5 May 2015

Transfer Surprise: Chelsea in shock move to sign 'excellent' Liverpool attacker after scouting him at Anfield

After spending most of the season warming the bench at Anfield, and/or failing to consistently put the ball in the back of the net, Rickie Lambert is expected to leave Liverpool this summer, and Chelsea are reportedly keen to bring the Reds' striker to Stamford Bridge.

According to The Mirror on Monday:

* Chelsea are considering a summer move for Rickie Lambert as a possible replacement for Didier Drogba.

* Blues' scouts allegedly watched in action Lambert during Saturday's 2-1 victory over QPR.

Chelsea in for Lambert? It sounds ludicrous, and the 'story' doesn't ring true, for the following reasons:

* Prior to QPR, Lambert hadn't started a Premier League game for almost FIVE months, yet Chelsea allegedly send scouts on the day he just happened to play form the start (!) Sounds like nonsense to me.

* Liverpool play Chelsea this weekend, so why not just wait for that game go Scout Lambert? Why send Scouts halfway across the country when the Blues could just wait another week?

Is Lambert - hailed as 'excellent' by Brendan Rodgers on Saturday - more likely to get game time at Chelsea?

Extremely doubtful, and Lambert goes to Stamford Bridge, it'll just be more of the same: endless bench duty.

I just can't see any reason why Mourinho would want to sign Lambert, who's barely featured for Liverpool since the turn of the year. Stranger things have happened, though, and if Chelsea are genuinely interested, will he go to London?

Lambert has a two-year deal with Liverpool, and warming the bench at Anfield - his boyhood club - is surely more enticing than having to endure hordes of plastic-flag waving wideboys at Stamford Bridge.



On the flip-side, the chance to work with Jose Mourinho may too enticing to turn down, and Lambert will know that if he goes to Stamford Bridge, there's a strong chance that he could end his career with Premier League winner's medal.

I call BS on this one, though.

Author: Jaimie K


99 comments:

  1. It's just a story that some mischeivous so and so from the Chelsea end has put out there to stir the pot before our game.

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  2. I heard they are keen on lacazette which if true they'll get. Plus offering remy as a sweetner would more than likely grease the wheels.
    I hate to admit it but who ever is in charge of recruitment at Chelsea needs a promotion and them sum more.

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  3. How was he in the QPR game? I saw he got an assist, but that's all.

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  4. *respectfully removes hat*

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  5. what's a wideboy?

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  6. Its all to clear as fans we have attachment to some players or managers. Some people cant see any wrong that Stevie does, some cant see any wrong that BR does while some see EVERYTHING wrong in what Stevie or BR do. I think objectively BR has done more bad than THIS season especially his emphasis on playing Balo as a lone striker. (I fear even if we were to get any one among Benzema, Lacazette, Vietto or Higuain [or Shevschenko at his peak] BR will create flops out them by playing them as lone strikers when they are not lone strikers!!!). Then there is BR's insistence on playing "wonderful" Stevie as a CDM!!! and STevie's belief or illusion that he can actually play there. This is what makes some people like me, Glen SB21 et al to contend that BR's claim that there"is no better manager for liverpool right now" appear like what an African dictator says to his oppressed subjects that he is the best that can ever happen to them. Yet we all see how BR fails disamally in the transfer market (over 200mill spent in two seasons and only Studg, Couts and Mignolet are successes). Then when you guys start telling us about last season TODAY its like and African despot telling his subjects that he liberated them from the colonial rule (lack of champions league) and they therefore must be eternally grateful to him and MUST not ever question his tactics, recruitment TODAY even if he is failing so clearly that EVERYONE else except him can see that failure

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  7. Doesn't everyone need more British players in their teams? I can name two at Chelsea.

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  8. Interesting questions you pose there. No manager has won the EPL without first having won another domestic league.


