Earlier this week, Borussia Dortmund Sporting Director Michael Zorc confirmed that the Bundesliga giants are 'following' Nuri Sahin's progress at Liverpool. The Turkish midfielder is reportedly on his way out of Anfield, and reports in Germany today claim that the deal is almost done.
According to a report today in Sportbild, Europe's biggest sports magazine, the deal to bring Sahin back to Dortmund is '99% done', and claims that Brendan Rodgers' broken promises - and Steven Gerrard's alleged jealousy - are to blame for the midfielder's failure at Liverpool. The report states:
"The deal to bring Nuri Sahin back to Borussia Dortmund is 99 percent done.
"The 24 year old has been betrayed at Liverpool because coach Brendan Rogers lied to him when he signed, telling him that he would be the club's number six"
"Steven Gerrard is said to have also been jealous of Sahin, and when they played together, Sahin barely got the ball".
Some pretty strong accusations there. It seems to me that Rodgers just didn't know how to effectively use Sahin in the team, and if that's the case, why did he waste a massive loan fee on bringing him to the club?
Sahin has played just 11 minutes of football for Liverpool since his last league start on November 11, 2012, and since that time, Gerrard has played in practically every game.
By his own admission, Sahin - who cost Real Madrid €10m in 2011 - prefers to play in a deeper Gerarrd'like playmaking role, and that hasn't happened at LFC. The Turk admitted as much in an interview with the official Liverpool FC website last month:
"I’ve played my whole career deeper – that’s my position, but I have played as a number ten here. If I could choose a position it would be holding, as I feel more comfortable playing deeper and can give my all.”
If Sahin played in his natural position regularly, then Gerrard would have to move to a different position (most probably higher up the field), and perhaps he didn't want that?
Speaking to SportBild, Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke suggested that Sahin is only effective if he's the centre of the team. He noted:
"Sahin only feels good when a team is built around him. He is a fantastic guy and a super footballer"
Sahin should've and could've been an asset for Liverpool, and for me, Rodgers has totally wasted this talented player. As I've argued before, he clearly doesn't have the guts to go against the club's senior players; if he did, he would've given the midfielder a consistent chance in a deeper role, especially during those times earlier in the season when Gerrard was woefully out of form.
Whatever the reason for Sahin's imminent departure, the move will have to go down as Rodgers transfer failure. Indeed, Liverpool could've saved the money on Sahin in the summer and put it towards the fee for Clint Dempsey.
It just goes to show that signing young, promising players is not always the way to go. The priority in the summer was to sign goalscorers/goal threats, and Dempsey certainly fits that description.
With the exception of Joe Allen (and possibly Daniel Sturridge, but it's too soon to judge), Rodgers' performance in the transfer market is underwhelming so far.
Jaimie Kanwar
According to a report today in Sportbild, Europe's biggest sports magazine, the deal to bring Sahin back to Dortmund is '99% done', and claims that Brendan Rodgers' broken promises - and Steven Gerrard's alleged jealousy - are to blame for the midfielder's failure at Liverpool. The report states:
"The deal to bring Nuri Sahin back to Borussia Dortmund is 99 percent done.
"The 24 year old has been betrayed at Liverpool because coach Brendan Rogers lied to him when he signed, telling him that he would be the club's number six"
"Steven Gerrard is said to have also been jealous of Sahin, and when they played together, Sahin barely got the ball".
Some pretty strong accusations there. It seems to me that Rodgers just didn't know how to effectively use Sahin in the team, and if that's the case, why did he waste a massive loan fee on bringing him to the club?
Sahin has played just 11 minutes of football for Liverpool since his last league start on November 11, 2012, and since that time, Gerrard has played in practically every game.
By his own admission, Sahin - who cost Real Madrid €10m in 2011 - prefers to play in a deeper Gerarrd'like playmaking role, and that hasn't happened at LFC. The Turk admitted as much in an interview with the official Liverpool FC website last month:
"I’ve played my whole career deeper – that’s my position, but I have played as a number ten here. If I could choose a position it would be holding, as I feel more comfortable playing deeper and can give my all.”
