5 Feb 2013

£26m Transfer Fail: Redknapp hails €3m 'monster' LFC missed out on.

It's now almost one week since the January transfer window slammed shut, and I still can't understand how Moussa Sissoko ended up at Newcastle and not Liverpool. Why were the Reds not in for him? What is going on with the club's scouting network? I'm sure most fans would agree that the team is lacking strength and athleticism in the middle of the field, and the exit of Nuri Sahin left a space in the squad that needed to be filled, so why did Rodgers seemingly ignore the midfielder? With almost 200 games for Toulouse, Sissoko has proven what a fantastic talent he is, and former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp believes he'll be a big success in the Premier League.

In his column for the Daily Mail yesterday, Redknapp enthused:

"I’ve made my point about wanting to see more Geordies in the Newcastle team, but I do like the look of Moussa Sissoko. He looks a monster of a midfielder, travels quickly with the ball and [at £2.2m] represents good business.

In my view, Liverpool's failure to snap up Sissoko is financial and footballing negligence. The Reds were definitely interested in him, and the France International confirmed this in May 2012. He told reporters

"I've had contact with English clubs, notably Liverpool, but I preferred to commit myself to Toulouse, the club where I have been educated, to get more experience"

This season, Rodgers has constantly moaned about having a small squad. In September 2012, he said:

"In terms of the depth, it is nowhere near where I would want it to be — we have a very small squad".

In November 2012, he told the BBC:

"We have a very, very small squad. A very thin squad,"

In December 2012, Rodgers complained that the small squad size meant it was difficult to give the likes of Joe Allen a break. He told Reporters:

"There are others we need to give a break. I've thought about it over the past couple of weeks. In order to do that you need to have that depth to take him out and put somebody else in"

In mid-January, he moaned about the squad size once again:

"We're not 24 points behind in terms of quality. The points difference is due to the squad. That's the difference for us, the depth of the squad. Once we close the gap in the squad in the coming transfer windows, I've got great faith in the fact that we'll be able to challenge"

Sissoko couldn't have made it clearer that he wanted a move, and in January, he said.

""All these rumours please me. Italy and England are historically among the major championships, but the important thing for me is to play at a high level"

So, Liverpool are crying out for quality players; Sissoko - a powerful 22-year old midfielder who'd be ideal as competition/cover for both Joe Allen and Lucas Leiva - is available for £2.2m, and what does the club do? Absolutely NOTHING.

It is hard to believe that Liverpool were not aware of Sissoko's availability. Did Rodgers and his scouting team even sit down and discuss the possibility of signing him? If not, why not? If they did, then what is the credible argument for not wanting the player at Anfield?

I'm sorry, but for me, this is transfer negligence of the highest order, and there's no excuse for not even trying to sign Sissoko, a player who has proven his talent countless times over the last couple of years. Disturbingly, this is nothing new though; over the last year Liverpool have also inexplicably lost out on Nikica Jelavic and Michu, two players regularly linked with the club prior to their ridiculously cheap moves to Everton and Swansea City respectively.

I really don't want to make this next point because it will probably make me feel sick, but the reality is this: Liverpool could've had Michu and Sissoko for a combined total of £4.4m. Instead, the club spent £26m on Joe Allen and Fabio Borini, two players who are now struggling to maintain their first team places.

Don't get me wrong: I've gone on record many times with my support for Joe Allen. He's a very good player, but this is purely about value for money, an the needs of the team. Did Liverpool really need Allen? Arguably no, and that is being proven at the moment with the team excelling without him in it.

Do Liverpool need a player like Sissoko? Arguably yes. There is no other first-team midfielder with his particular skillset (Strength, stamina, athleticism, height etc), and he would've offered something completely different to what's already in the squad.

As I said, transfer negligence of the highest order. If players like Sissoko are apparently not deemed good enough for LFC, then you seriously have to question the effectiveness of the decision-making process underpinning the club's transfer policy.



NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)


319 comments:

  1. whos to say rodgers did not want more signings maybe fsg said no also jaimie you defend the allen signing but not borinni so whats your opinion on him,imo rodgers has stated the lack of strenght in the squad and fsg have ignored him ,this could be another reason they got rid of kenny because they know rodgers will not dare question them

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  2. The details are irrelevant. LFC as a club failed to sign Sissoko - a player that fits the club's transfer profile - even though he was available for £2.2m, and confirmed the club's interest in the past.

    Negligence.

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  3. two words mate. daniel sturridge

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  4.  We shouldn't get too carried away after only one performance. People all thaught we'd missed out on a world beater with Jelavic but time has just proved how average he really is.

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  5. Would of you wrote this article if Sissoko didn't score 2 on the weekend?

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  6. maybe there's something about sissoko that we don't know that lfc do? too early to tell if it was a good buy by Newcastle just yet (imo). there still plenty of time for him to flop.

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  7. Totally Agree! Everybody have known about Sissoko for so long with suggested transfer fees of up 20 mill. How the hell did he end up in Newcastle for 2,2 mill. Shocking!

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  8. Of course. I've been arguing on this site for LFC to sign Sissoko for the last year. He's been playing well for ages, not just for Newcastle.

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  9. It's not about one performance Sissoko has been a good player for ages.

    And Jelavic is not average at all. Suarez didn't score so many goals last season. Is he average? Strikers go through lean spells, but he's proven himself already.

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  10. Totally agree with you, why do we keep making these mistakes?!!

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  11. Agree, for that price we should have been in for him but have you considered his wages? Do we even know what he's on/demanded? Also it seems as though we were waiting on a last minute climb-down from Blackpool which would've seen Ince brought in. Perhaps the last of the cash for transfers was pre-allocated to the Ince deal in the event it materialised.

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  12. I agree with you about Sissoko as I really can't understand it either. At that price it was a no brainer as we definitely lack a bit of muscle in midfield but not sure about Jelavic being proven. He had a good 6 months but has really struggled this year. He would need to perform at a higher level for more than 6 months for me to say that he is proven.

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  13. 1 game and all of a sudden he is a world beater. why dont you ask yourself why no other club was also in for him. if he represented such good business..... clown

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  14. for once i totally agree with you. we are becoming more and more vulnerable after every transfer window. ok we brought sturidge in..but this is to replace caroll, roght? and countinho for the departing cole.. so where is sahin replacement? same happened in the last summer transfer window.. we lost kuyt and bellamy but there was only borini (br silly transfer flop/ transaction) as replacement. aquilani, spearing, adam and now sahin (br silly transfer flop) out and just allen (another br silly transfer flop), and asaidi (another br silly transfer flop) in. y didnt we go taarabt instead of coutinho who am sure gonna be another flop.

