Liverpool Banter Archive May 30 2015

30 May 2015 22:07:34
The realistic players we've been linked with that I could actually see being believable would be an improvement on the players we have either leaving or have left.

Defense. Johnson, Coates. For Clyne. This should be seen as an improvement. I doubt many other defenders will arrive.

Midfield. Gerrard, Alberto, Sterling. For Kovacic, Milner, Konoplyanka. Apart from our ageing captain have to say it's an improvement.

Strikers. Borini, Lambert, Balotelli. Aspas. For Ings (I only mention Ings as haven't believed any of the other stories on strikers).
Still in midfield and defence I think it's an improvement.

31 May 2015 07:09:52
Tbf all realistic targets and would probably improve the team, though don't see the need for both Milner and kovacic (still undecided on Milner) and also agree he won't go but think it would be best for both parties to move Allen on.

Konoplyanka would be amazing but according to eds unlikely, clone would be an improvement (not a necessity but a good player).

Annoyingly I can see ings being the only one brought in and imagine lambert stays. Studge is quality but injured and wouldn't bank on ings, lambert and origi to contend with the top teams goal scorers - would love us to push the boat out for higuain (apparently somewhat possible!) but failing that luiz adriano would be a great shout!

If we move the right players on could get in: adriano, konoplyanka, kovacic and clyne (not sure if needed) and would massively boast the team and could probably reduce the wage bill and make a decent profit provided about 9+ players are sold or go.

31 May 2015 10:05:38
Agree with you on Luiz and I think he's on a free too (although I may be wrong).

I was sceptical on the Milner deal first but then thought the energy in the middle from both Milner and Henderson would be excellent and cause opposing teams alsorts of problems. On a free too is a no brainier as they say. Konoplyanka I'm amazed thi hasn't already been done. We obviously had interest in him so why haven't we secured him for free?

Ideally for striker Vietto would be great as would Vela. Hopefully both attainable.

{Ed002's Note - You need to search on some of these players to see what is attainable and what isn't.}

30 May 2015 19:21:36
Benteke is absolutely shocking is rather have Balotelli dare I say it Balotelli offers more

{Ed030's Note - Both offer very little and are very overrated. }

30 May 2015 20:07:36
You can't just make a judgement on one game, Benteke wasn't great today but he had absolutely no service whatsoever.

30 May 2015 20:12:56
Well if Rodgers is still around he will fit in just nicely then!
Villa have just outlined how bad we are. They beat us twice last season remember. Another reminder if FSG didn't need it that we need to make the necessary management changes a priority next week.

30 May 2015 20:23:07
I can never decide whether Benteke is a great player waiting to happen if he's in the right team or just a Belgian Heskey.

30 May 2015 20:26:26
We need a striker who can work off scraps and also play football, not one who relies on heading the ball, all he did the last 3 games I've watched was pass the ball backwards and head it, his work rate is awful and wouldn't get the crossing service that he relies upon for Liverpool

30 May 2015 22:55:19
He was never good enuff and this game did nada to change that. He only looks good when he plays us because he just bullies Skrtel all game and our manager couldn't be arsed to fix our defence. Thank heavens, we didn't ghetto the final because Arsenal would have taught us a huge lesson, come to think of it and after the Stoke Massacre last week.

31 May 2015 03:47:51
Very funny Something Red! I think Benteke is very dangerous playing in a team in the ascendancy, or when you have fast dangerous wingers putting good service into the box. He's not as effective in a high-press / fast breaking game and I think that's Liverpool's key strength with the likes of Coutinho and Hendo able to play defence splitting passes.

Unless we get him for 20mln and there's no other option available, I'd rather have Walcott, Aubameyang, Vietto, Lacazette or someone similar that would suit our style far better, but Benteke will always be dangerous in a side set up to play his strengths - I just don't think that's us (or I hope not!)

30 May 2015 18:23:24
Eds fellow reds, hope young sterling is watching the cup final .he may realise he's only worth £50,000 a week at best not on the same level of most of the players playing today .time to wake up RAHEEM .

