14 Jul 2013

Transfer Travesty: LFC inexplicably ignore powerful £24m duo. Big mistake...?

As is becoming increasingly the norm at Anfield, Liverpool have suffered yet another double transfer blow this week with the news that £24m duo Victor Wanyama and Wilfried Bony have signed for Southampton and Swansea respectively. Both players have been heavily linked with the Reds over the last year, so why did Liverpool let these two players slip away?

In October 2012, Liverpool reportedly scouted Bony, and soon after, his agent, Dalimor Traore, confirmed the Reds' interest. He told Reporters:

"Liverpool are one of the clubs who have been considering him. We have been in talks with them. It is clear that Bony has attracted interest due to his good performances and consistency.

On Monday, multiple sources reported that Liverpool had expressed further interest in signing Bony, yet a few days later, he signed for Swansea in a £12m deal. For that money, the Swans get a player with a formidable strike rate:

* Last season: 31 goals/8 assists in 30 league games.
* 2011-12: 20 goals in 24 apps.
* Goal every 85 minutes.
* Goal/Assist every 67 minutes.

Wanyama has also been heavily linked with a move to Anfield, and the Reds are crying out for a strong, athletic defensive midfielder to challenge Lucas Leiva.

When asked about his future in June, 21-year old Wanyama confirmed his intention to move on this summer:

"I still have a contract with Celtic and I am their player, but if anything comes up and it is good for me and the club, from there I will move on.”

£12m for prodigiously talented midfielder with the potential to become one of the best in Europe? A very reasonable price (IMO), yet once again, Liverpool missed the boat.

On a related not: I argued several times in the past that no club would pay more than £10-£12m for Wanyama, but I was repeatedly told by irate Celtic fans that I was wrong, and Wanyama would go to a Champions League club for £20m etc. Well, it appears I got it right. But I digress...

Southampton and Swansea are great clubs in their own right, but with the greatest respect, Liverpool are several leagues above both when it comes to history, prospects and prestige, and I sincerely doubt that - given the choice - Bony and Wanyama would've rejected the Reds.

The only conclusion is that Liverpool simply refused to stump up the cash for either player, which is strange considering both Bony and Wanyama fit FSG's infernal transfer template. On the other hand, it's hardly surprising, especially when you consider the club's recent transfers, all of which - bar Sturridge and Toure - came in at around the £8m mark.

Yes, it's entirely possible that both players will fail in the Premier League, but I just can't see it happening. It's possibly another Michu situation - Wanyama and Bony will probably take English football by storm, and a year from now, Reds fans will look back in anger at this double missed opportunity.

It would've been hugely satisfying to see Liverpool sign of one or both of these players, and I can't understand the thought process behind (seemingly) rejecting them. Wanyama, especially, is a big miss IMO.






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150 comments:

  1. jaimie are you only just picking up on fsg dragging there heels on transfers.There a bit of a paradox they do spend ( eventually ) but cant close the deal in fact they couldn't close there eyes in a f*cking sandstorm.i can hack getting outbid by real Madrid and utd but it seems any club can outbid us or negotiate better.The only players we sign are players that no one else bids for .

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  2. I think the only conclusion is that Liverpool have entirely different transfer prospects in mind.

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  3. I'd argue that neither were necessarily needed. Theres a high chance we were never in for either. Looking at our current squad; it seems we've gotten rid of our big physical players and in my opinion they often look off the pace by comparison to the rest of the team E.g. Carroll and Shelvey. sure Wanyama and Bony may turn out to have great seasons. But that doesnt mean they definitely would have for us.

    Also havent Southampton bought a few Midfielders this summer? If so maybe we should go in for morgan schneiderlin because I'd rather him than Wanyama. I read somewhere that he had the most defensive contributions of any player

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  4. if im honest i dont rate these two and didn't think the Albanian was worth 25m,but i do rate Erickson and benteke

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  5. i think anteater has it right we will need to wait till the end of our transfer business to know for certain if we have made a mistake not going for them but nice to see aspas score a belter on his debut.