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  15. lol Sissoko gas had one good game, ONE!!!!!!!!!

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  16. Why would Liverpool sign Sissoko? we have 60 midfielders already, and you are guessing that Liverpool were ever interested, unless of course you work as BR and ian Ayres PA

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  17. All this negative talk despite improved performances... We missed out, we also brought in Sahin in the summer who was supposed to be awesome (To be fair he was at Dortmund) Guys, sometimes transfers work, sometimes they don't, there is no guarantee had we bought him that he would have been a success. I for one (being honest) thought Sturridge would flop, but the guy has been more effective than his £50 million flop of a former team mate lol. Maybe this window was prioritizing our attack (Which I think has looks pretty darn good). Maybe in the summer the other end of the pitch will be addressed...Who knows. 

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  18. Clearly, you can't read. I state in the article that he's been playing well for ages. It's not about one game. 

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  19. I think Sissoko played as an attacking midfielder on saturday? It seems NUFC will play him in a slightly different role.

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  20. Another person who can't read. Sissoko confirmed LFC's interest. He said he'd had contact with the club, which means LFC are interested. But let me guess: he's lying, right?

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  21. He wanted to play for La Toon, he is French afterall.................ha ha ha

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  22. i havent seen much of sissoko to say that we needed him, but we need a strong midfielder in this mould...

    Yeah, i would take Michu and Sissoko over Allen and Borini any day...

    And it's not like they were unknown players, they were rather famous even before they got transferred...

    I think BR wants only players with good technical ability in his midfield... But it's the Premier League, size and strength matters too...

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  23. What the hell are you talking about? Sissoko is a box to box midfielder. Nothing like Allen or Lucas

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  24. The reason is becoz its BR the mediocre manager is in charge. All the moanings were all a smoke screen to cover his lack of depth. Pls, as long as he is in charge, we are doomed.

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  25. What is your point? He can play defensively and offensively, which means he would provide great cover/competition for all of LFC's midfielders.

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  26. Reina out carrol out for 25-30m in summer..... begovic in....diame in.... williams in.... a good left back to rival enrique.... ince on a free and taarabt isnt a bad shout from the guy above as our advanced midfielder in the summer and ill be happy

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  27. lol...So mediocre in fact that he has managed to get results from both Arsenal and Man City at home, so mediocre that the philosophy he has in place is now being used throughout the club, not to mention the fact that he is working in the aftermath of someone who financially raped the club in the transfer market. Yeah...I see your point..we sure are in a precarious position since Brendan took over, no doubt.

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  28. but whos in charge of signing players thats the question is it rodgers ayre or fsg,fsg have the final say as its there money,but are we still buying players on stats or because there young or what nobody at the club seems to know what the f"ck is going on evryone seems to be pulling in different directions,imo fsg have not backed rodgers and have stripped the squad to the bones,its ok wage cutting but they have done it with a chainsaw,and the club will suffer as a consequence i feel that we will sell to buy in the comming years,and  we will continue to have a small squad,and any injuries will serverly affect us we have been extremely lucky this year with injuies,but if one of our best players got injured we would be f"cked imagine where we would be now if suarez had got injured after the close of the transfer window scr£wd with no striker

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  29. br is a yes man end of story ,we will get knowhere with a mediocre manager and his signings , you wouldnt find a second rate captain driving the QE2 ,WE ARE LFC 

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  30. the ince transfer was dead for weeks unless fsg met blackpools price

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  31. ONE good game in England so lets keep our knickers on, the opposition didn't know him, plus the opposition were having a bad day. I have no doubt he's a good player but Rodgers has opted for Coutino as he must be more suited than Sissoko to what Rodgers needs so I'm happy with that, In Rodgers we trust!!

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  32. in buissness its called assit stripping 

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  33. FSG are using the signing of coutinho in hope , that he turns out to be fantastic so they can smokescreen getting rid of suarez in the summer who will be forced from the club the same way that torres was 

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  34. Liverpool should have signed Sissoko coz we need the quality and strenght in midfield, the only center midfielder atm that is class is Gerrard and from time to time Henderson shows promise. So it really doesnt matter if we got 60 midfielders as long as those 60 are Allen, Shelvey, Lucas (did u see the last matches he played?) And yes until now he only had two good games in PL but so have Downing and he cost almost 10 times as much and been here for almost two years. Sissoko is young (22) got loads of potential and he brings strenght to a position we do need more of it in, and for 2-3m...isnt that the bargains we really need to be doing if we are to compete with the clubs with loads more money,,and he also fits the profile FSG wants perfect..young..potential...cheap.... 

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  35. I think I need educating on what a 'Yes Man' is? I was under the impression that is was someone who said 'yes' to everything, so despite the fact he refused outright to work with a DOF and to have anyone else in control of his transfers, he's still a 'Yes Man'. Sorry can you clarify this as I'm really confused. Also, what has us being Liverpool got to do with the manager 'In the modern era?'. Can you remind me where Bill Shankly came from (If you're referring to Brendan's former clubs).

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  36. not saying he is lying, but wouldn't be the first time a player lies. I'm sure we had a look at him in the past but at present, in my opinion central midfield is not an area of utmost concern. Yes we need back up for Lucas and yes it would be great to have some muscle in there, but lets see how he continues in the EPL and also let's see how Henderson et al keep progressing. Would have been a good addition, no question - have rated him for a while, but like I said - the salary would be best saved for other departments.

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  37. He is bit like Toure in that regard, can alternate between defensive mid role, box to box or attacking mid role, depending on system and balance. Toure was good as a holding mid at Barca but at City, he hasn't looked great there, instead does better at a more attack-minded role with Barry sitting.

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  38. spot on Jamie... Liverpool keep spending money for the un-proven performer...yet let those from Freench league escape...

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  39. what kind of wages is he on?? bet hes on something close to our top earners, do you think he sould come in and command the same kind of money as gerrard and suarez?? also dont you wonder why no team in the top half of the table went in for him???

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  40. First off Jamie i have to say i really admire your articles and your ability to be objective on many issues but i'm afraid i have to disagree with you on this one. Firstly the question 'why didn't Liverpool sign Sissoko' could be applied to any good player out there that we didn't sign. There a hundreds of midfielders out there and there is every possibility that we'll miss out on a possible gem. And I'm tired of hearing about how we missed out on Michu, we could pay 2.5 million for lots of player and 99 out of hundred times they will be average. Besides most of the people on this site who keep complaining about how we missed out on Michu will be the same people who would be whining about lack of ambition from FSG if we paid 2.5 million for a striker or a midfielder.

