18 Jul 2015

Done Deal in 48-Hours: Liverpool 'Insider' confirms medical for 'superstar' £32m attacker

Liverpool are inching ever closer to a deal for Aston Villa 'superstar' Christian Benteke, and new reports suggest that the transfer could be wrapped-up sooner rather than later.

On Wednesday, The Telegraph claimed:

"Liverpool will meet Christian Benteke’s £32.5million Aston Villa exit clause as they close in on the signing of their number one summer transfer target"

On Friday, TalkSport further claimed that:

* An 'Anfield insider' had confirmed that Benteke 'is to arrive on Merseyside for his medical on Monday'.

* The deal will be concluded on Monday, or 'early next week'.

It seems that most fans are finally starting to accept that Benteke will Liverpool's next big striker signing.

There's no smoke without fire, and right now, fans are positively choking on the fumes of speculation, with lots of credible sources claiming that the deal is almost done.

Additionally, on Friday, Sky Sports reported:

"Sky Bet have suspended their market on Christian Benteke's next club after Liverpool were backed at as short as 1/10 to sign the Aston Villa striker"

There may be a slight wrinkle, though. According to BBC sports reporter David Ornstein:

"Benteke [buyout] clause [has been] met, but not in full up-front. Liverpool want to structure payment, so must agree that with Aston Villa before Benteke can undergo a medical"

Clearly, Liverpool want to pay the fee in installments, which is understandable given the massive £32.5. transfer fee. Villa may not like that, but the Reds arguably have a superior bargaining position:

* The club has agreed to meet the buyout clause, which means Benteke is free to speak with the club, and he's probably already agreed terms.

* Unless another club triggers the clause, Liverpool are the only suitors, and if Villa want the money, they may have to compromise, or risk losing out on the deal altogether.

That said, Liverpool are also playing a dangerous game. I'm sure the buyout clause stipulates full payment up-front, and if the Reds are attempting to modify that, Villa may argue that the club has not, in fact, activated the clause (to the satisfaction of the contract). As an example:

* X agrees to buy a car from Y via eBay (price: £3200).

* X hits the 'Buy it Now' button, and agrees to enter into a sale contract, which (according to Ebay's stated rules, means full price must be paid up-front after agreeing the deal)

* After going through the checkout process, X then informs Y that he wants to pay the price in 4 separate installments.

* Y is perfectly entitled to reject that and demand full payment up-front. If X refuses, Y can cancel the deal, and relist the item, as the contract is now void.

Of course, Villa may be desperate for the money, and just go along with Liverpool's wishes. Alternatively, Villa could also refuse to sell, just as the Reds did when Arsenal activated Luis Suarez's release clause.

Whatever happens, it'll all come out in the wash, and I fully expect Benteke to be a Liverpool player this time next week.

Author: Jaimie K


198 comments:

  1. You got your X's and Y's muddled up toward the end

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  2. My understanding was that as Y already knew that X didn't want to pay in one hit they could prevent X from speaking to B in the first place and thus thrown a ruddy great S - panner into the works.

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  3. Good article though. Rodgers career probably hinges on how Benteke performs

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  4. "There's no smoke without fire, and over the last week, and right now, fans are positively choking on the fumes of speculation"



    Yup, sounds just about right :D

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  5. Agree with JockInTheKop, this seems to be a hugely pivotal moment in Brendans' (just realised Jock, my spell check underlines the apostrophe usage I've just used at the end of BR's name with a nasty red line, that's probably what's caused me to question it) career, and the Clubs 2015/16 success and for fear of you telling me to go and find it myself, I wonder if your football memory banks know of some good 'non-Villa' Benteke viewing we could watch, that might showcase a greater array of his talents than what many believe he has.

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  6. Not the player I wanted as I feel his style is completely against what we have been working towards since BR arrived and I think he's 12.5 to expensive. But I can't wait for him to prove me wrong and I will support him 100%

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  7. That's because it should've been Brendan's

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  8. Agree wholeheartedly with all that

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  9. Got it! I was thinking of your Rodgers example and mixing up the fact that the S wasn't an integral part of his first name as well, D'oh.

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  10. Very true. There is not one signing this window that is not BRs. The board have backed him to the hilt. No excuses now. It's simple. Top 4 or the sack

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  11. Now you've got it. Who'd have imagined a Scotsman giving English lessons :-\

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  12. Typical LFC. Get £40 million up front of MCFC, yet plead poverty and want to pay bit by bit. It's not CashConverters ffs.

