6 Oct 2014

'Mr T' to LFC? BR to make £15m bid for 'brilliant' star who's desperate for transfer

The soft-centre at the heart of midfield is an ongoing problem for Liverpool, and with the 'Gerrard at DM' experiment possibly drawing to a close, the Reds are reportedly considering a January move for Newcastle defensive midfielder Cheik Tiote, who is also wanted by Manchester United and Arsenal.

According to the Daily Express over the weekend:

* Liverpool will 'test Newcastle's resolve' with a £15.5million January bid for Tiote.

* The Ivorian is 'desperate' to leave St. James Park.

* He will push for a transfer during the January transfer window.

This is not the first time Liverpool have been linked with Tiote. In 2011, Kenny Dalglish wanted to sign the midfield powerhouse, but the Reds allegedly baulked at the £25m transfer fee.

Rodgers doesn't seem to be a fan of dedicated midfield destroyers, but needs-must, and right now, Liverpool clearly need a solid, physical presence protecting the back four.

Lucas and Gerrard are not long-term solutions, and from what I've seen so far, I'm not convinced that Emre Can is the answer. Rodgers seems to think that Can is the missing link in LFC's team, however, and this is despite the fact he's barely played for the club since arriving in the summer. Indeed, when asked over the weekend about Liverpool's erratic form, Rodgers told reporters:

“We just have to persevere until I get the squad back – until we get Emre Can back, Joe Allen, Daniel and the others. Then I think we will return to that level".

Rodgers suggests here that Liverpool are missing Can, but he's made only two sub appearances so far (one during LFC's 3-1 defeat to Man City), so how is that actually the case?

In my view, if Can plays, then it should only be at DM. Playing him as a more forward-thinking attacking player is a waste, as he doesn't seems to have the guile or game-intelligence to make a consistent attacking difference.

That said, I'd still like to see Liverpool sign a dynamic, dedicated DM. Is Tiote the answer? He's proven in the Premier League, but Newcastle still seems to ship a shedload of goals with him in the team, so it's debatable whether he's an upgrade on Lucas/Gerrard.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is desperate to keep 'brilliant' Tiote at St. James' Park, and during a press conference last week, he raved:

"I love him. He has the quality, and you’ll never underestimate the fact that he wants to win. I just love that he’s a winner. It can overcome so many obstacles as a footballer"

On a lighter note, Tiote is nicknamed 'Mr T' by Newcastle fans, and it's a term of endearment that he seems to like. Last year, he told reporters:

"It’s is a funny name. I have seen it on TV and I like it, because he’s a strong, tough guy, so for me that’s a good thing for me. But he wears a lot of gold and that’s not my style. Too much bling!”

I pity the fool who persists with Steven Gerrard at DM for the entire season...

Author:


37 comments:

  1. I think Rodgers has really missed a trick not buying a dedicated DM, Gerrard is easily bypassed these days and its sad to see Rodgers allowing this to happen.

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  2. Terry McDermotts perm4:52 pm, October 06, 2014

    Playing Gerrard so deep while some of the others with the form theyve had playing in front of him is a bit like putting John Lennon behind the drum kit and Ringo out front.

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  3. Having only made the brief appearances you refer to in the article, I think it's far too early to be making any judgements on how much guile and creativity Can's capable of but he's certainly more defensive minded and I agree he should be deployed at DM.
    I don't think Tiote's the answer. I've always thought he's totally overrated. He's not rubbish but he's no Mascherano. Don't think his injury record is too great either.

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  4. Gerrard should never have been moved to DM. We lost his goals and penetration.

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  5. I would check you sources, as he has again stated he wants to stay at Newcastle, The club however have tried several times over the past few years to sell him to the highest bidder, he has refused moves to both Chelsea and Arsenal so doubt he would consider Liverpool. I believe he wants to see out his contact and move to Germany.

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  6. Can't believe we missed out on Song or Diame, for me either would have been better than playing Gerrard in DM.

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  7. 15m is way too much.


    I'd consider 6m at most.

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  8. I would rather stick with Lucas than sign Tiote plus we have Emre Can who is younger, stronger and faster.

    If we are going to spend £15m plus then rather go for someone better than Tiote. We are dealing with Mike Ashley too. He shafted us with the Carroll fee and we will be shafted again.

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  9. we could have had the pair for 3.5m and song can play Cb and diame can play in any of the 3 positions of a 433 midfield

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  10. We have only kept one clean sheet in the last 16 competitive matches.


