27 Jun 2015

Playmaker raves: My 'future' is 'at Liverpool' and I 'dream' of 'Anfield'

Last month, A.D. Sanjoanense - a club in Portugal's illustrious third division - announced that Liverpool had agreed to sign Paulo Alves (aka Paulinho) one of the club's rising stars, and with Alves due at the club's Academy soon, the 17-year old has been waxing lyrical about his excitement at the prospect of playing for LFC.

In May, a statement on Sanjoanense's website confirmed the deal:

"The agreement [with Liverpool] comes after a trial period at the legendary English club, and should be formalized in the coming days".

Some further info re the deal:

* Paulinho has reportedly spent 3-weeks on trial at Liverpool.

* He has already passed a medical, and signed a deal with the Reds.

* Alves is nicknamed Paulinho ('little Paul') on account of his small size.

When asked this week about the transfer, Paulinho raved about the club's 'spectacular' training facilities, and seemed enthusiastic about the prospect of 'training regularly with the first team'. He also added:

“Since I knew that my future is at Liverpool, my dream has been to play at Anfield. I hope someday to achieve it. I just have to grab the opportunity and demonstrate quality"

Given Sanjoanense's lowly status in Portuguese football, it's understandable that Alves would jump at the chance to come to Liverpool, but in my view, it's the worst possible move he - or indeed any 16/17 year old - can make.

Alves is still a child, and the best thing for him to do is continue his development in his home country, alongside friends and family.

If he's that good, he opportunities will be there, but is it really worth sacrificing an entire way of life to toil away in Liverpool's youth system on the way to almost certain failure?

Two dispiriting facts to consider:

* In the entire history of Liverpool FC, no young, foreign, attacking player has ever made it through the youth system to become a regular in the first team.

* None of these aforementioned players have ever left Liverpool's youth system to become stars elsewhere.

If someone can name a young, foreign attacking player who came through LFC's academy, left the club, and then went on to become an established star in another top team, then I'm listening (!)

It's ridiculous, really, as the club has acquired so many exciting young attackers over the years, but like Suso, Nemeth, Leto, and countless others, they never seem to make it, and I'm sure Canos, Teixeira et al will go the same way.


On the subject of Teixeira: his experience at Anfield should serve as a cautionary tale for Alves.

* Teixeira - now 22 - has been granted an insulting 8 minutes of first-team football in 3.5 years.

* He's trained with the first-team many times, yet that hasn't made a difference to his chances of getting first team football.

8 minutes of game-time in 3.5 years? That's absolutely pathetic, and makes a mockery of the idea that Rodgers gives young players a chance at Anfield.

Sorry, a slight correction: British youngsters are given opportunities; overseas youngsters are largely ignored.

This is the reality. Why is it suddenly going to change now?

Good luck, Paulinho - you're going to need it.

Author: Jaimie K


399 comments:

  1. I like the part where it says legendary English club;)

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  2. Bacca is on his way to Milan... I guess Benteke it is.

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  3. cheer up its the summer

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  4. "stay on target... stay on target..."

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  5. Slightly off topic but I hear Bacca has agreed terms with AC Milan and a €30m fee has been agreed. It's a real shame because he was probably the best caliber of striker that we can expect this summer with J. Martinez heading to Atletico. Now that leaves us with either Rondon or Benteke which doesn't exactly inspire me with confidence because neither fits into our system properly.

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  6. Agreed, I really don't fancy Benteke. Mandzukic is still available is he not? I'd rather Ayre did a Firmino and pulled that one off. Wouldn't cost any more than Benteke's being quoted at

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  7. Mandzukic?;) a Juve player my friend...

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  8. Totally. Mandzukic is around ten or twenty billion times better than Benteke, and would be cheaper.

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  9. As Siavish just mentioned, Mandzukic has joined Juventus and wouldn't really suit is either. Preferably a fast and agile striker would be ideal- we already have one Ings but he may not be enough. So our next striker may not have to be very pacy of we have Origi, Sturridge and Ings to choose from so maybe Rodgers is looking for a more subtle approach. So Rondon may be a decent signing but I'm still not convinced.

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  10. But he's gone to Juve it's official so no Mandsukic for us unfortuantely.

