Use our rumours form to send us liverpool transfer rumours.
20 Jun 2015 23:32:12
just want to know whether liv have interest to sign one of Colombian def.
They have heigh and body strength which i think can improve our back four. and maybe suitable to play at epl too
{Ed030's Note - You want the club to sign more defenders? The club has an abundance of defenders at the club at the moment, which is why Clyne seems an odd signing. }
20 Jun 2015 23:22:56
A certain media outlet reporting FSG are wanting to sell the club ASAP.
{Ed030's Note - Try a search on FSG and Ed002 has talked a little about what he expects FSG'S plan is. }
21 Jun 2015 00:14:21
They;re clueless.
It would be interesting to see if they did put LFC up for sale, would they sell to highest bidder or preferred bidder ?
If they turned a profit, I don' think that they'd be bothered.
The only problem would be who we'd end up with.
But FSG are a baseball outfit. Full stop.
21 Jun 2015 01:18:41
Yeah they own one
Of the best baseball franchises in the country. I don't get all this hatred towards fsg. They're going to make mistakes. But what makes them good owners is they'll keep making changes until they get it right. They're new to this business, but We are very fortunate to have fsg as owners of our club. You short sighted buffoons that hate on them forgot we got second place thanks to the signings they funded in Suarez coutinho and Sturridge. We got just within reach of winning the league. Rewind to before they took over and who would've predicted second. Heck we were barely in the top half. Show some respect and stop whining for whinings sake. It's getting embarrassing. Sure I don't think they should've kept Rodgers but a year before that half of us were thinking he was going to go to a bigger club anyways. They think it's the best decision right now and I'm tired of the managerial merry go round, so we have no choice but to stick with it. If you wanna cry then go watch something else.
{Ed030's Note - There is one massive change they need to make in order to 'get it right' . }
21 Jun 2015 02:02:43
So you think they keep making changes till they get it right tj. But they couldn't see that rodgers is the problem.
21 Jun 2015 02:27:28
I agree I think Rodgers should be gone. But, it's not going to happen so stop the constant whining. They clearly think Rodgers deserves a little more time and they've been more than generous with their investment into the team. So regardless of whether or not I agree with their decision, I'm behind the owners 100%
{Ed030's Note - Whether it's going to happen or not, Rodgers is massively under performing therefore the owners must take action. It's down to FSG to make the right decision. }
21 Jun 2015 09:01:27
The fans have a right to whine . The dogs on the street can see that rodgers is a moran. Buying players for the sake of it. Most of them never get a chance. He's ruined a lot of young players. Sterling is leaving because of him, who's next probably coutino. Maybe he suits fsg maybe they want to turn it into a selling club. We were here before they were heard tell of and we'll be here when their gone. Hopefully soon'er rather than later. We have a clueless manager and clueless owners.
21 Jun 2015 09:40:13
You forgot clueless fans, always right (an ironic username no doubt)
20 Jun 2015 21:06:38
Mandzukic and kongodbia - seem to be off to juventus and Inter. Would have loved both of them at LFC. Ed. what's your thoughts on mandzukic ?? I find the comparison to dzeko a little simplistic.
{Ed030's Note - Very unfair to compare Mandzukic to Dzeko, Mandzukic is far more hardworking and offers a lot more to his team than Dzeko does, also a better finisher than Dzeko. }
21 Jun 2015 00:07:47
Thanks Ed. definitely agree. I think he's a very good player and plays the lone striker role well. As you said he is very hard working And offers a lot to the team. Good buy for Juventus - and at the price (I think it's £14m) seems to be snip for a proven goal scorer - would have loved him at LFC.
{Ed030's Note - No problem. }
20 Jun 2015 22:42:01
I know some of you are going to think i've had a few but why don't we do a deal with Utd and do a swap involving sterling abd di maria?
{Ed030's Note - Never ever going to happen. }
20 Jun 2015 23:11:14
Cos di Maria is on silly money and he wouldn't come regardless . and more to it also
20 Jun 2015 23:17:25
Agree you've had a drink or two!
20 Jun 2015 23:30:27
Why would we want to do that?
Di Maria was hardly pulling up many trees last season. If Citeh are prepared to pay £40m for Sterling, we can use that money better than spending it all on Di Maria.
21 Jun 2015 01:06:22
Wouldn't swap di Maria for sterling, no chance
21 Jun 2015 01:52:55
I don't drink by the way 😠. My point is when we have cash we just don't seem to know who to get, Rodgers buy players like shopping on ebay where quality looks good but when it gets delivered it looks cheap and nasty, so my thought is that we are best to involve a player in the deal, maybe nagredo
21 Jun 2015 01:55:27
Aren't we in the same possition as scum were last season? What did they do went out offered silly wages and got some half decent players, we just want to pay national minimum wage hence we lose out on our big targets.
20 Jun 2015 21:49:26
to be realistic we won't get any top players until we are in the champs league and being in the top 3 again until that happens we are going to sign players with potential
i know a lot of people rate danny ings but its not the type of player we were signing in the 80s , and until we astart to sign the type of players we used to do we will stay were we are
BR is not the right manager for our club as i think the club is too big for him , you won't see any top managers buying the players we have except for Milner who will turn out to be the signing of the season
so i am looking forward to another up and down season with the same tactics and the changes to formations and players being played out of position , wich won't be good for the team or the players in my opinion tony pulis would be better than BR
{Ed030's Note - Man Utd proved last year that you don't champions league to attract most top quality players, You just offer the wages. }
20 Jun 2015 22:47:20
Utd signed Daley blind, Marcus Rojo, Luke Shaw and di Maria none of which I would call top quality in my opinion
{Ed030's Note - You would not call Di Maria top quality? With a few of their signings there was champions league clubs interested in a few of them but Utd ended up getting them. }
20 Jun 2015 22:47:48
mbrock 99
I couldn't agree more.
If nothing changes.
Just wait till December !
20 Jun 2015 23:04:15
Liverpool did not always buy big name players when we were at our best in the 70's and 80's
Clemence
Grobelaar
Neal,
Hansen
Lawro
Kennedy
Case
Macdermot
Hughes
Souness
Wheelan
Rush
Aldridge
Dalgleish
Keegan
Molby
Nicol
Fowler
Barnes
and many more. The big transfers we did make were probably Collymore and Beardsley so its not just about making big name signings its making the right signings for the team and managing them correctly.
20 Jun 2015 23:11:38
Don't get me wrong he was a good player in Spain surrounded by better players. Then moves to Utd who to be fair do not have many if any quality players and he has struggled badly and is shown to be an above average player who hides.
{Ed030's Note - I will admit he not performed to his best last season and nor for Argentina however his quality is evident as you will have seen if you watched him regularly for Madrid and Real Madrid, He does however have floors such as, lack of positional awareness and diving/cheating. }
20 Jun 2015 23:17:27
The amount of fans stuck a in the 70s 80s is sickening
20 Jun 2015 23:28:00
Barnes was a British record buy when we bought him - but you're perspective is right, most of those were bought because of their potential - sadly times have changed and potential isn't good enough, and doesn't win you trophies.
20 Jun 2015 23:29:52
Ed030
I would certainly agree re the wages argument, but another massive reason in United attracting "name" players was the Manager - Rodgers simply doesn't hold that "X" factor by which players want to play under or for him . he never has and never will!
Further, with FSG's stance/policy on transfers (buy young "potential" talent with resale viability) the team will always be chasing their tails. I recall the owners soon after the purchase of the club passing certain comments (of similar ilk) re transfers, and how they couldn't get over (comprehend), how a player could cost £50,000,000, go to training, break a leg, never really recover and the club get nothing . this for mine was an insight into the future plans, which are only reinforced by the Transfer Committee.
Irrespective of what happened in 2013/14 (Suarez genius) I personally cannot see the club ever really challenging for the Title again whilst this policy is in place - pessimistic perhaps, but the truth.
{Ed030's Note - I have no doubting FSG's strategy, However the right manager and coaching team needs to be in place to develop young players. We have bought some of Europe's best youngsters such as Markovic and Moreno but the right system is not in place to develop these players. Under Klopp I honestly think we would definitely achieved top 4 with top 2 being a possibility. }
20 Jun 2015 23:32:35
Times have changed move on football doesn't work like that now love it or loathe it.
20 Jun 2015 23:33:34
Man Utd sign Di Maria when they weren't even in Europa League.
We signed Suarez when we weren't anywhere near top 4.
Yet we sell Suarez as soon as we get Champs League.
How many world class players did we sign last summer? Sanchez turned us down and we had Champs League.