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  41.  what manager in the world would chase joe allen and borini, br will not challenge for no title he is not even a mid table manager he is a survivalist nothing better 

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  42. I wonder why we hired Man City's scouting team. They never made any headway with their work at City. I think we should sign Newcastle's scouting team ASAP. What I actually mean is that am not impresses with our so called "targets" eg Zarate, Di Santo etc. Rodger's signings with the exception of Sturridge haven't really hit the high notes that we need (Sturridge's signing was mostly out of desperation than anything else). Borini might be young but he lacks confidence(panache) and that's what worries me. I hope he comes good though.

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  43. as long as they keep pulling the wool over the eyes of people like you forceuk they will be happy

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  44. and mansfield shame about oldham

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  45. when shankly came we were in the second division not one of the top clubs in europe

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  46. borini runs around the park like a headless chicken ,and allen must be a crab 

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  47. That's kinda harsh don't you think? Point of fact is, Swansea as a club last season played amazing football and absolutely destroyed teams. What, you telling me that they had any business finishing in the top half of the league (Comfortably) with their players? after being newly promoted - AND - the first Welsh team ever to do so. Sorry, I respect your opinion, but I totally disagree. With the quality of players we have and the type of football we've been playing I'm sure come next season (All things being equal) we'll do more than just survive.

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  48. sorry but have to agree with you fsg know players will only wait for success for so long before they ask to leave,then its the players fault,if fsg matched suarez and torres ambition maybe we would have got the chance to see them play together

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  49. more than just survive ragingred is right fsg have brain washed you

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  50. what wages in he on then??? and regardless of where we are why didnt anyone else want him??

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  51. totally agree with u jason u the only one talking sense

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  52. Jamie Jamie Jamie.....Are you going to look at every cheap player other teams buy that turn out to be a success and say Liverpool should of bought them?? It's getting old! Do you think if we went for michu we would of got him for 2mil...NO!! Same with Sissoko. Again you seem to focus on negatives!! DO you not thik every team in the league is wishing they had of bought Michu? Same with sissoko if he turns out to be a real success??!!

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  53. one good game in the EPL! but not in France!! top player, exactly what we needed, frustrated and confused we did not buy him and Michu, amplifies what's wrong with the club.

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  54.  us an prob 25 other clubs aswell!! Do you have any idea of how things work behind the senes?? Clearly not!!

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  55. Why wouldn't we have got him for £2m? That is supposition, not fact.

    I don't look at every cheap player - I look at players who were linked with LFC, i.e. those where the Agent/player etc admitted in public that LFC were interested. If the club wanted these players, it should've bought them.

    Whether it's 'getting old' or not is irrelevant. Focus on the issue instead of pointless stuff.

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  56. Thought you predicted two deats to Arsenal and City. Funny you havent mentioned that post the result.

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  57. Let's be clear, it's worrying we are missing these excellent players that are going for an unreal price, we spend £15 million on Allen and £12 million on Borini??  whats to discuss ?? except WHY?? we are supposed to be strapped for cash!!

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  58. Are we one of the top clubs in Europe now?

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  59. Not brained washed just practical about what is being done. They said from the very start that they had looked at the model of running a club like Arsenal (Self Sufficient). I don't know why people are now expecting them to just throw money all over the place. 

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  60. I think it’s great business for Newcastle. Sissoqo seemed to
    be very good player they’ve got for the money they spent. However; I still
    optimistic with our signing for many reasons, First, I believe it is not easy
    for Liverpool to negotiate price for so many signing they have trying to do,
    for instance , I would not imagine Sissoqo original club would sold him to us
    the same price they did to Newcastle. Second, I think Sturidge signing is such
    a great business as well; he fitted well into the team and the money that we
    spent start to look cheap for the quality and what he could do. Third: I think
    timing is great for Sturridge , he was more mature and his attitude seems to
    fit right in the team, now you can’t really pay for chemistry , can you? And of
    course lastly, from the summer transfer disaster which still fresh in the
    memory, I know I do. We got him early at the time we needed the most, so all
    and all not to chabby for my taste.


     
     

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  61. That's a pretty poor assumption on your part that the wool is being pulled over my eyes and to be honest there's no need to get personal. I don't agree with your points, I made my own point that's just the way the world works, I see things differently to you, doesn't make me naive. And besides whatever you say about FSG point of fact is, if they hadn't come forward, the club would probably in the Championship right now.  

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  62. If only we could swap Andy Carroll for the Magpies scouting network!!!! 
    At the moment our passing game isn't at its optimum, so it seems as we do need some physicality in the midfield (winning the mid is half the battle to winning the war). The fact is Arsenal are still the benchmark for the passing game, as was seen on Wednesday (we were pressed back in our own half, too the point Suarez was play left back). Teams that gain success against the Gunner are the ones that overpower them physically (Stoke, Bolton, Chelsea, Man City etc). Over due cause we maybe able out play any team via TIKI-TAKA (BR always saying it'll take time), so we need to acquire player of the ilk Moussa or Diame as a stop gap for the sake of results. Even big Andy brings something to the table, may it be an alternative/variation. Don't know if BR is so headstrong that he won't add some muscle to his beautiful game, end of the day majority of your points over season come from beating those lower level teams. Hate when people say that player only scores against sh*t team, majority of your points come from putting these teams to sword.

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  63. Jaime, have enjoyed ur past posts but this timyou wrong.Every coach has his kind of player.Some players won't fit into some type of play.(Morrientes,Diouf,Keane,even Kaka n Robinho) So don't equate players to mathematical assumptions.What if Sissoko wants to play every game n We cant guarantee him that..If he was so good why didn't the other bigg
    er clubs jump for him?Our Joe Allen started off very well n is struggling now.So wait till the end TeeSof season.Michu is not scoring now like he used to by the way.

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  64. Sissoko is a quality player and for 2 mill even if he turned out to be a flop in the prem which is highly unlikely as he is clearly a premiership type player,there would clearly be a profit to be made on him.
    A big mistake not trying to sign him in my opinion.

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  65. equally you've been arguing we sell suarez but when i mention that you just delete it. you cant be selective on past comments.

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  66. Stop making stuff up. The only reason any of your comments would've been deleted in the past is because they contained abuse/derogatory comments. If you can't post in a civil manner then that's your problem.

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  67. Actually Newcastles wage cap for new signings is around the £30k mark, far lower than what LFC are paying players.

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  68. sissoko or henderson. hmmm. MS would have been perfect for the tip of the MF trio. throw in cabaye into the mix and thee's yet another cheap, top class player the scouts missed.

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  69. I wouldn't be surprised if FSG had veto power if they thought a player was too expensive/no value for money. But I also believe that Rodgers says what players he would like, which in the past transfer window obviously was a striker and an attacking midfielder who could also play on the wings. So I'd blame him for not going after Sissoko/another strong defensive midfielder.