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  11. In all truth I am not that bothered about missing out on Bacca. I like Bacca but It's not all that bad as I think there are more viable alternatives that are better suited to our style of play, there would be no harm in trying for the likes of Lacazette or Higuain, Aubameyang, Luiz Adriano is available for £5.5m by all reports, Yarmolenko a winger by trade but capable of playing central and has a good goalscoring pedigree (Thierry Henry was a winger at first least we forget) but the options are starting to get less and less by the day so we need to get a move on.

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  12. Yeah not too fussed we've not signed Bacca. It all depends on how Rodgers sees Firmino, a midfielder or a forward. If he sees him as a midfielder then I really hope we push hard for Lacazette

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  13. I agree that Yarmolenko would be a great signing but just because Thierry Henry- a footballing legend- made the transition from winger to striker doesn't necessarily mean Yarmolenko can too. He would be a great signing but not what we need right now which is a Right-Back (Clyne), a Defensive Midfielder and a Striker.

    Aubameyang is another option that I forgot about and while he won't be a 20- Goal per season striker he is still quite prolific and suits our system to perfection and can be gotten fir the same price as Bacca (£22m)

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  14. Like I said above, while Lacazette would be an absolute dream we have almost zero chance of getting him as there is almost no upside in him joining us.

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  15. Yarmolenko is capable of playing central as he has done to good effect in the past he is defined as a winger by trade due to his ability to play out wide but so are Messi and Ronaldo in some quarters, but it would all depend on cost and I personally feel he could fill the role of a false 9 perfectly.

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  16. No harm in trying to sign lacazette as nothing ventured nothing gained mate

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  17. Is that the same zero chance some fans said about us getting Firmino?!

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  18. Oh, grief. Kevin Volland, then, or even Stefan Kiessling.

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  19. Read that about Adriano as well, for that sort of fee its a no brainer. Would have no trouble convincing him with his two compatriots to feed off and he might fancy a crack at the prem.

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  20. Time to watch Liverpool's Coutmino for Brazil.

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  21. Agree mate we spent far more on far less proven strikers than the £5.5m Adriano is being valued at, Borini, Balotelli, Aspas and Lambert was a touch over £4m...Worth the risk if you ask me mate

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  22. Volland would be good too, maybe even Heung Min Son both play in similar positions. (Winger/ Striker)

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  23. Yeah great shout. Son would be a brilliant signing for us.

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  24. Maybe but it could be time spent on signing a new striker. The problem is that Lyon will not sell unnecessarily and if they do then it will be for a hefty fee. Even then Lacazette will not leave for us.

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  25. Pacey, strong and has a great finish. Let's get Ayre on it! Hopefully even Illaramendi as a DM to replace/ challenge Lucas.

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  26. And Barbosa de Oliviera- love his name gonna be great for us

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  27. Whilst it's a maybe it is still a possiblity....It is still early days and the transfer market hasn't opened fully yet so if we aim high now and go in big then we can establish things more clearly and if we fail we can move on whilst we have the time.

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  28. Epic name and player. All he needs is a shoulder-parrot.

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  29. And an eye patch

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  30. Not replace, but challenge, yes. We need two competent players in each position. Here's hoping Ayre hasn't peaked early!

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  31. We'll draw the line at wooden leg.

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  32. Just the one aye, remember ;)

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  33. Nicolas Chamberlain12:00 am, June 28, 2015

    Its probably for the best if Brazil gets eliminated.
    Coutinho and Firminho can use some rest.
    Not too log for the BPL starts.

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  34. Come on Paraguay

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  35. Ah so he is. Damn

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  36. Yes. Firmino and coutinho injury free and will meet up the team early

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  37. Lady. B 😇12:38 am, June 28, 2015

    que sera sera.. gutted :(

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  38. I just hope we don't waste our time. It's fine and dandy to chase him, but after a few weeks if it appears we have no chance, don't put all efforts into it for 2 months and emerge from the window with nothing.

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  39. He just joined Sampdoria in Jan. Plus he hasn't really done anything for the past couple years. Looked bright, but the hype train has come and gone. Not what we need anymore.

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  40. We do that most of the time anyway haggle for weeks and come away empty handed usually, we should just go in without all the nonsense and low-balling rubbish and make a serious and tangable offer, it shouldn't take 2 months to establish if we have a chance after making our best offer if it's 'yes' great or if it's 'no' then we move on to the next on the list it's that simple really why aim low just because they are more likely...As I've said Nothing ventured nothing gained.

