6 Sept 2014

'LFC are massive, but...' £20 star explains why he rejected Liverpool transfer. Loss?

New QPR goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has confirmed that he rejected a transfer deadline day move to Liverpool.

Liverpool were linked with McCarthy during the summer 2013 transfer window, and earlier this week, the 24-year old revealed that Brendan Rodgers made a last-ditch attempt to sign him.

Speaking to reporters, McCarthy admitted that rejected the Reds is the 'hardest decision' he's ever taken in his career. He added:

"It was a tough decision [to turn down Liverpool], but I think I made the right decision. Obviously Liverpool are a massive club, but I feel like I'm going to play more here [at QPR] and that was the reason."

Rodgers worked with McCarthy during his ill-fated six-month stint as Reading manager in 2009, and after he watched the 23-year old thwart Liverpool in April 2013, Rodgers hailed the 'keeper's performance as 'absolutely staggering', adding:

"That's arguably the best goalkeeping performance I've ever seen. He [McCarthy] has all the attributes to be a top, top keeper - he's 6'5", makes unbelievable saves, is good on his feet and is very calm and assured despite being very young"

After these comments, I predicted that McCarthy would become a transfer target for Liverpool, and that's exactly what happened (though based on Rodgers' eulogy, it's hardly a leap to draw that conclusion!)

Pepe Reina was also impressed with McCarthy's performance, and after the game, the Spaniard swapped shirts with him, after offered some words of encouragement. In his post-match interview, McCarthy revealed what Reina said. He told reporters:

"He [Reina] just said 'well played', and said he didn't know how I made some of those saves. It's nice for someone of his ability to say things like that"

QPR have not disclosed McCarthy's transfer fee, but Reading defender Jem Karacen believes that he is worth big bucks. Last season, he toldthe Daily Mail:

"He's amazing. [He is worth] around 15 to £20million. You see how much young English players go for - there are some crazy sums out there. I don't see why he shouldn't be in that bracket."

The ironic thing here is that given Liverpool's receding faith in Simon Mignolet, McCarthy may have actually played quite a lot at Anfield. If he'd come in and taken his chance, then he might've relegated Mignolet to the bench.

I can understand McCarthy's reluctance to take the chance, though. He probably sees the situation at Liverpool as similar to Man City last season: Manuel Pellegrini dropped Joe Hart for a while, and Costel Pantilimon came in for a few games, ostensibly to give Hart a kick up the backside. Soon enough, though, Hart regained his place, and has stayed there ever since.

Perhaps Rodgers plans to do the same thing after signing a new 'keeper: drop Mignolet for a few games; hope the experience will spur him on the greater heights, then ultimately bring him back into the team as the club's number one.

With this stratefy, Liverpool will find it hard to sign another goalkeeper. In my view, no top class 'keeper is likely to come in just to provide competition (i.e. no real chance of becoming no 1 - just in the squad to make Mignolet feel under threat).

Rodgers will have to convince any incoming player that there's a genuine chance of dislodging Mignolet, otherwise the club might as well just stick with Brad Jones.





NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)


115 comments:

  1. Interesting. But, what surprises me was that we did not go for Romero. What happened that was so detrimental to the deal that we had to go for Mccarthy. Stupid classified stuff...

    ReplyDelete
  2. When it involves any English players, the transfer fees goes up 10mil automatically.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 20m, you're having a laugh...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mignolet will improve. He looked at comfortable vs Spurs. No goalkeeper will havge an easy ride with an inconsistent defence. I am hoping Rodgers sticks with Manquillo Lovren Sakho Moreno.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:30 pm, September 06, 2014

    We need a good 2nd keeper, but not to good to ever make mignelot leave


    like adrian at west ham or brad guzan from villa


    but how did spurs get vorm he has more chance of displacing mignolet than loris

    ReplyDelete
  6. I remember bombarding this board about 3 years ago telling people about the next great star Raheem Stirling, I also remember telling everyone Brendon was mad to consider loaning him out, Texiera was my next big tip for the top Sammy will give him the gee up he needs character wise, he has everything else. Rafa gets no credit for Stirling which is wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Watch out, Hodgson is going to take over the footballing world!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have been going on about A Mccarthy(24) for last two seasons, Why B Rodgers did not try to sign him straight as soon as we ended last season is beyond me.


    S Mignolet(25) is a good shot stopper apart from that he is abyzmal and useless with most things. And it seems as if our defence do not really have faith or trust him.


