13 Jan 2015

Exciting News: LFC to make £30m offer for 'lethal' striker. BR wants deal done ASAP

Over the last year, Liverpool legends Phil Thompson, John Aldridge, and John Barnes have all urged Liverpool to sign 'lethal' Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain, and with the January transfer close to reaching the halfway point, new reports suggest the Reds are actively considering a fresh move for the Argentina star.

According to The Express today:

* Liverpool are planning to activate Higuain's £30m release clause.

* Rodgers wants to do the deal 'before the end of January.

* The Reds initially planned to wait until the summer.

Thompson, Aldridge, and Barnes are all fans of Higuain. Last week, Thommo told Sky Sports:

“I think that Liverpool need someone who is a bit more established and who has played at a higher level, like Gonzalo Higuain"

In an interview last season with TalkSport, Barnesy noted:

"Liverpool need someone like Gonzalo Higuain. If you get the ball in the box he can score, he can play outside the box and he’s the kind of player that Liverpool should be going for".

During the 2012-13 season, Liverpool Echo, Aldo enthused:

"I like the look of Gonzalo Higuain. He would be brilliant for us, but would he come? And how much would be cost?"

Rafa Benitez signed £11m striker Manolo Gabbiadini, who is clearly a threat to Higuain's place in the team, and if the Argentine decides to call it a day, then there appear to be a few things working in LFC's favour:

* Rafa Benitez is an ex-Liverpool manager, so the Reds should (in theory) have a slight advantage in negotiations. If the Argentine is to leave, I'm sure Rafa - with his enduring love of LFC - would prefer to see the striker at Anfield.

* Napoli have been regularly linked with Lucas Leiva and Glen Johnson, with Lucas recently confirming that Benitez tried to sign him in the summer. Perhaps there's scope for a players-plus-cash swap deal.

* Benitez remains one of the favourites to replace Brendan Rodgers in the summer, which opens up the possibility of some machiavellian forward-planning, i.e. Benitez sells Higuain to Liverpool, hoping that he'll get the manager's job in the summer, at which point he'll be reunited with the striker. Of course, this is pure speculation on my part, and I'm not for one minute suggesting that Benitez will engage in such treachery ;-)

Higuain is a cut above the players Rodgers usually signs, and he represents a significant upgrade on Borini, Lambert, and Balotelli, but as much as I'd love to see him at Anfield, I honestly can't see why he'd sign for Liverpool.

Higuain is 27, which means his next contract will his last as a top-class player in his prime, and he'll want to win trophies in the last few remaining years of his top-level career. As such, he'll probably opt for a team that consistently challenges for trophies, and right now, that isn't Liverpool.

In Liverpool's current situation, Brendan Rodgers does not have the pull to attract a player like Higuain, and the only way the Reds will be able to sign him (and players of similar quality) is if Rodgers is replaced by an internationally renowned manager.

Don't get me wrong - Rodgers is an excellent manager in his own right, but at some point, FSG are going to have to face that reality. Unless, of course, the club's owners are happy for Liverpool to be like Arsenal, and simply qualify for the Champions League every year.

If Rodgers can do that, his job may conceivably be safe for the next ten years.

Author:


150 comments:

  1. we need to be able to attract big players to make top 4 every year, let alone win the title...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Liverpool Football Club can confirm Oussama Assaidi has left on a permanent transfer to join Al Ahli Club.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have seen the £30m release clause mentioned in this article and also on other sources recently. Is anyone able to verify this is accurate? It seems strange to me that Napoli would sign the player in 2013 and insert a release clause for a similar fee to what they paid.
    Fee aside, Higuain has for a long-time been a player i would love to see at Liverpool. He is a striker who scores a fair amount of goals and all different types of goals which i think is a great quality. I would be very surpised to see us sign such a big name player this Jan, but i certainly think we need a striker of his calibre before the start of next season and in addition to Origi (whenever he does join). Those 2, plus Sturridge and Lambert would be the best compliment of 4 strikers i think we cuold have and would also mean that Borini and Balotelli can be moved on.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mr. Point Of View7:30 am, January 13, 2015

    I had a feeling he wont success at here. He is overrated ! Practically he no big impact at Madrid, Argentina, n Napoli with his price tag along ! I would rather wait Dzeko or Jovetic on cheap if MC get Bony

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dont want Rafa back to watch borring football - stick with B R and watch us become the most exiting team on earth .IF YOU WANT FOOTBALL - BR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK

    ReplyDelete
  6. Is he a Rodgers type of player ? I highly doubt it ...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Stick with Mario and put the £30 million towards SG replacement

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm not sure that is a fair assessment of Higuain to be honest. He scored a total of 107 La Liga goals in 190 games for Madrid and has 26 in 49 for Napoli and 23 in 45 for Argentina. No guarantees he would adapt quickly or be a success here granted, but its difficult to doubt his pedigree to date

    ReplyDelete
  9. We want winners my friend!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Agreed, a keeper has to be our first priority. Spend whatever we have and get the very best one we can find. Look at how many points De Gea has won utd this season.

