Steve Finnan joins Espanyol

[Closed Account 2]

It's a great move for him. Benitez never really took to him and it was time for him to leave Liverpool. Espanyol are a good club, he'll be tested at a higher level in la liga than in the premier league, he will face good opposition (in terms of technique) week in week out instead of the more agricultural players he would have faced against teams like Hull, Middlesboro' etc.

He could still develop as a player now, he will learn a lot in terms of positioning, mental toughness, pressure etc - much more than he would have learned had he gone to a "lump and chase" team like Hull, Derby, Everton etc.

Fantastic move and a great city to live in too!

[superfrank]

Former is the key word.

He was nowhere near the team when he was in England. He only played a handful of games and that was about four or five years before he went to Belgium.

[Stuttgart88]

I think it's a good move and better than going anywhere other than a top 4 + Villa / Everton / Spurs in england. The Primera Liga is less rough and tumble and I think he'll do well there and be fresher for international action.

This is what his new manager said about him - spot on assessment:

"He brings balance to the right side. He doesn't make mistakes, gives good passes, defends well and is correct in everything he does.

"He is always worth a 'seven' in ratings, he doesn't call attention to himself, but the coach and the squad will appreciate him.

[geysir]

That's Herrera who was at Liverpool in some capacity for a while, same time as Finnan.
A very good move for Finnan.

[ShamTalk]

As a staunch Liverpool fan, this is a crazy move by a crazy manager.

Liverpool have just bought the biggest donkey I have ever seen in Dossena and shipped out Mr. Reliable, Steve Finnan.

They could move Arbeloa to left full where he has done a decent job previously and with Aurelio you have two decent left full backs. On the right he could employ Finnan (or Carragher)..

Liverpool should let D.I.C. in, get rid of the Yanks and put Martin O'Neill at the helm......

[deecay]

What's wrong with their fans?

Strong right wing views

[gustavo]

He's gone from playing with a top English teams reserves in the Champions League to a mid-table Spanish outfit.

I fixed that for you

[boovidge]

when's the reserves champions league?

[Colbert Report]

Finnan hasn't even been named to the bench yet. What's the deal?

[tetsujin1979]

this is on Espanyol's site:

Finnan passa la revisió mèdica
L'últim fitxatge de l'Espanyol, Steve Finnan, ha passat aquest matí les proves mèdiques abans d'incorporar-se al treball a les ordres de Márquez. El jugador s'ha sotmès als exàmens pertinents a la Clínica Creu Blanca, encara que ja va ser examinat de manera completa abans de formalitzar el seu fitxatge, que es va produir el dia 31 d'agost.

A l'estar convocat amb la seva selecció, Finnan no va arribar fins ahir a la nit a Barcelona. Aquest matí s'ha desplaçat per realitzar les proves mèdiques i aquesta mateixa tarda, a les 18:00 hores, serà presentat oficialment a l'Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. No serà fins demà, al tenir avui jornada de descans la primera plantilla, que el jugador s'exerciti amb els seus nous companys.

L'exjugador del Liverpool ha disputat dos partits des que va tancar el seu fitxatge per l'Espanyol, tots dos amb la seva selecció, en la que és indiscutible. Irlanda va guanyar dissabte passat davant Geòrgia, per 1-2, i va empatar a zero dimecres davant la selecció de Montenegro. En els dos partits, el nou lateral perico va sortir de titular i, mentre davant Geòrgia va ser substituït en el minut 80, davant Montenegro va disputar la totalitat del partit.

anyone speak Spanish?

[co. down green]

From Setanta

“Irish international Steve Finnan, Espanyol’s last signing of the transfer window, underwent a medical examination this morning before joining up with the rest of [coach Tintin] Marquez’s squad,” read a statement on the club’s official website.

“The player was subject to stringent checks at the Clinica Creu Blanca, despite having checked over fully before signing his contract on the 31st of August.

“Finnan only arrived in Barcelona El Prat [airport] last night and was called straight up into the squad.

“This morning he missed training due to the medical tests but will be officially presented as a Perico this evening at 6pm [5pm UK time] at the Estadi Olímpic de Lluis Companys.

“His first training session will have to wait until tomorrow morning and only then will he train with his new team-mates.”

[noby]

anyone speak Spanish?

Google does, but it doesn't speak Catalan.

[superfrank]

Jays, that's more like French then Spanish.

[tetsujin1979]

Google does, but it doesn't speak Catalan.

Didn't realise it was Catalan
According to http://traductor.gencat.net/index_en.jsp it translates as

?Finnan passes the medical revision
The last sign up of the Spaniard|Spanish, Steve Finnan, has passed this morning the medical evidence|tests before incorporating into the work to|in the orders of Márquez. The player has undergone the examinations pertinent to the White Cross Hospital, already although it|he was examined in a complete way before formalizing its|his|her|their sign up, which was produced on the 31 of August.

To|In the to be summoned with its|his|her|their selection, Finnan did not arrive until last night to Barcelona. This morning it|he|she has traveled to carry out the medical evidence|tests and this same afternoon, at 18:00 hours, Lluís Companys will be presented officially in the Olympic Stadium|Stage. It will not be until tomorrow, to|in the to have day of rest today the first staff|template, that the player trains with its|his|her|their new colleagues|partners.

The former player of Liverpool has played two matches|parties since it|he|she closed its|his|her|their sign up for the Spaniard|Spanish, both with its|his|her|their selection, in the one that is indisputable. Ireland won Saturday spent in front of Geòrgia, for 1-2, and he|she|it tied on zero Wednesdays in the face of the selection of Montenegro. In both matches|parties, on the nine lateral perico went out of titling and, while in front of Geòrgia it|he was substituted in minute 80, in front of Montenegro he|she|it contended for the whole of the match|party.

[noby]

Here's hoping that he/she/it gets on well at his/her/it's new club.

[Colbert Report]

Liverpool could use Finnan tonight to set the offside trap. Dossena was made to look like a donkey.

[Dodge]

He came on at left back at the weekend

[Colbert Report]

He was subbed off 32 minutes into the first half today. I hope he's not injured.

[Green Tribe]

just heard that too, don't know the full story?

[Closed Account]

Skysports reports that he was replaced because of injury.... Uh oh. Stephen Kelly or Kevin Foley