Liverpool Rumours Archive August 06 2017

06 Aug 2017 22:06:32
Be prepared for the outrage Eds.

Apparently we have agreed to let Coutinho leave.

Let the panic buying commence!

06 Aug 2017 22:16:07
I'd like to see all those who said we could compete for a top four place say it now. This is a hammer blow to our season.

06 Aug 2017 22:20:01
Ed's, batten down the hatches and put up the sand bags. It's going to get choppy!

06 Aug 2017 22:24:09
Heard the same it's all over the Internet.

06 Aug 2017 22:24:09
Heard the same it's all over the Internet.

06 Aug 2017 22:41:07
It going be alright who wants that PL trophy dripping in saudi oil anyway.
In FSG we trust. FACT.

06 Aug 2017 22:34:43
let's get as much as we can then put a bid in for lewendowski bayen munich are shambles at the moment maybe a new challenge might suit him wasn't he at dortmand with klopp too? .

06 Aug 2017 22:52:13
Lewandowski is on the downward curve of his career.

06 Aug 2017 23:04:45
Fake News!

06 Aug 2017 23:09:59
fine if coutinho leaves, especially if he doesn't want to be here.

06 Aug 2017 23:35:31
Faithinworks, take it you'll be happy with a season of failure.

06 Aug 2017 23:43:58
The issue isn't if Coutinho goes but the fact that it doesn't leave much time to find a replacement. for this reason I find it hard to believe we would sell. We will see though.

07 Aug 2017 00:41:10
frankly - obviously not fine with a failed season. but what are you going to do if and when coutinho leaves this summer? just have a cry?
not me, up for the season no matter what happens. look forward to see if we bring anyone in, and if not then will be excited to see how we step up and fill the void.

07 Aug 2017 01:18:19
It would be a huge blow, yes, but he played on the wing last season. who's expecting to start on the wing this season? Mane and Salah. The reality is whether deliberate or not, we actually have brought in someone new in his position already.

As much as I want him to stay, we also can't hold him against his will. I pray the report isn't true, but if it is, we can survive and hopefully replace him with someone special sooner rather than later.

07 Aug 2017 01:44:22
Emre Morr would be a fantastic replacement he's younger and quicker than Coutinho. We still do not have a better goalkeeper that can be trusted to do the job and instill confidence in the team. We also need a commanding central midfielder that can balls going through the middle so easily. We give away goals to easy through the middle of the park and set pieces. You don't need to be the best manager to see these mistakes it is so simple to sort out and starts by getting rid of players like Henderson who is so ordinary and the height of our defence will always be beaten.

07 Aug 2017 04:47:07
Jesus frankly, get a hold of yourself man!

07 Aug 2017 04:47:11
Lewandowski is not on a downward curve! That is total made up nonsense. It's embarrassing how many agree. He is 28 for god sake. Not to mention his goal tally last season of 43 in all competitions was the best of his career to date. The 42 the season before wasn't too shabby either.

I posted about this the other day, but it is truly shocking how the mentality of our fans has shifted. We'd rather sign a 21 year old with potential than a 28 year old who is ready to lead us to trophies from day one. Lewandowski is probably only second in world football to Luis Suarez as a central striker. If he was available and we turned it down because he is 28, I'd genuinely want heads to roll in our clubs recruitment team because that would be almost laughable. Anybody else remember United signing a 28 year old Van Persie and winning the league with his goals? And his injuries meant he actually was on a downward curve. But he was still good enough to fire them to the title with 30 goals!

{Ed001's Note - as a central striker, Lewandowski is the best in the world. As a player overall though, Suarez is a better player, he does more for the team. It is like comparing Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish, Rush was without a doubt the better striker, but Dalglish was the better player and you would pick him every time. I am not sure if I am agreeing or disagreeing with you here MKS, just trying to explain my own thinking really, so probably neither!

However, anyone that would not take Lewandowski for their team right at this moment is utterly insane or absolutely clueless. He is world class. He is the kind of player that makes opposition teams completely change their set up to cope with him. He gives defenders panic attacks just leading up to the game they have to deal with him.}

07 Aug 2017 04:50:07
For all the talk about Klopp and team calling all the shots, this will be another humiliating admittance to our conduct of business in the transfer market - if true this is a big fat slap on Klopp's mouth. I think this deal won't happen though - it's just too short sighted for us to sell Couts when we have a CL match coming so soon. What a way to show our ambition before we start the season.

