1 Jul 2012

"It totally changed" - LFC legend reveals truth behind Sigurdsson failure....

This time last week, Gylfi Sigurdsson's transfer to Liverpool looked like a dead-cert, and most fans expected the Iceland International to become the club's first signing of the summer. Things change quickly in football though, and it now appears that the Swansea midfielder is on the verge of joining Spurs instead. Why the sudden U-turn? According to Liverpool legend Steve Nicol, it's a depressingly familiar story.

€9m [£7m]-rated Sigurdsson grabbed seven goals and three assists in seventeen starts for Swansea last season, and in the middle of June, he seemed to imply that he favoured a move to Andield:

"I expect not to stay at Swansea. My desire [is] to continue playing in the Premier League and Liverpool is a big club that has a glorious history"

Soon after this, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed that he'd spoken to Sigurdsson's representatives, and stated that if the the 23-year old came on the market, he would definitely try and sign him.

Speaking to ESPN last night, Steve Nicol provided some inside info on the Sigurdsson situation, and revealed the reason why the transfer to Liverpool broke down. He said:

"From what I know, the fee that was arranged between Swansea and Hoffenheim went through the roof as soon as Liverpool were mentioned, and the wages that he [Sigurdsson] wanted totally changed as well, and Liverpool said 'you know what, we're okay'"

Nicol is obviously well-connected at Anfield, so it's highly likely that his info is correct, and if it is, then perhaps the Reds are dodging a bullet here.

Football is already overrun with money-grabbing mercenaries; do we really need any more, especially at Anfield? If the chance to play for a legendary club like Liverpool is not good enough for Sigurdsson, then Spurs are welcome to him.

Jaimie Kanwar


83 comments:

  1. I agree that we could be dodging a bullet here, whilst he does seem to be a good player it was a little concerning that hoffenheim didn't appear to want to keep him.

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  2. properscousernotlikejamrag2:13 pm, July 01, 2012

    if money motivates him we dont want him we want players who are motivated by the badge enough said go to a club with no manager

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  3. If the player is really great and Rodgers fails to sign, we can label the new manager as one of the most idiotic coaches on earth. Stupid and slow.

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  4. 100% agree with you on this one JK. We need to learn how to say NO. It seems like all of our recent signings have been made in desperation and we don't need to be that way. Players should want to come to us, rather than us chasing players all the time 

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  5. I am not to bothered about Sigurdsson and I also don't really want Ramirez for the money being talked about.

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  6. Why not try to buy the player who took his place in Germany?

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  7. Even if he signs for LFC he'll need to perform miracles to be accepted by fans as will be seen as a mercenary one. 

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  8. Just the way it goes, the bigger the club interested, the bigger the fee and wage demands. Though fair play on the club standing firm.

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  9. too many ex "Liverpool Legends" have too much to say. They should keep whatever opinions they have to themselves and let the club get on with the business.

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  10. If we bow to his wage demands then every young player will want the same in the future as soon as we come in, it could be very dangerous.....the days of 100.000 a week being a given have gone, especially at anfield, but you know what i'm not going to slit my wrists, life goes on and i'm sure the football club will as well. YNWA

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  11. Anyone who wants money over medals can jog on, go to Spurs and win nothing Gylfi!!!!!

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  12. Well said!!!, why are the Germans so desperate to sell him????

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  13. I'm worried. For once in my life I have to agree with Jaimie. Why are those white coated gentlemen walking up my drive?

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  14. why did u try and block me from posting comments on your page? :/ i havnt said anything out of place :/ or is it just because i have maybe said something u havnt agreed with??????? 

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  15. ChrisMainwaring2:27 pm, July 01, 2012

    We should sack Brendan Rodgers and bring in a proper football manager.

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  16. Football is full of money grabbing mercenaries,most of them play for successful clubs and are very talented individuals whereas all we attract are over priced talentless tripe.Henderson for 20 million or 7 to 9 million for Sigurdsson? He'll be a great acquisition for Spurs.Bullet dogded? Ask this question again around December.

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  17. Apparently he agreed £30k at Swansea, £50k with us but now will be paid 70k at Spurs. I don't think that he is that good!!

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  18. your an idiot if your serious

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  19. liverpool have offered 35k a week spurs 50k ...he will choose pool if not he would have signed for spurs already,hes  just trying to get the best deal ...uncle buck rodgers will take us forward FACT

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  20. good let him go get rich at spurs..

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  21. your on a liverpool fansite, not chelsea.

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  22. Ridiculous comment!!

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  23. yeah,let's sack him before a ball has been kicked and get guardiola and messi in.
    you're top class you are.

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  24. Have faith in BR if the lad is good enough then he will sign for Liverpool, If not he won't on the money he wants!!!