30 May 2015 19:59:58
He is worth as much as anyone is willing to pay him. If we don't think he is worth an X amount of money but someone else think he is, only time will tell who is right! And if we don't think he is worth more why did we offer him more? Especially after the season he has had

31 May 2015 07:01:42
Anyone still think Sterling for Walcott + 10-15mln isn't a good deal? Walcott can clearly play backup striker/twin striker with Studge, and also play wing too, and if we get in Ings too we've got a far better/suited attack than if we went for Benteke IMO. and for far less too.

31 May 2015 07:38:33
It's just their injury record tho zimbo mate, walcott's record ain't much better than Studge's.

31 May 2015 08:39:08
Agree that's the only thing that worries me slightly but if you have Sturridge, Walcott, Ings, Origi that can all play upfront, worst case seems you have to play with Ings and/or Origi for the odd game and I'd take that over spending a fortune on Benteke.

My thoughts are if you can get a Benzema, Vietto, Lacazette or similar, then by all means spend the 20-30mln, but spending that much or more on Benteke who doesn't fit our system perfectly is a bigger risk that Walcott.

31 May 2015 11:18:24
Yeah agree mate

30 May 2015 18:19:58
Hello Eds, I've seen mentioned here that our youth players, don't really seem to have a plan.

Could you explain how it's done different at a more successful youth set up, such as Southampton?

Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - they have more of a definite route to the first team at Southampton. When they come in, they don't just get a quick cameo off the bench then get banished from the squad. They get a few appearances, then back to the U21s or kept around the squad. When they go on loan, it is a carefully chosen loan to a team that is picked to ensure they get games and that will develop them.}

30 May 2015 15:57:49
The owners (FSG). We cannot expect them to do anymore than they have. They bought the club, took on most of the debts, have committed to the ground expansion and above all have ploughed in a fortune on players - a quarter of a billion under Rodgers alone. You can't ask for any greater support than what they have already shown. Admittedly, they've obviously been given poor advice at various stages which in turn has led to poor decisions that have had a cascade effect, but the reality is they have more than done their par and we are lucky to have them and their patience (which must be sorely tested by now).

The players. They can only do what players do - kick a ball and run about and that is all. To be winners they have to be trained, drilled, coached, motivated and given belief and purpose. They have to have a hunger to win trophies, be good enough to win them and the belief that they will win them with us or they will go because they would be stupid to stay. Sterling springs to mind - I actually believe him when he says he wants to win things therefore the real problem is why doesn't he think he will win them with us and what are we doing to address that - because of we don't and things stay as they are then slowly but surely we will lose the likes of Henderson, Coutinho, Can, Ibe, Sakho etc for exactly the same reason and again for exactly the same reason we will lose the better youngsters such as Sinclair and we will struggle to replace them. We have some very good players, but across the squad our average is to low and that is all there is to it. As a result the better players leave and the better replacements won't come so the average gets lower as a result.

The directing, managing and coaching staff. This is where the problems are. Not with the owners, not with the players.


So two questions for you to think about and answer (possibly even think of a couple of your own questions to add):-

a). Do you think, given the money that we have spent on players over the last 5 years under Dalglish and Rodgers that we would have been better off spending the same amount of money but on fewer but higher quality players than most of the ones we ended up with.

b). Do you think (in hindsight) that Michael Laudrup would probably have been a better appointment than Rodgers, given that in order to attract higher quality players a coach/manager needs to have a certain personal charisma and a certain respect amongst the potential signings. That Laudrup, given the same financial backing that Rodgers has had, would have produced a smaller but higher quality squad with a more focused winning mentality.

It's not just Rodgers that needs replacing - it's the day-to-day people around him as well. And it needs doing by the end of June or next season will be a write-off as well.

30 May 2015 16:29:18
I seriously believe we are on the verge of collapsing further than we did under Souness. I think decisions made over the next four weeks are going to have a far bigger impact on the club than anything since the appointment of Bill Shankly in 1959. We are quite simply at a 'pivotal moment' - a fork in the road. Choosing one route will lead us to regular top four, choosing the other will lead us to mediocrity.

