15 Jul 2015

Mega-Deal: Liverpool now free to sign 'world-class' goal-machine for '€50m-60m'. Sign ASAP?

In May, Liverpool scouts allegedly flew to France to watch Lyon star Alexander Lacazette in action, but despite the Reds reportedly being favourites to sign the prolific striker, speculation over a transfer has cooled over the last month. Christian Benteke and Salomon Rondon appear to be Liverpool's striker targets du jour, but if the Reds go back in for Lacazette - who appears to be a popular transfer target amongst LFC fans - it's clear that the club will have to pay through the nose to seal the deal.

When asked this week about Lacazette's future, Lyon's manager, Hubert Fournier, told reporters:

"If a €50-60m [£35-42m] bid was tabled, I will no doubt have to prepare for his [Lacazette's] exit and wish him good luck, but I really feel like he wants to stay."

In a recent interview, Lacazette himself also confirmed that he wants to stay at Lyon:

"I do not know what will happen, but at the moment I can say that I will play for Lyon next year."

Last month, Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas has also dismissed the possibility of a deal:

"Impossible. He [Lacazette] will be with us at the Stade des Lumieres and in the Champions League [next season]"

Impossible is nothing, though, and as Fournier notes, Lacazette will be sold if the price is right, and after the sale of Raheem Sterling, Liverpool have the cash to pay Lyon's asking price.

With 39 goals/assists in 40 games, Lacazette achieved excellent creative stats last season, and given his speed, mobility, and finishing ability, he'd clearly be a logical signing for Liverpool.

Steve Nicol seems to think so, and in a recent interview with ESPN, he insisted that Lacazette 'fits the mould that Liverpool are looking for', and strongly urged his old club to pursue the striker:

“Liverpool have an opportunity to sign this guy [Lacazette] and I think they should. He loves to go forward [and] score goals and he reminds me of [Luis] Suarez. I think this would be a superb signing".

Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier is also a fan, and in a May interview, he enthused:

"He [Lacazette] can be world class. I was told he’s a very dedicated professional. So if he looks after himself and if he does the right thing then he can become really top notch.”



This all sounds very exciting, but there's just one thing that doesn't compute: unlike Liverpool, Lyon qualified for next season's Champions League, so why would he take a step back and join a club in the Europa League?

As for Houllier's contention that Lacazette 'can be world-class' - it's all pie in the sky until he consistently performs at all three levels of football: domestic, European, and world.

It's entirely possible that he may turn out to be a one-season wonder, and it's a massive risk to spend '€50m-€60m on a striker who's really hit top form over the last year.

Christian Benteke is the same age as Lacazette, and overall, his goals/assist record is superior. That said, Lacazette is arguably more suited to Liverpool's style of play, but he'll probably cost more than the Belgian.

Taking everything into consideration, is Lacazette worth '€50-60m'?

Author: Jaimie K


305 comments:

  1. More important than Lacazette to come would be Rodgers to go.

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  2. I am a fan of Ligue 1 and like to keep tabs on anyone important and Lacazette's rise has been a long time coming and the people of France have known this for the last two years. Him and Benzia (Along with Fekir and Umtiti) are part of a young group of players at Lyon who can be their very own "Class of '92". Lacazette is the 'Giggs' of that bunch and would propel us to the CL and hopefully more in later years.

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  3. And who cares if he is 50-60 million Euros. Not our money. And as i know Joe Allen was 30 an Lallana 30, Markovic 30, Etc, etc, to not say about Carroll or Mignolet.....

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  4. Newcastle were close to signing him for 15m 2 years ago. Our scouting team needs a huge revamp.

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  5. I would hardly call it a step back, Signing for LFC in the most competitive league in football would be a step forward, even with Europa League... The bloke has vivions of playing for France in the upcoming Euro's, and will do his chances a world of good playing in a stronger league against stronger competition...

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  6. In fairness to Lacazette, he was good the season before last as well.

    Can't say I've seen him play all that much. Don't watch a great deal of Ligue 1 and when I do, I watch PSG or Marseille usually. Seems like he'd fit us better than Benteke and for a similar price.

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  7. You getting these figures from the Daily Star.

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  8. Lacazatte would be the perfect signing and really generate the feel good factor amongst the fans which would hopefully rub off on the team to start the season with

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  9. I'd prefer aubameyang, he wouldn't cost that much, BVB aren't in the CL either and he fits our style of play

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  10. The Metro...