    I think we must therefore loan BR to Scotland or Denmark or South America because it is evident he lacks the cutting edge and skill to win the EPL. Maybe if he wins a league somewhere he will learn how to buy the right players and not force players to "adapt". This season has shown that BR is out his depth at Liverpool, he was very scared of subbing or not playing Stevie. It was evident this season that Stevie was past it. Everytime he played we conceded more and our attack was slow, less fluid and we scored less with him in the side.

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  9. He was because we played better holistically, we defended better and scored well over his one and half seasons

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  10. I heard we are doing a swap with their unsettled striker someone called Diego Costa!

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  11. Without being a dictionary without the tionary and not trying to sour the great names of legends the fact that Liverpo broke transfer records back in the day probably helped in success, the tact Kenny took over a Blackburn side who outspent everyone to win the league probably helped. I could go on with every name and all this is just fact. They had the most expensive teams of the time. Paul Tompkins backs this point up. As for Koeman. He is doing brilliantly but hasn't he been let go at a lot of clubs?

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  12. How many managwrs backed out of even gwtting interviewed? People have short memories. Anyone of note said no instantly.

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  13. Ahh finally someone talking sensible......Seriously some people are in blind love with BR.

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  14. Agree with the second part but not the first.

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  15. A youthful fat man.

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  16. Chelsea would be looking at Sterling or Coutinho me thinks.

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  17. You really think any manager can come in and win the league against teams who have teams hundreds of millions more expensive than ours, who spend hundreds of millions more in wages without matching them in that area? Because Arsenal are beginning to pull away on those areas too. So without matching them (which we won't or can't, take your pick) we have to overcome four more expensive and better played teams. What we are talking about is s perfect season. If it is done then it will be near miraculous. No Ancelloti would attempt it. I would be surprised if Klopp has a go.

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  18. How are Napoli doing in the league?

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  19. 4th.....7 points clear of Florentina (5th place)

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  20. Yes respect to google ;-)

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  21. Wow u have any proof they pulled out?

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  22. And BR will get thrashed by the team that's on top of the table in his league. How many teams in the top four did BR beat this season?Unlike Rafa

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  23. Not great, still have better players than us. Still got a better manager. Might just win a trophy in Europe to help Serie A increase their Co- eff and take a slot from England in the near future.
    We all know how liverpool are doing though.

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  24. Apparently BR fears playing the proven players in the rightful position a la' Balotelli

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  25. spot on David K

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  26. Why buy Lallana when Rakitic was available for 16mill? Why sell Maxi Rodriguez? Trying to defend BR is difficult, its like trying to stop water leaking from broken glass using your bare finger. Why wait till season's end to look for Suarez replacement? Why switch Stevie to CDM instead of buying a proper CDM? Why bring Manquillo when Micah Richards was available? BR is a poor version of Mourinho

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  27. Mr. Point Of View9:31 am, May 05, 2015

    Wrong move come to liverpool and IF he go chelsea is career suicide !

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  28. He's clearly a better manager . The big difference is that BR doesn't have a "B" plan and don't tell me he would have won city away and play out For a draw at anfield

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  29. You forget 20m Lovren (who was supposed to be a LEADER according to BR). Why buy Markovic for 20m and sell Suso for free?

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  30. rotchie the red9:39 am, May 05, 2015

    very good points all round Mike.

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  31. I'm not really trying to defend BR. Just think it's ridiculous when people act like its so simple, go buy world class players. Maybe in a few years when the stadium expansion is finished and LFC continue to increase revenue streams and decrease the wage bill. Then maybe they can pay big wages to world class players. How do you know the didn't contact rakitic's agent and he wasn't interested? Or that he wanted 200k/week? Again I'm not defending him but he is obviously working under strict guidelines from FSG. I don't think he has control of transfers at all.

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  32. Yes i was but not now,.

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  33. I think this might materialize and Jose Mourinho will show BR exactly how to utilize players like Lambert.

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  34. He is a bit injury prone Look what happened the last time we bought a striker from Chelsea!.