    If we do not start keeping some clean sheets and fail to do better upfront then top 4 is out of the question.


    Solution = Bring back the pressing and attacking system we played last season.

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  11. colonel cocknocker6:32 pm, October 06, 2014

    I'm guessing the thinking behind his name dropping of joe allen and can is reflective of the fact he basically sees both of them as the left branch of the jordan henderson role, so we have gerrard as quarterback and then two sets of legs in front of him doing all the closing down. What can and allen both give you is energy - in the press they'll chase the ball round giving the opposition less time, and in possession they'll receive the ball, move it on quickly and run on into space to be available again.
    That's what gives us those lovely looking triangles which require only effort and desire rather than any inordinary level of skill.

    Sorry if that sounded condescending it wasn't meant to I realise you all know all that and I could have saved everyone time i guess by just saying maybe with a bit more energy on the centre circle stevie would have more space to play the "hoover up" quarterback role behind the two ball winners rather than be a destroyer.

    I haven't seen enough of him yet but my impression about can is that he'll run all day like Hendo, so you might find a purely defensive mid role limits his potential for charging around like a nutbag and freaking all the opposition out. Contrary to everything I've just said though, I do definitely think we need a destroyer in the squad, purely for tactical flexibility. I miss momo. Tiote's not badass enough for me, although he is good. Apologies for the essay.

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  12. Newcastle conceded 59 and 69 goals over the past 2 seasons with Tiote "protecting" the back four.
    Doesn't look like the answer to me.
    Nevergonnacrackthecode will be along shortly to tell us otherwise
    And tell us that he is 28

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  13. You mean Twistadee?

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  14. Is Cheick Tiote at the high standard we require? Not for me.There are better players available.At 15m it's not even a decent fall back option.Liverpool need to stop dropping the soap in transfer market prison.
    Anyone who thinks otherwise can quit your jibba jabba.Don't gimme no backtalk, sucka!

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  15. Yes sorry ha ha . Actually, I think they're twins!

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  16. And away CL ties are out cos he ain't getting on no plane ...

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  17. He is being linked wit everyone including City who have far better options. He obviously wants a step up and his agent is working hard but his form for Newcastle hasn't exactly been great so I can't see any of this amounting to anything.

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  18. None of that seems plausible.

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  19. Diame is one of the most overrated players ever. Only by Liverpool fans though no one else rates him.

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  20. Bit confused by your attacks in Can through this article if I'm honest. You start by stating you're not convinced on him for the DM role, you then state he has only made 2 sub appearances and finish by saying he doesn't have the guile etc to play further forward... So what are you trying to say here JK? It seems to me as though you have already decided Can isn't good enough to play for LFC!!!

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  21. Couldn't agree more Diame is unbelievably overrated. West Ham fans were happy to see him go says it all really!!! Song isn't great IMO either but probably an upgrade on Lucas.

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  22. I voted you up for your name. Now I am going to read your post.

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  23. Now I have read it I will vote myself up for your good post.

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  24. Why must Tiote solely be responsible for preventing goals scored? He is one man and the rest of his team are rubbish!

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  25. Gerrard gas had one decent game this season but some people just can't wait to massage his balls.

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  26. We lost that a while ago.

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  27. The bit about Newcastle trying to sell him could be true

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  28. Phew just think how many they would have conceded without him!

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  29. Well, this may come as a shock, but Can actually played football before he signed for Liverpool.

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  30. Of course but if he's not a DM and not a CM what is he? He has the power and all the attributes to play both those positions very well in my book. Plus he has shown in glimpses the ability to drive forward with the ball which is currently lacking from the majority of our CMs.

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  31. I didn't say he's not a DM; I just think there are better options out there than Can.

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  32. I would like to see Can get a shot at DM. The real problem is Can himself doesn't see HIMSELF as a DM as he even said this past summer. So what actually is his position? I love the fact that he trucked a couple of guys in the pre-season like Micah Richards and others but the man has to buy in to wherever BR puts him. He didn't sound like he wants to be a DM.....

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  33. Can got four assists.in his last match, do he's quite capable of providing attacking impetus in a box-to-box kind of way. He'd be wasted in the Lucas role, I think. He's got a decent amount of guile and a stylish turn that belies his heavy frame.

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  34. Also, kudos for the "pity the fool" line...

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  35. That's not the point. He has been mooted as someone who scares the opposition forwards and protects his defence, a player who would turn our leaky defence into a sound one. Yet he has clearly failed to do so in his last two seasons

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  36. he can cover there in a game if required

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