Sorry the facts don't support your theory.
20 Jun 2015 21:40:53
i really think we are missing a trick here with ilori , he looks class and BR won't play him we could have saved the money on lovren and played ilori instead especially with the season lovren had
21 Jun 2015 09:56:56
He's been incapable of staying fit long enough to be a regular at Granada and Bordeaux who are nowhere near our level.
I'd love this guy to be a success but why do people ignore the facts?
He's played well in a game at kiddie international level - that doesn't make him the new messiah.
20 Jun 2015 20:46:51
Emre Can again looking spectacular in midfield for Germany U21's. He has to move into midfield this coming season.
20 Jun 2015 20:43:41
Emre Can - case for midfield spot:
Score from midfield - check
Create from midfield - check
Lets hope Brendan is paying attention! Having a brilliant tournament with Germany so far.
{Ed030's Note - That ticks every box for him to become the new RB then. }
20 Jun 2015 23:29:22
No with BR's record of playing people out of position - reckon Can is lined up as Mignolets replacement.
20 Jun 2015 17:59:16
Hey eds!
Have you heard anything on moussa sissoko?
Is he available for transfer?
Do u see us looking at him this window??
Thankyou!
{Ed030's Note - The interest in Sissoko dated back to when Comolli was at the club. }
20 Jun 2015 17:39:15
Hello eds. Is there any truth that we are interested in Napoli winger Dries Mertens?
{Ed030's Note - I highly doubt it. }
20 Jun 2015 19:01:56
Whats everyones thoughts on kevin Volland. Plays with firmino at Hoffenheim and is starting tonight for Germany under 21s.
20 Jun 2015 19:26:21
Excellent player, but not needed.
20 Jun 2015 21:37:58
Emre Can with a superb assist for Volland this evening. El Nose will continue to play him at RB or on the bench though such is his tactical genius
21 Jun 2015 11:12:59
So in 2 games played in his correct position for Germany, Emre has done more than he managed the entire season for Liverpool playing out of position. A brilliant goal the other day and another brilliant assist today!! well done to the "tactical genius BR"
20 Jun 2015 18:58:15
Alex song for 5m? I'd take him 100%
{Ed001's Note - why?}
20 Jun 2015 21:11:20
He's not good enough plus we already have enough midfielders.
There are far better options out there in that position
{Ed030's Note - He truly is awful. }
20 Jun 2015 20:22:30
Oh dear wrong page. Yeah he'd be good for you.
20 Jun 2015 20:21:59
Do you mean in a fight? I think he would be a squad player. We need better. I want someone (or quite a few) that on a midweek game in CL against the best I get a feeling almost man for man the we can take them, I wouldn't get that with Song.
20 Jun 2015 20:22:30
Oh dear wrong page. Yeah he'd be good for you.
20 Jun 2015 18:50:56
Eds,just wondering, with regards to naming rights for the Stands, is this the new part that is being developed or does it include existing stands?
{Ed001's Note - the idea is to gradually name all the stands. Probably hoping to rename the stadium in the future too.}
20 Jun 2015 21:39:57
How about 'the Brendan Rodgers' Stadium'? All you would need is a statue of the Fat Controller outside and it would be perfect
20 Jun 2015 17:32:53
Any one else find it wierd that we've made 4 new signings and our manager hasn't made a comment ???? And if he's on holiday who's talking to the players ???!
20 Jun 2015 19:02:41
Give him a break! I'm not a fan of him but I think people need to stop being so ridiculously critical at times
20 Jun 2015 19:14:33
He might have used something called a phone?
Joe Gomez has had a wee chat with him as he's told us today.
Stand the conspiracy theory down.
20 Jun 2015 19:51:10
Maybe someone has told him to stop running to the media at every single opportunity because he comes across as a fool?
20 Jun 2015 19:58:24
Now I saw the picture of Gomez on the rooftop, it very well could have been via carrier pigeon.
20 Jun 2015 21:24:24
He's on holidays in Spain
20 Jun 2015 17:39:57
Long time reader haven't posted in quite a while but i'm killing time in work and to be honest i'm fed up of reading posts from people asking the same repatative questions and slating players that have yet to kick a ball for us!!
Liverpool are NOT the draw they once where its not fifa and our owners are NOT going to buy the superstars we all crave.personally il settle for players that will give there all for liverpool fc and actually want to play for us not just pick up the wage.
The majority of us want rodgers out but is whinging and moaning the liverpool way??
20 Jun 2015 18:54:18
Think slowly and gradually it has become.
Unfortunatly.
20 Jun 2015 19:31:31
Dont get me wrong i'd love ancelloti or klopp and a marco reus lacazette type of player but it ain going to happen it about time people realised
milner good buy
ings good buy
bogdan terrible but there u r i feel llori really needs his chance this year an push ojo an sinclair up get rid of balo lambo and the lion maybe get austin an as good a dm we can attract
20 Jun 2015 14:51:39
Some media reports indicating were interested in Lucas Ocampus and Aymen Abdennour of Monaco. Anything to go on here Eds?
{Ed002's Note - Nope.}
20 Jun 2015 16:40:41
*Utd Fan in peace*
What's your thoughts on the signings so far?
Milner seems a good buy but not sure Ings, Gomez, Origi and Bogdan are going to progress your team much and I'd be pretty disappointed.
Personally I think it seems like the end of both the Rafa and Houlier eras ie Salif Diao, Diouf, Ngog. Signings but that said for every Diouf there was a Torres.
Perhaps once Sterling goes a couple of elite level players will come in.
20 Jun 2015 17:14:21
It is all set up UTD ROAD for one o two top level players "now that might not mean world class (50/60mil)" but it could mean some much better player(s) for our starting 11.
Right now we have a solid squad capable of playing numerous games per season without over working many players "If our manager can use the rotation to affect" but we haven't an xfactor in th squad or a top player in any of the positions within the team.
Who they bring in next should be foe the starting 11!
If that is going to be Kovacic and/or Firmino with potenially Clyne. They will be clear upgrades on our weakest postions, and therefore it would be a very good transfer window!
A gk is much needed but unlikely to happen.
Mignolet
Clyne
Skrtle
Lovren/Sakho
Moreno
Hendo
Kovacic
Lallana
Coutinho
Ibe
Ings (sturridge when fit)
Origi/ings
Milner
Marko
Allen/Lucas
Can
Toure/wisdom/ilori?
Bogdan
It is a strong team with our without the extra signings I just mentioned but how far it can go without first 11 improvment I'm not so sure.
How do you feel use are doing over there? Where do you feel there is need for improvement and who would you like the club to sign?
20 Jun 2015 17:17:06
Maybe you should support Liverpool? You sound like you care!
20 Jun 2015 17:33:04
Written down those names don't look scary I'd agree. But how much did Balotelli & Lovren improve us?
Di Maria, Valdes & Falcao are sexy names but Blind contributed more than all 3 combined for your lot.
My honest opinion is we'll be closer to top 4 this season but will end up 5th. As long as the quality of football improves I'll be happier. Last season was a disjointed mess. One to forget. Like yours the season before!
20 Jun 2015 17:34:02
Milner is an improvement on an ageing gerrard, bogdan is an improvement on jones, gomez will be quality in a year or two! Origi and ings add a bit of firepower we lacked last season with suarez leaving, sturridge constantly being injured, borini falling out with rodgers, rodgers lack of faith in lambert and we all know about ballotelli! Sterling leaving could be a godsend, i for one believe he is overrated and has an arrogance about him i don't like, when i met the players last year, i would replace him with ibe, bring in firmino and kovacic! Simple lol
20 Jun 2015 17:49:27
I'm happy with Milner and Ings. I know nothing of Origi or the young defender Gomez, however, Bogdan I've no idea why we signed him.
20 Jun 2015 18:15:00
There's too much focus on new signings.
If we get last summer's signings to play to their potential then we'll be ok. The game is played on grass not in the transfer market so I'll wait and see.
20 Jun 2015 18:31:16
Depends how it finishes, i'd expect 2/3 first team types to come in yet.
Id be happy with,
Clyne
Benteke
Kovacic
Granted not my personal first choices but think they would all add something to the first 11 if used right, which will be a suprise if they were.
20 Jun 2015 19:35:40
TBH I'm probably one of the few United fans who do "care" well not quite care but curious. Don't get me wrong I want United to be above Liverpool every season. However my Grandad is a mad Kopite and I love to bits and the company I work for has season tickets so I get to see you lot a fair bit and I've got a bit of respect for the club stands for.
