7 Apr 2015

Anfield-bound? LFC chase 'excellent' €15m star with two 'player-of-the-year awards. Offer expected soon

Despite the unflattering 4-1 scoreline, Simon Mignolet had another good game against Arsenal at the weekend, and his prodigious shot-stopping ability saved the Reds from the ignominy of an even more embarrassing defeat. That said, the Belgian could've done better on a couple of the goals, and the club still needs to bring someone in to challenge and/or replace him next season. To that end, Liverpool have been linked with a whole host of goalkeepers over the last few months, and the latest player on the Reds' radar is reportedly Sporting Lisbon 'stopper Rui Patricio.

According to The Mirror today:

* Rui Patricio is 'one of the names' on Liverpool's list of transfer targets.
* The Reds are lining up a summer bid to bring Patricio to Merseyside.

Ironically, Liverpool were linked with €15m-rated** Patricio at the same time as Mignolet, but Rodgers ended up choosing the Belgian. Now, if Rodgers signs Patricio this summer, he could conceivably end up replacing Mignolet.

Some info about Patricio:

* 320 appearances for Sporting.
* Averages 40 games a season.
* 36 apps for the Portugal national team.
* 2011/2012: SL's 'Player of the Year' two years running.
* Contract expires: 2019

Stats:

* 308 goals conceded in 320 games
* Concedes 0.9 goals per game.
* 120 clean sheets (39% of games; 1 every 2.5 games)

This season:

* 41 goals conceded in 37 games.
* Concedes 1.1 goals per game.
* Clean Sheets: 11 (1 every 3.3 games)

If Liverpool's interest is real, then Mignolet should be worried. Patricio - recently hailed by Portugal boss Paulo Bento as an 'excellent' player - is Sporting's undisputed number-one goalkeeper, and he plays practically every game.

If the Portuguese comes to Anfield, it won't be to sit on the bench, and I doubt he'd agree to any deal without assurances of game time.

After all, why would Patricio leave a regular starting spot at Sporting - a club at which he's spent his entire career - to sit on the bench at Anfield, and (consequently) jeopardise his place in the Portugal national team?

Author:


150 comments:

  1. Just about to say something similar boss. If you were JK I would (like he does) challenge you to prove me wrong. But glad this can be settled more amicably.

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  2. Yes Lawro the great pundit that he is.

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  3. His opinion has to count for something. He's was a great player! !!

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  4. He was a great player but he is a bit of a t1t when it comes to talking or even thinking about footy. I don't think much of his opinions on many things at all. There are pundits out there that I would listen to and take note but he isn't one. Which is a shame as he really was (from all accounts) a brilliant player. I heard he could pass like Sakho ;p

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  5. Or me you must have realised there are far too many of us Eagle Eyed Nitpickers here to get away with it ;)
    Carra, Hyypia, Hansen are probably our 3 best CB's ever. And proved it for a decade or longer. Sakho IMO has never been poor. And he is a solid defender. But to call him better than Carra based on not a lot is wrong and a bit unfair to both players.
    With regards to Lawro (top 6 of our CB's) I don't think Sakho is one of our most improved I think he is more our 'most perceived improved based on previously false opinions of his ability due to his unorthodox body movements'. However that is a bit wordy to put on a trophy.

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  6. Well to be honest I was never a fan of him as a pundit but I have to say that of late he's really starting to talk a lot of sense; );)

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  7. I wasn't the one saying that Sakho was better than anyone. But if you were actually eagle eyed you would have seen he was not poor.

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  8. Good grief.....Sean Dundee! Classic example of a horror player.
    But don't diss Djimi....he's a Champions League WINNER!

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  9. I just loved it. Looks even better now than it did. Time has not diminished the magic.

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  10. A keeper is only as good as the defence in front of him!

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  11. Tell that to De Gea.

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  12. Not on my watch.

    You've been warned.

    YOU'VE ALL BEEN WARNED!

