29 Jun 2013

'Stop-gap' or transfer genius? - BR explains why LFC signed 'wonderful' star

Anfield legend John Aldridge recently described Kolo Toure as a 'stop-gap' signing for Liverpool, and his former team-mate, Steve Nicol, admitted that he's 'not excited' by the club's first signing of the summer. Fan response seems to be overwhelmingly positive, however, and Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has now explained exactly why he decided to sign the 32-year old defender.

Speaking to TalkSport earlier this week, Rodgers enthused:

"Kolo Toure is a player I’ve admired ever since he came to the Premier League.

"He was a wonderful servant for Arsenal, and he was a part of the ‘Invicibles’ group. It’s just his mentality – we’re losing an absolutely colossal player in Jamie carragher, and it’s very hard to replace that type.

"He gives us that experience and winning mentality. He’s still very fit and strong, and he’ll come in and fight for his place in the team"


In a recent survey on this site, the majority of voting fans gave the Kolo Toure transfer a massive thumbs-up.

* Question asked: Is Kolo Toure a good signing for Liverpool?
* 11000 visitors (approx) voted.
* 79% of participants voted YES.

Reds legend Robbie Fowler also believes that the former Arsenal and Man City star is a major transfer coup for the club. Fowler played against Toure many times during his top-flight career, and when asked recently what he thinks about the signing, the former striker told lfc.com:

"He's a fantastic player. His experience will be vital, especially after losing Carra. I'm sure coming to a new club will spur him on that little bit more and he will want to do well. Toure has been there and worn the T-shirt in the Premier League so I think his signing is absolutely magnificent."

I can see the logic behind Toure's signing, and the benefits he brings to the club are obvious, but 'absolutely magnificent'? A slight exaggeration IMO. If he's so amazing, then why don't Man City want to keep him? Why don't they want to take advantage of his vast experience in the Premier League?

Not that this matters, of course. City's loss is undoubtedly Liverpool's gain, but make no mistake, the knives will be quickly out for Toure as soon as he makes his first glaring mistake.

My hope is that he will be a calm, steadying, inspiring force like Gary McAllister, who did superbly for the club after arriving in his mid-30s.



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


105 comments:

  1. Top signing for me, he still has pace and reads the game very well!!!.............happy days!!!
    He has captained 2 PL winning teams!!!.........:-)

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  2. He is a great signing and will slot in with ease alongside Agger.


    The back four I would like to see this coming season:


    Kelly Toure Agger Enrique


    Johnson is not going to be first choice. Rodgers is a huge fan of Kelly. For those of you who do not know, Rodgers wanted to sign Kelly while he was at Swansea.

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  3. liverpool4life5655:55 pm, June 29, 2013

    Toure is a good signing, he will do well... But I want another defender to come in aswell.

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  4. I'll be very worried if Toure is in our starting 11, good signing but not an auto starter. Johnson will be our preferred right back, the only way Kelly starts is if Jose has a poor season at left back

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  5. As when the signing was announced I'm sceptical about how he'll perform but his presence and experience alone will be worth it.

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  6. would rather have his brother ! think its a good signing a proven player and no fee happy days

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  7. Well mate, I would much rather have Toure than Skrtel. The only other CB we seem to be signing is Tiago Llori and he is only 20 years old so I am more than happy with Toure alongside Agger.



    How do you know that Johnson is going to be first choice when Kelly is a better defender and Rodgers rate the kid very highly?

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  8. Kelly is a CB, always was until he got to the first team, he will go back in the middle sooner than you think????

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  9. may be lescott for 5 million decent player knockdown price . or test the water with a bid for jagelka just so the bluenoses have something to hate us evenmore bitter and twisted pr"cks

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  10. How do you know BR rates Kelly higher than Johnson? Johnson is always first choice even when Kelly is fit. I expect we will sign another CB, just coz we aren't linked to anyone doesn't mean we won't sign someone

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  11. Indeed, I agree. Kelly has more of a chance at CB than replacing Johnson.

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  12. "I knew Martin when he was growing up and I've seen him develop both as a right-back and at centre-back," Rodgers told reporters gathered at Melwood.

    "I actually tried to take him to Swansea on loan.

    "He's a player that gives 150 per cent in each game. He started the season in the side and I thought he did really well.

    "He's working very hard on and off the field at the moment and we're working so that he comes back physically and mentally a better player. Once he gets back, we can look at an individual plan for him.

