8 Jun 2015

Done Deal #3? After Milner/Ings, Liverpool close to signing 'outstanding' international star

The search for a new goalkeeper continues, and the latest 'stopper on Liverpool's transfer wishlist appears to be 'outstanding' Bolton 'keeper Adam Bogdan.

According to the Liverpool Echo over the weekend:

"Liverpool are keen on signing Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Adam Bogdan. The Hungarian is out of contract this summer, and the Reds are keen to bring the 27-year-old to Anfield as backup to first choice Simon Mignolet"

The Daily Mail also claims that Liverpool are 'close to signing' Bogdan.

Liverpool desperately need a new goalkeeper, but the bold section above is a major cause for concern. A 'backup' to Simon Mignolet isn't going to cut it; the Reds need someone who can relegate Mignolet to the bench on a regular basis.

The Belgian should've been replaced last summer, but the manager failed to act, and it cost Liverpool dearly during the first half of the season.

Yes, Mignolet improved for a spell during the second part of the season, but by then, the damage was already done, and Liverpool were playing catch-up.

Mignolet then reverted to type in the latter stages of the recent trainwreck of a campaign, and conceded 20 goals in the final 11 games of the season.

Going into next season with Mignolet as the club's undisputed, unchallenged number-one is (IMO) a recipe for disaster, and (arguably) managerial negligence.

Can he be relied-upon to produce consistently imperious form? Would you put your mortgage on the Mignolet consistently producing excellent performances for an entire season?

I wouldn't, and in my view, it's a major risk for Rodgers to put his faith in Mignolet next year.

Rodgers recently made the ludicrous claim that Liverpool can challenge for the title in 2015-16, but what happens if Mignolet has another dodgy spell in the first half of next season? With the increased (self-imposed) expectations, it could cost Rodgers his job.



Ruthless objectivity is required in the transfer market this summer. It's great the Mignolet has stepped up, but Liverpool can't rely on that; the Reds need to bring in a goalkeeper who is capable of ousting him and becoming the club's number one, and in my view, Bogdan 'aint it.

The Hungarian is not even first-choice for Bolton, and has spent most of the season as understudy to Andy Lonergan. With that in mind, how is Bogdan a serious challenger to Mignolet?

Liverpool might as well just keep Brad Jones.

Milner, Ings, and Bogdan? This transfer window is shaping up to be even worse that last summer's travesty.

Yes, I'm repeatedly pouring scorn on Liverpool's transfer business, and I'll continue do so until the Reds stop the downward slide into transfer mediocrity.

Author: Jaimie K


71 comments:

  1. If they're saving up their money for a top striker and a top DM, then I'm fine with it.
    If it's a sign of the level we've sunk to, then ...

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  2. Personally think this is a non-story. Just a rumor made up by the press... at least I sincerely hope so.


    On an unrelated note, I just watched Nigeria and Sweden women lock horns. Really impressed by Asisat Oshoala. Looked her up to check her club... Liverpool Ladies playing well, even internationally!

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  3. And who would you like in?

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  4. Thanks for that. Brilliant insight. Nobody thought of that.

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  5. anyone but rodgers.... rodgers OUT!!

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  6. John Carver it is then!

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  7. mignolet has regained his form and coming down to the end of the season the goals he conceded was not down to him it was down to our team tactics getting found out and this LFC team being torn apart in the last few games

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  8. Still in denial eh? Must have missed the memo...
    perhaps you can cut and paste it to every post

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  9. If ever there was an inappropriate name....

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  10. I agree, he has upped his game considerably, and Bogdan was injured thats how he lost his place at Bolton, still No 1 for his Country, I reckon International Keepers are a good bet.

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  11. Still nearly punched the ball into his own net. Good work down the tube?

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  12. Mignolet has improved immensely, and I would be fine with him keeping the #1 slot for now. But we still need someone to keep him at his best. If Bogdan can do that, then fine. But personally I'd want to get someone a little closer to Miggy's level, preferably with higher upside.