If Sahin played in his natural position regularly, then Gerrard would have to move to a different position (most probably higher up the field), and perhaps he didn't want that?
Speaking to SportBild, Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke suggested that Sahin is only effective if he's the centre of the team. He noted:
"Sahin only feels good when a team is built around him. He is a fantastic guy and a super footballer"
Sahin should've and could've been an asset for Liverpool, and for me, Rodgers has totally wasted this talented player. As I've argued before, he clearly doesn't have the guts to go against the club's senior players; if he did, he would've given the midfielder a consistent chance in a deeper role, especially during those times earlier in the season when Gerrard was woefully out of form.
Whatever the reason for Sahin's imminent departure, the move will have to go down as Rodgers transfer failure. Indeed, Liverpool could've saved the money on Sahin in the summer and put it towards the fee for Clint Dempsey.
It just goes to show that signing young, promising players is not always the way to go. The priority in the summer was to sign goalscorers/goal threats, and Dempsey certainly fits that description.
With the exception of Joe Allen (and possibly Daniel Sturridge, but it's too soon to judge), Rodgers' performance in the transfer market is underwhelming so far.
Jaimie Kanwar
My new year resolution is to get behind Brendan Rodgers, FSG and Liverpool FC. If players dont want to be here, then fine, go and play elsewhere and good luck to you.
ReplyDeleteTo the players who are playing - give all you got and leave nothing behind. We will be a better team without all the moaners and whingers in the squad.
the 4.4m loan fee we paid
ReplyDeleteRodgers is slowly building something. He knows to convince the likes of Reina, Agger and Skrtel their futures are at Anfield he has to buy good players. Daniel Sturridge I believe will become a huge star and Tom Ince should never have left in the first place. We have Raheem Sterling, Lucas and little Joe Allen who will be a shining light. Steven Gerrard probably has 2 seasons left which is fine because it will give the likes of Ibe and Coady the chance to hone their skills.
ReplyDeleteDont forget Henderson either, someone must like him as he is the current England Under 21 captain.
Where is the proof we paid a 4.4m loan fee upfront ?(presumably £?). It's widely touted by the press but has not been confirmed by the club. If we spent in excess of £4m plus wages with no option to buy we'd be stupid to say the least. The article refers to a massive loan fee. Again where is the evidence - or is this just supposition?
ReplyDeleteJamie, someone is flagging everyones comments they don`t like for review buddy. As you read mine first, you can see it was fine, no insults etc, so just thought I would let you know someone is up to tricks.
ReplyDeleteI actually responded to this yesterday with how disappointing I find the arrogant and patronising labelling you use when responding to posters, including myself, but it no longer seems to appear for some reason?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThis article really makes me mad. I was very much hoping Liverpool would sign
Dempsey last summer and when they didn’t, and instead brought in Sahin and
Assiadi, I was skeptical but tried to keep an open mind. Guess I right to be skeptical. What a waste…at least with Sahin. From the little I’ve seen of Assiadi, I think
he could be a quality player if Rogers would just let him play. As for Dempsey, things probably turned out
better for him in the long run. He might
not be playing as well as he did last season but he’s fitting in with Tottenham
and they’re doing much better than we are.
And therein lies the issue,,he is inexperienced and it is starting to show, he needed more of a progression in management before going in at the deep end at a huge club, one of the biggest in world football.
ReplyDeleteWhat would you of thought of say O'neil taking charge?
Jamie, that's more likely the reason Diouf said what he did..Cos Gerrard slated him in his book..
