Just announced. Bit of a shock
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Just announced. Bit of a shock
Very badly treated by Benitez in my view. Good for us that he will not be getting games and playing at a good level. Fair play to him.
I'm always glad to see an Irish player move outside the UK.
Best of luck to him.
Slower pace should suit him now that he is getting on a bit. Good move also because he will be more used to the style of play that the national team have to face regularly.
Great move for Finnan and Ireland. Shocking move for Liverpool who are now condemned to play Arbeloa or Degen. Of course Benitez may choose to play Robbie at right back.
Pretty much what everyone has already said, great move for Finnan, he'll only benefit from playing in the Primera Liga. Are Espanyol playing in Europe this season?
Think they're in the UEFA, had a good season last year.....Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Nope, not in Europe, finished 12th according to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espanyol#Recent_historyQuote:
Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er
Still, that's a really good record in recent seasons
He was pretty much a regular under Benitez but he's 32 now. They obviously don't see him as a long term solution. Still think he's better than Arbeloa though.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
He was out of the team for most of last season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maroon 7
liverpools loss - disgracefully treated by benitez
great for finnan and for ireland
Well he was a regular for most of the time Benitez was there. In fairness he picked up a couple of injuries last season and seemed to struggle to get back into the team once he was out for a bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge
Not really it was mentioned in the transfer thread early this morning.Quote:
Originally Posted by carloz
Just hope he does better in la Liga than Harte and nails down a regular place.
Dissappionted to hear this. I rated him as one of the best Right full's in the league. Was hard done by with Benitez's bad man-management.
He should have stayed in England in my opinion.
Why so ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Inside Man
Also I don't see why he was disgracefully treated , players get dropped and sold by clubs all the time
Once he lost a bit of pace he was always going to struggle in the Premiership.Quote:
Originally Posted by Inside Man
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maroon 7
Benitez bought Josemi as a replacement for Finnan the moment he arrived only to discover that he was no good. He then bought Kronkamp who turned out to be equally inept. Benitez has only picked Finnan reluctantly IMO and was never going to give him a chance this season. He has been badly treated because he has been extremely consistent and is the only Liverpool full back who has demonstrated an ability to get forward and deliver telling crosses. Hopefully he will now be playing for a manager who believes in him which can only be good for us.
good move overall although slightly disappointing he wont be playing european football.
good on him. Hope he does well at his new club.
Now that you mention it I thinks it's Ath. Madrid I was thinking of, knew it was a local rival of one of the big two over there!Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Great news, now if only people like Andy Reid, Ireland, Doyle and McGeady moved to strong continential European teams it would be great.
Espanyol did well the season before last I think. I remember they were second for a long time.
Ian Harte Mk II?
He has retired from international football, as no Irish player is selected* unless he plays in the UK.
*Injuries permitting.
John Aldridge, Kevin Moran, Frank Stapleton, David Connolly,
I wish him all the best
Must admit was annoyed at him leaving the international scene but now he back hope he can improve with the Spanish outfit for the good of the international team.
I feel a best 11 coming on ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
Noel Campbell, Alan Campbell, Steve Heighway, Liam Brady, Mickey Walsh, Mick McCarthy, Tony Cascarino, John Byrne, Fran O'Brien and Don Givens.
Kevin Doyle, Anthony Stokes, Daryl Murphy, LOI players in general.Quote:
John Aldridge, Kevin Moran, Frank Stapleton, David Connolly
Shame about their fans
What's wrong with their fans?
Stokes never played LOI, although he was on the books at Shels before moving to ArsenalQuote:
Originally Posted by mypost
Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
Other Irish internationals who have played for European clubs?
Noel Campbell (fortuna Cologne)
Alan Campbell (Santander)
Mick Robinson (Osasuna)
Micky Walsh (Porto)
Liam Brady (Juventus, etc)
Liam Buckley (somewhere in Belgium?)
Tony Cascarino (Marseilles, Nancy)
Phil Babb (Sporting Lisbon)
Alan Mahon (Sporting Lisbon)
Mick McCarthy (Lyon?)
John Byrne (Le Harvre)
Probably a few more but its not many. It is extraordinary that our players dont look any further than England / Scotland.
We are talking about players being picked for the Irish senior team when not playing in the UK. So these lads do not qualify. But Jason Byrne and Glenn Crowe do.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
Dominic Foley with Gent in Belgium is another (former) international playing outside the UK. He also had a spell in Portugal before he joined Bohs.
This is a terrible move for Finnan.
He's gone from playing with a top English team in the Champions League to a mid-table Spanish outfit.
Still, I hope he does well. We need him to be at his best for Ireland.
Espanyol is a step down from Liverpool but realistically Finnan wasn't in Liverpool's plans so Espanyol is a good move for him. And I'd personally prefer to live in Barcelona than Liverpool :D
He's gone from being the makeweight in a deal to bring Barry from Villa, to being the makeweight ina deal to bring Riera from EspanyolQuote:
Originally Posted by Carrigaline
Realistically he wasn't in Liverpool's plans and playing for Espanyol is better than the previous moves rumoured for him (Fulham, Portsmouth etc)
Everton were in for him as well. I think that would have been the better move to be honest.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
I disagree, but either way I can't see how its a "terrible" move
Former is the key word.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101