21 Aug 2015

Better than Milner? Carra hails 'world-class' £10m playmaker Liverpool wanted to sign in January

Last season, Liverpool legend Jan Molby urged Brendan Rodgers to sign ex-PSG midfielder Yohann Cabaye. As is usually the case, LFC missed out on a cheap player with the potential to significantly improve the squad, and Anfield Jamie Carragher is convinced that the France international will be a big hit (again) in the Premier League.

Liverpool were last linked with Cabaye - hailed as 'World class' by Newcastle boss Alan Pardew - during the January transfer window, but he ultimately ended up at Crystal Palace, which is arguably one of the transfer coups of the summer.

Speaking to Sky Sports this week, Carra enthused:

"Credit to Alan Pardew - There is no doubt he [Cabaye] is a top-class player, and for Palace to get a player like that from PSG, just shows how far they have come, and also the Premier League".

Reds legend Jan Molby certainly wanted Liverpool to sign Cabaye, and in November 2014, he told TV3sport:

"If Yohan Cabaye is available, then Liverpool must seriously consider signing him. The club needs to think about a long lasting solution [to Gerrard]"

Liverpool fans were also enthusiastic about the possibility. Around the same time as Molby's comments, I conducted a poll on the site asking if Liverpool should sign Cabaye, and 79% of participants voted YES to the signing.

Reds legend Steve Nicol specifically urged *against* signing Cabaye, though. When asked about Cabaye in December, he told on ESPN:

"Worst transfer of 2014? I'd go for Yohann Cabaye at Paris St. Germain. He cost £26m with add-ons, and he doesn't get a game".

A that point, Cabaye had 1 goal/0 assists in 17 appearances for PSG, which is pretty poor, but he was a bit-part player who rarely played, and in those circumstances, it's difficult to build up a rhythm and rapport with team-mates.

Despite his failure at PSG, Cabaye is - as Carra notes - a top class player, and so far this season, he's outperforming Milner in several key areas:

* Goals: JM: 0 |  YC: 1

* Shots on Target: JM: 0 |  YC: 3

* Chances Created: JM: 2 |  YC: 1

* Blocks/Recoveries/Clearances/Interception: JM: 17 |  YC: 36

* Duels Won: JM: 40% 25 |  YC: 44%

* Tackles Won: JM: 57% |  YC: 87%

* Passing Accuracy: JM: 88% | YC: 92%

Still, the season is only two games old, and things may change over the coming weeks and months.

Were Liverpool right to ignore Cabaye and sign Milner instead? Both players are similar ages, and their goals/assists ratios are very similar (though both players need to be more prolific)

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Author: Jaimie K


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