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  41. Lady. B 😇1:07 am, June 28, 2015

    looks like our lucky run has come to an end, Was looking foward to some pace upfront with Bacca something Benteke won't bring!

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  42. As much of a long shot as it may be, we should go all out for Lacazette until and unless we fail. We need that skill set desperately. We seemed to have slipped on Bacca. After only 1 really uplifting signing, I continue to refrain from coronating Ian Ayre as a great front office guy. Grating signing but much work to be done for the team and the credibility of BR and mr. Ayre........
    Anyone know if Lorentz is any good? The papers say he would like to come to Anfield, as apparently half the free world is rumored to be until they sign elsewhere.....

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  43. You told me we couldn't have Volland, no more from Hoffenheim you said :)

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  44. Any idea why Adriano app stats are so low? does he get injured a lot or just not favourite?

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  45. Ohhhh, bit of a, SEMI :)

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  46. I never said we shouldn't try. But if we aren't even coming close, then yes we should move on. The problem is our committee has a problem with the "moving on" part...

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  47. A bit critical on Texeira considering his injury record over the years, you only have to look at junior international teams to know they are littered with kids who never go on and make it in the big time.
    Lets hope the kid gives it his best thats all we can ask for and if he is not good enough then he is not good enough its not like we are giving away stars from the academy just because they dont get a chance to play.

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  48. As in Luiz Adriano? He's gotten at least 30 apps every season since 2009. There are only 14 teams in the Ukraine league, so only 26 league matches total. The rest are Europe and cup matches. I'd say 30+ is pretty good considering the relatively low amount of total matches.

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  49. Lady. B 😇4:04 am, June 28, 2015

    well something we won't get to see in a lfc shirt now.. Banteke would be my last choice x

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  50. Lady. B 😇4:07 am, June 28, 2015

    I'm sucha fan of the south American footballers ;)

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  51. Thanks for sharing about the Ukrainian League. I have just read about the player at wiki. Sounds a very solid player: relatively robust, able to score goals not only in Ukraine but also in Europe, at 28 a prime age of a striker and finally got his international debut end of last year. If he only cost 5.5 mil pounds then it's certainly a no brainer to bring him in.

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  52. JK has a point. Suso didn't make it when he was decent. I think there's several reasons why foreign youngsters fail to make it. Poor scouting, zero opportunity resulting in a lack of confidence. Take Portugal u21 team , most of the players are established starters in decent teams. Lastly the premiership isn't the greatest league for honing your skills. Greater emphasis on athletic ability than technique. The foreign players are better off coming over in their early 20s once they honed their technique like Emre Can. Probably explains why English national teams traditionally lack technique compared to everyone else.

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  53. why is mediocre British players like Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson been given the opportunity to played and hype about while the better skilled foreigner were thrown aside, blame the FA?

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  54. Higuaín would be my first choice but it seems very unlikely to happen.

    Rumours about Javier Hernandez making the rounds again. I would much rather have him than Benteke.


    Benteke will score us goals but he will not get 20 plus for us in a season. At Villa the play is based around him. LFC did not even base the play around Suarez, he was the one who caused all the havoc and scored shed loads of goals while he was at it. We need a player who can drag defences out and run amok. Benteke is not going to provide that.

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  55. The next Pirlo is about to sign for Southampton in a 10 million deal. Basically Kovacic for half the fee

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  56. Think it is two completely different situations. Firmino had no CL on offer at Hoffenheim and we apparently out bid all the competition for his signature.


    Lacazette has CL on offer where he is at. Doubt he would make a step down from that.

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  57. You may be right but money talks and that doesn't necessarily mean from the player. If we bid high enough for Lyon to accept, generally that player will leave. It appears to the player that the club no longer wants him and it's time to move on to a new challenge. Add that to the fact that the player is in a slight dispute over a new contract with Lyon anyway and a chance for him to double his wages with us then I say GAME ON!

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  58. He has dropped significantly in the last year, plays very bad and has a worse output than two years ago.

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  59. Of course, preferabley because we don't want to make Hoffenheim our new Southampton but since we are buying Clyne I guess we are still after their players.

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  60. And we are the only club that is going to make an offer? If Lyon get a lower offer from a CL club whereas we offer more then it will be the player to decide where he goes.


    If Lyon reject a lower offer from a CL club and Lacazette rejects moving to us then he stays at Lyon.

