Liverpool Banter Archive February 18 2015

18 Feb 2015 19:21:30
Got to say I'm disgusted by the Chelsea fans.
I do however think so far Chelsea as a football club have handled it very well, not so sure we would have done, although could be wrong.

As Anfield Apple was alluding to further down the page as much as I hate Chelsea I do admire the way they are run

I agree. I hoped we left all that behind in the 80's. The people need caught and locked up asap.Lets hope it stays as 1 isolated incident because that is too many as it is.

18 Feb 2015 17:47:00
I'm curious, will people (select few) have the same attitude towards Lambert for choosing not to move on as Borini got,
Naming no names, but Borini got dogs abuse by some here for not moving to Sunderland, will they spew hate at Lambert for not going to Villa?

18 Feb 2015 18:59:27
That is because lambert has been here 1/2 the season and this is his boyhood club. Borini obviously thinks he deserves to play at the top level even though he hasn't produced the performances to do so. In other words he thinks he's too good for Sunderland whereas lambert knows his role and accepts it. Plus we got £14mil for borini, to many fans that would have helped us out a lot and we probably wouldn't have ended up with balotelli.

18 Feb 2015 19:26:46
Borini knows his role, he chose to accept that but part role in order to stay,
This is the same as Lambert.
Borini spent the first half of his first season in the first team,
The second half of Borinis season was disrupted by injury. He was then shipped out on a season long loan.

And it's not Borinis fault we bought Balotelli is it? He is a player and should not put the clubs costs and finances ahead of his career. That's absurd.

I honestly fail to see the similarity between the two.
Both are squad players and have chosen to stay with us and accept these roles.
Neither player would have had a pay decrease, so it's not about money. Both Villa and Sunderland were willing to match their current wages, and I think Ed01 may have said Sunderland offered Borini an increase in wages. (Sorry if I've made that up in my head Ed01)

I applaud players who wish to fight for the club,
I know it's easy to say 'I'd run for 50K a week' but the reality is that loads of footballers are happy to half arse it,
That's really sad given the crazy money that gets thrown about, but it's true. Some players are lazy, money grabbers. Borini and Lambert are both top pros, if nothing else.

18 Feb 2015 19:43:06
I wish Lambert left tbh

Players who cannot perform for the club are bashed by the club supporters. fact is borini has scored just 4 goals for liverpool in all. that is not a return you expect from a striker, esp at Liverpool. has to be moved on to make room for a better youth player.
lambert was signed to be a backup /plan B striker. and the difference is lambert will score if an opportunity is created for him, whilst borini continues to miss 6 yarders. borini is becoming a mad lad, desperate to win fans and manager, trying to put his all in the game, ending up with a yellow card to show. to shine he needs an extended run in the team which liverpool can't offer him. he has to move on for his own sake really. yes its commendable his desire to perform and hold his place but fact is he will only frustrate himself and moreso the fans the longer he continues to do so .

19 Feb 2015 05:27:55
You can't rule out that possibility. But then He is going in the summer anyways.

19 Feb 2015 11:13:05
You cannot bash borini for not wanting to sign a long contract with sunderland, come on. One of the best young players in serie a his last season, contributing with ok number of goals/assist from the right. Playing very well for italy u-19 and u-21, getting his debut for the national team at 21(? My memory is getting worse) and it has nothing to do with money, the kid has ambitions.

19 Feb 2015 11:34:39
A players pride is both a bad and good thing. He was good at Sunderland, but people seem to forgot that it was a loan deal. NOT A MOVE. He has no responsibility to move to sunderland. He did good, now he wants to fight for his place. Why would anybody want something else? When sunderland's best player wants to leave, he is considered ambitious; but when borini wants to leave and return to the club where he signed a CONTRACT, he is considered egotistical and full of himself.


Wow.

18 Feb 2015 16:30:00
Ive watched the academy regularly since around 2008, some players have shone and looked like they had a very good chance at making it at the top level but seemed to do nothing afterwards and drop down to the lower leagues. Ones that stood out were De La Valle, Amoo, Morgan, Silva, Nemeth, Coady and i'm sure there is more. Most of these are all coincidently attacking players, which player do you remember standing out and not making it?

{Ed002's Note - The club has a good bunch coming through now.}

Is Rossiter much better then Coady was at the same stage? Always thought Coady would break through. Both seem to be/have been dubbed the next Gerrard or Gerrards replacement in waiting.