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  11. Essentially, yes, it WOULD be a step back. Why? Because Liverpool isn't the only club that exists. Chelsea, Man U, City, Arsenal. It's evident that the clubs mentioned hold almost everything Liverpool could offer + more (CL being the most notable one), other than maybe game time, which unless you played for City, could probably be provided at the other 3 clubs as well.


    And that's just thinking on the small scale. Madrid Barca Bayern Atletico Juventus PSG to name a few outside of the EPL are all possibilities and can afford to bring more to the table. And as soon as those clubs show interest I think it's safe to say he's gone.


    Firmino on the other hand was a great piece of business and we should be looking for more of these under-the-radar esque players.

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  12. What a bargain that was!

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  13. Personally I think half of it will come from his outstanding attitude

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  14. Personally I don't think Yassine should be classed up there. Someone like Corentin Tolisso or Clinton N'jie though are ones I would be looking out for.

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  15. Then again arensal who would offer him CL-football want him too...

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  16. No that was he dad Humpty.unfortunately he was unable to be saved...:(

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  17. Allen 15; lallana 25, marko 20, mignolet. About 10

    Wellcome back NGCTC

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  18. He was referring to the prices in Euros. 30M E is about 21M L

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  19. STOP THE PRESSESS!!!! FSG haves sanctioned a HUGE transfer and if it happens will blow the roof of this sucker!!!! Watch that space....

    I guess they realized we are loosing our global fan base with no notable stars in our team!

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  20. What?where you hear that?

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  21. Yeah. The Sterling transfer is old news bucko.

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  22. Let's just say the news are been made around right now nothing concrete yet but I am sure you will be hearing it very soon!

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  23. Your pulling the p1ss aren't you?!

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  24. Can you tell us what it is then? I mean, if we're going to hear it soon anyway...

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  25. It's funny: the British press are filled with stories about how he might come to Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool. I just looked at the French press and they are all about the 60 million Euro offer PSG allegedly made for him last week and rarely mention any interest from Britain. Television channel TF1 suggests that although Lacazette wants to stay at Lyon, PSG are offering him a higher salary which might turn his head- 5.5 million Euros per year as opposed to the 4 Million Euros that Lyon have publicly declared that they would offer him in a new contract (apparently Lacazette is annoyed about these details being made public). . Those salaries work out at £74000 and £54000 per week respectively.

    So in answer to JK's question of why he would take a step down from Lyon and come to Liverpool here are some reasons:

    1) Liverpool could easily blow those weekly wages out of the water, if they chose to. In spite of having rich owners PSG are not as rich as Liverpool- we are th 8th richest club in the world- they don't make the top 10- Lyon probably wouldn't make the top 50. They are also under scrutiny because of financial fairplay and until they can get Zlatan's enormous salary off their books they would find it difficult to compete with us. Lets not sell ourselves short.

    2) Liverpool are a MUCH bigger team than Lyon in terms of their global status and they play in a vastly superior league.

    3) Lacazette may want to play in the Champions' League but he also wants to be a starter in the French national team for Euro 2016. At the moment Griezmann, Benzema and Giroud are all ahead of him. One thing those players all have in common is that they play in foreign leagues. Lacazette might feel he would benefit from an overseas experience. But here's the rub: if he does so he would need to make sure that he was more or less guaranteed a starting place in his new team: he'd get this at Liverpool but not at Arsenal or Chelsea.

    4) We could sell him on th idea of joining our club. Stress its history and global fan base. Remind him that just 10 years ago we actually won the Champions League. Stress that the season before last we came within a whisker of winning the Premier League. Stress that last season we would undoubtedly have qualified for the Champions League if we'd had had a lethal striker- at this point we go into all the flattery about how he would have been ideal in that capacity. We underline that we are building a project for the long term, based on young players but that he could be at the centre of that. It's not that hard to find reasons why people would come to us: we fought off competition for Firmino after all.

    Not all players will listen to such reasoning but some will.The Champions League is just one consideration amongst many. Fabian Delph chose to remain at his current club rather than get Champions League. James Milner turned down the chance of staying at a Champions League club to come to us. Remember that when clubs like Manchester City were building themselves up from also rans they didn't have Champions League football to offer. To attract players in those situations you need to be able to sell a project to them, make them visualise their place in the project and very probably offer them a salary which is above the market rate. Lacazette's advisors have talked a lot about money in their dealings with Lyon. Lyon have responded by going public with details of their proposed contract, in an attempt to make Lacazette look greddy in the event that he moves on. So I suggest money might be the real key to landing him.