    "But I think the most important thing for Martin, and it's similar to what we've done with Steven [Gerrard] this year, is that we make sure he's going to be available.

    "You can be as good a player as you want but if you're not available and you can't get a run of games consistently, then it's difficult for you.

    "He has shown he is a talent and has shown that he can play at centre-half and at full-back - hence the reason why we gave him a new contract.

    "But what we have got to do is get him out on the training field. And we have to get him on the pitch as often as we possibly can and then I think that you'll see he can be a quality player."



    ----------------------------------


    Now put that on your plate and eat it.

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  13. So where does BR say he will start ahead of Johnson?

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  14. off topic went the boozer today and there was a midget standing there with a everton shirt on. all I said was"half a bitter" the fucker went berserk

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  15. Where did I say that? All I said was that Johnson will not be first choice i.e. he will not be guaranteed a place in the starting eleven.

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  16. Quite clearly if he is starting all games when fit then he is first choice. Maybe you meant he won't be automatic choice?

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  17. If Kelly did not get injured last season then Johnson would have been fighting Enrique for a place at LB.

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  18. All due respect but that just isn't true. I like Kelly but he isn't as good as Johnson, yet. Being 4 months out injured wouldn't have helped him at all

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  19. Kelly is by far a superior defender and is also very good at going forward so for me Kelly is better than Johnson.


    Don't go crying if Johnson does not make the team.

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  20. Yeah what ever you say boss, hahaha. You must be the best poster ever!

    I'll try not to cry when the manager of the team I love chooses the best players for the team, be it Kelly, Johnson or who ever.

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  21. Make sure you keep a box of tissues beside you, just in case.

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  22. Hahaha for sure, imagine how gutted I would be to see Kelly play, I'd better call suicide watch just in case.

    But saying that, who should I trust more? Rafa, Hodgeson, Kenny, Rogers, McClaren, Capello and Hodgeson again or max, the world star Internet forum couch manager. Such a tough question

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  23. Where did I write that you have to trust me? Do you struggle with reading?

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  24. he will play a lot more than we think ,rodgers is gushing about him already ,the mans mouth makes me puke

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  25. I thought you are the kind that pukes all the time Jason?


    Nothing good comes out of that mouth of yours :-o

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  26. I do struggle with reading, thanks for pointing out my disability.

    I'm sorry I was under the impression you had the inside track when it came to judging the ability of our current RB's. you're right I don't trust you, you're talking bull shit, but you already knew that, right?

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  27. I was right, you do struggle to read. I never said anything about trusting me which you have gone and posted again.


    Do you need spectacles?

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  28. Big Bepe Malone7:43 pm, June 29, 2013

    There's no way they'd sell Lescott for £5m. They spend around £20m for him! They'd want to recoup as much of that as possible.

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  29. cheers a$$hole ,but i do agree with you about the kelly and johnson arguement

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  30. At least we agree about something :-)

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  31. possible last year of contract I heard he was goin cheap even the bitters were thinkin of getting him back so he must be cheap .any info anyone?

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  32. I was just confirming that I don't trust you, I'm also aware that you have no interest in my trust needs. Maybe I'm just letting other posters know that i believe you taek BS.

    Perhaps you also suffer from the same affliction as myself as quite clearly above I confirmed that I do not read well, or are you just being cruel and continually point out people defects?

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  33. Don't play the victim when you keep on telling me that I talk BS.

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  34. Again we agree about something!

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  35. Everyone I'm the victim, max is bullying me!

    Dear moderator, I would here by like to lodge a complaint against Max. Quite clearly he is prejudice against me because I can not read good. I would like him to be banned or assassinated, ideally both! (Obviously banned first otherwise it would have no point)

    Yours kindly

    Kieren

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  36. Well done. You obviously are very good at guessing?

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  37. Thank you and good night

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  38. liverpool4life5658:38 pm, June 29, 2013

    Gushing? He just stating a few facts that he was a "wonderful servant" for arsenal-FACT, and experience-FACT, winning mentality-another fact, so I wouldn't put it down as gushing. Just a person admiring a true professional.

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  39. yes like i admire your dogged determination

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  40. liverpool4life5658:46 pm, June 29, 2013

    You need to lay off BR, your slating of him is very strange.