Same question for Dunn and Morgan. Is Dunn much better then Morgan? Didn't Morgan break a few records in his time in the youth squad?

18 Feb 2015 23:46:01
Nemeth was a goal machine for the youth, so was Morgan. Coady, I think was predicted big things, but so was Stephen Derby, for a time. I remember Craig Linfield scoring hat loads and being likened as "the new Fowler".

Neil Mellor had more success than many over the recent years, although I think his knee's held him back. But he helped us against Olympiacos. (Mellor tells a great story of Morientes making sure the young lads got on the field after the penalty shoot out against A.C Milan, with armed guards refusing them to get on. But they recognised Morientes and were ready to let him on, but Morientes made sure all the youth got on as well to savour the experience.) Great story, the sort of thing you'll never forget and can't buy.

Suso is one of the most recent highly thought of youngsters that hasn't gone on to make it, for us at least. Ed001 will probably know scores of players over the years, but that me wracked of brain juice. XD

19 Feb 2015 04:52:06
i really liked dani pacheco , i thought he was great prospect but probably not our youth product

19 Feb 2015 07:47:56
Adam Philips , Pedro chirivella, Jordan rossiter, Harry Wilson , Sheyi ojo, Jerome Sinclair , Ryan Kent are all highly rated! Ed2 who is regarded as been the top prospect ?? Ojo??
Thanks

{Ed002's Note - Ojo}

18 Feb 2015 15:23:23
Question for Ed033.

Is the site dynamic enough that you can have an ad-free version for a subscription? I'd happily pay, given the maount of time I spend on here, and would be pleased not to have the ads.

Appreciate the fact that as a free site, you need to generate revenue, and therefore for those unwilling or unable to pay, you would still generate ad revenue. ?

{Ed033's Note - in order to spend the time developing advert free sites for all our sites for logged in users, we'd have to charge £20 per month per user, but who would pay that?

18 Feb 2015 16:31:34
Just use google chrome as your browser and in the >settings> extensions install the adblock. That will remove all adverts bar the video stream at the top. best of all, the advertisers won't know and it won't affect the revenue for the Eds. They still get the money, you don't get the adverts. Jobs a good 'un.

18 Feb 2015 17:45:08
Fair enough! Thanks both!

Is that true Eds, that the sites still get the revenues if we use adblock? I mean they are annoying but i'm happily declining offers of cougar fun if the alternative meant you wouldn't get the revenue

{Ed001's Note - I have no idea mate, sorry.}

18 Feb 2015 13:18:23
Running a club like a business. Without money football wouldn't exist or at least not to the full potential its reached today with 10s and thousands of fans attending each top level match and worldwide television broadcasting. Without the business element to the game, many of us wouldn't be able to see a live game or even games on the television circuit so its crucial the business element of the club is being run correctly but most importantly sensibly.

I want to use Chelsea as a good example of a club with a clever business strategy which has set the bench mark for other clubs in the league. Whilst there academy may only generate small profits, it's in fact their scouting and also their eye for a good business strategy which sees them make more than they spent most windows. By still retaining top class talent in their squad they have bought in players in the shape of De Bruyne, Lukakau, Piazon, Atsu, Kakuta, Romeu etc at what look very good prices, loaning them out to prove one's selves and being sold for considerable more than what they initially paid whilst the players themselves aren't rotting on a bench but getting game time and progressing their careers. If only Liverpool could have been smarter in the previous windows, I guess the reason behind Chelsea's great business strategy is the fact they have a team of people running each department with delegated responsibilities across the board. Mourinho, can then focus on the coaching side whilst scouts continue their good work in looking to recruit the next talents. Instead, we are practically being run by one man, who quite frankly thinks he knows it all and its totally skinting the owners pockets which then leads to catastrophic effects going forward to the next windows.

Im using Chelsea as the great British example but you only have to look abroad to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich who all adopt a similar ethos. If we could start again with all this then I personally would press the reset button and employ a committed structured team to run our club correctly but seeing as we are in this sell to buy situation we must act quickly and re-couperate some of our losses in the sales of those with no futures at the club. In my opinion, we have been greedy in our asking prices and silly in our purchases we need men with brains to run Liverpool's recruitment as a business. i'm not saying we need to go through another years worth of change or as Brendan would say transition but the target for this summer should be approach experienced footballing people who can come in and get on with it immediately. My only fear is Rodgers won't be happy with somebody coming in which would mean a change of manager which I personally don't think would help the club. We are in a position where Rodgers is our head coach but needs help and I hope he see's that it is in the best interest of the club he accepts it.