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  13. Absolutely

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  14. The board have been increable with their support. We need to aim for the top. On paper we have a squad to challenge. I still fear the keeper is our major weakness..... I wander after benteke what our overall spend is? Talking into account ins and outs

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  15. That's the good thing about LFC - we just keep on breaking down these language barriers :)

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  16. There'll still be some more outs to come I think

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  17. We are right to ask for as much for our players... And I'm all for being tight when it comes to buying players... We have been screwed over in every window for players no one wants. In reality, who else is in for benteke? That Man U rummer reaks of a villa blag to me

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  18. Bloody hope so, I get the feeling borini will never leave us, might become our kit man or tea lady

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  19. Don't think the Southampton chairmen agree's with you

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  20. Anyone think Delph's U-turn was due to us meeting Benteke's release clause. Unwanted side effect

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  21. Pretty sure it was the 100K per week

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  22. for me it hinges on him not being a knowall with an ego.....he has to play players in the positions there suited ,benteke is a direct striker who needs support and service if he doesnt get it he will flop

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  23. That was on the table & he turned it down. I don't think it was a game of bluff for an extra 10k a week. I was surprised when he initially turned them down, maybe he just changed his mind but Benteke going could have played a part

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  24. is all well jk ive been away a few days and i cant see any mention of mercenary or sterling

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  25. Ghost of Suarez5:18 pm, July 18, 2015

    That's an interesting interpretation of how transfers work but I think in reality many large transfers are paid in instalments and given the grey areas over Suarez release clause (amongst others) I would think it entirely possible the contract just stipulates an amount and that how it is paid is left to interpretation. Looks a done deal now though and I am pretty happy with that.

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  26. That's because he left... No point in talking about a City player now.

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  27. agreed when you look into the small print most of these deals are very seldom the full hit even when reported to be,

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  28. Ghost of Suarez5:20 pm, July 18, 2015

    £80m all in but will get some money back on that....still much less than City or ManUre will end up spending that needs to be remembered before we start saying we must achieve this or that this season.

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  29. im not to sure there is stll plenty of vestige in it if willing

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  30. There has been one or two to be fair ;-)

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  31. im a full article full of vitriol type of guy ,a token gesture here and there just doesn't swing it

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  32. Well we know patience is a virtue but in this case I don't think you'll need to be too virtuous :)

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  33. Sorry no didn't get a word of that

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  34. Ghost of Suarez5:28 pm, July 18, 2015

    I have to disagree with the style thing....he is good in the air but has pace and movement allied to his power....he will enable us to plate how we usually play and a different way of we need to. Just think people have seen he is 6ft3 and can score with his head and have assumed he is Andy Carroll. Thierry Henry was 6ft 2 and was hardly immobile was he? If you look at Benteke's goals collections on you tube only about 20% are with head.. he plays of the shoulder of the last defender and is fast and effective on the counter

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  35. ill be honest im looking forward to the new season and we seem to getting some decent players but im looking at the squad and if we sign benteke i haven't a clue what team or system rodgers will start with

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  36. we should lay off the kid ,if you look at reports it seems hes unhappy about how he's perceived to have left and it must be playing on his mind seeing that hes only moved down the road , i look at it like this ...with his fee and even with qpr getting there butty ...benteke and firmino have cost about 20m

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  37. Just stop treating Benteke as a basketball player or an alien. When he plays he'll give us depth and space for our midfield passes, dribbles and shots and when we can't unlock with that, we'll cross. Crossing the ball is not against the principle of fluent pressing game, it's a healthy addition. And it is not either or...

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  38. Ghost of Suarez5:36 pm, July 18, 2015

    I agree, City don't exactly need to lowball on the wages. It's still disappointing to see....perhaps I am deluding myself but if I was in Delph's position and getting somewhere in the region of £50k a week to play for Villa, I would like to think I would realise that was already more money than I will sensibly ever be able to spend, and then just think about where I would play more....the next time you hear of Fabian Delphi will be in two years time when he goes on loan to West Brom in an attempt to save his wanted career....here's hoping the same happens to Sterling too ha ha

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  39. You won't find me laying the boot in anywhere ;-)

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  40. Seems like I am picking on you though I rate your opinions,,,
    But he didn't offer any real apology or explanation, just said he feels bad about how it looked.

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  41. its not just benteke ..its can,sturridge.ings,lallana, and co ...i usually know in my head how i would like us to start and with what system and personnel i would use but i haven't a clue how we will line up ..i just hope rodgers knows what he is doing ,you can have to many players

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  42. ill forgive your media bullying but im still going to ask jk to ban you

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  43. I don't think he'll make it at city either. I'd take him over Lucas or Allen in our squad. For £8m, it probably could have been zero net spend if we shifted one of them.