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  26. PSG apparently tabled an offer last week. Arsenal are currently suggesting that their recruitment is pretty much done. If I were a betting man I'd say there's far more chance that Lacazette WON'T come to us that that he will but that doesn't mean to say we have no chance. We shouldn't sell ourselves short.

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  27. He's been on a steady upward curve from 'good' to 'excellent'.

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  28. One of his problems with getting in the national team is that he finds his way blocked by Giroud amongst others. At Arsenal he might find the same situation replicated at club level. Beyond Giroud they also have Sanchez, Wellbeck, Walcott.....and Sanogo. He might want less compeition for a starting place. Besides which Arsene Wenger is currently implying that Arsenal's recruitment is done unless unexpectedly the right player comes up at the right price. Wenger generally doesn't like to recruit too many in a single transfer window so he might not just be saying this for effect.

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  29. If he came to Liverpool he'd be certain to reach 'outstanding'.

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  30. It's worth 32.5 million just to beat them to one of their targets! :-)

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  31. I think Lacazette fits our style too. In fact my one real reservation about him is that he might be too similar to Daniel Sturridge.

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  32. Yes that would be s real curse...2 Sturridge strikers. Sign me up.

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  33. Do you think he'd also be 'fantastic' and 'great'? Would he show a lot of 'intensity' and bring something 'positive' to the team. Or would it be more a question of 'Lacazette, si tu dis "calme-toi" encore une fois tu seras dans le premier avion à destination de Lyon' ('Lacazette, if you say 'steady' one more time you'll be on the first plane back to Lyon').

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  34. ...it's worth £32.5 million just to kick 'em all collectively in the b3lls.....!

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  35. In one season we could offer him that.

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  36. if you say 'steady'' one more time....

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  37. That depends on him showing real character. You're right; he should cut out the 'steady'

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  38. ...watch out....Y.O. might defect to another site for £49.1 million comments if you carry on havin' a go at him like that dancenever..... 8-/

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  39. ...in the flesh.... ;)

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  40. ...tell me Y.O. has dancenever ever given you a compliment we can beat him with.....?

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  41. He is Aidying and abetting me ;)

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  42. Maybe that's their diabolical plan...to use our hate to beat us to the small fish and then pounce easily on the better fish in Lacazette.

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  43. Haha. He once said I made the best young comment in Europe...

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  44. Yes but it was derisive sarcasm.

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  45. ...ok first we have to find a site where we can sell that....then we take over the world.....

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  46. ...how about talking to him....?

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  47. Fortunately that kind of criticism is bound to motivate me to comment even younger and better

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  48. His head would explode.

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  49. I know a guy in Manchester...

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  50. *rubs hands with glee*
    ...'remember its all dancenever's fault ok Y.O. ? nothing to do with my word in your ear.......'

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  51. For ego reasons or big-words-like-derisive reasons?

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  52. Oh yes, of course. Dancenever will have to settle for a 10% cut and a high-powered job muahaha

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  53. ...ok Y.O. thats fine but remember only let it get to your head a certain amount.....I need you to keep posting 'best young comments'..enough to keep everyone entertained but make sure there are a few errors...there probably will be anyways 'cos your head would be heavier and go lop-sided so a bit off balance thus giving the impression you are off your game...but we'll blame that on dancenever putting you off.....

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  54. Fine!! Like this is not a concrete news yet but FSG have sent delegates to BVB. We have bid €15M more than Madrid did for you know who.

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  55. Last season we would undoubtedly have qualified for the Champions League if we had had a decent striker available to us. £42m may sound like a lot of money but if it is the difference between qualifying for the Champions League and not qualifying then thta puts it into perspective. Besides, when you make a big name signing you get quite a lot of money back in merchandising: I remember that was the argument that was put forward when Newcastle signed Alan Shearer for £15million.
    We desperately need a striker who can score 15-20 goals a season in addition to Sturridge's goals. I'd be surprised, in today's market, if we got that striker for less than 30 million.

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  56. True; I'm already feeling a bit unsteady... or is that because of the dizzy height of this pile of 49.1m sterling?

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  57. ...hey dancenever, sorry man, I just went off on one....a picture formed in my head and then it wouldn't stop...hope you take it as fun..thanks bro.....

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  58. Haha, great banter, ol' chaps :)

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  59. We cannot sign him, we would be the laughing stock, every time he goes to ground.

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  60. Yes, but sometimes it's good to be able to offer a little variety in the game, to have an alternative way of scoring.