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  61. Lavessi should be consided, i think he would bring goals galore

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  62. According to reports we've made a £15M for Illarramendi.

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  63. So maybe we will just have to deal with the signing of Benteke should it happen and pay ridiculous amounts for yet another player who may not make it at Anfield.

    Question is, why on earth just not just give this young lad a chance?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR6OtGeQVeg

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  64. And Messi also left Argentina at a young age to get a chance. The problem I have is that neither Porto nor Sporting expressed an interest. They're renowned for their scouting Network and youth policy respectively and neither bothered with him. Btw, which young talented not attacker made it through our youth system then?

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  65. I agree it's all 'ifs and buts' like any transfer is. Obviously it's going to be tough without CL but I do think we have a chance still. For instance if we wrap a deal for Illarramendi to add to Firmino, these moves could be a factor in selling our project and ambition to him. Let's wait and see heh

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  66. Mate, if we are trying our best to spend a ridiculous amount on Benteke then surely we would have made a bid for Lacazette by now?


    Lacazette most probably would cost less than Benteke. Bacca £21m and we could not even sign him. We did not even make a bid.

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  67. Yeah Baccas a strange one certainly didnt wait for Liverpool just flew in and signed with Milan me thinks he was never coming anyway.

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  68. And AC are in a shambles. Welcome Benteke is the song we could will singing very soon.


    I made a comment earlier which went for moderation on why we would feel the need to go making another struggling side smile from ear to ear being held ransom when we can just give young Jerome Sinclair a a chance. Linking up with the likes of Coutinho and Firmino on the pitch is one way of seeing that he is good enough and make him improve his game.


    Still do not see the point of Ings either when Sinclair was already here waiting for his opportunity. We have just closed the door on him.

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  69. If we are to bring in another striker maybe from whats likely maybe Doumbia is the go is the right type should fit in also and can run like a rabbit
    I agree whole heartedly on Benteke i would rather have Sinclair in the team.

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  70. I think Greg is right. We probably had a good look at Bacca but decided against him..... which I'm glad of.

    IMO Lacazette might cost more than Benteke and I really hope we get Lacazette ahead him

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  71. A Korean player named Fuc Kin no one?

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  72. That is better than Firmino deal if accepted. Nice moves Ian!

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  73. Cannot see how Lacazette would cost more than Benteke.


    Firmino even cost less than Benteke and he is by far a more high profile player.


    Benteke is expensive because he is Villa's prize asset and will not let him go for less than what they want.

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  74. In true JK fashion I resort to evidence according to Transfermarket:

    Lacazette - market value £26.40m
    Benteke - market value £12.32m

    I'm suprised with those values myself but who am I to argue with evidence :)

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  75. Villa would laugh at that bid

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  76. Fresh reports today?

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  77. I actually think we have an infinitesimal chance of signing him. His agent said he's not necessarily inclined to change clubs because no one is assuring him of the game time he needs prior to the euros . We could offer that and blow Lyon out of the water with our wage offer . I think it will be poetic justice for jean Michel Aulas.

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  78. Mate ,as much as I liked the idea of Bacca ,It wasn't fiscally responsible to go in for him. He's 29 this year . Yes he's incredibly prolific but we'd be spending an incredible amount for an asset with absolutely no resale value and we'd only be guaranteed maybe 1 or2 seasons of top performances . Throw in the fact that he has no premier league experience ( which admittedly is proving to be less of a factor) and questions about his suitability to our system

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  79. To be fair this isn't just a problem at Liverpool.


    Look at Chelsea. They have had one of the best youth teams in the last 3 - 4 years and yet how many have made it into their first team?


    Its a problem at all the big clubs across Europe, especially in England.


    The need to qualify for the CL due to the revenue and ability to attract players at one end and the money involved in staying in the Premiership at the other only makes the problem worse.

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  80. Portugal is sure producing some great young footballers at present they smattered the German u/21s 5-0 lets hope this kid is another good one.

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  81. Careful what you ask for... knowing our management we'll end up bringing in big bro Higuain...

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  82. Does Lallana have a resale value at £25m? Lovren? Markovic and many more examples?


    We were interested in Bacca. His agent confirmed it. He has gone to AC Milan for a reported £21m. Benteke at £32.5m = LFC smoking their socks which is the fee Villa will be willing to let Benteke go at. We never even made a bid for Bacca.