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  6. Seriously, comparing Bony and Wanyama to Carroll and Shelvey? :-) Who do LFC have in the squad who can seriously challenge Lucas? Who in the squad has athleticism and physicality in the midfield?

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  7. don't think br really fancied them, just because decent players are up for grabs doesn't mean we should automatically go for them

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  8. Joe Allen is not a dedicated defensive midfielder, and even if he covers for Lucas, what does he offer that's different? He's comparatively small, and is not powerful/athletic. Lucas and Allen are way to similar in their physical attributes/style of play. LFC need (IMO) a totally different type of holding midfielder. A Diame/Wanyama type: big, strong, and powerful. Not to replace Lucas, but to add a different dimension.

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  9. who is the Albanian ?

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  10. It seems to me most sides are for eg Real Madrid Chelsea Liverpool are buying young to rebuild for future .
    As for strikers who is out there ????
    class leader in midfield who is out there ????
    defenders who is out there ?????
    Any player is really a gamble
    I really don't get why FSG are so slow I don't get why the players are not going on the tour . But there might be a method to the madness cause we are not the only ones.

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  11. Yeah, coz Wanyama did a terrible job containing Xavi, Inesta, Pedro and Messi in the Champions Leage

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  12. Yeah, I've been wondering, too. Gilstrap seems to have some inside information that hasn't been leaked to the press, yet.

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  13. down to rodgers more than anyone. Bony i dont rate, but wanyama could have been v useful for us. southampton now have a far superior MF to us.

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  14. Totally agree with Allen

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  15. I was joking Jaimie.....our most athletic midfielder and arguably our best one last year henderson started at RB yesterday i hope this isnt a sign of things to come.All these little players look great when its baking hot on dry ground against p*ss poor opposition ...Rogers will find playing a prem team in the wind and rain and different kettle of fish

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  16. I think he means Henrihk

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  17. Liverpool can't sign every hyped player on the planet - in fact that's what got them in trouble a few years ago, overpaying for every hyped English player out there.

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  18. okay smart alecs Armenian.....its all the same

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  19. I don't think anyone is suggesting LFC sign every player linked. These are two quality players in positions LFC arguably need to fill.

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  20. This is the problem with us as a club. Rumours. Agents use us to boost their players and suddenly when we don't buy them it's "X opts for Y as opposed to Liverpool" etc etc. They even tried to say we lost out to Everton for ARUNA KONE!!!

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  21. Exactly. I doubt Rodgers has ever been interested in signing any of both.

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  22. Allen is average nothing more nothing less ....

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  23. Saints have just bought Wanyama as far as midfielders goes. They now have depth in the center of the park they didn't have. In fact, they should probably loan out Ward-Prowse this year so he can play regularly, since they don't need him for cover like they did last year (i.e. Wanyama/Scheiderlin/Cork/Davis).
    Trying to get Schneiderlin off Saints this year is going to be like Man Utd trying to get Shaw off them - ain't happening, at least this summer.

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  24. I'd MUCH rather have Bony and Wanyama in our current team than Borini and Allen.


    Every passing transfer just makes our moves over the past couple of summers seem even more ridiculous

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  25. Hopefully the decision to overlook the signings of Bony and Wanyama was not because we aren't looking to strengthen in their positions (because we definitely do need to do so) but because we've got even better options lined up.


    It's pretty unlikely though, and I expect to see us continuing to struggle against teams with any sort of decent physical players again this season :-(

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  26. They are trying to build Barcelona, on the cheap. :D
    Not sure Bony and Wanyama even come close to fitting that vision.

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  27. Bony I`m not bothered about, but I am gutted we didn`t go in or get Wanyama.


    Other teams seem to be signing better players than us who finished below us last season. Unless BR pulls some amazing deals out of the hat soon, I`m going to be very split on my hopes for next season.


    Fourth is my min standard. It will be hard as there are some good teams going for fourth, but with money spent that position should really be doable. If we don`t hit it, or at least fight for it then I will change my support for BR and FSG.