30 May 2015 16:49:20
Jesus ! Somebody talking sense on this site? Are we back in 2010?
Great points Lenin
A) yes
B) yes

30 May 2015 16:56:16
Good piece, thanks

30 May 2015 16:39:07
They have a wage structure that means the few players for the money spent angle your intimating couldn't possibly have happened. £35million for Carroll £75k a week, £38million for Aguero £190k a week, Llanna £25million £65k a week, Fabregas £28million £170k a week. See the difference? They give the upfront fees but won't pay the big wages hence the quality of player we attract. I'd actually like to see there NET spend on transfer fees only since they took over, I'd be surprised if it reaches £100million in 5 years.

So don't give me the brilliant financial backing for players cobblers, they have and are doing it on the never never through finance company's banks and personal loans to the club, at the end of it all they'll come out of it smiling don't worry about that mate.

{Ed002's Note - You cannot grasp any of this can you - the club was losing £1M per week for the first three years. Do you have the slightest idea how much money has been spent on agent fees by Liverpool? It is simply hopeless discussing money at all.}

30 May 2015 17:49:59
One question to ask though was that considering only one of those seasons we had CL football, would we have been able to attract top quality players? I'm sure we could have done better with the money but I have my doubts about what kind of player would still have been signed.

30 May 2015 17:50:21
Agent fees ed002? No I don't to be honest and I'm not suggesting I do.

As a layman I'm simplifying it to the players bought and sold since they took over and the fact they don't pay top wages across the board, now unless I read the op wrong ( and I may well have ) then he's praising the owners for the money ( transfer fees only ) they have given managers and why we haven't bought quality over quantity, and the reason we haven't done that is because they don't pay the big wages, surely you agree with me on that small part.

Agents fees I don't understand and I wouldn't pretend to and I'm not privvy to the books before they bought the club and in what state they are now, but what I do know is they bought the club at way below market value and if they didn't drill down into the numbers when they bought the club then there more incompetent then they've shown already.

{Ed002's Note - People need to look at the much bigger picture and all of the costs involve din running a club the size of Liverpool. Agent fees have taken a significant bite out of the available funds. You will get a real shock when you see the cost in fees of last summers dealing.}

30 May 2015 18:07:16
thats the best thing I've read on here in a long time

30 May 2015 18:34:57
I'm sure I would ed002, and as I say I've simplified it for the common supporter such as myself. What I wanted to ask you ed002, why are we getting our Keck's ( pants ) pulled down with these agents, because were not going for the world class champions league player who all the top teams in Europe are after, if it was I could understand why there so high I.e. they would ask for a massive fee to broker the deal because of the monies involved and complexity's of said transfer. With the greatest respect to the players we've signed ( Suarez aside ) there mid Tier signings with potential who we didn't appear to have much competition to sign. Cheers 002.

{Ed002's Note - I am not familiar with you Polari terminology here Waro but when you head for some of the high-end players with "Super Agents" that is what you need to do to ease through some of these deals. The Balotelli costs are through the roof. The rest is down to the sheer number of players, the amount invested etc.. Markovic costs would be a real shock as well. Keep in mind there are also signing on fees for players who the club pays for - less than would be given to the likes of Milner and Ings, and Joe Cole, but nonetheless another cost. The club needs to be way smarter in the market.}

30 May 2015 18:44:00
I hope FSG reads Red Lenin's posts?

I doubt whether the agent's fees would have amounted to £210 million.

For that amount of money spent we have only Coutinho as a success.

30 May 2015 19:10:30
Thanks ed002, I won't take up anymore of your time on this mate. I will finish with this though, I assume all top sides have a significant deficit on agent fees yet there owners seem to absorb these costs, why people on here bleat about the same costs for are owners as a way of defending them is a non defence in my book, and if we are paying significantly more on agent fees than every other team, then that's there own fault for being naive

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool have been either table topping or close to table topping the agent fees tables in recent years - perhaps something to celebrate. Different clubs have different arrangements with agents - some are rather more creative. Have a great evening sir.}

30 May 2015 20:45:47
Cheers ed002, as a good republican I'll be on the Guinness so an enjoyable evening ahead thanks ed, hope you have a swell night ahead to.🍹🍺🍴😉

{Ed002's Note - Thanks.