    It has got nothing to do with EPL experience, we have signed countless amounts of players with EPL experience with big amounts of cash and majority have failed.

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  83. So market value = Benteke = £32.5m?


    So lets go sign Benteke for that ridiculous fee.

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  84. Pieter Engelbrecht2:43 pm, June 28, 2015

    Can anybody tell me why there is no offer for ADRIANO.He seems like a capable striker and for 5.5m, you cant go wrong

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  85. Chelsea are favourites to secure the services of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, according to Sky sources.

    Now yes this would be a signing from a team that finished below us but there is no doubting that he is a top quality GK, miles ahead of Migs. Should he go there is he going to be willing to sit on the bench with Courtois as their number one?


    Surely this gives LFC every reason to try convince him to sign on the dotted line.

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  86. I know I am going against the majority here, but I really do think that Benteke would be a great player for us as not only can he play upfront effectively on his own but he would be a good foil for the more off the cuff Sturridge. Given that Rodgers wasn't afraid to play both SAS together is it such an impossibility to imagine Benteke and Sturridge playing together, particularly against teams we are expected to beat?
    I don't really get the negativity towards Benteke - I see lots of comments saying that he is static, slow and most ridiculously, that he is just like our most expensive transfer ever. People obviously have short memories as his performances against us alone show that there is more to his game than simply waiting for crosses by the penalty spot. He is quick, strong and is an excellent finisher with either foot and head. He isn't the most aesthetic of players but he is highly effective and would be an excellent complement to Firminio, Coutinho, Ibeinho, Lallanaino etc.
    We can't pass our way through every team, sometimes we will need to play the ball a bit longer to get us up the pitch and a player who is comfortable with his back to goal as well as one who CAN run in behind will be invaluable. I think Sturridge is a brilliant player but his hold up play is not one of the strongest parts of his game and he and someone like Bacca together wouldn't work.
    Unlike many supporters, Rodgers hasn't suddenly forgotten how good DS has been for us and he will not be buying a striker to relegate Sturridge to the bench, it will be someone to complement him and in my mind it should be.
    We do not quite have the finances to place a 140/150k striker on the bench behind someone with no premier league experience. That's the thing that gets me; Benteke is premier league proven, has scored goals against the top sides and is 24. What's not to like?
    I think people are still stuck on us buying a 'Suarez type' as if that is the only kind of player that could ever be effective for us. Lacazette would be great, but I really do think that Benteke will be a massive hit too if he were to join. He is exactly what we lack; a big, strong, quick, uncomplicated goal scorer who bullies defenders.

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  87. I don't agree with those values but if Villa want £30m then maybe Lyon will want more

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  88. Cash.. cold hard cash.


    Many good players have signed for Chelsea only to sit on the bench,, just goes to show how many players will take the money over playing regular football.

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  89. Or Chelsea knowing how they do business, sign him, he gets fed up after a season and then sell him for a nice little profit.

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  90. Ghost of Suarez3:42 pm, June 28, 2015

    I would have said the fact these players didn't make it elsewhere indicates Rodgers was right to not give them more game time. I think having a significant percentage of foreign youngsters in our youth team is a relatively new thing too (last 15 to 20 years).

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  91. Even Whoscored another statistic based site has explained what most are saying about Benteke.

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  92. We need a player who can provide similar to this. Benteke not that player.

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  93. There is that :)

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  94. The best midfield in the world son we had, what is the original tune?

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  95. Ghost of Suarez4:38 pm, June 28, 2015

    Not sure he is ahead of Migs at all. He looks about as good as Mignolet did playing for Sunderland. Different story playing for a Liverpool

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  96. Martinez to Atletico could put us in pole position for Vietto though...

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  97. Beneteke has a release clause of 32.5m ,so we have to pay that to activate it

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  98. Sounds much like Ballotilli

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  99. Haven't seen him play really... By the way, do you know -the best midfield in the world- song we had, what is the original tune?

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  100. Really disturbing if we don't try to get him...

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  101. The Entertainer by Scott Joplin

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  102. I don't really think relegating Sturridge to the bench is the idea behind signing a first team striker- it's the fact that we cannot consider Sturridge as a first team player because he is most likely going to be injured, not on the bench.

