It's official: Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Emre Can (pronounced 'Chan', apparently), but what type of player are the Reds getting? By all accounts, Can is a bit of a utility player, but who better to shed some light on his overall talent/potential than the man who signed him, Anfield legend Sami Hyypia.
In a November interview with Kicker magazine, Hyypia outlined six of the midfielder's best qualities:
"He [Can] has everything needed to play in many positions, and he is well on the way to becoming a very good player.
"He is incredible with the ball; has great technique, and he is strong in one-on-one situations. He plays better offensively, but he can defend well, and that aspect of his game should not be underestimated"
Sounds good, but Sami tempered his praise with some words of caution about Can's composure/end product. He noted:
"He still has much to learn, though. He needs more patience when making decisions, but he's smart enough to learn that."
So, to summarise:
* Able to play in many positions.
* Great technique.
* Strong in one-on-one situations.
* Comfortable on the ball.
* Better as an attacker.
* Can defend well.
Sounds great. Most of Brendan Rodgers' mid-range signings have made zero impact at LFC, but hopefully Can will buck that particular trend.
If Liverpool sign one or two more midfielders this summer, I can't see how Can is going to be a regular starter for the club, but whatever happens, this deal has to be another nail in the coffin of Lucas's Anfield career.
The Brazilian is a good, steady player, and he's provided good service for the Reds over the years, but he's quite literally redundant right now. Gerrard has usurped Lucas as the club's holding midfielder, and Can appears to be the skipper's new back-up.
Lucas will make an excellent squad player, but will he want to stay and be 4th/5th choice?
Author: Jaimie K
In a November interview with Kicker magazine, Hyypia outlined six of the midfielder's best qualities:
"He [Can] has everything needed to play in many positions, and he is well on the way to becoming a very good player.
"He is incredible with the ball; has great technique, and he is strong in one-on-one situations. He plays better offensively, but he can defend well, and that aspect of his game should not be underestimated"
Sounds good, but Sami tempered his praise with some words of caution about Can's composure/end product. He noted:
"He still has much to learn, though. He needs more patience when making decisions, but he's smart enough to learn that."
So, to summarise:
* Able to play in many positions.
* Great technique.
* Strong in one-on-one situations.
* Comfortable on the ball.
* Better as an attacker.
* Can defend well.
Sounds great. Most of Brendan Rodgers' mid-range signings have made zero impact at LFC, but hopefully Can will buck that particular trend.
If Liverpool sign one or two more midfielders this summer, I can't see how Can is going to be a regular starter for the club, but whatever happens, this deal has to be another nail in the coffin of Lucas's Anfield career.
The Brazilian is a good, steady player, and he's provided good service for the Reds over the years, but he's quite literally redundant right now. Gerrard has usurped Lucas as the club's holding midfielder, and Can appears to be the skipper's new back-up.
Lucas will make an excellent squad player, but will he want to stay and be 4th/5th choice?
Author: Jaimie K
At the *very* least Can will be excellent cover for Hendo, a player that we all excruciatingly remember missing at the end of last season. That being said, I see him best operating opposite Hendo in the diamond, allowing us to continue to bomb forward in all our spectacular glory, but having the extra legs to get back and cover the back 4.
ReplyDeleteAgree, that's definitely an option, but if Can plays as part of a midfield three, that only leaves three more spaces to fill in the team, two of which will almost certainly be taken by Suarez and Sturridge.
ReplyDeleteThat leaves one place left, for which Sterling, Coutinho, Lallana (if he signs) and all other attacking players will have to fight.
I can't see Can being regularly preferred to Lallana, or, say, Pedro, if LFC end up signing a him (or a player of his ilk)
That's if all of those other players are fit, we were fairly lucky this year with injuries and alot less games hence why some of the squad didnt get many games, going to have to be more rotation this year and thats where Can will come in.
ReplyDeleteid consider sturridge n coutinho to be mid ranged signing too
ReplyDeletehope he is like them n not like aspas(from whos i had big hope having seen him in la liga)
Good signing. He has two years to adjust, learn and develop into a world-class player before he takes over from Gerrard. Until then he is solid cover for both Gerrard and Henderson, younger and probably on much lower wages than Lucas, who could be sold for a decent fee to some Seria A or La Liga side ...