I'm not saying Di Maria and Falcao at what you need but I don't see signings like Saurez, Alonso, Agger etc who where well respected as talented players but hadn't made that next step.
I honestly think the signings are mediocre at best and doesn't close the gap in those above you guys. For example if Spurs and Southampton buy well I think they will close the gap on Liverpool where as you should be looking to catch Utd and City.
20 Jun 2015 19:45:03
@Redman I'm not sure how things are looking to be fair on the transfer front, all quiet and without 002 we are all in the dark. What is good for you is that you are getting your business done early.
I appreciate what you say about Firmino and to add to that a Benzema, Higuin, Lacazette etc would turn that list on its head but is it going to happen. Depay would have been good for LFC too and perhaps a better move for him.
I go buy the rule that if a rival signs someone and you wish either you'd signed them or think "that's a good signing" it is a good one. I look at the signings you've mad so far think meh.
Good examples of this rule in a positive would be Sanchez at Arsenal and perhaps Cech if he goes to Arsenal.
Also re Valdes, di Maria and Falcao, it's an easy shot but Valdes was no.2 keeper recovering from injury, Falcoa recovering from injury and mismanaged and di Maria started well but burned out and ultimately doesn't want to be there. That said we got what we needed 4th place (that hurts to say btw)
20 Jun 2015 20:46:13
They're decent enough signings, but we already have a veritable mob of players that are decent enough. We've got to have about the biggest (yet mostly average to good) squad in the EPL.
20 Jun 2015 20:46:13
They're decent enough signings, but we already have a veritable mob of players that are decent enough. We've got to have about the biggest (yet mostly average to good) squad in the EPL.
21 Jun 2015 00:54:25
Sad to say it but i agree with utd, not signings of a club with intent. They are the signings of a club that's content. content with where we are at and just looking to consolidate that position rather than push on. We needed only 3 top quality players, but we persist with the scatter gun approach signing 9 players every summer and always in transition. the club never learns much like our manager.
20 Jun 2015 16:12:56
Looks like were going to have Alberto back for next season Ed? Mind you we are short in that area suppose.
{Ed001's Note - it is unlikely he will have any kind of future with the club unless he does a lot of grovelling.}
20 Jun 2015 16:37:53
What did he do I know 002 said he embarrassed himself but how?
{Ed001's Note - it is really not something for discussion here mate.}
20 Jun 2015 18:04:34
Okay sorry I'm guessing it was off field issues then
20 Jun 2015 18:06:39
So there is a reason he has been exiled other than just being brendaned? Interesting
20 Jun 2015 20:04:43
Still a signing we did not need at the time because Suso and Tex were already here.
20 Jun 2015 20:33:25
It's amazing the amount of money that we piss down the drain, if we actually had a structure and a plan, a bit of knowledge we might actually be on the up. Surly now with these changes we might see a change.
20 Jun 2015 20:41:27
Dave rodgers under nightswatch kingdom
doing repeat interchanging via internationally neglecting goldfish
Pierce Brosnan for prime minister
21 Jun 2015 00:55:58
Redman if that was code you need to provide us with a cypher.
21 Jun 2015 15:07:19
I think pierce Brosnan was prime minister once, he also had a ghost writer if I'm not mistaken to help with his autobiography - worth a watcH.
Or you can say finishing second is nothihg compared to finishing first everytime :)
And a duck wouldn't need a bloody cypher
20 Jun 2015 16:11:04
Question for ed001 please,
Who signed gomez? Rodgers or the club?
Is he a player Rodgers pushed for our one that the club thought would be worth it?
Thanks
{Ed001's Note - I am under the impression that it was a joint decision. Not sure why we were so intent on signing yet another defender though!}
20 Jun 2015 18:32:13
He will replace llori as the kid that gets loaned out and never gets a chance.
20 Jun 2015 20:05:54
Exactly, we are replacing players who either don't play or contribute any thing. What club does that?
21 Jun 2015 04:37:59
Sounds like they were smoking a joint when they made the decision ed.
20 Jun 2015 15:32:49
Ed1 would kovacic and firmino both be viable if we sold sterling and both willing too come. With inter wanting £18m for kovacic and hoffenheim wanting £21m for firmino surely, sterlings sale, minus qpr's fee could cover this.
{Ed001's Note - it doesn't work like that. None of the fees will be up front full amounts.}
20 Jun 2015 16:15:26
Both players might come though Dorset Red once we shift Sterling.
20 Jun 2015 16:39:37
Thanks dezmondo heres hoping. Shame kondogbias going too inter.
20 Jun 2015 16:40:17
Just as we receive the fee in instalments we will pay our fees in instalments
20 Jun 2015 16:50:09
Is Firminho a winger or a striker I can't say I have seen too much of him? What's his best position?
{Ed001's Note - behind the striker.}
20 Jun 2015 17:11:12
He scores and makes Goals mighty reds. Very decent player indeed. Not sure how we would fit him in with all other mids but there ta go lol.
20 Jun 2015 17:19:10
we should be looking for a top class out and out striker with a good goal record as number 1 priority surely if both come the money left for striker would be less. I think one might come but not both. last year we made this mistake and ballotelli was last to come in. when sanchez went to arsenal we should of had 3 top names as alternative targets to go for before lallana, lovren, Moreno,ect. we took a chance with the last bit of money and it didn't work I hope it doesn't happen again this season
20 Jun 2015 18:20:00
Don't we have enough behind the striker players?
20 Jun 2015 19:17:53
We have so many behind-the-strikers players we can deploy them as strikers. And wing backs.
20 Jun 2015 20:06:38
And CBs
20 Jun 2015 15:26:39
So the outs this summer looking like this:-
Balotelli- club.want him moved on sell or loan
Borini- a lion in a cage wants out
Coates-wants playing time ,sunderland likely
Ilori- could go on loan as too high price
Lucas- wants regular game time
Skrtel- if he doesn't sign a new contract
Manquillo- possible loan termination
Sterling-too far gone to stay now
Alberto- going to struggle to move him on
Tbh apart from lucas and sterling will any of them be missed?
20 Jun 2015 16:26:59
Really don't understand the "too far gone to stay now comment " - I may have had my head on the sand at times - but I haven't seen a direct quote from Sterling - I've heard lots of journalists, and commentators say things - but no quote from the lad himself that he is leaving Liverpool, even in the interview,the only thing he really says is, it's about winning trophies.
We, as a club cannot carry on selling quality players.
20 Jun 2015 16:35:08
No mate none will be missed , but the bank balance will be missing a few quid because we've paid over the odds for poor to average players under BR
20 Jun 2015 16:54:14
Agree apart from Tiago Ilori, he has to make the first team next season or atleast a premiership loan where the loan club signs to a clause of 20+ games (Ex Sunderland) I would of had Sakho, Lovren, Ilori and Gomez as my four to gel in Pre-season. Kolo would never have got a new deal and Skrtel would be out the door for 8-10Mil. Upto Sakho or Lovren to tie down LCB while the other try cement RCB.
What are the chances Rodgers.
20 Jun 2015 18:01:43
Personally I don't doubt that what is driving Sterling to leave the club is the desire to win trophies. What isn't being addressed is why he is convinced liverpool won't win trophies. If he thinks that and we have another poor season next outing, then every player we've got who can walk and talk at the same time will want out this time next year.
20 Jun 2015 20:11:45
Sterling is not the only ones that think that. We are showing a severe lack of ambition and if many here think our other good players will not sense the same thing and think about their futures after another poor season, they are severely mistaken. A player like Couts if he continues to improve, won't be here that long and others will follow if we continue to dither around as we currently are, with no plan nor strategy
20 Jun 2015 20:11:45
Sterling is not the only ones that think that. We are showing a severe lack of ambition and if many here think our other good players will not sense the same thing and think about their futures after another poor season, they are severely mistaken. A player like Couts if he continues to improve, won't be here that long and others will follow if we continue to dither around as we currently are, with no plan nor strategy
20 Jun 2015 15:12:16
As we've now reached silly season I've decided to give you an i site into how various transfers work.
Explanation of transfers:
To Hijack a deal - This is when a player is travelling to complete a deal with club x but club y hijack his vehicle and bring him to their club instead. So impressed by the lengths club y have gone to he then decides to join them instead.
Club X wins race to sign player - This is a fascinating way to determine which club a player will join. When all monetary and footballing factors have led a player to still not know where to go he oftens tells the clubs to elect a member of their staff to partake in a race, the type of which is decided by the player. By all accounts Ian Ayre is a dab hand at the egg and spoon race but for obvious reasons isn't too good over 100metres.