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  61. I see Van Gaal has fallen out with yet another of his players: Victor Valdes is now up for sale. I'm guessing that if we didn't go for him last year when he was free we won't go for him this year when he has to be paid for. Shame really because goalkeeping is currently a weakness in our squad which we have failed to adequately address this summer.

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  62. Don't worry DinMan, I understand the reference. I hope Y.O. understands that my original comment was a reference back to a totally cringeworthy scene in 'Being Liverpool'. I would want Y.O. to think I was having a go at him/her.

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  63. ...and what is the next level after excellent?

    Liverpool, lad.

    YNWAs all round, folks!

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  64. ...yeah man he got it...we werwe taking the pis out of that very scene...


    '...you said steady on,' he gave him a look a killer shark would be proud of, '...you know what you said there young raheem...,' he gave the boy another steely-eyed glare, one which said, you don't know who I am or who I work for MI5 ring bell....? he then continued, '..say it again son and you'll be on the next plane home...'

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  65. we just took it a stage further and referenced it as a stick to beat you/Brendan with for mentioning staedy and 'it' being the reason for the deep discord of raheem the red.......

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  66. aidying and abetting.....hahaha.....

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  67. ...this is so hush hush and clandestine even LFC don't know about it yet...... 8-/

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  68. I hope this one comes, it's getting really difficult living with a manure fan as a brother. also i'm new to this commenting stuff, is there any etiquette i should know

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  69. ...Aidy Ward......

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  70. ...be polite, use legible sentences.....and remember...the world is reading.... :)


    ...oh, and every now and again gently take the piss out of something or someone....it keeps boredom at bay....


    ...oh yeah one more thing...every now and again your comment will, and I mean will, get eaten by the tr0ll on the bridge...that is until it gets a seal of approval from on high....just get used to it....or find a way around...you'll see what I mean....

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  71. ...you welcome bro....


    ...oh yeah...and welcome....

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  72. Starting to wonder if we will pick up a striker at all...

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  73. Matthew Metzgar2:10 am, July 16, 2015

    Is DinMan on LSD?

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  74. Matthew Metzgar2:13 am, July 16, 2015

    Every transfer is a gamble, but I'm sure all the fans would appreciate the 30m gamble on Lacazette, rather than 3 other bargain players that won't contribute.

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  75. Latest reports suggest we have submitted an offer for Salomon Condom.

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  76. The ever reliable Metro news are suggesting that Liverpool have made a bid for Salomon Rondon. Any thoughts?

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  77. I don't know this player very well and so have just watched his Scoutnation video. First thoughts are that he scores A LOT of goals from the edge of the 6 yard box and that a number of the actions featured in the video show him miscuing his shots. I hope we are going for the best option and not simply the cheapest option.


    Filling this centre forward slot with the right player is too important to engage in penny pinching. We are currently also bidding on Patrick Roberts of Fulham according to reports. Roberts looks like a star in the making so my only concern about that bid is if it is taking time and money away from what should be the absolute priority at the moment and that is getting the top notch striker in the door.

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  78. I agree with everything apart from that financial point about being richer than PSG. That top 10 list was made according to value rather than the richness of the owners. And PSG have had their financial fair play restrictions lifted now and are free to spend and they please so 60€ for Lacazette can be done easily. PSG are a real European force now and can go very far in the CL next year, do not underestimate their power.

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  79. I can't fault him

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  80. Word is his headers on corners are worth 10m alone!

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  81. They are still under FFP scrutiny despite being allowed to recruit again:

    "Al-Khelaifi insisted though that Parisian giants, who have been linked with a number of big signings, cannot splurge wildly on new players.

    Under the deal with UEFA that ended the sanctions, the club will "have to submit financial results including balanced financial results" for 2015-16, the president said.

    "So we will spend our money on well targeted players as we have always done to help the club grow. We will not have an unlimited budget," added the Parisian president"

    (Source: http://www.mondedufoot.fr/nouvelles/_n1630069_/psg-ready-to-spend-after-sanctions-lifted/ )

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  82. They are still under FFP scrutiny despite being allowed to recruit again as reported on the Monde du Foot website:

    "Al-Khelaifi insisted though that Parisian giants, who have been linked with a number of big signings, cannot splurge wildly on new players.

    Under the deal with UEFA that ended the sanctions, the club will "have to submit financial results including balanced financial results" for 2015-16, the president said.

    "So we will spend our money on well targeted players as we have always done to help the club grow. We will not have an unlimited budget," added the Parisian president"

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  83. Me too. I don't think he will but I think it's worth asking!

