16 Jul 2015

Next Transfer? 'Extraordinary' £10m destroyer wants to sign for Liverpool. Talks ongoing

Liverpool continue to be linked with a move for Inter Milan midfielder Gary Medel, and it appears that the Reds are moving closer to sealing a deal.

Over the weekend, Chilean newspaper La Terrera claimed that:

* Liverpool scouted Medel during the recent Copa America tournament, and were 'impressed' by the Chilean's performances.

* The Reds are considering an official offer for the 27-year old midfielder.

According to reports this week:

* Liverpool have contacted Inter, and are now 'in talks' over a possible transfer.

* Medel is 'keen' on a move to Anfield, and will 'listen to offers' from Liverpool.

Some info about the Chilean international, who was part of Cardiff City's relegation team during the 2013-14 season:

* Nicknamed 'The Pitbull' for his combative style.

* Cost Inter Milan £10m last summer.

* 2008: Chilean 'Player of the Year'.

* 80 appearances for the Chilean national team.

* 2014-15: 44 apps for Inter (0 goals/3 assists)

* 2015: Helped Chile win the Copa America, and made the Copa 'Team of the Tournament'.

* 48 yellow cards/4 reds in the last four seasons, which is an average of 12 yellows a year.

* Missed only 12 days through injury during his entire career.

Cardiff signed Medel for £11m in 2013, and a year later, the club engaged in some Liverpool-style transfer negotiation, and sold the midfielder at a loss for £10m, which angered ex-Cardiff star Nathan Blake, who told the BBC:

"He [Medel] was one of Cardiff's better players in the Premier League. I'm surprised at the price tag. He had a decent World Cup, and I think he had a decent season as well".

Prior to the Copa America final between Chile and Argentina, Man City striker Sergio Aguero praised Medel, who ultimately played a major part in helping Chile win the tournament. He told reporters:

"Chile have some great players, and I think Medel is crucial in defence".

In April, Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini made it clear how much he rates Medel:

“Medel is an extraordinary player in front of the defence. He has a heart the size of a house and wins back numerous balls. I think if we didn’t have him there, we’d really struggle.”


High praise indeed, and it seems unlikely that Mancini will sanction a deal for a player he rates this highly. Money talks, though, and as Liverpool discovered with Torres, Suarez, and Sterling, every player has a price.

What's slightly concerning is that Rodgers appears to be making the same mistake as last summer: buying lots of players and hoping that they'll all hit the ground running.

By the end of the summer, Liverpool could conceivably have 8-10 new faces in the squad, and as last season showed, there's little chance of them all making an immediate impact.

Cue the following inevitable excuse from Rodgers:

"We had to improve the squad and unfortunately we've lost key players. It brings us into a little period of transition again"

This time, though, Liverpool's manager doesn't have time for excuses, or 'transition'. Rodgers has to deliver, or he'll almost certainly be gone in January.

Author: Jaimie K


82 comments:

  1. i don't know better at all, if Liverpool had the best player of his generation and had won every things multiple time i would use that kind of superlative too to describe him... (make sure he knows we think he's the best so that he stay for his entire professional career at the club)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Exactly,no need to splash that much for that kind of player.Liverpool already has enough average strikers.Should try to buy a world class striker or just don't buy anyone.

    ReplyDelete
  3. and he will do that in a team that is built to get the best out of him, which seems like it is not at Liverpool, which is my problem.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Inter, not Milan... I think he would be a very good addition, but it would sadly mean the end for Lucas...

    ReplyDelete
  5. you spotted it... lol

    ReplyDelete
  6. I remember watching Medel when he was at Cardiff and didn't see anything to suggest that he would be a upgrade on Lucas.

    He might play well for Chile in the Copa America but to be honest that doesn't really inspire me.

    Remember Lucas was once the youngest player ever to receive Placar magazine's Bola de Ouro (Golden Ball). Still not sure if that has been broken.



    What I am saying is that South American Football is not at the same level with the Premiership and Italian Foobtall whilst technically a lot better, is played at a much slower pace which is why so many Italian based players have struggled when they have come to the Premiership.