    My fear is we will actually finish lower than last season as the teams below us are signing good players. We are signing possible good players or possible rubbish.


    I will have to trust that the scouts have done there work and found us world stars how will take us up to the next level.


    So split on next season. One part of me thinks we can do really well, the other thinks we will have a mare.

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  28. anyone with an ounce of brains would agree with you bar rogers.... My fear is like last year we will get bullied out of games ....f

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  29. toby alderweirld,s dad made a very interesting comment the other day about norwich,he stated he liked how the club tried to do there transfers the proper way ,wonder if he was implying some clubs do not,eg us or spurs

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  30. Their midfield already looked better than ours last season from the little that I saw them tbh. I was surprised at how comfortably Schneiderlin and co were able to deal with us at the end of last season.


    Still, it's matchwinners that are most important though, and with Suarez, Sturridge, Coutinho and Gerrard (to a lesser extent nowadays) all on the books still, we can continue to maintain some optimism

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  31. I have the same fear. I can`t see Rodgers signing a new DM either. Allen and Lucas will be the two players he sees as perfect for that role. While Lucas is good, he isn`t the answer imo. Allen on the other hand provides us with nothing extra. I can`t see him selling Allen though so we are stuck with not having a good enough DM and teams walking through us.

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  32. I'm not talking about containing Barca, I'm talking about fitting in with Barca. You think Wanyama would graft in nicely at Barca?

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  33. It's not the same at all. You've been the smart-aleck, and got it miserably wrong.

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  34. Thought he was Armenian.

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  35. if we keep suarez ,downing and pepe and co we are wasting money on players we dont need ...we need or will warm the bench ...we need to sign starting 11 players ..we are desperate for some power in defence and midfield

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  36. What is the proper way Jason? Could mean anything. Could mean he likes how Norwich just offer the wages he asks for without haggling? I would be curious to find out though.

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  37. For the record, I voted yes. IMO Liverpool do require a proven goal scorer. Additionally some people highly emphasise the need for a midfield Brute in the form of Wanyama. We may not have missed out on much in terms of these players personally/individually, but so many people have said that we need these types of players (proven scorer, midfield brute), and for the most part I would agree.

    However, I'm not so sure that these two players would of chosen Liverpool over the Saints or Swansea, or any other club. These two clubs in particular are on the rise and let's not forget that Swansea are playing in Europe. It may also be easier to cement a first team place at these clubs, that's what Shelvey is going to want to do, and if anything, if they prove their worth in the Premier League at these clubs, it's their stepping stone to big money deals for clubs in the Champions League.

    Also, I find it interesting that players we have consistently been linked to including Bony, Wanyama, van Wolfswinkel and Lovren to name a few, have been signed by other clubs, while we signed the likes of Borini and Allen without any competition at all, and still paid a premium.

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  38. Gilstrap I can't believe you think it is FSG dragging their heels, they have already sanctioned the purchases of 5 players with more coming into the youth setup. We have missed out on one main target if we are to believe the media that he was our main target. As for bony and the Celtic lad ....... We're we ever really in for these players ?.? Maybe an interest but I suspect this was never followed up and other targets being chased.

    I would suggest that we see what has happened once the silly season of transfer deadline has come to an end.

    I think BR and FSG will bring in the right players to continue what I believe is an exciting period or our club.

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  39. he stated that they talked to his club first,implying that other clubs tried to talk to players and agents first ,

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  40. what compounds the problem is courtino will start in the midfield 3 ...hes great in that position but if he plays there he needs some serious defensive players to allow him to shime

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  41. Completely agree. I do not get the idea either of "filling the squad" before improving first 11. I would rather just improve first 11, then last seasons player in that position can be the bench warmer, surely that is how it should be done right? Not sign subs?


    Like you said if Pepe stays we just spent 10mil on a keeper, where only one will play, thats fine if your money rich or got the perfect first 11 as it is, we don`t though. When there is other positions crying out for better first 11 players, I don`t get why they dont just bundle the money up and spend on one good one.