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  41. liverpool4life5658:51 pm, June 29, 2013

    For that price it's ok but I want that CB from Ajax or papadopoulous lol

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  42. Strange as the claim that FSG spends no money...

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  43. liverpool4life5659:36 pm, June 29, 2013

    Haha agreed..

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  44. Its just an excuse to be pessimistic and complain about everyone and everything,Theres a difference between being realistic and being negative for the sake of a bitch and moan and I think we all know which one Jase is....

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  45. This comment made my morning :)

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  46. When Mhkitaryan takes our no 11 shirt he'll HAVE to be happy....won't he?.

    (I believe Yaro about HM)

    Although ANOTHER prediction of his will have gone down the Swannee - he said we wouldn't buy anyone above £10m until Suarez was sold...

    here's my prediction: He'll start to moan about not having signed a DM or CB apart from Kolo
    We'll see who's right pretty soon.....

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  47. lol that we will :)

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  48. Im happy to contribute to your morning.

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  49. You ask 2 questions in your article, although the answers are obvious, nobody has addressed them.. They just go on their own particular rants.
    Finally, now I understand, why you are so perplexed with your audience.

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  50. liverpool4life5652:14 am, June 30, 2013

    I agree with you :-) haha

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  51. Get a room you two!

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  52. Can you guess what I am thinking right now?

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  53. I hope Yaro is right about Mkhitaryan.


    Think if he is joining then that will be the end of Suarez.

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  54. He won't be happy. If Rodgers signed him, then surely he mustn't be a good player then?

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  55. Kelly is good but problem is recurring injury probs..starts on a good run & gets injured..most glaring problem is his running technique..

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  56. Yeah, hopefully that problem will be sorted now. He pretty much had a whole season to be rehabilitated.

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  57. Has Rodgers not played Shelvey, Coutinho as 'strikers' before?

    They are attacking midfielders aren't they?

    Next please.

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  58. Max, you wouldn't be saying that if you had the misfortune of hearing what comes out of the kid's mouth, Yeah, the kid in the picture...lol

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  59. That is so true, I have never heard Jason say one positive thing about LFC. Every time i see his name i know it will be a negative comment. I think he's a BLUE NOSE undercover .

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  60. £20m I think not. I think he understands the concept of defending, he gets paid a lot of money and plays in the best league in the world so I guess he has some talent. Perhaps and maybe people should consider this, that managers want Johnson to play the way he does, maybe they are willing to sacrifice the defense to have better attacking options?

    Or it could be that Johnson is a massive pretender and all of the managers he has played for hasn't realized, the fools!

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  61. So how much did he cost the club then. Remember the value that was reflected on the clubs official accounts.


    Run along now.

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  62. Kanwar, I purposely deleted your publication so that I could not view it on "Newsnow' but somehow I always mistakenly/unadvertantly open your blogs and read the dross you publish. Are you really a Liverpool Fan? If so pack in the negativity, I'm sure Fowler, and the city defenders, who've also been singing his praises, know a lot more about football than you know about journalism. Don't bother responding as I won't see it - I'll never, ever read the crap you write again - Goodbye and good ridance

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  63. h e plays anywhere he wants to !!!!

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  64. your comments are very outdated!! clearly you are just biased against GJ, I could bet you were/are still biased against Lucas too. People improve, get better while some of us choose to remain stuck in the past!

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  65. Considering we're nothing special at the moment, he'll do for now. Good signing, though I hope it isn't an end to CB transfer activity

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  66. No I am not biased against Lucas. Johnson cannot defend. I can see it with my eyes.

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  67. Don't tell that to people who cannot read.

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  68. If his wages are high, they'll sell for cheap, especially in the last year of his contract. Which is why I think they sold Tevez on the cheap, as they needed to get him off the books.

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  69. Aye, didn't he play there in the CL final? Though maybe playing centre back for Barca and playing centre back for a run of the mill team are two very different tests as a CB.

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  70. Johnson doesn't understand the concept of defending? This is a common misconception people have with Johnson. Last season, Johnson had a tackle % of 81.1%, Evra had a tackle % of 81.7%, Ivanovic was at 80%, Azpilicueta was 82.6%, Clichy was 76.7%, Vermaelen was 81.4%. This shows that Johnson can in fact defend and can defend as well as other defenders that are in clubs that finished in the top 4 last season. It's almost as big as the misconception that Enrique can't defend, and Enrique actually had a tackle % greater than all of these players at 84.7%.