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  25. if the rumours are true then it's all about the money.apparently the original offer from lfc included a pay rise next season that was performance related.
     

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  26. I think its more a case of Sigurdsson wanting to leave Germany, less the club wanting to sell him (Swansea originally wanted to buy him, not loan him but Hoffenheim would only agree to a loan initially). Only 22 so not been a regular for them but he wants to play in England. Came to England when he was 14/15. From the articles I've seen, doesn't seem like Babbel was overly keen to sell him. Babbel in April: "
    I’m keen to get to know him and that is why I want him back.”.  I don't think they are desperate to sell him but he is not a key player for them at this stage, so its not a surprise they are open to selling him, if he wants to leave

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  27. let him and everyone who is linked to us go somewhere else. we are linked to gaston ramirez tello every player from the bottom 5 teams in league players over 28 years of age . Apparently Cole is going to be like new buy give us a break every player is on holidays no one is talking to liverpool and if they are we only have 30 mil . we seriuosly have to look at replacment for stevie gerrard he spent most of last year injured not getting younger we need world class striker 100% not bargin sub for 5ml.i seriously beleive the owners dont care top 4 they just want us mid table

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  28. We do have a CL-level wage bill at the moment it seems from the report articles you get every season about the list of wage bills of clubs, so without CL football, not surprised if we are being more frugal.

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  29. MMM Think there is more to this behind closed doors, With Babble at Hoffenhiem who is going to be Pro Liverpool and with BR having worked with the guy already in the prem i think Liverpool are thinking this is a bit of a test, if he wants to play for Liverpool he will take the slighly lower wage (which is still more than he's on now) with the idea of showing them he is worth more which he would get (just take a short term Contract), Spurs won't ever break there pay structure and are looking to reduce there wage bill so he can expect to be on that wage for quite a while to come.

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  30. We should sake you and bring in some one that Knows what they are talking about :)

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  31. Nice to a positive LFC spin for a change Jaimie...

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  32. Apparently he was happy with £30,000 a week on offer at Swansea, then Liverpool went to £50,000 a week and now Spur's have gone to £70,000 a week..................It is too much for an unproven player!!!!

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  33. Spurs weren't even on the scene a couple of weeks ago.
    Had we been more ruthless with the Swansea situation
    and got the deal done, instead of trying to look like the
    good guys, we wouldnt be in this position. However i agree,
    he's not worth being held to ransom for!

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  34. Hmm unreasonable demands for a half a season player in the BPL hmmm

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  35. GREEDY C..T

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  36. 7-9mil for swansea. spurs are paying 10 and big wages. i hopr rogers has done a fergie and stung a big club with an average player. 10mil for adams corners alone yeh right how much for his woeful tackling.

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  37. Thats right.....he's gunna win loads at Liverpool aint he!?

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  38. Lets get real.  Players being motivated by "the badge" is something the died out with the lifting of the wage cap.  Players, like anyone who rocks up each day to work, work for the money, the esteem value, and what ever awards they can get.  To attract players to the club is to appeal to them on all these fronts...

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  39. And that's the way the cookie crumbles. Swansea were disappointed that they were gazumped by Liverpool and now Liverpool are disappointed that they are going to be gazumped by Spurs. Next stop Man U? The money hierarchy at work. 

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  40. Doesn't bother me that he wants money. He's a professional, he's entitled to it. I don't care what motivates players, so long as they are motivated. For all I care, Sigurdsson could come here for the wage packet but as long as he does enough to merit it, then that is fine.

    Assou-Ekotto has said he barely even likes football, but he is one of the most dramatically improved players in the league over the last few years. If someone wants to play for the shirt, fantastic, I'll be proud of them but equally, if someone follows the money but gives his all, then I've no complaints.

    There is too much jealousy about footballers earnings. It is hard to stomach that they make our annual wages in a week or two, especially considering some of the proclivities (nefarious and frivolous) of men in the game, but it is a big ol' pie and the players deserve a significant slice of it.

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  41. for one, this article i have to agree with...every other article you have posted has been amatuerly negative...but this one....i must still be drunk

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  42. properscousernotlikejamrag4:50 pm, July 01, 2012

    thats y liverpool av been going down hill for years paying overpriced  players over priced wages they dont want to play for liverpool they come for the money lets get players who want to play for liverpool not for money , so y was he going to sign for swansea on half the salary but when liverpool came in his wages doubled so u get real 

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  43. properscousernotlikejamrag4:52 pm, July 01, 2012

    won more than spurs last year

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  44. yes.. hezz gonna wn loads of them if he joins liverpool !!!! YNWA

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  45. Theycallmemrburt5:02 pm, July 01, 2012

    If the Chinese league wanted me at £6.5 million a year from 19yrs-35yrs. I'd be a Chinese speaking,football playing, money making, no fame having, happy sun of a gun. I'd probably retire at 25 and do something more important with the rest of my life.