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  84. hello,it's my first time in here.
    http://www.bongdalu.com/2.shtml

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  85. Well I'm all for missing out on Benteke. Having said that, he'll probably tear it the fuck up at Utd or something. Then I'll do a complete 180 and blame Ayre and Rodgers for their abject transfer failure by not signing him because I'm really just a fickle football fan.

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  86. Well said. That showed creativity and character!!

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  87. I have been pounding the table for Lacazette for a month! His contract issues are our opportunity! Ring the fuc&in bell and get going! It's a trade for Sterling for god's sake!!! Then sell the deadwood and get a first class DM and call it a wrap!

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  88. Enter Mr Balotelli .

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  89. It would be a great signing- especially now that we appear to have missed out on Benteke. We really must make signing a top class striker our number one priority and that costs money. In answer to JK's question he is worth '€50-60m' if he helps us secure Champions League which I am sure he would.

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  90. What are the added bonuses for a club if you make CL .?

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  91. MENDEZ = He is the one

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  92. Waste of time talking about it really because we won't be signing the lacazettes or the higuains or the messis or the ronaldos. Benteke , origi and ings are way better lol

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  93. well what are you waiting for Mr. Rodgers

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  94. Lacazette over Benteke 24/7, 365. Chances of us getting Lacazette are very slim though but we should at least just give Lyon a call and find out what it is going to take to sign him.


    Singing a prolific striker should have been priority number 1 from the start and not sure why we did not get this issue over and done with first.


    Let Benteke go to UTD, I would rather give Sinclair a chance and then get a 14lb hammer and use it on Balo in order for him to change his mind set. He is a actually a very talented player but he just does not want to realise that.

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  95. He wants Benteke.

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  96. Ian Ayre needs to fly to france and do a Firminho, and sign Lacazette. we can blow the reportedly offered wages out of the water and t offer that 42m to Lyon.

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  97. oops what have i done

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  98. Imagine two Studges up front?

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  99. Welcome. Tell your bro he's an idiot. :)

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  100. I know.they say he's more injury prone than sturridge!!

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  101. And Southampton just signed J. Classie..

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  102. I'm quite happy to have a squad player with Allens' attitude and application.

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  103. Reports coming out United are about to sign Benteke we may dodged a bullet.

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  104. My selection from our squad whether players are injured or not.
    4-3-2-1


    Mignolet
    Clyne (Ilori or Lovren) Sakho Flanagan
    Henderson Lucas Can
    Coutinho Firmino
    Sturridge


    Playing Ilori or Lovren gives us a chance of a high defensive line. Sakho, Ilori and Lovren all quicker than Skrtel too. Clyne to bomb forward and help out attack as he is an attacking fullback after all. Flanagan to form a back three with the CB's when Clyne goes on the attack. Lucas sits and breaks up play. Henderson and Can to press the ball. Coutinho + Firmino + Sturridge = goals galore.

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  105. Like your team good thinking but no doubt Milner would start ahead of Can and in that formation Moreno being more of an attacking fb would get Flannos spot.

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  106. And of course you know this because you happen to be the windowcleaner in Ayre's office and he made the bid right in front of you as he hadnt noticed you were there

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  107. Stones have windows?

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  108. Did I hear a bell?

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  109. Sounds like a normal night out for Rooney

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  110. Flanno knows how to defend and is the reason why I picked him. Gives more balance at the back when Clyne does go forward. Can needs to start IMO. Box to Box midfielder written all over him.

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  111. I dunno, I see Rooney as more of a hanging-round-the-post-office on-pension-day-with-a-few-cans of-stella kind of guy.

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  112. And I was disturbed during the night by a terrific pounding

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  113. Well, I agreed with you up until the point where you said he is the one. He's not the one, the Oracle told me so.

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  114. I'm not sold on condom. Since he changed his name it seems he's been unable to make those penetrating dribbles.

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  115. Can see us ending up with Charlie Austin though.

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  116. I like the logic for Flanagan's selection. it's a pity he'll be out for a while. With everyone fit I can't see Lucas getting in ahead of Can or Milner but he'll be important cover. One of the keys to making the Henderson / can / Milner midfield work will be some of the Lucas-type discipline. It can work but needs focus.

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  117. God I hope we can do better than him but given the farce surrounding Christian Benteke's signing I'm beginning to have my doubts.

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  118. whats wrong with that?

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  119. best lineup i could imagine (except Ilori/Lovren for Skrtel)

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  120. I'm pretty certain that Man Utd are not after Benteke at the moment. Lewandowski is the one they want. Don't know where the United/Benteke story originated from, but I think that Liverpool are still front runners.