    As for selling to buy, I wouldn't think so. So far there are no signs that FSG hold back any money that the club generates. It may be that they try to put something aside for the stadium.

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  70. Good luck to him at Newcastle. Liverpool never signed him, get over it people. We've signed Coutinho & Sturridge. 4 goals from our January signings already and one of them has yet to start a game.

    Try to look at the positives and not the negatives or what ifs. 

    And, no, I'm not papering over the cracks, just sick of hearing 'woe is me' nonesense.

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  71. I must admit I was hoping for Liverpool to sign one of Yann M'Vila or Moussa Sissoko in the January window. M'Vila was perhaps a difficult one as there was money on the table (in terms of wages) that he would perhaps not have been offered at Liverpool. Sissoko, on the other hand, apparently missed out on a cool £1 million sign-on bonus to join Newcastle in January instead of in the summer, when he would have been a free agent. For less than £2 million in transfer fees, Moussa Sissoko would have provided cover in multiple positions to key Liverpool players like Gerrard and Lucas - and would probably have established himself as a first-team player. 

    The only reasons I can imagine why Liverpool might not (or could not) have moved for Sissoko are: (1) that he is too similar to Stevie G and therefore a pretty expensive backup option (although his high wages would have been at least partly compensated by the low transfer cost); (2) that Sissoko himself was unwilling to come to a club where he might not have broken into the first team on an ongoing basis; or (3) that Rodgers is keen to bring in a different kind of key midfield player such as Christian Eriksen in the summer - and was therefore unwilling to increase the wage bill for midfielders on a player who perhaps is less fundamental to the kind of game he wants Liverpool to play.

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  72. You claim that FSG ARE doing this and that, not that they MAY or COULD do it. What does make you so sure about this? Are you one of their stockholders? Just asking as you depict things as if you were in the know.

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  73. We buy allen for 15m but dont buy sissoko or yann m'vila for cheaper transfer fee. Really disappointed with this considering we had let go nuri sahin earlier. Loan deal for d likes of Shelvey and Suso would have been better, with us adding one midfielder with more experience.  

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  74. Here's the real reason we didn;t sign him. Copied and pasted the below from a site run by professional scouts. This scouting report is over a year old. Let's see how Sissoko looks after a season. Judging by the below he won't be as good game in game out although I do accept that for £2.2m there's not much to lose apart from the fact that we have another player lined up for the Summer for all we know.

    Report as follows

    To be perfectly honest, I personally don't rate Moussa Sissoko that highly. He certainly looks a decent player in general in the French league, but I feel that he is so inconsistent that he becomes rather frustrating to watch. Sissoko's the type of player where one minute he can make an absolutely dominating, defence-spillting run and score a wonder goal, and then just mere minutes later have such an abismal touch, no vision for a pass and just play with a very sloppy attitude. It's laughable at times. One thing that concerns me in general, is that Damien Comoli (Liverpool's ex-director of football) told Sissoko's agent that he saw Sissoko as the long-term replacement for Steven Gerrard, and from the games i've seen of Sissoko, there is no comparisson between them. Gerrard is in an entirely different class to Sissoko, even when Gerrard is off-form. Perhaps I've over-exageratted in that respect, but I really can't see how anyone, let alone a DoF, can view Sissoko as the 'ideal long-term replacement' to a player of Gerrards quality. However, in the interest of fairness, when Sissoko plays at his best, he is a damn fine player and can be very versatile in the middle of the pitch, whether its holding the midfield, shielding the defensive line, attacking, long range passes, or short range passes. But the fundamental issue is his level on inconsistency. If he played at his best at a consistent rate he'd be one hell of a player, and potentially one of the best midfielders in Europe. Luckily he is still young and does have some time to work on this issue, but it would take a lot of extra training, work and grit for him to do so. I personally hope he does this, as when watching him at his best, he is genuinely a joy to watch.

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  75. So previous lfc managers have never been beat by lower league teams then?

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  76. For 2.2 mil? come on. It is a bargain. It is a steal actually.

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  77. Can't agree with you on Sturridge, who has been a target for Rodgers since he came to Anfield. The other names mentioned - Zarate, Santo, etc - were most probably never targets for Liverpool. The jury is of course out on Borini, as your rightly point out - and the same is probably true for the Man City scouts. Coutinho was an interesting player to go for, time will tell if it was a good call by the scouts and Rodgers. Newcastle have a more settled scouting network, whereas Liverpool's has been in flux ever since we lost Rafa the Great. The team assembled by Rodgers is however beginning to show positive results at all levels, on and off field, so perhaps Liverpool is on the right path again after almost three years without a clear direction from the club leadership?

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  78. Don't forget Reina. He is in the super pay bracket as well. food for thought!!!

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  79. So it wasn't the other yanks fault then? If i remember rightly fsg ploughed shed loads of money into trsnfers at 1st.

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  80. You nailed it. Buck could not go up to FSG and say I fcuked up on Allen and Borini. I need more cash to get this guy in MF.

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  81. Not going to happen. we put the swords on ourselves Japanese style. Seppuku or harakiri it's called

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  82. previous managers have at least managed to beat a team in the top half of the table lmao

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  83. Wrong. A hard tackling Mf is essential to any team's success. You need to break play and pass. job done. No nonsense player. Souey comes to mind.. Great and probably the hardest Midfielder at LFC.

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  84. Now you have come to that conclusion about tranfers, ask ur self if rodgers really wanted sll them 1st team players shipped out. Then ask ur self if rodgers if rodgers is doing a good job with the mess he was left with. Should young players really be needed in the 1st team at a club like liverpool? They should be eased in.

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  85. it makes you think when and how signings like Hendo, Allen ect became acceptable to wear the red of liverpool thats when unfortunately we fell from our perch, ffs there must be still hope for me im 36 going on 37 .

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  86. That is from http://www.player-profiles.co.uk/

    They say 'This site was formed by just a few football fans, like yourselves, with frustration regarding how in the dark we were over players our clubs were linked with'. 

    They don't confirm they are professional scouts. They apparently have some 'insider knowledge'. These are just words, nothing in there to substantiate those words conclusively. See nothing on that website that makes their opinion any more credible than some people on here for example. Seen nothing on their website that makes them professional scouts. Only time they use the words professional scouts on their front page is when making a reference to football manager but it wasn't used in a way to confirm they are professional scouts. 

    The site itself looks something out of the 1990s. 

    I don't know the real reason why the club didn't go for him and neither does that site. 

    Its no secret to anyone that has watched him play in the last year that he hasn't been on top form consistently and that Capoue has been better.