    As for the claim that Benteke is NOT static is up for debate but whenever I have seen Benteke playing for Belgium he is always isolated up front and rarely made any runs inside. Maybe that will change playing with two strikers up top but we don't have a, consistent, top striker to play with him so he will have to be played as a lone striker- thus rendering him useless unless we chuck crosses in all match long.

    But for all we know he could be a hit and score a shedload of goals but history suggests that buying players from lower teams for high prices = An expensive flop.

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  103. Sorry but you lost me.

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  104. And it would be absolute f****** madness if we went ahead when clearly we are signing a target man which is not what we are about.

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  105. It worked well enough for Raheem Sterling who has gone from being a wet behind the ears 16 year old being told not to come to us for the same reasons as JK has given (let's be honest, it's the same cliched comment said about every 16/17 year old who has moved to a big club!) but he's now on the brink of selling for £50m give or take a couple of million!

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  106. Do you think Lyon would accept £32.5 million for Lacazette?

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  107. They do not want to sell him. If they did then offers would be pouring in. Have you heard of any offers being made?

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  108. Sounds much like Carroll but Benteke a beast compared to Carroll. Still will not fit though.

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  109. Every player has a price even if the club don't want to sell. So are you now saying we would need to offer more than £32.5m for Lyon to accept?

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  110. I great way for us to obtain very players at a fraction of the cost.. sign Southampton's Scouts !!!

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  111. I have asked you, have you seen any offers being made?


    The fact that there are no 'Chelsea/Madrid/Barca/Bayern bang on to sign Lacazette' rumours suggests what?

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  112. Haha! True dat true dat

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  113. Sign Soton Manager too? ;-)

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  114. It suggests they might not be interested, they are waiting, have other targets or feel they have enough players in that position........or in Barcelona's case they have a transfer ban :)

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  115. How is transfermarkt valuation the standard now? The problem with them is, they follow a formula, so logic, to determine what a player is (should be) worth. Whereas the transfer market itself is anything but logical.

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  116. Might as well

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  117. I hope so mate! At £5.5m it would prove a steal

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  118. To be honest it was done more as a joke to JK because he usually asks people to back their opinions up with stats and evidence. I don't think Benteke is worth 12 million but I do think Lacazette is worth more than Benteke

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  119. He mentioned foreign players. Although some would argue that Sterling is African.

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  120. Obviously...stats are based on the way he plays at his current club doesn't mean he won't be able to adapt to our style.

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  121. No bids from nobody, no news that he wants to move.


    FORGET ABOUT LACAZETTE. IT AIN"T HAPPENING!!!

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  122. We have been doing that for quite some time now.

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  123. Lacazette is overrated. He will be a flop

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  124. And we say Sterling is selfish; -)

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  125. People are mad. Benteke is really good.

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  126. Mate, you can take a horse to the water, try to make it drink.

    Many on here have mentioned Benteke playing for Belgium. Even Hazard has scored more goals for Belgium.



    I think even de Bruyn has scored as many as Benteke at International level.


    Both Hazard and De Bruyn = no strikers.


    £32.5m and Villa can find someone else to take the mickey out of. Hopefully it ain't us.

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  127. At least our defence will be tightened up.

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  128. 25mn and he will be great for Liverpool. I am not much of a stat guy so I base my judgement on what I see myself. Benteke has shown enough. .especially against us...that he can be a great strong striker with pace and mobility to attack and play in combination with other forwards. He will be a freat signing. IMO

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  129. He is not coming at £25m end of the story. Reports show that we have already made such a bid. Villa have named the price and he ain't worth it.

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  130. Apparently Fabian Delph has a 8mil release clause..


    For 8mil I would buy him

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  131. Soton are a club on the up. Their transfer window last season was a very productive one.

    All they need is a prolific striker and then they may have a word or two this coming season. If Schneiderlin leaves they will go looking deep down to find a like for like replacement. Clasie may just be that player.

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  132. In your opinion! Don't state it as though it is fact

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  133. I agree with the Ings and Sinclair bit.

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  134. Ghost of Suarez9:24 pm, June 28, 2015

    Only has two years on his contract, and unlike Sterling is not a home grown player so no tribunal to fall back on, so Villa can be bullish now in June but come August it will be a different story I think....when this window shuts he is a £15m player max, next summer that's £10m. They will play ball this summer eventually, assuming this is the player we decide to go for. I am still hoping for Lacazette but would be happy with Benteke for the right price....

