27 Apr 2015

Swap-Deal? Liverpool chase 'extraordinary' €30m playmaker who's desperate for transfer to Anfield

Earlier this season, Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini confirmed that he is interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva, and new reports suggest that Rodgers has a swap deal in mind involving one of LFC's long-term transfer targets.

According to The Mirror on Sunday:

* Liverpool are considering a swap deal involving Lucas Leiva and Inter midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

* Rodgers is willing to let Lucas leave, but only if he can get 'incredible' Kovacic in return.

Liverpool have already reportedly agreed a deal to sign Kovacic this summer. In March, ITV Sport claimed:

"Mateo Kovacic will join Liverpool for £22m (€30m) in May. Inter are desperate to sell and the Reds have agreed to meet their asking price".

Soon after, a separate report claimed that:

* Kovacic is 'desperate' to join Liverpool over Manchester United and Arsenal.

* Liverpool recently scouted Kovacic, and were 'impressed' by his ability.

If these reports are true, then it looks like Liverpool are trying to lower Kovacic's transfer fee by bringing Lucas into the equation, but if this deal goes ahead, then the Reds will still have to fork out a significant sum for the young midfielder.

In August, Sportmediaset claimed that Napoli were willing to pay €12m for Lucas, so if that's his current value, then Liverpool are looking at around €18m (plus Lucas) for Kovacic.

Some info about Kovacic:

* Versatile: Can play as a deep-lying mid, attacking mid, wide left.

* Current contract expires in June 2017.

* This season: 8 goals/2 assists in 38 games.

* 19 apps for the Croatian national team.

* His idol is Robert Prosinecki, to whom he is often compared.

The obvious question here is this: why is Kovacic allegedly 'desperate' to join Liverpool ahead of Man United and Arsenal?

* Kovacic has no special affinity for and/or connection with LFC.

* The Reds cannot compete when it comes to salary demands.

* Man United and Arsenal qualify for the CL on a more consistent basis.

* Both clubs have more renowned managers.

* Gerrard aside, Liverpool have no internationally renowned players.

* Arsenal and MU have the likes of Sanchez, Ozil, Rooney, Di Maria, Falcao etc.

It doesn't compute. Additionally, why are Inter 'desperate' to sell a player who seems to be one of the most highly-rated young players in Europe? After flogging Coutinho to Liverpool for negligently cheap fee, surely the Serie A giants won't make the same mistake twice?

Author:


122 comments:

  1. I think it would be a good deal imo... As long as we bring in a suitable replacement that is.


    Ideally we'd just buy Kovacic directly and keep Lucas though.

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  2. Jamie,
    Damned good question. Lucas is slow but as a backup DM he is ok. he can't put the ball in the ocean but neither can half our team!

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  3. Nicolas Chamberlain3:16 am, April 27, 2015

    Like we want or need that overhyped player.
    Keep him in Milan with your mid table club in that mediocre, broke league.

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  4. Ahaha.... We'll we might be mid table team this season and last, but this is our worst period for a long long time my friend... But u r always in the mid table... The best is 4 spot for u guys... Hey u pull my words out mate...
    I respect a lot Liverpool but can take the bulling

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  5. And u make the buzz about the player and whole Europe... We know what we have :)

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  6. we were 2nd last year

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  7. Jaimie,
    According to a Nigerian newspaper Ibe has signed a new contract ?

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  8. hey jaimie, really missed it last year - will there be an end of the season poll this year? Thanks

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  9. Maybe you need to look at how bad English clubs have been this season - not 1 club made QF in either CL or EL - 2 Italian teams in Semi Finals of Europa and Juve in Semi Finals of Champs League - right now EPL 4th best league in Europe despite the money!

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  10. Agree ,
    EPL needs to take a long hard look at its self !!

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  11. Thanks Kolo, enjoy the sun. Close the door on the way out

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  12. Haha, a cult hero like you

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  13. Must be true them :-)

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  14. Is that 19 appearances for the senior Croatian national team?

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  15. The pommie papers caught napping

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  16. Might be worth reading the article before trying to poopooo it. Ye daft get.

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  17. So your made up as we have much stronger and richer teams ahead of us while your mid table in a league with one good team. Congratulations.