    ReplyDelete
  11. John Ruddy it is then. No doubt Ian Ayre is motoring towards Carrow Road this very second with 20 million smackers squeezed into his leather trousers.

    ReplyDelete
  12. A lot on loan will be sold seasons end Lucas may be sold Borini Lambert Balotelli its going to be an interesting summer window.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would take the chuckle brothers over Mignolet and Jones

    ReplyDelete
  14. Could just as easily leave with Nathan Redmond

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well are Crouch Zigic and Pogrebynak big enough for ya!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Just been reading that we are signing Arbeloa again. In my opinion that would be a great signing, he showed in the games against us this season what a good defender he still is.

    ReplyDelete
  17. So rumours about Lucas out and Delph in hotting up now. If we sell Lucas then fine but to replace him with Delph? Can anyone make sense of this?


    And then rumour about us renewing Skrtel's contract. Our defence will continue to be mediocre. We need a commanding CB yet we might be willing to offer Skrtel higher wages??? Just shows how inept this club is becoming!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Of course we already Mr Glass why not Mr Delphi

    ReplyDelete
  19. There is a rumour going around Liverpool are looking at Matt Spiranovic from Australia as a new C.B he is worse than Skrtel.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'll be disgusted if we sell Lucas and replace him with Delph, Lucas has been excellent lately while Delph is average at best. There's a lot of crap wrote in the papers about transfers but knowing Liverpool and our transfer policies this one is most likely true.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Arsene Wenger wasn't a big name when he went to Arsenal but they still managed to sign players of the calibre of Bergkemp.
    Jurgen Klopp wasn't a big name when he went to Dortmund and either were any of his players. They became big names with success. That is the model FSG are looking to follow and that's the only one that is financially viable for us and for that Rodgers is exactly the kind of manager we need.
    I do think that we need to review our transfer policy but we have to be realistic about where the club is both financially and in terms of recent success. We are not able to compete with the oligarchs clubs in terms of transfer fees and wages so we're not gonna get any of the truly elite players but there's a lot of good players at the level below and that is where the likes of ourselves, Dortmund and Atletico recruit players - the latter two to great success.
    There have been a frustrating amount of "no brainers" that we've missed on the transfer market that we could have got for peanuts - Alex Song, Toby Alderwiereld to name a couple. I personally thought after Sanchez Mandzukic should've been our number 1 target to replace Suarez. Griezmann was available last year too as well as Shaquiri etc. I could go on but the point is we don't have to spend crazy money to build an excellent squad but your scouting network and transfer identification has to be spot on

    ReplyDelete
  22. to be honest, i'm happy we wont buy any players this transfer window. Eventhough we desperately need some competition and replacements in some areas, i think BR can't be trusted with any more money.

    Loosing the deadwood isn't a bad thing either

    ReplyDelete
  23. Diego Simeone vs Brendan Rodgers? Griezmann?

    We need a top manager to attract top players. Brendan Rodgers will only be able to attract player like Delph etc. We are never going to win the league if we keep on wasting money in the transfer market.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Just think that yea maybe we could use him in a game or two before the end of the season but at what cost to his development? He'll get minimal game time. Better he gets another half season playing every week and comes back to us in the summer

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hopefully a couple of extra million towards a new keeper then.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Your anti-Rodgers rhetoric is getting old

    ReplyDelete
  27. BR and the useless transfer committee i wouldn't give em a dime!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Can play lb or rb yeah would be a great get.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Loges i am not sure Liverpool have the money or glamour to attract the better players not sure the manager will make such a big difference.
    We have lost out on players who i would say are not top notch like Shaqiri to Inter all we can do is change our wage structure show them the money!!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Higuain lethal ?????? cannot get in the Napoli team

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wenger was actually a known name on the continent. Or let me put it this way, I was 11 when he started at Monaco, living in the Netherlands and I'd heard of him. Since I don't think I was much into French football at the time, I assume he must have been a big name or I would not have heard of him. And Arsenal signed Bergkamp because he totally flopped at Inter and he didn't have many options. In Holland at the time, no one expected Bergkamp to become the player he became. Playing in England toughened him up and that is what made him. More to the general point, I don't understand why things have to be so black and white all the time. Why is it either you buy a team of galacticos or you buy potential. Why is it oil barons vs the rest? Clubs like Juventus, Barcelona and Bayern aren't owned by oil barons and they are easily the most successful teams in their countries in the last decade. God knows where Madrid keep getting their money. Anyway, the point is that there is nothing wrong with signing guys like Can, Henderson and Ilori but there are times when you need to throw your entire funds at one or two players. For us, last summer was that time. We should be delighted most other teams around us are dropping a ridiculous amount of points as well or fourth place would be out of sight already. Since it isn't, we should invest now and make an effort to finish there or next summer and the seasons after will be very very difficult.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Still we shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as guys like Delph though

    ReplyDelete
  33. Worse than Skrtel? 20 million then.