    I say, Let them be.  They live in an artificial world where entertainment has more money making potential than most industries.  The bubble WILL burst soon leaving splattered gum everywhere and until then let them backstroke "Scrooge McDuck" style in their respective money vaults. 

    When the days of Representative or "backed" currency OR Commodity currencies makes a welcome return I envisage trouble in this corrupt paradise.

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  46. Firstly he is not a swansea midfielder he is a hoffenheim player. Secondly, the reason that swansea had a lower fee agreed was due to the agreement between the 2 clubs taking into consideration the loan fee already stumped up by swansea. So don't big yourselves up that it was merely Liverpool's interest has hiked the asking price up.

    Stop living in the past, spurs is a much more attractive proposition than Liverpool. Managerless or not!

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  47. Spurs wage structure has been tight for years. They simply don't overpay for players. I think this is more of Liverpool attempting to decrease their wage bill than anything else. LFC's operating revenues have declined with performance, so it makes sense to cut costs in the form of payroll. To think that Kuyt made more than Bale and Modric last year shows what I mean.

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  48. Where did you get those numbers from? Are they arbitrary, or did you completely pull them out of your backside? You realize our wage cap is around 70K, right? Sigurddson won't get anywhere near that. He is a nonessential signing. A backup squad player to substitute for VDV.

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  49. Listen to you all. Fee agreed with the Germans personal terms agreed with the player next thing is he is going to Liverpool because you offered more wages spurs have done to you like you did to Swansea. He is a good player that is young and listens to his agent.

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  50. Theycallmemrburt6:00 pm, July 01, 2012

    Spurs are more a more attractive proposition....no doubt about it.  being in the capital doesn't hurt either does it.  I'd probably pick Spurs to.  Bale, Huddleston, Paker Modric, Lennon in front of Walker, king, Gallas and Esso Ekoto.  They are much closer to the promised land than we are.  They have pace creativity and score goals. three areas we sadly lack.

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  51. Totally agree Jaimie

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  52. Steve Nicol great player but no idea what he is talking about

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  53. Wait and see Gylfi will sign for Liverpool, this is just a ploy to say 'big' players want to play for Liverpool and more importantly to say players want to play for Rogers  

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  54.  At last LFC are showing sense im sick of us paying big money and wages on crap....its time we held our nerve ...even if it means signing no one...we need to sign the right players at the right price who fit in with the ethos and tactics

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  55. First person I agree with.. Wait and see!!

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  56. And you can also be labelled stupid and idiotic. 

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  57. It's okay if he doesn't want to come. BR can always go find another newer and younger 'Sigurdsson' that is cheaper and as good. One fact we need to admit before we can move forward again is that we are now in the rebuilding phase, not the 'oil daddy' phase that KD got to enjoy. So why not find unproven players that are young, cheap and good? Right now, we are no different from Swansea FC except richer history and more highly paid players in the present squad.

    If I'm representing the selling club knowing LFC is after my player, I will simply triple the transfer fee. After all, we can afford to pay 35 mil pounds for a boy that scored 14 top flight goals in 33 games. My perception that we are now a laughing stock in the history of player transfer in football will not changed so I won't blame any of the selling clubs for doing so. I sincerely hope we can get a really decent striker that knows how to put the ball into the back of the net, not someone that cost 35 mil pounds and contributed 6 goals in 42 games for us. Please, no more such nonsense.  

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  58. a spelling teacher for us all wont go a miss!  me included!

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  59. "Money grabbing merc because he went to Surs" it was oki for you to try and steal him off Swansea and offer him bettar wages, one word =
    HYPOCRITES

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  60. football players nowadays,only think about money.there is no loyalty to the football club,any more.I am a swans supporter,and we have lost a great manager,and liverpool now have him.some liverpool fans are knocking him back already,before a ball is kicked.Just give him a chance.Dont be so negative.As for us,we have a new manager,and i know,we swansea fans will be behind him,one hundred per cent.Iwould also like to thank hugh jenkins and his staff,for being patient,in getting the right man for the job,and i am sure,we will have another great season.

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  61. good for LFC , charlie adam springs to mind. done wonders at a small club. no offence to him and he may well be a better player than sig

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  62.  you get time and space at smaller clubs when your unknown...10 million pound players at bigger clubs are marked and planned for...my guess this time round sigi will be nowhere near as effective

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  63. I say pay for quality, not for mediocre.  Not anymore.

    He will be joining managerless team if he joins Spurs, that's taking a gamble right there with his carrier. 