07 Aug 2017 05:20:38
I understand your logic Ed, no worries. In fact I probably agree with your assessment on it. Lewandowski scores more goals in a tougher league, but like you say, Suarez does more in terms of pressing, creating etc and probably can win a game from nothing like no other player in the world. As a pure striker though, I'd agree you cannot top Lewandowski. I'm still in shock that someone just insinuated they wouldn't want him. This could take me some time to comprehend.

{Ed001's Note - it is unreal. I think some people just don't actually watch these players play before they make their judgements on them.}

07 Aug 2017 05:27:27
MKS, this is the most sense i've seen on here for a while! Thanks for proving that there are sensible reds still out there. Ed001, you're spot on too!

{Ed001's Note - cheers hoh.}

07 Aug 2017 06:02:39
I would love Suarez back, imagine having him up front with attack we have at the moment! Crazy attack! I would take him all day long in place of couts. I am a little worried about the timing to be honest and our ability to find an adequate replacement. Maybe we should ask the question, we will take Suarez and 50 million please lol.

07 Aug 2017 07:16:59
I would do the same as we did with Suarez. Tell Coutinho he can leave, at the end of the season when we have thoroughly scouted a decent shortlist if replacements.
Only difference is that Suarez also needed that season to upgrade his transfer prospects from Arsenal to Barcelona, Coutinho doesn't need to convince Barcelona to come for him.

07 Aug 2017 08:19:15
One thing is for sure, Coutinho is no Suarez, he goes missing in games and is definitely replaceable, just hope we do t see Salah as the replacement. At the minute we look really strong in attack, without Coutinho and Lallana injured we lack quality.

07 Aug 2017 08:20:39
Lewa is a beast of a player, Ed and to me, Klopp's greatest creation. The complete CF who has pace, power, movement, pressing ability, aerial ability, the whole lot. He has NO weaknesses, period. If we ever bought a CF, he would be the one I would get.

07 Aug 2017 08:22:22
Sorry but Lewandowski is at the wrong end of his career, he'll be 29 this summer, not the age you join the premier league. He's had a great career, but if he joined us at this point there is far to much risk attached to it. The example of van Persie is a poor comparison given that van Persie was familiar with the premier league and didn't need to adjust. If we blew money on Lewandowski we'd be running the risk of doing a Chelsea and signing the equivalent of Shevchenko. I'm not saying he isn't a great player, but at 29 years old, he'd be too much of a risk.

07 Aug 2017 08:24:47
Spot on, Andy. That is what I would do as well but hey, I'm not the manager nor am I FSG. Those saying that "he's not world class anyway or he's inconsistent so he can go" are deluding themselves and have learnt absolutely nothing from the Torres and Suarez debacles. If we just let him go this season with no time to find a suitable replacement (I don't see anyone out there who can in the short term), we will regret it, period.

07 Aug 2017 08:43:26
Frankly Mr shankly do you have anything positive to say ever on this page, my god you sound like a child.

07 Aug 2017 08:46:21
Frankly I understand your opinion mate, but world class players can adapt. Shevchenko came from Italy to the Prem at a time when the tempo in the two divisions were at polar opposites, yes. But he also just failed massively to settle.

The Bundesliga is a similar tempo to the modern day Prem as the league is now flooded with continental managers anyway, but Lewandowski has a playing style suited to the English leagues.

It is always a lottery signing a new striker anyway. Drogba and Ibrahimović did all right adapting to a new league at a later stage in their career, whilst players like Bony and Benteke who were seemingly proven couldn't even adapt to a new club at a younger age; so that shows how it is more down to the individual than just what league they come from.

07 Aug 2017 08:55:35
Hard work you bet your a good to be around lewandowski would make my team before coutinho.

And if you're banding names of failures in the prem I'll match your shevchenko with an ibrahimovic.

07 Aug 2017 09:04:31
There aren't any positives, we are going into the new season without our best player, we will in all likelihood replace a top class player with mediocre players (there's a rumour doing the rounds that we're going to sign Oxlade for £28m which supports that point), we haven't been able to bring in our top targets and we still look hopelessly weak in midfield and defence.

07 Aug 2017 09:17:37
Didn't Utd sign RVP at 29 and then promptly win the league? . I would have no qualms with Lewandoski (not that it will happen thou! )

07 Aug 2017 09:24:12
There's is no support till it happens.

Reports suggest, nothing has actually happend yet, nothing is certain he hasn't gone yet.