    I honestly do not believe that Medel will be better then Lucas.

    ReplyDelete
  7. No he will play Benteke-taka

    ReplyDelete
  8. Could it be that those players were simply not good enough for a club like Liverpool? Or for the premier league? At the end of his period at Man City, Balotelli scored 1 goal in 19 games, which is worse than what he's acheived for us, and suggests that he's simply not that good.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Is he quick? We need pace in central midfield

    ReplyDelete
  10. Surely it's time for LFC to clean out all the dead wood before buying more players ?

    ReplyDelete
  11. one thing is for sure, rodgers is going to live or die with this transfer (if reports are true.) benteke better get off the mark fast or there will be rebellion in the seats.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What's the source?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Not much of an upgrade on Lucas if at all so just a waste of time if you ask me. Think it's pure speculation, we've been linked with nearly all of Inter's midfielders this summer so doubt this carries anymore weight than the others.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Delph turned down City, £8m release clause. Thats a steal, he's waiting for us

    ReplyDelete
  15. Not convinced on this to be honest, didn't believe utd were really in for him and don't think we are... yet.
    Just tit for tat gamesmanship still at this stage and the use of many mirrors; I'm still holding out hope that Laca is hiding behind one of them in a Liverpool kit and that Benteke, isn't :-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yann M'Vila: A combative break up play, Mascherano type midfield General.Decent on the ball with good accurate passing, although sometimes the weight on his passes into feet are over hit.He would give our centre backs the protection they've been crying out for.M'Vila is a midfield pitbull.If we tabled a bid of around 10m, it should be enough to get him from Rubin Kazan.
    Christoph Kramer: Similar to heavily linked Asier Illarramendi.A ball playing defensive midfielder who would be the link player between defense and midfield.Technically very good.Not overly athletic, but has good positioning and anticipation.

    ReplyDelete
  17. But in a slightly perverse way we can say we have nearly fifty so get real or we will go and buy a *really* good striker elsewhere.
    I know that sounds a bit flippant but I don't see how having a bit of cash should be a hindrance, it certainly doesn't seem to hurt chelski et al.

    ReplyDelete
  18. What if the reported Man United interest was just to get Liverpool to meet the release clause and they had no intention of signing him and will now be laughing there assess off... Same thing as the Charlie Adam transfer

    ReplyDelete
  19. Still think that a sizable amount of fans, including myself, don't think Benteke fits our style, NOT, because of the crossing myth but because he doesn't suit our general attacking, pressing, fast moving, high energy, style of play.
    I won't try and elaborate further than that because I don't think there's any need, but fair enough if BR is aiming to move away from the 2013/14 stuff we are all hankering for, then perhaps Benteke is our man, but then again if that's the case then perhaps Brendan actually isn't.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Unfortunately this looks like the real deal :(

    ReplyDelete
  21. Good so we can overpay for another slightly above age player.

    ReplyDelete
  22. The players B Rodgers should be bringing to club this summer to compete with likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United and Man City all the way through season are as follows:
    Mobile Tough tackling DM: Not MEDEL and NOT Illaramendi, the DM needed is: Lars Bender Of Bayer Leverkusen should be brought to the club for £16-£20M
    A World Class CM is also desperately needed: As Allen, Can, Henderson and Milner are all average ball playing central midfielders, none of them have the class, creativity or quality we need to replace S Gerrard.
    Arsenal have Cazorla
    Chelsea have Fabregas
    Man City have Yaya and maybe Pogba soon
    Man United have Herrera and Schweinsteiger
    We do not have one world class Central midfielder at club anymore, so one of these three world class central midfielders should be brought to club this summer for £23-£32M:
    R Nainggollan Of Roma
    T Alacantara Of Bayern Munich
    Koke Of A Madrid

    ReplyDelete
  23. Yeh cos Nainggollan hasn't just signed a new contract and Thiago and Koke would be so happy to move from their trophy winning clubs to lose 6-1 at Stoke.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Don't get me wrong I'm not questioning the source/s, or Jamie's accuracy in relaying the details but how many times have we thought we were nearly over the line and later found out we were actually nowhere near.
    Sure I've heard it get to this stage many a time and also sure, I've later heard the selling Club completely refute the reported offer.
    Just trying to look at it from a different angle - imagine if this was a player we *did* want - no way we'd be celebrating just yet so why should we succumb to the misery already.
    That's my hope anyway ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  25. M'Vila is a mercenary so no thanks. Kramer is a decent young prospect but doesn't have the physical dominance we are crying out for.

