Downing Completes Liverpool Transfer

[Mazrim]

I thought mon wanted straight cash and it was the board who wanted Ireland?

Nope. O'Neill wanted Ireland alright.

[D.boy]

I can't believe anyone seriously believes the "not for sale" phrase in this day and age, it's only used to push the price up.

[Jimbo]

As regards the above comments to raise the fee you have to be convincing in saying they are not for sale so we at least mug them for as much as possible.

Come off it, this is the Premier League not an Arabian souk. We're a club that's known for selling its best players year on year, so we should just name the price and stick to it instead of engaging in some ridiculous pantomime.

[Walmley_Villa]

At least we got the shitbag to put in a transfer request which will have saved the club a few million. With the increased fee we can't be far off the N'zog fee?

[LeeB]

In the context of how things have unfolded since the end of last season, this looks a bit shit.

But on it's own, double our money for a player who still hasn't convinced me in a Villa shirt is a good deal. Especially if it's re-invested in N'Zogbia.

[Mazrim]

My car isnt for sale, but if somebody came up and offered me 25% more than it's worth I would sell it.
As fans, we cant cheer a big load of cash on the pitch though so the club had better turn this around Rikki Tick.

At least that new scout bloke is there (I hope) to advise where best to spend the cash. If we play our cards right we could and should still come out of this stronger than last season overall.

[Karl Bridges]

I am not unhappy about this to be honest. The player called the shots here, not the club. The fee is very decent but as has been mentioned several times since this began, it's all about how we spend the money. It could just freshen up the side and be exactly what is required to give us a fresh impetus, or it could all go massively tits up of course.

[Mr Diggles]

TonyBarretTimes Tony Barrett
#LFC make another statement of their intent by agreeing a £20m fee for Downing who was outstanding last season.
18 minutes ago

Oh dear. I think I've wet myself.

I don't think that's very fair Bentman. They have clearly made a statement of their intent to finish somewhere between 5th and 7th by buying mediocre, over priced British talent which is never going to break the top four in a million years. All this must be as sobering a wake up to reality for bindipper fans as it is for us

Ah, the MON Villa Method of circa 2006-2009. Yes, we know that story well. Good luck Liverpool.

[darren woolley]

Downing his going then if we can get N'Zogbia as his replacement then I will be really pleased.

[Jimbo]

Ah, remember the good old days when N'Zogbia was going to be Young's replacement?

[frank]

If the reports are true and we've really pushed the fee up to 20 million and Downing has been forced to submit a transfer request, that's very good business. Downing certainly isn't worth that much. I'm not worried about our earlier refusal to sell him. Like it or not, that's how transfers are done: you refuse to sell at any price to force the offer up. For me the first big test of the new regime is not keeping Young and Downing - if they want to go, let them, but get the best possible price. The test is how much of this money we spend on new players, and how wisely.

[Matt C]

Especially if we can get him for half the Downing fee.

[citizenDJ]

As regards the above comments to raise the fee you have to be convincing in saying they are not for sale so we at least mug them for as much as possible.

Come off it, this is the Premier League not an Arabian souk. We're a club that's known for selling its best players year on year, so we should just name the price and stick to it instead of engaging in some ridiculous pantomime.

I imagine it is more to do with encouraging the player to put a transfer request in.

[myf]

How much did we pay him a week.  £8m on top of what we paid for him seems like good business but must be at least £5m in wages?

[Iago]

I agree with the club's statement about replacements being available. And that, in my opinion, is the most important action after our recent departures.

It is going to be an interesting few weeks at VP.