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  71. Yes, but Rodgers plays Coutinho and Shelvey in their favoured positions the majority of the time. And no, Rodgers has not played Coutinho as striker, he has played him wide left or attacking midfield, not as the pinnacle of attack. Suarez is and always will be first choice striker over anyone on our books so long as he is also on our books.

    Next please.

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  72. Stats wise, Johnson was as good as top 4 defenders, that to me is not mediocrity.

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  73. Stats aren't the be all & end all and do not tell the whole story, especially in some contexts and circumstances, so stats to me in situations like these don't mean much. Some like to rely heavily and place a lot of importance on stats

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  74. Couthino, Sturridge and Suarez would interchanged in games. Rodgers plays with 3 'strikers'.


    Even sterling had a run every now and then as a 'striker'.

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  75. "Lies, damned lies, and statistics"


    Just because Leon Britton had a better pass completion rate than Xavi does not mean Britton is a good midfielder or a better passer than Xavi.

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  76. "Lies, damned lies, and statistics"

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  77. I disagree in the sense that he's asked to move forward so often that it's at the expense of his defending.

    The one area where I think his defending is poor is on set pieces.

    But as a regular defender in-game, I think he's fine. And I'm willing to accept his defensive deficiencies if he's providing more on offense, especially given his role as more of a wing back.

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  78. His offensive game provides us nothing either. Only 2 goals in 43 matches last season.

    Even Rafael managed to beat that in less games!

    Unfortunately you will need to do a lot more convincing to change my mind about Johnson and right now you have nothing.

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  79. I think that there's more to an offensive skill than by how many goals or assists a player scores.

    How much pressure does he apply on the opposing defense? How does he contribute to the overall system, counter-attack, flow, etc.

    It's easy to point to goal totals and say that he contributes nothing offensively. I think Glen provides a threat that teams have to account for throughout the game, and that realistically, few teams have the type of player that can provide that threat.

    Now that's not to totally discount goals and assists. That would be ridiculous on my part.

    He's a very good offensive defender. It would be nice if he scored more goals and got more assists, sure. But just because he doesn't have the goals and the assists doesn't all of a sudden mean he has no discernible offensive skill.

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  80. Furthermore, the reason why he was playing left back was because he is better than Kelly and they felt he could handle playing on the left better than Kelly could and would simply be more comfortable there.

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  81. Why did he go berserk?

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  82. I have seen him in few matches last season and he wasn't good enough. One can say his signing is equivalent to extending Carraghers contract.

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  83. I think that's fair.


    And I think as long as people have that in mind, the expectations should remain reasonable.

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  84. It's so ironic that you mock people for not being able to read, when you your self have major issues in comprehending the written language. Quite clearly you let your bias towards Johnson interfer with understanding simple messages.

    I personally rate Johnson and believes he offers us a lot, but I am also aware that he makes a few mistakes, I guess, in my eyes the positives far out weigh the negatives. Unfortunately Max the same can not be said of you. Your negatives infinitely out weigh the positives, so much so that I am shocked you dare offer your far inferior opinions to this website.

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  85. On the one hand we have a personal impression, which is based on seeing a player make "mistakes" with our own eyes. It's human nature to focus on that and subsequently miss all the good defensive work that Johnson does. Especially if it leads to a goal, and the lasting impression in your memory is a clumsy lunge by Johnson only to see a player breeze past him and score. We always remember those moments, but every header win, every piece of good positional play ... no one remembers that stuff because it's a non-event. If an impression of a player is based only on those lasting negative impressions then it's not an accurate one. On the other hand stats don't have that kind of bias. Stats don't ignore positive defensive contributions because there was nothing interesting going on at the time, or highlight mistakes because they looked bad in the replay. Stats just are what they are, it's the human personal point of view that gets tainted and manipulated. Plus working with stats is a tough job, and it's kind of boring, and often you have to look for a long time before you find the information you want. I personally think Johnson's stats are very revealing, and it is almost always the case that people who don't rate him as a defender are mostly unaware of them.

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  86. Ok, what does Kelly's offensive game offer us? Has he actually scored a goal for us? He has only scored one goal in his entire career with us and that was in a League Cup match and you say that Kelly is better going forward or just as good as Johnson, by your own reasoning of goals scored, this clearly isn't true.