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  18. Despite how they have done in Europe do you watch the Italian league. It's terribly dull but tactically that helps in Europe.

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  19. Mr. Point Of View9:02 am, April 27, 2015

    The purchasing dept must be very careful on next signing. If BR sacked and next mgr take over does not like the NEW SIGNING then is totally wasted.

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  20. What are you the Jamaican papers saying?

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  21. Maybe kid is a fan of this great club, maybe it's not all about money or prestige- some people just love this club Jaimie, why is that hard to understand?

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  22. Sent post via pigeon, let hope that it gets there

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  23. Nice one Ash!!!!!!!!

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  24. Well competition for top places in the EPL has been hot maybe the teams couldnt handle both.
    Dominance in Europe can go in cycles the EPL clubs will get back up there.

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  25. Another markovic being linked again.. Although i doubt this is true because you can't tell me the transfer committee haven't learnt from last season

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  26. Offer them Aspas and Alberto too, and Ithink we could persuade them...

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  27. Have you seen the crowds in Serie A, We get bigger crowds week in week out in League 1 and 2... so dull, even their fans don't watch....

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  28. Still trying to decode the morse code...

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  29. we have about 15 players to offer. maybe they could be interested in at least one of them

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  30. Don't know. You can only buy the Jamaican papers in Papua New Guinea. They're written in Swahili, naturally.

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  31. Balotelli, Enrique, Aspas, Alberto, Lambert, Coates and Borini are players who will most likely be moved on. How much we will recoup on sales is another question but cannot see us getting more than £25m combined and we most likely will not have an easy task moving them on, especially Balotelli.

    The most important singing for the new season will be a new manager or DOF and coach.

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  32. We could have had Remy instead of Balotelli. The final decision rests with Rodgers. Balotelli should never have been signed in the first place.

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  33. As long as the new manager plays the likes of Markovic, Lallana and Ibe as forwards and Henderson as a midfielder instead of RB's or RWB's and Can as a CM instead of CB then they may be able to develop into useful players.

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  34. No more than 25M? Thats less than 4M each. Assaidi went for like 7M. I'm sure we can get at least 5M for most, of them, at least 35M

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  35. You're never gonna crack the code.

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  36. You should know if is?

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  37. Actually improved drastically this year..e dropped the 352 and went for an attacking football(except when they really need it e.g. Monaco), Lacio plays the most atractive football I've seen in years(apart from ours last season), Napoli, Fiore,Roma, Cagliari- all play oal more.. Fiore's pressing makes me sad after seeing our.. Really improved..

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  38. Assaidi went to a club that owns oil fields and is why we got that much for him.


    Would Stoke have paid that much for Assaidi? In order to get rid of Balotelli we will need to sell him for half of what we paid.

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  39. do your math mate, that is still much more than 4m..

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  40. The only 'ich' I want to see here is Ibrahimovich.

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  41. Yeah maybe I am over exaggerating but how much are we really going to get for Alberto? Nowhere near what we paid I am afraid and same goes for Aspas and Borini.


    Sunderland will not for out £14m for Borini now so it is likely he will have to go for half of what we paid for him too.


    So if all the players I mentioned go for half of what we originally paid then I am not far off.

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  42. What and hemorrhage our wage bill?

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  43. Liverpool got knocked out in the group stages in a group featuring Basle and Ludogorets - then followed that up witha first round defeat in the Europa League by Besiktas - with the amount of money Rodgers has wasted in the last 2/3 years you would think they could compete in all competitions.

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  44. Croations dont really follow English football - im sure he would much rather play in a country right next to his home.

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  45. Gerrard and Johnson leaving gives us enough money for Milner and Konopljanka on a free transfer.
    We had a 16 mill offer for Borini, hopefully we can get 8-10 now.
    Aspas,Enrique, Alberto, (sadly)Lambert and Coates should bring us 15.
    Lucas is leaving too- 7-8.
    Balotelli can go for 10.
    That is two good players, plus Origi is coming and 40 mill to spend.
    Current team, those three, Illara, Naingolan or Condogbia and we still have 10 mill more or less. If we can throw in 20 more without breaching FFP, that looks very good to me.

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  46. Priorities for the new season.