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  44. That is a different story, I agree with that commpletely. I don't know our best formation or personel for it, but I smell something good...

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  45. I was starting to think 442 but the mind does begin to boggle when attempting to accommodate all of our midfielders.

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  46. Excatly... Maybe Can, Milner, Hendo, Coouts AND THAN FIrminho as a ss?

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  47. whats crazy is we still have balo and borini on the books and i had forgot origi is coming

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  48. i have a soft spot for balo ..but you have to admit that a benteke balo front 2 offers a lot but would probably deliver little

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  49. Now that is not fair after all these years ( borini) at least we should encourage him ball boy will do

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  50. Origi is the main unknown there... Cost some pretty(still not obscene) money, was hyped at the time and now we have his older version as our most expensive player?!?

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  51. Got a feeling we wont see too much of the 343.

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  52. more like 1 6 3 with the cb being a midfielder can

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  53. True enough, unless Ings or Origi or Sturridge manage to score a shedload next season. All seem unlikely though.

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  54. aND still no room for at least two mids...

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  55. theres nothing quite like faith

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  56. What if you were to stick an Ings in-between them or would that just be childish...

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  57. Not bad. It's like a reverse Chelsea

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  58. or even sturridge if fit ....imagine sturridge balo and benteke all firing ......hang on i forgot that would mean dropping firmino tino lallana and ibe and marko and about 10 others

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  59. Wouldn't make the same sort of anagram either ;-)

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  60. without london and the wages ...although they do a 2 for 1 night at the cavern and a half price ferry ride on thursdays

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  61. Balo would still be walking back from offside and be out of the play.

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  62. I'm just glad it will done and CB will get some time to mesh before the season starts.

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  63. Who's heard about the moreno speculation?
    And the quoted price is 8 million?
    If we let this guy move after just a season and for a loss I'd be a little more than disappointed especially since we don't have another lb.
    We need competition for him not sell him?
    If we had some money around lying around we should spend it on jordan amavi we can at least outbid Aston villa for very good ,at least statically,left back. Or even baba rahman.but knowing rodgers he's probably thinking about playing the "outstanding " gomez at lb and can at Rb when he wants to rest clyne or flanno is out.
    Rodgers just makes me feel bleek and depressed some times and we still haven't got that extra proper anchor man.

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  64. she's good I grant you

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  65. im a a fan of moreno as i have stateded on other articles..he has pace and skill and is young

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  66. I have only heard it here. It doesn't look credible.

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  67. put your tongue back in the knife box

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  68. I've barely faith in Sturridge remaining ambulatory long enough to get dressed by himself.

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  69. The team is starting to look rather tasty now, I'm quite excited about the new season. If we can sell Allen, Lambert (linked with West Brom) and Borini (linked with Real Sociadad) and maybe find a decent DM I think we're all set.
    Thinking about formations, here's how I think we could line up in BR's favourite lineups:
    3-4-3
    .....................Mignolet
    ......Can..........Skrtel..........Sakho
    Clyne...................................Moreno
    .......,..,,.Milner........Hendo
    ...Firminio.....................Coutinho
    ....................Benteke
    4-3-3
    .....................Mignolet
    Clyne........Skrtel....Sakho......Moreno
    ...................Can/Lucas
    ............Milner............Hendo
    .....Firminio....................Coutinho
    ......................Benteke
    4-4-2
    ......................Mignolet
    Clyne.....,.,,Skrtel....Sakho......Moreno
    ...................Can/Lucas
    ......Milner........................Hendo
    ....................Coutinho
    ...........Sturridge.....Benteke

    LOVING IT

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  70. There should be zero expectations on Ings and Origi next season apart from trying to make an impression in the cup games and maybe making an impact from the bench. Sturridge will miss the start of the season and having missed almost a year of football, I'd expect it to take him til aboutChristmas to get up to speed.
    That leaves the main goal scoring responsibilities squarely at the feet of our new 32.5 million pound signing. Sink or swim...
    Let's hope he turns out more Drogba-esque for us than Carroll-easie

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  71. I suspect he'll play 4-2-3-1 with Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno
    Milner Hendo
    Firmino Coutinho Lallana
    Benteke

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  72. I hope your right. You sound like you have watched him much more then I have. We can't afford any more failures

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  73. I was looking at the beginning of last forward last season

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  74. But what kind of a car did x buy and did he buy it for benteke to drive?

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  75. All transfers are paid in instalments these days

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  76. On a long-term basis, some might say...

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  77. We only finished paying scunthorpe for Keegan last week

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  78. Nothing wrong with that team.