30 May 2015 20:46:52
The owners are always to blame,,,,as it's always the bosses fault. FSG chose Brendan Rodgers, FSG chose the Committee, FSG threw money at the people they trust to waste, time and time again. The owners will be to blame should BR not be sacked and we finish 10th

30 May 2015 15:25:07
Hi Eds.

A few reports suggest Yaya Toure is going to join his brother and sign for Liverpool this summer. Have you heard anything? Betting sites have slashed his odds to 6/4 to join us!!! Surely his wage demands and birthday cake would be an issue, however his physical attributes is what we need in the midfield. doesn't track back much though!!

Cheers

30 May 2015 15:41:00
I saw him today at the airport. He was sitting on the back of a harley. The driver was Ian Ayre. Just behind them was a truck with 10*5 cake in it. Then I looked down the street and I saw Gerrard and the lads waiting singing something. Make of it what you will.

30 May 2015 14:25:54
Ings, Clyne, Benteke. Atleast this year the rumours are realistic, and I have full confidence that with these additions we will be in pole position to maintain top 6 for years to come.

30 May 2015 14:55:20
Haha it's silly to get carried away year after year. Truth is the top 4 are much better equipped than us to maintain the top 4. man city took our top 4 spot.

We have to build slowly and see what happens, no top 4 push will be made next years with poor buys and bodgers in charge.

30 May 2015 15:24:45
I agree. I think the only way for us to stay on top 4 on consistent basis will be to compete with top 4 financially. That is tall order when you look at those above us. Most Liverpool fans feel we have an inherent right to be top team, but in the modern game, money talks.

That said, we really have injected a lot of money into our current squad, but for us to compete in top four on regular basis we need to be very smart in the transfer market and we have been anything but (or we have a manager who has not gotten the best out of our transfers.impossible to say which is the bigger issue)

While I was being a little sarcastic, I do feel that the additions listed (if they happen at all) will not get us in position to surpass the current top four.

{Ed002's Note - The rules stop clubs like Liverpool constantly spending money they don't have in the transfer market. This paranoia about how badly off the club is and how hard done by the club is, is laughable. Constant whining.}

30 May 2015 15:54:48
Only have respect for united and arsenal in the top four, they are there on merit and have worked hard to be where they are! Chelsea and city have just had everything given to them, where would they be without their sugar daddys! We cannot compete financially as we know, but now is the time for smart buys! Ings and milner are no brainers! Heres hoping we get it right this time, with or without rodgers! Ynwa

{Ed002's Note - You clearly do not understand the investment made in Liverpool by the sugar daddy owners. So I assume you have no respect for Liverpool either. These posts are so embarrassing.}

30 May 2015 16:01:03
Spending vast sums on players (including signing on fee's / wages etc. ) then realising after 6 months they are not what we needed or having to move them on with huge losses is the real reason we cannot compete (it is not due to the money we have spent - as Ed has said in a lot of cases where we do not have the money to spend in the first place).

30 May 2015 18:04:37
Yes, Man City and Chelsea may have plenty of money, but don't forget, FSG have ploughed vast amounts of cash into LFC in many areas. They provided huge sums of money to be spent in the transfer window, so that LFC could challenge on all fronts, however, 95% of that large amount of cash has been totally and utterly wasted on players the club didn't even need. FSG are sorting things out, and looks like they are doing things in a way that will benefit the club in the long term. It might seem slow, but then, trying to recover from vast debt is not going to be easy. Man City and Chelsea seem like they have appropriate people in place to run the club, and doing it well. Yes, LFC need to sort out a major flaw (the managers position etc, we'll see how that pans out in the next week or two. IMO, BR will not be there next season. I know some have asked why FSG have remained silent over the managers role, I believe they know what needs to be done!, and probably, already set things in motion to make things happen in the coming weeks - they just don't want the rest of the world to know right now (a good thing imo).

