still swallowing the goodbye...
After having made that post about Finns passing his medical at Espanyol, I remembered that I've wanted to buy last season's Liverpool shirt with his name and number on the back ever since those transfer rumours started, so I finally decided to do something about that. It took me a while to find a website that still offered last season's shirt with customised print, and at some point I thought that everything I'd get would be an XXL long-sleeved jersey, but in the end I was lucky:
It's still bloody expensive, but... it might sound stupid and all, but I know that it's the right thing to do. He was one of my favourite Liverpool players, and if he doesn't return (I'll keep hoping), I need to have something that reminds me that he was once playing for us.
And while I was looking for a shop that sold the jersey, I found three articles about the transfer that pretty much broke my heart.
Finnan lost over Liverpool future
Steve Finnan, who will be on international duty this Wednesday night with the Republic of Ireland, has no idea what his happening with his Liverpool future.
One of Liverpool’s regulars in recent seasons has apparently been frozen out by Rafa Benitez. Finnan was widely tipped to be used as a make-weight in the Gareth Barry deal, but rumours close to Anfield suggested the Irishman had refused to move away to Aston Villa.
Whether this is the the reason for the players failure to travel with the first team squad to either of the last two fixtures is not fully known. When asked by reporters ahead of the international in Oslo, Steve was asked if he was in ‘limbo’.
"Limbo sounds about right, yes. I haven’t got a clue, to be honest with you. I haven’t played many games recently, so I honestly can’t say. There is a big squad there and everyone is fighting for their place, and I just have to train well and take the chance if I get it.”
However the player then gave a clue that he had indeed rejected a move away from Anfield by wanting to see what happened after the transfer window closes. He was asked if he had thought about a move away.
"You would have to ask the club. I have been trying to get into the team. I haven’t played, but I will just wait and see and when the transfer window closes, we will know then. I will wait and see if I can get into the team; if not, then obviously I want to play, so we will just have to take it from there.”
But had he discussed it with Rafa Benitez? Steve remained coy.
“We have spoken about it, but at this time, I don’t think I will say too much more.”
(source.)
Steve Finnan admits total surprise at Espanyol switch from Liverpool
Steven Finnan was as surprised as anyone when his move from Liverpool to Spanish side Espanyol was confirmed.
The Irish full back left Merseyside to smooth the path of Albert Riera's switch to Anfield although it is believed Finnan would have played a similar role in Gareth Barry's transfer from Aston Villa to Liverpool had it not hit the rocks.
'It was totally out of the blue,' Finnan told the Liverpool Post. 'It's exciting to be going to a great club in Spain but I didn't want to leave. But it was obvious that I wasn't going to get a game by staying so I didn't really have much choice.'
(source.)
Carra: Finnan one of the best I've played with
Jamie Carragher has played with a lot of greats in his years at Liverpool. However, he reckons Steve Finnan was one of the best.
Finnan recently completed a move to Espanyol in La Liga having lost his spot to Álvaro Arbeloa and freshly-arrived Philipp Degen. Before that, Carragher and Finnan formed a crucial unit on the right side of defense, blocking any thing that ventured into that area of the pitch.
After 5 years at Anfield, age caught up with the Irish international, and he moved on to find playing time. Carragher will be one of many to remember Finnan fondly. He told Liverpoolfc.tv: “He has been a great servant. He and Markus Babbel have been the best full-backs I have played with at this club. He was part of Istanbul and getting us to Athens, as well as the 2006 FA Cup win.
“It was a great signing by Gerard Houllier and I think Steve can be very proud of his Liverpool career.”
(source.)
*sigh* I need some serious cheering up, I believe. :/
It's still bloody expensive, but... it might sound stupid and all, but I know that it's the right thing to do. He was one of my favourite Liverpool players, and if he doesn't return (I'll keep hoping), I need to have something that reminds me that he was once playing for us.
And while I was looking for a shop that sold the jersey, I found three articles about the transfer that pretty much broke my heart.
Finnan lost over Liverpool future
Steve Finnan, who will be on international duty this Wednesday night with the Republic of Ireland, has no idea what his happening with his Liverpool future.
One of Liverpool’s regulars in recent seasons has apparently been frozen out by Rafa Benitez. Finnan was widely tipped to be used as a make-weight in the Gareth Barry deal, but rumours close to Anfield suggested the Irishman had refused to move away to Aston Villa.
Whether this is the the reason for the players failure to travel with the first team squad to either of the last two fixtures is not fully known. When asked by reporters ahead of the international in Oslo, Steve was asked if he was in ‘limbo’.
"Limbo sounds about right, yes. I haven’t got a clue, to be honest with you. I haven’t played many games recently, so I honestly can’t say. There is a big squad there and everyone is fighting for their place, and I just have to train well and take the chance if I get it.”
However the player then gave a clue that he had indeed rejected a move away from Anfield by wanting to see what happened after the transfer window closes. He was asked if he had thought about a move away.
"You would have to ask the club. I have been trying to get into the team. I haven’t played, but I will just wait and see and when the transfer window closes, we will know then. I will wait and see if I can get into the team; if not, then obviously I want to play, so we will just have to take it from there.”
But had he discussed it with Rafa Benitez? Steve remained coy.
“We have spoken about it, but at this time, I don’t think I will say too much more.”
(source.)
Steve Finnan admits total surprise at Espanyol switch from Liverpool
Steven Finnan was as surprised as anyone when his move from Liverpool to Spanish side Espanyol was confirmed.
The Irish full back left Merseyside to smooth the path of Albert Riera's switch to Anfield although it is believed Finnan would have played a similar role in Gareth Barry's transfer from Aston Villa to Liverpool had it not hit the rocks.
'It was totally out of the blue,' Finnan told the Liverpool Post. 'It's exciting to be going to a great club in Spain but I didn't want to leave. But it was obvious that I wasn't going to get a game by staying so I didn't really have much choice.'
(source.)
Carra: Finnan one of the best I've played with
Jamie Carragher has played with a lot of greats in his years at Liverpool. However, he reckons Steve Finnan was one of the best.
Finnan recently completed a move to Espanyol in La Liga having lost his spot to Álvaro Arbeloa and freshly-arrived Philipp Degen. Before that, Carragher and Finnan formed a crucial unit on the right side of defense, blocking any thing that ventured into that area of the pitch.
After 5 years at Anfield, age caught up with the Irish international, and he moved on to find playing time. Carragher will be one of many to remember Finnan fondly. He told Liverpoolfc.tv: “He has been a great servant. He and Markus Babbel have been the best full-backs I have played with at this club. He was part of Istanbul and getting us to Athens, as well as the 2006 FA Cup win.
“It was a great signing by Gerard Houllier and I think Steve can be very proud of his Liverpool career.”
(source.)
*sigh* I need some serious cheering up, I believe. :/