    ReplyDelete
  26. What if we sussed their game and are now returning the 'neither of us really want Benteke ball' with interest :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Nainggollan just signed new contract, as Roma fully signed him out right. If the club offers £23-£32M we will get him for sure

    ReplyDelete
  28. You can't see that Man City, United and Chelsea are an other level?? Ferrari. Arsenal is A Porsche. And Liverpool....i do not want to be too bad....You can see the manager's name, how are the owners. Etc, etc, good that they doesn't force the players to play on Saturday baseball and on Sunday football. I mean the same players.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Good point. I am sure hoping that your hope is not just hope but reality!

    ReplyDelete
  30. His passing success rate is only 66.7% . If we go for him will he even be able to "pass" the medical?

    ReplyDelete
  31. If he uses his head he'll be ok.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Chelsea came in and that was that......

    ReplyDelete
  33. Can ,hendo,Allen,Lucas,milner and at a push lallana can play cm do we really need a very averagevguy like medal,I'm all for a top draw DM but this guy isn't it

    ReplyDelete
  34. Why don't you support city then?I'm not Rodgers biggest fan but he's not going anywhere for now and I think we have to get behind him and the players from here on..

    ReplyDelete
  35. I think Balotelli is much better than Benteke.

    ReplyDelete
  36. You're probably right, you know. One of the things that made Gerrard viable at the base of the diamond, despite his tactical indiscipline and lapses of concentration, which would normally disqualify him from being able to play there, was his big shell. Can has that presence, but yeah, a real nasty piece of work with thighs like steamhammers would be handy.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Yeah but we've got a brand new combine harvester and Brendans got the key :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. That's exactly what I thought. Benteke's a decent player but 32.5 million?? Jesus wept

    ReplyDelete
  39. you deserve a medel

    ReplyDelete
  40. Just a curiosity. Where is your ( i mean your VVLFC ) limit when you say no more, thank you, goodbye. Lets say if in 2025 Brendan Rodgers is finishing on the 10th position and no trophy in 14 years, this would be enough, or maybe one more season, to be 15, not 14. Seriously, i am curious. If you want to know i do not support Brendan Rodgers since he didn't realise he lost the title after Gerrard's slip.mi was very angry, because he would have to play for 0:0, Mourinho wanted better Liverpool to be champion, than City.

    ReplyDelete
  41. He's got himself in an awful mudel, that's for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  42. He can't drive a combine. But it is good big inside for sx.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I swear...


    For the last time we did not over extended against Chelsea.


    We have 100% control of the game and Chelsea were completely content to sit back.


    The ball played to Gerrard was a very simple one, he slipped end off.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I think on a good day he is agreed, but maybe Benteke has more good days than Balo. Neither for me though but Lacazette - now we're talking :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. No. They did not play for 0:0. Now is end off. :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. We need a Patrick Vieira or Roy Keane Type of Midfielder.


    Both were very strong, powerful, brave, great positional play

    ReplyDelete
  47. Look at the interview after the Chelsea game. Rodgers thinks that they will win away with 10-0 next game. He just can't realise that he lost the title, a thing what we are waiting for from 1991. Would you trust him to walk with your dog, i ask seriously. I would not trust.

    ReplyDelete
  48. That's a very good point you make Jamie about the successive influx of new players and our need, wish and I think, a genuine worry, for them to hit terra firma in a graceful hurry, rather than in, a newly born foal trying to stand up kind of way.