Better to save judgement till the window is shut. It's not healthy to stress so much, bad news it's not been the best news the good news we haven't lost a pre season game we have a qualifier and European football to look forward to and the window is still open. Anything is still possible.

07 Aug 2017 09:30:44
United only got one really good season out of van Persie, the other two were blighted by injury. So again a poor comparison. As for Ibrahimovic, there was no risk as it was a free transfer, Lewandowski would cost a huge amount of money as well as the wages, so it's very comparable to Shevchenko. A couple of years ago, Lewandowski would be a great signing, but now? Not really, And even then, why leave Bayern when they are already in the Champions League and likely to win the title to come to a club in disarray?

{Ed001's Note - free? Zlatan was far from free.}

07 Aug 2017 09:41:31
Poor comparison? He helped win the league so worth every penny.

07 Aug 2017 09:42:24
Spot on Leeeee and BTW, it is only in the Catalan/ Spanish media tabloids printing rubbish on a bid to put pressure on LFC to sell Cou and to also get their fans excited for a new arrival. Discussions may be going on as Ed02 has said BUT there is nothing to it. We should stand our ground like RBL did for Keita and not sell. Cou can then be given a couple of weeks to sort his head out and then come back ready to go for the season. We simply cannot sell our best player, end of. If we do, we might as well be a selling club with no ambition and be done with it.

07 Aug 2017 09:53:09
Same reason neymar left Barca, money new challenge.

I'm not saying he's the answer but you wouldn't be happy if couts goes, you won't be happy if we replace with a lanzini coz he substandard, you won't be happy if we replace with lewandowski who could be considered world class.

You'd only be happy if we force him stay and make him love us and hate Barca, can't expect 100% from someone who's probable dreamed of playing for Barca, and is forced to stay at liverpool.

On the other hand he maybe happy to 1 more year but it's inevitable he will leave imo so we will face this impasse at some point.

07 Aug 2017 09:56:20
Lewandoski would easily score 25+ in the EPL and no way is he on a downward curve. Anybody that thinks that are mad and mustn't have watched any other football the last couple of seasons apart from LFC games.

07 Aug 2017 09:56:23
If couts wants to go take the best price and move on for, we don't want an unhappy player at the club as the eds say players come and go it's just the way of the business.

07 Aug 2017 13:40:54
Lewandowski's age is not an issue at this time, as he is not injury prone.

He would score for fun in the EPL. We would probably win the league if we signed him.

07 Aug 2017 18:00:03
Lewzndolski sold be brilliant signing. He's getting on but still on of world's best.

07 Aug 2017 18:08:36
Anyone who doubts lewandolski is crazy. The guy is one of best players in the world, at peak of his prowess. The issue is. Is he likely to sign for liverpool? Doubt it guys. Let's quit dreaming.

07 Aug 2017 18:11:42
Lewandolski is pure class and anyone who says otherwise would have serious trouble picking 11 players to field a team. If he's not good enough for you, then who is for god sake. 3 messi's 4 ronaldos and 4 Gareth bales.?

Frankly, lfc are not the most loved team in the world. We have enough haters across the park and down the motorway. We need our fans to SUPPORT our team. What do you suggest we do? Lock the gates of an field forever and give up coz our star player (whom we bought for 8 mil) is getting his dream move. For around 100 mil

Lfc have a habit of giving their very best players special treatment. Coutinio is that man atm. If you think so much of him, as the club do, how can you stand in the way of what was probably his boyhood dream?

06 Aug 2017 13:48:29
Eds is it likely that we 'll make a move for Lucas Mooura now that PSG put him up for sale for 30 million euros?

{Ed002's Note - Lucas Moura is one of the players available to recoup the monies spent elsewhere. Obviously Liverpool has already added yet another predominently right winger and adding Moura would make zero sense. If another winger is to be looked at it really needs to be a dedicated left winger. Roma and Fenerbahce have been encouraged to talk money to PSG after enquiries were made. Interest of Arsenal, Atletico and Manchester United has waned. When asked about Liverpool, PSG responded they have not spoken to Liverpool but perhaps Wagner had. They haven't as far as I know.}

06 Aug 2017 14:45:26
This one would actually make sense at this price IMO, here's my reasoning.

At the moment our first choice wingers are Mane and Salah, but if one gets injured or needs rotation/ sub, the best backups we have for them are either Coutinho (who ideally we have starting in midfield) or Firmino (already lined up as a starting striker) . I know we have Kent and Woodburn, but we shouldn't need to rely on players that young in a CL game for example.