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  13. Jaimie i saw a comment in where you said if Suarez wasnt here last season someone else would have stepped up and we would have still staged a title challenge. i know you dont like Suarez but thats disrespectful at the highest level. if you dont remember Suarez got 33 goals/14 assists despite starting the season late. he was a leader on the field and it was his sheer will to win and desire that elevate everyone else performances. Suarez gave people like flannagan there first goals for Liverpool. i can remember over 50 times, whether he scored or not, when it was his desire and hardwork which got us the wins. remember that demolition of tottenham where he scored two worldies and got 3 assists. he practically assisted every sterling goal before he left. he made Sturridge the player he is. he was actually a demon and he put LFC comfortably in the top 4. were now not, even if Sturridge is fit which he is never anyways, and without that leadership LFC are doomed. right now we need Firmino, Depay, Vietto and Anderson. sell sterling and get these stars.


    ------------------------------Can--------------------Hendo
    ---------Anderson--------------------Firmino--------------------Depay
    ------------------------------------------Vietto


    unless we do this now we are doomed with scared players like Markovic who always pass infront of goal

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  14. Sorry Jay you weren't the intended person, apologies for setting the reply to you. It was in response to Crack I think (probably anyway), for an asinine comment about Sakho being better than Carra.
    I think Sakho could be better than Carra, he is a more rounded player, but he isn't right now and need to prove consistency over seasons not games.
    Once again though my apologies, it wasn't meant to be directed to you.

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  15. I fully agree, believe it or not. But it is a case of seeing a world beater in making for me- if I saw Maldini at the age of 20, I would've said he is the best cb ever and wait for it to come true, you know what I mean?

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  16. I'd actually love to see his reaction to someone actually saying this to him.


    Give him a few shots first to make sure we get an honest answer.


    I trust you will complete this mission.


    You... Are... The Wildcard!

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  17. So instead of Markovic, an amazing young talent from a foreign league with no experience in the PL, you'd prefer Depay, an equally young, equally inexperienced player, because that will completely change our team? Besides, Marko made the right decision, his pass was just awful. Nothing 'scared' about it, it was unselfish, he was under pressure from a defender and had the keeper in front of him and a clear pass to Sterling. Decision was right, pass was poor.

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  18. In terms of CURRENT skillset, Sturridge doesnt get near the top for me, buuuuut it depends on what we are actually scoring based on. If you were to assign an overall rating, Couti, Raheem and Sakho for me are on top. Skrtel, Hendo, Lallana behind, then it's anyones guess.

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  19. The Wildcard doesn't follow orders.

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  20. While I agree with everything you said, the fact of the matter is Depay is an international star... for the Dutch national team no less. He has loads more experience than Marko does, and is arguably further along the development track than Marko is as well. However, I'd take Marko over Anderson right about now...

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  21. Yes well said. Lovren a fellow left footer still hugely underwhelmes... Toure had an absolutely terrible game against Arsenal but I can see why BR chose him ahead of Lovren. Question is why did LFC chose Lovren in the first place whilst having Sakho there?

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  22. rejects to chelsea, not to liverpool. think u missed the point. Just shows u how far we are away if chelsea rejects are walking into our side. like sturridge

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  23. Surely a GK is not a problem at the moment.
    Liverpool needs strikers !

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  24. How can Sturridge be no 1 when he has not played ?

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  25. Spot on KopiteS. With our raheems,Allens,Lucases and Hendos we are doomed.they are scared when we play the top teams.They collectively are a failure against Chelski, city,manure and the arses. They just dont have the talent/skill to "step up" and outdo those big guns.lm afraid we r no longer one of those big guns.The past is just that-thr paat and its gone

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  26. Nice reference Irving! Though I dont know if it would be a bargain, I've seen him play a few times and he is impressive but not 10m+ impressive. I'd be happy to pick him up for 8-10m, looks like he'd be a vast improvement over our current options. It just comes down to what the gaffer and his henchmen want for next season...