    Let them have Lambert for the customary £50M though ;-)

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  35. He finished second last term and should be given more time? Don't get me wrong, Suarez drove us to the title.so, if you're basing your argument the other way, why hasn't he prove everyone wrong from being labeled "one man team" ?? I don't know why people advocating Rodgers to be given another chance..we finished 2nd last season yes, more like a fluke if you ask me

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  36. It's probably a Ladyboy that has gone to seed ;-)

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  37. I find this whole "it was all Suarez" thing funny. How many people were saying the Champions league win was all Gerrard? There is just as much argument for it yet it is not being regurgitated over and over. It wasn't of course as last year wasn't. Truth is for a very long while we have had at least one world class player in the team. Rafa inherited Gerrard and signed a couple, Kenny got Suarez (but by his own admission had little to do with him) but also had Gerrard who's powers were on the wane and was largely injured. Rodgers inherited Suarez. Truth is this season is the first for a long time that we have not had a world class player. We haven't even got a player who has scored ten goals yet we will (likely/hopefully) finish higher in the league than Rafa in his final season and Kenny in his. This season has been poor and a dispointment but yhe lack of objectivity and the amount of revisionism is just daft. If we can improve on Rodgers then I am game but we cannot be in the stupid situation where we sack the manager without someone better ready to come in.

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  38. True we know how Liverpool are doing but the winner is not winning the league despite this better team than us. May not get Champions league despite not having to deal with at least three financial juggernauts. I am a Rafa fan but let's not make out he is Jesus.

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  39. Teams who were in the top four at the time or what? I am not comparing the two mate that is what others are doing. I just think that painting Rafa as this Christ like saviour is sonetjing he would.not be able to live up to in the unlikely event he came back. Napoli's placing in the league is testament to it.

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  40. I dont think anyone is painting Rafa is christ.....but he is obviously better than BR at the moment.

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  41. Is that like a justification fro BR's purchases eg Alberto, Borini, Moreno, Allen, Lovren, Aspas, Kolo syndrome, Lambert?

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  42. rotchie the red10:48 am, May 05, 2015

    It's an easy job for head of recruitment at the chavs, he has a bigger bag of cash to throw at players which makes it all the easier.

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  43. rotchie the red10:50 am, May 05, 2015

    ha ha nice one

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  44. Whether with or without the new stadium BR buys s*@% players if he gets more money he will be bidding 30mill for Ryan Betrand, 50 mill for Clyne, 45mill for Depay, for the likes of Vietto, Laczaette and Adriano he will be bidding 65-70mill. Its not about the money but really just how to use what you have. BR cant use the money given to him because his personal scouting network of at zero efficiency. He "scouted" Borini and Allen for us!!! Where have they taken us?. We need mangers like Rafa who are not novices, whose scouting networks scour the leagues for raw gems like Torres, Alonso not raw gems like Alberto, Allen, Borini

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  45. Mate you cannt win an argument with BR loyalists. No matter what you say they will counter it with some or the other excuses. The fact is its been 3 years we still haven't won a trophy and BR doesnt even know his best formation.

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  46. so if that's true, how on earth did he get 31 goals out of Suarez when Kenny couldnt??

    Its way too easy just to brand people blind loyalists and annoint yourdelf the laragon of reason simply because you disagree isnt it?
    No way do I have any emotional attachment to BR and there are LOTS of faults and issues with him but some things said about him just do not make sense

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  47. "klopp has failed this year and has decided to leave a sinking ship" that is your opinion not fact!

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  48. The reason Suarez couldnt score goals under Kenny was beacuse Caroll was being played as a striker and Suarez was new to PL. Suarez is an exceptional striker top 3 strikers players in the world. Any top 8 team with him as a striker can fight for title.

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  49. Some of the people making stories about Klopp cauz he might probably replace BR.

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  50. Good point, if we have a manager like Tony puils we will never have been in this situation we're currently with Sterling.. Puils recent interview : ON Boaz myhill performance against man u " Goalkeepers, that's what they paid for, to have a game like this now and then" , that says all you need to know. BR is without a doubt a really weak manager

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  51. Off topic, Ojo had a good game, looks more promising than RS at 17, seems to have an end product.