    In 1st place: New manager or DOF and coach
    2nd: Renew the likes of Flanagan's and Sterling's contracts
    3rd: Decide which players need to go
    4th: Sign prolific striker
    5th: Sign proper defensive midfielder
    6th: Sign commanding CB
    7th: Promote a LB and RB from the academy


    Well that is what I would do.

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  47. He said in few interviews for Croatian papers Sportske novosti that Liverpool is his favourite English club due to history

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  48. Did some math up there if you are interested ..

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  49. Have you been to Italy lately Stan?There is actually quite alot to do there unlike in England where its basically football or the pub.

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  50. Yes we do and no he wouldn't

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  51. Best i base on results isnt that usually how its defined?

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  52. I did mine and doubt we will get 8-10 for Borini and also not 10 for Balotelli.


    Both will have to go for half of what we paid.

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  53. so that is 8 for balo and how much for borini?

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  54. Refering to English clubs as a whole over the past couple of seasons but yeah they should have done better.

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  55. £5m for Borini.


    If we had to get half of what we paid for each player I mentioned it will be about £28m which is not far off from what I thumb sucked.

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  56. For the most part. Why what European trophies have these clubs won? Are cup competitions the best barometer? How many times has a team won the top European trophy but not been considered the best. It's not a black and white thing mate.

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  57. Bring back Orme!!!!!!!!!

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  58. Fair enough. I haven't watched mutch in a while as it used to bore me.sound like I need to rethink.
    Cheers bud

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  59. You are a bit pessimistic, so let's say 33 mil. Add Lucas for 7 and we have 40 mill. two high wages going, sign milner and konopljanka on those(and less). origi comes in and you can buy class dm, and have some money to spend. plus surely fsg will find a way to get us 20 more mill- not a bad situation..

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  60. I honestly believe Chelsea and Arsenal are on the right path right now to compete with almost any club(possibly not Bayern/Real/Barca) but Liverpool,Man United and Liverpool are still paying double what a player is worth,signing them to a 5 year contract and then trying to offload them after a year or 2 when nobody else in Europe can afford to come close to matching their salary etc.

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  61. I did not mention Lucas in my post.


    We have been trying to get rid of Coates for quite a while now and we wanted to flog Aspas and Alberto at the start of the season but could only loan them out so expectations of what we will receive when they are sold should be at the bare minimum.

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  62. yeah, I hate their of past years, but as i watch it quite a lot- I am impressed..

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  63. Well Lucas is going, right? Maybe Allen for another 8-10, you do agree we will have 35-40 to spend?

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  64. I agree bud but when your squads in England are paid 3/5 times more than those in Spain/Italy/Germany and you still cant win most of the time surely there is a problem somewhere?

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  65. City to me are the real disappointments in the C.L they have a great squad and have had some dismal years.

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  66. "kondogbia is not coming to us" rather

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  67. I think the key for next season is consistency and continuity. Rodgers needs to pick a formation and stick with it and buy the right players to make it work. My choice would be the 4-4-2 diamond from last season, it was so much fun to watch. Jovetic would be the perfect striker to compliment sturridge. He has a similar style to suarez ( hard working, likes to drop deep and receive, and likes to create). He is injured a lot which doesn't matter if there is adequate back up from players of similar style.
    jovetic/vietto----sturridge/origi
    Coutinho/lallana
    Milner/Allen---------henderson/can
    Illaramendi/lucas
    Moreno/flanno---sahko---lovren---Montoya/flan

    These players wouldn't cost all that much and we would play just like last season but better defensively. Illaramendi is a similar passer to gerrard but better defensively. Milner and henderson would run circles around opposition and help protect overlapping fullbacks.

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  68. Jamaican papers are rolling good ganja man.

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  69. What if we cannot sell Aspas, Coates, Enrique, Alberto or Balotelli?


    We need to find buyers and the fact that we have been trying to get rid of Borini, Coates, Alberto and Aspas without success suggests that they may have to go out on loan again...


    Expect the bare minimum from players we have been struggling to get rid of.

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  70. Hahahahahaha....

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  71. Balo- sure.
    Alberto an Aspas are playing well enough, those 5-7 mill will not be a problem.
    Coates also playing a lot.
    Borini didn't want to leave, we have offers.

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  72. Yes true Loges how much money we will outlay is hard because we can buy players making payments over a few seasons.
    We will have money for wages with Gerrard Toure and GJ leaving.
    Its actually not real simple.