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  13. Yep - the transfers so far do not bode well for the future.

    Bizarre that we could find 150k a week for a Milner, yet lowball our only decent defender Skrtel.

    Ings, adds little that wasn't already there and Bogdan - now it's getting a little embarrassing.

    I was willing to give Rodgers the benefit of the doubt following that mauling by Stoke but I find myself increasingly less optimistic about the season ahead.

    As for Migs, he was terrible for much of last season, his mistakes in first few months alone cost us 4th, nevermind 5th.

    Combine that with other physically feeble and / or error prone players like Lovren, Allen, etc and games like the semi-final against Villa or Stoke will become common.

    The current team has weakest spine of any Liverpool side I've seen during my lifetime (born in 79).

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  14. Can't wait for another "outstanding" season under Brendan Rodgers......

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  15. Name a player that has never made a mistake, and I will send you the deeds to my house.

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  16. Tbf he set himself up.

    Why he felt the need to even mention Spurs' spending the season before, knowing that soon enough he'd have to spend the Suarez money, it was just an amateurish, small club man move.

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  17. I was referring to his new found confidence, which seemed to go awol after that mistake.

    Oh, and Logan NEVER made a mistake. Ask him.
    I'll just pm you my address

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  18. You note the transfers so far, but keep in mind the window hasn't even opened yet. The only deals we can do are for free agents, and Milner and Ings are two of the best freebies out there right now. For all we know, Kovacic and Tevez are verbal done deals (probably not, but hey, it's possible) Perhaps Milner shouldn't be on 150K a week, but with Stevie and Glenno out the door, I think we could do it for a short contract. Especially since his transfer didn't cost us anything out of pocket.

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  19. C'mon Johnny, we've all seen Logan's game film...

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  20. Oh Logan, who said BR will be gone at the end of the season.

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  21. Definately agree that we need a new, better keeper to come in than Bogdan. Think it will be hard though to find any keeper that consistently produces excellent performances throughout the season, they are rare and expensive

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  22. LFC fans can only hope and pray all goes well next season,but with B.R in charge again it's not looking good.There needs to be some seriously good signings for LFC this transfer,because the other top 4 sides are making those serious signings happen.All is not lost yet,but as soon as the cracks start to appear in B.R coaching abilities again,get rid of him.YNWA

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  23. Tevez would have been fantastic a year or two back, but at 31, with high salary demands and a bad track record when comes to injuries - the fact that FSG are even targeting him has me worried.

    It's a much easier task to lead the line in Italy at 31, even more if you're leading the line for a team that is head and shoulders above the rest.

    Targeting Tevez smacks of Rodgers / FSG just looking for a short-term option to placate fans for a reasonably cheap transfer fee.

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  24. exactly i dont agree with this bogdan guy i would have preferred matthew ryan

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  25. Still hasn't admitted it. Says the fat lady hasn't sung
    No mortgage? Now you're just showing off :-)

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  26. no no no.... but i get you maybe the anyone was a bit extreme

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  27. soooo u believe rodgers is the one to bring LFC back to Europes top elite

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  28. 20 league goals, 27 all told. 7 additional assists. Still scares defenders with all action, direct style. Only a year older than Ronaldo

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  29. It was just a hypothetical. But my point stands... the window is closed. They only "buys" that can be official are free transfers, and Milner and Ings were at the top of the market.

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  30. Matty Ryan, Rui Patricio, Keylor Navas, and Timo Horn would all be great targets. There are other non-linked goalies that would be good too, like say Muslera, Diego Alves, or any of those Germans...

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  31. I personally believe the most likely scenario is that he's keeping the seat warm for Klopp/Ancelotti.
    But keep saying it if it helps.
    Rodgers is nowhere near as bad as some are making out though, I will say that.
    (Apart from his press conferences, and his infuriating use of the word 'outstanding')

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  32. OK, maybe not entirely inappropriate ;-)

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  33. great minds...

