Robert Pires

[Shrek]

He is the type of player that if we had on the bench Saturday, could have come on and kept the ball and add abit of calmness.

Our main weakness over the past few years is failure to keep possession and not having players confident enough to keep the ball when ever an opponent is near.

[Shrek]

Arsene Wenger

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_6510924,00.html

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Didn't Gerard say that he doesn't like signing players over the age of 30?
Although we're pretty low on numbers, so needs must.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

If signing him means a young player misses out, then we shouldn't sign him.

Nobody else has signed him for a reason.

[Billy Walker]

I hope Houllier would be thinking of signing Pires for the same reasons that he signed McAllister for Liverpool: he'd be an older, wiser head for the youngsters to learn from.  If so, I reckon it would be a shrewd move.

[pablopicasso_10]

i heard it was with a view to a coaching role too, so i wouldnt complain too much if he came in...

plus as well, if we can take off albrighton or bannon and replace them with pires with 10 mins to go after they have ran themselves ragged, then he may help us keep possession, and offer us a creative outlet...

as a short term measure on the playing side, and as a coach, it does make sense...

[pauliewalnuts]

If signing him means a young player misses out, then we shouldn't sign him.

Nobody else has signed him for a reason.

You're missing the point, which is:

I hope Houllier would be thinking of signing Pires for the same reasons that he signed McAllister for Liverpool: he'd be an older, wiser head for the youngsters to learn from.  If so, I reckon it would be a shrewd move.

.. and also the fact that with the way our injuries are going, we desperately need bodies, and quickly.

[Merv]

Yes, and I think Houllier has publicly commented recently about his signing of Gary Mac at 35 for Liverpool, and how it was perceived as a strange move at the time but obviously worked out really well. Maybe that was a hint. Short term, with coaching role too, I see no harm in Pires bobbing along.

[JJ-AV]

An experienced head who can help keep the ball would have got us an extra 2 points on Saturday.

He'll be an example to Bannan and Albrighton and perhaps even Ireland to look up to.

Think this could be a decent signing, beef out the squad a bit. Plus he scored one of the best goals I've ever seen at Villa Park.

[Concrete John]

At 37 I wouldn't be expecting too much from him as a player, but the idea of him joining the coaching staff does sound a good one to me!

[N'ZMAV]

Plus he scored one of the best goals I've ever seen at Villa Park.

Pure class. I remember standing and applauding.

[Namaste]

Pires in one month older than Ryan Giggs, obviously Giggs when fit is still a major asset to the Man U. team so I think if this story is true we can benefit from this.

As others have said late in a match Pires would be a great player to bring on.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

If signing him means a young player misses out, then we shouldn't sign him.

Nobody else has signed him for a reason.

You're missing the point, which is:

I hope Houllier would be thinking of signing Pires for the same reasons that he signed McAllister for Liverpool: he'd be an older, wiser head for the youngsters to learn from.  If so, I reckon it would be a shrewd move.

.. and also the fact that with the way our injuries are going, we desperately need bodies, and quickly.

You're missing my point though. Nobody has come in for him. There must be a reason for this.

Chris Sutton and Didier Agathe anyone?

Just because they were once good, doesn't mean they're still going to be.

Gary MacAllister would probably have signed for someone else if not Liverpool.

More players yes, but not for the sake of it.

If he's still good enough, then fine.

[dave.woodhall]

There is a reason. No other club needs short-term players as urgently as we do.

[pauliewalnuts]

Chris Sutton and Didier Agathe anyone?

Precisely. Signed because we desperately needed players and the window was shut, just like the situation is becoming now.