ReplyDeleteNo complaints from me, very pleased....................... :-)
ReplyDeleteCan has the potential to be a great player for us. Remember that Bayer are a pretty big club, finished 4th last year and played in the CL. If he was a 20 year old versatile English midfielder who played 30 games for a top 4 PL side last season he would cost the earth. Imagine us getting Barkley for under 10 million (not a perfect comparison as Can plays further back, but they are the same age, similar amounts of experience, both powerful, have great technique, love a dribble and got 6 g/a last year..) Let's hope he gets enough games but given his willingness to play anywhere (look at his whoscored stats - http://www.whoscored.com/Players/111212/ - played LB, DC, DMC, MC, AML at some point) he should at least get a chance.
ReplyDelete..................................sturridge........suarez
ReplyDelete..............................................lallana
..........................can............................henderson
.............................................gerrard
bench: lambert,sterling,coutinho,allen
wow what an attack rodgers make it happen
emre can reminds me of xabi alonso
ReplyDeletejust more mobile and nowhere near as good at passing
but other then that he reminds me of alonso
new khedira
ReplyDeletelallana on the left sterling no.10
ReplyDeleteYou just said my mind.Opposite Hendo with Gerrard in the hole.
ReplyDeleteso where is can gonna play he is too good to be on bench?
ReplyDeleteNot sure Lucas will be 4th/5th choice. I think he will be the preferred option for the Gerard role when Gerard is not playing. If we imagine a three or four man midfield (433 and 442 diamond) then With Allen, Lucas, Gerard, Henderson, Coutinho and Can or the three midfield positions (not the tip of diamond or wing which Sterling and possibly Lallana would play) then that is only two players per position. If the Alberto loan rumours are true and Suso coming back that means seven players for those six positions which still isn't that many considering Rodgers had previously said he wanted at least two players per position. Also horses for courses. Can is the biggest of the Rodgers era signings and could be useful for more physical encounters.
ReplyDeleteAll other attacking players?
ReplyDeleteExactemundo!
ReplyDeleteClearly I have already sold Aspas in my mind.
ReplyDeleteIn summary... he's nothing like Alonso then.
ReplyDeleteAs long as he dun had a nick name (e.g. welsh xavi, Moroccan messi, etc) will WORK FINE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFast and can't pass. Just like xabi Alonso haha
ReplyDeleteHe's been called the new Schweinsteiger. Doesn't seem to have traction, thankfully.
ReplyDeleteOMG !!!!!!!!!!!! now let hope he not a new SHELVEY or SAHIN
ReplyDeleteOur second signing done. Another 3 or 4 to go.
ReplyDeleteAre you the same troll from yesterday, but went under the name as 'Henderson 14 capatain'?. Your new name suggests you are trying to take the piss of Stevie G's slip at Chelsea.
ReplyDeleteReady to get that happy piece of business done and dusted. I want Iago "Ol' Short Corner" Aspas off the team sheet immediately. Perhaps Arsenal will buy him for a pound + 1.
ReplyDeleteApparently Celta Vigo want Aspas back. .
ReplyDeleteBorini? Lambert?
ReplyDeleteas i said earlier, its a done deal.
ReplyDeletehowever, jamie bekives in statistics and cans stats are not great, so he may not like it.
what i can see fm his articles is he likes players with avg 1.6 goals/assists per game.
anyone like to comment on jamies pov on articles
mate u r absolutelt right with ur thinking.
ReplyDeletewe needed left mf
class good signing but our club need two world class quality attacking signings this Summer:
ReplyDeleteChelsea are about to sign D Costa(25) and C Fabregas(27) for combined total of £62M
I still hope B Rodgers goes for I Rakitic(26) as it looks like Barcelona want to put in an official bid of 20 Euros, but i am hoping I Rakitic(26) is smart and he will not go there due to the fact Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets are the main stays in the barcelna side and are rarely dropped.
As Fabregas, Mascherano and Song have now found out the hard way, i am hoping B Rodgers offers Seville £25M-£34M to sign him.
He would be an astute signing: And would offer us real class quality in centre midfield next season:
The other world class attacking player i hope B Rodgers signs is : A Sanchez(25) Of Barcelona for £22-£26M
Those two players would be awesome additions to the club and the world class players to take us to next level
And B Rodgers should then focus on Defence: GK 2CB RB
As the A Moreno(21) deal i have heard will should be finalised soon.LB
Yeah, dream on m8
ReplyDeleteWe have just signed Can = CM?