    Bargain really

    ReplyDelete
  34. Someone was eventually going to succumb.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I can't understand why Roy did that to him. Way to earn trust from your players.

    ReplyDelete
  36. That would be a clever signing. Good transfer news for the first time this month.

    ReplyDelete
  37. With Bayern Adidas throw a lot of money their way and it seems they get a few players on the cheap by getting them to run contracts down and Barca were getting oil money tossed at them too.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Well, Rodgers did 'attract' Nuri Sahin in his first season.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Over £200m has been spent in three seasons by Rodgers. That should be enough for any top manager to make some top quality signings.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Barca didn't have a shirt sponsor until recently but because they are a club that is in the CL every year and is always playing to win titles, they could ask a ridiculous amount of money for their deal. On top of that they trust their own youth players so the amount of players they need to buy is just less. Anyway, we can hardly say we don't have any income. We have one of the best kit deals in the league (if I'm not mistaken only behind Man United), we have one of the best shirt sponsorship deals and we do spend a lot of money on the team. Just not in the right way.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I dont know how reliable Goal.com is... But they are reporting that steriling is close to signing a new deal after been given assurances that FSG are not looking to sack the manager (BR).

    ReplyDelete
  42. Of any of the worlds big clubs Liverpool have been the poorest buying and selling club for a long time.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Madrid have a guarantee from the Spanish royal family that they'll never allow them to go bankrupt do they basically have an unlimited credit line with the bank

    ReplyDelete
  44. Problem is he's had to spread that money on a large number of players on mid-range wages, while replacing doomed high-earners like Kuyt, Maxi, Reina, Aquilani, Bellamy, and so on. When Rodgers came in we were short on both quality and numbers, which is an awkward situation. It's not as if he's had 200m to simply add to his squad, like Van Gaal for instance. Also, as recently as 12 months ago the board couldn't even sign a single player for him.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Its like throwing a party and wanting to get hot women to show up they offer beer and nibbles when they should be offering Champagne and Caviar

    ReplyDelete
  46. Thx all! I guess I was sleep walking back then!

    ReplyDelete
  47. It makes no difference. FSG gave Rodgers £117m this season. How many other manager had that much to spend yet the only 'big name' player who arrived was Balotelli who is not even suited to our play. Lallana £25m and Lovren £20m. Which other club would have payed that much for these too?


    Getting a manager with pedigree will attract better players. It is not rocket science.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I agree with you that when there is an opportunity to buy world class talent we should push the boat out but not at the risk of breaching FFP. Remember we're building a new stand just now as well - the books have to balance.
    My original point was that there are loads of quality players out there who won't bankrupt the club, it's just how we go about identifying and securing our targets that needs reviewed.
    David Dein was critical to Arsenal's recruitment at that time and they've never been the same since he left. Nicola Cortese was another hugely influential 'behind the scenes' character in terms of Southampton's recruitment when he was at the club. I think this is an area we need to address. I think Ian Ayre is doing a great job building the commercial side of the business but I think a proper football guy should be brought in to handle transfers

    ReplyDelete
  49. Fair enough. Lallana and Lovren were overpriced. We had zero leverage in those negotiations, clearly.

    I'm tempted to agree with your 'manager-pedigree' argument. There's a caveat that makes me hesitate to apply it to Liverpool's current situation, though.

    That is Rodgers' assertion at the beginning of the pre-season transfer window that he he preferred signing "two or three top, top players" than a whole bunch of so-so players. We all know which route the club then took, which makes me suspect that any manager coming in would have to work under the same constraints. The club took a decision to override Rodgers and buy a bunch of so-so players after Sanchez fell through.

    We probably need a technical director with enough gravitas (reputation and negotiating skill) to argue with the board on the manager's behalf. I like Rodgers' coaching style too much to dismiss him outright.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Off topic, I can't believe David Luiz was in the FIFA team of the year

    ReplyDelete
  51. Good striker but does not suit lfc current style of play. Better buying someone like levezzi who is more suited to us. P.S we probably need a keeper more than a striker anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  52. And then 'repelled' him all the way back to Germany

    ReplyDelete
  53. Bringing him back will hinder his progress. Playing every week for an attack minded side is doing him the world of good. Best he sees out the season.

    ReplyDelete
  54. United did what you're speaking about and spent huge amounts of money on star players and they have been just as inconsistent as us and are only 5 points ahead and that's with no European football.
    We were doing better last year in their position than they're doing, despite having a "big name" manager and spending crazy money

    ReplyDelete
  55. It's practically Newtonian.

    ReplyDelete
  56. I think it's a skill that transcends the boundaries of all known physical laws. If only we could find a way to harness that power....