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  135. Ghost of Suarez9:31 pm, June 28, 2015

    I am not so sure about this.....a 28 year old who has only played in Russia, looks like a classic transfer Turkey in the making to me.....might make a decent squad player but we have Ings and Origi for those places , what we need is a top level goalscorer alongside Studge in the squad.

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  136. You're being paid too much ;-)

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  137. Ta. I'm rather proud of my little segment here ;)

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  138. I believe the tune in The Entertainer by Scott Joplin

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  139. That just forces the clubs hands. The club can accept less if they want but buyout clauses just make it so the club had no choice if the player chooses he wants to leave.

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  140. Considering Markovic is only 20, yeah he has a ton of potential to blow up on the resale value.

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  141. England full-back Nathaniel Clyne is expected to sign for Liverpool from Southampton on Monday, according to Sky sources.

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  142. Don't know how far these rumours are true but apparently fsg are gonna sell our beloved club to a Dubai based consortium:)

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  143. It has to happen eventually.

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  144. Ings is six or seven years older than Sinclair isn't he? Sinclair's not even started his career and Ings is several seasons in. He's on another level completely.

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  145. He's not as good as Kovacic at the things Kovacic is good at. He's a decent midfielder though. I was wondering if we might sign him. But he can spend a season at our feeder club first I guess.

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  146. Bravo for what? What exactly is the argument against Benteke?
    That he is useless as a lone striker? That is exactly the role he has been playing for Villa to great effect.
    Anyway, we'll see.

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  147. These boys are willing to spend though and spend big! Rodgers would be first out of the door if that happened! We will see anyway if they came in and show the intent they shown with Man City then we would aim high and sign big players, chelski are no different they are bankroled by an oil rich tycoon, but the diiference between us and them is we have the world wide fanbase to make it pay.

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  148. No more true than they've been every close season since FSG took over I'd guess. Be crazy to sell just as the stadium development gets underway and the club begins to look healthy.

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  149. You lost me at "Weaknesss - Offside Awareness" :)

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  150. ....f*ck me..., I've just sauntered into you t*be to take a look at benteke and came across nathanial clyne....!!!!!!


    ......oh my god...we've bought a real gem there...solid strong pacy positionally excellent confident intelligent, can score goals....from distance..., how...!!!!????..this is really really good.....we're really turning up the heat at the moment...apparently a few clubs were after him inc. manu...!
    ...he's come to us...it means we are under a miss-comprehension...players are not..not choosing us...we are just not going afetr them with vigour...whether that be price, age (bacca) or whatever the parameter...that feels good guys and girls ...very good... :)

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  151. Sorry, BR is not really giving opportunities to young players who plays well in the reserve team,like Ryan Kent,Sinclair,Harrison,Branagan and so on.I am personally not glad the way that young players are treated there.To my point of view Brendan can't manage liverpool,and it will be difficult for him to make liverpool wins trophies.

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  152. Hendo isn't mediocre buddy, granted he isnt yet world class, but he is a very effective midfielder and an absolute workhorse in the midfield.
    And besides, 'better skilled foreigners' are much hyped, and we have a fair few of those, especially now with Coutimino/Firtinho

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  153. like you said he's more of a workhorse than world class lol

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  154. If we didnt need a top quality RB, DM and CF, I'd agree with you. At the moment, with our number of midfielders, and possibly Illara to add, I just dont think he'd get the game time he needs to develop.
    Good player though, I agree for 8m it would be a decent buy. He's written off so quickly because people can't agree to liking an English player.

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  155. How many times have you been proven wrong mate? Countless.

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  156. Proven wrong about what?


    Benteke coming to us at £25m?

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  157. Wondering if Yesil will fall into this category.. along with other youngsters.. I think only time will tell if BR's youth policy is any good or not

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  158. Borini to West Ham 8m -finally

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  159. Indeed Soton has since become our feeder club

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  160. I would much prefer Rondon, the Venezuelan striker in the place of both Bacca and Benteke

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  161. Rondon, R Santa Cruz- Paraguay.. and a keeper. Surely we cant fail to find a better keeper among all those on show at the Copa America

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  162. very logical point there from Loganlfc. And Om enjoying the pun too

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  163. Regarding Liverpool. I mean you often pass a final judgement about BR, players, etc., and leave no scope for further debate. But that's not always the case. Did you expect Liverpool to shell out 29mn for Firmino? No harm in being hopeful!!