Our commercial guys haven't done a bad job what so ever in winning some good sponsorship deals and putting the club back on the platform on a commercial level. I see our best route into matching the footballing finances with the commercial financial success would be through our academies for now and I think developing what we have within the club amongst the players we have bought in will be the best route into getting the FFP off our backs. We spent big in the last window, a overhaul some would say, I don't see why we would need to spend big again this window? if we can operate the club in the next 2/3 seasons without spending big money our books will then be balanced much better. I think its probably the only way to get out of the situation we are in.

I'm no football expert myself and expect some opinions off the back of this and welcome them in all honesty. I know us Liverpool fans hate being compared to Chelsea also because 'We Are Liverpool' and all that nonsense but be can be the team of yesterday guys we need to be the team of today.

My little rant over.

18 Feb 2015 13:51:21
Nobody had ever heard of Chelsea before Roman Abramovic. You've used an example of where one of the richest men in the WORLD, have taken over a football club and saying we should copy suit.
We've spent massive amounts of money on awful players too often and that's why we aren't one of Europe's elite anymore. Simple.
And it has nothing to do with Chelsea or pre-Roman or Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink with his shorts pulled up to his chin

{Ed001's Note - wow you really are ignorant if you believe any of that crap! Embarrassing post. Just because the investment came from Abramovic, does not mean it was invested poorly. Perhaps you should try reading and digesting information, then you will understand that your whole post was completely idiotic. You are basically backing up the point but don't even understand what it was, because you are too busy trying to bitch at Chelsea. Sad.}

18 Feb 2015 14:37:29
Speaking of Chelsea, I hope they find every one of the racists in that video, and ban them for life, as well as make them do time in jail. There's no room for that garbage in the world.

18 Feb 2015 15:19:33
Completely agree with my fruity friend, I posted something very similar further down in response to another thread.

I also think we shouldn't ignore the fact that under Moore's stewardship, we were utterly woeful at maximising the commercial opportunities presented by the launch and early years of the EPL. This allowed other clubs to motor past us in terms of commercialisation and revenue generation.

Overlay that with the larger investment in clubs like Chelsea and City, and the greater earning capacity (through larger stadia amongst other things) of Utd & Arsenal, and you can see why we are now playing catchup. Hopefully not too little too late.

{Ed001's Note - Moores turned down the chance to enlarge Anfield as he would have had to invest his own money. The money he would have had to invest was a lot less than he had earnt from the club for doing nothing. The man was a disgrace.}

Great Post A A.
Completely wrong there dbol, just because they have the money, they still have to use it wisely.

Shame about the Chelsea fans. The incident on the Paris metro was an absolute disgrace, that was as bad as anything I have seen in football

Moore and rick parry sold us to hicks and Gillette, I have nothing to do with more anymore, I won't name his company but we buy nothing off them ever

18 Feb 2015 19:03:37
Right because they weren't millions in debt like Liverpool, not challenging for anything like Liverpool pre Roman Abramovic?
They invest brilliantly sacking manager after manager and buying Torres, Schevchenko oh and paying nearly 6 million for Yossi Benayoun.
They're a complete joke 'just like our club' but the difference is ROMAN can pay the top wages and get the top managers so they'll eventually win everything. In a few seasons You lot will be telling me how well run Manchester City is.
There's only United and Arsenal that are run well and that's because of Fergie and Wenger

{Ed001's Note - you are so ignorant it is really getting embarrassing now! That is the most idiotic rant full of crap I have ever seen. You do realise it is money that has given Man Utd their trophies? You really are clueless.}

Liverpool have always spent big money in comparison to many other clubs over the decades.

Regardless what some people say, we've had it easy at times.