    B Rodgers needs to tell S Mignolet(25) and any new GK who joins that NONE of them will be guaranteed first choice number 1 and that None of them are indispensable. They will be both fighting week in week out to be the Number 1.


    If V Valdes(32) can get back fully fit and to his best and can pass the medical , then i think S Mignolet(25) will be a bench warmer. As V Valdez(32) is a world class GK and GK can play for next 3-5 years.


    Buffon(36) is still going strong at Juventus and is still world class GK

    ReplyDelete
  9. Big fish,small pond. McCarthy could have played 90 minutes in the Irish League if its minutes/game time he wants, ambition's what it's all about. Thank goodness we didn't get him, he's got no ambition.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Maybe because we were "secretly" going for Valdes. Funny how nobody mentioned Valdes in this post yet.

    ReplyDelete
  11. With this stratefy, Liverpool will find it hard to sign another goalkeeper. In my view, no top class 'keeper is likely to come in just to provide competition (i.e. no real chance of becoming no 1 - just in the squad to make Mignolet feel under threat).

    If Victor Valdes gets fit and signs, this is going to look like a very silly statement.

    ReplyDelete
  12. No, what's 'silly' is your complete lack of comprehension.

    I said no top keeper will come in to sit on the bench. Valdes is a a top European 'keeper, and I sincerely doubt that he will come to LFC to be Brad Jones Mk 2. He is a winner, with peerless experience, and I fully expect him to come to the club to knock Mignolet out of the team.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I dont think brad jones is that bad that we dont show faith in him. its quite disheartening for someone to see us linked with others when he is perfectly capable and will improve if given the chance. why not play him in the fa cup and league?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fine. Think about it this way. Say Mignolet gets red-carded or injured against Madrid, would you rather have Valdes or Brad Jones. I will let you answer that question. A back-up keeper is one that is more than able to deputise when the regular keeper is out.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What happened to your rule about being civil?

    ReplyDelete
  16. goalies for crap teams look good because they make a lot of saves and are under pressure all game so complacency doesn't creep in.its much harder when you are under the spotlight for 2 or 3 crucial saves that decide the match ALEX IS AVERAGE thats why reading are crap.law of averages says if you are peppered with shots you will make a few saves as its easier to get in the zone.Jones would look like a world beater at reading ive seen it all before there is no story here move on

    ReplyDelete
  17. hes that good hes at QPR,

    ReplyDelete
  18. 33 is nothing for a goalie

    ReplyDelete
  19. 33 and recovering from an ACL injury is a far cry from 26 and fully fit.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Silly discussion. Migs is more than adequate. The GK is the last resort guy. A good back four is way more important and that's what we have now. We don't need another keeper.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I agree that migs needs a run...but he cant kick a ball for toffee and it needs to be addressed

    ReplyDelete
  22. with out seeing the small print of the deal i cant comment

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thing is, if Valdes was the same keeper that won all those trophies, Barca wouldn't have let him become a free agent and clubs would be lining up to sign him.

    He can still do a job in Cup games and putting pressure on Mignolet, but I expect Simon to retain the No. 1 jersey.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I didn't want Sandro(25).


    The reason Chelsea and Man City are favourites to win the league is because they always have the best defensive records and they are hard to break down.


    But the main reason is not only do they have good solid consistant back four week in week out with world class Gk behind them , they always have a defensive enforcer or shield in front of them or two in some games protecting the back 4 and giving their attacking players the license to do what they do best and attack as they have the insurance behind them:


    J Mourinho spent £25M on Matic(26) who was an astute signing, he also has Ramires(27) and Obi Mikel(27) who can also tackle well and play the DM Positions and roles very well and protect their back 4.


    Pellegrini has spent £42M to protect his back 4 on Fernando(27) and Fernandinho(29) : Those two players give Man City's Attacking players the license to attack whilst they protect the back 4.


    Its not rocket science


    Us, Arsenal, Man United, Tottenham and Everton have alot of attacking class quality within our squads which will hurt teams.


    It is Just Chelsea and Man City have Some class quality DM specialists within their ranks who make it their lifes work to protect their back 4 and are hard to break down at home or away.


    Its not a coincidence that when we were doing so well during 2005-2009 in Europe(Champions league) due to fact we had some class quality specialist DM at club protecting back 4( Hamman, Mascherano and Sissoko)


    In the huge games where we beat Barcelona away, Real Madrid away, Inter Milan away and came back in C League final our Key DM'S at the time played a huge role in success but they never ever get the plaudits the so rightly deserve

    ReplyDelete
  25. So you deleted my comment?