ReplyDeleteWe ain't signing Rakatic especially not at most probably four times the price.
Lucas should be out and Johnson should follow him. Can looks like one for the future, like to see Rakitic in our ranks, a RB, CB and either one of Konoplyanka, Lallana (for the right price) Sanchez and Shaqiri.
ReplyDeletesturridge is very good.. but theres just something about him ...
ReplyDeleteSturridge is worth more but Sterling is only 19. This is probably based on his potential.
ReplyDeleteFor me Sturridge wins by virtue of age and experience which translates into a great scoring record. But its a lovely situation to be discussing with two amazing talents in the side who could become great liverpool players
ReplyDeleteRubbish.
ReplyDeleteI cannot see LFC fans arguing on who is worth more to be honest especially when we are not planning on selling Sturridge or Sterling.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter what he's worth, he's not for sale!!
ReplyDeleteWell think of it as discussing who is the best player or has the most potential then
ReplyDeletebah! to the devil with chelski, their money, and their perpetually parked bus.
ReplyDeleteJamie K is a cock!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy does Jamie K write such sensational headlines and then have no substance in the articles? Attention seeker.
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha livpool trashy scums so happy abt emre can but we getting fab and just landed costa. Go back to history channel boys! To be honest Jamie, your articles are utter rubbish and complete trash
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteLogan - please do post pointless comments like this. If you're not interested in discussing anything to do with the points raised, then just don't post anything.
ReplyDeleteWhat something good or something not so good?
ReplyDeleteand the graveyard for strikers! Does Costa know what he is got himself into?
ReplyDeleteCan(21) is a squad player. I Rakitic(26) would be first team starter and i think E Can(21) will come and replace out going L Leiva(27)
ReplyDeleteDream on? We need world class players , not just squad players. We need to push on, so while we are getting bargain basement buys. And we are now in Champions league, We need to be bringing in world class players also as i do not want us to be in it to win it and not just to make up the numbers or in and out of Champions league and then struggling to get back into it due to the fact we have brought more squad players who are not better than what we already have at club
ReplyDeletei've said it before and i'll say it again -- it is beyond me why anyone would want to sign and play for them. i see Costa getting frustrated with Mourinho's tactics next campaign. I only hope the battle that ensues is very public and very awkward.
ReplyDelete4-5 years between them, the fact that Sterling is so good now probably translates into that fee being generated, there is a big demand nowadays for players with potential to be good for 10+ years... This seems to produce these ridiculous numbers.
ReplyDelete*Evil laugh*
ReplyDeleteBoth worth £40 million each and rising, But not selling them there here for the next decade ! And going to win us many games and trophys.
ReplyDeleteChelsea had better defence than us and more class quality centre midfielders and wingers at their disposal than us. We had better forward line.
ReplyDeleteThey have shipped out one world class midfielder for another world class midfielder and now brought in a world class striker.
Whereas chelsea have Matic, Obi Mikel, Oscar, Ramirez and soon to be Fabregas. There weakest midfielder is Obi Mikel now
We have S Gerrard(34) still world class, P Coutinho(21), J Henderson(23), J Allen(24) and L Leiva(27).
J Allen(24) and L Leiva(27) are box standard average and both should be shipped out this summer. E Can(21) is L Leiva's replacement and I Rakitic(26) should be our upgrade on J Allen(24).
Where they have 4 class quality wingers: Hazard, Salah, Schurlle and Willian competing for the wide positions. We have one class quality wide player: in the first team: R Sterling.
Jaime I honestly cannot understand your way of running this site. You're against sniping but lash out at people putting their thoughts into words. Let the man speak his mind! No need for poisonous comments like this one even if you disagree.
ReplyDeleteAs for Logan - I agree with Start's comment, it's about the evaluation in the market considering potential and ability, or if you'd like - a comparison of how much would you accept as an offer for either?
Sterling is younger, that will obviously play a big factor due to potential, not sure about this but if his contract length is longer than that will give him an advantage
ReplyDeleteGiven the choice, I'd rather have Sturridge. He's a bona-fide match-winner/game-changer. Sterling is not at that level.
ReplyDeleteI believe Sterling will win this battle of two next season by a bigger margin! He will improve even more and we will see more of him. I hope Sturridge will not be far behind either!