Club X seals deal - This is basically when a club seals a player in a room and subjects him to Justin Beibers songs nonstop until he agrees to join them. Quite similar to hijack.
Club X swoops for player - This is when a member of the club will sit in a tree outside the players home and wait for him to walk underneath. They will then swoop down, put him in a bag and bring him off to the club
Club X eye player - This is when a member of the club challenges the player to a staring competition. If the club win the player is theirs
Club X move for player - This is when a club bust out their dancing shoes and show their moves for a potential signing. I've heard rumours that Ian Ayre is surprisingly nimble on his feet and loves a good Cha Cha
Club X join chase for player - Good old fashioned man hunt. Don't do many of these anymore
Club X in battle for player - Depending on the number of participants this can be a straight up duel to the death or a Royal Rumble style event of numerous clubs interested
I hope this educates the readers somewhat and reduces the amount of questions the Eds get.
20 Jun 2015 16:20:05
This was really good. 😂😂
20 Jun 2015 16:25:30
Very funny !
20 Jun 2015 17:11:35
Banter on the banter page? Whatever next.
20 Jun 2015 18:24:51
Club X is "targeting" a player = club X wants to sign a player so to make it clear to the player and his agent they paint a great big bullseye on the back of the players head.
Club X has "failed to land" player Y. = see "swooped" above. After performing the swoop, Club X attempts to drop the player into the boardroom to sign the contract. However, the player bounces off the roof and manages to escape with his agent driving the getaway vehicle.
20 Jun 2015 18:43:06
Good stuff v funny
20 Jun 2015 15:08:28
One of the arguments I read a lot from the BR fan brigade is that he is a great coach for young players.
If this is the case how come so many of them like Illori, Wisdom, Suso, Rossiter etc etc never seem to get a chance. Only Ibe seems to have come through under BR and wasn't that due to lots of injuries rather than a coaching masterpiece?
Exactly what has BR done as a "great young player coach"?
20 Jun 2015 16:29:53
Do you expect BR to personally coach all the youngsters?
I would say that's not likely.
20 Jun 2015 16:41:57
Sterling, Sturridge, Coutinho, Henderson, Ibe, Can & Flanagan have all improved under BR. All young when he got his hands on them. You don't have to be part of what you call the "fan brigade" to be fair-minded.
And if you question whether those players have improved consider their values now compared to when he first worked with them.
He's also played Sinclair, Rossiter, Williams, Smith, Suso, Alberto, Yesil, Teixeira to name just a few during his time in charge. Compare that to the teams he's competing against. Of course not all of them will make it. Same at Chelsea, Arsenal, United and the rest. How many kids have City promoted despite investing tens of millions in their academy?
And if he was as toxic and clueless as you infer then why have Origi, Ings & Gomez put their careers in his hands in the last 12 months?
It's the black and white brigade again. Life is several shades of grey my friend.
{Ed001's Note - seriously has Sterling improved? I don't see a better player than the one I watched regularly in the youth teams.
Has Sturridge improved or did he just get the chance to show what he can do? Again I remain unconvinced he improved, everyone knew he had the talent.
Coutinho, again, I don't see improvement, but then I don't get why people rave about him. He is far too inconsistent for my liking. Gives away far too many passes and play breaks down at him too much.
Henderson I will agree has improved.
Ibe? How on earth can you even dare to include him? For starters the improvement has happened while he was away from the club!
Can? Is this a joke? He started off playing well but went steadily backwards as the season went on, how on earth can you include him as being improved over the player he was?
As for Flanno, difficult to dispute or agree on that one.}
20 Jun 2015 17:11:24
Come on Ed. Sterling isn't better? Sturridge? Coutinho? Flanagan had his best season in a red shirt no quibbles. On what planet is Can not a better player than when we signed him? A few bad games don't spoil it for me. He was one of the few positives last season. Ibe did improve a lot at Derby but surely BR shaped that career progression? I'm not saying Rodgers is perfect ( far from it) but to deny the man ANY credit is unfair.
20 Jun 2015 17:18:38
Really can't get into this argument because either way you look it is good and bad, and you'll never win wih the eds (not because there always right but because there very string characters and will stick to there points - got to love em tho)
What I will say though is thank you ed for not making me the only one who struggles to see what all the fuss is about with mr inconsistentiho 😊
20 Jun 2015 18:32:53
Man City wouldn't be willing to pay around £40m if Sterling hadn't improved. Yes, he was performing at youth level, but the premier league is a different kettle of fish. He has improved his game massively but for his lack of concentration towards the end of the season.
Coutinho is quality, he has improved his game massively, but for me he has the wrong players around him. You can't expect him to be at his best when he's playing behind the likes of Balotelli and Lambert. He needs runners ahead of him, not big lumps.
To be fare to Rodgers, at least he is giving these young players game time, even if some haven't improved. I think it's easy to forget that we have a very young squad. The likes of Can, Markovic, Ibe, Sterling etc are 7/8 years off their prime and for me are ahead of their years in terms of development.
Red Rum
{Ed001's Note - how has he improved? He played better last season and in the World Cup than he has this season, so that is not improvement. He has regressed this season.
Coutinho is potential quality, but like Luis Garcia, his brilliance comes in flashes and then he is poor for a run of games. If you are clueless enough to put Lambert down as a big lump then I am wasting my time as you know nothing about football.
He is giving them game time because he is crap at buying better players to replace them, despite his best efforts to do so. Do you think Ibe would have got a game if Markovic hadn't been so poor?}
20 Jun 2015 19:06:13
He frustrates me too (Couts, not Ed01!) and I agree with Gary Nev that he doesn't do enough compared to the players in other top teams in similar positions (Silva, Oscar, Mata, Cazorla, Eriksen).
He's great to watch at times but did the magic produce anything that might win us a game? Often not.
20 Jun 2015 20:36:28
How people can say on one hand that he improved Hendo and Flanno whereas on the other hand, he wanted both players gone, is just baffling. Hendo knuckled down and improved his game to the point that he fought off his competition in Allen, Shelvey and Sahin. He is now three times the player Allen is whereas Allen was his replacement. As for Flanno since KK gave him his debut vs City where he had a blinder, we all knew he was good enuff and just needed game time which BR would never have given him had injuries not forced his hand. As for Ibe, many who knew him in the academy knew he was quality yet BR sent him on loan and brought in his replacement who has turned out on the face of it, to not be better than him. And Studge was already a household name who just needed chances.also, has Can, Marko, Ilori improved under him or are the pathetic excuses of them not being good enuff hence, not BR's fault if they can't be improved be the explanation. So again to the BR fan club, how has he improved the young players he either never plays, sends out on loan or play out of position?
{Ed030's Note - Rodgers has mismanaged many players at the club, Their is no doubt in my mind Rodgers does not bring out nowhere near the best in players. Quite the opposite actually as he has a thing for playing players out of position. }
20 Jun 2015 20:43:15
Dont do him the shame of putting Oscar above him though.
20 Jun 2015 20:36:28
How people can say on one hand that he improved Hendo and Flanno whereas on the other hand, he wanted both players gone, is just baffling. Hendo knuckled down and improved his game to the point that he fought off his competition in Allen, Shelvey and Sahin. He is now three times the player Allen is whereas Allen was his replacement. As for Flanno since KK gave him his debut vs City where he had a blinder, we all knew he was good enuff and just needed game time which BR would never have given him had injuries not forced his hand. As for Ibe, many who knew him in the academy knew he was quality yet BR sent him on loan and brought in his replacement who has turned out on the face of it, to not be better than him. And Studge was already a household name who just needed chances.also, has Can, Marko, Ilori improved under him or are the pathetic excuses of them not being good enuff hence, not BR's fault if they can't be improved be the explanation. So again to the BR fan club, how has he improved the young players he either never plays, sends out on loan or play out of position?
20 Jun 2015 20:43:15
Dont do him the shame of putting Oscar above him though.
20 Jun 2015 21:49:15
I would have to agree with ed in the main on this.
Sterling has completely regressed this season.
Ibe is a talent that was clearly on show at Derby he and will hughes played off each other well. He just needed a chance
We've all seen the progression in Hendos game,I think he learnt a lot from gerrard cross field balls etc,and I think we will see a stronger hendo without having to cover SG next season.
I would disagree with ed a little on coutinho. When he first came from jan onwards I thought he was pretty influential,next season no doubt he didn't offer enough goals etc. But this year,especially in the latter half of the season I thought he was very consistent.