    ReplyDelete
  57. That must have cost him a fair bit

    ReplyDelete
  58. Barnesy? I'm not sure he is the answer if we were to spend that kind of money.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Getting old? Old and boring can't even been seen in the distance.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Hey Logan, here's my counter argument. I went long again! Sorry :(

    Firstly, my reading of the situation is that the club have made a large number of high quality signings under Rodgers. I think our transfer business in the summer in particular was very, very good. Not excellent, because the "big name" Balotelli was a brain fart by all concerned, and Lovren's game appears to have had some cracks in it which no-one had perceived the previous season, when he was widely acclaimed the best defender outside the top four. But very, very good. We have players at the club now who can be the foundation for substantial success in years to come, and a squad totally transformed from its ruinous appearance when Rodgers arrived. I believe our transfer business over the last two years, despite the misfires, has been better than anything we've seen for a long, long time.

    Secondly, Rodgers was not given £117m in the 2014 summer window. His best player was sold from under him for £75m. Rodgers' net spend was about £35m, comparable with that of Martinez at Everton, Allardyce at West Ham, Koeman at Southampton. The club are saving for the stadium, are constrained by FFP (I can't tell you how worried I am about that), and have to try and be clever. It's not an easy situation and we have to adjust our expectations accordingly.

    Thirdly, you can't just ignore the fact that Adam Lallana has proven one of the season's most exciting and impressive midfielders. Having big clubs in your history is not the kind of pedigree that impresses me. Lallana is an outstanding footballer. That impresses me. If Rodgers can attract players of his kind, players who understand the game, players with character and ability, I don't see the problem.

    Lastly, I think the whole big-name circus belongs in the past. It's not the future of football. There are fewer stars than there were twenty years ago. This is partly because European football is evolving -- at long last -- into a real team sport. Big names are only meaningful in the world of marketing and merchandising. What really counts, as teams like Atletico and Dortmund have shown in the last 5 years, is coaching. Preparation, tactics, fitness, mentality. These are the things that, increasingly, make the difference.

    Is our coach up to our expectations on those aspects of his work? That's the only question that really matters.

    We could bring in a manager who can play the transfer game, sure, someone who is besties with every sleazy agent in the biz. But this would send the club backwards. It would risk exposing us to the worst and most ruthless people that football has to offer, who would think nothing of stripping our club of its identity and traditions in order to make money as quickly and massively as possible for themselves and their friends. They might win us a trophy or two, sure. But then what?

    Perhaps it could be argued that one of the new generation of coaches should replace Rodgers, someone like Simeone or Klopp, someone who has already forged the continental reputation that Rodgers is working to make. But these guys don't bring in "big names" either. These guys don't have top transfer budgets to blow on established overseas stars. And these guys' teams can play poorly too. They can get disappointing results. They can sign the wrong players at the wrong prices. That's football. That's just how it is.

    Rodgers is still on the rise. He is still learning, still adapting. As long as he continues to do that, as long as he keeps developing new ideas, new tactics and ways of solving the problems that arise, he will have my support. It doesn't seem right, to me, when fans ignore the quality of the work that's been done at Liverpool in the last 2 1/2 years, not only in recruitment but in coaching and management. It's been a remarkable period of transformation and the club have, in my opinion, been led away from the brink of total disaster by a manager we might respect and trust a little more.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Here; take this lasso.

    It won't be of help but you'll have a lasso.



    I suspect the key to unleashing this most transcendental of powers is passed around at each transfer committee seance.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Christ that really is long. In my defence I'm at home on painkillers for a muscle injury and they may have addled my brain. Maybe I should get my own blog and call it Robo Lasers Boring Essays About Brendan Rodgers.com. Sorry!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Exactly. People said we benefitted from United being crazy. They are benefitting from everyone being crazy.so their craft is slightly better.

    ReplyDelete
  64. That's my view too, but I get shot down each time. Can see his you could take my post the wrong way. They pulled out when Balo and Milan were on the same pre season tour as us and then a Chelsea had no problem signing him....

    ReplyDelete
  65. That says more about the fans than it does about the player. The lad is quality. Very exciting young talent.

    ReplyDelete
  66. 4eva LFC, LFC 4eva12:01 pm, January 13, 2015

    You disagree with Loganfc but go on to state three big ifs......if DS can stay fit......if he can find some form quickly......if we can win the Europa league, sorry but that's a lot of IF'S.
    How about if we just buy another striker... a bit more realistic don't you think?

    ReplyDelete
  67. 'I do not know what Rodgers is smoking'
    'I'm sorry but top 4 is a pipe dream'
    Over and over and over again...

    ReplyDelete
  68. 4eva LFC, LFC 4eva12:05 pm, January 13, 2015

    I pray that DS comes good because we are putting all our eggs in his basket from what I can tell, I can't believe we still haven't identified and bought a striker and a keeper yet, seriously it can't be that hard pick someone make an offer or move on, we have played enough games in the other transfer windows, why haven't they woken up yet?

    ReplyDelete
  69. Higuain is never going to come because the way the club is run is a joke. No one knows what is happening. What incentive would Higuain have to come? Wages? No. CL? Unknown but unlikely to achieve any success. Manager? No. Players already at the club? No. This is just not going to happen.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Brilliant post mate. Totally agree with all that

    ReplyDelete
  71. We need that extra striker and for me if if is him or no one then we should be bringing him for reasons I mentioned. He could probably do with being out of the limelight he is still so very young and fans getting on his back at a club he isn't even going to be at next year is not going to improve his game. Get him over here ASAP I say. We have wasted far more than three million over the years. He could probably do with a change.

