12 May 2015

Done Deal: £9m Liverpool star confirms Anfield exit 'this summer'. Reveals 'option-to-buy' in contract

On-loan Liverpool striker Iago Aspas has confirmed that he will be leaving Anfield on a permanent deal this summer.

Discussing his future today, 27-year old Aspas - who cost Liverpool £9m in the summer of 2013 - told ESPN:

"I am a Sevilla player for next season. It is an open secret that everyone knew. The transfer [fee] is to be paid this summer. I came here on a loan deal with an obligatory option to buy. I am going to stay here for some years at Sevilla".

As I argued at the time of Aspas's £9m signing - and continue to argue to this day - Brendan Rodgers erred in signing an older, experienced striker as back-up for Suarez and Sturridge.

Aspas (by his own admission) expected to play regularly, and when that didn't happen, he (understandably) became frustrated and demotivated.

Liverpool should've signed a young, hungry, inexperienced striker in the 18-21 range; someone happy to play a reduced role, whilst learning from Suarez and Sturridge throughout the season.

If Rodgers had gone that route, Liverpool would (probably) have a developing asset on its hands right now, rather than yet another transfer failure.

Basically, it's Fabio Borini all over again.

* Like Borini, Aspas is ostensibly a striker, who is most effective playing high up the field in a more central role.

* Prior to joining Liverpool, Borini proved that if you play him as a striker, he will score goals (6 goals in 9 games for Swansea during his loan spell)

* In his first season at LFC, Rodgers constantly played Borini out of position, which predictably led to ineffective performances.

* When Borini didn't perform whilst playing out of position, he became a bit-part player for the club.

* Borini then left Liverpool on loan, and like Aspas, did comparatively well for his adopted club.

Aspas' has followed the exact same trajectory at Liverpool, but unlike Borini, the Spaniard is eager to leave, and who can blame him?

To be fair, Aspas is doing okay in Spain (12 goals/assists in 24 games), and after his decent form for Sevilla, the Reds may end up breaking-even on the deal.

All's well that ends well, but I still can't comprehend why Rodgers signed Aspas and Luis Alberto. For some inexplicable reason, he decided that £16m on those two was a better deal than £11m on Christian Eriksen.

That just about sums up Liverpool's disastrous transfer performance during Rodgers' reign.

Author: Jaimie K



95 comments:

  1. voice of reason5:37 pm, May 12, 2015

    under BR we could buy a CF and play him as CB so theres still hope rickie

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  2. Would you allow B R to buy again ??? All his forwards have been Duds apart from Sick Note

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  3. We never really gave him the chance to e end fail. Total waste of both parties time, as well as money.

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  4. I bet we haven't got anything like the £9m we paid for him, think we'd of been lucky to get half that.

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  5. Mike Aitcheson5:49 pm, May 12, 2015

    Enough already. Aspas will effectively cancel out his fee with £5m back and a year's wages saved.
    We need to see what we need going forward. Especially who the CF will be. Any ideas? Realistic ones I mean

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  6. Mike Aitcheson5:53 pm, May 12, 2015

    A moot point, since it seems that despite Logan's certainty, Rodgers will get at least till Xmas . Losing faith in his and the TC's ability, this will be their last chance to get it right before it it falls apart

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  7. Mike Aitcheson5:54 pm, May 12, 2015

    £5m is the mandatory price

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  8. You sure about that? Logan won't like it..

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  9. I reckon any of Mitrovic, Alcacer,

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  10. "If Rodgers had gone that route, Liverpool would (probably) have a developing asset on its hands right now, rather than yet another transfer failure."



    There is literally nothing to back up this particular claim.


    He hasn't shown an ability to buy a young prospect and develop him into a first team player.


    All the young players that have been promoted to first team since Rodgers' arrival were here already.

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  11. voice of reason5:57 pm, May 12, 2015

    aubameyang, pedro (could be a striker) or lacazzete these players fit the style of football we're playing right.... those are the two most logical buys atm... cheeky bids i'd go for mateo destro (like the look of the guy) or muller (seeing as he fell out with pep guardiola recently)...

