Liverpool Banter Archive March 11 2015

11 Mar 2015 17:07:04
Eds, I know this isn't strictly about Liverpool, but if, say, us and arsenal were to finish 3rd and 4th what would the financial implications for United be? Would they still be in a position to spend >£50million on one player in the way they were last summer just because they are such a strong global brand? Or would the lack of competition prize money and TV money force them to 'tighten their belts' so to speak? And even if they could would they still have the ability to attract players ahead of us even though, theoretically, we would have made Champions League 2 years in a row?

{Ed002's Note - They have the money to buy who they want and the owners will continue to invest in order to get the club back to where they perceive it should be. In 2017 or so they will seek an exit. They will struggle to attract players when not in the CL, but I cannot answer your question about the attractiveness compared to Liverpool. Manchester is a dreary city and I don't like the surrounding areas. Liverpool is full of people who do nothing but whine and talk about Chelsea. I cannot see there would be much in it.}

11 Mar 2015 19:10:51
Ouch!

11 Mar 2015 20:58:25
You been to Liverpool mate? Best night out outside or London bar Newcastle, full of friendly people and we don't give a dam about Chelsea, just man utd

11 Mar 2015 20:34:49
Hope they do continue to invest heavily to be honest. It's working well for them.

11 Mar 2015 23:36:36
Haha!!

12 Mar 2015 04:24:26
Ed002 - I had pubs in the 'surrounding areas' - Oldham, Bury, Rochdale, Failsworth and Heywood. Without directly insulting the towns I will leave you with the promise that I have no intention of going anywhere near the places for the remainder of my time on this earth. My God what was I thinking.

12 Mar 2015 09:14:17
Spot on lerchy

11 Mar 2015 13:04:48
It appears Brendan has decided we need another Spanish player even if he plays in a position we have tons of players for :) because most of his young Spanish signings have done so well so far :) paez, manquillo, aspas & alberto! Moreno has done well I think so that's why he's not in the list. But seriously do we need to spend a rumoured £7m on vasquez? We have sterling, ibe, markovic, lallana. And an academy of ojo, canos, Kent & wilson who all have potential to play that position. Is he throwing more money away? We need rid of ballo, lambert, borini, aspas, alberto, enrique and could get a fee of sorts for all of them perhaps around £25m. We have to sell to buy as we all know players like gerrard, Johnson and probably the likes of toure and Lucas also leaving. If we assume ings, origi, sturridge will be our strikers plus a big tent type signing. A midfielder maybe a big tent player and a goalkeeper

{Ed002's Note - It is more complicated than that with the money. I wouldn't go there.}

11 Mar 2015 17:21:05
Maybe it's just routine scouting. I agree we don't need anyone for an attacking midfield position now. Maybe it's lazy journalism from what Ed002 said here and some journalist copying it; it has happened before too hasn't it.

11 Mar 2015 17:50:01
IMO, Nothing to see here YET.

12 Mar 2015 08:24:31
Last season we lost Suarez, had one person in mind to replace him that we failed to secure and we all agreed it was pathetic that we didn't have other people and options in the same bracket lined up. This season our scouts appear to have been more visibly active in many more positions across the field, even currently well stocked ones, and people take pot-shots? Come on guys. It's called being prepared

12 Mar 2015 22:47:39
Sorry but based on the Ed01, we did have options that would not replace him like for like BUT would have helped a lot more than Balo would have BUT BR rejected all of them including Bony and Remy whih is why a DOF is paramount for next season and going forward otherwise the shambles tht we saw and have seen since BR`s been here will defo continue.

11 Mar 2015 10:31:15
hey eds is it true that Yesil will be back with U21s in a month time or so after he recoverd from a double cruciate ligament injury and that he will get his chance to show what he is made of ?. ;

{Ed002's Note - I really don't know but he won't be rushed.}

11 Mar 2015 17:13:30
I thought Yesil was out of contract in the summer?

12 Mar 2015 18:58:46
Nope, its June 2016 so hopefully he gets a chance during pre-season to impress for 2015/16

11 Mar 2015 06:12:54
Hi ed01 I see yourself and Ed002 produced an excellent update on what our summer dealings may bring. I see carvalhp was mentioned if we could raise funds and secured champions league. Can I ask if kondogbia is one you would consider. He is a similar type player but looks better to me. How would you comprare the 2. I just wonder if carvalho gets overhyped by the media / super agent as he seems technically a bit short and looks powerful but slow?

{Ed001's Note - personally I would take him, but I doubt he would be available, that is why he is not mentioned. I am not sure on Carvalho either, sometimes he looks top class, but then you examine his play and realise the opponents made him look that good, giving him time and space.}

11 Mar 2015 08:05:36
Ed1 I've read the posts and can't find the post where ed2 has giving out transfer update and targets??
The ks

{Ed002's Note - Much of this will change by the summer and there are major dependencies on (a) players leaving (b) how much money the club can raise through sales (remembering that Liverpool will be probably be looking to sell players by January to offset FFP issues), and (c) Champions League qualification. However, there is known to be (or have recently been) some level of interest in the following players:

GK: Ochoa, Neto, Sportiello (unconfirmed at this time), Romero, Ryan, Ruddy. The club have also looked at many others.
RB: Danilo (certainly won't happen). I am not sure what will happen to Wisdom. I suspect a new deal for Flanagan but if Manquillo and Johnson both leave then the club will look for a new RB. If Rodgers remains as manager it is not out of the question that Ibe may be tried in a wing back role. Alternative is that Manquillo stays and RB is no longer a priority.
CB: I suspect a new deal will be offered to Toure and the club will have to have a clear out of CBs in any case. I doubt a CB is a priority.
MF: Milner, Khedira, Pjanic (outrageously expensive), Vazquez
F/W: Ings, Vietto, Gameiro, Baez (a WP would be an issue initially), Kishna (I understand that old interest has been rekindled but it is hard to see how he would fit in), Lacazette (not going to happen). Two other players the club were interested in - Bakkali (I suspect Liverpool have stepped back from their interest like many other clubs) and Andre Ayew (a free agent who Liverpool enquired about last summer - no obvious interest right now but it may return).