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  79. Lacking pace on the wings

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  80. But so much trickery... And fb there to add the pace. That's good enough?

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  81. Truth hurts sometimes

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  82. I like it but what I really like is that we have back-ups like Ibe, Markovic, Ings, Origi, Gomez, Can, and Lucas and there isn't a drop in quality. With our striker quality I would lean more towards 4-4-2 though.

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  83. If Sturbridge is fit its hard to see how Rodgers won't play 442

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  84. So we should play that way with Benteke and Oringsi until Studge comes back so there is no shock.

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  85. Lacking one of our best youngsters, and i`d rather see a back 3 with Can as a anchor man in front of our 3man defense, then maybe with Hendo and Milner playing has both attacking and defensive rolls, we have then 3 tricky full on attacking midfielders, in Coutinho, Firmino and either Lallana/Ibe and Benteke as our focal point up top, that`s how I would start our first game of the new season.

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  86. Don't know. In fact I also miss a true DM in that lineup

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  87. All these line ups have potential, I would just like to see more attacking intent generally, a faster pace of play moving forward, get up the field quickly and stop trying to break down a ten man defence. Lets get some ummph back, like two seasons ago.

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  88. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwYlftBQ02g

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  89. How about this for a revelation - Benteke is an enabler - watch the clips, think about it, he fits absolutely perfectly with Couts, Firmino and Lallana.

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  90. Yes the only real issue for me is his commitment, he sometimes goes missing in games, he needs to change his mind set.

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  91. or the punch bag in the teams gym ;)

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  92. christ the interest on that one ;)

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  93. or dreaming ;)

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  94. Ever want to have some fun with sports contract payouts?


    Search "Bobby Bonilla New York Mets Contract"

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  95. I just find it difficult to believe the club would be willing to give up on him so quickly.


    Someone else here mentioned it before, how we spent seemingly all of last summer pursuing him. To give up on him after one year would be quite shocking. And moreso, at a loss of profit

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  96. You're waaaaaay off...


    It'd obviously be a 1-7-2

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  97. I think the Suarez release clause was incredibly poorly written, which is why FSG stuck to their guns and why the PFA had no course of remedy for the situation.


    John Henry acknowledged that the amount was met, but FSG ignored it. It couldn't be that simple.


    There's no way they could legally do that without violating some sort of player issue.


    My guess is that it was written so ambiguously to the point where the PFA didn't really pursue any course of action.

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  98. will do when my brain wakes up x
    ;)

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  99. I want Benteke to score 20+ goals this season.


    Unfortunately, I don't see it happening. I don't think it would even happen if we took into account all comps this season (which could see us play upwards of 50 games)


    My prediction is that either Ings or Origi will end up with more goals over all comps this season than Benteke.

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  100. Fair and honest, I think if he signs for us he'll easily surpass the twenty mark, I'll give you 10/4.

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  101. I don't bet. But if I'm proven wrong, I hope you give me a big "I told you so"

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  102. ...I've never been one to gamble with money, other things, yes, money, no...but seriously I'm quietly pleased 'cos i've just read your posts on the previous thread Case where you've had some sort of epiphany and are now looking at Benteke in a more favourable way..(have I understated that enough :)....


    ...i really love the way the team is shaping up...just the power we suddenly have in the coolness of milner the craetivity of firmino, couthino and the sheer presence of clyne and benteke....really soemthing to relish...so yeah Case I'll kind of sidle up next to you and ask same....any takers.....

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  103. Thank goodness for that, you probably would of fleeced me :)
    They'll be no proving of wrong on my watch, maybe we could all just enjoy a Belgium chocolate.

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  104. ....LN74, why...? i really don't get it...


    ..please understand I'm not even in the same ballpark as you guys who have inside tactic and stat knowledge...also whatever it is you guys are looking at which signifies a good vs great player....but please come on....this guy benteke can really score goals.....with creativity around him at LFc it can only be good...surely...


    ..and please do not mention balotteli and tactics...I'm an amoeba when it comes to understanding this stuff but even I can tell you up front that guy is a lazy pointless kn*b...his stats are ridiculous when you consider he got sold to us for approx 15 mill?!?!? 'a world class striker'...nah man everyone knows he's pointless...tactics or not if a player refuses to connect/link/mesh then you may as well put me on and at least I'll give it a right go......


    ...benteke is totally different..seriously even I can see that and thats sayin' something....

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  105. How about Sturridge outscoring them all.. with a paltry 12-15 goals?

    Technically our top scorer will be BR with his inability to stop another 50 goals conceded.