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  27. At least he turns up which is more than Sturidge and cry baby Lallana do = the latter is like a fairy - blow on him and he is out for weeks

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  28. The MANAGER - Whoever he is on the first day of the new transfer season needs to SELL 9of our current squad immediately - SELL SELL SELL and this time buy wisely

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  29. For next year I'd be looking at the following squad changes:

    OUT: Jones, Johnson (free), Manquillo (cancel loan), Toure (free), Coates, Enrique, Gerrard (free), Alberto, Aspas, Lambert, Borini, Balotelli, Teixeira (I'd sell with a buy-back clause)

    BACK IN SQUAD FROM LOAN: Wisdom, Ilori, Origi

    PROMOTE: Rossiter (more than this year), McLaughlin, Brad Smith and Sinclair

    IN: Butland (around 6-7 million), Janmaat (8-10 million), Imbula (10-12 milion), Pjanic (25-35 million), Lacazette (25-35 million)

    Some may say Pjanic and Lacazette are not possible without CL but Liverpool is still a top PL club, if the club/project is sold properly we can still attract these type of players. These 2 are not in the top bracket yet but are very highly rated, similar to Torres and Suarez when we bought them.

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  30. But we had the opportunity to attract quality players last summer with CL and over £100m available to spend and we ended up with players who have hardly made a proper impact.


    Sorry I do not want to keep banging on the drum but with Rodgers in charge the likes of Lacazette etc are a pipe dream.

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  31. Byram had bale in his pocket when they played against each other. You'll be surprised how good he really is.

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  32. Never Deen this kid play but if he actually moves and has a brain hes a ste up from Raheem. That Saïd, with Ibe at the club our prioriteit should not Be with this position.

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  33. Yea he never got the memo

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  34. Come on Jay, I know you're his biggest fan and I'm now converted and would agree he's our best defender and has been consistently good (when he's played) this season but even you must concede that whether it was through injury problems, language problems or whatever, his first season wasn't all plain sailing. I used to think he was an absolute bombscare of a player but like I said he's won me over but he's only really consistently performed this season. His passing was always good but last season his decision making at times was very erratic and players were ghosting past him with relative ease. He's been much improved this season

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  35. Another 600 appearances and a hatful of trophies, maybe then he can start being compared to Carra

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  36. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:50 am, April 08, 2015

    its in terms of actual quality they have
    Gerrard would be top normally but in last 3 years he dipped a lot

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  37. 50+ years Ray has been a kopite

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  38. We didnt have a big enough squad to just sign one or two big players last year imo.

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  39. I know i cant remember the last time we beat Man City it was so long ago.

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  40. What about that header at West Ham when he stopped the ball going out for a throw in at the half way only to send an onrushing West Ham player clean through on goal. It was tantamount to an assist

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  41. Nevergonnacrackthecode8:57 am, April 08, 2015

    Aqualani was good
    just not given chances


    you could put cole in there insteasd


    diouf had good moments
    put jovanavic in there instead

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  42. Yeah Cole could easily make that team. I forgot about Andriy Voronin too and Bernard Diomede.


    I hated Diouf with a passion. He had a promising start but was poor after that and his attitude/behaviour was pretty disgusting; something he continued throughout his career at other clubs. A complete waste of talent.

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  43. We paid £20m for Lovren, £25m for Lallana, £16m for Balotelli. That was £61m spent on players who have not had any impact on our season.

    So back to my point, with Rodgers in charge the likes of Lacazette etc are a pipe dream.

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  44. Also, Marko is a month younger than Depay, if that counts for anything.

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  45. To be fair, Lucas has mostly performed well against the big teams, bar the recent Arsenal match. Point taken, though.

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  46. Flanagan is not fit for the game. Apparently he will be playing a behind closed doors match in this week.


    So looks like Johnson either playing as a CB in a back 3 or RB in a back four.

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  47. If Johnson starts in a back 3, then BR should seriously consider tethering him to our right corner flag with a length of bungee cord.

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  48. kind of why it's labelled as wild aye...

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  49. Great excuse. Lallana 25mn, Markovic 20mn, Lovren 20mn..,,,these amounts are not for players to add to the squad. If we are paying such heft transfer fees, we should expect first team quality and immediate impact. I don't understand why people are still defending BR's transfers.

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  50. Great great great observation. Completely agree regarding Suarez comments.

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  51. One thing is clear, we need another keeper to compete with Mignolet, his early season form cannot be ignored. Competition improves performances.

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  52. You can do as you please but only after hours.

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  53. My point is, they failed to have any impact.