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  52. I think it's Michael Emenalo, I was reading about him the other day. I think he's across b/w Director of Football & scout. Fairly low key career as a pro, but seems to have a good eye for a player. I've also heard of the Lacazette Chelsea link. I agree they will dominate for years to come, unfortunately!

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  53. I would agree but peopleare talking like he would.come back and win the league. I think that is naive.

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  54. What about Kent and Wilson?

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  55. it was a shock when he came to liverpool so anything is possible. Because Chelsea have a solid formation/structure, Lambert would probably make more of an impact than he has at Liverpool

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  56. I agree with Andy, but if there is any truth to it, after the treatment he has recieved this season, I wouldn't hold it against him if he did make the move....

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  57. Easy to say, but the recruitment drive when FFP wasn't in force has set them up brilliantly.. They bought so much young potential, they have a ridiculous number of great young cash cows on loan....If only LFC had that sort of foresight.... I hate them, but it has to be acknowledged as a great policy...

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  58. Both have great potential too.

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  59. A wee bit selfish though, but he's only young.. Played a good second half last night.

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  60. Looking like great wingers we could call on in a couple of years... Also played well lastnight.

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  61. Probably get more playing time aswell.

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  62. Rafa won La Liga with Valencia, but couldn't with LFC.... Not a fool proof plan after all.

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  63. Head, Brick wall... It'll be less painful than talking to the pigheaded I told you so's.....

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  64. You on terms with Ancelotti then? Behave....

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  65. It's funny the way some see things... We have a team struggling with serious injuries to it's most significant players, others struggling to find their form... We lot arguably the best striker in football, period.... and still we managed to make 5th and 2 semi's, and all that with a manager who (according to them) has no clue....The teams above us, are better stocked, have more money, and winning managers at the head..... I would definately suggest, all things considered, and upset subsiding, Brendan has performed somewhat of a miracle... He has kept us infront of every other team while strugling with unrelaible players and immense pressure from the fans and owners.... He maybe young, and still learning his trade, but I think he should be acknowledged for the work he has done... We buy a couple of goal scorers in the summer, and a couple of others, and I think it would be a fair shout to suggest he could lead us back into the CL..... All it takes, is patience.

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  66. Of course, it was all suarez....

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  67. Not to mention the 50 odd goals that magically appeared...

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  68. nonsense....

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  69. Thought I knew you from somewhere!

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  70. Meh, many teens are going to be selfish if they believe they're the best on the team. He will have a sense of responsibility to "carry" the team. Mentality will be different with Ojo if we bring him up to the seniors.

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  71. Chelsea is starting to be in trouble with their home grown quota, but one needs to bear in mind that HG players doesn't need to be British; they need to have experienced three years of footballing in England or Wales prior to their 21st birthday (if my memory serves me correctly). Hence, Fabregas also fits into this quota. Also, they have youngsters growing to become HG players such as Aké even though he is Dutch.


    Adding some British talent to their squad would still though make sense and Lambert would fit into that bill. Also, I would be surprised if they would not sell Cech in the summer and acquire some established British veteran such as Green or Foster as a backup keeper.

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  72. Exactly. Last season was almost the 'perfect season' for us when everything fell into place. We had the top 2 goalscorers in the league (Suarez on fire, Sturridge having a full-ish season by his standards), Skrtel was top scoring defender in the league (maybe even all European leagues), Sterling was so impactful when introduced for second half of the season), no European distractions, early exits from domestic cups, Man Utd having a nightmare, Chelsea blowing in against the lesser teams (Sunderland, Villa, Palace).

    AND we still didn't win the league. So totally agreed. To get ahead of 1-2 of the Top 4 is difficult, but getting ahead of all 4 in one season is a major challenge. And we almost pulled it off.

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  73. Agreed.

