10 Jan 2018 09:28:37
The Echo reads "Liverpool are unlikely to make Lemar bid despite his lower fee". Or words to that affect. Also points at Arsenal being frint runners.

I don't know were or why they are saying he is available for lower fee around 61M but there you go.

Going on what Ed001 explained they want more than we are prepared to offer.


1.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 09:41:59
I just hope we don’t end up wasting money on second rate players like Mahrez or Lanzini when a top class talent like Lemar is available (and wants to actually come here) .


2.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 09:56:49
With you Dennis. We need to be adding quality if we ate to have any real chance of competing at the highest level!


3.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 10:01:57
It may make us make a move simply because otherwise we may miss out on a player that we really want but would rather spend on in the summer.

I am not sure if any of the eds can confirm or not but did we actually make a bid for lemar last summer?

I feel like there is a bit of book balancing going on personally and the club would rather spend more during summer for one reason or another. We know we have be aware of FFP rules, maybe the timing of the deal at the moment could complicate things.

{Ed001's Note - we did not bid but that is nothing to do with any 'book balancing'. It is just that Klopp is not convinced he is worth splashing 90m on.}


4.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 10:18:22
Fuming about this, this wat I hate about us we ain't thinking big we thinking balancing the books, go all out too get this guy for crying out loud!


5.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 10:28:33
Damn those second rate players that have won more than our whole squad.
Premier League: 2015–16
Football League Championship: 2013–14
Individual
Algerian Footballer of the Year: 2015,2016
Premier League PFA Team of the Year: 2015–16
PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2015–16
PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2016
Leicester City Player of the Year: 2015–16
BBC African Footballer of the Year: 2016
Facebook FA Premier League Player of the Year : 2016
El Heddaf Arab Footballer of the Year: 2016
Lion d'Or African Footballer of the Year: 2016
CAF African Footballer of the Year: 2016
CAF Team of the Year: 2016.


6.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 10:31:02
I've given up on a Coutinho replacement for now. As long as we sign a goal keeper and/ or a midfielder to strengthen the spine of our team, replacing Coutinho can probably wait until the summer when players of his quality might actually be available.

At the end of the day, Coutinho was playing in the front 3 on the left, at the expense of Mane. So whilst it hurts our strength in depth temporarily, it doesn't actually damage the quality of our first choice attack at all because i still think Mane is better than Coutinho when he gets a run of games. If we can't get Lemar, then i say we just keep one of Woodburn or Kent to provide cover for the FA cup and in case of injuries, and improve the areas where our starting XI is weak, rather than focus on making sure we have 4 top class players for 3 forward positions. Go after Lemar or Brandt in June. For now i would focus on a midfielder, maybe getting Keita in early, and at least explore the option of a keeper (though i think that's about as likely as signing Lemar) .

Teams don't like selling their star players or their first choice goal keepers in January so replacing Coutinho or Mignolet might be a thing for the summer. However there are a lot of very good midfielders looking to move or available for various reasons. Ceballos (unsettled), Strootman (FFP concerns), Goretzka (contract rebel) . Obviously they all carry small risks such as experience of fitness concerns, but it's a risk we can probably afford to take.


7.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 11:15:13
I submitted a bit of a rant on this myself earlier when I read the echo, but in hindsight I think it is probably more of a negotiating tactic to draw Arsenal out then we’ll match the agreed fee rather than be stitched up by Monaco as we have cash in the bank.

So, let’s all pretend to accept our Lemar position and move on I reckon!


8.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 11:18:12
Strootman is a top player. Just hope we can keep him fit if we get him. Him and Kieta together would be an awesome CM pairing.

Goretzka is class but I feel he is BM bound and also doesn't offer us as much balance as strootman from a playing style point of view. Obviously if he did come I would be delighted.

Ceballos is young and talented. This would be a developer for me. Not sure he improves us right away but wouldn't disimprove us either. He is good now with great potential. Initial impact would not be that great I think considering Lallana and Chamberlain are on a similar level. Ceballos will pass them in time alright so I would be happy enough with his arrival.

Mahrez, he is extremely talented. I get the attitude thing but would that change somewhat when Klopp gets his hands on him. I dunno. I know there's a big focus on attitude which some people spill over into dissing his talent also. Talent wise I would have him all day long. He's pressing and takling in the premier league winning season was superb. I would be very happy with Mahrez if he signed.