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  164. Yesil was unlucky as he was out for nearly a year with a bad injury

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  165. We are also self sufficient were as Chelsea and Man City are not

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  166. Technically Jamaican rather than African. His African roots are even longer down the line ;)

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  167. He looks a good player! Wondering if he'll get promoted this season.. guess it depends on whether we get another striker - Sturridge, Origi, Ings, Insert new striker / Yesil ?a

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  168. He did look a very good player but after suffering 2 cruciate ligament ruptures in a year he is going to need to prove that he is over those injuries

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  169. That's right so that we can buy him for 25 million next summer and pay more than Kovacic would cost. I disagree with you on Clasie not being as good by the way. Yourie Tielemans at Anderlecht, another one who would not cost as much. Although I'm not sure Tielemans would be able to break into the first team right away and I'm sure Kovacic and Clasie would.

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  170. I got that :-) Personally I don't think Benteke is worth more than 12 million but that's the whole point. The transfer market is not about the actual worth of the player, it's all about emotion. Clubs know they need to put a team together that can perform at a certain level but at the same time they know that the players they bring in also need to generate commercial revenue. And people don't pay 60 quid for a football jersey because it's worth it or because they have nothing better to spend their money on but because of what it says on the front and on the back. Benteke sells a lot of Villa jerseys these days because, well, who else are you going to put on the back of your Villa jersey? Joe Cole? (I have a Joe Cole LFC jersey....) So Benteke is worth a lot of money to Villa. For us though, what he brings to the team and what he generates in value to the club, is he really worth 32 million? I doubt it...

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  171. I would go as far as to say he's......the Dutch Xavi...

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  172. I'm sure he will be. I could see Van Gaal going for him as well depending on what their plans are this summer. He could feel he has Herrera, Blind and Carrick for that position. Clasie's bad luck (and our good luck) is that he hasn't been given much time in the Dutch national team because the Dutch prefer to flood midfield with attack minded players and both Van Gaal and Hiddink did not have the balls to drop Sneijder. But by December we'll all be wondering how Southampton keep doing what they do..

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  173. Lady. B 😇9:43 am, June 29, 2015

    yes definitely instead of Benteke ... anyone else please lol x

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  174. Imagine if he'd left a year ago...

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  175. I thought he's free agent?

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  176. Don't get me wrong, I like Clasie, he just hasn't got the quality on the ball that Kovacic has. Clasie is always in a hurry and can have a stiff touch. His passing is very quick and intelligent but somewhat inconsistent in terms of quality. Though Clasie or a player like him would be a good acquisition for the squad, I don't think he'd improve our first team necessarily -- not in the way I envisage Kovacic could...

    ...hmm, actually in the course of writing this I started to change my mind. I thought I was sure what we needed and where to get it but I'm not, actually. Only solution: BUY THEM ALL.

    £25m is not a big deal for Liverpool buying a pre-cooked first-team player. I have no problem with that at all. It's right that Southampton and teams like them would shop for value, and that we would shop from them with less concern about price. That's the food chain!

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  177. Lady. B 😇10:02 am, June 29, 2015

    Another brilliant striker Liverpool gave up on,
    just hope we don't make do, with an overpriced Benteke .

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  178. When he grows up, he might be the Dutch Welsh Xavi...

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  179. Not a wonderful move for him. From a nailed-on starter at AS Roma to West Ham.

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  180. Even if he came for 5m I don't think he'd be great. He's not the right type of player to have as our first-choice striker, regardless of price.

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  181. Indeed, but I heard somewhere that we are planning to use Borini as a makeweight in that benteke deal.

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  182. Lady. B 😇10:21 am, June 29, 2015

    Really ?
    I wonder how much that will knock down their asking price?

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  183. Your geography knowledge sucks.

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  184. The Jamaicans were originally African slaves.

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  185. Now the Independant sayin he could be part of the Benteke deal

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  186. Why oh why are we so hell-benteked on signing that guy.

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  187. He looked better than Ings before he got his injury, granted at age-group level.

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  188. Liverpool will listen to bids for Lucas Leiva - Daily Mail‎

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  189. Eager to get his wage off the books.

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  190. I just don't get it I'm hoping its distraction tactics and our real target will be suddenly signed unexpected and unannounced a bit like Firmino

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  191. Technically gifted!

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