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  34. Klopp, Ancelotti, De Boer, Jorge Jesus, among others would be good targets. But until they're available, we're better off just sticking with BR.


    Not to mention we literally have no interim at the club right now. Pascoe and Marsh were second and third "in command" were they not? We'd probably end up having to re-re-instate Kenny... Do you really want to break his heart AGAIN when he's replaced ;)

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  35. ... fart together?

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  36. Mmmmmm.... Nainggolan is someone I crave right now...

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  37. Only two of those would be real upgrades tbf. Good point about P and M
    Love to see Pako and Sami there

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  38. Absolutely.
    Tackles like Masch. runs forward better than Can. Scores goals. Just the type of player we have needed since 09/10

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  39. Same. And with Ayre rumoured out and Nicola Cortese and Monchi replacing him.... ooo that would be a sick backroom.

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  40. He's as good as we can get for now. The likes of Lacazette, will go to CL teams.
    hell, even Benteke says he'd turn us down, cheeky git. 13 and 11 goals in his last two seasons, now suddenly he's Drogba?

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  41. except there's no chance he'd come to liverpool, he's a starter for Roma whose in champion's league (with a manager who learn from his mistakes) and after missing out on the world cup he won't take the risk of losing his place in the belgian team a year away from the Euro.

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  42. Let's get both

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  43. i saw Germany destroy Ivory cost and we could use some of them in our men first XI

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  44. How about this; The window didn't even start and we already have an experienced midfielder, two promising strikers and and a back up keeper?

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  45. Yes but it's the targets.

    They're only targets and BR has a terrible track record.

    I hope you're right, but I suspect you won't be.

    And I think my point still stands about the spine of the team.

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  46. that comment reminds me of that taco add... hope u know what i'm talking about

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  47. voice of reason1:00 am, June 09, 2015

    sigh i'm hoping for the best... i think the echo rported that pako will not take the position as he doesnt want to be number 2 and instead hypia might become number 2 idk i'm not to sure at what mess we're in right now

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  48. Again Serie A is different, so much so that Lazio who finished 3rd are reportedly interested in Borini.

    Tevez is a good player, but if we bring him in it'll mean we won't be targeting anyone else up front.

    20 goals is impressive too but they were for a better team with a better coach and against worse opposition.

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  49. voice of reason1:06 am, June 09, 2015

    i've been questioning his tactics for a while now since his first season i've been seeing the holes in his strategy... for example from early i saw he liked this three in the back routine maybe to get over the lack of defensive coach thing which he implemented then dropped suddenly at the start of his 2nd season... i wasnt surprised to see it reappear in season 3 and although it was working i've been saying over and over again in the first leg of th blackburn game BR was found out but BR being the stubborn guy he is did not change it even though swansea was supposed to demolish us.. since then everyone has been playing the same strategy as blackburn and swansea against us a high triangle like press with one person going for the player on the ball and the two others marking the two nearest of our players to the ball and u know what BR did... well u and i both know... i'm sorry BR is to stubbborn for his own good, forces players out that he does not like i am truely thankful Sakho is still here, cannot attract top players but instead we have ings and milner leading the charge for next season sigh idk but i think we're in for a holler of a season

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  50. Thats exactly the way I look at it also.

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  51. voice of reason1:08 am, June 09, 2015

    or even Leno or Ochoha who i think is stated recently as wanting to leave his new club... FSG and BR need to be careful with this free buy rubbish there doing... as when LFC fans turn on u theres no coming back ask H&G

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  52. Two words: Luis Suarez.

    I'll drop by with my stuff by week's end.

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  53. Benteke, the fact that we are even targeting that type of player shows how misguided we are at the moment.




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  54. Jay Leno retired recently. Shame. That chin could have stopped many a shot.

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  55. I can see the sense in the Ings and Milner transfers but this guy is just Brad Jones mk2. We need stiff competition for Mignolet at the very least, if not an upgrade. I don't see Bogdan as either

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  56. You should cover your mouth when you yawn.