    I reckon HM would be a better use of the money than signing four 20 years olds from reserve teams (just a example not saying that has happened before people rip my head off)

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  42. Downing and Pepe were clear weak links in the team last season. We definitely need(ed) upgrades on both.

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  43. signing players for the youth set up is the norm for a top club....call me stupid but shouldnt we actually be signing players we need ....as it stands now we have no midfield

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  44. is that fact ....the players we have signed are potentially better nothing more

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  45. I would agree, but I think Rodgers will play him on the left. He is best in the middle though. I dont want a squad filled with workhorse powerhouses, but a few are needed. A powerhouse DM and a powerhouse CB. Just to give some steel to the team. Coutinho actually holds his own ok, I thought he was one of our stronger attackers last season, in terms of not being pushed off the ball etc.

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  46. I get ya. You mean other clubs tapped up in effect?

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  47. More like building the new new Arsenal.
    And it's not really being done on the cheap either, if you're just considering the gross cost of our players

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  48. Yep, signing players for the youth set up when not hitting top four is basically training players for the top teams as they will leave if they become good.

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  49. or maybe i dont spend the day reading wikipedia

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  50. Spearing actually started at right back. What was interesting though was Henderson was dropping in between the the two centre backs, like Lucas does, to play the ball out. Isn't that Allen's role if anything?

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  51. You really buy into this idea that in a sport played professionally across the globe, of all the thousands of players out there, there aren't any strikers, midfielders or defenders available to improve our team??


    Every single year there are players that suddenly shoot from "nowhere" into the public consciousness. It is the scouts and management teams jobs to find those players 'on the bubble' and bring them through.


    Fingers crossed that Aspas and Alberto will be two such players next year...

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  52. It would be nice to know exactly who they are in for, because these are the types of player can be had by a team that isn't playing in Europe.
    The Nainggolan's of the world, notta chance - Wanyama was Saints plan B, while Liverpool doesn't even seem to have tried for Plan A.

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  53. Or maybe you just don't know what you are talking about. Or maybe you quote transfer rumours you didn't read about.

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  54. There are gambles, but you lessen the risk. Its like playing cards, if you learn to count them you lessen the risk and increase your odds of winning. Nothing is certain but you should still go for the most proven player you can get imo. Otherwise the argument would suggest you might as well just sign some old bloke from a sunday league team as all transfers are gambles so whats the difference. Bit extreme point but you get my jist.

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  55. Just because Liverpool made an enquiry about them doesn't mean we were actually in for them. I'm sure we have made enquiries about lots of players. There is a good chance these players will do good in the premiership but we have to respect Rodger's ideas for players and I'm not sure they would have been the best fit at Liverpool anyway

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  56. we must give fsg time they are new to the game,we must give rodgers time hes a young coach and still learning,we must give the youngsters time to try and reach there potential,lets just hope all the other clubs realise this and stop trying to improve themselves for a few years lol

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  57. they get paid less ,i think you are missing the bigger picture

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  58. or tried to,not us thou surly

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  59. You do realise that it was a preseason friendly?


    Does anyone really think Spearing and Pacheco are going to be part of the squad for the actual season?


    Does it really matter how the team was set up when preseason friendlies are mainly there to build up match fitness?

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  60. they was going to try allen there but he kept putting our keeper under to much pressure

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  61. He is, but being that i cant even remember how to spell his last name without referring to it i was willing to assume someone got Armenian and Albanian mixed up.

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  62. I wouldnt mind seeing Henderson in the more defensive midfield role.
    Just to have a look and see if his physicality would help us out there.
    Also maybe over the next few months LFC can try add a few meals into Coady and thicken him up a bit and give him a real taste of first team football.

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  63. Mignolet was definitely better than Reina last year, that IS fact. I'd like to think that Aspas is a superior player to Downing also, but that is yet to be proven.


