Did we pay £35 million for Downing?
Carroll certainly didn't make a full recovery in six weeks. Liverpool will only be getting a fully fit Carroll next season. All clubs are willing to take a gamble on a quality player. Look at Man Utd with RVN.
My original point is nothing to do with the gamble of signing a player with an injury, it's the fact that we beat Spurs and Liverpool to the player. When it comes to signing quality players clubs simply do not look upon injuries as gambles. They will speak to specialists before the signing is made and will
have a clear idea of what the recovery process will be. That's why the likes
of Carroll, RVN and Downing get signed. They are not gambles if it is clear
from medical examination that they will make full recoveries.
RVN was not purchased until a full recovery was made! Carroll made a debut didn't he, it was 6 to 8 weeks, so he played. The point about Downing was he broke his foot in May we signed him in June, knowing he would be out for half of the season, we gave him a pay rise no doubt a signing on fee and possibly paid for his medical expenses. Spurs and Liverpool would not sign a player with a broken foot, so really your argument is flawed, you keep using Carroll but played last season for LIVERPOOL!!!