    ReplyDelete
  49. I have already said that I'm not Rodgers biggest fan but obviously there isn't going to be a change of management before the start of the season so I think as Liverpool fans we should support him.is it going to help or change anything by continuously moaning about the manager.I'm not sure benteke is the player we need but if he pulls on our beloved jersey I'll support him all the way..

    ReplyDelete
  50. so you just deleted my comment because i agreed with stu.. ? classy..

    ReplyDelete
  51. I have already said that I'm not Rodgers biggest fan but obviously there isn't going to be a change of management before the start of the season so I think as Liverpool fans we should support him. is it going to help or change anything by continuously moaning about the manager.I'm not sure benteke is the player we need but if he pulls on our beloved jersey I'll support him all the way...

    ReplyDelete
  52. That's what sprung immediately to mind. He had no right to score from there. Cissokho had no right to the assist either, just a bit of Suarez genius. God I miss him...

    ReplyDelete
  53. The reason diego costa scored that little headed goals was because chelsea hardly crossed the ball last season. We were 20th and they were 19th.

    ReplyDelete
  54. It's difficult to see what Allen brings to the team. When he was signed Rodgers pointed out that he was a player who controlled possession and rarely gave the ball away. But even Rodgers lost his obsession with possession after the first few months- he never mentions the word any more because even he seems to realise that it's not possession that counts but what you do with it. So if Allen's greatest strength is no longer in demand what else does he contribute? He's not a top notch defensive midfielder in terms of tackling. He hardly ever scores and hardly ever offers assists. What has he done to justify being kept?

    ReplyDelete
  55. Wayne, I think the reason why Liverpool were dragging their feet on bringing him in is that they put a lot of emphasis on value for money and were therefore haggling to get the price down. When it looked like someone else was coming in for him- whether those stories were true or made up by Villa or the player's agent- we snapped him up. Yes, we may have paid over the odds for him but if he is identified, rightly or wrongly, as the man to lead our front line then you have to pay what will get Villa to release him. Personally I am perfectly happy with the signing- that's not to say I wouldn't have preferred Lacazette- but given a choice between Christian Benteke and a last minute panic buy because we dilly-dallied too long I'd take Benteke. I think he offers a lot more than people suggest.
    As reagrds how much money we have left, Ian Ayre has always maintained that funds are there. I don't see any reason to doubt him because Liverpool have been growing their commercial activities and there is a massive new television deal on the table. Eevn if there was no money already in the coffers you'd have to think that we could scrape together some through sales- so far we have brought in aroiund 57million in sales (Coates, Aspas and Sterling) but eventually we'd hope to find a buyer for Borini, Lambert, Balotelli and Jose Enrique to add yet more funds....

    ReplyDelete
  56. I'm just turning my thoughts to our potential formation for next season. Didn't see the Thai All Stars game so I don't know what formation we used there. But it strikes me that when Sturridge is fit we'll use 2 strikers so that obviously has an effect on the rest of the line up. We also have quite a few attacking midfielders/wingers to accommodate, as well as a lot of centre backs. What sort of formation do you think we'll play?

    ReplyDelete
  57. ^ good points - and I do hope Benteke proves me and other doubters wrong. i just hope that by buying him, we haven't put all our eggs in one basket. i will be happy with the purchase, so long as we can continue to strengthen in other important areas after! :)

    ReplyDelete
  58. To answer your question- 1. No clubs putting in an offer for him. 2. Being a useful squad player 3. Being appreciated by the manager.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I've just been looking at other players who might beat him to that 4th spot- Giroud and Rooney come close on 41 to Benteke's 42- but I think your figure is right.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Yes, it is difficult to see who we would sell him to. We'd certainly get nowhere near the 15million we paid for him.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Rubin Kazan is a club most people automatically link with the mercenary tag.Rennes finished 13th in Ligue 1 the season M'Vila made the switch to Russia.Rubin Kazan narrowly missed out on Europe by a point.It was a clear career upgrade.Not a mercenary move!
    Christoph Kramer is a hardworking, snappy tackler with a 6ft 3 frame.He reads danger very well.Kramer would be a good DM option.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Too young, reminds us what's really important. RIP

    ReplyDelete
  63. I suspect Benteke will get Lambert's number 9 shirt. Lambhert would then be free to get Benteke's number 20 shirt at Villa.