    Eitherways, we don't know what role Aspas and Alberto have been bought to fulfil. I'm hoping their being brought in as squad players on squad player wages, while Downing - a squad calibre player on top 4 starter calibre wages - is being shipped out for a legitimate match-winning type player.

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  64. rodgers stated the squad players were bought ,and now he was after some marque signings and if i take him at his word a fully expect adebayor,bendtnerand and bent to be turning up at anfield soon

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  65. im speculating but perhaps the manager meeting the player may help or asking them for a trial....

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  66. Liverpool needs to get over the "history and prestige" aspect, start selling the present and future. Pretty sure Sir Alex wasn't selling Man Utd's "days gone by" when he was building his dynasty. He sold the vision and ambition that they would overtake Liverpool in titles, and at that time that was a massive gap - almost to the point of laughable to save maybe the most diehard Red Devils and Sir Alex himself.

    What is Liverpool's vision for the future? Sell that.

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  67. I'm a Swansea fan and can honestly say that there was only one permanent signing that Rodgers brought in that did any good for us while he was in charge and that was Scott Sinclair, there is one other Wayne Routledge, but Rodgers hardly played him and he has shone and done amazing for us under the leadership of Laudrup!!!
    Just hopes Rodgers knows what he's doing for the great of your club...

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  68. Toure is a powerhouse CB if I am not mistaken. It is not like any player is just going to get their way with him.

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  69. I dont think this is a big loss even if they do well at their respective clubs.
    People want us to compete with Man City and United, but get dissappointed when we miss out on players that Norwich and Southhampton want.

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  70. goalies at bad clubs always look better .....the spotlight is on at liverpool ...plus its having to make a save when you have done nothing for 40mins

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  71. So is every other player linked to LFC.

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  72. That is exactly what I have been trying to get into everyones heads.

    Bony. Why has no top European team ever signed him?



    Wanyama put his transfer on hold to Southampton thinking one of the EPL big boys would come rescue him. Did not happen and he had to settle for Southampton.


    Clearly we were not interested in any of these players.

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  73. we are still wondering why he bought assaidi ;)

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  74. i seriously wouldnt mind adebayor although he is a mercenary his strength would be a welcoming addition ....... though id rather we blow money on luke shaw instead of bertand

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  75. yes we could ask eriksen if he can nip over for a few weeks trial lol

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  76. i would rather have none :)

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  77. No I thought it was a cup final.


    Yes, obviously. I mentioned that to Jason on an article yesterday. I just corrected gilstrap because there were several created line ups posted online and stuff, but in the actual match it was Spearing, not Henderson, playing right back. Spearing and Pacheco, even Assaidi, are just in the shop window.


    And yes it does matter. Rodgers emphasises his tactical game very highly. If you don't think it's important to note that Henderson was in the 'Lucas' role which puts major question marks over Allen's purpose in the squad, then fine.

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  78. The idea that players who don't sign for the biggest clubs are somehow lacking is, with respect, massively flawed.

    The big clubs can only sign a finite number of players a year, and not every excellent player can sign for the big boys. There are literally dozens of examples over the years of excellent players going not being signed by top European teams.

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  79. god you have p1ssed me of, i was told i was average at pool the other night i did not realise i was that bad

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  80. You do not know the purpose of Allen in the squad.


    You shall find out at the start of the 2013/2014 season though :)

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  81. agree m8 if the set up dose not matter how comes mignolet did not start as a striker and allen could have gone in goal

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  82. Well all the players he bought for Swansea will all be gone apart from Routledge by the start if the season... Say it all really... Honestly think Liverpool got the wrong manager, should have got Martinez

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  83. Are we stopping at 4 this transfer window?

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  84. Obviously it's more complicated than that :P

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  85. But Jaimie, you keep on writing about Moussa Sow who is 27 now.

    Surely one of the big boys would have gone to get his signature by now?

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  86. I paid attention as much as I could but it was 1am here and I was gone, fell asleep at half time. I just wanted to see if Aspas was decent, but Hendo playing deep was the only thing I had the chance to notice

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  87. im still wondering why he bought borini and allen

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  88. You could put a mortgage on the Welsh Xavi starting under Rodgers.