    ReplyDelete
  72. We have a keeper. What we don't have is a reliable striker.

    ReplyDelete
  73. 4eva LFC, LFC 4eva12:28 pm, January 13, 2015

    I have said it before BR is trying to put a case forward for the England job he will look at Milner and Berinho and now Delph, I will be very shocked if this deal actual happens, they will drag this window out to the very end and then buy someone for 15-20mill and say they tried but were unable to get it done, just like the other times. We do business behind closed doors because if the fans knew what was really happening there would be a riot.

    ReplyDelete
  74. I can't say I agree with you. I would also argue that Ibe hasn't even played at the Europa League standard.either. I like the look of the Ibe but I can't say he has shown me more than say a Wilfred Zaha. Maybe even less.

    ReplyDelete
  75. My point mainly works on a Origi or no one basis to be honest. I can't see us investing big in this window so I would prefer Origi for reasons mentioned rather than leaving him to have a terrible time in France right now.
    As for Berahino I think you see more in him than I do. For that money we should be looking for a better player. Also just because he is a prem plsyer doesn't mean he won't need time to settle. Surely we have seen that enough times to know it for sure by now.

    ReplyDelete
  76. My thoughts on our current situation

    http://kopchants.blogspot.in/2015/01/sunderland-0-liverpool-1-good-win-for.html

    ReplyDelete
  77. OK...I'm good with Higuain. My initial impression was he was sort of a target man that we don't need, but I'm coming around to the idea now. He is mobile enough I htink. But crimeny...get a striker already...a good one who is reliable and not made of glass.

    ReplyDelete
  78. I like berahinho for one reason...he is always looking to score. Save Studge, we don't have that on the pitch at this writing. Yes he would need time to settle, but he has a leg up because he'll be in the PL, knows many of the defenses and defenders and he speaks english so his adjustment will be quicker than Origi...who has none of that going for him. Higuain would be nice too because he has demonstrated he can arrive in a new situation and there is no drop-off in quality.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Well that heading is misleading, where does the £29m valuation come from? Liverpool's annual accounts? Or maybe Football Manager?

    ReplyDelete
  80. I agree personally I don't think we should bring Ibe back but if we have decided to do so then why not give a Derby Origi

    ReplyDelete
  81. You'd think that football guy is Rodgers no? I mean, Cortese is a banker so hardly a football guy. The stand will pay for itself and is probably mortgaged or will be paid by some sponsorname that will be put on it.

    ReplyDelete
  82. No, it's not misleading; you are simply one or all of the following: blind, ignorant, disturbingly bereft of observational skill.

    You're on the internet, so presumably you're aware of the concept of the hyperlink, right? Well, as you can see, the £29m figure is RED, which signifies a hyperlink.

    If you click that link, you'll be taken to the CIES Football Observatory, which compiles transfer valuations, based on detailed knowledge of actual prices paid in the ‘Big Five’ divisions over recent years.

    Any further pointless, sniping comments like this will be deleted.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Clearly. I guess that' why he's made 27 appearances this season, grabbing 18 goals/assists along the way. If only Balotelli could do that from the bench.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Cortese has a wealth of experience in football with significant success. Anyway he was just an example.
    With regard to Rodgers filling that role, very rarely are managers directly involved in transfer negotiations

    ReplyDelete
  85. I believe Can, Moreno and Markovic are great players for the future however you cannot tell me that Lallana and Lovren are worth a combined £45m especially when we needed a player who could fill the Suarez void. Now Gerrard will also be gone. Who are we signing to step in for him? The likes of Milner :-o


    £117m was spent this season, there are no ifs or buts here otherwise the likes of Lallana and Lovren would not be at the club. £117m left LFC's account, it is that simple. We had to pay Southampton £25m otherwise he would not be at LFC so net spend really is just another Benitez excuse. Did you expect Rodgers to get money on top of the £117m to add more players to an already massive squad and not even taking into account the players we have on loan. The wage bill will be beyond control. How many more player should Rodgers have signed this season? Another 9?

    ReplyDelete
  86. We need a good keeper.

    ReplyDelete
  87. I think the goal for the near future has to be qualifying for Champions League. That's probably the case for the next 2-3 years.


    And hoping we make a good run in some of the tournaments.


    Quite frankly, we aren't good enough to win the league.


    And we won't be able to compete year in and year out without getting more revenue (or a large confluence of events in our favor like last year).

    ReplyDelete
  88. Ha Ha, and you think Rodgers will work under a DOF when that is the reason he turned LFC down the first time? FSG wanted a DOF and Rodgers showed them the finger.


    We can agree to disagree, the money spent in the last transfer window was not spent wisely and some of the players we let go was also a bit puzzling. Agger makes Lovren look like a Sunday league player in fact that is actually downgrading the Sunday league.