    Upon some contemplation, I actually don't think that Benteke is a bad option at all, and don't understand all the negative cahoopla. He's a talented player that is not like Andy Carroll at all.

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  121. Hes going to have to get past Milner who will be an early starter and a 4321 really needs 2 attacking fullbacks i am thinking they may go 4132 Loges.

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  122. I agree, especially as we may well play with two upfront considering the number of strikers we have.
    I think thats why we are after Benteke as he will be a better foil for Studge, Ings and Origi.
    That being said, Lacazette would be an amazing signing and if we do get him and he does the business then we can look forward to making 75mill in a couple of seasons when Real decide to replace Benzema with him.

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  123. Agreed, however Valdes wouldn't be the answer.

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  124. Rodgers on Firmino: "For me the flexibility of the player was important.
    An OUTSTANDING talent, wonderful touch, appreciation of the game."

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  125. Until we play them and he does what he always does against us.
    if we can't get Lacazette then Benteke is the next best available proven goalscorer within our reach.
    Rondon, Chicarito and the like are not good enough for us and I will be majorly fed up if we let utd strengthen their team with him.

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  126. And that midfield would get us CL, NOT

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  127. At that price we can get Lrwandowski(did i spell that right?)...but none of that will happen rest assured

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  128. I take the point that he has only had one exceptionally prolific season, but he also got 22 in 54 the previous season and he has just turned 24 so while he was not prolific in 2012/13 he was only 21 that season and likely had many appearances as sub and/or played wide (managers tend to do that with pacey strikers breaking through to the first team - same happened to Origi last year) so I think it is LIKELY that we are seeing progressive maturation of the player rather than him being a flash in the pan. If he were 27/28 then I would be much more worried, which is why I wasn't overly keen on Bacca.

    That said any time you spend that big on a player it represents a roll of the dice to a certain extent .

    With regard to us not being in the CL, I think the lure of the premier league and Liverpool (plus the MONEY let's not forget) would be enough to prize him away from Lyon, but our problem may be if Arsenal or ManUre join the race cos then with CL football on the table could be a problem. Still a long shot for me, but I though that about Firmino as soon and ManU were publicly negotiating with Hoffenheim...surely Ian Ayre can't surprise us twice in one season?!?

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  129. United can always get Cavani or the like look we shouldnt be fearing Benteke playing for United we should be concerned with spending 30 odd million on a player that doesnt fit and its not worth changing our style to accomodate him.

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  130. Rodgers most likely will not start with Lucas and then possibly could select Allen over Can.

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  131. I'd be happy if we signed Valdes, assuming his knee is okay.

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  132. Ha, no worries, fellow bro! I got the Sterling/Rodgers reference ;)

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  133. My thoughts is we will start the season 4 cf types if you count Markovic maybe 5 i am thinking 2 up front for sure.

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  134. “He’s got outstanding talent, wonderful touch, a great appreciation of the game. He can play on the sides, through the middle or in behind. -just now (cringe) BR on firminho - so it has begun (facepalm) :/

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  135. I am not Lucas' biggest fan but we have nobody else better for the job. Can is the one player who I would like to see feature in midfield and Hendo obviously being made club captain. Milner will start though. IMO we should have used his wages to lure a top quality striker.

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  136. Ah relax you wouldn't be face-palming if he didn't say 'outstanding'.

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  137. your right, and i need more, i'm shaking man, i just need one more palm to make it though the day!!!

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  138. knock yourself out then ;)

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  139. Whats Ilori done to warrant a starting spot?

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  140. actually, if you read through the lines of that quote, it could also mean no striker coming as he's highlighted that firminho could be used through the middle. now does he mean like a false 9 or no.10? it may not be relevant at all, but i'm seeing lots of reus rumours so....

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  141. Start more Reus rumours, please, because they make me happy.

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  142. Rumour has it that United bought him for 5 million quid :)

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  143. im just speculating that if the reus rumours are true and LFC have indeed bid 15m euros more than RM, then it could just be that firminho is the new f9, and the interest in various strikers that have been reported are not true....

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  144. Milner's a decent addition, and truth be told I think he should rotate with Hendo, with the form player getting the nod. Ah, well, captaincy and high wages guarantee a start, for better or worse.

    What I would have liked to see us do was save the Milner wages and throw a disgustingly high package at Sergio Aguero, who I believe is a lifelong Liverpool fan. That would get us a world class striker and get up City's noses.