Sturridges talent was always there. I had so many arguments on this board when we were in for him that he was good enough. What he did at Bolton and when played (rarely) up top for chelsea was phenominal. There were a great many on here for me who had to eat their words on Studge. He for me was always brilliantly talented.
I can't really say Can's progressed. He's a midfielder for me,slotted into a centreback role. He did those big runs from did for germany when i saw some u20's so it's nothing new. He needs to be played midfield before any progress can be ascertained.
20 Jun 2015 23:10:13
No need to be disrespectful because I disagree with you Ed! I don't know if you noticed, but when Lambert is leading the line he is nothing but a big lump. He's not going to be running onto through balls from Coutinho.
However, played in the number 10 role he'd be much better as he (like Coutinho) needs runners ahead of him. He has been mismanaged. My point is you are only going to get the best out of Coutinho if he has pacey forwards ahead of him.
Red Rum
{Ed001's Note - so it is ok for you to be disrespectful about a player who has worked his backside off to get to play for the team then been totally mismanaged by an inept manager, but not ok for someone to disrespect you for slagging him off? I don't know if you noticed but our manager has not got a clue and is using him extremely poorly, as he is not a big lump and has never played that way before. Now if you continue to be disrespectful about one of the few players we have who bothers trying, then I will continue to be disrespectful about your knowledge of football because it is clearly lacking. Lambert is far from a big lump that only people with no understanding of the game think he is purely because they can't look past his height. Just the same crap as was applied to Crouch.}
21 Jun 2015 09:02:35
Redohio,
That is exactly what I was going to reply with, a perfect perfect summary of BR and our young players, 10/10.
How these fans can cite Hendo when BR tried to sell him, OMG. Fair play to Hendo for sticking it out and working his arse off to be the player he is today, FairPlay to Hendo NOT Brendan Rogers.
21 Jun 2015 23:50:16
Thanks, mate!
20 Jun 2015 13:35:04
Toure has signed a new deal, Skrtel is about to (apparently) and Sakho has told french media that he is staying at Liverpool.
With Gomez signing + Wisdom, Ilori and Paez returning from loan + Lloyd Jones in the academy being nearly ready for 1st team football, surely there is going to be more centre backs than just Coates leaving?
We all know Ilori will leave, Wisdomhas just signed a new deal though, so I'm guessing Paez will either be loaned again or sold. Gomez may also be loaned out.
Does anybody else think the writing is on the wall for Lovren though? It's either that or Rodgers will persist with 3 centre backs. Otherwise I can't see how he can keep so many players for the same position happy.
20 Jun 2015 13:49:06
Ilori is overpriced atm but sunderland have enquired about a loan as they thought the asking price was too high. They could also come in for coates. Jones will get a loan along with gomez. Paez i believe is out of contract soon but not sure. It will leave toure,sakho,skrtel,lovren and wisdom.
20 Jun 2015 13:53:13
Next season:
Squad: Skrtel, Sakho, Toure & Lovren (experience) Wisdom (RB)
Loan: Ilori, Gomez & Jones
Sell: Paez & Coates
I'd hope Ilori has a full season on loan (preferably in the PL) and replace Toure at the end of the season. I worry (like many) that we'll sell him before we've ever seen him in a red shirt.
Gomez to have a season in the Championship, a 2nd season on loan in the FAPL and be ready to replace/challenge Skrtel etc when he's 20 (still very young for a PL cent back)
Jones is miles behind Ilori & Gomez in terms of men's football.
20 Jun 2015 13:59:01
I'm not sure anybody at the club thinks these things through mate.
20 Jun 2015 14:06:55
Seems BR has a new approach to signings, ' if you buy enough lottery tickets' strategy. Sure to be a winner.
20 Jun 2015 15:42:58
Swisch, The owners do the exact same thing as in, throw enough money at our probs in the hope that someday, something will stick. When that will happen? Nobody knows
20 Jun 2015 16:03:16
Don't be surprised to see Milan or lazio bid for llori, not at the extortionate price being asked though.
20 Jun 2015 12:38:31
Ed001 what clubs do you think are the best for our young players to go on loan to?
{Ed001's Note - depends on the player, how well developed they are and the other clubs needs. It is not a one size fits all answer. You don't lend a young left back to a team with 3 first team left backs, for instance. Teams like Crewe stand out, but there are many clubs around Europe that could be just as good for a youngster's development.}
20 Jun 2015 15:06:59
Ok so it's case by case, cheers ed!
{Ed001's Note - yes mate, very much so.}
20 Jun 2015 12:29:11
So we've just signed joe Gomez the young defender from Charlton, firstly welcome lad and secondly eds I was just wondering would you offer a guess is he for first team?
{Ed001's Note - I expect him to go out on loan to be honest.}
20 Jun 2015 13:01:09
Deadline day 2 summers ago. Brendan "we had the chance to cover the CB positions for the next 10 years" since we've spent another £23.5m ish on CBs & given 3 others new contracts :) without selling ANY of the 6/7 others on the books
20 Jun 2015 15:43:53
Yet he won't give said CBs a chance.
20 Jun 2015 12:49:44
lets stop dreaming about worldies, rumours appear every year before about 4-5 underwhelming signings show up, and usually ones that will be loaned out again
Even Bodger has said we need proven signings this year
All these twitter rumours about things happening in the background are a load of old tosh, itll be the same old same old
Aaaaaah sorry fellas i'm trying not to be down about the club but its so hard at the minute
20 Jun 2015 15:47:05
BR should keep his mouth shut about proven signings because he can't attract nor handle proven players and no proven signing will come play for a lame duck manager without a sausage to his name in the trophy column of his CV. Last summer, proved that. We offered more than Arsenal did for Alexis and still didn't come. Don't buy the London excuse. If you were him and you had to pick btw Wenger and BR, who would you pick?
20 Jun 2015 12:33:49
Hey guys
We've just signed Joe Gomez from Charlton, are we loaning him back to them or is he staying? Could he be back up for the RB slot?
20 Jun 2015 12:57:44
On loan to Southampton as part of clyne deal.
20 Jun 2015 13:06:37
It will take time before he will be a first team player
20 Jun 2015 15:49:04
And the other CBs we have in the academy? What happens to them?
20 Jun 2015 12:23:38
Signing another squad player, will then probably let him go out on loan and then sell him when it doesn't work out. Wasting money again, has to be getting rid of players now. We are overloaded with backs as it is
20 Jun 2015 12:53:18
I Do sometimes wonder if its still a banter page with all the whining. I understand it for the nanager but c'mon why slate a young lad who just signed?
20 Jun 2015 13:41:53
I don't think he is, Gomez is a player with a lot of potential but is very similar in profile to many players we've signed since Rodgers has come in and been treated extremely poorly under him and under developed.
20 Jun 2015 13:48:47
No one is slating the player, nothing wrong in investing in a young upcoming player. People are slating the manager/ club because it's pointless spending money when we clearly don't give players of the same ilk a chance or send them out on pointless loans with no strategy behind other than to have someone else pay their wages for a while. Money is supposed to be tight, we need first team starters so why not invest in first 11 players and look internally to give some players a chance to step up?
20 Jun 2015 15:53:39
Reset, if you can't see that the club has no plan nor idea what is doing in the TW then I can't help you. You see all these players coming in and yet no one can say for sure what the plan is for them. Arsenal signed Cech and to me are already better than us regardless of how many players we have bought. Why? because they are filling a need in their first eleven. It's that simple. If you can't see that, fine BUT stop telling people not to vent their frustration at the shambles they are seeing just because they disagree with you. You don't have that type of power nor the right to do that.
21 Jun 2015 11:14:40
Not slating Gomez at all, I hear a lot of good things about him but haven't seen much of him playing. Like every supporter I hope it really works out for him and turns out to be a top player for us but my point is will he get the chance? Will they develop him? I don't know because of what happen to players like ilori, Alberto, Suso and a few others. Aswell as having loads of defenders as it is, I don't think he will get the chance. All I can say is best of luck to him :)
20 Jun 2015 12:15:35
Question more directed at Ed001.
Any knowledge as to why we bothered signing Ilori? I can't for the life of me think why he's got absolutely no opportunity in the first team, considering the amount of money we paid for him & effort to sign him.
{Ed001's Note - because he was targeted as an excellent young defender to be developed for the first team.}
20 Jun 2015 12:57:47
He looks classy. Serious pace and good on the ball. The Nose is a complete and utter moron isn't he?
20 Jun 2015 12:58:32
And br was appointed as an excellent young player coach who would play these players.
