Steve Finnan joins Espanyol

**carloz** · 01/09/2008, 3:14 PM

Just announced. Bit of a shock

**NeilMcD** · 01/09/2008, 3:17 PM

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.

**superfrank** · 01/09/2008, 3:18 PM

I'm always glad to see an Irish player move outside the UK.

Best of luck to him.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 01/09/2008, 3:19 PM

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.

**third policeman** · 01/09/2008, 3:28 PM

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.

**tetsujin1979** · 01/09/2008, 3:30 PM

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?

**Drumcondra 69er** · 01/09/2008, 3:32 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

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.....

**tetsujin1979** · 01/09/2008, 3:35 PM

Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

Think they're in the UEFA, had a good season last year.....

Nope, not in Europe, finished 12th according to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espanyol#Recent_history
Still, that's a really good record in recent seasons

**Maroon 7** · 01/09/2008, 3:38 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

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.

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.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 01/09/2008, 3:40 PM

Originally Posted by Maroon 7

He was pretty much a regular under Benitez but he's 32 now. They obviously don't see him as a long term solution.

He was out of the team for most of last season.

**back of the net** · 01/09/2008, 3:42 PM

liverpools loss - disgracefully treated by benitez

great for finnan and for ireland

**Maroon 7** · 01/09/2008, 3:43 PM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

He was out of the team for most of last season.

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.

**youngirish** · 01/09/2008, 3:45 PM

Originally Posted by carloz

Just announced. Bit of a shock

Not really it was mentioned in the transfer thread early this morning.

**Torn-Ado** · 01/09/2008, 3:46 PM

Just hope he does better in la Liga than Harte and nails down a regular place.

**Inside Man** · 01/09/2008, 3:52 PM

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.

**gustavo** · 01/09/2008, 3:56 PM

Originally Posted by Inside Man

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 ?

Also I don't see why he was disgracefully treated , players get dropped and sold by clubs all the time

**DmanDmythDledge** · 01/09/2008, 3:58 PM

Originally Posted by Inside Man

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.

Once he lost a bit of pace he was always going to struggle in the Premiership.

**third policeman** · 01/09/2008, 4:19 PM

Originally Posted by Maroon 7

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.

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.