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  12. buying a young prospect and developing him into a first team player takes time? Makovic will be one of those, and Can already is. Sakho?

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  13. Still can't get over Mandzukic by the way- he gives the team someone to cross to and has great work rate..

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  14. It's not to say he can't.


    He simply hasn't (at least yet)

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  15. voice of reason6:03 pm, May 12, 2015

    i like mandzukic but we've seen with this LFC team give us a target man (carrol, lambert) and eventually we'll start blasting long hopeful balls upfield or into the box... that style of football disgusts me... but mandzukic is a quality player i liked llorente too at a point in time

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  16. Noting disgusting about crosses for me. And when Lambert played he actually assisted with the foot, and moved very well. And Mandzukic is younger quicker and better with the ball in his feet. Think many people are just fed up with some English teams' tactics so now they can't stand a CB kicking it far out or crossing the ball ocassionally- both things absolutely normal and effective..

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  17. Mike Aitcheson6:10 pm, May 12, 2015

    That appears to be right. Logan doesn't like anything

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  18. Did you watch Barca- Bayern? Two best teams of today, both crossing and kicking the ball out more than we do..

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  19. I think that's a mistake they should either let him go now or wait until next season. I am totally opposed to changing managers in mid season. It's seldom good unless you are in a relegation battle

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  20. In his quest to make everything gloomy he couldn't accept we can get mill for the players we will sell this summer, I am sure we can.. SSpeaking of selling, would you sell Sterling for 40?

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  21. I agree what's done is done but it has cost and we will probably not be told how much we actually get back

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  22. I am still waiting to see the match don't tell me the result;-)

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  23. Can and Sakho were already featured in very good teams.


    Sakho was at one point the captain at PSG.


    And Can was a regular for Leverkusen that was thought of relatively highly by Bayern Munich (hence the buy back clause they initially put in his contract)

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  24. I think that is what they will do I cannot see a change mid season barring a complete meltdown which hopefully won't happen

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  25. voice of reason6:21 pm, May 12, 2015

    that was today oh no... i'm a post grad student in exams season in my country so my time is limited these days... i also have a hard time watching barca games seeing suarez in a different kit still pains me... i'll look at some of the stats and highlights though but i get your point

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  26. Noooooooo!! say it isn't true. Right, www-epetitionbringback-aspas, gutted the best taker of a corner there ever was.

    Liverpool should've signed a young, hungry, inexperienced striker in the 18-22 range; someone happy to play a reduced role, whilst learning from Lacazette and Sturridge throughout the season,
    welcome to Anfield Danny.

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  27. When JK states "the manager decided that £16m on those two (Aspas/Alberto) was a better deal than £11m on Christian Eriksen" is one of the understatements from the transfer window 2 seasons ago.

    If taking this analysis slightly further, if we had bought Eriksen (saving £5m in that transfer window) I doubt very much very we would have needed to buy Lallana - thus saving a further £25m in the last transfer window.

    If you then add the Mario money, there was a potential £50m kitty to spend on top top striker to replace Suarez - a big opportunity missed I would suggest.

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  28. voice of reason6:23 pm, May 12, 2015

    fair point maybe other leagues do it much better than us (example the ball from thiago illori to the striker last season was beautiful) EPL teams kind of over the long ball play at times (hoofunited, stoke, hull city, west brom, etc) but i get your point i just dont want our club to fall under that category

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  29. No - but that answer means moving BR on.

    Otherwise the answer is Yes - in which case FSG are keeping faith in BR. I'd just hate for this route to go sour by Xmas, which will put us a lot further behind the curve than making the change now.

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  30. Agree with all that mid-season change is NOT good and generally would never suggest we undertake this option.

    But the fear is BR has a history of a poor 1st half season with recovery in the 2nd half. So if history were to repeat, it would really take strong leadership to retain BR as a manager when LFC may be in melt down by Xmas.