30 May 2015 14:01:21
Hi Eds, with all this talk of Clyne and Manquillo & Enrique going or staying and Wisdom & Flannagan competing for places where is Brad Smith in all this? BR gave him his debut against Chelsea and brought him back from loan but hasn't featured and seems to have dropped off the radar? Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - He is simply a squad player.}

30 May 2015 15:23:18
LFC pulled him back from his loan at Swindon after they offered a new contract to Smith, which he refused to sign. Since then, he has hardly featured in the U21 league either and his contract is expiring this summer. He will be gone.

30 May 2015 15:59:06
Agreed with AG, hard to see him being here next year. No idea why he never got another chance after his single appearance and I suspect he wonders the same.

30 May 2015 12:52:07
Hi eds, any idea where Falcao is heading thisbtransfer window? Or is there a chance he'll stay with Monaco? Finally, do you or any of your "sources/acquantainces" think he is still as good as he was? Thanks!

{Ed002's Note - Try the European pages.}

30 May 2015 09:57:04
In your honest opinion why do you think we as a club always appear to spend extortionate amounts of money on players that may not be worth it? I.e lovren, lallana, markovic, moreno etc. Obviously they are worth a significant amount but £25million?

Do we go in like the Big I Am, bull in a China shop? No wonder clubs like Chelsea, Man utd, Arsenal don't get involved when figures like this get thrown around and instead go for the likes of Fabread at a suggested €33mill/shy of £24mill instead we take risks on players that are showing ability at one club rather than their overall career.

I'm not saying we shouldn't get involved in these players as we are trying to better our club but why do we seem to be held to ransom even though selling clubs know we are not the buying force we may have used to be and other top clubs still seem to get bargains even if they are in the 25-35 million bracket. We see whoever Chelsea, Man utd, arsenal, Man City buy go straight into the 1st team where as we leave them on the bench or say that they are not starting level ready.

Whether it be injury, form etc I think most of our summer signings played less than half the season moreno (hit and miss form ), Manquillo (Un necessary buy when playing 3 at the back so again ???), lovren (generally awful form managed to get his place due to sakhos injuries), Can (unable to get his preferred midfield position then played out of position so had it not been for someone else's misfortune may have sat on the bench all season himself) , lallana (injury), markovic (form,injury,disciplinary issues), lambert (???? Who the he'll knows what he did wrong other than fitness but how else do you get match fit if you don't play), balotelli (well form, discipline, attitude).

In my opinion a lot of money and ability wasted over the last season where we may see 50+% move on and the others may flourish but again will probably see another couple move on again over the next season. We do seem to ruin players but who is fully responsible the club for throwing extortionate amounts of money at players to turn their heads, players for maybe being gullible or the poor man management (Manager and coaching staff) of the individuals and not using them correctly (position or loan team quality) and general communication.

What are you thoughts on how we are treated as a club by selling clubs because I do feel other clubs are not treated half as bad. Your opinion is much appreciated. Thanks on advance.

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool are not dealt with any different than any other club would be. If particularly low bids are made or someone from the club makes disparaging remarks about a player they want to buy (both of which happened with one potential purchase Liverpool were trying to get done), then the selling club will be pissed and want nothing more to do with the matter - it is time wasting and the player and his club both, quite rightly, found this offensive.

But Liverpool are not hard done by - albeit I know the supports think they are.}

30 May 2015 10:31:58
oh ffs,not again,why always us blah blah,how is liverpool being held to ransom if another club doesn't want to sell a player to liverpool for the price they are offering,i take it if you where looking to buy a new house and a few more interested parties get involved,then you would regard it as being holding you to ransom,if you want it fecking pay for it,stop with this the world are against us,we are always hard done by stuff,its embaressing

30 May 2015 11:06:53
We just don't do transfers well, it's no-one's fault except the transfer comittee.
We either bid too much and don't seem to set any limit for mediocre players, or we embarrass ourselves and alienate clubs/players with ridiculously low bids.
It seems whoever is in charge of transfers at our club knows nothing about football.