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  106. ....10/4....isn't that a cop signal.....? :)

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  107. Sorry LFCNYC74, I'm really not and will never be a told you so type, just trying to get the Benteke juices generally flowing, sorry if it's come across in any way, as a - you should do this or believe this etc

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  108. I am a big fan od dedicated DM's, but I have a feeling that it might work without it. Or with Lucas. And if we press high enough we have explosion and really fast full backs...

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  109. I think there are few things at play here.


    1. I fully admit that I am a bit blinded by the price. It's just too much money, and history has proven that typically speaking we overspend for players of this ilk. Over the past half decade our best buys have been Suarez at 22.5, Craig Bellamy on a free, Coutinho for 8m, and Sturridge for 12m. When we go after big names, we typically overpay and they typically fail.


    2. I don't think he will fit in here from a strategic standpoint. I have my doubts that he can hold his own as the lone striker for us, which would subsequently require us to utilize a second striker for him to play off. I admit that he's more naturally skilled that a player like Andy Carroll. But I feel like the team will fall into the trap of relying on him as a target man when we shouldn't.


    3. The price.


    4. He scores in spurts, and as a result he will disappear in waves. I'm not expecting any striker to go out and score every single game... but when a guy scores 3 times in 3 games, and then isn't heard of for 8 games in a row, that's a problem. He had a great run March through April this year. And was invisible before then.


    The year before (in 2013), when he got hurt near the end of the season, he opened up the year scoring 5 goals in his first seven games. He didn't score again for 4 months.


    His best season was 2012 where he was scoring on a relatively consistent pace.


    5. The price.

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  110. I WANT to be wrong. And I hope this time next year that you are able to say that you told me so. I hope Benteke scores 20+ goals.


    I just don't believe it will happen, unfortunately.

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  111. Absolutely, get your stance, sorry for any confusion.
    Well if Benteke happens and it goes well, it will just be a mutually happy conversation with no anybody told anybody so's, just happiness and a free bar from Jamie.

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  112. That's an understatement mate, the future's looking Resplendeke :)

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  113. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves....


    Jaimie will still complain that Brendan said Benteke was "outstanding"

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  114. Is Jamie that f*t bloke on Redmen TV?

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  115. Reports that BR has turned to Illarramendi once again now that Benteke is pretty much wrapped up. Hope it's true. It would complete quite the successful summer imo really early too. Only other players I would target is Yarmo or Pedro or Reus, but with the AMs we have and the fact that the latter two are a bit out of our reach, they're hardly needed.

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  116. Hell yeah id take delph over allen or lucas. I think hes a tidy player, seems to be really underrated. At most other clubs he would do well but city is a terrible decision.

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  117. Do Scotsmen spell 'instalment' with a double 'L'? And why do they continually use the plural verb whenever the word 'none' is used in the same sentence?

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  118. Or the titles or quality keeper.....

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  119. We didn't go out and buy Clyne so we can play a back 3.

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  120. I don't believe for one second we will sell Moreno because:
    1. We should sell Enrinque, Allen, Balo, lambert, Borini and Markovic first
    2. Take the funds and buy a hard hitting and ball winning DM.
    3. Moreno is only 20 and while he made some bone headed mistakes he was exciting at times.
    4. Competition with Gomez should help and let's see who wins.

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  121. Gil's,

    I like many of your posts but for the life of me I don't see how anyone can see anything redemptive in Balotelli. He is a lazy, immature, uninspired, piece of crap. What he SHOULD be given his physical gifts and what he is in truth are two vastly different things. The only thing he does well is make commercials on TV and scowl a bit.........not worth 1 pound let alone 16m.....

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  122. Quite right. That's why he needs to go ASAP!

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  123. DM is important in your vision? In my vision first a M. M like manager. This is the first priority. Not the chess set, but the chess player.

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  124. Is money really the deciding factor? If the club can afford it then what's the problem financially? New tv rights, increased revenue last season, profit for the first time in years, 45m from Sterling sale.. They wouldn't be going in for him if we couldn't afford it.. So if finances aren't an issue I'm asking the question, would you want Benteke in the starting 11, yes or no? I think the answer is pretty obvious..

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  125. sign benteke , higuain , reus, and pedro

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  126. When we spend 30 million plus you would expect to be really excited about a signing, so why am I left really underwhelmed again like I was with Carroll

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  127. Yarmolenko is going to Stoke unfortunately...

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  128. I have read a report that Benteke is hoping a CL team comes in for him at the 11th hour.....maybe Utd......

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  129. Wants a TOP 4 club in preference to us so as far as I am concerned ADIOS AMIGO

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  130. Agree put him on his bicycle and say cheers !

