Liverpool Rumours Archive August 25 2014

25 Aug 2014 19:30:44
Hi ed 2,
do you now think we've finally finished our buying this summer? I posted earlier in the summer about lavezzi but we moved on from that and iv not heard anything concrete linking us to other new signings and I think our squad as a whole has a strong look to it now, great starting XI (particularly once Moreno, Manquillo and Markovic adapt to the prem) with a very strong bench. Also I know you hate talking finances but i'm also worried about our FFP status if we were to spend much more as £116 mil is a huge sum to spend on transfer fees considering all the other fees that need to be added to this before you get our actual expenditure.
COME ON YOU REDS TONIGHT

{Ed002's Note - I am not so sure right now. The key in coming days will be clearing the decks with the players who can be sold - then it will be clearing the decks and loaning out a few. This will certainly happen. It seems to have gone a little quiet regarding Romero - perhaps Coates did not want the move in the other direction. Perhaps Romero was concerned he would be stuck on the bench. Liverpool has a very good young keeper I am told - the lad from Swansea I think. I don't recall his name but he won't have done anything wrong that he deserves to be "Brendaned". I don't see the need to rush to put pressure on Mignolet. If Lucas goes it means Can will get chances. I am told by a really well really well respected German ex-international that Can has the capability to become something really special and says he really is a versatile player. Markovich is a player that Chelsea could have taken for a lot less money but chose not to. They still think he is going to be really good in the future but they have no use for him now and it would mean a loan. Moreno is one I will need convincing about. Good player, not the brightest by all accounts, and really wants to play for Real Madrid. I hope he works out. Manquillo is very young and very inexperienced. If he does well he will likely return to Spain with Liverpool getting a nice payment. Lallana I see as the real winner - I suspect he is being looked at as the long term replacement for Gerrard. Perfect attitude, a leader and probably the shrewdest buy of the summer. I find it hard to see what else would be needed in the short-term. Buying for the sake of it makes no sense. The owners are out on a limb with this financially.}

Please excuse my ignorance but is Can Injured? I have not seen the bench for tonight but just heard that we are going with Allen, SG and JH. I think Can needs games and could be a real gem, having said that Allen did extremely well against the Saints when he came on and we won the game so I am not complaining. Just really wanna see him in action, he seems a very confident player

{Ed002's Note - His chances will come.}

Thanks ed.

Cheers Ed, I can't wait

{Ed002's Note - I have to say that the player I was with really enthused about him.}

He just seems like he will be a perfect fit, I have not seen much of him to be honest but I just get the feeling the lad will be a big hit. If the player you were with rates him highly that is good news!

May I ask who this German is Ed?

{Ed002's Note - Michael Ballack.}

25 Aug 2014 20:57:32
Ed, must agree with you about Moreno. He has been superb going forward but has made a few mistakes defensively.
Rugged and dangerous challenge from behind on Zabaleta and then no anticipation of Jovetic storming in.
I have enjoyed his forward play though, fast and physical, just needs time to adjust to the league.

Cheers Ed.

Michael Ballack? Well praise from him can only be a good thing considering what a brilliant player he was.

We've bought great individual players (I quite like all of them), but there seems to have been very little thought about how the puzzle pieces fit together as a unit and how they fit with the pieces we already had to make the overall best starting 11 on any given day.

The strategy seems to be lacking and while I don't know who to pin that on I have to say if I were FSG at this point I'm not sure how pleased I'd be to see Ilori on loan again, Aspas on loan, Borini sold/on loan/wanting out since he never plays, Allen hardly playing, Sakho on the bench and seemingly already replaced after one season, Alberto on loan, Assaidi apparently having fallen into a black hole, Markovic and Can as seemingly 'for the future' rather than for the now, and Lambert being used as an 80th minute sub to kick the ball long to. That's what, near enough 100M spent on the above? Brilliant.

26 Aug 2014 02:48:08
So what if Chelsea could have had Markovic for a cheaper price? That's a bit random so should just go on the Chelsea page.

26 Aug 2014 05:44:30
Thanks Ed002, really interesting views and very much appreciated.

Ed that's a great reply! Completely agree especially based on today's game! Moreno had a few lapses, the goal was probably a lack in communication, but the lunge on zabaleta for example. Markovic looked sharp when he came but if we play balo and sturridge up top, he will probably be behind coutinho, lallana and sterling for a spot.
Is the keeper danny ward?

26 Aug 2014 05:43:14
Without wishing to crawl too much.

I joked earlier in the summer when asking if Ed002 was available as an adviser to LFC. . But having read that response, and yesterdays comment on the lack of transfer / youth strategy, I cannot help thinking that Ed002 could help Brendan considerably?

When you say "out on a limb financially". Do you mean we must stay in the champions league?

{Ed002's Note - The club is now carrying a lot of debt and will need to borrow very significant further funds to rework the stadium. It needs income from sponsorship, television and from competitions such as the Champions League. Naming rights will be on offer and I suspect that will not please many supporters. Failure to get a Champions League place next season will be a major failure.}

27 Aug 2014 04:59:18
great insight Ed002. Cheers.

25 Aug 2014 15:11:07
Liverpool are interested in signing julian brandt

{Ed002's Note - Winger Julian Brandt turned down a contract extension from Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund all showed interest with Chelsea offering a player in part exchange last summer. Liverpool certainly took a look. He moved to Bayer Leverkusen in Janauary this year and is still only 17 - a move this summer seems very unlikely.}

Next summer but january a possibility, serious interest