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  145. Ah, so then Reus would play on the left wing, Coutinho as sorta-10, maybe Marko on the other wing and Firmino as f9. Very good, although maybe it leaves us slightly short of quality depth. Would be nice to get Reus and a striker, albeit less of a worldie, if money's a challenge.

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  146. if true, i just cant see us getting both. reus is gonna be close to 50 mil and lacazette would be similar. i think that reus has been a major target for some time, and i would lean more towards the reus rumours that the lacazette ones. the other two rumours of benteke and rondon don't really inspire me. they are both target men, and we clearly dont play to the strengths of that type of player. if we really want a TM, then that would kind of rule out the lacazette rumours, and i also think that if we really want a TM, then we should work on getting balo firing.

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  147. i would like to see some of the youth bridging the gaps when first choicers are either out of form or injured.

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  148. This doesn't happen often, but I agree with every word you've said. I just hope we don't want a target man. That said, I'd really like for us to work on getting Balo firing. I'm still a fan of his and think it's worth a shot. And I'd settle for a striker like Griezmann ;-) Great comment!

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  149. Yeah, me too. People like Yesil and Ilori should be given a shot at the big time.

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  150. me too. balo had a fantastic goals/games ratio before he joined us. good players don't just become bad overnight, especially when he's just going to be entering his prime. i think poor man management and leadership from BR and coaching team are as responsible as balo for his poor LFC form. if BR is gone by january, a new manager (klopp maybe) may get the best out of him. however, under BR, i do worry for balo. (btw, im not for trying to force BR out, im just looking at the current situation realistically)

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  151. forgive my ignorance as i don't watch too much european football, but isn't griezmann a winger/inside forward?

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  152. nothing, and lovren isn't the fastet one either

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  153. You're right, he is more of an inside forward/winger, although he's played up front for Atletico a few times. But his main position is slightly deeper.

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  154. A kindred spirit! Agreed, Mr Wayne. At times it felt like BR didn't really want Balo to succeed, what with dropping him after finding form and scoring, and other such nasty things that seem to emanate from their relationship. I'm a bit disappointed in BR, actually, as he's been touted as a wonderful man-manager. But Sahin, Agger, Downing, Reina, Lucas and now Balo are just so many examples that he plays the divide-and-rule game. To my untrained eye, of course. I wouldn't be averse to Klopp coming in.

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  155. so really, we hope to get either Rues or Griezmann?! would be fantastic to have both, but can't see either of them happy to fight it out for that one position. imo, would be best to go for Reus (mainly as i don't know too much about Griezmann) and get a studge backup. -someone young and hungry who can accept that hes no.2, until he outperforms studge. also this striker should not be costing more than £15m if we are spending up to £50 on Reus.

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  156. I think Balo faced 3 difficulties last year.


    1) He was brought in to play as part of a front two with Sturridge (see Tottenham 0- Liverpool 3 for evidence of that). But once Sturridge got injured the whole plan rather fell apart.


    2) Balo's goal rtio was good but don't forget that amongst those goals he was a very good penalty taker. Penalties can be useful for strikers' confidence and for relieving pressure on them cos they're quite an easy way to score goals if you have the nerve to take them (which Sturridge doesn't). At Liverpool Balo found his path to penalty taking blocked by Gerrard. This deprived him of that avenue of goal scoring which would have helped to get him in his stride.


    3) At the beginning of last season Balo's love-life fell apart when his relationship with Fanny collapsed. Obviously someone of Balo's status and looks can easily get new loves but that doesn't mean to say that the break up of a relationship would not affect him and may be playing on his mind throughout the year.


    Points 1 and 2 here can now be solved. Hopefully Sturridge will be properly fit from September onwards and the 2 striker experiment resurrected. Penalty taking is up for grabs again with Gerrard's absence. To point 3 about Balo's personal circumstances we must keep in mind that he has suffered a personal tragedy this summer with the death of his father. How much will that affect his form during the year. Players aren't robots and their personal situations do matter.


    My feeling is that Brendan, and a lot of fans, have given up on Balo and he'll find it difficult this year to be brought back into the fold for that reason. It might be best if he moved on to pastures new. There have been suggestions, amongst journalists admittedly, that he wants to be back in Italy anyway to be nearer his family.

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  157. agree with absolutely everything you just said! ;)

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  158. That sounds like a plan. If I had a Disqus account I would vote up. Reus and a competent backup striker is exactly who I want us to sign.