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  87. Well reasoned points and totally agree

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  88. Cover for allen or lucas? Anyone who believes either are better is off the loaf Until lfc changes its own mentality as to where its at right now a blind eye will continuously be turned to the value thats around marquee signings are a little way off just yet so deal with it .

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  89. look at Real Madrid after Claude Makalele left.. You can't have team of 'GALACTIOCS' swanning around, needs some bite in midfield. He was hardly the tallest, but was an aggressive C*NT (ala Mascherno).

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  90. Jaime oh well, it is always easy to judge on hindsight. Imagine Michu flopping and not scoring, and Sissoko not scoring a brace on his debut; or both of them gets a long term injury in the next match. 
    Would you still say it is money well spent? 
    I'd bet the same people like you would be the first to step forward and start criticizing the waste of money by the club.  

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  91. Why would Michu fail at LFC? There is nothing in his history to support that supposition. He scores goals in the Premier League for Swansea; why would he not do the same for LFC? On the balance of probabilities, he would score for LFC too.

    And as for Sissoko: for the love of God, why can't people read? I've made it clear in the article that it's not just about ONE game for Newcastle; he's been a very good player for years.

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  92. With all due respect, you're having a laugh, right? That site is not run by professional scouts. You want to believe that because what they've posted conforms with your own view. If everything they posted conflicted with what you think, you'd probably dismiss that site.

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  93.  I like the look of Sissoko too and I am shocked Liverpool didn't go for him but I think BR is doing a great job - he has got rid of a load of players that were costing the club too much in wages. I think he chopped about 200000 a week off the wage bill this transfer window. That was what our problem was and King Kenny didn't really address that. He has brought in decent players, some with great potential, others just to do a job.  I think we have a decent squad with only a few players that really can be classed as world stars and one of those only has a few years left at best. What I would like to see now is during the next transfer window the purchase of a couple of superstars. Lets see what Sissoko, Michu and first year performers are like next year, once the other players work them out!

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  94. NUFC fan, come in peace. Could it not be that Liverpool tried to sign Sissoko but he chose NUFC instead?  Newcastle have a strong French group of players, Cabaye and Ben Arfa have proven that if you play well at NUFC you get a French all up.  NUFC have an office set up in France to allow French meetings to regularly take place.  NUFC are having a poor season but finished above Liverpool last season.  I'm not saying NUFC are a bigger club I'm simply asking if it's possible that Sisssoko looked at NUFC as a team he could make a huge impact on.  Furthermore to those saying 'sign NUFC's scouting team'...that would be Graham Carr (Alan Carr's Dad) a life-long Newcastle Fan.  Good luck.  But Jamie is spot-on, Liverpool are paying over the odds for players but crucially to get value for money you have to shop outside of England.  English based players hare hugely over-priced.  

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  95. Thats the be all and end all of a season is it. So long as a lfc managet beats a team in the top half of the table then thats all that matters. Wow, u r so easily pleased

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  96. totally agree about the young players but rodgers must have some say in transfers and allen was a buy not needed where as the monet could have been spent in other areas of the pitch

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  97. 2 good games in England actually. He will be a monster of a player and you guys pretty much paid for most of our team. Thanks you so much bindippers!

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  98. i did not predict 2 defeats i just stated after our next to games our champions league hopes could well be over and imo i think they are

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  99. yes they have but not many got a second chance after the way his tacticts backfired against mansfield

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  100. so if we are to be self sufficient that would probaly make us the 6th biggest club in england baised on gate reciepts happy days,penty to look forward two

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  101. we are without doubt in the top 20

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  102. not shed loads as new owners you would expect them to show some sort of goodwill gesture,

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  103. sshhh keep it to yourself lol ;-)

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  104. i dont know but i would guess 45 grand a week absolute tops,and whos to say noone wanted him

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  105. Stats on keeping the ball tell me different. Backwards or sideways makes no difference as long as we keep the ball. Let the playmakers do the damage. I will only judge rogders once he as all his own players in.

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  106. Now ur asking the right questions jason. Rodgers is not the problem... I do see progress but a club like ours shouldnt be a work in progress. Rodgers as argued for experienced players but fsg wont budge. Makes you wonder if he gets his 1st choice transfer targets too.

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  107. camolli was very keen to bring sissoko to liverpool.. since then alot has happend and there has been no factual evedence that BR had any interest in him, so we didnt miss out on him we just simply didnt want the guy.

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  108. i,ve always asked the right questions just some people misinterperate the question

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  109. Is it just me? or are Newcastle using liverpool scouts to get their players? 'cos most of their signings last couple of years were linked to us.

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  110. still more mobile than the crab lmao

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  111. U seriously blame tactics and not the players attitude towards the opppsition?

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  112. i blame the man who picks the side and trys to be to cleaver for his own good

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  113. I doubt he is. Ashley is quite tight and smart business wise, so he probably has some crazy structured deal that would be well within our reach.

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  114. dont no about more mobile you could probably pick out a better forward pass than him even i could and i,ve only one leg these days;-)

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  115. mine are firmely staying were they are thank you very much i,am not that type of girl ;-)

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  116. So why did torres go if fsg in there 1st transfer window were giving good will money for transfers?

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  117. Not always, but at least i have seen you give the manager some credit in previous posts..... Only a little though.

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  118. Our head scout is a Geordie so i very much doubt he would leave now especially now that he is getting on quite  bit.As for Sissoko, get your chairmen to offer 35 million and i am sure he will gladly sell him to you. ;)

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  119.  its pointless trying to second guess liverpools transfer policy...ive been banging on for months that we should be in for sissoko ..it was a no brainer ...good player ..young ...hes everything fsg should want ...but we ignored him...the only reason i can think is that fsg pulled the plug as we have already got Allen  and they think he will come good ...but as theories go its paper thin..its enough to make you think that people are getting bungs or paid off as there just seems no logical expalnation.....

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  120.  sissoko can play like allen and lucas but they cant play like him...its called having tools in your locker

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  121. Yeah, like those great scouts of your's that spotted Carroll hahahahaha. Don't think so mate. We are no where near Liverpool in stature and we may never be as big a club BUT we do currently have a great scouting network. Guess it's difficult to believe NUFC have getting something right for a change ehhhhh. 

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  122.  but only 3 or 4 in my opinion who can play 4 3 3

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  123. BR seriously messed up in the transfer window. Sturridge was a no brainer really and Coutinho is still a dubious one to me although he has great potential. All in all, the main priority along side a striker was a defender and an attacking midfielder since Lucas is our only recognized DM and is still adjusting.

    Sissoko proved no risk at £2.2M and even Mbiwa.

    Skrtel has made too many mistakes this season and Agger although is good going forward he is not as good as people think defensively. I would like us to play Kelly as a CB for a while as that is his natural position.

