17 Apr 2013

'Best I've ever seen' - BR hails 'unbelievable' star. LFC offer now inevitable...?

After Liverpool's disappointing draw with Reading at the weekend, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers heaped praise on Royals goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, describing his performance as 'one of the best' he'd ever seen. High praise indeed, and given Rodgers' penchant for signing players from his past clubs, it's surely only a matter of time before Liverpool are linked with a summer move for McCarthy.

Rodgers worked with McCarthy during his ill-fated six-month stint as Reading manager in 2009, and after he watched the 23-year old thwart Liverpool on Saturday, Rodgers raved:

"That's arguably the best goalkeeping performance I've ever seen. He's genuinely going to be a top, top keeper and to perform like that having been out for so long was absolutely staggering.

"He has all the attributes to be a top, top keeper - he's 6'5", makes unbelievable saves, is good on his feet and is very calm and assured despite being very young"


I predict right now that Liverpool will be linked with McCarthy during the summer transfer window. In fact, I'd argue it's a foregone conclusion that Rodgers will pursue him, especially if he thinks that his performance is the best he's ever seen. If the manager really thinks that about McCarthy, why would he *not* want him at Anfield?

Reading are as good as relegated, which would make it much easier to sign McCarthy, and he's the right age to come into the club and put some serious pressure on Pepe Reina next season.

On a related note, Reina was so impressed with the young 'keeper's performance that he swapped shirts with him after the game, and offered him some words of encouragement. In his post-match interview, McCarthy revealed what Reina said. He told reporters:

"He [Reina] just said 'well played', and said he didn't know how I made some of those saves. It's nice for someone of his ability to say things like that"

Reina's form seems to have improved in the latter stages of the season, but speculation still persists over his long-term future. I can't see McCarthy replacing the Spaniard, but on current form, he could be a good addition to the squad.



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34 comments:

  1. One good performance is enough for BR to consider bid for Alex McCarthy ? In that case, we don't need any goalkeeper because Reina was excellent in that match too. Also, BR targets players who he knows or worked with. I just wished BR coached Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich before coming to Liverpool.

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  2. We do need a keeper like this, young, and can still learn a lot from a top keeper like Reina. Plus I think he would be 'happy' not nessisarily playing every game.

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  3. if rodgers says he was outstanding and staggering that will do for me rodgers doe,s not lavish praise lightly;-)

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  4. McCarthy was no doubt outstanding in the game against us and Rodgers was right to pick up on that, but the fact that he notes his performance was outstanding doesn't mean we're going to attempt to buy him. Numerous goal keepers have put in outstanding performances against us over the last two seasons and we haven't put in bids for any of them. McCarthy is the second choice goalkeeper at reading, one top performance hardly makes him good enough to play for Liverpool and I would be extremely surprised if Rodgers makes any attempt to sign him whatsoever. More speculative journalism

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  5. Numerous goalkeepers have put in great performances, but Rodgers has never described them as the best he's ever seen.

    And of course it's speculative; what exactly is your point? It's called having an opinion. Mark my words, LFC will be linked with McCarthy very soon.

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  6. Yes, however there's a difference in media links/speculation and BR actively pursuing the keeper, and in the article you clearly stated the latter.

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  7. If you ask me, he's an ideal no 2 keeper. Cheaper due to relegation, able to perform after a long spell on the sidelines, commanding in the air. Good enough to stop Reina's complacency. Possibly able to do a Joe Hart vs Shay Given in the future.
    What's not to like about it? He seems at least as good as Jones, overall, and a better shotstopper.

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  8. jaimie they already have, you have ;-)

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  9. Then if we sign him and he becomes world beater you can start slagging him off

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  10. None of the point blank saves were in the corner only good save was from Steve g effort over hype we just make bad teams look good I haven't seen any high pressure tiki taka defending we hold the ball great but wen we lose possesion the ten outfield players turn and run towards reina wat are they afraid of better to try get it back in there half instead of conceding free kicks at our box or corners which we cannot defend rant over but it's hard to keep the faith in players who show fear like our back line

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  11. i agree with you about the saves i thought pepe pulled of the save of the match

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  12. Regardless of who it is, we could do with a player with his profile in the summer. I'm less convinced these days that Reina will leave but Jones is of the same age so we need a young guy to push them. So young and English would fit our transfer policy just fine. Thing with keepers is that they are so instrumental to the result of each game, that I'd prefer us to sign a new, established one every time we lose our first choice. Look at what happened with Man U when they lost Schmeichel and later Van der Sar. They seemed invincible when they were in goal but results immediately suffered when they retired. So when Reina leaves eventually, we either need to splash the cash or be very very sure we have someone waiting in the wings who can take over from him.

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  13. He did well no doubt, but that was one performance. There are much better alternatives. We need a keeper that is going to dislodge Reina, not just keep him on his toes. Just take a pick at the Bundesliga, they have some many class GK's.


    However the media will take BR's comments and formulate it into a transfer rumour as per usual.

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  14. We are constantly linked with everyone so your "mark my words statement will hold no weight unless someone like Tony Barret publishes it.