30 May 2015 11:34:31
I don't think making a low bid is embarrassing at all. I've worked in the buying and selling business long enough to know that it's just a way of putting the feelers out.

Let's say you want to buy a car, and the owner says "make me an offer". You don't wanna give a figure too high in case it's more than they were expecting. Likewise, they don't wanna put a figure on it in case someone is willing to give them more than they expected. First of all, they know how much they are likely to get or how much they will be satisfied with, so if you make a low offer, their reaction will give you an indication of how far off the mark you are. It's the first stage of negotiations, there is nothing wrong with starting low at all.

Red Rum

{Ed002's Note - I am sorry to say but clubs often lose respect for other clubs who are seen to be, in the colloquial of your example, tyre kicking. It has been the case for a number of years that the tactics used by Liverpool has brought amusement to other teams, from the statement a few years ago that Liverpool were "going shopping without their credit card" to the recent quip made by Piero Ausilio when told a Spanish journalist that Liverpool had made a "funny little joke" with an offer for a player. The situation with the low bid for a player last year would just have been laughed off by the club until Rodgers opened his mouth and stuck his foot firmly inside - the player and his club were absolutely correct to find that offensive. A long way beyond embarrassing in that case.

It makes business more difficult going forward.}

30 May 2015 12:14:23
I take it you're talking about salah. Would you be able to share what rodgers said to his club as I have seen u mention it before but not what was said.

{Ed002's Note - This was dealt with at the time - I really don't want to get in to the detail of it again.}

30 May 2015 12:43:48
I agree that things said can become embarrassing, However, the process itself of starting with a low bid is quite normal in any business.

Start low, see what the reaction is, then you know how far away you are. Sometimes you have to haggle, but now and again you get yourself a Coutinho ;)

Red Rum

30 May 2015 12:58:16
How is it the committee's ( noticed you glossed over Sir Brendan of Rodgers input on player recruitment aswell ) fault Ron?

They merely identify the player, I think it's the Harley riding jesters hat wearing Bootle ball bag Ayre who negotiates on the clubs behalf Ronald, your no relation to the clown from a well known fast food chain are you?

30 May 2015 14:10:42
When other clubs are publicly mocking you it's probably fair to say that you are hurting your club's image, and your approach to business needs revising.

It's likely that buying international class footballers from top-tier professional clubs is not necessarily "like any normal business".

30 May 2015 14:46:07
How much do you think fabregas' wages compare to lallanas etc. ?

30 May 2015 15:47:54
We are embarrassing ourselves in the TW with the stupid bids we make to clubs for their players and that has got us nowhere especially with a manager who can't just shut his gob about transfers and his useless opinions on players coming in that only put pressure on them when they eventually sign. Stop blaming other clubs and fix the way we do business that make us look completely stupid and a joke. Even I wouldn't wanna deal with us if I owned or was a DOF for a club

30 May 2015 15:55:04
Waro, I would expect Sir BR to be part of the committee.

If you want to blame 1 individual, I guess the chief exec has the final say on negotiations.

Xx

30 May 2015 19:08:18
Rehohio, why are we embarrassing ourselves? Because we have offered 10m for Clyne? Why is that an embarrassment? What's he worth? Your the expert, or so you like to make out, tell us?

30 May 2015 09:04:15
Before the season ended the word here was that we desperatly have to sell before we can buy. People ahd here list of 10 players at least we have to sell.

At the moment it seems however that our selling activity is very low. There are some rumurs about Lucas maybe going and Aspas for Sevilla. On the other hand even if you don't believe every word you read in the papers about our buying intentions we seem to be seriously interested in Ings, Milner, Kovachich, Klyne, Benteke and few others which can easily cost us 50-60 millions, probably more like 70-80. I assume the only conclusion is that Sterling is going and my guess is the target is City.

The voices comning from there of them being OK with Yaya Toure going to us (although I doubt if will happened) can only mean they are warming the relatioships to make such a deal more possible.

In the meanwhile ManU keep signing people we had interest in. First Dephay, now Gaitan. Will they do the same with Benteke, I will not be surprised.