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  124. he was to cheap for us ...we arent happy unless where paying 15m

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  125.  ive been saying we need a player like sissoko or diame for months

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  126. well its 40m and counting

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  127. i genunly  think he bought allen and borini on impulse without thinking where they would play or if they where up to it....like a kid in a sweet shop playing billy big time...it was almost like a statement of intent albeit one which has backfired...he now i think is beginning to realize that putting frienship over form is a sure way to get you sacked   

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  128. are you anteater in disguise lol     ;-)

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  129. any side can keep the ball if they play in there own half its what you do in the oppoinents half whats important

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  130. sorry m8 its 50 and counting lol

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  131. Spot on. I guess it's more off going for English & BR's known player mantra. 

    Ever since FSG had taken over, LFC had mostly focused on UK based players & I doubt if they have any Scout in Iberain peninsula.  French League is massively underrated & so are the French players.  But they are excellent players, technically & skill wise.  I 'll say that, top French are as good as the Spanish or Latins in terms of skill or Technique, but they are probably ahead physically for EPL.

    French clubs & FF bosses are quite happy with the current system.  From a large immigrant base of African, Caribbean people, who are genetically stronger & faster, French are grooming top quality players with proper technique, attitude & physic through the excellent FFF youth systems & the clubs are encouraged to play U19 players in League games.  Almost every League 1 team starts with 3/4 U19 players & after baptism of those talented boys, clubs from Spain, Italy, Germany, Russia & UK purchase them.  French clubs just replace them with next batch of players. 

    For example Lyon are fighting neck a neck with Billion Frank PSG after 2/3 of the season & they start with 6-7 U20 players - Umtiti, Fofana, Lecazette, Granier, Gonalons, Gezzal & even 17 years old Benzia or Martial.  These boys are technically as good as anyone, before their youth contracts expires, can be available for 2-3 mn, but can end up 10 times a valuable player (Next time Pogba moves, he 'll cost 20mn+).  I do follow lot of French football & just see the potential in their U19 defense - Varane, Laporte, Zouma, Digne, Corchia, Mavinga, Ismat-marin & few others.  Most of these boys play weekend-week-out Division 1 match, unthinkable in England.  Many more forwards at that age plays as Defense is the most physically demanding.

    Sissoko didn't ply as DM role against Chelsea, rather played at a free role in CM/AM, a position often mastered by SteveG at his prime, but we could have always gone for him.  & if we were looking for a deep lying CM, I believe Ma'Villa was much better option than Allen (actually Shahin should have played more than Allen).  I don't think it's a case of unawareness of our scouts, rather we opted for Brits & BR was more comfortable with his former students.       

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  132. With the team he put out they still should of won. They all had 1st team experience. There was nothing clever in players not getting stuck in. All season we have pressed the ball when the opposition has the ball but failed to do so in both cup games.

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  133. Are the goals not going in then? I must be watching different games then

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  134. It makes me laugh too. Last season everyone was calling for the young players to be given a chance, coming out with the old adage 'if theyre good enough they're old enough'. Rodgers agrees and puts his faith in these lads (partly because he has to admittedly) and when they under perform he rightly criticises them. Which is justified and if these lads want to play they need to perform. But instead of acknowledging this all the Rodgers haters want to use this to slate him and suddenly it's all his fault and poor tactics. Then when he praises the team after a good performance he gets slated again! Simply can't win

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  135. I would have liked us to go for him too but to say its negligent not to is a ludicrous term to use and not applicable IMO. Only one club can sign a player so is every other club in the world negligent not to have signed him? Surly there are many clubs who could benefit from his services but didn't sign him. And the interest to which you refer from us predates Rodgers so is a moot point. If he is so highly rated why did he end up at Newcastle of all places? Lets see what players like him and michu are doing next season before we cry about missing out on them. Like papiss cisse and jelavic et all who aren't doing anything special this season

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  136. if your catheter doesn't spill when your 'TACKLING', maybe... Cud be the new Gary Mac. 

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  137. But jamie liverpool aren't the only ones to miss out on sissoko or michu, man u, man city, chelsea, arsenal and tottenham all missed out too

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  138. Barcode in peace here. Why not just offer more wages to our targets like 'arry does. No need for a scouting system when u can just take our targets away from us lol. Our scouting network is finished with france and are now setting up in france and italy. Follow them and u will bring back the glory days. Watch out black and white steam train coming up behind u

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  139. I dont see your point. So he may of spent 40 or 50 or 80m but the squad is still thin. His signings in the jan transfer window was for the forwards only. Well the goals are flying in so that part is working. We will see what part of the team he works on in tje next window. You telle how much money it would cost to replace the players lost in last summers tranfer window?

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  140. You make things up as you go along! Self sufficient isn't about gait receipts only.. tut, tut.

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  141. You can twist the facts, use fancy arguments that support your position all you want, but one reason for LFC under performing for such a long time, is the poor performance in the transfer market.Think about our team with Michu, Diame, Sissoko....
    It is hard to guess, who has been most guilty party, the scouts, managers or the ownership. We haven't brought too many players from South America, the most fertile area for talent,  for every Lucas there we erred with Insua, Paletta - the clumsy CB, now Coates. Did not do much in France, Spain, Germany...Sometimes one can think Messrs Hicks and Guilett are  in charge of scouting for the LFC....We have been bringing wrong players paying over the odds, often by competing with ourselves.
    Rafa had some successes, but also misplaced his confidence at the worst of times, when we needed to be better than the competition selecting new players. Comolli/Dalglish were incredibly wasteful as well,  getting very little quality for 50M brought in from Torres sale. Carrol, Adam, Downing....think who we could have got instead...
    Now under Rogers, we seamingly took a wrong step with Borini, overpaid for Allen, Assaidi, did better with Sturidge. It is not just overpaying but investing in wrong priorities, we would be in the 4th place with a competent goalie, Michu upfront, new CB replacing Skrtel, physical MF like Diame/Sissoko ...I support Rogers as long as he is in charge, maybe he needs better assistance from people backing him....

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  142. Sorry the site isn't run by professional scouts but many of the player profiles are put together by scouts. Why don't you ask one of the eds on the site if this is the case and they'd confirm it. Read some of the profiles and they're in depth. Certainly more in depth than the match of the day fever re sissoko on here! Jamie k read this too please as I can't reply to your reply to me for some reason.