ReplyDeleteI'd rather have Sterling as I think he has much higher potential, and he's faster which is ridiculously important in my eyes
ReplyDeleteWhen the chips are down, Sturridge is more likely to win you a game (IMO). Just look at the start of last season: 3 goals in a row to secure three 1-0 wins on the trot.
ReplyDeleteJAIMIE Marca have seriously stepped up real madrids interest in suarez and obviously real are the biggest in the world and it will be very hard to reject
ReplyDeletewe need to start thinking about life after suarez
sanchez is the best replacement, in my opinion would liverpool be stronger with suarez of course but players will leave and we have to respect that as we take other teams best players as well
One thing's for sure, Sterling is worth more than Shaw who will be leaving for about £30M this summer.
ReplyDelete....................................sturridge
ReplyDeletesterling.........................lallana.................sanchez
.............................gerrard.......henderson
bench: lambert,shaqiri,coutinho,can/allen
would not mind that attack
suarez 70m
borini 8m
suso 7m
assaidi 5m
= 90m
lallana 30m
sanchez 45m
shaqiri 15m
= 90m
If Southampton are selling Lallana who is 26 at £30m plus then why can Sterling not be worth £36m?
ReplyDeleteValues of players will in the end be determined by the selling club. If we did want to sell Sterling now then he will not go on the cheap.
sterling would be worth about 65m
ReplyDeletehe is more accomplished then neymar was and neymar cost 52m
luiz cost 50m , shaw cost 30m ,lallana is valued at 30m and mata 37m
How is he more accomplished than Neymar was ?
ReplyDeletehe has proved it in a hard league where he was one of the best players
ReplyDeleteneymar played in a league which is probablly equivilant to our n power championship
it is true that C, at present, have a better defence, more - as you say - class, quality midfielders and wingers, BUT I would rather bathe in the excrement of a billion blubbering babies than look on that horrid team with envy.
ReplyDeleteplus bale cost 90m
ReplyDeletesterling statistically has had better season then bale at spurs up until his last
sterling is 19 bale was a spurs reject at that age
depends on world cup and cl i guess a good world cup and good cl campaign he could be worth 100m
his selfishness and arrogance?
ReplyDeleteJK,
ReplyDeleteSigning Ca, does this mean;
1. We nuke Lucas .
2. We won't sign Rakitic?
3. We won't sign Carvalho?
Opinion please........I really hope we still sign Rakitic and forget Lallana.....
Before signing for Barça Neymar already had 4 complete top flight seasons under his belt, scoring over 100 goals. Sterling isn't even close to that yet.
ReplyDeleteAnd at the end of the day, Neymar is capable of doing more things on a football pitch than Sterling is,and that has to count for something.
Btw the Brazalian league isn't as weak as you say
Not to mention he was already a regular starter for Brazil too.
ReplyDeleteyes i am saying it depends on his cl campaign and world cup if that si good i would want a world record fee
ReplyDeletehe has more potential then neymar and bale
and in my opinion will be the worlds greatest player after messi leaves
he had better season then c ronaldo when he was 19 as well
ReplyDeleteSeems most people here are thinking this is who is the 'better' player but its not. Its the most valuable. It is based on the fact sterling has shown high quality and statistically will be expected to improve as a footballer over the years. He also offers more years in service. He certainly has more potential than sturridge.
ReplyDeleteAlso this is just a report using a computer to work out value on stats which is generally meaningless.
towards the end of season he was our best player even better then suarez
ReplyDeletei would say he is more valuable then suarez because he plays well in the big agmes as well is younger and like i said he was winning all the motm awards not suarez
becouse he is not injury prone in addition sterling may be better than sturridge at the age of 24
ReplyDeleteMy honest opinion, forget Rakatic. He will most likely sign the new contract with Sevilla unless a gigantic offer is made for him.
ReplyDeleteSterling the world's greatest player when messi leaves? I think you may be stretching things a little. If he's one of Liverpool's best players it would already be a great achievement ;)
ReplyDeletehe's neither selfish nor is he arrogant ...
ReplyDeleteThat's a myth. He's managed 14 assists in 49 games which is pretty good for a selfish center forward. I'd like to see how it compares with the likes of RVP, Aguero, etc.
ReplyDeleteAnd no coach, teammate, former coach, former teammate, or anyone for that matter, has ever complained of his supposed selfishness so I just don't understand where that comes from.