of Europe's big teams, and Liverpool apparently didn't have any money and really wanted Gareth Barry or a world class winger. However, never count out the impact of a player's desire to play for the club he supported as a boy. This transfer is Keane's dream come true and I don't doubt that the thought of him partnering up front for Liverpool with Fernando Torres - last season's top scorer among strikers in the EPL and the scorer of the winning goal for Spain in the UEFA 2008 tournament this summer - causes many fans to salivate. The minute I heard about this transfer, I had to put Keane on my fantasy team, as he is relatively affordable, is extremely intelligent, and I am willing to bet will be a top 5 striker this season due to the goals and assists that his partnership will create with Torres.
This is easily the best move that Rafa Benitez could have made for Liverpool in his charge for the premiership. Torres was a world class pickup last summer, but Kuyt, Crouch and Voronin were no good and didn't give Torres the service he needed (although he still scored 20+ goals). Keane is an equally intelligent player and sees passing routes and places himself very well on the pitch, as does Torres. I picture the Keane - Torres - Gerrard triumvirate to be one of the most effective in the EPL this year. As it compares to striker/midfield combos from the other top EPL teams, Liverpool has the only group that is healthy and has proven EPL class. I can't wait to see what happens.
4 comments:
Nice blog Forever Fourth Place. Do you think the Spanish waiter will adopt a more attacking 4-4-2 or some variant? They never really did that last year, but I hardly blame them with likes of Voronin, Crouch, and the Golden Retriever, Kuyt (just happy to be on a patch of grass chasing the ball around). This is a great move by Pool, whom I happen to loathe, and with another signing or so they could make some noise in the league something they haven't done since before the Berlin Wall came down. My only question is will Benetiz rest his new signing like he did Torres, or will he actually compete for the title?
P.S. How about a Premier League predictions post?
Correction: Liverpool hasn't won the title since German reunification. I apologize, didn't mean to offend your historical sensibilities.
Parks, i like where your head is at. Premierleague predictions coming right up.
I think it's time you started a blog as well.
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