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  31. Especially not when Aspas takes them, things of beauty.

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  32. It is today in an hour and a quarter I assume Orme is referring to the first leg and I was pulling his

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  33. He cost us the title....

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  34. I could see a mid-season change if the owners got itchy feet re: Klopp.

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  35. One of the best things Roy Evans teams used to do was get a 2 to 1 overlap over the defending full back, thus allowing lots of crosses (both ariel and on the floor) resulting in chances and goals scored - and not necessarily requiring a 6'6'' giant striker.

    Fowler thrived off that service.

    The current team is AWFUL at putting in decent crosses into the box, mainly because there is no one in the box to tap/head in the chances.

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  36. Klopp may NOT be available mid-season !!!

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  37. Not really a Rodgers thing though. All managers do it. Rafa turned Kuyt into a winger. van Gaal played Di Maria up front during this season and Rooney in the middle.

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  38. I'm finding it hard to believe final chance will make any difference, just like balo, he was told by the whole world that this is his final chance and what happened? To make it cut Brendan must leave at all costs!

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  39. What? If Aspas goes, I go! This is the last straw!!!

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  40. Beat me to it. They will really kop a lot of stick if that scenario pans out. I must admit even being pro BR at the moment I'll be tearing my hair out if we get off to another poor start.
    He absolutely MUST show improvement in several areas; transfers, PR and 'starts to the season' being the main ones I think.

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  41. Groats, buttons, beads or camels?

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  42. voice of reason6:40 pm, May 12, 2015

    oh ok sadly i have an exam tomorrow so dont want to much distractions but oh man that game would be a spectacle to watch

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  43. Yeah Eriksen has really taken Spurs to the next level.

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  44. Did he admit to being demotivated? If so that is very unprofessional. If not, perhaps we shouldn't speculate on peoples states of mind and stick to what they say.

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  45. voice of reason6:42 pm, May 12, 2015

    the number of players he's done it to though Glen Johnson, Steven Gerrard, Joe Allen (at times Joe played CAM), Coutinho, Emre Can, Flannagan this is a more than one off thing if i can recall Aspas and all played on the wing i'm not a 100 percent sure but i think i do recall that oh and Borini and Sahin played out of position

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  46. Transfer fee?

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  47. Don't you try and take that away from BR.

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  48. I am not convinced Eriksen would have been a great signing. Where are Spurs and they have Kane.....

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  49. Based on the players we are linked with, I don't expect improvements in the transfer Area. but I would be more than happy if I am wrong.

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  50. Many a true word........;-/

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  51. He played Mignolet in goal too

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  52. Borini played as a wide forward for Roma and played as one for Sunderland after us, so that isn't weird.

    Gerrard has already played every position bar goalkeeper before Rodgers came in, so nothing odd there either.

    Coutinho mostly played wide for Inter, so Rodgers has moved him into a more natural position if anything by playing him centrally more often.

    Emre Can played left-back at times for Leverkusen last season and plays centre-half for Germany's u-21s.

    Pretty sure Flanno had played left-back under Kenny (though playing on either side or a wing-back for a right full-back isn't a massive stretch). Glen Johnson had played all across the back line before Rodgers too.

    Joe Allen basically owes the large part of his career to Rodgers, so I trust him to know his strengths.

    Sahin was definitely played out of position, but looked absolutely miles off the pace for us, so I think that was only a contributory factor in his failure. Rodgers gave him a go deeper at first and moved him forward because he wasn't keeping up with play.

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  53. Worse still, he played Brad Jones there...

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  54. Carrick played as a defender for Fergie, Valencia as a fullback. Like you say all do it.

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  55. Played Allen slightly more forward and Gerrard slightly further back. Neither "out of possession". Can has played full back and centre back before coming to Liverpool and he was quite good at CB. Flannel did well at LB and Coutinho has done well in every position he has played in. If the argument is they are "out of position" it is not exactly a good one of they have played that position at different clubs and for different managers and done well.