Dreams never work in reality do they lol
20 Jun 2015 12:51:12
Do you think he'll get that opertunity at LFC Ed and if he's actually good enough?not seen much of him to be honest, thanks
{Ed001's Note - I have only seen a little of him, but he looked to be potentially ideal for what we need. Good on the ball and lightning quick. Sad to say it is looking extremely unlikely he will ever get a chance with us.}
20 Jun 2015 13:01:18
Any reason why he's not looking to be developed now?
{Ed001's Note - not that I can see.}
20 Jun 2015 13:12:15
Isn't he still just that? I know he's had injuries but are there any other reasons (attitude?) why he's not being given a chance?
{Ed001's Note - he is still just that. He has not been given a chance because Rodgers keeps bringing in first team defenders for big money rather than trying to coach the ones we have.}
20 Jun 2015 13:52:42
Isnt he like lovren, a right footed lcb. If he is with sakho and lovren now too play there, he isn't going to get a game.
20 Jun 2015 15:55:22
Our young defenders as well as our defensive issues are "uncoachable", according to The Nose. Have you forgotten, Ed?
{Ed001's Note - ah good point, I was not thinking then.}
20 Jun 2015 16:43:38
Ohio, according to the Nose it's also easy to coach teams to defend, remember after Jose had stitched him up like a kipper at our place 2-0?!
20 Jun 2015 20:42:39
Talk about a politician having it both ways. On one hand, it is easier to coach teams to defend YET he can't and hasn't fixed our defence in three years and counting because suddenly, our defenders/defensive issues are uncoachable. Only FSG can explain to me how he's still in a job. He is right about one thing as in, Skrtel is the only defender that is uncoachable who ironically, is one of the reasons we can't defend
{Ed030's Note - How someone getting paid to manage a football team, let alone a premier league team Can spend vasts amount of money on replacing every defender in the team bar Skrtel then call the defence uncoachable. Whether the defence is uncoachable or not it is his fault as has brought all of them defenders to the club. Either way it is his fault. }
20 Jun 2015 20:42:39
Talk about a politician having it both ways. On one hand, it is easier to coach teams to defend YET he can't and hasn't fixed our defence in three years and counting because suddenly, our defenders/defensive issues are uncoachable. Only FSG can explain to me how he's still in a job. He is right about one thing as in, Skrtel is the only defender that is uncoachable who ironically, is one of the reasons we can't defend
20 Jun 2015 12:12:08
Eds what is this joe gomez like? Having seen very little of him i just wondering what your opinions of him are. Is he going to get much or any first time action? Will he be loaned out? Where is his best postion CB or RB? Cheers in advance
{Ed001's Note - sorry I have not seen him play. He is likely to be loaned out I would expect.}
20 Jun 2015 12:58:43
Season loan to Derby under Paul Clement maybe .
20 Jun 2015 12:59:50
Aye I thought back to Charlton but looking unlikely given comments by there brass.
I expect him to be apart of the clyne deal, or to cover a player who goes as part of the clyne/kovacic deal. Ilori/wisdom?
20 Jun 2015 13:07:45
I actually prefer him at right back. He's not exactly a wing back, but he is very solid and absolutely brilliant on the ball. His passing and vision is incredible for such a young defender.
In Gomez and Wisdom we have the potential for a very strong right side of the defence in a year or two. Regardless of which one ends up at right back.
If we can Get Flanagan for for the left back role and keep Sakho fit, our defence could be excellent in the very near future.
When you beat Arsenal, City and Dortmund to a signing it suggests they're a good player. I've only seen him play 3 times all at right back but he looks pure class and well ahead of his years.
20 Jun 2015 13:54:05
Flanagan will never recover to play for us. If he has what is believed to be a microfracture he will lose what little pace he has and not be able to play at the highest level.
{Ed001's Note - not necessarily. Plus he could just move into the centre of the pitch as a defensive midfielder, if he really is no longer going to be able to play as a full back.}
20 Jun 2015 16:09:37
My opinion stamina is more important for a full back than pace. Cafu wasn't exactly quick but covered more ground than any full back in history. If you can continually run like him then you don't need pace.
You could also just improve your reading of the game, a quick mind beats quick feet any day of the week.
20 Jun 2015 16:45:02
Cafu was quicker than Flanno though. He is very slow for a top level FB.
20 Jun 2015 20:45:52
Dorset, how do you know he won't recover to play for us? Many players have been out for two years and have come back to play so I wouldn't make such a poor comment. I had knee surgery and know what the boy is going through so let's pray and hope he recovers instead of making such rash judgements
20 Jun 2015 20:45:52
Dorset, how do you know he won't recover to play for us? Many players have been out for two years and have come back to play so I wouldn't make such a poor comment. I had knee surgery and know what the boy is going through so let's pray and hope he recovers instead of making such rash judgements
20 Jun 2015 12:16:08
Another signing we did not need why spend 3.5 million on a defender when we already have some good young defenders at liverpool? Has anyone seen Gomez play and will he prove to be a good buy in the long run?
20 Jun 2015 15:57:53
Pointless, really. We have no plan for him like we have no plan for the other young defenders like Ilori, Wisdom, Coates, Jones and the rest.
20 Jun 2015 12:15:20
I want to say welcome to Joe Gomez.
I hope he gets a fair chance at LFC and where not saying the same things about him, that where saying about young ilori!
Ynwa
20 Jun 2015 13:43:20
The nearest he will get to wearing a red shirt will be his photo-shoot when he signs the contract. he will then disappear on loan to be forgotten about as is Brendan's normal Modus Operendi.
20 Jun 2015 20:48:12
And then his acolytes will absorb him of any blame by blaming said player for not doing enough to get a chance or that he has a bad attitude as some shamelessly did in the case of Thiago Ilori.
20 Jun 2015 12:01:02
Reading in a few places that Kondogbia is a pool fan and would welcome interest. I know list of these rumours are pure rubbish but if there was a fragment of truth then he is EXACTLY what we need in midfield (yes we then need to sell).
20 Jun 2015 11:55:51
So Liverpool are signing illarmendi, Firminho, kovacic, sissoko and kondogbia. Anyone else?
20 Jun 2015 12:13:56
Joe Gomez
20 Jun 2015 10:39:08
Hey ed001,
With the current and the players that we have already signed, what according to you is the best formation with personnels?
Thanks in advance.
{Ed001's Note - I have answered this on the teams and formation page, please stop asking over and over.}
20 Jun 2015 11:36:18
It not so much the formation as what the players are being told to do in my opinion. So many fancy formations nowadays that are just slight variations of basic formations. Proper training, footballing education and clear instructions on how to exploit the opposition while remaining solid at the back!
20 Jun 2015 12:08:31
As it is now and counting the fact we don't have Sturridge or Flanagan available on first game of season line up will be.
Mignolet.
Moreno.
Sahko.
Ilori. (Hopefully).
Wisdom. (Although I expect one of Montoya or Clyne to sign by then).
Milner.
Henderson.
Can.
Coutinho.
Ings.
Lallana. (Although I expect a striker to be signed by then too).
20 Jun 2015 10:28:37
I live near Melwood and I'm sure I've just seen Neymar on a unicycle juggling signed photos of sterling heading into the gates. Makes sense though doesn't it, after all he's been booted out of the Copa. I predict this will be the metro's headline tomorrow, is there anyone they don't link us with. Thank god for the eds to get some decent info from
20 Jun 2015 11:14:02
This is pure fantasy. It is a well known and widely reported fact that Neymar's preferred choice of transport is a pogo-stick and that he doesn't like unicycles due to an unfortunate and embarrassing experience with the saddle of one resulting in the fire brigade having to free him using a crowbar and liberal applications of industrial grease.
20 Jun 2015 09:07:57
For the last few seasons the best DM's have been in high demand and if you believe any of the rumours then once again the best teams in Europe are after the likes of Kindogbia and Carvalho (what a game he had the other night). Yet once again we want to "buck" the trend.
I'm not for having a team of brutes and want good flowing football but we lack steel - even Sakho who I am a fan of can be a girl sometimes - note Jonathan Walters' comments today about how Liverpool simply didn't like being pressed and the physical stuff.
20 Jun 2015 10:22:44
Footballers don't like being pressed shock.
20 Jun 2015 10:23:05
I agree, particularly when we don't have a CB pairing that works yet. would love too see a Kongdogbia or Illara signed up for the future and let Can learn his trade and/or be used a bit further forward.
20 Jun 2015 10:26:15
In the modern game a defensive midfielder is one of the, if not the, most important positions.
Lucas does a decent job there, but completely disagree with whoever claimed the other day "he's the best at protecting the back 4 in the league".