ReplyDeleteThe thing with Dempsey wasn't that we didn't have enough money to buy him, they is clear with the purchase of Sturridge that we did the money, the thing with Dempsey is that Fulham were asking more for him than FSG felt he was worth. Yesil is a striker who is highly rated and is definately one for the future. The fact that Dempsey hasn't set the world on fire for Tottenham, shows that we made the right decision not to buy him. Also the fact that we needed strikers and he is a midfielder, albeit an attacking midfielder again shows that we didn't need him.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that the quotes stating that he has been betrayed are coming from Dortmund, not himself. If this isn't a case of tapping up, I don't know what is. It's possible that Rodgers and the coaching staff felt that he wasn't physically strong enough to play in the Premier League and put him on a weights regimen, much like with Assaidi and then when he played in the Europa, he broke his nose a few minutes into the match. Who would you play him instead of, Lucas who when fully fit is the best defensive midfielder in the league and one of the best in the world, Allen, who is a 15 million pound signing and is essential to our pass and move style of play or Gerrard who, although his early season form was pretty atrocious for him, he is getting back to Gerrard form. Shelvey is much like Gerrard in his younger days, a box to box midfielder who is more comfortable higher up the pitch, which is not Sahin's position and Henderson is coming into his own and is a good player for keeping possession and defending, something I'm not so sure Sahin is particularly good at, the defensive side that is.
ReplyDeleteIf they have made it clear that they didn't plan on selling him at the end of the loan, then this deal with Dortmund seems a bit odd.
ReplyDeleteJamie it is common knowledge about Sahin, there is a source for the information directly linked with Sahin etc, in other words the info is founded. The sports mag has none of the above and is therefore unfounded in its info, it's based on hearsay. Even you must be able to understand that, we are not saying it's untrue but we are saying we do not believe it. Show us credible sources for the info, where the mag got it and who from to back up your assertion, these are the same things you ask us for in defence of your opinions when we don't agree with you.
ReplyDeleteSorry, was playing silly buggers with you and flagged that one, although it hasn't been me flagging the others. Honest.
ReplyDeleteSahin isn't the one making the quotes though and there is nothing to say that he has made the quotes, this is Dortmund trying to create bad blood and tapping up the player.
ReplyDeleteI'm talking about Sahin moving on,NOT jealousy
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, Gerrard's early season form was pretty atrocious and he cost us a number of goals, it took awhile for him to adjust to the new style of play, but in recent months, he is getting back to somewhere near his best. With the actual quotes though, this is something Dortmund have said and not Sahin himself, there are no quotes of him saying that Rodgers betrayed him or that Gerrard is jealous of him, however Dortmund have made clear that they want to sign him back, this is them trying to create bad blood between Sahin and his manager and captain. This is pretty poor by Dortmund. And by the way, the quotes of Sahin's state that he didn't refuse to play in the number 10 role, he states that he feels his best role is deeper, which every player has a right to say, Sturridge recently came out and said that he has played through the centre and out wide and he feels his best position is through the centre.
ReplyDeleteJournalists write absolute rubbish especially during a transfer window and leading up to it. Proof is all the players we are linked to when there is no proof that we have been linked to them.
ReplyDeleteOur season hasn't been as bad as you seem to think it is. The midfield isn't clueless and is in fact one of the best in the league, Assaidi is young and is physically not strong enough for the league at the moment and so has been on a weights regimen to get him into shape. He is signed on a long term deal, so there is no rush to get him in. The fact that Downing and Henderson are starting to perform shows how far we have indeed come. We have introduced a number of youngsters into the first team, which can only be a good thing, Agger and Skrtel have remained injury free which is also a very good thing and for people to say we are leaking too many goals, we actually have the 5th best defense in the league. Allen has looked tired lately and of course he would, he's been playing every game and needs that bit of a break. We now have good attacking options with Suarez, Sterling, Sturridge and Borini coming back from injury. This can only be a good thing. I have a feeling we will get 5th or 6th this season, but even if the season were to end tomorrow, we would be in a better position than last season, simply because the points gap between us and 4th isn't that much, where as last season, the gap between us and Chelsea who were in 6th was into double figures.