    Thanks for confirming that your rules don'y apply to you.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Another reason is they have 11 top players and 11 more nearly as good to back them up

    ReplyDelete
  27. Note to self. Jaimie is allowed to break his own rules about sniping and belittling, but will delete your comment if you point out the hypocrisy.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Don't call anything Jaimie says 'silly'. He will call you an idiot and then delete your comment for breaking the rules he has just broken himself.

    ReplyDelete
  29. McCarthy joined QPR in the belief he will get more game time... now he's just warming the bench. Regrets much?

    ReplyDelete
  30. In future, please state your point without belittling the debate. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  31. He has had a full season and he has other issues with crosses and commanding his area.


    I am surprised that long standing players are criticised and fans want to move them on (Reina, Johnson Enrique Lucas and even SG) but a relative newcomer gets such support despite not playing well enough.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Matic(27), Ramires(27) and Obi Mikel(27) ,Fernando(27) and Fernandinho(29) are probably their managers most crucial players.


    Without any of those players in the starting line up of both teams, they would both be like us last season and leak goals for fun as our defence is as good as both of theirs.


    Its just the fact both teams have specialist DM'S amongst their ranks who do their jobs down to a T without any plaudits or accolades for their team.


    And without them DM'S the likes of: Aguero, Dzeko, Nasri, Navas, Silva and Yaya, Costa, Drogba, Fabregas, Hazard, Remy ,Salah, Schurlle and Willian would not be able to do what they do best: Attack

    ReplyDelete
  33. Jerry whatever you do don;t do a note to yourself.:-)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Note to self get in before the post is deleted

    ReplyDelete
  35. What are you talking about? S Mignolet(25) is an awesome shot stopper but thats all he is.


    There are Few Gks in our league and even Championship that all round are better than him at lower clubs than us:


    M Vorm(30) and Hugo Lloris(27) Both at Tottenham
    T Krul(26) Of Newcastle
    A Begovic(26) Of Stoke
    A McGregor(32) Of Hull
    B Guzan(29) Of A Villa
    D Marshall(29) Of Cardiff

    ReplyDelete
  36. jerry can.....get it

    ReplyDelete
  37. but with sandro they would leak goals just like spurs did.........its circular argument

    ReplyDelete
  38. im all for an enforcer but im not sure one who isnt deemed fit for spurs is the solution .....the new spurs manager knows his stuff he must do as rogers is after buying all his old players

    ReplyDelete
  39. and if he can get fit i expect victor to mature into a fine back up.......

    ReplyDelete
  40. most of the long standing players you have mentioned have been standing to long usually in the wrong place especially when wearing a red top

    ReplyDelete
  41. i dont get it either. i mean here you are going on and on and yet BR does not seem to care. puzzling.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Good information but, oh well, time to move on. Is valdez worth the chase? I hope so because miggy can make saves but I still get nervous on every corner and goal kick since the latter almost always leads to a loss of possession..........

    ReplyDelete
  43. it wont be much of a chase given valdes,s fitness even lucas could catch him

    ReplyDelete
  44. well said Jk for a moment i thought pandle was being serious

    ReplyDelete
  45. Will we see Victor Mature?

    ReplyDelete
  46. We can still get Valdes

    ReplyDelete
  47. But he ran down his own contract

    ReplyDelete
  48. I haven't once said we should have got Sandro(25), B Rodgers should bring in C Tiote(28) Of Newcastle Or N De Jong(29) Of AC Milan for £5-£7M


    B Rodgers should bring C Tiote(28) to the club in January for sure

    ReplyDelete
  49. Swansea gave them Ben Davies & Vorm (for nothing) for Sigurdsson

    ReplyDelete
  50. I'd rather raid Southampton for Morgan Schneiderlin


    Newcastle fans I know wouldn't want Tiote in their starting XI

    ReplyDelete
  51. How was it that Suarez got the most goals with Gerrard as a DM

    ReplyDelete
  52. Well if we do not nake top 4 this season and come crashing out of Champions league as we do not have recognised athletic tough tackling mobile specialist Defensive Enforcer in squad.


    B Rodgers will feel the brunt of it if that happens not me!!! But its not defence that is problem, its not having a recognised athletic tough tackling mobile specialist Defensive Enforcer in side and we are exposed in between the lines.