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  73. I guess our opinions about the matter differ.


    Suso went for £1m in January so how can Alberto be worth more than that?

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  74. hE CAN'T BUT SUSO HAD A BETTER position as BR did not want him and he knew he is good.

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  75. Based on what you say that? Two Balkan guys below think differently, and trust me we know..

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  76. Money for wages from Gerrard, Toure and GJ leaving while we have increased the wages of Coutinho, Henderson, Sturridge this season and most likely Ibe will be offered a new contract soon too. Add new contracts for Flanagan and Skrtel and GJ, Toure and Gerrard leaving has beeen balanced out with renewing contracts.

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  77. So does Rodgers want Aspas and Alberto and why should they be worth more than Suso?

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  78. Why sign a new contract until 2019 and then leave to play at a club that isnt in the CL and hasnt won the league in 25 years...

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  79. Na not really and increased income is a factor through sponsorships then when you go speaking transfer fee money younger players generally come for less wages wise.
    So you can afford more in fees but established stars will soak up the wage bill thus less in transfer fees being spent.
    Not to mention agents fees.

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  80. No, that is not what I asked. Based on what you said Croats don't follow EPL and would rather play in Italy?

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  81. Yes and should Sterling be offered a new contract? We are looking at a £100k increase there.

    The Premier League's new financial rules (2013)

    Not in the strict sense of the word. Clubs whose total wage bill is more than £52million will only be allowed to increase their wages by £4million per season for the next three years.

    Cannot find the UEFA FFP rule regarding wages but there are restrictions. If we had to offer Sterling between £100-150K a week now then we will have less when taking into account the players contracts that have already been renewed and still have to be renewed.

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  82. Haha you're possibly right

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  83. So they can sell him for a higher fee- nothing strange for a player to extend his contract before a transfer, besides his relationship with Mancini has hit rock bottom

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  84. They are not worth more, but will get sold for more. Is any player signed by championship midtable club for 1.5 mill worth more than Suso?

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  85. BR is demotivation enough for Balo, Couts, Sturridge, Sahko. I dont see how he could motivate Depay and Lacazette to join him and be played out of position by BR!!!

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  86. So why could we not sell Alberto and Aspas at the start of the season???

    "Alberto an Aspas are playing well enough, those 5-7 mill will not be a problem."


    Keep on dreaming mate.

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  87. Ignorant comment I have to say

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  88. tHEY needed to prove themselves after a poor season.

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  89. Why are they trying to flog a player who is the shining light of future soccer for relative peanuts.....?


    Well, its obvious - Inter are owned by aliens from another planet and they are trying to rip the fabric of time space continuum so they can open a portal to come through.....


    Apparently the Coutinho sale was just the beginning....


    And, apparently the aliens are sending hot babes in skimpy dresses to Earth so we can be pleasured while they take over....


    So let's hope this deal goes through - for more reasons than one....


    I wonder; if I need more pleasuring than the average man you guys reckon they'd let me have two....?

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  90. Number of Croatians playing in EPL 4(and very few throughout history) - and 3 of them are at the relegation teams suprised that you would follow the EPL when the large majority of your countrymen and national team players play in other major European leagues.

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  91. Why don't we just buy a bunch of guys from Sparta....?

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  92. cOUTS was just the last in the long line... Seedorf and Pirlo weren't good enough for them, can you imagine that..

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  93. Told you man, its a deep lying intergalactic conspiracy.....


    ....oh yeah, that and they're also blind....

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  94. And they like buying players that used/could've been good too. Lucas is perfect for them..

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  95. Alberto has featured in 20 matches this season and scored 2 goals and 2 assists.


    Total of 849 minutes he has proven nothing.

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  96. That's nailed it bro....I'm writing to x-files....

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  97. Aspas played 12 and scored 2 in La Liga for a very good side, I can see newcomer in the league payin 3.5 for him. And relegated team paying 2 mill for Alberto

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  98. You must understand that playing in a number of positions is good for the players' development and is good for the squad.


    Having flexible players who can fulfill a number of roles and play a number of positions is one of the *principle objectives* of elite coaching.