    Would the likes of Mourinho or Ancelotti have paid £20m for Lovren and £25m for Lallana?

    ReplyDelete
  89. it'll be another waste & money down the drain
    the player is certainly past his best & the PL is more physical which will not be favorable for him
    another panic buy & waste

    ReplyDelete
  90. i'm afraid you'll end up with disappointment if that transfer does happen eventually because he's past his best and it will be a waste of money

    ReplyDelete
  91. Je ne suis pas Charlie

    ReplyDelete
  92. Have you ever watched Lovren in Lyon. It's different when you play for lower team which defend with 8-9 players. But he was also very bad against us in away game 3:0. Suarez made him fool for the second goal before assist to Sterling.

    ReplyDelete
  93. We are more in need of a mobile striker than a winger.

    ReplyDelete
  94. Hmm. What did I expect? Not more money, not more signings, no. I was confused by the signing of Balotelli but other than that I have few complaints. I think if I have an issue to put to the club, if I have dashed expectations, then it's something that goes back much further than last summer: the absence of a more planned, more proactive and less reactive transfer policy. And actually it's the exact issue the club seem to be trying to resolve in their transfer activities.

    They are trying to produce a more dynamic environment. Their focus is on building a squad with a functional internal structure. As such the recent business seems logical to me. Even where decisions haven't worked out, or attempts at recruitment haven't come off, I can see how they fit with a coherent plan for the club's development. Finally the club are attempting to integrate recruitment with the management of the first team and academy. That's a significant improvement on what's been going on since the late 80s.

    I don't know what players are "worth". Their value isn't abstract, it's determined by market conditions, not simply by the intrinsic properties of the player. You pay what you have to pay.

    So I'm not really thinking about the price when I say that Lallana may prove the best signing of Rodgers' tenure so far. He's been a highlight of the season. He's outperformed more heralded players signed by big clubs in the last few seasons for more money -- like Di Maria, Ozil, Lamela, and so on. He's not Fabregas, even if he's not far off in my opinion, but you can be sure he's not on Fabregas' money either.

    Lovren has been a big disappointment for sure. I'm disappointed with the player, but not the money he cost. The fee is what it is. Quality centre backs are hard to come by at the moment by all accounts. From memory, Tottenham, Barcelona, Roma, Chelsea and Everton were all linked with him. So of course we had to pay up serious money, even after he issued his transfer request.

    Should we have gone for someone else? For Rojo (£20m)? Mangala (£30m)? Fazio (£10m)? What other big centre back signings were there last year? None of these players have exactly torn up the league. Liverpool aren't the only club who've struggled to find a dominant centre half for sensible money. And of them all Lovren looked to me like the safest bet. A reasonable fee for a player who shone at the world cup after an almost faultless season for Southampton, all the more remarkable because it was his first in English football.

    It hasn't worked out, not yet. But that's just how it goes sometimes. The notion that we should change our outstanding young manager because one transfer, against all expectations, didn't work out in a market where no one was succeeding, where everyone was struggling -- that speaks of some messed up priorities I think. It's not how I'd like Liverpool to conduct itself. Rodgers was an integral part of our success last season. Players like Gerrard, Carragher, Sterling, Suarez, Coutinho, have had nothing but admiration and gratitude for his work. Turning on him because a transfer or two doesn't work out, without taking into account the context and detail, well...I'm not up for that, personally.

    ReplyDelete
  95. Need to offload likes of Lambert and Borini first I feel. Impression I get is FSG will make BR sell to raise funds. and not just hand over funds like they did in the summer

    ReplyDelete
  96. Well Robo, we will find out what happens by the end of the season. You can be rest assured that there were targets in place for Rodgers and the financial outlay compared to our current situation makes the talk of net spend completely irrelevant I am afraid.


    I think who ever wants to deny that FSG were expecting another title challenge and a decent run in the CL need to wipe their eyes clean. I want to see what happens when FSG decide they will go back to their original plan of bringing in a DOF which Rodgers will not be keen on or already have a replacement for BR in place should targets be met this season which will see Rodgers pack his things and head for the exit.

    ReplyDelete
  97. The bit about gravity adds real weight to your argument.

    ReplyDelete
  98. Sadly I don't see FSG managing to convince Rodgers to work under a DOF. Maybe if they gave the manager and DOF equal but slightly different power it could become possible. I don't blame Rodgers for not wanting to work under a DOF when he first arrived. With his CV against Van Gaal's he would have been treated like a head coach, if that. Managers must be given space to manage.

    It's probably to the detriment of our club, though.

    Oh, totally agreed on Agger et al. Some of it was baffling. I don't disagree that the money should have been spent differently (although I like Lallana, Markovic, Can, Moreno, Balotelli... hmmm), but I just think it's a a bit harsh to blame Rodgers, when that quote suggests he agrees more with you than with me.

    ReplyDelete
  99. In sum, yes, let's agree to disagree :)

    ReplyDelete
  100. Why do FSG need to convince Rodgers to work under a DOF especially when Rodgers said no to a DOF the first time they approached Rodgers?