ReplyDeleteIn Rodgers' first season for us, it's not actually that far off happening, halfway through the season under a new type of play and we are only 7 points out of top 4. This is pretty encouraging.
ReplyDeleteSahin was not a regular at Real Madrid. The same problem has been discovered at Liverpool FC. Rodgers transfers to date are questionable. I am not sure that Sturridge will be the one player to score the much needed goals in order to mount a top four finish. Ba, the former Newcastle and now Chelsea striker - would have been a much better signing.
ReplyDeleteSturridge is almost an identical type of player to Borini. Both are better through the middle, both are quick and make intelligent runs and both are versatile enough to be able to play wide as well and the fact that Suarez can also play wide, that opens up a lot of options and unpredictability.
ReplyDeleteOh come on, this is something most managers do. When Rafa came to us, two of his first signings were Fabio Aurelio and Mauricio Pellegrino as well as signing other Spanish players. Sam Allardyce has brought Kevin Nolan to just about every club he managed and also brought Ricardo Vaz Te and Jussi Jaaskelainen to West Ham, Jose Mourinho went to Chelsea and took Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira with him and then when he went to Real Madrid, one of his first signings there was Ricardo Carvalho. Andre Villas-Boas has done the same, bringing Meireles to Chelsea after previously working with him at Porto.
ReplyDeleteThey got Rodgers who did excellent in his job at Swansea instead of Laudrup who has a history of being at his club for one season before resigning or getting fired.
ReplyDeleteIt's not in favour of locals, it's in favour of Lucas, a player who Rodgers claimed he wanted to build the team around.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Sahin not being good defensively, whereas for all the faults that Henderson has a a younger player, he is good defensively.
ReplyDeleteGerrard is not getting the blame by Sahin, it is Dortmund who are creating this in an attempt to cause bad blood with Sahin's current manager and captain, thus alienating him and making him have no other option but to go to Dortmund. This is poor play by Dortmund and obviously tapping.
ReplyDeleteIt does help when the manager of the Europa League club got his managerial break under the manager of the parent club of the player.
ReplyDeleteLlorente doesn't suit our style of play, and also he wouldn't have been able to play in the Europa League for us anyway as he is cup tied, whereas Huntelaar would have still had the chance to play in the Europa League. To be honest, I wouldn't have gone for Huntelaar either, I think Sturridge could prove to be a good signing.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is Kenny spent over 100 million pounds and we finished 8th in the league and so far behind Chelsea in 6th, let alone the top 4. This is what ultimately cost Kenny his job, not a bad 3 months as you say, a couple of bad transfer windows where he bought Suarez yes, but also let go of Torres and got Carroll and then didn't play him, got Enrique, but also got Adam, Henderson, who he constantly played out of position and Downing, the buying of these players weren't necessarily the bad thing, it was the cost that these players were bought for. Yes Kenny won league titles, To be honest, I give him more credit for winning the title with Blackburn than I do with us, as with us, he took over a team that was already winning the title and FA cups and European cups under Joe Fagan. He had been out of the game for too long, over 10 years and frankly was a bad appointment, should only have been appointed in that caretaker role til the end of the season. FSG appointed him because he was the fans' top choice after Hodgson got the sack. However, Rodgers is FSG's choice and because of that will give him the time he needs for sustained success.
ReplyDeleteThat is a bit unfair to be honest, Borini hasn't been playing because he has been injured, not because Rodgers doesn't want to play him.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, isn't that the reason every manager signs a player? Because he has faith in them? He wouldn't sign a player he didn't rate and didn't think would fit into his plans. This is why he is the manager and no disrespect, but you aren't.
ReplyDeleteWhich was Lucas before his injury and once he gets full match fitness and his form comes back, will be again.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, what Sahin said is a comment a lot of players make. Sturridge recently said that although he played wide for Chelsea, his preferred position was through the middle.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair to Sahin, he has come from a league, being the Spanish league, where admittedly he didn't play much, mainly because of injury, but the Spanish league is a league that allows a lot more time on the ball and because of this, there isn't the emphasis on physical strength, to the Premier League which is a lot faster paced and a lot more physical, where physical strength is a key. This is why he has played better in Europa than in Premier League as his play suits the continental style of play better.