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  54. I would say that the Dutch and Portuguese leagues are about on par with each other

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  55. So you would give Rodgers another £120m considering the amount that was spent at the start of the season and do you believe if he was given +-£120m we would be able to attract top quality players when looking back at the last three seasons purchases?

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  56. Don't know why people keep calling them
    BR's transfers. Transfers at Liverpool are very much a club affair, those of you on your anti-Rodgers campaign like to use it as a stick to beat Rodgers with but the reality is the club have failed to land any of its to targets for the last few seasons. We over-paid for the 3 you've mentioned and they're yet to set the world alight but this 'they cost 20 mil so the should be good' smacks of too much FIFA. Players are humans therefore they're unpredictable and things you thought would work don't always. Every club experiences the same thing.
    People talking about Ancellotti coming in as manager makes me think they don't understand what the club's whe policy is all about

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  57. This transfer window will be very interesting, and will feel a lot better because I wont hold as much unnecessary hope

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  58. Out- Manquillo(Cancel loan)
    Allen-Thought he had picked up a bit but was quicker than ever to prove me wrong.
    Lovren-Just don't think he has what it takes.
    Brad Jones-Nice guy but not at the standard required. Football is very cut-throat.
    Enrique-Injury prone and poor when playing anyways.
    Glen Johnson-Self explanatory.
    Borini-His determination to suceed is becoming more of an annoyance than something admirable.
    Lambert-Only going to regress. Not good enough.
    Around 15-35 mil there alone.
    With added transfer funds we should buy Top quality players. Young or not.
    Vietto/Lacazette would be great so would Pjanic/Nainggolan. A right back would be great. Montoya? A creative midfielder to compete with Lallana and Coutinho-He is droppable) for instance Firminio or Depay(Not strictly a AM) or Kovacic and most importantly a midfield rock. Someone in the Matic mould, Imbula looks exciting. With BR expect more horrible dealings.

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  59. What policy?


    Lallana is 26 and we were after Sanchez who is 26. Plus all the other 'older' players the club has signed under FSG.


    We had to shop in the market we did and overpay for players because that was our only option. We may as well have just made use of the academy. Would Kelly and McLaughlin have done any worse than Moreno or Manquillo? Suso any worse than Lallana? Ibe any worse than Markovic? Teixeira?


    Can is the only signing which looks like a prudent purchase and was our second cheapest signing.


    Excuse after excuse after excuse.

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  60. 4eva LFC, LFC 4eva11:44 am, April 08, 2015

    We have a massive problem with our squad and it starts with Sterling the attitude of our players is disturbing in the past you used to have to earn your place, now I'm not talking just about ability, I'm talking about attitude, work rate, passion, proven contribution and yes ability as well.
    Now I see today's footballers and it's all about me and what I want people can say what they like about SAF but when he managed United he did it his way and if players put themselves before the club he cut them down quick.
    Yes he had a boat load of money but all the good managers in the world had the ability to man manage each of their players, BR has a massive task there is no doubt but he first needs to deal with the players now who are trying to be bigger than Liverpool FC
    One thing I have noticed a lot now when I watch the games in the early hours here in Australia, is that when the players exit the dressing room is that hardly any of them are touching the Anfield sign on the way out, this gesture use to have meaning and now it seems that it is gone, players need to realize how big this club really is and just how much it means too be able to don that red shirt.
    We need to find players that understand that meaning and obviously with some talent won't hurt either.

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  61. I don't have enough spare time to start anti-BR campaign. I do criticize him from time to time but those are just my opinions not some kind of a campaign. Liverpool's transfer affair involve scouts and negotiators like every other club, nothing special. BR will and always have a final word on transfers which he himself said it couple of times. I don't think management will force any player on him. Borini, Manquillo, Allen, Lambert, Lovren, Lallana, Sahin, Moses were all BR's choices. BR could have said NO for Markovic, Balotelli, Aspas, Cissoko, Balotelli, Luis Alberto and it wouldn't have made any difference to the squad. And yes, if 20mn+ is spent on a player, he should produce the goods immediately. I wouldn't even bother to comment on the FIFA mention. This is probably the last time I will comment on BR's transfer failures. Its getting boring

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  62. My reply has gone into moderation. Bad luck.

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  63. And I would agree, good Sir.