    It will further highlight Rodgers stubbornness and arrogance.

    ReplyDelete
  101. Well, it would change his conditions of employment, which can't happen without a mutual agreement. This will be in Rodgers' contract. I suspect Rodgers already feels like the smallest at the big guys' table, what with Stevie G and Ian Ayre there, so a DOF would make him uneasy. Like Pardew and Kinnear. Ideal situation is that we get a good one with an independent mind and not necessarily with the authority to fire him (as some technical directors do).

    ReplyDelete
  102. Mutual agreement and change his conditions of employment? So how did FSG bring in the transfer committee? Did they have to get Rodgers consent? I think not.


    Rodgers either accepts working under a DOF or leaves. It is that simple and he won't accept it so it is taxi for him if that is the case. Simple.

    ReplyDelete
  103. I think this is where we agree to disagree again :)

    ReplyDelete
  104. Just get it done.

    ReplyDelete
  105. I do watch French football. I thought Lovren looked a class act at Lyon though he let the pressure get to him in the end and I wasn't surprised when he moved to England.



    I agree, Lovren's at his best in a compact defense where he doesn't need to cover space out wide or commit to stepping out into midfield. But it's easy to criticise in hindsight. According to the stats, the guy made one error last season that led to a goal. The whole season long. He seemed absolutely what we needed. Who else could we have gone for?

    ReplyDelete
  106. Thanks for clearing up my spelling mistake re Lacazette.


    I know Can could easily do box to box, as his run against Sunderland showed, just feel if we have players like him and Henderson in the middle of the park, we have strong mobile players who know how to mark and track players so the need for a sitting midfielder not quite as strong.

    ReplyDelete
  107. I agree, just don't want to be held to Ransom for Origi, would rather get him in to work with the team during the close season when there is no pressure on him.

    ReplyDelete
  108. Fully agree re defensive coach, wonder why Carragher can't come in, or maybe see if Sami Hypia would be prepared to come in, I know his last management post didn't work, but as a defender he was pure class.


    Agree is long term future but I would still keep Lucas on as he does give us some much needed experience.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Leave Carra to wind up Neville I say but Hyypias a great shout IMO

    ReplyDelete
  110. I wouldn't even think about getting rid of Lucas until the summer

    ReplyDelete
  111. I like your thinking

    ReplyDelete
  112. Agreed, great discussion. I went on a Villa chat about Benteke and they do nothing but throw abuse around.

    ReplyDelete
  113. A couple of LFC like that on echo. You either agree with them or you are an idiot or a tw^t. I don't normally visit other teams forums but popped into spurs the other week to congratulate over Chelsea win and the irony of them naming WHL 3 points lane. Unlike your experience they were a friendly insightful bunch...probably still high from the Chelsea drubbing

    ReplyDelete
  114. A few LFC so called fans ike that on echo. You either agree with them or you are an idiot or a tw^t. I don't normally visit other teams forums but popped into spurs the other week to congratulate over Chelsea win and the irony of them naming WHL 3 points lane. Unlike your experience they were a friendly insightful bunch...probably still h^gh from the Chelsea drubbing

    ReplyDelete
  115. A couple of LFC like that on echo. You either agree with them or you are either stupid or they hurl abuse I don't normally visit other teams forums but popped into spurs the other week to congratulate over Chelsea win and the irony of them naming WHL 3 points lane. Unlike your experience they were a friendly insightful bunch...probably still in good mood from the Chelsea drubbing

    ReplyDelete
  116. According to sky sports 10 prem clubs are keen on Defoe...not sure if we are in the 10 that are or 10 that are not. With a £3 million price tag I would assume FSG are in the interested camp

    ReplyDelete
  117. I forgot all about Alberto. Need to see more of Malaga. I recall he was doing well earlier in the season scoring goals and playing well

    ReplyDelete
  118. If he is willing to work under a DOF, technical director or whatever you want to call it then Rodgers will be willing to learn. If he refuses then he needs to go. The arrogance and stubbornness will be a reason to show him the door. This job has proven to be far to big for him. Anyone who believes the club will become successful with Rodgers and his yes men at the helm need to wake up and smell the coffee.

    ReplyDelete
  119. A couple of LFC like that on exxo You either agree with them or you are an idiot or a tw^t. I don't normally visit other teams forums but popped into spurs the other week to congratulate over Chelsea win and the irony of them naming WHL 3 points lane. Unlike your experience they were a friendly insightful bunch...probably still high from the Chelsea drubbing

    ReplyDelete
  120. I expect us to screw up every potential approach and end up with nobody

    ReplyDelete
  121. B Rodgers should use £30M on these two forwards instead of spending the whole £30M on Higuain(26):


    What if Higuain(26) gets injured early and is out for months? What if he takes time to adapt to the physicality and speed of the premiership?