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  131. Put Ayre and his TC on the next jet to South America and tell them they cannot return without a new Suarez !

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  132. I'm with Benteke on this one, c'mon United do us a favour :)

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  133. Please get sign Alexandre Lacazette too

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  134. The silly part about all this is that LFC have an agreement with Genk and could have got Origi ,Benteke for far less plus Courtois would have been at Liverpool .

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  135. If this is true and he is holding off for a a top 4 club then we should kill the deal.


    I'm sorry but spending 32.5mil on a player who does not really want to play for you is utter madness.

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  136. It's always easier to say in hindsight why didn't we go for some of those players but as you say are we really maximise our partnership with them. Did our agreement end last year though or was it extended?

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  137. So we have brought a very good attacking midfielder in fermino, scores goals and gets assists, brought a striker who has scored nearly 1 in every 2 games (in England) in benteke with a poor villa team, a player who scored nearly half his teams goals in the prem last year in Ings, a very good centre midfield in Milner, a work horse who a few years ago cost 26 million, and a few good young and outstanding young players, as BR would say. And sold a player who disrespected the team and shirt. For a mental amount of money. Think this has been a much better summer. But I agree, if we are struggling around mid table at Xmas, then Brendon's is out, we have a good replacement in klopp just sat there. But I believe after a very tough start, we will be sitting in 5th at Xmas maybe 7-9 points behind top. So we will be ok and maybe will just Nick a top 4 place, and a trophy

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  138. No Benteke not Hemandez

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  139. Well it has been officially announced that an agreement has been made in regards to payments to Villa and Benteke will be having his medical in Melwood on Monday

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  140. (1) We line up against Stoke with Sturridge and Ings up front. Shawcross and Pieters push up on the forwards who are unable to protect the ball when it's played into their feet. Both of them end up coming deep to search for the ball, enabling Stoke to squeeze up and eliminate the space. Our structure collapses.

    (2) We line up with Benteke and Sturridge up front. Benteke takes up a position close to Shawcross 25 yards from goal and invites the pressure when the ball is played up to him. He shrugs Shawcross off, laying the ball into the feet of Coutinho between the lines as Sturridge runs in behind Pieters turning the defence, Clyne moves up to support the play, and Henderson gives a simple option to keep possession. Coutinho plays it to square to Clyne who combines with Sturridge to make space for a cross as Benteke makes a run at the far post...

    I like the sound of (2).

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  141. Sturridge wont be available until November

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  142. That was the second (home) game against Stoke.....

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  143. 100% with you on that. I too, have been showing my full support of him on other articles. He will become a very, very good and important player for us in time...

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  144. I know. It's more about the problems that Benteke could solve for us that we've encountered in the past than combinations with specific individuals.

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  145. Agreed. Hopefully his seeming lack of motivation at times came from playing for a team really lacking in quality. Hopefully a top 4 challenge will keep him focused

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  146. yes it certainly should :)

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  147. After scoring the winner against Milan Lacazette has said he's staying at Lyon- fair enough - if we can't have him I'd rather he stayed where he is- at least for this season

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  148. Ghost of Suarez2:20 pm, July 19, 2015

    Where? BBC, Sky all reported that Benteke told Villa wants to sign for Liverpool and that terms of the fee and contract now agreed. The delay is that our club doctor is travelling back to UK from oz to oversee medical

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  149. One has nothing to do with the other.


    If we can get a situation where we don't have to front the money, why shouldn't we pursue it?


    That doesn't mean that we are going to miss out the deal. It just means that we are trying to negotiate to our advantage.


    The club can't win. Someone like yourself would complain about the club haggling over the payment structure, and if the club didn't, someone else would complain about the club fronting the money and not using a payment structure.

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  150. The problem that LFC have now is that nobody wants Lambotelli . 16m + 12m + 4m = 32m same price as Benteke and will not get back half if they lucky !

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  151. Isn't a stuffed stable MFs the 'problem' Mourinho has? I don't hear him complaining.

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  152. The difference is he knows which players would start important matches (and usually do, 90% of matches), and bench players know it too and do not complain.

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  153. The price is now a sunk cost so factor it out and be positive. He wasn't surrounded with good players at Villa.

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  154. Thank goodness! This might be the last-minute hitch we need to scupper the deal.

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  155. + messi and cr7

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  156. For above 30 million I want 'outstanding' not good

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  157. All anyone can say is wait and see.

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  158. Which centre forward would you like us to sign?

    Seriously?

    Benteke is probably the best out there available. Second best in the PL behind Costa probably.