    They might want him as another Niko Kranjčar, to be there if needs be. His high wages and not very low transfer fee can keep him on the bench for very long time. Just like with Kranjčar. 

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  64. Yeah Chris and we should sack stupid fans like you and get real ones! Twat

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  65. For the first time ever I actually agree with Kanwar.

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  66. Pbro, can you explain the wage cap for all us idiots, please.

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  67. So why have you just given £100,000 a week to Bale?, so much for your salary cap!!

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  68. Gylfi's dad has come out and said his son just wants to get paid the same as the other players at the club. I believe he's asking for £65k per week and LF won't go above £35k.

    You can see why he'd want £65 as he'd clearly be in the starting XI and the likes of Hendo and Adam are on similar wages. We've already taken the £80k+ wages of Aurellio and Kuyt off the books.

    If LFC won't even pay £65k a week to a first team starter that was to be given the task of transforming our midfield then we are royally screwed for next season!!

    What sort of message does this sent out to our other targets and our big name players that are linked with moves away? Plus, obviously we've wasted the precious little time we had.

    If LFC can't even bring in the likes Gylfi and are happy to let him go to one of our main rivals, then next season looks bleak indeed and LFC continue to be the laughing stock of the Premier League - assuming we avoid relegation! lol

    Please FSG don't scrimp on any future quality signings just because of last years' transfer catastrophes.

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  69. I think I would love Ramirez, have seen him and he is twice better than downing,Hendo and adam. Really. No hate intended but thats just how it is. He is not british but he is that good. much much much better than sigurdsson

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  70. Sigurrdsons not world class and never will be so why pay him them type wages.
    Nicol made a valid statement without saying too much in the past Liverpool have overpaid for crap this nonsense is gunna stop and thats great.
    In saying that i think Liverpool have good enough squad players and now need to fill first eleven spots with world class talent even if they only acquire 1 per season.

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  71. Kathuria Mayank3:16 pm, July 02, 2012

    What he does not understand is that the moment he starts to play great football  and starts scoring goals, the club will automatically offer him a better contract. What is he so afraid of??

    Plus Spurs have a wage cap an liverpool does not.

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  72. Don't need him. Return of the Aquaman!!!!!

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  73. He simply decided he was better off signing for a top 4 challenging team than a mid table one, just plain common sense really.

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  74. You have to be really stupid or greedy to sign for a managerless club when there is no certainty that the incoming manger will even fancy you.  Footballers are brainless these days... and agents are just predators looking to feed!

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  75. Mr. Point Of View9:16 am, July 03, 2012

    Well at least BOARD know what their doing...not simply rush buy = flop ???

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  76. not managerles any more they have AVB or atleast about to have AVB

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  77. This is how it is: 
    Chances created 2012
    Pirlo: 85
    Sigurdsson: 55
    Messi: 55

    I have been watching him for a long time now..this one is up to be one of the best. Great loss if we miss on him :/

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  78. i have to agree that he has been slow. We have seen two prospect targets slip out of his grasps and go with other teams. These were targets that he'd worked with, whom he is supposed to have some sort of relationship with . Fabio Borini didn't think twice in choosing Roma and now Siggurdson backpedaled when he found out that Spurs were interested.  Liverpool transfer this season has become one tiring played out saga. I have no choice but to admire how United and Arsenal and Chelsea pursue their players aggressively. They have made some high profile signings and have put down serious money. Liverpool has had problems just signing simple mediocre talents in Borini, Ramirez and Siggurdson. It doesn't bode well for Liverpool and Rodgers and seems like it's gonna be a rather long season.

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  79. yeah i have said it before, we need an injection of foreign technical talent. I am not saying make the this team Spanish like under Benitez or French like Arsenal but something has to be said about what the technical style of play foreign talent can bring to a team. Also want to make the case that it is possible for a highly technical passing game to occur at Liverpool but it would take a while to get our players to play that way. Much easier to just bring people in who are better suited for that kind of play

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  80. Zuco i couldn't agree with you more. We have a lot of positions that need strenghtening at Liverpool and from the way i see so far we are not going to be able to reinforce all those positions. We have needed a good quality striker as far back as last season but so far Rodgers is yet to purse a prolific striker

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  81. You have got to be pretty stupid to believe the new manager knew all about it before he was announced as the new manager.

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  82. So Liverpool have decided to try and re-negotiate with him at the last minute and he is not interested.

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  83. Extremely happy that we are not signing another central midfielder when we already have Gerrard, Lucas, Cole, Aquilani, Adam, Henderson, and Spearing. Liverpool is different from Swansea. A player that is badly needed at Swansea may not be as badly needed here in Liverpool. Guys like Cole and Aquilani may performance equally well in Brendan's system so I'm just glady that we saved 8m for a winger instead.

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