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  89. them 3 are way out of our transfer leauge lol

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  90. your right i dont know the purpose of allen....the midfielder whose job isnt to defend or score goals....nice work if you can get it

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  91. i meant average as cook p*ss poor as a player

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  92. rogers will never admit hendo is better than allen

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  93. or maybe i listen to you

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  94. Why did Rafa sign players from Valencia when he joined Liverpool?

    Why has Martinez gone to raid Wigan for players now that he is at Everton?

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  95. Now, now.


    Let's not start a fist fight here.

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  96. the second half was better imo

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  97. liverpool4life56512:42 pm, July 14, 2013

    No big loss. Goodluck to them at there new clubs. Why would we sign bony when we have already 4 strikers? also I see in brazil there reporting we want little Bernard, great little player.

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  98. Should have got Van Gaal.

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  99. I do agree with you on Toure, and I think he is a great signing.

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  100. Luis Suarez just cannot shut his mouth, can he? Why is BR adamant to keep him, I don't know. I wouldn't like that guy in Red next season. He is great, great player but lost all the respect fans ever had for him. He is in self destruct mode, let him leave already.

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  101. I don't think BR rated them highly or even thought of them. I think we're just being linked with players just by their agents or at least there would have been some kind of a statement from the club itself. Yeah, they're good when we compare them with the players we have signed until now.

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  102. ..but the fee for Wanyama was £12.5 million which is more than £10m-£12m (if you're gonna be all arsey about it) so you are wrong.....but I digress......

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  103. Rogers has said current signings are to strengthen squad and focus now is on signings that will impact 1st team so people need to wait & see what develops. The fact Wanyama has gone to Southampton shows other teams don't think he can be too special.

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  104. Liverpool need to get new owners if they want to win the league and compete with the best in Europe once again. Something ain't right because a team of Liverpool's stature shouldn't be going on 21 years since will a title. You got a great manager to do the job but if his hands are tied then you end up with limitations on getting the job done!

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  105. whats that got to do with the price of fish

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  106. i stated countless times last year that suarez would be gone in the summer.Im with you lets just get rid....cant help laughing though not much of a indictment on the team and rogers when your best player is basically coming out and calling you crap.....perhaps this will stop rogers pandering to the star players...on another note i thought it was a disgrace that Gerrard was criticizing some players in the paper recently ie hendo....who exactly is running the f*cking team ...the first two players he should have named is borini and allen ...if i was hendo id have smacked him in the f*cking mouth

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  107. I wouldn't call it criticizing. Stevie G probably thinks Allen and Borini are not upto it but Hendo and Sterling are so he wanted to give motivation to the duo to bring the best out of them in coming season. Am sure he rates them highly.

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  108. I don't think we need either of them to be honest.
    I do agree we need a Viera-like holding midfielder, and soon we'll need a striker, but there are many others I would rather have than these two.

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  109. Reina looked class for us in his first few seasons though, and has looked a lot worse in recent years as our team became worse around him - given your previous statement, how do you explain that?

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  110. I think it was more about motivating them, not Criticizing them.
    Neither Sterling or Henderson were World class last season (both did good) and i think gerrard sees the potential in them to be better and make the step up to the next level.

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  111. Most managers will go back for players that they have worked with.


    Even Mourinho has done the same.


    Do you understand?

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  112. im all for managers going back to there old club for good players but not crap ones...do you understand

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  113. Henderson was pants in his first season but BR got the best out of him in his second season at Anfield. Downing another player that improved on his first season.


    Maybe Rodgers does know a thing or two about how to get the best out of players!

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  114. so we are saying stevie g can now decide who is good or bad and criticize in the papers accordingly....if what you say was correct surely that wouldn't sit well with rogers....after all rogers signed them two.....but it seems the Liverpool way of the last several years has for some players to be criticized or dropped while others haven't been either way it cant b good for spirit

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  115. All the players Rafa signed for LFC from Valencia were either injury prone, rubbish or just did not make it at Anfield..