    B Rodgers should bring in these three forwards for £37M whilst shipping out Two of the 4 strikers we have who regularly warm bench: F Borini(23) and R Lambert(32)


    The two strikers are as follows:


    1: C Benteke(24) Of A Villa for £14-£17M to compete with Balotelli(24)
    2: L Vietto(21) Of Villareal for £10-£13M to compete with Sturridge(25)

    ReplyDelete
  122. I doubt it mate. Even with their skewed views on value I doubt they would go down that alley. Plus it is probably their agent is probably feeding that ten clubs thing. Half it then half it again.

    ReplyDelete
  123. B Rodgers should bring in ship out these two average mediocre strikers this transfer window: F Borini(23) and R Lambert(32)


    And both those strikers should be replaced by class quality strikers who can and will compete with Balotelli(24) and Sturridge(25) for their positions.


    1: C Benteke(24) Of A Villa for £14-£17M to compete and cover M Balotelli(24)


    2: L Vietto(21) Of Villareal for £10-£13M to compete and cover D Sturridge(25)


    And then club could have four young top class strikers at club competing with one another: Balotelli(24), Benteke(24), Sturridge(25) and Vietto(21)


    And those 4 strikers could be at club for next 4- 7 years scoring goals.

    ReplyDelete
  124. That was a nice article, Sid.

    ReplyDelete
  125. He is stubborn and arrogant, yes, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. As much as it disgusts me to type it, I think we'll start to see the real Brendan Rodgers a few months after Gerrard has left (after the initial nightmare adjustment period has passed). I rather like the idea of a manager of a huge institution being a bit bullish - as long as there's an equally self-confident DOF or assistant coach. I think he has shown a willingness to learn, though - I mean, he's finally heeded your calls to drop the 4-2-3-1 :) Small progress, but signs of flexibility nonetheless.

    ReplyDelete
  126. £212M spent .. No chance of another £30M

    ReplyDelete
  127. We do NOT have a keeper.

    ReplyDelete
  128. WRONG AGAIN! Bruce Rioch signed Bergkamp!

    Bring RAFA back, we want WINNING football. Forget the incessant pass pass pass pass bore you to death and win nothing football.

    ReplyDelete
  129. It has got nothing to do with formation. Continuously sticking wit Lambert and Balotelli up on their own was a crime which Rodgers will be unwilling to admit.


    Streling up top in a 4-2-3-1 would have been far more damaging to the opposition and anyone who wants to disagree have their rose tinted glasses on. Rodgers ruined the first half of our season. If he himself cannot admit it then he is not going to change and needs to go.

    ReplyDelete
  130. Rodgers is out of his depth. GERRARD and SAS did it ALL last season. £212 M doesn't seem to matter .. Crazy!

    ReplyDelete
  131. You say SAS did it all for Rodgers last season but it could be argued that Gerrard almost single handedly won the trophies Rafa acquired during his tenure and if you think Rodgers brand of football is more boring than Benitez then I urge you to watch some games from that time.
    Also explain your comment about Rodgers being out of his depth. What do you back that up with?

    ReplyDelete
  132. Yep I see your logic only I feel it may stifle Can's attacking instincts. But I agree in principle about physical mobile players in the middle!

    ReplyDelete
  133. What it does show though is what a good purchase Can looks like being.

    ReplyDelete
  134. I agree with you Jock. We had plenty of targets as you point out but something is broken. Either our scouts suck, BR's judgment sucks or the infamous committee sucks or some combination thereof. From the outside, it is just too hard to tell. All we can judge are the transfer results and they are indisputably weak. Some former player called our strategy a crowd of mediocrity. Better to get 2-3 impactful players to fit prioritized needs than to squander millions on kiddie roulette!!!!
    Give the sack to our front office and sign all of Southampton's front office and use their process. Then watch how much better player acquisition gets..........

    ReplyDelete
  135. yeah baby!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  136. Doesn't work like that, if utd finished fourth and we won the Europa,both teams would qualify for next seasons champions league.

    ReplyDelete
  137. And you sir are a rude egotistical control freak who can never take any criticism no matter how just it is!!! That valuation was taken from the summer after a great season and before any of these injuries occurred. Hence he is still a £12m player as that's what we paid for him and his hypothetical value has more than likely fallen!

    ReplyDelete
  138. What would people think of the Reds having a crack at trying to sign Messi, the news at the moment sounds like he is unsettled and could be open to a move. While I am not sure how we would fit on the Financial Fair Play rules. If Liverpool could finds the funds and blow the transfer budget for the next couple of years with the 200 million buyout clause. Although I feel that there would be a lot of money recouped simply from shirt sales and other branded gear. While the odds of the reds been able to get him are similar to me winning lotto. It also goes against the transfer policy of FSG and would rule out the possibility of other decent buys for a few years due to the cost, there is also the question of his best days been behind him but with Gerrard going we need a world class player as a draw card for others. I think the sad part of it is that we are not considered even contenders for his signature, even though masha and suarez could put in a good word for the club to him

    ReplyDelete
  139. This site is like a dictatorship hahahahaha!

    ReplyDelete
  140. Let's hope than that Manu finish fifth o goal difference......and we win the Europa

    ReplyDelete