    ReplyDelete
  64. That would make an outstanding piñata and it wouldn't even matter if it contained anything, it would just be the taking part that counted ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  65. I think Benteke takes the no.8 shirt...can't see Lambert moving on before he comes in, it'll be shades of Heskey again at Anfield but lets hope he scores more goals!

    ReplyDelete
  66. No thank-you. We're better of with Lucas.

    ReplyDelete
  67. ...yeah, Case we'll act as decoys......failing that we'll knock him off his harley....gently of course....he's got the monies remember..... :)

    ReplyDelete
  68. ...yeah, i agree Stuart, balottelei's got enough issues to contend with, without having THAT to add to it......8)

    ReplyDelete
  69. ...that's it Bob, that's more like it......throw everything to the wind.... :-)

    ReplyDelete
  70. Ghost of Suarez1:15 am, July 17, 2015

    It doesn't belittle anything mate. I speak on here as I speak in life, to the point and as I find it. Once whoever makes the decision it's clearly better from a team perspective to get him earlier, paying a little extra if necessary. We were quit publicly willing to pay about £25m for home before City had made the accepted offer for Sterling so that kind of puts that to bed. We had money but seems logical we were not willing to pay over our valuation of the player untile City had put the extra cash on Sterling (pardon the pun).

    I am not singling you out mate as you are not the only one but there is a lot of moaning on here about this transfer and people who have seemingly never seen Benteke play calling him Andy Carroll mk2 (based as far as I can see solely on the fact he is 6ft 3) and you people need a dose of reality. It's no good getting disgruntled about Benteke when you haven't presented a viable alternative. We all want to sign Lacazette but, if I had the choice I would sign Messi, but me wanting it does not make the prospect of it happening any more likely. It's not like the people at Liverpool who look at players are neglectfully unaware of his existence...if we don't go for him it's because we likely know we won't get him. His club is already in the CL, but more importantly as soon as we go for him its likely that at least Arsenal, PSG and ManUre will enter the fray, possibly city too, all of whom can offer CL football and some of them higher wages. Our best chance of getting him is not moving now and hoping the others let him stay at Lyon, then if we get CL next year we have a chance.

    So the question is who else should we go for? I submit that Benteke is the best realistic target available. Unless you think Salomon Rondon is a better option having spent most of his career in Russia?

    ReplyDelete
  71. BR will most likely use 4-2-3-1 namely:

    Clyne - Skrtel - Sakho - Moreno
    ..........Hendo - Milner
    ..........Lalana - Couts - Firmino
    .................Benteke

    However, I would prefer the use of a dedicated DM to add balance to 4-4-2 diamond:

    Same back four
    .........Lucas
    Hendo - Milner
    ..........Couts
    ..Benteke - Firmino

    And for further variation I would use Can in sweeper role 1-2-4-2-1 rather than 3-5-2:
    ......................Can
    .............Skrtel - Sakho
    Clyne - Hendo - Milner - Moreno
    .............Couts - Firmino
    ..................Benteke

    ReplyDelete
  72. He has done absolutely nothing... I want him sold in this summer even if there is no replacement bought for him