    Some people are basically saying that Suarez carried us to 2nd last season and dont mention Rodgers at all. But then convienently say that it was Rodgers fault that we threw it away against Chelsea/Palace at the end of the season (no blame on Suarez for having an off-day against Chelsea).

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  74. I have my doubts on Klopp. Rafa seems to me as a best choice.

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  75. Bruce buddy you're blinded here, think about your points, Barca bought Rakitic for that much yes, but it is also Barca, as soon as they're in there's pretty much no other team in the world that has a chance, you get to live in sunny Spain and play with the best player in the world and arguably ever, at the peak of his ability not to mention the fact that there's also Neymar Xavi Iniesta Masch Pique Alves, it's a team that has been unquestionably in the top three best teams in the world for the last decade, they're going to win titles and with a lot of style too. Maxi is another ridiculous point, I loved the little fella but he was the same as Kuyt and Bellers as well, old. again old. way past the prime on to much money couldn't produce the goods any where near consistently and had lost all pace. To think that we weren't even looking for a Suarez replacement until the end of the window is just daft, we've been looking since the previous summer with Costa, alas the straight replacement wasn't and still isn't going to happen, we went with a different strategy, supplement with spreading the goals among the team specifically with our midfielders, hasn't quite worked yet, yes but be patient remember where the second youngest squad in the league, and that's with probably at least 5 30 year old's leaving this summer, Stevie Glen Kolo Rickie and Brad. Gerrard to CDM last year was a stroke of tactical genius, do you realize he scored his second highest goals total in a single league season, and at that position no other cdm came anywhere close, not to mention he led the league in assists as well, Steven dictated our entire play last season, and did it brilliant. MIcah Richards?? he's been riding the pine for years because he's been unable to take the next step his potential showed, classic English youth, there's a reason he hasn't played a lot, Manquillo is a young player who showed promise and we brought in only on loan non the less, he's third choice to see how he develops, Flanno and glen are clearly first, very unfortunate that Flanno has lost this entire year through injury. If you really believe that Torres was a rough diamond also shows your blinded, remember Manchester where trying to get him the previous summer but he wanted to stay as an Atletico local boy as their captain, was he great yes, Sturridge is the fastest forward to score 50 goals for us ever faster than Keegan Rush Fowler Owen Torres Suarez, that's a record that unequivocally states he's a better buy than Torres and he was cheaper and couldn't get a game at Chelsea not the captain of his club, who's a rougher gem? Alonso is one of my favorite players ever, but to state a 20 million player is a rougher diamond then Coutinho again is daft.

    I fully respect your questioning of the manager it's very healthy for the club if we don't do it then we get to where Manchester is now trying to fix a very broken ship Ferguson left. Who btw isn't debatable the best manager the PL has seen... it took him seven, SEVEN YEARS to win the league

    Last note Suso. oh Suso, so more potential, but four different Liverpool managers don't see enough commitment or something to give him a steady run of games and now in a terrible mid table AC Milan he can't even get a minute again.. That tells you all you need to know.

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  76. If he was at Chelsea this season he would've gotten his fare share of minutes and would've scored his fare share of goals.


    Rickie Lambert is more than a tall guy. He has great shot, pass, good tehnique and understands football way better than some attackers. What we should do vs chelski is start him and tell him to stay in the final third, with Lalana and others buzzing around. He gives us an option to kick the ball out as he can head it in the right direction or at least he'll have two players on him that won't be able to kick it out the way they should which makes our chances of getting that ball. With him in the box and say Can/Hendo running in, our wide players will have more space and an option to cross. He should start and be subbed at the hour mark.

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  77. We spend the 5th most on wages in the league.


    Hence, while people may be disappointed with finishing 5th, no one should really be surprised.

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  78. I would. My girlfriend broke up with me, I'm still not sleeping with that girl next door she hates if I really loved my girl. And this is bit more serious matter...

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  79. There's a difference between being a loyalist, and being able to see both sides of an argument.