DBol, your responses to the OP may be your opinion BUT it wreaks of bitterness, jealousy and a lack of vision. All you are doing is draggin up old news and cliches that don`t even apply to Chelsea anymore. N BTW, Chelsea picked up the odd trophy under Ken Bates including a European Winners` Cup in 1998 (Zola scored the winner vs Stutgart), FA Cups and League Cups as well. What Chelsea is doing now is a model that IMO, the owners are trying to do w/ LFC and by God, is it working. Footie is too complicated and it is useless to think one man can do everything which is why BR should be forced to get help or be sacked because we cannot allow his ego to get in the way of our progress. It is also useless to diminish Chelsea`s obvious success down to RA and his money. That is just disingenuous and dishonesty because we know it is NOT true. It is your type of attitude that has gotten us nowhere for over 2 decades as we have spent money on doing the WRONG things and Chelsea has done well for themselves and we need to do the same. If we don`t, we will NOT win the PL in my lifetime, simple as.

Man United generated their own money through gate money, television, sponsorship, etc, so they were entitled to use it to improve their team and subsequently win trophies.

That's how football should work. If teams are well managed and show good improvement, they will generate improved revenue and will be able to progress gradually. Maybe they will get promoted, then make mid-table or challenge for top 4, maybe even win a trophy.

When teams like Chelsea and Manchester City, who are ambling along doing virtually nothing, can suddenly start winning everything because a sugar daddy comes along, that is what is wrong with football and what Financial Fair Play should be there to stop.

I watched Liverpool through the good times and 24 years without a title win is too long and painful to suffer. However, I'd rather improve gradually and finally get there, as we almost did last season, than win it just because a billionaire comes along and buys it for us.

Look at it another way, we have improved in recent years to now challenge for Top 4. Imagine if all the hard work went out the window because a bored billionaire came in and bought, say, Norwich who then bought the best players and closed the opportunity for Liverpool to benefit from the improvement they have made.

As much as I hate to see United winning things, there is a massive difference in them paying £30 million of self-generated money for a player to Chelsea or City using Owners cash to buy up all the cream.

{Ed001's Note - sorry but no club can become big through just being well managed. That is simply a fallacy. They need the money to invest in the first place. Both Chelsea and Man City's owners have spent the money as a long term investment to get the clubs to a place where they can run through self generated cash. How is that a problem? It just seems to be jealousy that is the problem. Why shouldn't a small club have a chance to compete because of a sugar daddy anyway? Why shouldn't they have that? Why should the top of the league be a boring closed shop for just the big clubs? It is that arrogance that is destroying football and making it so much less exciting than it was before the Prem came along. Football has become a business, not a sport because of these arrogant ideas of blocking out anyone else but the top dogs competing.}

Brian clough at Forrest maybe an exception?

Peter Robinson. .
That is who we need.

Man utd spent a small fortune on players in the 80's and early 90's to win the league. They were wise in continued investment on the pitch thereafter and building the commercial aspects that has reaped rewards over the years.( they got a bit lucky with those 5 youth players too!) it's no different to what Chelsea have done in the past and what city did recently( shame we were so irresponsible with the money we invested) Hard to see any new comers breaking into the top 6 on a regular basis now the rules have changed as they all have FFP to worry about. Mind you with LVG spending money like it's going out of fashion and having zero effect on the pitch hopefully he'll send them bust :)

18 Feb 2015 11:43:26
Can we send Manquillo back at the end of this season without any sort of financial sanctions? I know Atletico could recall him but I wouldn't see why they'd want to do that. I'm hoping Rodgers might realise that Wisdom is a better option for RWB and he could also play RCB. Even with Johnson likely to go we still have Flanagan and the likes of McLaughlin still coming through.

I'd send him back to just save on his weekly wage next season and allow our own youngsters the chance instead. Also at the moment we're not even using any RB's as Rodgers is playing wingers there so we're way overstocked in my opinion.

18 Feb 2015 12:24:27
I actually disagree that Wisdom is better for RWB, but he's definitely a great RCB option to have. Like you, I fail to see the general point in having Manquillo

I don't rate Manquillo. I think he's caught in between being a full back and a wing back. He charges forward too soon, is indecisive when he does get forward, and then can't get back in time when possession is lost. Great engine. Complete lack of any game intelligence or real pace.

He isn't defensively good enough to be a top full back. He isn't offensively good enough to be a top wing back. So what do you do with him?

He would be a good squad player to have, but so would Flanagan, McLaughlin or Wisdom. For me, signing another right back is crazy and Manquillo shouldn't have been signed in the first place. We also have Randall in the U21's doing very well.