Pulisic - really exciting player. Would improve us instantly and his potential is unbelievable. Probably my top pick and would be giddy if we somehow signed him.

Lemar - Another top pick. With him on the left and Mane on the right I wthink the natural width we would have would really really hurt teams. Inverted forwards is not always the way to go. Natural width is a dangerous dangerous weapon particularly with Salah and Firmino central. Would love it.

Allisson Becker - Mother of god. Please please please. Giddy is the the word I would use for this guy also. I'm not the best judge of goalkeepers to be honest. Ed001 has correctly burned me on keepers in the past but I do like the look of this guy. Ed001, interested in your thoughts on Alisson if you have the time.

Now for the nos:

Lanzini - Too inconsistent and I do think his ceiling is that high. Of course every player can improve but I'm not seeing a huge rate of improvement from him at all in the last few years. Even his good games are not all that great.

Gelson Martins - I hate headless chickens and I'm sorry but I get all the vibes from this guy. Fail to see what he would add now and I really don't see the potential either. Watched him a few times now and not once have I been impressed. Full of energy but decision making seems awful.

Just my thoughts on some of the players we've been linked with.


9.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 11:22:42
Hailstones. Ed literally just said it's not about balancing the books. It's funny because the same people wanting us to spend 90mil on a player they barely know will be the same people bemoaning the club if he flops and it turns out a waste. Just trust that Klopp knows what he's doing, I'd like to give Lemar a try, but 90mil seems unrealistic.


10.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 11:24:19
MK, Goretzka isn't a contract rebel. He has honoured his contract and is deciding whether to move on or resign. A contract rebel is someone who has a contract and wants out. rebelling against his contract, abit like coutinho this year.


11.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 11:44:08
MK i, you are right. I would not hold my breathe on that mate as IMO, no team will sell you their GK mid season except of course you want LFC to sign a club's second choice GK which I'm sure you nor I don't want. As for Lemar, if Klopp does not think he is worth 90m, then I guess he's not worth it and we'll have to trust Klopp on that one. I remember hell being raised when we did not sign Chilwell at LB cos Klopp did not think he was worth the 10m being asked. Well, he was proven right as I have watched Chilwell a lot for LC since then and thank heavens, he did not come cos he's not better than the newly improved Moreno and the slow improving Robbo.

Keita coming in early won't happen as RBL's CEO has killed that noise and the Mahrez thing is all crap as we are thankfully not interested and frankly, he's would not start ahead of Mane and Salah and he is NOT a no. 10. I also like you, don't want second rate players like Lanzini or any other warm body to come in all in the name of hey, we got someone cos that is a panic buy that neither Klopp nor I believe in. That does not mean we will not try to get someone in this Jan, tho I think Goretzka is on his way to Bayern and not sure about Strootman (great player) but severely injury prone. We may have to dig deep this season and fight for each other to get what we want i. e top 4 and a trophy. I'm ready for the challenge. Are you?


12.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 11:54:42
TIA, it's just a common phrase used for people who don't want to sign a renewal mate. It doesn't literally mean he's trying to start a revolution or anything 😉

I do agree Davey Sulls, that Strootman would really suit us. He can sit deeper, but breaks forward when he gets the chance and has a lot of quality. He's a very quick thinker. I mentioned him yesterday though and my only concern is with his injuries, and turning 28 in about 3 weeks, could he adapt to the fastest paced league in the world? I'm not against the signing by any means, but I'm just very wary of getting excited by it in case it goes down the pan and i end up disappointed 😂 in terms of ability, he's better than any midfielder we have at the club. If his operations are fully healed, sign him up!

I think your assessment on all of those players was fair, actually. I only disagree slightly on Mahrez.


13.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 12:07:20
That would make him a revolutionist not a rebel, MK. Choose your words wisely 😉.


14.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 12:26:42
Smart a**. I like you 😂.


15.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 13:31:44
Adam, I read a bit about Strootman yesterday - not based on watching him. However, I believe his injury problems were more when he was consistently playing the box-to-box role a while back. Since he's settled into more of a no 6 role in recent times, his injury issues seem to have gone away.