30 May 2015 09:12:08
You mentioned papers yet listed players were interested in which originates from papers. Weve not bid for kovacic unless it was a joke bid. According to the eds we have no interest atm in benteke and haven't bid for clyne. So its just ings and milner atm. Window doesn't open until june for english-english then july for everyone

30 May 2015 09:24:18
When did Man Utd sign Gaitan? I must have been living under a rock You it seems are easily led

30 May 2015 09:53:55
Just Ings and Milner. god help us all

30 May 2015 10:00:14
If the papers were to believed, its the reason for the new stand. To put all our subs

30 May 2015 12:16:02
The season hasn't finished yet. I don't think we can slate the club for not selling anyone.

30 May 2015 07:27:39
Seeing as Kovacic looks like an attacking midfielder, this i assume is the replacement for Gerrard. So my question is where does this leave Can and Markovic, will they be another set of disenfranchised players at the end of next season looking to leave.

Indeed, with all these youngsters being bought to slot straight into the team, where does this leave our academy players who if given the chance could be just as good. Indeed, where does this leave our academy recruitment, any teenager and parent who has any sense would see the club as a complete dead end career wise.

This scattergun approach to player recruitment must be damaging its reputation, of course we have seen its effects on the pitch. Shambles.

30 May 2015 08:24:07
He's more of a typical midfielder than an attacking mid and should partner well with either Henderson or Can in the middle of the park. Allen is just not good enough at this level.

30 May 2015 08:24:42
Personally I'd hope we keep lucas sign kovacic and promote rossiter. Lucas Hendo Kovacic Can Rossiter for a 3 man midfield plenty of cover. I won't worry for can and rossiter. It's Markovic I'm worried about. We already have Ibe Lallana coutinho in his position all ahead of him for the wing role. Then presuming we sell sterling and buy someone like Salvio or Konoplyanka then that leaves four players ahead of him. Perhaps a loan looms ahead for him?

30 May 2015 09:56:46
I think with Can, Henderson, Coutihno and the possible arrivals of Milner and Kovacic, Rossiter will not get much game time. For me a loan to a lower premier league team like Bournemouth would be ideal for his progression.

I think we will see Lucas leave in all honesty. Teixera could also benefit from a loan to a lower prem team.

However if we sold Allen then I would have either one take his place in the squad and start giving either game time.

30 May 2015 09:59:29
My midfield would be Can Hendo and Kovacic, Markovic can keep his backside on the bench. we still need another forward and another out and out striker, as well as a rightback and maybe a cb if we sell Skertl

30 May 2015 11:15:44
Can is a box to box player who as a lot to learn, he needs to learn to pass the ball a lot quicker to play in midfield, time and time again he as cost us a quick counter attack by holding onto the ball, maybe a back up to Henderson next season who will be our first choice box to box midfielder. I do really like Can but needs to improve next season.

30 May 2015 12:17:30
Spot on Mighty Reds.

30 May 2015 13:29:19
The most similar positioned player to him last season is Herrera. Completely different to Can who is stronger and tends to run from deeper, or Markovic who plays best out wide or up front

30 May 2015 13:59:21
Markovic is a very good player. He is constantly playing for his national team from a young age.

He has been starter in a good team with regular europa league and good young players.(Benefica)

He was not given enough chance to prove his worth. Played most of the time as RB.

We also had same quality players in sterling and IBE though. Even Ibe was playing as RB.

30 May 2015 15:57:58
Can is a beast and BR playing him at CB and RB hence destroying his confidence by allowing the opposition to ruin him in games, will not change that. This Kovacic fellow isn't better than him nor Couts so where will he play? In place of Hendo? Fat chance.

30 May 2015 04:29:41
Ed,
-what s your view on L.Markovic nxt season? with rumor Sterling going out, is he likely given a chance? Clearly he got the pace and i'm sure if given enough time n good coaching he will good to lfc.
-Can is xpected to play at the center mid nxt season however he s more box2box mid, Lucas might be leaving. so u think we will buy another def mid?