I disagree I like him alot. Feel he needs a chance

Mate of mine is a Baggies fan and he has said that Wisdom has the turning circle of the QE2 and isn't really very good at right back, personally I think Illori might be better at RCB than Wisdom.

@hjikle, I see what you mean and I do agree in terms of suitability WB isn't as good for Wisdom as FB or CB.

@EMS, I agree with you except I'd go a little further in that I don't think he's stuck in between FB and WB for his best position. I think he lacks quality going forward to be considered a better WB but his positioning, even when playing RB in a back four, is miles off. When he was RB I'd imagine his heat map would have looked more like he was playing right wing - way too far forward for me and didn't add enough of an attacking threat to say it would justify him being there with a DM covering.

In general from initial responses people tend to agree we don't need him anyway. Also Rodgers has been playing Markovic, Ibe and Henderson in the current system so for me I'd be very happy losing both Johnson and Manquillo this summer without purchasing someone new for RWB.

I really rated Manquillo as a huge prospect. The beginning of the season before this system, he looked great made great attacking runs and was very positive. His tracking back has tremendous pace. He's only around 20yrs old adapting to new country and expectations.
I'd like Ilori back for CB competition and keep Manquillo on perm deal if possible.

Get rid of Johnson, who's poor and costly. Flanno, well I don't know much about his injury but not many players come back the same after a season out, how reaccuring is it? Not sure on Wisdom as an improvement, but 50/50 at WBA so far. Be interesting to see him under an organised manager like Pulis.

Wisdom is a solid defender but uninspiring going forward. All he can do is turn and pass it back.

18 Feb 2015 21:55:18
I think Manquillo's looked better than Wisdom at RB this season, and he's been a bit unlucky that he hasn't featured much since the start of the season because of the formation change - and no-one played particularly well at the start of the season.

Not sure on Wisdom, TBH. Ilori on the other hand, should defo be given a fair chance because he has the pace, the skill, the ability to be a fine CB in a back three for sure, IMO.

Wisdom has played well when he has put a Liverpool shirt on.
I don't care what West Brom fans think about him to be honest as loan players are usually the scapegoats.(Moses last season??)
Wisdom should have been here this season learning in and around the first team. Instead he is not playing and we have a Madrid player not playing but we are paying his wages!!!! Bizzare.

Have to disagree about loan players being scapegoats, Moses was just terrible and just didn't make an effort, compare that with Nicholas Anelka when he was on loan? What my mate has said is that he also lacks concentration and is prone to making a mistake, maybe Pulis can beat that out of him and if he can then maybe we will benefit. But as it stands I would prefer Illori at RCB as he looks a better long term prospect as he is the better footballer technically.

19 Feb 2015 14:01:05
I see a lot of confidence and praise for Ilori here. Just wondering what the basis for this is. PLEASE do not take this the wrong way, I just mean he has barely played for us (if at all?) He made only a handful of appearances for Granada and the same this season for Bordeaux due to injuries.

I hope he can return next season and compete for a starting place is he is good enough, of course I do, especiallly if we continue with 3 at the back.

I guess the difference between him and Wisodm, for me is that living in Derby I saw Wisdom play a lot last year for the rams and also we've been able to keep an eye this year when WBA play. As a fan, I know what we'd get with Wisdom - with Ilori less so.

One things for sure, a decison needs to made on both their futures come summer. Another season-loan for them both would be terrible and essentially end their careers with us. Bring them back and into the squad or sell. Same with Aspas and Alberto, I think.

{Ed001's Note - so what do you think of Wisdom?}

18 Feb 2015 10:35:33
I feel that Milner would be an excellent signing on a free. Skilful, hard working, experienced and proven in the Prem.

Very good player and versatile. The only thing is what's his best position?

Only thing is he won't be free, he will be on stupid wages with his signing on fee included.

Mighty reds, He could play either centre mid or right wing back in our current system. A good utility player to have. Wages are my only worry.

I can't see him going for stupid wages.

Some one of his ability for me should be within a top 4 chasing side.

United is awash with mids same with arsenal and spurs, chelsea have no need for him, city letting him go.

That pretty much leaves us & southampton as champions league chasers that may interest him. I think he'd be a regular starter too.

If he goes to a team like westham, swansea etc I feel he will be wasting his talents, in simply securing higher places for these teams, rather than chasing medals.