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  159. Maybe, but I am excited about a 4-2 diamond line-up:

    Benteke Sturridge
    Couts
    Milner Hendo
    Can

    Origi. Ings
    Firmino
    Marko Ibe
    Lucas

    Mix and match at will.

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  160. There is still month and a half in the window. We are so much better off than last year at this time. We came sit and sell and we'll have no mad scramble at the end to find a striker.

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  161. really? like really comparing multi million dollar deals with ebay listings?
    "i know" - did you get a copy of his contract?

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  162. Don't hold back on your critique of baol on my be half

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  163. It was the Star but they have within an hour come in line with everyone else. I didn't really believe it but was a bit bored ;-)

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  164. I don't know how we define "available". Very few good players are explicitly transfer listed.

    Off the top of my head: Son, Aubameyang, Volland, Dos Santos, Higuain, Mandzukic, hell even Bacca or a City striker.

    Maybe even add a few more sterling for that genuinely top class striker everybody seemed to agree we needed not too very long ago.

    Benteke is decent, and I'm not convinced he's proved anywhere near worthy of being Liverpool's main striker.

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  165. I don't see any of those players as being a significant advance on Benteke! Mandzukic is the only one with a game like Christian's, and he's pretty much finished as a top striker, whereas Benteke has it all to prove... see, there's not much about is there? Big powerful centre forwards with some ability on the ground who are proven goalscorers at the elite level... Benteke's the pick of them. I don't think he's particularly an incredible player, but there's not much around that fits the bill from what I've seen. Imagine what Harry Kane would cost!

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  166. My question is, why are we determined to buy a big, powerful centre forward? Why not a very good, nimble forward? Or if we do want a mildly above average big bloke, why not somebody cheaper? For the record, I don't rate Harry Kane particularly highly either ;)

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  167. Liverpool the great institution have now become a FEEDER CLUB, with all that money what have they bought? Brenden Rogers new tactic is 10 strikers on the pitch with one shite goalie score one more than we let in.... Make FENWAY happy and keep my job. Finish 11th and have the bragging rights to finishing top of the second half of the table...LOL

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  168. Free Transfers, they're FREE for a reason!

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  169. He doesnt need to finish in the top 4 at all 6,7,8,9, as long as the CLUB make money he has a job there!

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  170. Take some aspirin and sip a good whiskey. You'll feel better in the morning and all the negativity will pass.

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  171. Origi will score so will Coutinio and Hendo Sturidge wont be fit and the new kid brazillian should score a few goals but we dont have a 'Striker' we need a £70-90million Striker or forget 4th

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  172. Get him fit and sell him on!

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  173. If thats the case at best 9th

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  174. most expensive bench warmer in history

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  175. ITS ESSAY TIME

    Oh OK. Well the fact is that if you want to do well in the PL, or in any elite football really, you just have to be able to compete with the opposition for strength in the confrontation between central defence and the forward line. There are very few possible ways of excepting your team from this rule and they all require extreme quality in other areas.

    If you can't compete there, then your forwards get pushed back into midfield, because they can't receive the ball near the defenders. This means that all kinds of combinations up front can't happen: your striker can't lay the ball back to your playmaker, can't spread the play quickly to the flanks or look to involve a teammate running in behind -- or if he can do these things it's because he's too far from goal for them to be effective. Even worse, your team loses its structure as the forward line is folded back into midfield and the whole team gets compressed. The opposition completely control you at this point because they can choose where to set their line, they can keep your full-backs pinned, and they have the initiative. If they have quality to capitalise on their domination then you are in real trouble.

    There's a lot of variables and ways of approaching this confrontation, but it's an essential part of all football. To win the premier league you virtually have to have this quality in your team. It's not optional. Players like Drogba, Costa, Rooney, Henry, Shearer, Suarez, Kane, have all been able to dominate opposing centre halves with their strength, to the extent that the defenders can be forced to abandon the confrontation and drop deeper. This allows the striker to get possession easily, and if he has some quality, this means that his side can control the game in the opposition half. A player like Kane or Drogba who has the creativity and passing to exploit his advantage makes it possible for his team to absolutely dominate the opposition *on his own*.

    So yeah it's quite important! It doesn't make sense to lots of fans, I appreciate that, because it seems like if a player has pace and guile to beat the central defender receiving the ball 10 yards from him, then it doesn't matter if he hasn't the strength and power to receive the ball 2 yards from him, and it will enable the team to be more compact and better in the transitions. But in reality those 8 yards make a massive difference to the way a whole game plays out. Elite defenders aren't so easy to beat 1-1... so it's better to try and plan your game around more reliable and consistent outcomes -- unless you have Messi...