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  143. It's obvious why LFC didn't pursue Sissoko, Holtby..
    We're dying for a decent Left Back, Michel Bastos goes on an 18 month loan and we're not interested??
    FSG are broke, just like those other cowboys before them... People say they've spent this, spent that.. But it's nonsense..look at the number of players who were on 70k-100k.. Kuyt, Torres, mereiles, Aurelio, Maxi, Joe Cole, Carroll, Charlie Adam, Sahin, Doni etc etc and replaced by players on approx' £30k a week- that alone must have save millions per annum, Warrior supposed to give us £25 million a year, Standard Chartered another £20million a year.. All these other commercial deals with Jack Wolfskin, Chevrolet,Indonesian airlines, sum Turkish TV (prince of football) as well as other deals --- SO WHERE IS OUR MONEY?
    How can Southamptons, Spurs, the Toon have more financial muscle?
    They're not as big as us world wide, and have not played Champions League for more than 1 year if ever?
    Where's our TV money?
    Our wage bill must have been bigger when we had Alonso, Mascherano,Torres, Kuyt, Maxi, Gerrard, Agger, Reina, Skrtel, Johnson etc compared to the first team we now have.
    These C#nts are asset stripping, b#llshitting the fans, giving us cheap wine with the promise it will be a vintage-my @rse, we'll be left with Vinegar!!
    Considering that Quaresma, Zarate are available on a free.
    We could've got Holtby, Moussa Sissokho & Mohamed Diame for the price of Coutinho, add free transfers like Quaresma, Zarate & Bastos- our squad would certainly have made us stronger.

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  144.  there going in both ends...against oldham ours more so

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  145. He's only on 25K per week at Newcastle. The key is that there are other French players that have already blossomed at Le Toon.

    I think they've almost ran out of the Andy Carroll money now.

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  146.  2 points from a poss 6 is hardly elite level regardless of the opposision

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  147. ive been sating that for some time.....id like a poll on what borini and allen are worth ..id say about 5m the pair and you would struggle to get that because of there wages

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  148.  agree with you totally ....at 2 .2m there is literally no risk 

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  149. Moussa Sissoko has had two very average seasons for Toulouse. Two good games in the prem and everyone is buzzing off of him. He'll be another P. Cisse thats why we never signed him.

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  150. Moussa Sissoko has previously attracted interest from Milan, Arsenal, Lyon, Roma, Genoa, Liverpool and probably Napoli. Damien Comolli went as far as letting Sissoko's agent know that Liverpool saw Sissoko as the ideal long-term replacement for Steven Gerrard - but for some reason the club failed to make the final push to buy the player.

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  151. Jaimie, while I don't think someone could claim that Michu would fail at LFC, I also don't think someone could claim that he would succeed here just because he's doing it at Swansea.

    The circumstances are different, the team is different, and rightly or not, the expectations are different.

    There's no telling either way.

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  152. Your bang on. There is either a problem with rodgers identifying prospects or what the scouting network pass onto the boss?

    But Sissoko or even Diame were both agressive midfielders that we have lacked for a few years and we could have had them on the cheap.

    With Lucas back there isnt really a place for Allen and with Sturridge firing there isnt really a place (in the 11) for Borini.

    We cry about limited funds but we have wasted 26 million on what? They fill no strategic objective.

    Rodgers is making a rod for his own back.  With the likes of Sissoko in central midfield and possibly a better goalie and CD we have the makings of a top 4 side.

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  153. "I don't know why they didn't want him" is not "Transfer negligence". What a ridiculous over-reaction. It's interesting for you to speculate but you admit straight up that you don't know why it didn't happen or what goes on in the scouting team discussions. For all you know there was a discussion about the player and they had perfectly sensible reasons for not going after him. 


    I'm with you in this article up until the point where it stops being a question that you ask and you step into the realm of just assuming it's a mistake. You just don't have enough information to make that conclusion.  It makes sense to ask why, but rather than attempt to see what those reasons are you consistently seem to assume there are none, just because you don't know what they are. 

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  154. I have my doubts those (any one of those) so-called profiles are put together by scouts. There is nothing to conclusively substantiate the claim that they are written by professional scouts. There are no credentials on that website, anywhere. Like I said, it is just same as many forum posts I've seen it, in terms of information but with just more padding and dressing to make it longer. A web page full of padding doesn't make it anymore meaningful than a straight-to-the-point forum post. Any so-called scouting site that is serious about using it as a tool for some football game is questionable to say the least. Sorry mate but your not convincing me nor is that site, so I'll end it there.

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  155. hes a kid and a kid at 2.2m whose french international......its a no brainer ....

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  156. That's all you can come out with Jason when people realistically appraise FSG and Rodgers, they're 'brain washed'. The difference is we back it up with certain facts. The fact is FSG bought the club when no one else put a bid in. No billionaire Arabs or Russians just them. The fact is they wrote off our massive debt stopping us going into administration, needless to say we'd be worse off if that had happened! The fact is they have backed the manager with funds, 100 mill for KK and comolli and 40 odd for Rodgers. The fact is they have a model with the goal of self sufficiency which after previous events at the club is obviously the only way forward. The fact is the team are well on course to better last seasons league performance, which while not saying much is progress despite the cup we won last year. A cup that people were mocking last year when we won it as meaningless (I've always valued it myself). And the same people that criticise FSG for not spending then criticise Rodgers for having spent so much to be where we are in the league. people refuse to see any positives or give any credit. These conflicting and negative views only show the unrealistic expectation that they have considering the state of the club both FSG and Rodgers inherited.

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  157. lets just see how sissoko plays against the big boys then we shall judge him chelsea arent playing that well at the moment they will fall from grace he needs to be judged against the other top teams then lets come out and say yeh we missed out on him.....as for the youth policy we have great talent in the youth system we hould start to bleed them in and get the next generation of players to come through we will be ok in the coming years YNWA

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  158. I'll give you the benefit of interpreting your use of the word "literally" as actually being figurative. Which is ironic, but beside the point, I get what you're trying to say. 

    But it's not even close to be "no risk". Add in salary over a 4 year contract and that's a 10 million pound cost, minimum. It's easy to say when it's not your money but seriously, think about that for a second and put it into some perspective. TEN. MILLION. POUNDS. This isn't monopoly or PL Manager on playstation, it's real life with real money. Just because FSG have a bit of financial clout behind them doesn't make them idiots who think 10 million pounds is play money to throw away because maybe we could use this player. 

    What I don't get ... you agree with FdotM that our priorities were striker, defender and then attacking midfielder. We bought two of those, two players who we identified as quality and spent what we thought they were worth. So how does signing Sissoko fit anywhere into that list of priorities?

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  159. Newcastlefaninliverpoolfamily1:26 am, February 06, 2013

    Liverpool can't buy sissoko until Gerrard retires because sissoko is in the mold of Gerrard. Of course right now you'd rather have sissoko because he's younger but Gerrard is not done yet for Liverpool.