{Ed001's Note - I expect Markovic to stay at the moment. It is up to him to convince the management he has a long term future. It depends on who is in charge and what system they wish to play, Rodgers won't look to buy a defensive mid, if he is still there.}

30 May 2015 15:18:25
You're starting to sound less confident about Rodgers leaving

30 May 2015 17:58:23
That's worrying, and I'll presume Lucas will leave if the Brodge is still in charge?

30 May 2015 04:16:23
Just been thinking about the great man, stevie G. I can't see any players for liverpool in the next two seasons doing what he can do best in my opinion, suarez could but no others. And that is mentally defeat opposition. If you needed a goal and gerrard was on the pitch, everyone would almost expect him to do it, our players and theirs. It gave our team belief and put doubts in the oppositions mind. Like I said, suarez could do that, but who else? This season we need a coutinho, a Sturridge, or whoever else to be that man, hopefully they all chip in, but someone has to lead the charge. I believe it must have been easy when Gerrard or suarez were in their prime to wait and hope they produce, but now someone has to make it happen. The man United team of 5 years ago were so good at it, they were all in the mindset that the game is never over and they would nearly always get the winner of equaliser late on, their whole team had that aura about them. If we could emulate that then brilliant, as I believe our way forward is through developing as a team now, we have a young hungry squad, let's let them play how they can best, if rodgers allows, but I still think we will need that one player for big moments, and do we have him?

{Ed001's Note - Spurs managed ok to snatch late goals without one player like that, it is a mistake to rely on one player like we have done in recent years. It is a weakness having one player you rely on, other players just look to them, rather than stepping up themselves. Better to get a team who fight until the final whistle together for the win.}

30 May 2015 16:06:00
Which is what Spurs did. Why? They have a team in great physical shape that can outlast many other lazy teams in the EPL. Build a team to fight together instead of relying on one icon who is powerless without said team around him.

30 May 2015 00:35:06
Is it possible Lucas or Skrtle would be involved in any deal for Kovacic?

They've apparently had interest in both at certain times.

Gotta say I'd be happy with Kovacic looks like a quality player from limited times I've seen him (albeit more for international team).

However I do have a freind who supports Inter from Milan and he rates Kovacic very highly.

If we also secure Milner on a free that's going to leave us with a great midfield even if we lose Sterling.

The Clyne bid seems true or sure what to make of United dropping out. Could it be he's stated a preferred interest in us?

Surely Konoplyanka on a free is a must too. His delivery and passing are better than most we have currently. We have previously shown interest so baffled we haven't already tied this one up.

Anyway summer already warming up and looking optimistic.

30 May 2015 06:05:49
Why would u want Lucas to be involved in a deal for Kovacic? Lucas is the only CDM at the club and i would not swap him for another player let alone another CAM with limited experience. Skrtel on the other hand needs to go.

30 May 2015 07:27:32
Keep Lucas, pay them extra to take skittles.

30 May 2015 07:30:11
Sure let's get in everybody whos on a free and totally ignore ffp or the academy players.

30 May 2015 10:03:27
There was two frees in that list and although contracts would be higher than normal there is no fee involved.

I mention Lucas as it seems obvious (if Rodgers is still in charge). That Lucas will leave. Inter have a firm interest hence him used in example.

I don't see why anyone wouldn't want a midfield of Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho, Milner, Kovacic, Markovic, Konoplyanka.

There's still no need for Allen if these are signed.

30 May 2015 12:20:18
We need to upgrade Lucas, he gives too many free kicks away and he always has.

30 May 2015 15:29:54
If Lucas leaves, there will no be any upgrade. Your pal, Brendan, will play his best bud Joe Allen instead.

30 May 2015 16:13:23
Which is why he should be sacked, AG.

31 May 2015 08:22:54
Jonesred, teams literally steam rollered their way through our midfield this past season because Gerrard and Allen were ineffective.

Kovacic is no different as he is not a defensive midfielder. We need someone like Lars Bender, strong as an Ox and not the type to be bullied. Now a midfield Bender, Can & Henderson would be a good balance of skill, physical presence and work rate.