If Liverpool do qualify for the Champions League and if further funds can be made available through sales, it would not be out of the question for Liverpool to look to one of the following as an option:

GK: Cech
MF: Carvalho, Turan
F/W: Benzema

And who would be my choice of players who will be available?

GK: Handanovic
RB: Darmain
CB: Balanta - Caniggia wanted Liverpool to move for Balanta more than two years ago - and he has got better. Rogers ignored the advice. He shouldn't have done. If Liverpool need a CB
MF: Matuidi, Morgan Sanson
F/W: Mitrovic - I don't see a long term future for Lambert and Mitrovic would give Liverpool a very good option that they are missing right now. Rodgers will regret using the words "Origi" and "world-class" in the same sentence. }

11 Mar 2015 08:54:16
Ed2 excellent post thanks! I would love benzema surely we couldn't compete with United and psg ? Marquis I would be a good signing! Carvalho is not sure about,

11 Mar 2015 11:03:38
Edd002 can I ask what sort of money Chelsea will be seeking for cech? Not exact figures ofcourse but will it be a substantial amounT? Thanks

{Ed002's Note - Chelsea would ideally like Cech to stay but I rather suspect the player will want to move on. I can't imagine Chelsea looking for more that £10M for the player - perhaps less.}

11 Mar 2015 11:25:58
Cheers mate

11 Mar 2015 12:04:58
If Chelsea are willing to let a world class player like Cech go for less than 10 million GBP, then LFC should make an offer without thinking. The club desperately need a top notch GK and such an opportunity should not be let to pass by without at least trying. Migs is good but Cech is better.

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool has shown no interest in Cech so far. £10M is a great deal of money. Cech will no doubt have other options and I will want to be first choice for a Champions League club. This isn't fantasy football.}

11 Mar 2015 18:31:05
Ed002 you pick out your available choices i'm just wondering if lfc have shown interest in the names you have picked?

{Ed002's Note - Not at this time. Obviously I know much more about the game than The Nose, but I don't have an Xbox or whatever it is to do my research on like him.}

12 Mar 2015 04:24:14
Great insight Ed002 was wondering when you said 'sell to buy'are we talking selling players like sterling, coutinho or other big name first teamers or fringe players. I.e balo, borini & players like that? I just noticed some pretty expensive players on the list likes of benzema & turan?? Cheers for all your info.

{Ed002's Note - You clearly failed to read what I wrote.}

11 Mar 2015 01:32:06
Hi eds,
I do not understand our interest in Turan. How many attacking midfielders do we want? We already have Sterling, Countinho, Lallana, Markovic and Ibe.

With Gerrard leaving and in case we sell Lucas, buying a DM makes sense.

{Ed001's Note - Turan wants to join us, he loves the club, that is a big plus when considering signings.}

11 Mar 2015 08:39:35
Don't want to piss on the bonfire ed but Robbie Keane and Rickie Lambert both loved the club. In the case with Keane it was an unmitigated disaster and with Lambert he looks as though he is on his way out as well. I'd buy players for positions which need filling not just because top players are available. Look at Man U, too many players to play in the hole.

{Ed001's Note - I never said it would be my choice, though Turan is a quality player, I just don't see the need for him either. We turned down the chance to take him before, because of worries over injuries. I am not sure why Rodgers has this desire to add attacking midfielders each transfer window. That is one of the main reasons we need someone else over him to point out the strength we have in that area and so to target other signings.}

11 Mar 2015 08:51:10
I've watched a lot of Atletico Madrid games this season and Turan is a massive player for them. He would be an amazing addition to our starting 11.

11 Mar 2015 11:33:56
He can add composure and ball retention to our attack, something none of our attacking midfielders have. Eventhough I'd much rather have Pjanic.

11 Mar 2015 12:08:16
Turan is an amazing player but the club should have used their brains before signing Lallana and Marko to save money for Turan in the summer. There will be a number of unhappy players if another first team CAM joins the club this summer namely Lallana and Teixiera. Also he would be expensive so unless Lallana or Marko move on, there is no need for Turan. The money should be used first and foremost for a ST and GK instead of tinkering with something that has already been fixed.

{Ed002's Note - What money would that be?}

11 Mar 2015 13:55:58
Ed002, i meant the money the club used to buy Markovic and Lallana could have been used to sign a more established player like Turan in the summer. Now its too late because the club does not need another CAM when so many have already been brought in.

{Ed002's Note - You said "The money should be used first and foremost for a ST and GK". You are not talking about the AL and LM money there.}

11 Mar 2015 15:05:12
Oops sorry about that. I meant the money the club would get from selling players this summer which i accept will not be much so the funds need to be used wisely than spending on luxuries like Turan. The club clearly needs a ST and GK so money should be directed to those positions before anything else is planned. My entire point is that if the club wanted Turan so badly then the transfer should have happened last summer instead of the coming one.

11 Mar 2015 18:24:00
Robbie keane got screwed by rafa because someone else signed him to be fair and ricky never got a chance also if sterling was to leave i'd love turan as other wise were well stocked there

12 Mar 2015 03:20:33
As good as Turan is, I just don`t think he is what we need right now and defo NOT at the price AM would quote for him., IMO.

12 Mar 2015 12:46:22
Turan is a good player, but he is 28 and he has also had a few big injuries, we should have got him when he was younger.

12 Mar 2015 22:49:21
Exactly!!