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  15. rodgers talk shit? never

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  16. BR was actually talking about the performance of McCarthy not the player himself but why should that get in the way of a good moan!!

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  17. If rodgers says hes outstanding then best we stay clear lol.I dont remember Rodgers hailing him a great keeper before ?I wouldnt be surprised if we go in for him because he had 1 great game against us and Rodgers has worked with him before .I remember when hodgsons fulham left back konchesky scored a great long range effort against us which im not even sure was intentional but it was good enough for Hodgson to buy him in when he took over liverpool.Where is konchesky now ? championship thats where.oh i have another 1 for you .Charley Adam what an amazing player he is.If he leaves blackpool and joins a big club just think how great he'll be lol.Mcarthy had A great game against us but surely were not going to make a bid just because of 1 great performance ?.If Rodgers thought he was that good then why didnt he go for him when he was at swansea /reading were in the championship at the time ? funny that the top 6 in our league probably wont be going in for him .Fergy will be in the papers soon saying just mcarthies positioning alone is worth 10 mill then were make our 15 mill bid lol

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  18. We have spent alot of cash on players from teams below us in the league in recent seasons and i cant say any of them have set the world a light..in fact although its still early days i think coutinho is about the only player that looks quality enough to help get us to where we want to be and i believe he came from inter so says it all really.I dont care what anyone says but if we end up buying the likes of tom ince,Mcarthy, and ashley williams then we wont be anywhere near top 4 yet again.Allen,borrini, and even sturridge are not good enough to improve and get into the top 5 teams in the prem so HOW ARE WE GOING TO COMPETE WITH THEM .I have my big doubts if im honest but mr Rodgers i really hope you can improve us alot next season

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  19. i wont be surprised at all if we buy him.rodgers bought borrini didnt he and made Allen the most expensive welsh buy of all time.Is allen the best welsh player of recent times ? Spurs get Bale for less thats the kind of difference thats keeping us where we are

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  20. We've been 'linked' with half the goalkeepers in the northern hemisphere.. As Reina has with clubs..

    Being linked with a player is 90% hot air and there are no shortage of websites and blogs to keep that balloon floating.

    You of all people should be able to water down BR's praise of a player..

    You belief that his pursuit of McCarthy being a foregone conclusion on the back of his comments is, I believe, wrong..

    If we've learned anything this season , it's to take what our Brendan says with a pinch of salt.

    And P.S. Reina's form doesn't 'seemed' to have improved, it HAS improved.. Don't see too many people arguing we should get shut of him now ..

    Do you still believe we should replace Reina ?

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  21. Yes, Reina should still be replaced. A short period of good form is the exception, not the rule. His form over the last three years has (IMO) become progressively worse. He cannot be relied upon in the long term. He is jaded, and his heart is clearly not in it anymore. For me, a new goalkeeper is a priority.

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  22. If only Jaimie. We might not finish in Europe this year and I don't see the goalkeeper as the main culprit for that.

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  23. His run of bad form gets longer with every article.. it's 3 years now ??

    I believe a period of poor form is the exception not the rule.. Reina's been at the club now 8 years and while his form has dipped over the last 18 month's.. it correlates with the turmoil at the club during this time.. 3 new managers ! Prior to this he was one of the top keepers in Europe.



    I believe he is getting back to his best and will prove to be a valuable asset and an outstanding keeper for many years to come.


    Selling him now when we can see visible signs of a return to form would be foolish in the extreme.. and very costly ..

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  24. he wasnt even that good, he shouldnt have been given a chance to make saves. BR was simply covering up our abysmal finishing.

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  25. was streaming the game with poor quality, but from what I saw the shots were right at him for the most part.

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  26. LOL. quick buy him, must be the best keeper in the universe.
    rodgers has a very long brown tongue

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  27. and it will only get browner;-)

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  28. Agreed...a pathetic attempt by rogers to deflect the fact that we drew with the worse team in the prem......

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  29. and you can keep james mcarthy to

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  30. Shankly and Paisley would watch any player after he gave us a run around or was good against us and try to buy him Peter Thompson, Ray Kennedy etc. had we continued to do this, we could have had Drogba and lots of others - Diame ? no there might be an old Swansea player to use the cash on.

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  31. Great shot stopping, but reading the game & distributing the ball can be so much more important! We used to have a team that never let the ball near our goal keeper, the odd occasion it did was for a goal kick, and that's what we should be aiming for again. Pepe is still a great shot stopper, but even more than that he can read a game and put the ball in the right part of the park.

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  32. It was definitely the best keeping display I have seen. Some of those saves were just phenomenal. The Gerrard volley to the keepers left was amazing. I was so sure that'd be a goal.

    I wouldn't mind seeing him at Anfield. He would make a quality addition and I think its time we sign a decent reserve keeper to push Reina and provide comfortable backup. I always feel rather shaky when Jones plays. He never seems sure of himself. Besides having a quality reserve keeper would hopefully stop Reina from getting complacent which I feel he has done over the past 2 years at least. His form is improving though. Lets hope he can be back to his consistent best for next season.

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