    ReplyDelete
  53. We have raided Southampton FC Enough this summer, we should leave it a season or two before we go back and try and sign any more players. And Schneiderlin(24) is a box to box midfielder, we have enough box to box centre midfielders.




    We need a mobile Defensive Enforcer to come and protect back 4, break up play, nulify attacks, stop oppositions best players getting on ball and dictating tempo and play of game and getting things started for us.

    ReplyDelete
  54. its 2014/2015 season? Last season is over, L Suarez(27) is no longer at club, we had great amazing season but won nothing.


    So its new season, S Gerrard(34) does not have the energy, legs, mobility, pace or speed to play in a young, mobile, pacey quick side in the quickest league in the world.


    He is on his last legs, he is currently the weakest position teams will target in the first 11.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Gilstrap you make a good point bud.That's why Simon Mignolet looked sensational for Sunderland.Having 20 saves a match to make and showing off his best quality which is shot stopping.
    Playing for Liverpool where your less active but are called upon to make a couple of pressure saves is the real test.
    I have to hold my hands up because i wanted the club to sign Mignolet.I fell hook line and sinker for the eye catching saves he was making every week.To be fair he's not complete trash but we can do better.

    ReplyDelete
  56. I would take Hodgson over Wayne Rooney.Any pensioner who can lift their leg that high should get the nod over WR.Whenever Rooney puts on a England shirt he's complete garbage.His goal stats will say otherwise but it's misleading if you link a decent scoring record to good performances.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Sandro is one of the slowest players in his position in the premiere league. God only knows where u get your silly stats from.

    You need to do your research h before writing your baseless articles, can is by far quicker than sandro.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Me. Can is largely unproven and Sandro is perpetually injured/struggling for form. I suppose Lucas isn't much better in that regard.

    As I said before, I wasn't enamoured with any of the options.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I reckon he takes more than players with him...

    ReplyDelete
  60. Just to demonstrate how outrageous your comment is: James is rated better than Kroos and Fabregas on FIFA 15.

    ReplyDelete
  61. People are only up-voting your comments because they either find them very funny, or they're under 12 years old and agree with you.

    ReplyDelete
  62. He could have been a good option, but is he really a clear upgrade on Mignolet? We can say our keeper has some faults but very few are close to perfect, even Reina at his best had moments where he looked unconvincing. Isn't McCarthy just another shot stopper?

    ReplyDelete
  63. Pieter Engelbrecht6:59 am, September 07, 2014

    surely we have coaches who can work on his weaknesses?

    ReplyDelete
  64. I have not downplayed Schneiderlin's ability unless you can point out where I have done so. All I have suggested is that he will need to feature as a single pivot under Rodgers and if you think his main duty will be to cover for our defence then you are mistaken.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Thank you, S Gerrard(34) will always be a legend and is the best and most consistant player i have seen in the shirt for 14 years now. But age has caught up with him and it is now the time where B Rodgers should be using him from Bench.


    J Carragher keeps saying S Gerrard(34) now is not the same player and needs protecting, when ever has S Gerrard(34) needed protection? It is time B Rodgers reserves a bench space for him and uses him wisely off bench.


    And if he feels he does not have players good enough to create, dictate and control games without an ageing S Gerrard(34) on the pitch then B Rodgers will then need to ship the dead weight/wood out and bring in some real class and quality that can replace our key talisman.


    That is why i was devastated we did not get I Rakitic(26), he would have been S Gerrard's natural successor if we had of brought him to club.

    ReplyDelete
  66. wondering why i am being moderated?

    ReplyDelete
  67. We need a good 1st gk and Mignolet gone. He's the worst goalkeeper I've seen at LFC in the last 47 years.... without exception.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Only problem is we need to sign a specialist DM who will solely protect back four, break up play, nulify attacks, stop opposition players best attacking players getting on ball and dictating play, winning ball and just getting things started for us.


    Schneiderlin(24) is a CM a box to box, All rounder.


    He is better than Can(21) and J Allen(24) but none of them anytime soon, so we need to bring in a DM.


    C Tiote(28) Of Newcastle
    N De Jong(30) Of AC Milan
    B Matuidi(27) Of PSG
    J Martinez(26) Of B Munich


    Those 4 players are all specialist DM, But C Tiote(28) we could and should bring to club for £5-£7M.