ReplyDeleteYou're saying this as though it's signed, sealed and delivered, as it stands he is still a Liverpool player, the fact that Dortmund have said he is 99% signed and have to use these quotes, something doesn't ring true to be honest.
ReplyDeleteWho has made the accusations? Sahin? If so, show me the quotes of him saying this. It is Dortmund who are making the accusations in an attempt to get him there, which they have been attempting to do since a couple of months before the transfer window opened up.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people say that BR made Sahin the promises, what they don't say or don't realise is that BR and Mourinho have previously worked with each other and this was a favour between two friends.
ReplyDeleteWho has these are his thoughts, the only one I believe are his thoughts are from his quotes from the LFC website, not Dortmund's quotes, the fact that the quotes hit out against the manager AND the club captain are a bit suspicious.
ReplyDeleteArturo Vidal Sassoon?
ReplyDeleteIt's not all about money, I agree with you there. My point is mainly that if a player has an opportunity to make a similar amount of money elsewhere and they didn't like playing here, they wouldn't stay.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of FSG, I think (more like hope) that if we can find a way to make the Champions League, their attitude will change. I think they were left licking their wounds last year because they did not see their ROI with the players. They foolishly figured that if they spent 100 mill, they would simply make it to the Champions League.
Couldn't disagree more. Yesil will be a top player for us in seasons to come if we treat him the same way we've treated sterling. Have you watched this kid in the reserves? Came back from injury and scored 3 goals in 2 matches. Two of those were top goals against Inter. For me, Yesil could have an owen-esk impact on our club. Just hoping we nurture the lad the right way
ReplyDeleteNot the first time Stevie has been jelous. I remember reading a quote from one of our most famous KOP heros El Hadj Diouf claiming that Gerrard was jelous of him during his time at anfeild coz he knew Diouf was a better player :)
ReplyDeleteThat's not the impression I meant to give. I don't mean Sahin made those accusations, hence my saying that "I take the accusations with a pinch of salt", I doubt Sahin would say that cause he's been trying to be a fans favorite, he even told us about the "night of Istanbul" when he may have actually been concerntrating on breaking in the Dortmund reserves. He got Turan a liverpool jersey and claimed he was delighted to play alongside Gerrard and how Alonso was still in love with Liverpool. So I take it with a pinch of salt that he would say all that. Dortmund/Journalists may be up to tricks and tying to sell stories.
ReplyDeleteI distinctly remember the same situation occured with Aquilani, he showed some promise in the games that he played, but he never got the chance. Aquilani showed more promise than Sahin, but it never worked out for him, so it certainly wouldn't work out for Sahin. Especially if Allen was bought for big money.
ReplyDeleteYou're totally right. My biggest problem here is how as a manager you buy a player knowing his strengths and weaknesses and can't impiment him into the team especially after paying a 5mil loan fee! I've had this feeling since the summer with carrol that BR might not really know what he's doing when it comes to transfers. Now with Sahin, Assaidi, Borini, and Allen seemingly fading/struggling/etc I'm starting to worry about what lies forward in terms of bringing people into the club. Cause if he told Sahin something and lied to him, why would players of higher profiles every want to play for us?
ReplyDeletehe might be a great technician but he hasn't got the pace,whether or not it has got to do with lack of fitness or not! hes pace has been exposed in the premier league. which everyone knows is far more hi tempo than la liga, or bunesliga
ReplyDeleteliverpools problem is brendan rodgers not sahina
ReplyDeletealso get rid of steven gerard hes finished and joe allen is not a good footballer to week another br signing
You're a moron. It's Steven Gerrard* for a start... And he's hardly finished, he'll be in double figures for goals at the end of this season, better than most Prem' central midfielders I think you'll find.