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  64. Depends if he wears the right perfume and if the transfer committee agrees to let him do all the choosing.

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  65. I must have misunderstood your post.

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  66. Thank you, Jock. I'd given up explaining this.

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  67. Hear, hear!

    And good for PSG and France, too.

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  68. That's a nice way to put it.

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  69. I'd also put Cole there instead.



    See how I changed my name so nobody knows it's me agreeing with you.

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  70. That was one. There was another.

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  71. Look at the players Rodgers brought in before the committee was formed.


    All clubs have scouts and find players who fit the profile of the manager. Rafa had is own scouting systems. Do you think he had the time to go watch players all the time at other clubs?


    It has been proven from the very first transfer window that we will not sign top quality players.


    We may sign more players like Sturridge and Coutinho who were not wanted by their respective clubs and turn them into winners but when it comes to your Hazard's, Costa's, Sanchez's, Ozil's, Mata's, Silva's and Aguero's then Rodgers can forget it.

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  72. Long time ago but Kenny bought Speedy, this was the beginning of the end for Kenny.

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  73. I think JockInTheKop got it spot on.
    Also we may not have the same pulling power as 20 years ago but we are still a top 5 team in one of the top 3 European leagues. This along with the right approach means we can still attract top players, maybe not the likes of Ronaldo, Cavani etc but Lacazette and Pjanic are still that one level below like we are as a club

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  74. Along with the right approach? And what is that exactly?

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  75. Aspas, Balotelli, Assaidi, Borini, Allen, whoever bought these players I'm not sure but they could get in Ash's team I reckon.

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  76. Mate I don't know whether it is confirmantion bias on my part or yours. Likely both, but none of what you just said there fits with what I remember. Not on a consistent basis anyway. Certainly no more than any of our other defenders.
    There were times that the defence didn't look right with him in it but that was as much down to Skrtel as him. The two were not sure of each other for decent periods. That is why Agger was perceived to have performed better. He didn't. He was just more comfortable and his colleagues more comfortable with him. On an individual basis Sakho was better and all stats can show this. I know stats only show some of the picture and in isolation mean nothing but, for me they show what I was seeing. This seasons Sakho last year. I think the first game colored peoples ideas of Sakho. Ghosting past? I only remember Shelvey doing that. He didn't seem to fall in the trap much after that.

    Also mate I wasn't comparing him to Carra. It's not something I agreed with but I didn't call Orme up on it as I liked his optimism and he was largely agreeing with me which I like.

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  77. BR has spent 200m on 22 players in the last 3 years .
    He has also shipped out 25 players since he has taken over .
    NO body else can take the flak for BAD transfer business .

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  78. Maybe if we start bidding 35 million and above for some of these players we'd be in with a chance, no?

    Also, I would find links where either Rodgers, Ayre or Henry have referenced the 'young/resale value' policy but I have a lot of work to do so can't do much Googling right now. However, it's a real club policy. Also, Rodgers has been hung out to dry transfer-wise from day one. Remember the Sigurdsson, Dempsey and Carroll debacles? To use one transfer window as representative of five is a bit disingenuous, Logan. Also, see JockintheKop's reply above. He makes good points.

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  79. Dammit. I am trying to post an article regarding the Sterling Saga.

    It really is a must read.

    The headline is

    "Raheem Sterling would only be earning the same as useless Mario Balotelli if he signed new £100,000-a-week deal at Liverpool... and that's the real issue here"



    MUST READ!!!


    Link is in the reply to my post. Jaimie, please make it available.

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  80. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3028423/Raheem-Sterling-earning-useless-Mario-Balotelli-s-real-issue-here.html

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  81. At the end of the day, no player gets bought without BR's permission

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  82. They will still disagree. Rodgers is exonerated!

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  83. "Rodgers wanted to trade Henderson for Dempsey who did not form part of the young policy."

    Yes. And the owners blocked it. Re-read John Henry's open letter from that time. The buy-young policy is couched in terms like "developing" and by disparaging "short-term quick fixes". I'm going to copy the link here in the hope that Jaimie lets it through.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/9517100/Liverpool-owner-John-Henrys-open-letter-to-fans-in-full.html


    You should thank me because I Googled for you.