    So It is not about good or bad players.

    The point is and it is a FACT that managers will always try sign players that they have previously worked with.

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  116. its an assumption .....all im saying is that we have other areas which need more attention....reina is a good goalie .....allen is average ..lucas was off form and gerrard is 32 and coming back from injury coupled with the fact that rogers doesnt seem to rate hendo mean's that after selling shelvey our midfield is poor......we have little or no cover in defence....suarez is leaving and sturridge is injured at the moment //////gasp have i made myself clear

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  117. be a leader not a follower just because others do it ........it doesn't mean its right......and you have just answered your own question rafa went back and signed rubbish so perhaps rogers should have took heed

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  118. should have got van der vark

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  119. But that is why I said it is not about good or bad players as that is not my point.


    Learn to read.

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  120. i do not know all around 5to8 million ,think they might want more than the £40 a week yts payment we seem so keen on

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  121. no hes a messiah lol:-)

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  122. we should have gone to speck savers

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  123. sanjay rughoonauth2:54 pm, July 14, 2013

    no my friend simply fsg dont hv even a pence in his pocket, poor miserable, supose to be riched,if u dont hv money in ur pocket pliz dont goout for market, a poor man is even better than u(fsg) as always ill blame ze board of directors who chosed them instead of arabe who were ready to splash big big money on top top players so wat ze use of crying now we fans we hv just to acept ze way is going. am sure 100% by end of window nothing will happen remember ze Demptsy saga, after mk , now wanyama just keep dreaming season after season nothing will happen just bcose we r a poor club, sometime its heartbreaking to b a lfc fan gudluk.....

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  124. All I am saying is that Stevie G is more qualified than us to analyse who will be the future and who won't be. If he thinks Hendo and Sterling needs to step up, he maybe right. He is LFC and England captain, we should trust his judgement.

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  125. So Gerrard's judgment is inalienable? He always knows best? He is incapable of being wrong? Nonsense. He is a human being like everyone else, and he's proven many times in the past that he doesn't have the greatest judgement.

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  126. Did I say his judgement is inalienable? I am not Luis Suarez so please don't paraphrase what I say. I said I trust his judgement and he is more 'qualified' than us. He may be wrong. but I believe he is right.

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  127. I actually believe, BR never was that interested for either of Bony or Wanyama. LFC might have inquired for these two in past, but then the Manager was different & so was the philosophy. I don't think BR wants any 6'2" heavy duty CM for his free flowing, fast interchanging game. BR is more interested in players skillful, fast & most importantly, good passers - don't think either of them can fit perfectly in BR's system. & He doesn't like target men.

    I am quite happy with the business so far this summer. With Zero cash layout, BR has brought 4 quality young players (with same salary paid to the departing 2) & he still has good amount to spend + proceeds from Downing, Spearing, Coates, Aassaidi & may be Skartel, Reina sale. Potentially, it's a £50-55m kitty (without the Suarez money). He has purchased squad players early & I am sure, in next few weeks, we 'll see at least 3 players straight to go into the starting XI.

    HM was a miss, but, in recent times, the profile players we were linked has changed from talented youngsters to well known International starters. I for 1 do believe that come September, we 'll have a really good 23-25 man squad with a magnificent XV to start with.

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  128. No, you haven't made yourself clear - why did Reina look like a top quality goalkeeper when we were a top 4 team, but an average goalkeeper now that our team has become worse??

    Having a goalkeeper that actually saved shots would have made even more of a difference to our last couple of seasons than anything else.

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  129. luke shaw is excellent :O

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  130. borini for cover ..... i thought allen was lucas understudy but the more i seen him play the more im wondering if he can do defensive mid properly

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  131. I tend to ignore mainstream newspapers as they try to glorify nothing to make a story but I did read a good article stating how the eredivse league has decreased in its quality of players and how scoring is clearly an easier task in the Dutch league plus some of the goals I saw him score are 3 yarders or getting his head on the end and from what I know he isn't that fast liverpool are not a team looking for this sort of player

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  132. I guess the respective people of Armenia and Albania would disagree with you that they are the same.