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  176. Ah, wish all clubs list their players on ebay like that. We could see the bidding wars and there will be more transparency. ;-)

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  177. Did you miss my first reply to Robo? You can add Max Kruse to the list. Also there are at least four other strikers in the world that we can sign.

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  178. I agree about strength being important - I guess my rugby background leads me to not necessarily equate it with size! Played against plenty of tall, hefty, weak players in both union and association footie.

    Players like Suarez, Tevez and Henry are awesome examples. All were very hard to bump off the ball, and all combined toughness (Henry was also big) with ingenuity in tight spaces. Personally, I'm a little guy whose excuse for a football career ended prematurely at right-back, and I always found it way easier to tackle big, strong forwards with only reasonable levels of skill. It was the forwards with extreme close control and low centres of gravity that held the ball up best. For me, size is really overrated; what counts is how willing a player is to get hurt.

    Interestingly, I like the idea of a Drogba- or Ibra-like striker for us, who has both physical dominance and lovely ball control. My concern with Benteke is that I've not seen enough of that "quality" you spoke of; he's not shown enough nous in the tight areas to convince me he can play the Costa role. Nor has he shown enough as a finisher yet to come in as a Shearer-type poacher, who needed to do very little but score brilliant goals.

    For me it's not so much about beating an elite defender in 1v1, but more about being able to retain the ball and get a clever pass away in the right direction when under heavy pressure from an elite centre-half or defensive midfielder.

    Thanks for the thought-out reply, by the way. Got a lovely deadline at work so am not able to respond as thoroughly as it deserves.

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  179. Thanks for replying at all mate -- you should really get a Disqus account sorted you know ;)

    As a full back you can tackle and dive in, and you usually have cover anyway (except when you *are* the cover obviously), but CB is different isn't it. You are just getting a foot in reaching round the forward, most of the time, in contact, because you can't go to ground. If you can dominate him there, then he's got to go back into midfield and you can just shield the space and spend your time looking like Beckenbauer and shouting at people, which is like the final form for CBs.

    But if the forward gets on top of you and can shield the ball, *you* have to drop off and this enables the whole team to play. Benteke will do that for us, with *enough* quality that he can bring others in... but I'm repeating myself and you know all this stuff. I'm just working out how to express it, really, but it must be a bit boring to read :)

    if I saw a young Ibra or Costa available, I'd be shouting for us to chase him down, but I think Benteke is the best we can do this year, basically!

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  180. Brendan will make him 'outstanding' within 24 hours- you watch!

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  181. Sergio Ramos is available for a reasonable fee too if we're looking to strengthen our team and money is no object!

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  182. The only thing which is suggesting it is credible is the fact that he has missed our friendlies despite being on the trip but that could equally well be explained by injury. The newspaper report suggested that the Chairman of Roma, Sabatini, had flown to England to seal the deal. Why would he do that when Ian Ayre, Brendan Rodgers and Alberto Moreno are all in Australia??

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  183. Note: Moreno came on in the win against Adelaide.

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  184. I'd be really surprised if we DON'T finish in the top 4. We have strengthened so much in this window. Sacrilege I'm sure but Milner is an upgrade on the Gerrard of last season. Firmino looks like an excellent signing. Clyne should be better than Johnson. Gomez is looking like an improvement on Jose Enrique as cover for left back. Benteke, Origi and Ings will be an upgrade on Balotelli, Borini and Lambert plus I'd be surprised if Sturridge wasn't available for a bit more of this season than last. Ibe is looking increasingly confident and hopefully should be able to help fill the Sterling absence. Our signings from last season will have had an extra year to settle in and our youngsters a year to mature. Don't know enough about the behind the scenes stuff regarding coaching to know whether the new coaches will be better than the outgoing ones but I'm glad to have Gary Mac back.


    Anyway lets stop some of the negativity about the place We would have qualified for last season's Champion's League with a decent, fit striker.

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  185. Sorry to see Ilori won't be staying. I'm guessing that he'll either be sold or loaned. What makes me think this? BR referred to the players who would be joining up with the squad in England and mentioned Coutinho, Can and Firmino. No mention of Ilori.

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  186. We'd never get close to what he is worth. I think we're better taking the risk on him being fit than getting an amount of money which will leave us nowhere near replacing his quality.

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  187. £70-90m? You think we need to break the transfer record to get 4th place? Who even is a £70+m striker?

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  188. Your opinions are always straight forward and thats good. I just dont agree about Balo. I still think you contribute a lot to the site......

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  189. If imhonest he's been crap for the most part I just find myself sticking up for him for some reason

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  190. You are either a great dad, or a misguided psychologist looking to fix the un-fixable......

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