18 Feb 2015 12:29:37
Pet hate of mine that Lavers! Sure, you're correct. But the players we pay money for also come with the same wages/signing fees. This is rarely mentioned when we're in for X player worth £30m so why is it such a big thing when the player in question could be signed without a fee paid to a different club?

Not having a pop, just saying it's a pet hate of mine, in the grand scheme of things in the net pay of transfers should Milner sign, it will say £0.

Obviously wages etc aren't taken into account but I'm sure you can see where I'm coming from here.

{Ed001's Note - sorry but players on a free get a much higher signing bonus and ask for much higher wages generally. So your pet hate is simply you being wrong. Players being bought for a fee will come with much lower associated costs, they get a percentage of the transfer fee instead.}

Personally, I wouldn't rule out a move abroad for him Bob. Bayern, PSG, Atletico, Roma, Dortmund, Juventus etc.

More and more english players seem to be doing it recently and all of those teams could well be looking for a versatile midfielder this summer.

Exactly ed

When joe cole came wasn't he on over 100 grand a week because his signing on fee was tied into his wage.

Degan was another 60-70 grand a week or something stupid.

Can anyone remember us getting someone for "free" and actually working out for us?

Gary Mac was good, Markus Babel was good until that illness, but other than that they have been rotten.

Personally, I hope we avoid Milner as I don't he is a good a prospect on a long term deal, seem to remember the last 29 year old that we signed on a free from an oil money team didn't work out that well either and we spent most of the time trying to rid ourselves of him.

Not a fan of Milner at all, as he is not a particularly brilliant wide player and not a particularly brilliant CM either when you compare the total outlay for him.

In my opinion, he is a Hodgson type player, lots of running around and not much intelligence.

@bobatron, City want him to stay and sign an extension.

Also Man Utd are looking for another midfielder. You would never know with Spurs. If Everton were to sell someone like Barkley I think he'd also be an option there.

18 Feb 2015 13:55:57
Kolo Toure has been decent.

Lavers
Kolo Toure

18 Feb 2015 15:21:49
Signing fee = x amount
Percentage of fee = x amount

My point was they're still there for both set of players. Yet the second seems to be overlooked completely or ignored.

Would it not be fair to suggest that although player B who came with a transfer fee receives less personally, but the overall outlay is larger.

Ultimately, if the player is seen as the best option free or not, the club pay the bill not us, we should be backing whoever it is.

{Ed001's Note - how is it ignored? It is included in the transfer fee. I don't think you are making sense at all.}

18 Feb 2015 15:56:47
I meant by fans, by and large the signing fees are only ever talked or debated when a player is signed on a 'free'. Or should I say, many are opposed to such signings because of it, yet are more than happy when the club sanctions £30m deals.

I just don't understand the necessity to obsess over a signing on fee which may be slightly larger yet the overall outlay will be lessened as there isn't a big transfer fee involved.


But to clarify: lavers said he won't be on a free due to the signing fee and wages (which are still there for a player you 'buy'). Which if you want to be really picky is correct. But other than paying the player for his services, there's no larger outlay to a club or third party, which is why many see it as a free.


Anyway, whether I'm wrong or right, hopefully that at least makes a little bit of sense.

18 Feb 2015 16:08:01
A player's signing-on fee doesn't come out of the transfer fee we pay to their club, that wouldn't make any sense. It's always an extra expense.

It is true that free transfers generally command significant signing-on fees, but that's not money you wouldn't give to a player worth the same amount.

In fact, the administrative fees involved in free transfers are often significantly lower, mostly due to the reduced role of the agent (who negotiates with only the buying club rather than both the buying and selling clubs).

Players on a free are the most expensive, thatns to none other than Jean Marc Bosman, the Belgian player who made players as rich as they are today (wonder what has become of him?). Why do you think players let their contracts whind down? It is so they can get the sign on bonus, negotiate their on wages and get a huge sign on fee. IMO, you cannot get all that if you extend our contract. The Ed`s can correct me any second now.

So you're telling me that over the course of 2 years, the signing of sakho has cost more than toure? in terms of cashflow?

18 Feb 2015 08:22:57
Eds, I thought Can was bought to be Gerrard replacement, is that not the case?

If so what position was Can bought to play in?

Thanks guys.

{Ed001's Note - he was bought as a midfielder.}

If I remember correctly, he was brought in as a replacement for lucas, but lucas ended up staying.