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  57. If the buck stops on just Ing, Milner, Bogdan and Trippier in all honesty I would be greatly disapointed as we wouldn't have a chance in hell of making the top four target thats been set because the likes of Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal, Man Utd and even Tottenham are going to open up the wallets! The likes of Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal and Man Utd are going to bring in quality players and Tottenham will have a punt on a fair few themselves so our lack of quality at the moment is going to leave us a drift of the top 4 we seriously need to think bigger and better than what we already have at LFC can anyone say with conviction the four players mentioned above are really going to add enough quality to take us into that top four reckoning? If you do then brace for the reality of finishing in practically the same position again because the teams around us are going to buy bigger and better, although Ings & Milner are not bad players I just can't see how they would improve us enough to compete with the top 4 once they bring in there new signings and I asure you they'll be a lot more exciting and ambitious than the Ings, Milners, Trippiers and Bogdans of the world if this level of player is all we are aiming at then we will fall short once again. And when fans start with the 'Nobody want's to play for LFC anymore tosh' then the lack of ambition has even infested the hearts of the fans it's not realism it's a disheartining acceptance of mediocracy....we need to re-think and aim higher than the level of players we have signed already and as fans we have the right to demand more than mediocracy as it's us who line the pockets of the club and players and in no way should we just rest on our mediocracy and accept it... It's a lack of ambition from top to bottom! We are reportedly 8th richest club in the world and are apparently the 6th most supported team in the world and that's pretty amazing in its self as the big movers are the Chelskis and Man City the glory hunters cling and a sizeable amount of them would jump ship id it started sinking so by this reckoning why shouldn't we be able to bring in quality players?

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  58. voice of reason1:59 am, June 09, 2015

    i see what u did there... but u know who i mean

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  59. Liverpool will end up as mid table club just like AC Milan, BR is mid table manager with mid table players, the only way to move forward is to exactly the opposite of what he wants since there is no way in sacking him

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  60. Don't want Benteke either mate Chelski can have him

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  61. Yes, but H&G were just terrible all around. Bad buys, bad business, bad image, bad everything. FSG are just questionable in what they consider "worth" the price of a transfer.

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  62. In all honesty though, why would you choose Adam Bogdan though? I am sure there are much, much better keepers available that would do a better job than him.


    Oh right, he's an out of contract player who plays in an English league.


    Transfer Committee and FSG out

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  63. voice of reason2:30 am, June 09, 2015

    u should chang that avatar image... i get u but FSG are they taking us to the next step with there questionable decisons??

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  64. Do they want him though?

    More fool them if they do.

    I'd rather have Remy.

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  65. Well, Pokemon + Balotelli = more fun that watching LFC at the moment... but is it offensive? If so I'll change it...

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  66. If you're implying that Tevez only scored that much because he plays in Serie A, look at where he was a few days ago.


    Experience is exactly what we need upfront right now. Now a player with recent CL experience? Couldn't ask for better

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  67. Or is it that our transfer committee are greedy bastards run by FSG? To be honest, after what they did to Pascoe and Mike, I can't tell.

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  68. Pretty much true, I strongly think however the problem lies in the owners and the transfer committee.


    There is a reason why most of the players here don't have much problems with BR, and why managers who wanted to take the lead here asked for the TC be taken out first.


    FSG have taken out Marsh and Pascoe, Rodgers' right hand men. Why not take BR out as well? Seems very suspicious, and to be honest I would feel some sense of relief if FSG was replaced by someone else.

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  69. LFC needs to sell to buy top class players; so the priority is still what they can get on free transfers and rock bottom budgets

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  70. If you're suggesting Juventus were only in the CL final because of Tevez then I'd strongly disagree.

    All but one of his goals in the CL came against Malmo and a struggling Dortmund.

    If you couldn't ask for better, then that's not a positive - it's a daming indictment.

    You'd also have to wonder why Juve would be willing to sell such a quality player for such a low fee.

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