    I don't know how to respond to your non-response about Jock's points.

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  84. Who said Rodgers is exonerated? And of what crime, exactly?

    You need to move away from the false dichotomy. It's entirely possible that Rodgers AND the transfer committee are responsible for the transfers, successful and 'failed', and that Rodgers wanted some new signings more than others.

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  85. Well where is Rodgers being given any blame?


    Everyone else including the likes of Ayre, Sterling and Gerrard have been swung like a cat by the tail while Rodgers still sweet talks everybody.

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  86. sport/football/article-3028423/Raheem-Sterling-earning-useless-Mario-Balotelli-s-real-issue-here

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  87. ---


    sport/football/article-3028423/Raheem-Sterling-earning-useless-Mario-Balotelli-s-real-issue-here

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  88. i support you somehow but i have to differ just bcoz yu have no place for our Cutinho

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  89. You must have missed the conversations in the first part of the season.

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  90. I did not miss anything. I have been here all the time.

    I continuously said Rodgers had gone to his inept systems while others were making excuses.

    Then I had Mike Aitcheson (a regular poster on this site) patting me on the shoulder when Rodgers came out and said he should have changed the systems sooner then what he did.



    I was being told to shut up etc and in the end our manager said exactly what I was saying from the very start.

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  91. So we've been saving up in the past two January windows...

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  92. If Jaimie wastes his time reading that article he would probably Zinedine Zidane his laptop screen. "Liverpool should be embarrassed by their contract offer to Sterling" and "most fans are out of touch of the modern game". One of the worst opinion pieces I've read in a while.


    The issue is not Balotelli. Though typically a high earner, I sincerely doubt he's on 100K a week at Liverpool because there were a lot of rumours suggesting he took a big wage cut to make the move, and it represents a larger risk from the club. High earners are hard to move - who wants Johnson, Balotelli, no one wanted Joe Cole, Aquilani a perennial loan player. Only 100K+ a week players are Sturridge who is limping to the bank and Gerrard who is transporting his wheelchair to LA.


    So, IMO Raheem The Dream isn't being money hungry at all. He probably wants double the wages which I assume would be 70K a week or something. But, I'd say he's disappointed with the forward progression of the club this season and is insisting that a decision will be made once the final whistle has blown. Why hasn't Henderson signed what's put in front of him? Their prerogative to move.


    The biggest mistake the club made in the last 12 months IMO was not offering contracts to its best players after finishing second. Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling should have been handed new deals then, and would have been more inclined to sign them. Now, during a rough patch, it's much harder.

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  93. James Pearce from the Echo and many other have said Balo is £100k a week.

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  94. Some were making excuses and some were saying that Rodgers is also at least partly to blame or the first-half muck.

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  95. Here are a few snippets from the article which stick

    In the middle of December, Rodgers described Sterling as 'a talisman' and told us he was confident he would stay.

    At the end of January, Rodgers told us the contract would be 'concluded imminently'.

    Last month he described the new offer to Sterling as 'incredible'.

    Brendan Rodgers talks openly and honestly about Raheem Sterling

    Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has always insisted that the Sterling talks would be concluded soon

    Sterling has been linked with a move to Arsenal, admitting he was 'flattered' by their interest

    Rodgers has repeatedly insisted that Sterling will not be moving anywhere this summer

    Liverpool find themselves seven points adrift in the race for the Champions League places

    Rodgers has said things there he had no right to say, but those assurances he gave have now served to make Sterling and his agent out to be the bad guys.

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  96. Liverpool Football Club should be embarrassed by that offer to Raheem Sterling, a player who kept quiet last summer when he watched Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Balotelli all walk through the door and sign deals worth more than double what he was on.

    He then stayed quiet while his performances were being scrutinised more than most in the absence of Suarez and Sturridge, with Lallana injured at the start of the campaign and with Gerrard fading fast.

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  97. Gerrard knows all about contract situations not being addressed, and that's why he said two months ago that the club need to sort out the futures of Sterling and Henderson 'before it's too late'.



    These few quotes suggest that the Sterling saga has been handled very poorly while Sterling has gone on quietly with his football until Rodgers opened his mouth and gave the media the fuel they needed.