    ReplyDelete
  73. tbh, i would rather stick with Balo, and i have been saying this all along. i dont see the need for benteke as if he doesn't perform (as have nearly EVERY other striker with the exception of studge hasn't), he'll be cast into the wastes, just like those before him. perhaps if BR was renowned for getting the best out of his signings and sticking with them when they are not firing (yes, there are a few he has, but not many), then perhaps the money wouldn't have been wasted, and i and other doubters could accept it (whatever the transfer fee). also, as i said in reply to 'dancenever' i would hope that whatever is spent on Benteke or other striker, that there will still be money left for other positions. firminho is hopefully going to work out, but beyond him and coutinho, the forward line looks inexperienced/or out of form. i believe that lallana can be useful and markovic will come good eventually, however, i would like one more goalscoring inside forward/winger in to give us that CL spot push. and then there's the DM debate and maybe defence. personally, im happy with the defence (mostly), and with regard to DM, i think that only having Lucas to fill that role is a risk due to his injury record. actually would be very happy with Lucas if it wasn't for his perpetual injuries.
    but back to the point, my issues with Benteke are not that i don't rate him, or that he's a target man of sorts, its simply; 1. his injury record. my only concern about this is as much to do with studge as it is with Benteke. we just cant afford to have our two top strikers out together for large periods. 2. his consistency - now, if rodgers sticks with him through good and bad form, then im sure his average will remain in tact (roughly 1/2), but, if BR dumps him like he has done to others, then i can see it being a huge waste of money. and 3, his contributions im not going to perpetuate the idea that he's a lazy target man, but lets be honest, he's not a fast dynamic striker either (which is what i think we need). ultimately, i would rather BR started trying to get the best out of Balo and others and try and give them some confidence by playing to their strengths and giving them consistent game time. and until that happens, i would worry that more money is being wasted.


    sorry if i sounded terse before, but it just seemed you were making an assumption of me. you won't find that in any of my posts i have been perpetuating any lazy and one dimensional slights on Benteke. and also, i am very happy to debate my points so long as people are telling me what i should or should not think.


    oh, and i would most definitely rather have Benteke ove Rondon!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  74. The trouble with Balo mate is that if you look at where he has been successful he has always played with a strike partner in a two (he did play in a front 3 at times with City but he was one of the inside forwards then rather than the spearhead).Rodgers idea when he signed him was to play the diamond we had utilised the previous year and partner him with Studge....unfortunately while this looked like working (against Spurs for example) Studge's problems meant he could only do this twice last season. He tried it with Lambert but he was too immobile to make it effective. With Studge still on the treaent table I just don't think he can risk Origi and Ings to pick up that slack straight away. Orig I will need time to adapt to the league and Ings likely will need time too. He simply cannot risk us starting off with the goalscoring problems we had last year as we could be playing catch up again while Studge recovers (with no guarantee he won't have another set back althought they seem to think they have ID'd the issue this time). If that happened and we were languishing there would be enormous (unfair in my view) pressure to sack home for not signing a proven goalscorer. So what can the man do??

    I don't think we need anyone to at inside forward or DM really....although if someone exceptional like Pedro became available that would be different....signing someone like Shaquiri would be no better than we have for me, I expect Markovic to come up with the goods this year.

    ReplyDelete
  75. I agree with you points to a certain extent. The problem or dilemma that Rodgers finds himself with, is largely his own making. I think back to January transfer window 2014 , it was clear by then already that studge was made of glass, coming from torn ankle ligament (43 days) to a sprained ankle (39 days) , following on from a hamstring injury earlier that year, we absolutely needed another striker in that window. Yes we still had suarez at that point, but we knew there was a good chance that he would be leaving, and in any case, it probably wasn't the best idea to rely on one man, since it is entirely possible that he could either be injured or banned from games. But Rodgers didn't, and we are where we are now. Benteke may be all that's available now, and I certainly hope he succeeds.
    If we can add pedro to the team too, I will be extremely happy with this summers window. :)

    ReplyDelete
  76. Yeah I agree we should have likely signed a striker then probably and we likely would have one was available for the money we have had....these issues don't solely rely on Rodgers, we have funding resources smaller than the clubs we are competing with, and this capped of with the fact that Rodgers started of with a team/squad that finished 7th the year before he started, and was shorn of all but two of its experienced forwards (Kuyt, Bellamy, Maxi all left before he arrived that summer - he was left with Suarez and Carroll who was never gonna fit) meant he was playing catch up in the forward area from the start, we had to panic buy Borini as there was a week left of the window and that didnt work so there we are, that's all Rodgers fault in everyone's eyes but he had to do SOMETHING as otherwise we had nobody and the club didn't have the money to spend £30m then....we have been playing catch up whilst still at a disadvantage against the others since the Hicks and his mate almost finished our great club. People who criticise Rodgers will casually trot out that he has spent £200m (or however much) but if he started in a worse place than say City (champions the years before he arrived) and they have spent £400m in that time it's not so easy to say Rodgers should have won the league etc and its the same if you compare to Chelsea, look at what UTD were able to do last season when they had a problem, they spend almost as much as Rodger has in total in one window

    ReplyDelete
  77. Ghost of Suarez3:53 pm, July 18, 2015

    Ahh the Rafa faithful...I was one of those once ;-).

