25 May 2015 07:40:25
Question to any of the eds please, is there any serious interest in benfica's Eduardo Salvio as Portuguese newspaper O Jogo are saying we are in talks with them, I have looked in the search engine but the info is from March, is there any change, thanks eds and thank you for all your great info you have given throughout the year
{Ed002's Note - Benfica have made it clear that they will be willing to let Salvio leave if any club match the release clause that Portuguese clubs would need to pay. €60million is not insignificant. Zenit St Pete and Manchester United have both kept a watching brief but neither would want to get involved at the asking price. I am not aware of Liverpool having a spare €60M right now but if Sterling were to be sold Salvio might be a viable option. PSG are looking to do some horse trading for the player - but the issue surrounding FFP is still an issue.
25 May 2015 10:11:06
Not that Salvio isn't a good player, but I'd be massively disappointed if we spent a huge amount like that on another winger if sterling were sold. We have wingers already, and aside from further stifling the careers of Marko and Ibe, we are crying out for a decent striker and DM.
25 May 2015 11:01:47
If sterling goes we've only got one good winger (ibe) and he's inexperienced. So we will defo need a top class winger.
25 May 2015 11:28:58
well let him get that experience then. we NEED a striker.
25 May 2015 11:45:50
I think if sterling goes we will need another winger, we need a top class midfielder to somehow replace Gerard's quality and a top striker, at the moment there is no leader we have hendo who has improved a lot but I don't see him as a leader
25 May 2015 11:45:50
I think if sterling goes we will need another winger, we need a top class midfielder to somehow replace Gerard's quality and a top striker, at the moment there is no leader we have hendo who has improved a lot but I don't see him as a leader
25 May 2015 11:58:51
Just because we need a striker don't mean we don't need a winger! - you do know there are two wings left and right?
{Ed001's Note - isn't that why we bought Markovic?}
25 May 2015 12:55:40
If we got a good midfielder you could also play hendo on the right wing, think that was his position at sundeland
25 May 2015 13:25:22
Markovic is terrible mate - I told people this before we bought him. don't know what the scouts saw in him.
25 May 2015 13:32:38
Playing Hendo at right wing is pointless. He can deliver a ball from deep but he can't take a man on. Haha on the Markovic comment. Not to dismiss him yet but even though its his first season I've not seen anything to suggest he will explode into a fantastic player at any stage. Sincerely hope I'm wrong. We need a leader in every position, defense, midfield, and striker. We had Hyypia, Carra all screaming at you, Gerrard leading by example with the likes of alonso and masch, and look at Suarez, he would get in your face if you weren't making a move. We need more than talent and I really hate to use this word. but. we need character
25 May 2015 14:24:24
Not sure about markovic it's a wait and see, the names you mention hypha, gerrard, Afonso etc, proper players they where if only we could only get back to that standard I would be a happy chappie
25 May 2015 14:52:19
Ed you mention PSG and fair play rules but I've read something that suggests that UAFA are relaxing the rules. What are you thoughts on that? I tried the search function but couldn't find anything.
Cheers
{Ed002's Note - Right now UEFA are trying to deflect a legal challenge and are looking to relax the investment that can be made – but are still aware that they need to deal with other issues, most notably the capping of television income and sponsorship. UEFA has spoken to a number of clubs but have generally not found them supportive – all three English sides spoken to are against the plans to relax the investment cap. However, UEFA has now turned to the association of European clubs and they are keen to have some input. They are traditionally ignored but they have been actively discussing this issue with UEFA. However, they are excluded from the discussions that UEFA and specific clubs have with each other – and it is that forum that will eventually settle on the more critical television revenue and commercial sponsorship caps. There will regardless be a relaxation this summer, but it may not be sustained without ratification – and that won’t happen anytime soon. None of this will be good for the English sides. The worry UEFA has is that the two potentially largest beneficiaries both play in the French league and they may be accused of favouritism.
There are existing sanctions still in place for a number of teams, including PSG.}
26 May 2015 07:30:05
How is Markovic awful?? He is a young, rapid winger who has been forced to play as right wing back when he has been given half a sniff - all this in an unfamiliar, better quality league with a team low on confidence. This is hardly fair grounds to write him off after a single season. Also don't think the undue amount of stick given to him by the fans has helped either - the lad needs support, from both a manager who'll actually play him as an attacker, and from fans who just need to give the lad a break. Early days to be writing him off and, as we did outlay a significant sum, it is surely in everyone's interests to give him more time and see if he can't become a useful asset to the team. At the minute, under Rodgers titanic-like guidance, it's hard to really assess any of the younger players properly, especially when they've been played out of position or simply not at all.
26 May 2015 09:53:00
Markovic looked a decent player before Rodgers got his hands on him. Salvio is a no no as I believe he needs knee surgery and will be out for 6/7 months and there is no guarantee he will return to his best after that.
26 May 2015 10:26:46
Hi all
We have an office in Lisbon and the guys there are mad Benfica fans
Cannot understand why Markovic is not getting more game time
Also Salvio was injured at the weekend and any transfer is likely to be off as early diagnosis shows he will need surgery to rectify
26 May 2015 18:10:56
All notions of Salvio moving are moot as he is injured, requiring an operation (knee surgery) and will be out for upto 7 months.