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  98. Let's say he is. He still shouldn't be used as precedent or a comparative example to barter for a better contract. He could very well be, but I don't believe Sterling is doing that. If he is, then see ya later, but there's probably something more. Players are entitled to make moves.


    Henderson 'loves the club' right? If that's the case then why not sign what's put in front of you instead of waiting for you agent to deal with it over the summer, something he has openly admitted to. What if he genuinely wants to move?

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  99. I can point out the ones making excuses and majority are in support of Rodgers. Most of those are contributing to this very thread.

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  100. Go look at some of the quotes from the article which I have posted...

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  101. I read the article in its entirety.

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  102. Again I agree. Doesn't change the fact I think he is one of the best defenders ever played for us. I said the same thing about Suarez long before he got player of the season award..

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  103. It's all speculation, resonating through an opinion piece dedicated to Sterling's defence. You or anyone else don't know what the likes of Lallana, Lovren, Balotelli earn for sure. It's purely speculative.


    The rest of the quotes are just things viewers want to hear. Sterling isn't going to say Arsenal are rubbish, and Rodgers isn't going to say they are a mile off securing Sterling to a new deal. You must spend countless hours every day reading this stuff, isn't that much obvious?

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  104. We had 13 players last season and one of them left, so yrah those sums for the squad.

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  105. So they are earning £40k a week?

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  106. The article if from Adrian Durham, the biggest professional troll in football. If you have ever listen to his Radio show on Talksport you would know or should do that he just writes/says things to get a reaction.

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  107. Probably 50-60K. They wouldn't be targeted otherwise. Plus, a substantial transfer fee was involved. Balotelli, realistically, is probably earning 80K. I don't see the point in all of this though, Gerrard is (rumoured) on 120-140K.


    I've argued that Sterling hasn't stalled because of the money!

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  108. Lallana and Lovren where bought for instant impact, as they where already used to the premier league and shouldnt have taken time to settle. Some players just dont work out no matter how much you scout and spend.

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  109. But if Balo is earning £80k a week then it is double what Sterling is earning?


    So if Lallana is only earning £50-60K a week now then how much was he earning at Southampton? Their best player?

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  110. Hindsight is wonderful thing my friend.

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  111. Is the point going through one ear and out the other? That's not, IMO, a realistic or suitable way to barter for a new contract. Oh, player X,Y and Z are earning more. So what. Balotelli will most likely be sold and can't be used as a point of comparison in the future.


    I'm not entirely sure what your argument is anyway. I've read your comments backing Sterling, but your point of view seems purely financial. I'm not as against Sterling as others, but I've argued his reasons for stalling the deal aren't financially driven. Talking about the respective wages of other player isn't doing anything.

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  112. And, if you believe what you read, Sterling was offered a great deal which probably matches or betters that of Lallana's, Lovren's etc. So regarding wages you no longer have a point.


    Sterling has seemingly got what he wanted. Now, there are other motives eg leaving to play for someone else.

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  113. Who do you want as manager then Logan? As you clearly hate Rodgers.

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  114. But none of this would have happened if Rodgers had not opened his moth, right?


    Why should Sterling accept an offer the club is making when he has no guarantees of success? He can get the same offer or more elsewhere like Madrid and win trophies.


    There are such things as ambition and right now LFC cannot even get Henderson or Sterling to agree on deals.

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  115. I do not hate him. I have repeatedly said I believe he is not the right man for the job.

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  116. That's why I said the biggest mistake LFC has made in the last year was not signing their most talented, effective, and deserving players to new contracts at the end of last season.


    At present, Sterling doesn't deserve a new deal. He hasn't contributed to much, stats schmats, he can't pass or shoot, and is all pace, hype, and buzz. If this contract saga wasn't going on, I'd actually drop him for other options and switch to the diamond.


    I think Henderson will eventually sign. I don't particularly care for what Sterling does. Owen/Fowler/Torres/Suarez. Go back further, Stevie Mac, Rush, etc. Who is Sterling in comparison?

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  117. My point is not purely financial.


    I have even said before that Sterling is waiting to see what happens next season regarding the manager situation. With Rodgers there could be more excuses of transition.