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  159. absolutely agree with everything you just said, apart from the pastures new bit. for Balo personally, it would do him the world of good for his career and future if he managed to turn it around and be a success at LFC. i think if he goes to another club now, its likely to be a 3rd tier team, and doing well at a 3rd tier team would compound the idea that he cant handle being at a top club.


    i would love to see Balo do well @LFC this season coming, both for him and us. i firmly believe (as you also pointed out), that playing with studge or another fast striker, he would blossom in a f9 role. his natural tendency is to drop deep and draw players out. the only thing that would remain is; does or will he get the intelligence to be less selfish and play a team game? -my worry is that his selfishness could be detrimental to a f9 role, but tbf; he is a selfish player wherever he is on the pitch, and most top strikers are! maybe the f9 role should be left for players that are more forwards rather than strikers?

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  160. actually, it makes me wonder if Balo was even BRs signing? i mean, its hard to tell, as some that he has signed in the past have been treated this way (borini for example). -so if he treats his own signings like this, then how would he treat players that the board have signed?

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  161. I'm wondering, is Reus German for Benteke?

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  162. I also wondered this. BR did hint that he only signed Balo because he couldn't get his actual targets, so Balo may well have been a compromise signing. I just hope that BR didn't give up on Balo a little too easily in order to prove a point.

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  163. me too, however, we are talking about 'the narcissistic one'!

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  164. It does mean giant... *screams quietly*

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  165. Not like he has a portrait of himself in his house or anything!

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  166. when he smiles, the local astronomers cant use their telescopes due to the light pollution caused by the light reflecting from his teeth!

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  167. There is no denying that Balo is his own worst enemy though. When he did play he did not really put in effort. His best match was vs Spurs but then again, Brendan failed to make use of the strikers last season. Lambert, Borini and Balo hardly got a sniff so that suggests that the manager just has no interest in them. Maybe if the manager showed more faith in them they might have been able to get us more goals on the pitch.


    That is the whole problem surrounding Benteke. If we sign him and fails to adapt to a certain playing style then Benteke will find himself in the same shoes as Balo, Borini and Lambert and a shed loads of more money pissed down the drain.

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  168. agreed, but i think balo is a little sensitive, and if the manager is constantly criticizing him or demeaning him (of course, i don't know that that happened, purely speculating), then he's going to be in a very negative frame of mind, and that is not conducive to a good performance. i can relate to this through a particular work experience that i had.
    you are spot on about Benteke though. its just another balo/lambert/carrol waiting to happen...

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  169. agreed, but i think balo is a little sensitive, and if the manager is constantly criticizing him or demeaning him (of course, i don't know that that happened, purely speculating), then he's going to be in a very negative frame of mind, and that is not conducive to a good performance. i can relate to this through a particular work experience that i had.
    you are spot on about Benteke though. its just another balo/lambert/carrol waiting to happen... :)

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  170. youve got a reply from me, but its in the hands of the gods atm for moderation :/

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  171. Rodgers has apparently said that we don't need a like for like Sterling replacement (per ITV). I take this to mean that he thinks we're covered in attacking midfielders and wingers. Presumably this means we'll focus on getting a striker. Makes sense to me.

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  172. Agreed with just about all of that. Especially the Benteke bit. Makes more sense to manage Balo properly than to splurge on a new guy who's proven nothing yet.

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  173. You say pollution, I say radiance!

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  174. maybe i can slip past the mods...:

    agreed, but i think balo is a little sensitive, and if the manager is constantly criticizing him or demeaning him (of course, i don't know that that happened, purely speculating), then he's going to be in a very negative frame of mind, and that is not conducive to a good performance. i can relate to this through a particular work experience that i had.
    you are spot on about Benteke though. its just another balo/lambert/carrol waiting to happen



    not sure it works pasting the original message with a few changes, but here goes..

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  175. why dont you have an acc? only takes like 30 secs to set up... :)

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  176. how long does moderation usually take??

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  177. United agree 5 million fee for Reus.

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  178. apparently they are 'close' to signing all of our targets...

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  179. It just doesn't feel right... More of a safe choice

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  180. Makes a lot of sense...

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  181. where did you get that info? i cant see anything that suggests that on newsnow. just curious :)

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  182. i wouldnt be surprised if a lot of what we see are actually smoke screens, and we are gonna get someone in completely under the radar.

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  183. Oh Picasso, do shut up. Your comments make as much sense as your paintings!

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  184. yes, it'll be interesting to see. Hopefully someone of a similar quality to Firmino rather than someone like Borini- I remember before Borini arrived BR was saying that Liverpool were about to sign someone who would really excite the fans: everyone's response when he signed was Fabio Who???

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