Matic was the most important player in Chelsea's title win last season.
Busquets is arguably the most important player for Barcelona.
And Real Madrid looked weaker this season having sold Xabi and replaced him with a box-to-box midfielder in Kroos.
Kondogbia should be our no.1 target, especially now it seems he's a Liverpool fan anyway!
20 Jun 2015 10:55:14
Carvalho. Can't see the fuss.
We don't need to sign any of them. We have Pedro chirivell. if he wants to play a dm in the team and lucas is injured then he has to go with Pc.
20 Jun 2015 10:58:40
Agree for the most part toddy though I'd be happier with a better keeper and a class striker and keep Lucas. Though if BR moves Lucas on as expected then we need to target a kongdobia.
20 Jun 2015 11:07:15
100% agree toddy. I'd like Carvalho as I've not seen much of Kondogbia but if he's a red and as good as people say then no cl this year might not be a barrier.
20 Jun 2015 11:21:57
Really a dedicated purely Defensive Midfielder is only integral to you if you play a 4-2-3-1 formation, or a 4-1-4-1 such as those employed by us under Rafa.
20 Jun 2015 11:29:11
We've needed a DM ever since Mascherano left. Unfortunately Brendan thinks he knows best on this and doesn't need one. If you listen back to that interview he did with various fan groups when he first came in, he described the player for that role as a 'controller' rather than someone with steel who would break up play etc. I'd be very surprised if a DM was brought in.
20 Jun 2015 12:12:51
To the guy who said no one like being pressed - rubbish, listen to Mourinho who tells you exactly how to play against it to good effect.
20 Jun 2015 12:37:46
Isn't this hypocrisy ? a lot are clambering for Carvalho and we have an excellent dm in the academy called Chirivella ! Isn't this why everyone hates Brendan tor signing players and not giving are academy a chance?
OT do you only moan if one of the eds says there's a better academy prospect.
20 Jun 2015 13:57:26
I see you point redman but there a big difference spending money on someone that can walk into the first team and improve us from day 1 and trying to give an academy player a chance. My big issue is spending money on squad players- that's what we should be looking for internally with the long term goal to get them in the first 11.
20 Jun 2015 14:15:20
If you sign WC chirvella never gets a chance.
There about the same age and one costs 37mil and other is just ab academy player who won't be given a shot.
If you want to improve the first team whilst still leaving room for your academy then you buy someone like Medel or use Lucas for another 2 years and then have Chirivella take over.
Carvalho comes in as 37 mil and 20 then he's with us for at least 6/7/8 years and by that time Chiricella will have left.
This is what the club aren't doing, looking at strategy's for there signings.
Saying (and I know I have waffled on) right we have Chirivella who we want to give a shot to bit he needs a loan, so we will keep Lucas for another 2 years with th view of have pc take over and then if he doesn't work out you then look to buy someone in.
20 Jun 2015 15:03:38
Yeah, I said the same earlier, may as well keep Lucas and bed in Internal replacements for the long term. If Lucas goes then we should buy a first 11 player, understand that may hinder some development but at least it gives us a chance of actually winning things.
20 Jun 2015 07:56:43
Morning EDS, great work on all your updates.what are your thoughts on ray Houghton comments about us going all out for benteke and him being our big main target? contrary to rh I don't really think he'd suit the system and style Brentan wants or like to play.he's a target man essentially who thrived on crosses last year of which were lowest in league or something,i would have thought we'd want a runner with the ball? we do lack power and presence all over the field however.
{Ed001's Note - I have no idea what Houghton has said, nor would I look at him for insight. Benteke would not suit the way we play, he needs early balls hit to him or crossed to him, to be effective. He is suited to long ball, direct football, not passing.}
20 Jun 2015 11:09:06
Yesil and Sinclair would be far better utilised and would save £30m. I see no hope if we sign Benteke.
20 Jun 2015 11:23:24
All Benteke is is another Andy Carroll with a more exotic name. He relies on route 1 kick and rush football (if you could call it that)
20 Jun 2015 11:45:14
Villa have been a counter attacking team for most of Benteke's time there. He's very mobile. Not saying he's made for us but your portayal of him is completely wrong. And surely its his goalscoring ability that should be judged first and foremost.
{Ed001's Note - counter attacks can be route 1 you know. He may be mobile but he doesn't use his mobility enough. He needs the ball played early to him to have any real effect, which is exactly what Sherwood did.}
20 Jun 2015 12:18:37
Exactly right Ed01 and so a player that would allow us to mix it up and hit it forward early might be a good thing as clearly Benteke can also play in a team that relies on speedy counter attacks (see his goals against us as part of a three with Agbonlahor & Weimann).
Nothing route one (in the up-to-the-big-man sense) about those goals.
He scores all sorts.
{Ed001's Note - how would he allow us to mix it up? We either play to his strengths or we don't. He needs early crosses, we don't play with a single player who can cross the ball. He is lazy, got an attitude problem and would be a terrible buy for us, unless we intend to go loan ball. He scores all sorts on a very rare basis, but you continue basing your assumptions on one match, as it is clear you have MOTD fever regarding him. If we want a player like that then we would be better off getting Austin for a lot less, he has a much better attitude and will actually try.}
20 Jun 2015 12:42:41
Go watch any Aston Villa match were Lambert tried to control the ball more and tell me how good Benteke plays and how many he scored ?
This mix it up it useless players tend to be able to play one system, we saw a lot last year that constantly changing it doesn't work within a match.
And we have Zero people in the squad who can actually wip a ball in the box, well hendo maybe but I mean more from the wings.
Every other signing we have made has with (hope) been brought in to play a possession /pressing game. They couldn't work with Benteke.
There's one place that boy should go and its Chelsea. Or wherever Mourinho goes, although he might not last long with his attitude problem.
Please Steer clear Liverpool.
20 Jun 2015 13:42:58
What's all this crossing nonsense about. Please go and research how he scores his goals, his shot accuracy and the fact he has more than 40 PL goals in 3 (injury affected) seasons with a relegation candidate side. My point is he's rather different than the caricature on these pages.
{Ed001's Note - nonsense? Why is it nonsense? Stats are nonsense used by people with no real ability to understand and analyse to cover their shortcomings. I get so sick of reading stats. They are irrelevant if you have no understanding of them and how to put them in context, which you clearly do not. He struggled badly when the team was not playing long ball direct football, whether on a counter or otherwise, it is still direct long ball football. We do not play direct long ball football, so he would not suit us. He wants it quickly played into the corner to be whipped in where he can attack it from the cross, or, because the attack is direct, control it and shoot as there is time before the defence can get back. Again not our style. He is a caricature because he will never make the most out of his pace and power.}
20 Jun 2015 14:00:30
he scored 23 goals under lambert in his first season??? Not saying we should buy him but you asked the question.
20 Jun 2015 14:12:11
You don't fancy him then Ed?
{Ed001's Note - he is not my type. Oh you mean as a player? No, not in the slightest, he doesn't use his ability. He is just a tiny upgrade on Balotelli. Shame because he has more in his locker but he will never use it to its full.}
20 Jun 2015 15:17:16
So. nearly 100 career goals, aged 24.
Always double figures in the FAPL in a struggling side.
At international level, 1in 3 rate (7 in 24) for Belgium who are ranked 2 in the world.
Blimey, I'd like to see what he could achieve if he really tried.
{Ed001's Note - if you took the time to look at the way Villa are set up, they have set up specifically to give him chances. In a similar way to the way we used to be under Ged with Owen, where everything was built around getting the ball into Owen. Mind Villa wouldn't have struggled so badly if they didn't persist with Agbonlahor who is such a poor striker that he makes Ngog look clinical.}
20 Jun 2015 20:54:24
Even his manager in the National team doesn't rate him. Says it all, really.
20 Jun 2015 07:34:34
Morning Eds
Looks like you were correct on Firmino as Joyce and Barrett have said we have interest.
20 Jun 2015 08:56:03
Have the eds even mentioned firmino????Last i heard we were signing kovacic!
20 Jun 2015 09:22:45
You better read the posts properly ! Ed 02 was saying of our interest on firmino for months & ed 01 just stated it yesterday .in which site you were dude?
20 Jun 2015 09:31:03
United are interested in him which mean he will be heading there. Every player which any other of the top 4 are seriously interested in, will go to them and not to us for all the obvious reasons. It is a waste of time and money to even try compete with them.
Players nowadays prefer to be on the bench of one of the big 4 and not to start for us as the Falcau decision to join Chelsea demonstrate. And Firmino will not be on the bench (though with Depay, Mata and all the other midfielders there some will be frustrated.