    Players like Sterling and Henderson and Coutinho have developed as well as they have done under Rodgers because they are being constantly challenged to develop into complete players with a full understanding of their roles and those of the players around them.


    You just want a return to short-termism. But that's not going to work. If we play the short game, there are other clubs who can simply do it better. We can't compete with the clubs above us in making short term gains. Everything we do has to be geared towards long-term development of players, squad, and club, because that is the *only* way we have any chance of success.

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  99. Dear friend, Croats are actually worshipping EPL and have for a very long time, long before Lovren, Bilic, Suker ot Stimac as it was viewed as the best league talent and quality wise, with best stadium atmosphere in the world. We have and have had players playing fot Real or Barca but we observe those teamd only in Classico's or CL, and yet we follow EPL week in week out

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  100. So that makes your valuations less nthan half of what we paid?


    I did say that if we had to receive half of what we paid for each of the players I mentioned that we would get about £25m (thumb sucked) or £28m combined?

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  101. I don't know anything about Eastern Europe football habits or practices - I'll leave that to the experts - you guys answering on behalf of your compatriots...


    But what I do know is you cannot have billions of pounds flooding into the premier league without there being serious exposure around the world - and last time I looked Croatia was still plastered on the Earth's surface......

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  102. An more for some, like Coates. 33 more likely, and weventhough you didn't mention them- lucas and/or allen will leave- and that is 40+

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  103. How do you know Allen will leave?


    Sorry, but I just cannot agree with your figures.


    Each to his own.

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  104. allen or lucas i said.

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  105. Ah so the idea this season was to play Sterling at RWB?


    Was the plan to pay £20m for Markovic, £25m for Lallana and play them as RWB's too? Clearly a genius idea ain't it especially when we needed somebody to replace most of Suarez's goals and ability and do not use the Balotelli excuse as he is nowhere near a like for like replacement.


    When did Rodgers switch to the 3-4-3 formation? More excuses 'players need to play in different positions to develop'.


    Why did he not play 3-4-3 from the start? Or use his new signings on a regular basis from the start?


    Look mate, you are unable to critcise Rodgers for anything. It is as simple as that.

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  106. Each to his own.

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  107. so it was 7 days I guess..

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  108. Agreed and one would expect EC and WC titles with such national team but it's not that simple isn't it and that's a different story

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  109. what'd you do?

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  110. For seven days he must have done something really bad. Either murder or suggested JK is less than positive .....

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  111. Wait, you think we need a new manager?


    :)

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  112. Or that Suarez was truly a model citizen during his time here?

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  113. Or keep Rodgers and settle with more transition excuses every season or 'my team was outstanding' when we lose or draw?


    So an absolute yes! This is Liverpool Football Club not Watford, Reading or Swansea.

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  114. If he becomes half as good as Prosinecki, we'll have a top player ;)

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  115. Juventus UCL campaign this season had been easy for them.. Dortmund in Last 16 & AS Monaco in quater-final which they don't deserve to win.. If Chelsea or Man City were the one that they faced in the round, they would be eliminated for sure.. Plus, English Club had better record against Italian Club...

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  116. I think you're missing the sarcasm.


    You're also missing the detail where I made any excuses for Rodgers' failings here at LFC. Just because I won't give him the chop right now doesn't mean I'm excusing his failings. However, if you want to find where I've made one excuse for Rodgers, I implore you to do so. I laid out all the facts the other day about why this season failed relative to last season. Lo and behold, I received no response. I even admitted my incorrect tally of the wages.


    As I've detailed before (time and time again), there isn't anyone out there besides Klopp who I consider to be a significant upgrade.


    If we can get someone better, I'm all for it. But to make a change simply for the sake of making a change is not something that, in my opinion, is in the best long term interest of the club.

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  117. Don't touch Toure with a long stick. Too error-prone, and does more pointing than actual leading.

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  118. I would bump up the requirement for a another CB.Perhaps a specialist winger or 2 as well.Rodgers is always trying to double up with wingbacks but the truth is we've only got Ibe and Markovich that are natural wingers.We need width at times.Can't play all our games down the center imo.

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  119. Yup, our boys are afraid of the opposition goal.

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  120. You mean when Hendo doesn't trip on his own laces?

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  121. Sorry but how is one decent performance against a bottom half team supposed to be looked at as a season resurrection for Lovren?

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