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  133. Who? Van der Vark? I envy your knowledge of international football, I really do. I have never heard of him. Is he any good?

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  134. I am not sure that the people of Armenia and Albania would agree with you that they are the same.

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  135. Spot on JK, Wanyama should have been first on the list! I'm afraid it will be the same as last season in that we'll struggle against strong athletic sides including Southampton. Wanyama is better than everything we have in the middle in terms of box to box & strength & he has skill. I think a Diame/Wanyama is the key to top 4- solid enough to combat the Stokes of this world & determined enough to unlock to 4 defences! I think it's negligence on BR's part!

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  136. Liverpool's current owners have been here for less than 3 years so to apply the whole 21 years without a league to them is unfair.


    This manager's hands have not been tied as much as you might think. Since they've come in FSG have spent the 3rd or 4th most money in the league. And since Rodgers has been here, he's had no problem spending money. He just needs to do it responsibly. There's nothing wrong with that.

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  137. People overlook the fact that when Rogers joined the club he had no scouting network and his focus was on getting to know more about his new team. So it's understandable that it's easier to layers you already know and think will fit into your style. You can see what a big difference time, and his scouting team, made come Jan when he signed Sturridge and Coutinho. That's why I'm more confident about current signings.
    And I think we will see a lot more this season from Allen and Borini.

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  138. WHY ARE LIVERPOOL AFTER EVERY SWANSEA PLAYER!

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  139. are we allowed to post all your terrible assessments of players?

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  140. Wanyama was a real steal and will become a great...Celtic fans will miss him!

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  141. Liverpool relying on their history again eh?! There are a new generation of financially backed teams here, and i think you will find yourselves slipping further down the pecking list!

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  142. May be because liverpool are a has been team

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  143. Little Drummer Bhoy10:09 am, July 15, 2013

    This may be particularly frustrating for you, but a very reliable Celtic rumour site mentioned a few months ago that Wanyama's preferred destination would be Anfield. The upshot of this is, you may still eventually get him... But at what price. You're correct though, this big fella is gonnae be special.

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  144. You're right. Even if you get new owners like those cash rich Middle Eastern guys or Russians to pour in tons of money to buy a new manager and new players for instant success, the team may still not win the league immediately. We saw that with Man City and Chelsea was an exception because they had Jose Mourinho. But then again, how many more Jose Mourinhos are out there. When Jose left, they still could not win the league consistently inspite of all the millions Roman poured in.


    Liverpool is currently on the right path. Yes, we will not win the league immediately but once all the re-building has taken place, then LFC will be a force to reckon with again. Man Utd took many years to achieve sustained success. Remember when FSG took over, the club was in a mess.To clean up the mess takes time and it ain't gonna happen overnight.

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  145. Mkhitaryan. Memorised that :-)
    I didn't assume gilstrap got that mixed up, simply because I don't want to consider a person I've never met stupid or even unconcentrated.

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  146. Good to know that you have so much inside information about FSG. Without this information I would have thought that the club generated some money we will be able to spend through sponsorship, matchday revenue and the like.

    Those folks who wish to have a sugar daddy owner who simply buys and buys and buys without having the capability of the club to generate funds and run self-sustainable in mind, are free to follow one of those teams who are run in self-destruct mode, imho. And those fans who get excited about ever RUMOUR they read somewhere and then throw their dummy as soon as a player moves elsewhere can follow suit.

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  147. Exactly. Money doesn't necessarily mean instant success. But it can certainly help to get there.

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  148. Wanyama is built like a brick wall, and trying to get past him has the same effect as running into one! Lucas is a Jack Russell, we need a bit of muscle and height, we need to cope with corners and free kicks, maybe Toure may help we shall see, there is still time left in this window to rectify the problem.

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