20 Jun 2015 09:33:10
Ed002 said that we have had him watched but a move to merseyside seems unlikely
20 Jun 2015 09:56:25
I seriously hope this is true - he can play false nine, as a twin striker, winger or backup Coutinho if he gets injured. Far more needed than Kovacic IMO given we have Can and Lucas at DM and perhaps even Milner.
If we sell Sterling, we should bid strong IMO and worst case we push Man Utd to pay over 20mln for him (compared to rumoured 13mln), but at a best case we steal him away and send a major statement, plus take a bit of pressure off Ings/Origi while Sturridge injured.
20 Jun 2015 10:12:19
They probably get their info from this website.
20 Jun 2015 10:38:21
Firmino and pip could be our Neymar and messi. 😉
20 Jun 2015 11:11:25
It shouldn't be underestimated the effect of having a fellow countryman or two in the team. I hope Phil is having a word.
20 Jun 2015 11:30:57
Even if he did want to come here over utd we would somehow mess the transfer up by haggling over a few quid.
20 Jun 2015 07:14:53
Good morning Eds, top job you boys keep doing - it is greatly appreciated .
All the transfer news is starting to get exciting - good additions in Milner, Ings & Bogdan but I hope we make a couple of 'Big' signings soon. What I want to know though, is who are we hoping to get in to replace Mike Marsh & Colin 'Shorts' Pascoe? I heard lots of rumours from Hyypia, to Pako coming back, to Zenden or Linders getting an internal promotion.
YNWA
{Ed001's Note - no one has been decided on yet, all of those are in the ring except for Lijnders, who seems to be earmarked as Marsh's replacement. Though it would help if you just read through the posts, as this same question has been asked and answered repeatedly over the last few days.}
20 Jun 2015 12:46:34
I don't know wether I am happy or disappointed with Ljinders coming up.
Not through lacking quality at all but I would of liked to have seen him work with our kids a lot longer, maybe academy director as all his philosophy's /ideas etc are centered around young players (now I know that's probably exactly why hr has been brought up, to work with the young first team players) but his work seems to start much younger.
What are you views eds?
{Ed001's Note - I believe he would only want to move up somewhere else, if we are not the ones looking to promote him.}
20 Jun 2015 14:18:32
In given time, he seems to be very interesting in working with the younger players.
I feel his time would of come bit not yet!
His work on the younger players could have proved very beneficial!
He will be a success up at melwood no worries but we might have missed a trick with what he might of done with the kids.
{Ed001's Note - he can still work with the younger kids as well, if he is willing to put the hours in. They don't exactly work long hours footballers! Just keep all the paperwork away from him, let him concentrate purely on coaching and he should be able to do both.}
20 Jun 2015 15:46:23
Here's hoping ed 😊 but with all the football next year (Europa league etc) he not be very available for the academy. Maybe if he instructs some of the coaches and takes on sort of a leader role, then yeah it could very well work. 😊
19 Jun 2015 23:46:11
Hi Ed001, I know you rave (as I do) about Medel but what do you think of Carvalho. He looks to me pure class and I'm surprised even if the £37m clause is true why no one has bought him before now. I'd spend the Sterling money on him asap but I'm guessing he'd look for cl.
{Ed001's Note - I have not seen a lot of him to be honest, but it is because very few managers would pay that much for that kind of player.}
20 Jun 2015 06:30:08
Very inconsistent player imo. I watched him in all the group stage games. One match he looked like the successor to viera and the next match
Like tom cleverly Anderson fused into one with a gsrnishing of the welsh xavi
20 Jun 2015 10:57:53
Pedro chirivella.
Wouldnt fuss to much about carvalho lol
20 Jun 2015 00:59:31
Ed's,
Fully appreciative of the information you continue to provide on here,
I Do have one question, You've given me the impression that some of the signings Liverpool are looking to make are being done with the acknowledgement that Sterling will be sold however is there any chance he will/could stay?
Personally I think that we should keep him (if that is even possible)
Thanks
{Ed002's Note - Of course.}
20 Jun 2015 03:28:58
Why keep someone who doesn't want to be here? And at age 20 already thinks he's worthy 200k a week without really doing anything so far but run very fast.
20 Jun 2015 07:55:08
He doesn't want to stay, mostly because BR is still going to be in charge. Sterling, and I get the impression most of the players know that BR isn't good enough to move the club forward. All being said, though, Sterling's agent is a **** for dragging this through mud.
20 Jun 2015 09:34:14
Putting all the blame on Rodgers & his agent & making scape goat can't survive his arse! Raheem is greedy & he should be sold out.why can' t you take an example from the Jordan ibe situation.Do you really think aidy ward forced raheem to appoint him as his agent?
20 Jun 2015 10:46:44
Collins mate, I know at 17 I made some bad decisions too.
Raheem hasn't got a strong family around him to help him make the right decisions.
I do believe though that he is old enough now to relies what he is doing and should understand not believing all the crap Aidy Ward is telling him.
I think it is a crying shame that he could potentially ruin his career taking advice from him.
He should only need to look at Sinclair's move to city to see the pit falls that could await.
On the back of that. If he doesn't want to be at our great club, the time is right to cash in on him.
If he stays and doesn't have a good season for whatever reasons his stock will fall and 1 less year on his contract to boot.
20 Jun 2015 12:50:54
What happened with br & sterling eds?
I mean I thought the Norwich game were he scored and then went an celebrated with Brendan was earlier but I just saw it was 4 to last game of the season. You only do that if you like your boss don't you (i mean only in football, first time i successfully sent a fax i didn't go run.and hug my boss like haha)
But how comes that can happen and now we find ourselves here ?
He also seem happy then aswel, what changed in 6 months? Because jt was January when all this started wasn't it.
20 Jun 2015 00:48:22
For me with the money we would likely get from selling sterling it has too go on kondogbia and firmino. Yes i know we have lots of midfield players. i'd look to move lucas and allen on. For me we've always lacked steel in the middle of the park and having kondogbia,can,milner,hendo would be a huge improvement.
20 Jun 2015 09:58:41
Agree 100% on Firmino. Would love Kongdogbia too but think unlikely and I'd be happy with any of Kongdogbia, Ilarra or Kovacic (assuming buying for DM). I still think we need a top FB though who can preferably play either RB or LB.
19 Jun 2015 22:54:58
Hi eds. do you know anything about Tiago Illori's potential to break into the first team. Is he up for sale or do the club rate him? Surely after the performance for Portugal u21 he should be given a chance. His distribution looked very good the other night. He kept Kane quiet too!
{Ed002's Note - The club have been trying to sell him but the asking price is too high.}
20 Jun 2015 00:50:45
I hope illori gets a chance. Way better than lovren.
20 Jun 2015 07:16:52
Ilori also kept Meesi and Ronaldo quiet when playing for Granada. But Brilliant Brendan will probably persist with Skrtel and Kolo (who is past his best) and sign another rookie CB in Gomez than give an already promising one already at the club a chance. Nothing good is going to happen on the pitch for LFC while Brendan is in charge. Ilori, Lucas and Markovic will be kicked out and the likes of Welsh Xavi, Skrtel etc will continue to get even more chances in spite of them holding the club back. i'm going for a 7th place finish next season, maybe even 8th if West Ham do well under Bilic.
20 Jun 2015 07:50:05
I'd like to see Lori come back in summer, play some pre season games and get a chance in the prem.like he always does Brenda talked him up so much on arrival, he can't be any worse than Skytel or toured.
20 Jun 2015 09:01:28
I absolutely agree IB! So frustrating to not see these kids wuth great potential not given a chance by that fool that is our manager. And then he goes out wastes more money and will treat the new kid exactly the same! The guy doesn't know what he is doing and why can FSG not see this, or are blinded by his bull. If I was any player I would seriously not come to Liverpool because if the way we treat our current crop, n if your not teachers pet then basically you get dumped on.
I wake up every day n hope to god that he has been sacked or even quit (not that he will). The money wasted is an absolute joke, and the way the club is currently conducting this is embarassing.
19 Jun 2015 23:36:53
Just wondering the current situation regarding firmino, reports suggesting it's between us and united?
{Ed007's Note - So he's in Newton-Le-Willows?}
20 Jun 2015 08:26:43
Ed 07 cracked me up on n-le. W. Lol.
20 Jun 2015 11:59:59
Love that eds 007 shaken not stirred
20 Jun 2015 12:25:57
Haha quality Ed
20 Jun 2015 13:01:47
Staying with Rick Astley (younger readers will have to google him!)