    Rodgers certainly has achievements to go along with his shortcomings. The problem is his achievements don't include any trophies.

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  80. What got caught in moderation, sleeping?

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  81. I liked that Kent kid from some long highlights I've seen so far.. Where do you watch youth games?

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  82. oh there are many who have blind loyalty to BR. And the funny thing is he hasnt won ANYTHING for the brainwashing tht has happened to them. For them there is no one better than BR. Lord have mercy

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  83. Key passes, shots, headers, pulling off two defenders- exactly what he is supposed to do. Has a bit too much drive sometimes which caused him for example to block one ball to goal kick when Hendo was on top of it and would've been a throw in for us, but can you blame him... Also he drops deep too much for my liking(probably instructions or that eagerness again) which is all right vs 'smaller teams where we can keep posession but if he is to play chelski we need him further up the pitch more often.

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  84. Exactly mate.bit took City scoring more goals and breaking records but they got in there ahead of us. So even almost everything falling in to place it was just not quite.

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  85. I am not sure of the details of it but don't they need so many home grown and so many British?

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  86. I would. My girlfriend broke up with me, I'm still not sleeping with that girl next door she h at es if I really loved my girl. And this is bit more serious matter...

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  87. I completely agree with the fact that our scouting network has failed.. to a degree of course as our academy seems to be bursting at the seems with kids from all around the world waiting for the chance, I understand this means nothing until this happens though, I do completely agree that it is baffling that it seems our scouting network is completely unable to find these great foreign players for cheap like your porto's and Ajax. I like the idea of a committee but ours is failing, as I think we have to many analytic men and not footballing men, such as Kenny and even Carragher, who I would prefer to be on the committee along with 1-2 stats men.


    Rakitic may have been talking up a move to us, but my honest feelings is I tend not to believe 90% of what any modern player says, especially during silly season, I mean

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  88. I've cut and pasted below a request I made to JK a few days ago. Not heard back - so he must be busy I guess....

    JK - Please can I make a suggestion regarding your mechanism to filter posts. I understand you need to maintain decorum, but equally I find it quite frustrating when innocuous posts get pulled up, only for you to OK them shortly thereafter.

    Therefore, could you look to consider a system whereby you allow all posts initially, until such time
    as a poster is pulled up for something. Then that poster is put on the"dodgy" list, in which case all their posts must go through your current filtering process.

    Now the downside is you may get one or two who abuse the privilege, but at least you start with the assumption that the majority of posters mean well and want to debate, even if others may not agree with their opinion.

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  89. Get him in. I say.

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  90. Why would they share their fare?

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  91. Basically under current rules players "schooled to football" in Scotland or Northern Ireland do not count as HG players even though they are British. Players need to have played 3 years of football in either England or Wales based clubs before their 21st birthday.

    Each EPL team needs to have no more than 17 players older than 21 y.o. that are not HG. So technically each team should have 8 HG players in their 25 man EPL squad. However, U21 players do not count the HG quota. Therefore, EPL teams can technically account less than 25 players to their EPL squad and fill in if needed with U21 players.


    E.g. Chelsea has 15 non-HG players, 3 HG players (Cahill, Fabregas & Terry) and basically 7 U21 fillers. Although, you can hardly call Zouma just a filler.

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  92. Stan Dinaround5:38 pm, May 05, 2015

    I caught lastnights on BTSport, live.... I'm sure they have a few over the season, but they also play them on LFCTV... Which if you don't happen to live in the UK will probably work out cheaper..... Don't forget sites like firstrowsports.eu/cricfree.tv.drakulastream.eu...... Also Sopcast.org is a great way to stream games you can't get any other way, better quality too...

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  93. Stan Dinaround5:44 pm, May 05, 2015

    I think so too.... Looking forward to the day he makes the step up...Shouldn't be too long.

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  94. Because there is a bear?

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  95. Cheers. Zouma can be classed as filler as he fills a lift on his own.

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  96. Sorry, buddy. That's rough.

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  97. Or just their next opponents...

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