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  56. Now you're just getting silly;-)

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  57. Both those players have more goals and assists than any of ours and yet they are behind us. So without any player getting double digits in goals we are still.comfortably fifth. It's been an odd season.

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  58. So what happens if he fails on 1, 2 or all three things????

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  59. Was there a loan fee?

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  60. Rohan Anderson7:43 pm, May 12, 2015

    Out
    Borini 4-10 M
    Glen Johnson-Free
    Lambert-2M
    Coates-1M
    Aspas 4-6M
    Balo-7-10M
    Gerrard-180k off wage bill
    Enrique-2-3M
    Potential of around 18m income there from dead wood. + around a 60M outlay.
    Ideally-
    Lacazette-25M
    Ntep-7M
    Son-15M
    Kondogbia-12M
    Montoya-7M
    Neto-2-3M
    Ings-
    Would be incredible.
    Realistic
    Delph-25M
    Bolasie-18M
    Ings-
    Clyne-25M

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  61. All three, off with his head...
    If we don't have a better transfer window this summer I think we simply don't make top four and something needs to change, if it's proved to be largely Brendan's fault then he should go, likewise any other party at fault.
    PR, he has nowhere to hide, that is directly attributable to him, although I haven't found it as grating as some, there's certainly room for improvement.
    Start to the season, I'm not going to make excuses for him; as above everything being only my own opinion - I want to see the team really hit the ground running and a very clear sign that he's settled on a formation/s and a first eleven and if things don't go as planned then him being lot quicker (and maybe less stubborn) to change, adapt and find a winning way.
    I'm probably only behind you by one season, or maybe only a half. For me he deserves this window, with a reasonable amount of funds but the ice he's on is immeasurably thin.

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  62. Not even joking.... -__-

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  63. I'd be telling porkies if I said I was overly confident, history suggests that we will have another window of disappointment, although it should be said that goes back way past Brendan's time.

    FSG must surely see the need now for some real quality in our signings and as much as I'm happy for Ings to come in I will be really peeved if we don't get at least a 'marquee' striker to boot.

    I will give them the benefit of the doubt and remain hopeful in the extreme for the moment though.

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  64. Stan Dinaround8:05 pm, May 12, 2015

    12 goals in 24 games, but 6 of those goals came against the Spanish equivilent of Accrington Stanley in 2 games.... So his record should be writen as 6 goals in 22 games, which asctually doesn't sound all that respectable now....

    I can't help but feel that you are just searching for ways to do Brendan down...

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  65. Nathan Brookes8:06 pm, May 12, 2015

    He cost €9 million, at the exchange rate at the time equating to £7.7 million, not £9 million. Professional journalism..

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  66. Stan Dinaround8:06 pm, May 12, 2015

    Naughty naughty.. 3 game ban for you if your not careful...

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  67. Even I have been known to make a mistake. It was several years ago now though

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  68. Stan Dinaround8:12 pm, May 12, 2015

    Now here's a man singing my tune... I reckon Paco Alcacer would be an awesome signing, and I remeber Brendan already tried to buy Mitrovic last summer for €/£ 13m but Anderlecht flat out refused to do business.... Maybe now they would be a little more accomodating... But I like both, even though they are similar players.. Pick one, and find another fast free flowing striker that can roam while Paco or Mitrovic acts as the target man...

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  69. Stan Dinaround8:17 pm, May 12, 2015

    Crosses are the bread and butter of quality counter attack football... Like the slide tackle, crossing the ball well is an art form...

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  70. I made a mistake once. I thought I was wrong but I wasn't.

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  71. Stan Dinaround8:20 pm, May 12, 2015

    Don't forget that phantom offside for Sterling aginst City.... That definately cost us... What was that linesman's name, I forgot to send him a parcel...

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  72. Stan Dinaround8:22 pm, May 12, 2015

    Never a more apt prophetic comment... Suarez has nailed 2 already for Neymar to score from... "outstanding" things of "Beauty"

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  73. You were trying to fit square pegs into round holes, thought it couldn't be done but then found a way.