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  160. I'm with you Billy - If we would have tried to buy, the price would have gone up significantly (call that subjectivity of you like, but to deny it would be naivety!)  Plus buying from the french league is always a risk.  Lets not forget how good Cole looked in his year south of the Channel?!  Sissohko may turn out to be a good buy, and he may turn out to be a pup.  Many of these african power-house players and too one dimensional and can't cut it with our faster paced league and Liverpools take on tika-taka. Let us not forget 'great' DM's like Salif Diao....

    For me, I'm quite pleased with this window.  We knew we needed more attacking options and (finally) bought a new striker and attacking mid.  Dividends are already being paid too.  Was it enough? Of course not, we know we need a new center back (but no one would take Coates off of us) and we need a holding midfielder as priorities.  Another left back and 'keeper would also be in the mix for me too. 

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  161. You've always mispelled too, so do not blame others for their misinterpretation.

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  162. Go and read the whole conversation because this is covered. If you still can not see how ur point has been touched on then i will break it down simply for you.

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  163. So every tranfer window when Rodgers has said there isnt alot of money to spend, he as been lying as he? If we don't get top 4 then it's false economy. 
    I quote FSG "we can compete with anyone in the transfer market". 

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  164. Didn't realise Sissoko had pass stats as high as Allen.

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  165. match of the day ever again! Were you at thegame v Man City last year. Lucas completely out muscled Yaya Toure when Toure was at the top of his game. Lucas 100 x the player inconsistent Sissoko will eve be. Wait til he's fully fit again and you'll see

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  166.  what pass stats...passing it two yards in your own half sidways doing nothing....allen and his stas are a con...the only pass stats that matter are the ones which hurt the opposition ...dig them out and you may have an argument

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  167. Nonsense again. One game does not make you proven. sissoko has been inconsistent for a long time and attitudeis questionable too. Has anyone done any research on this player other than watched one set of highlights of Chelsea v Newcastle. Would you rathe habe Hazard than sissoko too based on that game?

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  168. The site is not run by professional scouts. There are 2 sets of player profiles though. Those put together by fans and those put together by people within the games, the main guy being a scout still. I'd therefore go with his detailed opinion rather than one based on one episode of match of the day.

    I actually don;t have an opinion on him yet so your assumption above is incorrect. I do however know better than to judge a player after a handful of games.

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  169. H's been good in spells. He is inconsistent. A couple of good games followed by a couple of bad where he's anonymous. .

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  170. Everytime I come on here to read ur stories, all you do is moan about Liverpool, do u support lpool or is this a site to nit pick and report on all the things we should have done, or all the s*it things about the club? When was the last time you managed a top premier league team? If you support the team where are the stories of the good things, like some of the performances that we have seem lately? Christ.... Instead of always slagging the team off shall we try get behind them?

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  171. Just off topic............. I see Ince scored again last night. We'll never know if his goals/creativity would of pushed us on to 4th now. Getting him for free is false economy if we could of pushed for 4th with him.

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  172. I have to ask why none of the top sides went in for him if he is such a bargin................. And i mean all the top sides  in europe too.

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  173. Its so obvious the team needs strength and experience to help out our promising youngsters. But it's obvious there is a problem with FSG. How long did take them to address the striking problem?
    On one hand I thought Rodgers made a mistake with allen..... not because he's a terrible player. .. but because the team was crying out for a proven goal score er..... and if he only had a certain budget Allen was a vanity buy.
    But when you look at it now maybe he tyred to get a proven goal score er and they wouldn't sanction it.
    There is nothing wrong with having a policy. ... but following it blindly to the exclusion of any other bargain can't be good.

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  174. I call keeping the ball important. If you have the ball the other team cant score. Now if you can keep passing the ball 2 yards(as you call it) to the more creative players then the goals will come................ In the games i'm watching there going in anyway

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  175. really? well dont it make you wonder why the likes of fergie, wenger or mancini never went in for him?, if hes so cheap and so good!

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  176. really?, noone as in wenger, fergie and mancini,

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  177. yeah reina to ha ha

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  178. i dont think we will get him fullstop some other club will out bargain us

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  179. agree but he also played people out of position

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  180. self sufficient is about money coming in we have at best the 6thbest gate receipts,at least 4 clubs will have more money from champs league,if one of them is not arsenal weres that put us

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  181. ive told you before i,am not willing to waste anymore time on you trying to explain my thoughs on the situation its going nowhere bye

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  182. Lying? No, I wouldn't say that. First of all it would be false economy, if we came out and stated that we have say 50m to spend. Prices for our targets would surely soar. That's why, since Werner made that statement you quote, no-one came out and confirmed it or made an equal statement.

    Not a lot of money to spend. That's also a question of how you define "a lot of money". We surely don't have the money for mindless spending like PSG, Chelsea or Man City. We don't have the money to buy reinforcements for all the positions we need them in at once. That's what I understand when someone at the club claims that there isn't a lot of money.

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  183. because he knew they were not going to match his ambitions and as torres says one day the truth will come out

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  184. "a club like ours shouldn't be a work in progress". Now, that's an interesting one. I agree, in a way. We should have never lost our domination some 20 odd years ago. But we did and are a work in progress ever since. How much money do you think would it cost to stop our "work in progress" situation? Take Man City as benchmark if you want. How much did it cost them to win one league title? How long did it take them. Do you think the club could afford such kind of spending without risking it's own existence?

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  185. Most of the time when I've asked you for clarification in order to avoid misinterpretation, you either didn't reply at all, gave evasive answers or simply insulted me. And you did it with others, too, so don't be too surprised if people misinterpret what you write.

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  186. But if you plough 100m into transfers then torres argument had no merit at the time. Now if  he based his facts on the previous owners then i understand that. At the time Suarez was signed b4 he left so i just don't see the logic.
    As you know, i don't like the new owners 1 bit but i can't accept the torres situation being the new owners fault.

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  187. According to the allegations you made towards me recently, this is back-stabbing, right?

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  188. Yep i agree to that too but i also think the squad size as something to do with that. Playing johnjo up front against westham says it all for me. He as played players out of position all season and while some have worked, you have some that haven't. I seriously can't blame the manager for this either as the squad is stupidly thin.

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  189. I bet you mention the goals we are letting in.................... Easy to answere if you ask again but it as been covered. Even in a previous reply to you.

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  190. re tony he has made 3or4 posts over the day just going on about spelling,so iam just suggesting he finds something better to do and post about

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  191. If we wanted him we would have bid for him, Yes? Did we? No.

    Who should we sign next then everybody? As most of you seem to know which players will be a success and which wont before they are bought?

    Bound to be a player that will move for under 5 million that we 'should have signed' , put them in this thread so we can refer back ;)

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