ReplyDeletewhat i cant understand is why on earth should gerrard feel jelous about sahin .. Thats absolute non sense... AS IF GERRARD is going to be intimitaded about any arrival HE IS THE LEGEND
ReplyDeletelol true, your very wise in someways
ReplyDeleteSahin has looked woeful. Everything else on here is just speculation. It is possible that BR signed him with good intentions but the player had just not performed. He looks very slow. In that case what a great decision to try him on loan first. Well done BR!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree.
ReplyDeleteBrendan Rodgers transfer dealing have been diasatrous and very costly for Liverpool thus far . Why fight off other teams tto sign Sahin and than dont use the player effectively . You need to play to your strengths and not place a player thats good in a ceratian position elsewhere and expect the same performance.
ReplyDeleteGerrard's form this season has been abysmal , which was the perfect opportunity for Brendan to give Sahin a run in the role Gerrard plays. Move Gerrard around or bench him . That often is the kick in the b..t players need. You always need to have a back up plan when a player is reaching the twilight of his career . Gerrard could still give Liverpool a good few years but be prepared if he doesnt .
Breandan Rodgers is highly over rated as a manager and his mistakes are costing the club dearly
you takin the micky with ya comment little micky, ya comments as good as ya spelling knob
ReplyDeleteSo Dismissive!
ReplyDeleteNo, I mean please explain what you base your assesment of CN on. Your point of view doesn't seem that obscure. I happen to think differently some of the time.
The point of the comment was to illustrate occasions when you use sweeping generalisations eg Obligate Fans to dismiss a poster's agument and actually call him that label specifcally.
You write so much fucking shit.
ReplyDeleteFine. I thought you said you encouraged debate. I don't attack you, I'm not abusive or anything of the sort. I'm merely taking up counterarguments to the points you raise.
ReplyDeleteThought that was the point of this whole debate thing.
And you say I clearly don't get it?
Blimey, I'll keep quiet. That way, when you start a topic you'll have 1 less person who might argue differently..
Ageing legend, whose place in the team was in doubt. Look at what happened at Chelski. The old guard got rid of AVP because he was trying to faze them out. Abrahomivich still hasnt forgiven them - which is why Lampard will not get another contract at the blues
ReplyDeleteYou have too much time on your hands man.
ReplyDeleteJamie, i believe both Gerrard and Sahin were both played in unnatural positions but SG being the Captain is being persisted with in that position despite his mistakes and Sahin was not though i doubt he failed in the number of chances he got a start.
ReplyDeleteGerrard was 'woefully out of form'? You are kidding me, right? Stevie G has set his standards so high that his so called woeful form is another midfielders 'he's had a good game'! He's the best midfielder this country has seen for a long time, can spot a run and pick a pass from almost anywhere on the pitch. And why wouldn't he want to play further up the pitch? He has just come out and said that with Lucas coming back it has given him the license to get further forward. I personally don't think Sahin can play a deeper role in the Premiership, it would be him or Joe Allen playing with Stevie G and Lucas...I'd go for Joe Allen. Given time Sahin could become a great player for LFC but he's on loan and needs to adapt quickly and perform immediately. Also you can't judge BR on his transfers so early on, they've had good, average and bad games. But they are fitting into a new system of play, some of which has been quite brilliant. He's done a brilliant job with existing players, Hendo and Downing look like two completely different players to last season and the youngsters are showing their class, all thanks to BR!!
ReplyDeleteSo Jaimie have you seen the sahin comments that his loan to us was worth it just to have played with gerrard? Does that not refute these allegations and prove they were made up, as we have all suggested?
ReplyDeleteNot sure if people still care but I think this realistically puts an end to the Gerrard jealousy story:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2013/01/12/3667184/-
Not at all. Just because Sahin liked playing with Gerrard doesn't mean privately, SG felt threatened. Only someobe supremely unprofessional would say anything negative in public anyway.
ReplyDelete