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  74. Stan Dinaround8:24 pm, May 12, 2015

    Got to appreciate class even when it's playing for someone else... Thats the Liverpool way my friend....

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  75. Stan Dinaround8:30 pm, May 12, 2015

    I've heard it said that FSG have tried to sack BR 3 times already, before now, only to be talked out of it by ex pro's still affiliated with the club....I would say, he is most definately skating on thin ice...

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  76. Stan Dinaround8:32 pm, May 12, 2015

    All we can do my good man is stay strong and keep on supporting till the day comes we don't have to support him no longer.

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  77. It's more fundamental than who plays where or what the system is. It's movement and forward thinking.
    At the moment we get the ball back and just STOP, stop playing, pass the ball to anyone behind or next to you.

    Next, it's time to move up field, every opposition player is back in position, our forward players are not moving, forcing anyone in possession to hold the ball too long or try to beat three defenders. ( I think this is why BR likes players like Ibe etc, because he can't work out how to get space and hopes the player will do something magical, just watch the rest of the top 3 Brendan, they are at our 18 yard line in 2 or 3 passes, 2 or 3 seconds).

    Creating space, to create goal scoring opportunities is now very difficult, there are 11 players in front of you, and as we have seen recently, creating opportunities, almost impossible.

    Pass and bloody move, pass quickly, pass forward and bloody move, give the guy with the ball an option.

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  78. Yes very odd because with our tinted glasses it's been poor but then you look at Spurs...

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  79. I saw Aspas live at Anfeild against Hull and he was terrible. He fell over every time the wind blew. I agree we let Erikson slip through our fingers. Poor, he would of added to a promising midfield....

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  80. Love that edit button.

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  81. I've said myself that I think Rodgers greatest failure is that we don't have a coherent footballing identity. In 3 years we've just seemed to stumble from one idea to the next. This is why I'm massively gung-ho on sacking Rodgers, but would go for Klopp if he was available.

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  82. voice of reason10:01 pm, May 12, 2015

    coutinho has proved he is useless on the wing, so to did allen further forward (and in general imo), gerrard has been picked apart as a deep mid, Can has been targeted by some teams due to being out of position this season leading unfortunately to some goals conceded and flannagan i must agree with u even though he has been out of position scafu cannot fail.... that said if this out of position was such a masterstroke as some of you make it out to be why is it that we're out of the CL for next season?

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  83. voice of reason10:04 pm, May 12, 2015

    i give props to migs he has turned it around and i am happy for the guy as u can see he generally cares and is passionate about the club those are the players i want in our club not $ter£ing

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  84. voice of reason10:05 pm, May 12, 2015

    i get u but still it'll take a while for me to get accustomed to it

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  85. Yeah, not easy to see what our club honed turning it on for someone else...

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  86. voice of reason11:01 pm, May 12, 2015

    xabi, masch, suarez all in one game ohh the feels

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  87. Then who would JK have to call a mercenary?




    That depends on our transfers in this summer. All the talk of Ibe this season, the lad has not kept up his great start recently, only to be expected of course, but still...

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  88. If we had paid 10 mill or whatewer for Erikson its very doubtful we would have handed over 25 mill for Lallana i know which i would prefer.

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  89. JK,

    I agree with the post all the way. By the way, 16m for these two mugs, Albertoand Aspas,is the the same price paid for Ivan Rakitic which plain CRIMINAL! How the fu&k is that possible or sensible???.

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  90. Exactly. I am glad someone remembers how weak and lost and flimsy he was. Let us not forget is mind-numbing corner kick as well. He, Alberto, and Allen all cost too much money and all suck. Morale of the story? Never sign another guy whose last name starts with "A"!!!!!!!!!

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  91. He played well for Sevilla the other night. Unlucky not to get an assist. Good fortune to him.

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  92. Big yes to Mandzukic and Alcacer.

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