    Him and Matic(26) are the only two DM's in premiership Yaya Toure struggles against.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Although putting him in the poll was almost certainly one of JK's little jokes :-) you could make a case for Lucas

    ReplyDelete
  70. B Rodgers should play the team centre 3 and front 3 like this against A Villa:


    Sterling Balotelli Lallana


    Henderson Coutinho


    Can/ Gerrard

    ReplyDelete
  71. I would only take two of those players ahead of Mings. The others have not got enough of the other parts of their game to compensate for the difference between Mings shot stopping and theirs.

    ReplyDelete
  72. All reports I have heard is that Barca didn't want to let him go.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Nevergonnacrackthecode9:42 am, September 07, 2014

    I am english but boy do i want england to lose tomorrow
    the quicker they get knocked out the quicker roy gets sacked

    ReplyDelete
  74. The quicker our boys will come back uninjured. and of course rest without these stupid friendlies and internationals.

    ReplyDelete
  75. you cant teach a frog latin no matter how hard you try

    ReplyDelete
  76. i honestly think goalies at the top level need more mental than physical ability....david james was a classic case he had all the attributes but would switch off

    ReplyDelete
  77. Greg, They are all round better Goalkeepers than S Mignolet(25).


    But the three stand out Goalkeepers in the list are as follows:


    A Begovic(26) Of Stoke
    T Krul(26) Of Newcastle
    M Vorm(30) Of Swansea

    ReplyDelete
  78. Jamie....Can is not slow....did you not see his surging 30 yard run that got the ball to Sterling in the 2nd half against Spurs where Dembele I think couldn't keep up and ended up bringing him down ? - he is no sprinter because of his size and physique so inevitably won't be quickest as per a Sterling or Sturridge but he certainly isn't slow for a physical midfield player. Can has look good in the minutes we've seen of him so far so not sure why you are so negative about him. Given the opportunity I think he could prove to be a very good signing indeed.

    I think Sandro might have been a good buy as an additional defensive midfielder to replace Lucas who definitely does lack mobility and pace but it is questionable whether we could have got him in any case given we didn't manage to offload Lucas and Sandro was probably wanting to go somewhere where he was pretty much guaranteed to be a 1st team regular, which he will be at QPR...plus he has a good relationship with Redknapp and is settled in London.

    I think Liverpool aren't really short of midfield options...if I really wanted a very top draw midfielder to supplement the side it wouldn't' be Sandro I'd be focussing on...it'd be a Khadira, Vidal or a Carvalho....they'd be genuine steps up in quality to what we have already.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Silly boy, Alex.

    Any keeper coming in must be confident that he can displace Mignolet. That's the strength of having an established No. 1 and then bringing in competition: the players coming in virtually choose themselves. McCarthy has disqualified himself, hasn't he -- he's not confident in his own ability to win a place in the side on merit.

    So proper competition just isn't something we have yet. The Jones situation is unfortunate. He's a classic back-up keeper and that's something that we'd want these days in our third, not second, choice in goal. Be interesting to see who eventually comes in.

    ReplyDelete
  80. That's just daft mate.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Already seen a big improvement this season, Gil. Having Balotelli will help, too. Since Gerrard lost his spring, we haven't had a midfielder or forward who can properly win the ball from a high clearance.

    That said, though Balo gets up well, he doesn't have that instinct to be able to glance or cushion the ball to a teammate, though the whole team have noticeably improved in their heading in the last couple of years, so perhaps Balotelli will follow suit.

    ReplyDelete
  82. On the other hand, you can teach a human being to kick a football.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Personally I rate Mignolet as equally good as Begovic and Krul, and better than Vorm. All-round is nice, but Mignolet is with De Gea and Lloris among the best shot-stoppers in the league. I'll take a goalkeeper who has a chance to stop a goal where other keepers have none every time, no matter the quality of the rest of his game, as long as its passable.

    ReplyDelete
  84. The notion that Mourinho uses his attacking players to attack is somewhat misleading!

    ReplyDelete
  85. Scott Carson. Chris Kirkland. SImon's at least as good as Dudek.

    ReplyDelete
  86. I have not once said B Rodgers should have signed Sandro(25), I have been saying B Rodgers should sign C Tiote(28) Of Newcastle of £5-£7M

    ReplyDelete
  87. Every player now has defensive and offensive responsibilities which vary according to where they are on the pitch and what the phase of play is. It's not pointless semantics at all -- strange for a writer to have that attitude to language anyway -- but a different way of thinking about the game.