For arguments sake, if Klopp is thinking Firmino, that would leave our striking department as Sturridge, Origi, Solanke and Ings. it's a deep bench and talented, but again leaves us relying on Sturridges fitness and players behind him not yet proven at the European level.

If we go for Moura however, we have a European proven player challenging for the wide positions, and can leave Coutinho in midfield and Firmino upfront, giving us a strong and really balanced squad that has completion across the entire pitch, and can handle rotation in PL and Europe without weakening the team.

I know we'd have to sell to bring someone in, and personally I'd sell Ings. He needs game time and he's going to really struggle to get it this year, and hopefully we'd get enough for him to recover a decent amount of the cost of Moura.

I hear you point on LW Ed, but Mane can play there, and pretty sure Salah could too.

06 Aug 2017 16:29:20
Thanks Ed. I asked because he was a long time target and he was mentioned frequently here. If Klop wants to give a chance to the youth (Kent and Woodburn) that is fine. Origi can also play in the wings. But none of them of course are at Mooura's level right now and it will provide healthy competition for Mane and Salah. It is a long season ahead and we need quality and depth on the bench.

06 Aug 2017 17:56:29
Zimbo, Lucas Moura has been inconsistent in his PSG career and even if we were interested, what then happens to our young players like Ryan Kent esp. with the fact that Cots can also play on the left depending on the opposition? This is the part you are missing in your analysis.

06 Aug 2017 18:27:10
Good shout zimbo. Totally agree. It's clever how one player can add so much depth to squad. Salah is left footed isn't he? Surely been bought in to play there (lw) this signing would end my worries about depth. It's such a shame for ings, been waiting to see him have a decent run for years but I don't see him in front of origi or solanke. He is someone who still has a lot to offer but I'd swap him for moura all day.

06 Aug 2017 18:57:24
Hypothetical question - if we get to a CL semi-final and Salah gets injured, would you rather have Moura or Kent in the line-up?

I've already explained why not Firmino and Coutinho as yes, they can play there but i believe our best side is with them starting in midfield and striker. Why force two changes if a winger gets injured, rather than one?

06 Aug 2017 19:38:12
We'll I'd rather have Kent because I think Moura is a Brazilian Aaron Lennon 😂 but I can see your logic mate.

06 Aug 2017 19:40:57
I'd be a lot happier to see Kent in there, given a chance and show what he can do.
In football, I find it far more satisfying to have a young academy lad in the team than an expensive import.

06 Aug 2017 20:11:14
If it was CL semi and Salah was out, in sure couts would start on the left anyway - we have enough depth in the middle with can hendo gini and lallana by then.

06 Aug 2017 20:22:16
Kent looks well worth a go as cover for Mane and Salah. He's quick, can beat his man, has a few tricks and can cross a ball.

06 Aug 2017 20:56:35
Is this the same Frankly who thinks our season is over because we haven't signed more than three players?

06 Aug 2017 20:57:01
thanks for a positive post frankly.

06 Aug 2017 22:10:42
I do think this season will be a failure, we haven't improved our centre defence, our midfield is still weak and Coutinho is leaving, but there some very small positives, Kent might be one of them. But I stand by the fact that we'll win nothing and finish outside the top 4.

06 Aug 2017 22:36:10
Fair enough MK! To be honest I don't watch PSG a lot but what I've seen he looked dangerous.

Just for clarity, I too want to see Kent get a real chance this year, as I do Gomez, TAA, Grujic, Solanke and Woodburn. I think it's critical to bring through youngsters, and play them consistently throughout the season. Kent should still have plenty of games to rotate with us being in Europe this year, and even with someone coming in we'd effectively have 4 specialist wingers for 2 positions. no worse competition we currently have in every other position.

06 Aug 2017 03:36:56
Are we still interested in Inaki Williams? tormented Dejan and the defense last night.

{Ed001's Note - yes, but he is not moving.}

06 Aug 2017 06:23:39
That really ain't no good enough reason, for us not to chase him for the next couple of weeks. Seems we tend to target the unavailable players this time around.

06 Aug 2017 09:41:34
If you chased every forward who gave Lovren the run around the squad would have about 20'000 forwards.

06 Aug 2017 10:39:50
Good luck chasing him, he looks pretty swift to me.