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  87. No, Rodgers plays with one strikers and two wingers, wingers, although they are "forwards" are not strikers and to think this shows a lack of knowledge of the game.

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  88. I appreciate the very positive and cheesy spin but it doesn't do much for me. I just do not make much of stats when it comes contexts like these. The human view maybe subjective but stats more often not are narrow-minded. There are pros and cons to both but I'd rather rely heavily on what I see with the eye, than rely on stats. So to conclude, I disagree with your so-called spin as it isn't some sort of killer blow that shows stats prevai.

    'it is almost always the case that people who don't rate him as a defender are mostly unaware of them.'

    Ah that old rubbish chestnut. The person that says that old chesnut is as narrow-minded as the point they are trying to get at with it. That is the funny thing with what you said.

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  89. I never said Kelly was better going forward than Johnson unless you also struggle to read?

    If Johnson was that great attacking wise he should adding more value to our attack.

    Johnson has played in 112 games for Liverpool and has only scored 8 goals and only has 12 assists. Big bloody deal.

    That is 0.07 goals per game and 0.11 assists per game.

    We are better off with Kelly's defending and if playing regularly I am pretty sure Kelly can match 0.07 goals per game and 0.11 assists per game.

    Seriously beating that cannot be that difficult.

    Case closed.

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  90. What is you point? Kelly has never played at LB for 1st team.


    Once or twice at CB and the rest has been RB.

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  91. Your whole argument has been that Glen's future in the team is in jeopardy because of Martin Kelly.


    Yet, when an opening came up on the left side, they chose to put Glen there and let Kelly play his more conventional positional on the right because Glen could adapt better to the left than Kelly could.


    Glen Johnson is simply a better overall player than Martin Kelly then and now.


    I think Martin Kelly is a fine player and will become a regular starter in the team at some point in time. It just won't be at RB as long as Glen Johnson is here and healthy and maintaining a high level of play.


    Of course, you disagree with me on how good (or bad) Glen is but that is a matter of opinion.

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  92. Kelly is only 23 and ten times the defender Johnson could ever wish to be at the age of 28.

    The only reason why Johnson plays all the time is because there has never been any real competition for him. Just before Johnson arrived both Finnan and Arbeloa were sent packing and to give Johnson a run for his money we had Degen who was an absolute waste of wages.

    If Kelly did not have as much injury problems he would have replaced Johnson already. That is a matter of opinion as you say.

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  93. But I did not call them strikers.


    I am referring to 3 'strikers'.


    Do you notice the difference?


    The front three need to be able to fill the left, center and right positions. It is called versatility. That is why you will find that Suarez is not always central and neither is Sturridge and at times Couthino will be the player who makes the run down the middle.


    Interchanging? Unless i have been watching the wrong team?

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  94. And what's more is Johnson has never had any players giving him a run for his place.

    Degen anyone? It is not like there have been any other players in the past before Kelly broke into the team under Dalglish but unfortunately for young Martin injuries have had the better of him.

    I think Johnson can count himself lucky still being first choice...

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  95. I will give you that Glen hasn't had the competition to supplant him from the position.

    I think you're rating Martin a little too highly and Glen way too low. But again, just our opinions.


    We'll have to wait and see. I think the only way Kelly starts at the beginning of the season is if Glen is sold. I'd be shocked if Glen is on the bench.


    Now, if Glen has a season like Skrtel just had, a switch should be made. But even Skrtel was given half a season before BR said enough's enough.

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  96. Looool ! How did I miss this war?!! I know Jaime must have had a chuckle over this one!

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  97. I think he has to be on a wind up! I have loved watching Kellys development as much as all of us - and its a shame he has had the injury set backs. For me Kelly will be a CB - he doesnt have the attacking ability or awareness of a modern day RB - I'd have Ryan Mcloughlin there over Kelly any day - but just not for a couple years lol!!

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  98. Lol!!! Wish I was on 9 days ago to add fuel to this fire!

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  99. Eh?! Let me get this straight are you saying - at this moment in time MK is better than GJ?!? MK is our future CB, a rock! with pace! But I believe in modern day football you need a little more technique to play fullback, especially in our formation when the fullbacks push on, forwards tuck in and are expected to have more technical nous - which, is no slight on MK but he isn't built like that. Natural successor to GJ has to be Ryan McLouchlin (however you spell it) surely??!

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