    Gerrard is often deeper than the others but he is there to maintain possession, to control space, or to draw the opposition into an over-extended press. This does not equate simply to defending in my understanding of the term. Similarly our furthest forward midfielder might not be in the opposition half to attack, but rather to defend, to press and win the ball.

    You'll see Sturridge deeper than most of the midfield at times: this doesn't make him a defensive midfielder.

    Out of interest have you ever played in a 4-3-3 or Bielsa-type system yourself? It is really different to 4-4-2, and the language doesn't really fit what you are trying to achieve in the 4-3-3 usually.

    ReplyDelete
  88. You could read Jonathan Wilson "Inverting the Pyramid".

    ReplyDelete
  89. simply mate, you've just made the most stupid comment i've ever heard in the last 47 years, ok you don't like the guy but if Migs is the worst you've ever seen then you've must be watching some other sports than football :)

    ReplyDelete
  90. Charles Itandje might have something to say about that..

    ReplyDelete
  91. He is not all round as good as any of the GK'S i mentioned. S Mignolet(25) is just an amazing shot stopper, nothing else.

    ReplyDelete
  92. Uninjured? You meant fit

    ReplyDelete
  93. There is nothing wrong as long as we agree a fee it would be ok

    ReplyDelete
  94. To be fair Roy is a terrible manager, he is the English David Moyes

    ReplyDelete
  95. ill be honest its been a long time since ive really cared about England winning or losing ive gotta go back to the year that gazza was crying in the world cup.Its not that i want them to lose i dont i want them to win i just dont care if they lose.

    ReplyDelete
  96. lucas has tried to run down his contract but he couldnt catch it

    ReplyDelete
  97. on the evidence that some of our players present that a debatable notion

    ReplyDelete
  98. like ive said he a small club keeper ....he would crumble like a wet digestive with the scrutiny at anfield

    ReplyDelete
  99. The not so golden generation have hung up their International boots.England have hungry young talented lions picking up the baton but the problem going forward is Roy Hodgson.Giving naturally cautious coaches creative squads to work with results in average football.
    England needs to replace Hodgson with a bright, forward thinking attack minded club manager.If they go back down the foreign route my choice is Roberto Martinez!

    ReplyDelete
  100. he did a great Sampson and Delilah

    ReplyDelete
  101. maybe they should put the squad team and tactics to an 0845 public vote....with green button subs upon kickoff ....would we be any worse ...not really

    ReplyDelete
  102. Simon Cowell will be all over that idea.England factor!

    ReplyDelete
  103. Did go until the last day of the window though, did he? Wasn't necessarily an option at the start when we did our business. Also, £10m for Can is also a steal when you consider Bayern's stance on the player and the fact they wanted to buy him too.

    ReplyDelete
  104. David James matured like wine but his early days at Liverpool was a nightmare.Everytime the opposition got a corner it was heart-attack time.James would be at sixes and sevens flapping like a bird.

    ReplyDelete
  105. 20 quid would be a bargain mind... ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  106. Reina commanded his area like a Spanish matador.He made some high profile blunders but despite those mistakes he gave me the impression he was always in control.
    I don't think our GK coach can teach Simon Mignolet to command his area better and become a backline leader.He just doesn't have that kind of personality.

    ReplyDelete
  107. Better than Sander as well haha..

    ReplyDelete
  108. Can was a tremendous player for Leverkusen last season. He played mostly in defensive positions initially (LB,CB,RB,DM), and later on also in LM and AM. He looked very capable in all of these positions, and had a fair number of assists and chipped in some goals even while playing in a defensive position. He is also one of the few TRULY two footed players, and probably the most complete footballer we currently have in our team.


    He may well turn out the buy of the summer, and comparing him to Sandro is just ludicrous IMO.

    ReplyDelete
  109. That's not being fair at all.

    ReplyDelete
  110. I quite liked Sander, funnily enough. Basically I have a terrible eye for goalkeepers so I should back away right now :)

    ReplyDelete
  111. I have an absolute soft spot for Sander, he was the chap between the sticks when I started supporting, but he was pretty unceremoniously shipped out after some abysmal performances haha!

    ReplyDelete
  112. didn't mention him in relation with Gerrard.

    ReplyDelete
  113. The point is when a club gets rid of a player it doesn't neccessarely mean he is not good enough.

    ReplyDelete
  114. I agree. But sometimes it does.

    ReplyDelete