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  118. Well then semi-agreed. And it's his prerogative to do so. Sterling could help himself out though by upping his performances on the pitch.

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  119. Sterling leaves, who do we sign?


    I asked your opinion on Rodgers the other day but you never answered.

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  120. You sign Ibe to a new contract. As a Russian meerkat once said, "Simples"!

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  121. Upping his performance on the pitch?


    He is a square peg round hole under Rodgers just like all the other new signings this season.


    What about all the other players having to up their performances? Take Sterling out of the team and we will have Balotelli making a mockery of himself and us at this point.

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  122. And then a season later Ibe decides screw LFC and he gets treated the same way as Sterling.

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  123. How very bleak indeed.

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  124. I think he would be a square peg in a round hole..

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  125. You're not allowed to say that, Logan owns the intellectual property to that line.

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  126. But then you get Sinclair!

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  127. Totally agreed on Balotelli.

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  128. This is just speculation. How does the person who wrote this know the exact figures in Sterling's current contract? It's typical pro-Sterling/Anti-Balotelli agenda.

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  129. The "right approach" is how we sell the club to the players we are trying to sign i.e. showing them the vision and ambition of the club for the future whilst also showing the the immense history of the club. It's about adopting the best sales policy to convince them that this is the best place to achieve their goals etc.

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  130. Hope you're right bud. I'll take the more measured approach and say that he's showing a lot of promise

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  131. By now you've realized I don't take those measured approaches whaen it comes to these things.. And we'll finish above manu, by the way..

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  132. You're possibly very much right, don't get me wrong the games I thought he wasn't great, none of our defenders were.
    To be fair you've always said the same about him and by and large I trust your judgement, just took me a little longer to see it.
    I think part of the reason I flagged it up is that recently I've read a lot of posts discrediting Carra and his ability as a player.
    Jamie Carragher was an absolute stalwart for us, I remember that game at anfield against Chelsea in the 2005 champions league, it seemed like there were 3 Carra's on the pitch, same in the final.
    His organisational skills were second to none and for me the fact he was the first choice in our defence for over ten years through multiple managers says it all. I honest believe if Carra had stayed on for one more year we'd have won the league last year. I don't think we'd have capitulated at Palace with Carra leading our defence.
    Watching defensive shambles after shambles since he's retired has made me miss him a lot. I don't think we'll see the likes of Gerrard and Carragher again at the club and some may look back and think they should have cherished them a little more when they were still around.
    Sakho, while looking like a very talented player - probably more talented than Carra but he has a long, long way to go before he can be talked about in the same breath as Jamie for Liverpool

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  133. Sterling confirmed in the BBC interview that he reject £100k.


    The lady asked him why he rejected the £100k and he answered her question.

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  134. Yeah, I realise you weren't having a go.

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  135. See but we know they want to sign young players but we also know that we tried to sign Remy, Sanchez, we signed Lallana all players past their mid twenties. Plus Lambert and Toure, Bellamy and Downing etc in previous seasons.


    Henry said we will never again overpay for players. What did we do with Lallana and he is not a 19 or 20 year old.

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  136. Maybe not but he's far from the only one responsible. So he's identified Konoplyanka and Shaquiri as top targets over more than one transfer window, Markovic was no doubt the back up option. Is there any doubt Shaquiri/Konoplyanka would've made a more instant impact? Not from where I'm sitting but somehow we've lost out to inter when we should simply be able to blow them out the water financially. Is that Rodgers fault? No. I'll not bother listing the dozen or so other top players we've targeted and not been able to close the deal on as it's been well documented.

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  137. In other words a spine to the team !

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  138. There isn't a manager on the planet who doesn't have a say in transfers ! 15 million for Josephine Allen ?

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  139. Ffs Lallana played for Southampton and we paid £25 million how grossly over paying is that?

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  140. We didn't need another number ten ,not a light weight with no pace either .Lovren looked poor during the World Cup ,I was worried about both signings at that point why wasn't Rodgers ? How many players has. Brendan signed and how many has he got right ?

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  141. We don't have a top manager !

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  142. Yup. Gotta love the way he's always sticking it to Arsenal tho

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  143. Neil warnock could be next up ,that would finnish me off.

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