    With regard to Studge and Suarez yes Luis scored a lot of goals in Holland, but so did Afonso Alves, you are quite right that some players adapt to the higher standard and some don't...however Suarez had been here two years before Rodgers arrived which is a long time to adapt. Don't get me wrong I am not saying Rodgers made Suarez, no coach can do anything without the raw materials, but the fact is he got the best out of Suarez where others failed and IMO improved him tactically too.
    Same with Studge, yes he showed glimpses of his talent when at Bolton but the fact remains that successive Chelsea coaches, names like Ancellotti and, dare is say it, Rafa, failed to see what they had in front of them and Rodgers saw something they clearly didn't. Chelsea in particular were only missing a goalscorer the season after he was sold and they likely would have won the league. With reference to your point about Studge and Sterling post Luis...you comment on Studge's injury but I would go one further and say that that renders any comparison impossible...yes he played 12 matches (only 8 starts) but had been out a long time before each of them and still registered 4 goals. Sterling didn't play as well last season but that was symptomatic of him being a young player and the team as a whole not playing as well in an attacking sense. Suarez was important no doubt, he became the attacking fulcrum of the team in a way....much like Messi is to Barca...so there was always going to be a period of adaptation after he left. My point is had he left when Dalglish did there would have been no such whole really as Rodger harnessed the player in such a way to use his talents to their maximum.

    The last point I want to make is re defending, Rodgers did address this last season and in the fog of all the criticism it was lost that Migs actually ended up with the second highest number of clean sheets in the league. After 36.games we were on course to have conceded 12 less goals than last season, it's just that we didn't carry anything like the goal threat to get us out when we did concede. Where Rodgers did fail was in the last two games...as soon as they knew they couldnt get CL their heads dropped and a nor experienced coach would not have let that happen. Now what happened in 37 and 38 was not acceptible but think he can learn from that and overall I think he was addressing the defending issue (and even after that debacle we still conceded less goals than last year).

    I have heard the argument that if he had tightened us up in 2013/14 we would have won the league, but those goals conceded cost us very few points (as we usually scored more) and even defending the way we did, after 35 games we were in a position where we would have had more points on the board than City at the end. if not for the game where a blind piece of misfortune hit our greatest ever player - again something that Rodgers could not have legislated for. and again that argument presupposes that it was not a brilliant feat to be in that position in the first place....nobody has swung a team from 7th to a whisker from the title before in the Prem era, LVG could only manage a swing from 7th to 4th last year spending the GDP of a small African nation, and let's face it ...he only did that because Sturridge was out at the end of the day, if we had a goalscorer last season we would have walked 4th.

    ReplyDelete
  78. absolutely! if studge was fit for entire season, we would have most likely qualified. and completely agree with your point about heads dropping at the end.
    i think that ultimately, BR is a good coach. I just wish he keep a little more quiet whilst doing it!
    I'm very much hoping that Emre Can continues developing well this season coming, as I see that with him, Hendo and Milner, we would have a very solid midfield, and also energetic enough to keep up with the pressing game that BR wants! -maybe that would negate the need for a dedicated DM?!
    And just one more quick point about Mignolet... potential to be a top GK, but really needs to improve massively with his kicking and distribution. he never looks comfortable kicking, and regularly puts pressure back on the team when he panics and inevitably kicks straight back to the opposition! I'm not sure on Bogdan as I really cant say Ive seen anything of him, but I really hope he can provide healthy and quality competition to get the best out of them. I really hoped for a quality keeper this season, so will be hoping that Bogdan can surprise...

    ReplyDelete